Friday Favorites + A Life Update
Happy Friday, friends! I hope all of you had a wonderful week!
I’m currently feeling a mixture of both excitement and anxiety because today was my last day at my full-time job. I’ve worked full-time since I graduated college, over seven years ago, so it feels a little scary to be letting it go but ultimately I know it’s the right decision for me.
Keeping up with a forty hour work week on top of a second job and blogging for the past two years has been utterly exhausting and I’m well overdue for a change. So, I’ve decided to accept a new position that’s less than fifteen minutes from home (hallelujah!) and only three days per week. Of course, I’ll still be picking up hours at my second job but the idea is that I’ll have the extra two days per week to focus on the blog and maybe even one day on the weekend to relax. If I can even remember what that feels like!
Brandon and I are heading out to dinner tonight to celebrate but other than that, I’ll be laying low and preparing for my first week at my new job. Like I said, there’s a lot of nervous excitement!
Anyways, I hope you guys have a great weekend and that your schedule allows you a little time to relax. Until then, here’s a collection of my favorite recent finds!
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Favorite Frozen Dessert: 5-Minute Frozen Blueberry Yogurt. I can see myself cooling off with a bowl of this on a hot summer day. It’s healthy, refreshing and it only takes five minutes to make. Plus that color…swoon.
Favorite Snack: Homemade Coconut Chocolate Chip Lara Bars. My favorite flavor combo + you only need five ingredients to make them. Yes and YES!
Favorite Soup: Chilled Avocado Soup. I finally got my hands on Luise and David’s second book and it is every bit as stunning as their blog. I have their halloumi veggie burgers and the chilled avocado soup on the meal plan this week!
Favorite Getaway: Dubrovnik Croatia. I told you guys I can’t stop dreaming about the Mediterranean! Croatia is one place that I’m dying to visit. It looks incredible!
Favorite Fashion: Denim Dress with Blazer. This dress looks so comfy and I love the way it contrasts with the yellow blazer and the adorable bag. WANT!
Favorite Makeup: Argan Hydrating Lipstick. I don’t usually wear lipstick but I decided to give this one a try in the nude pink color (happy honey) and it looks really subtle and natural. I love how moisturizing it is too!
Favorite Natural Skincare: Rose Hip Oil. After hearing such good things about rose hip oil I decided to give it a try and I’ve been using it as a serum before bed for about a month now. It gives my skin an instant glow and it’s supposed to help prevent and reduce fine lines over time so we’ll see how that works out!
Favorite Workout: The Scientific High Intensity 7-Minute Workout. This is a great option for those days when you can’t fit in a full workout but still want to feel like you did something. Because c’mon, who doesn’t have 7 minutes? It works the entire body and it flies by super fast!
Favorite Music: Mumford & Sons Wilder Mind. I bought this as soon as it came out and I’ve been listening to it non-stop ever since. It’s completely different from their last one but I actually like it better!
Favorite Show: True Detective. We just discovered this show last week and are almost through the entire season already. It’s much darker than what I usually go for but Matthew McConaughey does an unbelievable job. It is SO addicting and I can’t wait for season 2!
Favorite Comfort Food: Cashew Alfredo Pasta with Broccoli. Who needs dairy when you’ve got cashews? Seriously. This looks so creamy and comforting!
Favorite Burger: Sweet Potato Black Bean Veggie Burgers. My love for veggie burger knows no bounds and these are next on my to-make list!
Favorite Salad: Zesty Fruit Salad with Coconut Milk and Basil. I want to face plant into a bowl of this! The combo of creamy coconut milk with mixed fruit, lime and basil sounds ah-mazing.
Favorite Dinner: Garlicky Swiss Chard with Sun Dried Tomatoes & Chickpeas. I couldn’t find a bigger picture for this recipe but don’t let that fool you. I’ve made it several times and it’s incredibly easy, healthy and full of flavor. In fact, we just had it last night for dinner and it reminded me that I needed to share it with you!
Favorite Doughnut: Buttermilk Spelt Baked Doughnuts. Because all good things end with chocolate. :)
Hi Sarah! There are a lot of great favorites in here, but I’m so excited about your news, that gets the comment. So awesome that you’ll have more time for the blog and more FREE time, because I know you need it. Enjoy your celebration! Maybe this means you’ll have time to pop by Walnut Creek to take one of my classes soon? hahah TGIF!
Yes, I will definitely make it up to WC for a class soon! :)
Congrats on the new job!! Starting fresh is always such a nice feeling :) I’ve been itching for a change myself!
Thank you, Sarah! I hope you’re able to make the change you want to happen soon too!
I am so happy for you Sarah. I was exhausted just reading your schedule! Your new job being so close will be a dream! Good luck to you and your ‘new life’!
Can’t wait to try some of these recipes!! They look delicious!
Your FL Fan
Thank you so much, Carolyn! I always appreciate your sweet comments. :)
Congrats on the new job!!! Living closer to work makes it so much better… now for my office to just move closer to me ;)
I know, commuting in the Bay Area is awful! I hope you’re able to get closer soon. Thanks Cassie! :)
Congratulations on the new job! Sounds like it’s going to be an awesome change for you. Also, I love True Detective! My boyfriend and I slowly watched it, but once we reached the end, we watched the last 4 episodes in a row one Friday night. And then I struggled to sleep afterwards haha. It’s very dark but such a cool show. I’m planning on season 2 to be just as good, but in a different way!
