Happy Friday and happy Easter weekend! I have a few “Friday I’m in love” faves to share with you today including matcha, my favorite mascara, a Premier Protein giveaway and more but first…throwback Easter.
I always miss my grandmother extra on Easter. I have so many memories of Easter Sunday at her house and taking photos in our Easter dresses in front of her azaleas.
A little “flash back Friday” to four years old.
And fourth grade. That dress!!!! I match the flowers.
I have a trip booked to visit my family in April and I am counting down the days! 🙂
Here are my recent faves (along with a few things I am not loving!).
These gluten free rosemary olive oil crackers from ALDI. I wish you could reach through the screen and taste one because they are awesome. I just want to lick the seasoning blend off of them. ALDI is doing a great job expanding their liveGfree line. I really missed crackers and salty snacks while I was on Whole30. I almost always eat a handful of something like this while I’m making lunch.
I’m finally on the matcha bandwagon! Not going to lie, it’s fun to drink a mug of bright green tea.
I’d never tried matcha powder until Eat Clean Tea offered to send me a bag of matcha powder and a frother to try out. It’s so easy to prepare…two tiny scoops of matcha, hot water and lots of stirring. I’ve been reading about the health benefits of matcha and it’s an energizer, immune supporter and detoxifier. It’s packed with antioxidants, boosts energy, improves mental clarity and calms your mind in addition to a host of other benefits you can read about on Eat Clean Tea’s website.
For those of you who have been in the know about matcha for a while, I’d love to hear how you use it and if you have any creative suggestions for adding it to things.
I’m so on and off with using Latisse but when I do I see a huge transformation in the appearance of my lashes. Recently I’ve been on a Latisse kick using a kit I received from Carolina Facial Plastics a while back. It truly does help you grow longer, fuller, thicker lashes. I also wanted to share the mascara I’ve been using a lot recently. I’m stuck on L’Oreal’s Voluminous Million Lashes waterproof mascara. The waterproof formula is a must for me when I’m in the hot yoga studio in 100 degree heat and 65% humidity every day.
These two. Always loving on these two. <3
I received samples this week of Premier Protein’s brand new Bananas & Cream flavor that will be available in select Sam’s stores starting April 5. Given that the only three flavors they had before were vanilla, chocolate and strawberry, this is a big addition! I usually default to using the protein powders versus the ready made shakes but I wanted to share for those of you who need a shake you can take on the go. (And now that I’ve typed all this out, I’m thinking I’m going to have a peanut butter and banana protein shake for my afternoon snack!)
Want to try Premier Protein’s line of shakes and bars? Leave a comment below to be entered for a chance to win a sampler pack including this flavor! Just tell me what your favorite shake flavor is. Vanilla, chocolate, strawberry or banana?
And we’ll wrap this up with a few things I’m NOT loving from around the web. I don’t usually share a lot of stuff like this but I couldn’t not today.
Tracy Anderson is loony tunes. I can’t even with “If you want to be longer and leaner you’ve got to stay away from 10-pound, 15-pound weights.” I read this to the other trainers in my gym this morning and we a) laughed and b) lamented that this only furthers the confusion around women, lifting and the “bulkiness” myth. I love this response from Adam Bornstein.
Parents are up in arms in Georgia about their children saying “namaste” in elementary schools during yoga classes that are designed to help them deal with stress, anger and anxiety by teaching breathing and mindfulness techniques. Washington Post.
The governor of North Carolina signed a bill into law on Wednesday night that basically overturns an expanded nondiscrimination ordinance that the Charlotte City Council approved in February that was set to go into effect on April 1. From the Charlotte Observer, “In North Carolina today, there are no legal protections for gays and lesbians. That means a private business in Charlotte or anywhere else in the state can refuse to serve someone who is gay, and a bakery could refuse to make a cake for a wedding of a gay couple.” This is CRAZY.
While I love my home state of Georgia, living in Charlotte and the south in general, this is the kind of stuff that I have a hard time with.
