Friday Faves

Friday Faves

  October 08, 2021    Pratik Bandagale

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Hey hey! How is it Friday already?! I’m not complaining that the week went by quickly, because I’m definitely looking forward to a low-key weekend. Sleeping in each Saturday feels like a magical gift. 😉 We’re going to apple picking (necessary) and I’m putting the finishing touches on the new Fit Team membership site. Access opens next Wednesday and I’m SO PUMPED to share this with you!! Pop it in your calendar if you’ve been wanting to join us, and I’ll be posting details here on the blog Wednesday morning and sending an email to Wait List friends Tuesday night.

I’d love to hear what you have going on this weekend! Any fall activities planned? Any awesome pumpkin recipes you’ve tried lately?

It’s time for the weekly Friday Faves party. This is where I share some of my favorite finds from the week and around the web. I love hearing about your faves, too, so please shout out something you read, ate, wore, or watched this week in the comments section!

Random:

The Pilot and I went to a 1920s-themed auction for the girls’ school and it was such.a.blast. We transferred over to this school before Rona hit and have yet to have a *normal* school experience here. Even so, we’ve been able to meet such wonderful friends and we’re so thankful for the amazing families we’ve met. This was the first true school community event we were able to have over the past two years, so it was an exciting night!! It was the perfect evening – a live band, auction, casino, great drinks, and fun hanging out with everyone.

Good eats + fitness:

We went to a new-to-us poke bowl place and it was RIDICULOUS. The girls’ love for poke bowls never ceases to make me smile – they love foods that I didn’t try for the first time until I was in my 20s – and it’s a build-your-own bowl situation. They have so many different proteins, toppings, and sauces. I couldn’t help but add all.the.things. My bowl had half rice, half salad greens, tuna, salmon, edamame, avocado, seaweed, cucumber, crunchy jalapeño, carrots, and lots of pickled ginger. It was everything. The girls already requested to go back this weekend. 🙂

Veggies are growing like ccrrraaazzyyy. I’m so pumped about our little garden situation that has managed to thrive despite the heat. I’m going to plant some fall/winter veggies, but the ones we have right now are going strong: tomatoes, arugula, chard, mint, onions, carrots, beets, eggplant, and so many cucumbers. Every morning, I’m shocked to see how many cucumbers have popped up overnight!

I’m going to try and pickle some this weekend… we’ll see how it goes.

Trying recipes from Cook Once Dinner Fix. We had one of the beef meal duos this week and it was fantastic. The first one was loaded bacon avocado burgers with sweet potato fries (everyone loved this one!) and the second meal was a Greek-style beef hash with potatoes, meat patties, tomatoes, cucumber, kalamata olives, feta, and tzatziki sauce. Having some new cookbooks has made meal planning much more fun.

If you’re looking for a make-ahead pumpkin recipe, try this oatmeal bake! It’s one of our very faves and I’m going to make a batch to enjoy for quick breakfasts next week.

Fashion + beauty:

Beautycounter holiday is heeeeeere! There are so many cute fall sets right now with some of our bestselling products.

My top picks:

Mini must-haves

This set combines three of my very favorite products: the All Bright C serum, the Overnight Peel, and the Countertime Serum. If you’ve been wanting to try these, it’s the perfect small size to try them out, or you can break apart to add to gifts.

Mini Beyond Gloss Vault

I’m OBSESSED with our lip glosses. They use natural vanilla and are smooth, not sticky. They also have the perfect amount of shine and subtle shimmer. I love breaking these apart to share with friends or to send to clients. Check them out here!

Good Scents Hand Cream Trio

I always put our hand creams in my purse and the girls’ backpacks for the colder months. They smell beautiful and are super hydrating. Check them out here!

Clean Dreams Set

The bestselling overnight peel, my go-to night moisturizer (Countertime Supreme Cream!) and the cutest sleep mask (made from cupro, a silk alternative). Get this one for yourself. 🙂

• Don’t forget, it’s FREE shipping all month on orders over $50! If you use the code CLEANFORALL20 (some exceptions), you’ll also get 20% off. Check it out here!

