Friday Fun

How's your week been?  We've had a sick one 'round here.  That January sickness is rough, I tell ya!  It seems we're on the mend and very thankful for things like Kleenex, Netflix, and hot tea with lemon.  Hopefully you're staying healthy wherever you are.  This weekend's my birthday and I want for my birthday this year is for everyone to be happy and healthy.  Here are some links I've rounded up for the week.  Have a restful weekend!

+ dinner anyone?  How do fire roasted pulled pork stuffed peppers sound? Yuuuuummmmm!

+ need clean products for the men in your life? the mens collection, counterman launched this week!

+ New Year's resolutions based on Meyer's Briggs personality types.  Mine's spot on!

+ i'm growing bored of my breakfast routine, might need to mix it up with this

+ just put this book on hold at the library, planning to read cover to cover!

+ have you seen these 3D geode puzzles?  I'm intrigued!

+ this dairy free mint-chip smoothie sounds kind of amazing

+ kind of obsessed with my new shoes that are beyond comfortable

+ hoping to try this creative project with my kids sometime soon

+ keep your data to yourself! 15 privacy changes you should make right now

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Quote of the Week

"The opposite of a hot mess is cold, predictable, and tidy. That's not where your magic lives. Be brave and choose the mess."

~ Elizabeth Gilbert

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Dinner Last Night: Slow Cooker Beef Mushroom Stroganoff

This cookbook is a weeknight savior. Everything I've tried thus far has been fairly quick, simple in ingredients and steps, and delicious!  One of our go-to weeknight meals is her slow cooker hamburger mushroom stroganoff. While only one of my kids eats mushrooms without a fight, the prep is fairly quick and the final product is flavorful, hearty, and makes for excellent leftovers.  To make it a tad healthier I sub in almond flour for white flour and plain or unsweeneted non-dairy yogurt for sour cream.  Serve over noodles or polenta with a green salad or in our case, roasted broccoli.  Voila!  Dinner is served.

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Gymnastics

Gymnastics is my favorite - a sport I never could do myself but love to watch.  This girl from UCLA is amazing!!  Anyone else ready for the next Olympics?  

Skincare Spotlight: Charcoal Cleansing Bar

One of my favorite Beautycounter products- the charcoal cleansing bar. I bought mine back in May 2018 and it's still going strong with at least 1/3 of a bar left. This is easily one of Beautycounter’s most beloved staples, and a fan favorite.  What do you do with it? It's a facial cleansing bar, but it has so many other uses, just the other day I made a lather and used it to rinse my makeup brushes.  I keep my charcoal bar in the shower, and when I’m feeling lazy and the whole nightly face washing routine feels like too much, I lather up with this and feel refreshed and clean.

Made with charcoal powder, green tea extract, coconut oil, and witch hazel, it washes away impurities and clears pores without leaving skin feeling tight afterward. And fun fact- did you know, Jackie O swore by a charcoal bar - it was her #1 beauty secret. 

Dinner Last Night: Peanut Chicken Lettuce Wraps

Another new dinner victory - peanut chicken lettuce wraps!  I halved the chili garlic spice on my kids' portion as it was a little too much heat for their palates, but for us adults - it was perfect!  The spice of the chicken paired nicely with the soy-peanut sauce.  We served with tamari roasted broccoli and coconut rice.  Yum yum!

image/damndelicious

Dinner Last Night: Crockpot Tuscan White Bean & Lemon Soup

This soup is beyond easy, dump everything in the crockpot and hours later, voila!  My favorite kind of dinner - set it and forget it!  It was flavorful, filling, and healthy.  A new favorite to kick off 2019.

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Quote of the Week

"What I want to say is

that the past is the past,

and the present is what your life is,

and you are capable

of choosing what that will be,

darling citizen.

So come to the pond,

or the river of your imagination,

or the harbor of your longing,

and put your lips to the world.

And live

your life."

- Mary Oliver, Mornings at Blackwater

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