Okay, I hope you guys have a wonderful weekend whether you’re celebrating Easter or just enjoying spring wherever you are!
xxoo,
Jen
A portion of this post is part of my ongoing ambassadorship with Premier Protein.
Would love to try the chocolate!!
Chocolate for sure! Makes it feel like I’m getting a little treat, while also filling up with protein 🙂
I love matcha! My gym makes an awesome matcha protein smoothie, but I’m sure there’s lots of bad stuff in it too. It’s too good!
Would love to try chocolate
Your 4th grade dress 😉 Classic!
The tracy anderson article was so spot on!
Vanilla….
Thank you for sharing Adam Bornstein’s response! It was incredibly well-written. I am a big believer in doing what you love for exercise, so if people love the Tracey Anderson method, that’s great…but the information she uses to back her method is so uninformed and basically a joke.
Chocolate is my favorite, but I’d like to try banana in a smoothie w/ peanut butter added!!
Banana!
Thank you for being a positive role model for women wanting to get fit in a healthy way – doing the exercise they enjoy! Double kudos for speaking out about policies that discriminate. You rock 🙂
Vanilla is my favorite!
MATCHA! I love it as tea but what I also love doing is putting 1-2 tsp of it into my waffle batter (Kodiak Cakes are my go-to) and having slightly green waffles that taste delicious 🙂
I love the vanilla protein powder!
My fav shake flavour is Chocolate, but I always add frozen banana, so I guess my fav is really choco-banana 🙂
Thanks for sharing those articles at the end of your post. It’s always so sad to see beneficial things like yoga misconstrued into something that it is not.
Hopefully that Bill in North Carolina can be protested, that is craziness! What year is this ?!?
Happy Easter!
That dress! I have a picture of myself as a young girl in that same exact dress :)!
OH MY GOSH! 🙂 love it!
anything banana is my favorite!!
I’d actually love to try strawberry because I’ve tried vanilla and chocolate shakes before.
I feel you on the south. I love it and it will always be home, but come on people! I have hopes that our generation will help move the south out of some of its backwards ways one day.
Vanilla for sure.
I would love to try the sampler pack! I have been trying to experiment with adding more protein into my diet. The banana and strawberry flavors sound extra good!
I I always gravitate to chocolate, but I always prefer the versatility of vanilla.
Those Easter pictures are darling! You all have such a special bond :). I haven’t tried Premier protein, but I would probably try chocolate or vanilla.
I love vanilla with fruit, but chocolate is always a treat!
I most definitely had that same floral dress too! and wore it for easter and mother’s day celebrations.
Great response by Adam Bornstein…thanks for sharing!
The chocolate of course !
I wanted to like matcha but I think i put too much powder in my mug, wow! But, I love my little frother, I can’t have morning coffee without it now, I add coconut oil and vanilla and it blends up so yummy! I have vanilla protein now, the banana sounds delish! Love the pics of your golden’s, such cute faces.
started reading your blog about 5-6 months ago and have enjoyed it (even if yoga to me is a foreign language!!!). You are like almost exactly the same as when you were so little!!! How funny is it that some people’s faces only grow a bit older but stay pretty much the same. Great pics
Thanks for your last comment about the insane discriminatory ordinances that you are encountering in Charlotte. It’s not just the south–there are people all over who wish to restrict rights for those they deem “different” and blogs like yours and comments like you made are so important in the grass roots to overcome and fight for justice for all. I know this is a political type comment on a fitness/food blog, but I really agree with your sentiment and wanted to laud you.
I 2nd the kudos on the non-discrimination comment, Jen. Way to go!
thanks so much guys!
banana and chocolate both sounds yummy!
Vanilla 🙂
Banana and vanilla!
I’ve never tried the pre-made shakes, but I love the chocolate and vanilla powders!
usually just chocolate but the banana is tempting!
I am vanilla all the way!
The New Banana Flavor sounds delish!!!