This dress came in my last Nuuly shipment – I didn’t cancel it in time and got charged, so I got another shipment – and I ended up wearing it like 4 times.

I’ve been wearing this jean jacket constantly – it’s an easy layer piece (or you can tie it around your waist) and it’s a great price for a good-quality jean jacket.

Read, watch, listen:

What crowdpleasing recipes do you know?

Loved this post and perspective on how fitness priorities change after babies.

8 clinically-proven ways to strengthen your immune system.

How to really live in the moment.

Happy Friday, friends!

xo

Gina

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September Reader Favorites

September Reader Favorites

  October 07, 2021    Pratik Bandagale

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I’m rounding up what y’all having been loving and shopping this September. Here are the top 10 products Fitnessista readers purchased this month. 

I love sharing my favorites with you – whether it’s something for the girls, a staple in the Pilot’s closet, or my newest activewear finds – I enjoy sharing what we are using and loving, and love when you love them too!

Here are the top 10 products Fitnessista readers purchased this month:

Farrah Ankle Skinny Jeans

A staple in my closet, I wear them constantly.

Edged Chain Necklace

A simple accessory that goes with most anything! I get a ton of compliments on it, too.

Sage Midi Tank Dress

Can dress up or down, this tank dress is perfect for Arizona weather year-round.

Crimini Slipdress

Elegant yet comfortable, I love the thin straps and tasteful slit. I didn’t end up keeping this one from Trunk Club because they sent a green floral pattern; I love to wine color!

Print Clare Tee

I wear this comfy tee on repeat.

Lipton Peplum Top

This one looks weird on me haha but a lot of you loved this top!

The Perfect Back Seam Skinny Pants

If you’re heading back to the office these days, these black skinny pants are stylish and comfortable.

These furry mules!

Tom makes fun of me, but I love these things.

H2O Lip Tint

Always have this in my purse! It adds a tiny hint of color and is moisturizing.

Jasmine Safari Long Sleeve Midi Dress

I didn’t end up keeping this from Trunk Club, but am wondering if I should have…

 

So tell me friends: any fave products from September?

Have a great day and I’ll see ya soon!

xo,

Gina

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Trunk Club Delivery And How It Works For Women’s Clothing

  October 05, 2021    Pratik Bandagale

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Trunk Club is a service that lets you try clothes and accessories without ever leaving your home. Read about how Trunk Club works here, plus my latest shipment details. This isn’t sponsored, but you can use my link for $50 off your first trunk!

Hi friends! How’s the week going so far? I hope you had a lovely weekend. We had an auction at the girls’ school (so fun!!) and celebrated a promotion that the Pilot had at work. Good things all around. For today’s post, I wanted to share a recap of my latest Trunk Club and a review of how it works. I’ve been a fan of Trunk Club for years and it’s a fun way to try new things and seasonally refresh my wardrobe. I typically only get shipments every couple of months, but since my last shipment was so great, I requested another one.

Trunk Club Delivery And How It Works For Women’s Clothing

How Trunk Club Really Works

What is Trunk Club?

Trunk Club is a personalized styling service that enables you to try Nordstrom clothes, shoes and accessories at home before deciding what you’d like to purchase. Your Trunk is curated by a Nordstrom stylist, and you’re able to interact with them through the handy Trunk Club app. It’s convenient to message your stylist and let them know what types of pieces you’re looking for and give them instant feedback on their suggested items.

When you first set up your account, you’ll complete a short style questionnaire. Your stylist uses these quiz results to determine styles you like as well as your current sizing. Next, you’re introduced to your stylist, who will curate items just for you. You have the opportunity to preview the items before they’re sent (as well as reject or replace items you don’t like or need) and try everything on once it arrives on your doorstep. From here, you pay for the items you want to keep, send the rest back, and repeat as often as you’d like. 😉 I LOVE that everything is from Nordstrom, so I know it’s going to be high quality pieces from my favorite brands.