Thanks Rachel! I was trying to hold out at my FT job until we (hopefully) moved back east but that’s going to be up in the air for at least another year so I knew I had to make a change. But I’m really hoping we end up somewhere close to you down the road! :)
And I know, it was so hard to resist watching the last episodes in one sitting! We just finished it last night and I’m sad that Matthew and Woody won’t be back. I’m sure the second season will be great but I loved the two of them together!
Yay for being able to fit in a day to relax! Congratulations on the new job, Sarah :) That’s super exciting news and I’m happy for you. I don’t even know how you managed to keep up with your schedule before, but it just shows how much of a superwoman you are. And I’ve been using rose hip oil in my beauty routine for a while now, and I seriously love the stuff! I’ve definitely noticed a difference in my skin.
Thanks Amanda! I’m definitely not a superwoman though- there are other areas of my life that have suffered as a result of being so busy. But I’m hoping the new schedule will help me even things out a bit!
That’s so exciting. Congrats on taking the plunge.Your blog is really taking off (in my opinion)!
May I ask, what your new part-time gig is and what your “2nd job” is?
Have a relaxing weekend. xo
Aw, that’s so sweet of you to say, Hillary! Thank you!
I went to school to be an ultrasound tech, or sonographer, and that is what both of my other jobs are. Healthcare isn’t the most glamorous field but it does allow some flexibility in your schedule once you’ve been doing it for a while!
I never knew you were an ultrasound tech! I always thought you had an office job? Do look at itty bitty babies all day? ;)
Yep! I look at babies and lots of other organs which is a large part of why I’m so interested in a healthy lifestyle! :)
I am also a huge fan of the 7 minute workout! I have an app on my phone that does the timing and reminds me of what move is next.
Congrats on new beginnings and hopefully some time to relax! I am in the same stage now (left my job but still working part-time until I start grad school) and it is a great reset now that I have some time to rethink my ideal schedule.
I was thinking about buying the app but I’m too cheap, haha! I should just get it!
And thank you! I’m glad to hear that your schedule is allowing you some to think about the future. You have a great one ahead of you! :)
Just saw this reply – I use the free version!! No need to even buy anything :D
Oh I didn’t see a free one last time I looked. I’ll have to check again!
Congrats on the job change!! I hope that you have more time to enjoy life with this move. Have a great dinner celebrating!
And there’s so much yumminess in this post! Now I want that alfredo pasta and doughnuts…. :)
Thanks Nicole! :)
Congrats on the job change! It sounds like it is going to be great for you personally and hopefully it will help you keep some of you sanity… being on the go, go, go all the time is tough!
Yes, I’m hoping the sanity part improves, haha! Thanks Hannah!
Yaaaaaay I’m so excited for you!! I still can’t believe you’ve been able to work full-time and blog for two years – you are a powerhouse! I hope you love your new job and are able to relax a bit with the free time. Does this mean we can text non-stop during our bloggy days?! I hope you and Brandon have a marvelous evening celebrating and that you have a fabulous weekend, m’dear! Thank you for loving my fruit salad – *when* we finally get together, we can whip out a batch plus drink all the vinos :D xoxoxox!!
I would love to text you on my blog days! You can be my new coworker. :)
And yes to you, the fruit salad and all the vino! That sounds perfect to me! xoxo
Ahh Sarah I’m so happy for you! Change can be scary, but when it’s right it’s right :) So glad you’ll get to spend more time here and have more free time on the weekends. There’s honestly nothing better than having some flexibility in your schedule!
Thank you, Erin! I definitely thought about you when I made the decision. It takes courage to do what you love!
Congrats!! That’s so exciting! And yay for more time to dedicate to the blog :)
A 7 minute workout? That’s perfect for busy days!
Yay congrats Sarah!! I hope you and Brandon had so much fun celebrating :) And big yay for hopefully having one day to relax each week!!! I’ve been working on that lately myself lol
Thank you Ashley! I hope you get to relax this weekend! :)
Congrats, Sarah! You’ve definitely done a good job balancing your full time work and the blog. I think I’ve decided to give up blogging for a while. It’s been a source of too much stress on top of full time work, and working on our house which has been another full time job. I definitely feel your pain of feeling like not getting any relaxation. I hope this new job will change that for you! :)
I hear you, Kelli! I had to take a break when we got married because it was just too much so don’t feel bad about putting it on the back burner. We’ll still be here when life settles down and you get back to it. I hope you can relax some this weekend!
Congratulations on the new job!!! That is awesome! I went down to only working 3 days a week a few months ago so I could work more on the blog and it has been the best thing I’ve ever done! Although, now I wish I could go down to no days and be at home everyday :)
I always love everything you add to these lists! I think we would get a long really well in real life :) Thank you for adding my alfredo to your awesome list!
Ahh I’m so excited for you! You’ve been working your butt off, so this is awesome news. I hope life slows down just a little bit for you now and that you’re able to take advantage of it!
Huge congratulations on your new job Sarah! It’s incredible just how much you do, and still manage to create such beautiful, detailed content on your blog!! There are so many great links which I can’t wait to read in this post too – those spelt donuts look amazing!!
Oh my goodness, Sarah! How do you do it all!? Amazing you’ve been working at two jobs and developing content for your blog? You are an inspiration, my dear! So happy to hear you’ll have more time for rest. I think we all need more of it for sure. Love your Friday faves! My fave? Denim dress with blazer! Soooo cute! I’d have to do different shoes though.. I am certain I’d fall flat on my face! Congratulations, my dear! :D
Aw, thanks Traci! I was nearing the edge of burnout so I am very grateful for the change.
And yes, I’d have to wear flats too. I’d be 10 feet tall in those heels! ;)