The south isn’t the only place showing regression into the past….Indiana just signed a bill saying that women cannot choose to have an abortion even if the baby has a “developmental abnormality”, such as triosomy 13 which is fatal anyway…ugh.
my favorite shake flavor is chocolate! Happy Easter 🙂
We try to make sure we have the ready-made protein shakes in the fridge to grab when we are going to be out running errands for a while. The hubby also takes at least one or two shakes with him when he travels for work so he can make sure he can get some decent protein intake. So far, we have stuck with the strawberry flavor of the premier protein shakes since we typically have chocolate or vanilla protein powder…we’re big so excited to see if the banana flavor will be at our SAMs!!!
Chocolate is my favorite shake. Just had one with my oatmeal bowl for breakfast this morning! It satisfies my chockiate milk craving too. 🙂
I need to try matcha. Would love to hear more about how you use it!
I’d love to try Premier Protein’s vanilla. Boring I guess but I’m just experimenting w protein powder for the first time in years!
Try adding matcha to your chia puddings! If you use a coconut base (i.e. coconut “beverage” or 1-2 tbsps full fat coconut milk) the combo of the green tea and coconut flavors make for an exotic chia treat 🙂
Chocolate!
Vanilla is my favorite!
I love the chocolate flavor!
i feel silly even commenting about this but i am so disappointed by your tracy anderson comment. i am a long time reader and like that you have usually refrained from downing other work outs but this was pretty harsh. lots of women have benefitted from her workouts, even if they ignore her comments about only lifting light weights.
Vanilla is my go-to!
I’ve only ever tried vanilla. I like the thought of strawberry thought!
Chocolate is my go-to favorite, always with some banana or peanut butter mixed in. I’d love to try the new banana flavor!
Love vanilla!!! Yum!
I would try the chocolate or vanilla:)
crazy about the chocolate!
Chocolate all the way!
Would love to try banana! 🙂
I’ve been wanting to try premier protein! Chocolate is always a good bet 🙂
Banana! I’ve never tried it
Chocolate for me.
Strawberry is my fave!
Chocolate. ALWAYS chocolate. 🙂
Chocolate is definitely my favorite flavor
Vanilla is my favorite, but I’d love to try the banana!
I would love to try the chocolate. 🙂
chocolate, mmm mmm!
I have been using Latisse too but I am still not convinced. My lashes are longer but still sparse. So without Mascara, I still don’t look like I have lashes. When I finish out what I have, if they don’t look thicker, I will probably stop using it.
how long have you been using it? i feel like it takes a good 4-6 weeks to really start working.
strawberry
Vanilla, but I’d love to try the banana flavor too!
Chocolate is my favorite!
id love to try the chocolate!
I love them all, if i had to chose a favorite it would be vanilla.
chocolate all the way. i am soooo with you on the law thing. it makes southerners look bigoted and backwards which is not the case. and while we are at it im sick of laws that businesses don’t have to provide insurance for contraception cuz its “against their religion”. that is ridiculous ! its basic healthcare ! you cant pick and choose things like this. no discrimination period. LGBT people are not a threat to straight people. a woman taking the pill is not a threat to your religious freedom. things like this fire me up as well. good for you to post about it !
Chocolate, Chocolate and more Chocolate!!!
Since I began my journey, I’ve loved Premier products. The Vanilla is good, and can be changed to any flavor using extracts or sugar-free coffee syrups. I LOVE banana, and would love to try the Bananas and Creme flavor.
I always default to vanilla for my protein powders. It seems to be the most versatile for mixing with different ingredients. I also use matcha powder in my smoothies sometimes. I don’t love it by itself.
I love a vanilla shake and adding seasonal fruits. Recently pineapple is my favorite!!
I have never tried protein shakes but I would love to try the chocolate one. I really enjoy your blog and exercise ideas.
I would love to try banana flavor premier protein!
I would love love love to try the Bananas and Cream Premier shake
My favorite flavor is Chocolate and I sometimes blend it with 1/2 frozen banana, so i would love to try the Banana flavored Premier shake as is! May just be one of my new RTD protein staples!