How much does Trunk Club cost?

Trunk Club charges a $25 styling fee, which goes towards any products you decide to purchase. If you have a Nordstrom credit card, the styling fee is waived. It’s a subscription service, but you don’t have to receive deliveries on a fixed schedule; you can simply request a new trunk whenever you’re in the mood.

How Delivery Works

Delivery is always SUPER fast and I’m constantly surprised by how quickly I receive my trunks. When you get the box on your doorstep, it feels like Christmas.

Return Shipping

Return shipping is very easy. You just put everything back into the original box, affix the prepaid label to the front, and seal, using the enclosed tape. From here, you can request a free UPS pickup (they’ve also used FedEx) or drop it off at the closest location.

Reviewing Items

This is the obviously the best part of the process! It’s a nice way to nudge me out of my comfort zone and I’m constantly finding new styles and brands I like, thanks to my amazing Trunk Club stylists. I also love when they include sample outfit ideas in their suggestions, using pieces I’ve kept from previous Trunk Club deliveries. They always take my preferences to heart and are guaranteed to send at least a couple of pieces that I’ll wear on rotation.

Here are the goods that I received in my latest shipment.

1. Pistola Cam Paperbag Waist Jeans

I’m on the fence about these ones. Why are pants so weird right now? And why do so many styles make your butt look long and flat lol? Verdict: return

2. River Island Space Dye Off the Shoulder Top

I liked the neutral color and fit of this one and am constantly on the hunt for cute everyday tops. At the same time, I didn’t love the fit or the fabric. Verdict: return

3. River Island Floral Button-Up Shirt

Button-up shorts are my fave, but this one felt kind of meh to me. I wasn’t crazy about the print. Verdict: return

4. Treasure & Bond Plaid Boyfriend Shirt

Plaid shirts look cute, but I feel like a lumberjack most of the time. I have a few from Rails and wasn’t sure if I’d keep this one. It’s incredibly soft and I can tell I’ll wear it a lot with jeans and leggings. Verdict: keeper

5. WAYF Lipton Peplum Top

I thought this was going to be a keeper before they sent this shipment and figured this would be cute with jeans, booties, and hoops. I’m constantly looking for everyday blouses that look put-together. When I put on this one, I knew it was all wrong. It looks like jousting attire lol. Verdict: byyyeeeeee

6. Rails Beatrice Printed Tie Waist Long Sleeve Midi Dress

Rails is one of my favorite brands, so my stylist usually includes 1-2 Rails items (that I keep most of the time!). I LOVE this dress. (There are limited sizes at Nordstrom right now, but it’s here at the Rails site.) The fit is perfect, the print is understated, it’s the Rails quality that I adore, and I know I’ll wear it a ton this with heels, booties, and sandals. Verdict: keep!

7. Madewell Sweetheart Thong Bodysuit

Keeper! Can dress it up or down and another cute everyday shirt option.

8. MOTHER Fray Hem Bootcut Jeans (pic above)

I’m so weirded out by the fact that bootcut jeans are back! What are you thinking about this? Yes? No? I have to say, I love bootcut jeans but I don’t know if I’m ready to transport back to the early 2000s. Skinny jeans are still my #1. Verdict: not sure!

9. BB Dakota by Steve Madden Textured Long Sleeve Shift Minidress

Adore this color for fall and the fit. It doesn’t get too cold here for a couple of months, so I’ll definitely get some wear out of this one. The only bummer is that it’s a bit see-through, so I’ll wear my Spanx shorty leotard underneath it. Verdict: keeping

10. Paige Raundi Shoulder Cutout Wool Blend Sweater

I knew I was going to love this sweater, but at $250, it wasn’t worth it to me. Verdict: sending back. 

11. PF Candle Company Pumpkin Soy Candle

I added this to my shipment when I saw it as a potential add-on. One of my fave things about using the app is that you can easily add in everyday essentials, athletic wear, accessories, beauty products, and home goods. I’ll typically add in a Madewell v-neck tee, some Zella clothes, or sunglasses/jewelry. The pumpkin candle is amaaaaazing and makes the house smell beautiful.

How does Trunk Club compare to Stitch Fix?

Stitch Fix was a fave of mine for so many years, but the quality went downhill, as well as the styling. I was constantly disappointed by my fixes, or I would end up keeping something to have it fall apart in the wash. I stopped using Stitch Fix for myself, and exclusively use Trunk Club now, but will still use Stitch Fix occasionally for the kids. Our last fix was a giant flop for fall clothes for them, so if you have a kids’ styling service you adore, please let me know! (I was bummed when Mac and Mia closed down because they were the best for kids’ clothes.)

So tell me, friends? Have you tried Trunk Club? If you haven’t yet, use my link for $50 off your first delivery. It’s my fave personal styling service and I hope you love it as much as I do!

xo

Gina

More Trunk Club posts:

September 2020 Trunk Club review

Spring 2021

September 2021 Trunk Club review

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September 2021 Reads

  October 04, 2021    Pratik Bandagale

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Sharing the books I read in September and if I’d recommend them!

Hi friends! How are ya? I hope you’re enjoying the day so far. I’m looking forward to getting some things together for P’s birthday, and also working on some house stuff. For today’s post, I’m excited to share last month’s reads because they were GOOD ones. I’m still holding strong with my goal of 3 books per month, but this month was a little trickier than others. I’ve been SO tired at night lately, I just want to crash as soon as I get the girls to bed. Somehow, I made it happen.

Here’s a recap of the goods for September!

September 2021 Reads

1. The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina by Zoraida Córdova

I received this one from my Book of the Month subscription and was really looking forward to it. I adore magical realism, and this book’s style reminded me of two of my most beloved authors: Isabel Allende and Gabriel García Márquez. This book was a bit slow to start for me, but the story was complex and layered, and the type of book that sticks with you for a long time. It has deep character development, a story that spans across two lifetimes, and the tiniest bit of magic (that makes it seem very real). 9/10 would recommend.

From Amazon:

The Montoyas are used to a life without explanations. They know better than to ask why the pantry never seems to run low or empty, or why their matriarch won’t ever leave their home in Four Rivers—even for graduations, weddings, or baptisms. But when Orquídea Divina invites them to her funeral and to collect their inheritance, they hope to learn the secrets that she has held onto so tightly their whole lives. Instead, Orquídea is transformed, leaving them with more questions than answers.

Seven years later, her gifts have manifested in different ways for Marimar, Rey, and Tatinelly’s daughter, Rhiannon, granting them unexpected blessings. But soon, a hidden figure begins to tear through their family tree, picking them off one by one as it seeks to destroy Orquídea’s line. Determined to save what’s left of their family and uncover the truth behind their inheritance, the four descendants travel to Ecuador—to the place where Orquídea buried her secrets and broken promises and never looked back.

Alternating between Orquídea’s past and her descendants’ present, The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina is an enchanting novel about what we knowingly and unknowingly inherit from our ancestors, the ties that bind, and reclaiming your power.

2. The Ride of a Lifetime by Robert Iger

This book has been highly recommended – Ashley and Chalene both said it was excellent so I had it on my mental radar – so I was excited to listen to this one on Audible. I ended up blasting through it within a few days. (I love audiobooks and podcasts while I’m walking with the pups or doing chores.) Whether you’re looking for some personal development tips, a memoir, Disney scoops (this is a must-read for Disney fans), it checks all of the boxes. It was heartwarming, inspiring, and fascinating. 10/10 would recommend!

Robert Iger became CEO of The Walt Disney Company in 2005, during a difficult time. Competition was more intense than ever, and technology was changing faster than at any time in the company’s history. His vision came down to three clear ideas: Recommit to the concept that quality matters, embrace technology instead of fighting it, and think bigger – think global – and turn Disney into a stronger brand in international markets.
Fourteen years later, Disney is the largest, most admired media company in the world, counting Pixar, Marvel, Lucasfilm, and 21st Century Fox among its properties. Its value is nearly five times what it was when Iger took over, and he is recognized as one of the most innovative and successful CEOs of our era.

In The Ride of a Lifetime, Robert Iger shares the lessons he learned while running Disney and leading its 220,000-plus employees, and he explores the principles that are necessary for true leadership, including:

Optimism. Even in the face of difficulty, an optimistic leader will find the path toward the best possible outcome and focus on that, rather than give in to pessimism and blaming.

Courage. Leaders have to be willing to take risks and place big bets. Fear of failure destroys creativity.

Decisiveness. All decisions, no matter how difficult, can be made on a timely basis. Indecisiveness is both wasteful and destructive to morale.

Fairness. Treat people decently, with empathy, and be accessible to them.

This audiobook is about the relentless curiosity that has driven Iger for 45 years, since the day he started as the lowliest studio grunt at ABC. It’s also about thoughtfulness and respect, and a decency-over-dollars approach that has become the bedrock of every project and partnership Iger pursues, from a deep friendship with Steve Jobs in his final years to an abiding love of the Star Wars mythology.

“The ideas in this book strike me as universal,”, Iger writes. “Not just to the aspiring CEOs of the world, but to anyone wanting to feel less fearful, more confidently themselves, as they navigate their professional and even personal lives.”

3. Cook Once Dinner Fix by Cassy Joy Garcia

As someone who is ALWAYS looking for new weeknight dinner inspo, I was pumped to check out this book. (This one was gifted by Cassy’s PR team after she was a guest on the podcast). The concept behind this cookbook is that you prep the protein for two meals at the same time. This way, when you make the second meal, the *meat* of the dish is already finished. I love the idea of setting yourself up for success (especially since weeknights are so bonkers) and I can’t wait to try some of these recipes. 9/10 would recommend.

From Amazon:

Never throw out your leftovers again with these delicious and healthy meals designed to transform into an entirely different dish the next night from best-selling author Cassy Joy Garcia.

As a busy mom of two, Cassy Joy Garcia, the best-selling author of Cook Once, Eat All Week, has limited time to get food on the table. With this book, she shares a fresh approach to preparing dinner in a hurry. These 120 easy, delicious recipes are designed to use the leftovers from one recipe to quickly cook a completely different meal the next day.

While most meal-prep cookbooks require you to plan your entire week ahead of time and spend hours in the kitchen (and a small fortune on groceries), Cook Once Dinner Fix shows you how to utilize the leftovers from one meal to create an entirely new creation for the next. The leftover Roasted Garlic Turkey Breast transforms into Spiced Turkey Potato Soup, and Dry-Rubbed Barbecue Brisket becomes crowd-pleasing Cheesesteak-Stuffed Peppers. No matter your favorite flavor profile or dietary restrictions, this book is packed with recipes the whole family will enjoy.

The Cook Once Dinner Fix solves the “what’s for dinner” question without requiring enormous amounts of time, energy, skill, or money. Now dinnertime can be fun, fast, affordable, and sustainable.

4. Dreena’s Kind Kitchen by Dreena Burton

I shouted this book out in Friday Faves, but it needed another mention. Two of the recipes are on our meal plan for this week! (Ok, one of them is a cookie.) Dreena Burton has been one of my long-time favorite cookbook authors and some of these faves are still my go-tos, all of these years later. She uses whole foods in her recipes (instead of vegan substitutes that are packed with chemical ingredients) and they’re always family-friendly and bursting with flavor. 10/10 would recommend, especially if you’re vegan or a non-vegan who adores vegan food, like yours truly.

From Amazon:

Dreena Burton has been creating plant-based, whole-food recipes for more than 20 years. Home cooks know they can trust her recipes to turn out great—and to be delicious! Now, she has created this one-stop resource for making kinder, more compassionate food choices, for other beings, for the planet, and for yourself. Whether you need weekly staple meals for your family or want a dish to wow your friends for a special occasion, Dreena’s Kind Kitchen has you covered with these reliable, flavorful, and healthy recipes.

You’ll find a variety of breakfasts, salads and dressings, small bites, soups, entrées, and sweets, including:

•  Lemon-Poppyseed Muffins

•  Wow ’Em Waffles

•  Potato-Cauliflower Scramble

•  Chipotle Chickpea Fries

•  White Bean and Corn Chowder

•  Pressure Cooker Quicken Noodle Soup

•  Truffle-Salted Nut Cheese

•  Beyond Beet Burgers

•  Fiesta Taco Filling

•  Italian Ratatouille

•  Holiday Dinner Torte

•  1-Minute Pasta Alfredo

•  Crackle Blender Brownies

•  Mango Carrot Cake

•  Heavenly Baklava

Dreena also shares a cooking troubleshooting section so you can boost your kitchen skills. With helpful guidance on techniques, time-saving tips, and suggestions for repurposing leftovers into delicious new dishes, this dependable resource will boost your cooking confidence and help you find success in your own plant-powered kitchen.

So tell me, friends: what did you read in September? Any showstoppers?

xo

Gina

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Friday Faves

Friday Faves

  October 01, 2021    Pratik Bandagale

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Hi friends! Happy Friday! What are you up to this weekend? I’m looking forward to sushi with some friends, an event for the girls’ school, and ALL the fall decorating. I wanted to drag everything out this past week, but didn’t end up getting the chance. Also, it makes me laugh to scroll Instagram and see pics of towering REAL pumpkins on doorsteps. They would last about 5 minutes here until the javelinas excitedly swarmed their pumpkin buffet.

(Always the fake outdoor pumpkins. I painted that one years ago and I’m surprised how long it’s lasted!)

It’s time for the weekly Friday Faves party! This is where I share some faves from the week and around the web. I always love to hear about your faves, too, so please shout out something you’re loving in the comments below!

Fitness + good eats:

Fit Team beta tester feedback! The feedback for the Fit Team workouts has been SO amazing and we wrapped up Beta testing this week.

Here’s what some friends had to say:

I’ll be opening up spots for Fit Team next week, so stay tuned for more details. It will be the last time I open enrollment for 2021. If you want first dibs and a special bonus for signing up (free macro guide) – make sure you’re on the wait list here.

I’ve been doing the Fit Team SQUATOBER workouts (my legs are sore lol) and can’t wait to hear what you think about them. 🙂

(bike shorts are here! These are the best ones for quality and fit that I’ve found)

Food-wise, I feel like my cooking mojo has finally returned. I’ve made dinner most nights this week and also ordered Dreena Burton’s newest cookbook, Dreena’s Kind Kitchen. She’s one of my very faves, so I’m pumped to try some new recipes! Everything is vegan and I love that she uses whole-food ingredients in her recipes. The kids tend to love them, too!

You need these pumpkin spice protein balls in your life

Made this short rib ragù this past week with gluten-free gnocchi and it.was.awesome.

Smoky red lentil soup with spinach

Full fall fitness plan

Whole wheat pumpkin muffins

Fashion + beauty:

FREE SHIPPING for the entire month on orders over $50. This has never been done before for an entire month!! Here is my link to check it out and a post with my Beautycounter faves here.

(Always the peel and the All Bright C Serum)

Sweater weather! Love this slouchy one.

Ideas for your fall 2021 wardrobe are here!

Read, watch, listen:

Latest podcast episode with Esther Blum is here

This return of Broadway medley. Major chills.

We’ve been watching the Harry Potter movies with the girls. We’re halfway through #4 but I’m wondering if it’s going to get too scary for them! I’ve read mixed reviews online. Anyone with kiddos similar ages that can share their experience? They keep begging to finish them but I don’t want them to have nightmares.

Do you and your partner have a song?

If it brings you joy, it’s not “wasting time.”

Happy Friday!!

xo

Gina

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