Hey guys! I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving! (And are now maybe out shopping?) I took a break from social media since Wednesday (i.e. no post), but it was needed even though I felt like I SHOULD be doing something, not only for the blog, but also school projects I need to do, I tried to relax and let the anxiety go away. My Thanksgiving was both just kinda boring, but perfect as well! I have so much to share, but I want to make it an ultimate recap, so I'll post that on Monday! I loved being able to spend the day with my dad. I hadn't seen him since August when I moved in to my dorm! Thus, I'm off now to spend the morning with him before he drives back home to NJ 🙁 So until Monday, I'll keep you in suspense on all my daughter-daddy fun! Have a wonderful rest of the weekend and I hope you score some awesome deals if you're out shopping! (Don't forget to enter my giveaway! You don't want to miss out on this one!)
Saturday: Recipe ReDux #13 Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken
Monday: Power Monday #65 Yoga Is A Feeling
Tuesday: The Ultimate Unique Foodie Gift Guide + {A Spectacular Giveaway}
Blog Posts and Links I loved this week:
Life, Mind, Body, Spirit:
+ Create A Nourishing Morning Routine With These 5 Tips
I like these! Nourish the mind, body, and soul!
+ Why I'm Completely Giving Up The Scale
Rock on girl!
+ 3 Things I've Learned About Being Overwhelmed
You don't have to let it control you.
+ Not Sexy
This girl is amazing!
+ 15 Things Everybody Should Start Making Time For Each Day
Good, good stuff!
You are ALWAYS worth it!
+ 6 Tips To Get Motivated When You're Feeling Depressed
Very good and real tips.
+ 5 Decisions To Avoid For A Regret-Free Life
Yes, yes, yes! No regrets!
+ If I Had My Life To Do Over...
Powerful...
Fitness:
+ 8 Ways To Become A Faster Runner
I'll just work on building up my endurance with miles first 😉
Don't take the easy way out. Do it deep, do it right!
+ How To Modify Exercises (A Beginner's Guide)
Never feel like you can't do something! Just do a variation!
+ 6 Female Strength Training Myths That Won't Die - Busted!
These NEED to die!
+ The Powerlifting & Pole Conundrum
Maybe I'm lucky that I've never had to deal with negative comments...
Food:
+ Chia Seeds: Healthy Or Hype?
Well, I know I love chia seeds in my oatmeal!
Hahahahahaha!
Health:
+ Which Supplements Actually Work?
A lot are just hype without much evidence.
+ 5 Tips For Managing Your Exercise-Induced Asthma
I think I finally grew out of mine!
+ I'm Weary Of The Have A Healthy Holiday Stuffs
My thoughts exactly.
+ How To Strengthen The Immune System Naturally
Get it in Winter shape and stay healthy!
Blogging, Social Media, Tech & Photography:
This is so awesome! I am excited to check this out!
+ 4 Images You Need To Make Your Blog Posts Rock
All for those specific social media outlets!
+ Maintaining A Long-Term Blog
Simply inspiring! So much passion!
+ Five Things To Do For Your Blog Before The End Of 2014
A little maintenance and planning!
+ On Being Present And Blogging
A hard balance to find and maintain.
+ Low Light Photography Tips For The Holidays
This is great!
+ 31 Days Of Writing Prompts For December
I can't believe it is December on Monday!
+ 6 Reasons I Am Thankful For Blogging
Yes to these!
Other:
Real women, real moms, real life.
+ Your Kitchen Sponge Is As Revolting As It Smells
Please be a good sponge keeper....ew!
+ A Mini Guide To Essential Oils
I actually really want to try them!
Hugs are the best!
+ 52 Things You Thought Were True (But Really Aren't)
And now you're smarter than everyone 😉
+ WTF To Do With Thanksgiving Leftovers? Use Them As Beauty Products!
Haha, very creative!
Favorite Pins:
(Follow me on Pinterest – RebeccaGF666)
Red Lentil Mashed Potato Soup. Something to do with those leftover potatoes 😉
Healthy Quinoa Chicken Curry Bowls. The ultimate healthy comfort food!
Grain-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies. Did I also mention their vegan 😉
Chicken Noodle Soup with an Asian Twist. What a fun take on the classic!
Roasted Squash and Vegetable Pizza. I need to make pizza again...
Pumpkin Panna Cotta Tart with Gingersnap Macaroon Crust. There is just so much good things going on here!
The Coziest Sweater. I'd life in this outfit! 🙂
A few things I loved about my week or am grateful for:
+ My daddy and the love only a family can give you!
+ TJs and Whole Foods Stock-up! (Thanks to the dad, haha!)
+ I ran 1 mile outside on Monday! I'm planning on doing it again tomorrow or Sunday!
+ Some other really fun things, but again, I'll share on Monday!
So tell me:
+ How Was your Thanksgiving?
+ Are you out Black Friday shopping or are you going this online route?
+ What was the best thing you ate on T-Day? Let's just say, my dinner was AMAZING!
———————————————-
Stay connected: Facebook: Strength and Sunshine Twitter: @RebeccaGF666 Instagram: rebeccagf666 Pinterest: RebeccaGF666 Bloglovin’: Strength and Sunshine
kimmythevegan
Aw so glad your dad came up to visit you! The holidays are tough when family is far away.
Great roundups - I'm especially looking forward to checking out Nourishing Mornings, Giving up the Scale & Surviving Whole Foods.
Thanksgiving was pretty good for me! Ran a 10km turkey trot and spent black Friday on a 13 mile hike (so much better than shopping ;p).
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
That's awesome! A 13 mike hike! That's killer! I'd take that any day over shopping!
Kaylin @ Enticing Healthy Eating
Happy Belated Thanksgiving to you, Rebecca! Glad your dad was able to visit. Looking forward to the father-daughter time recap. Hmmm...it's hard to pick just one dish that was my absolute favorite this year for Thanksgiving but it's a tie between my sesame stir fry green beans, my mother's cornbread dressing, and this sweet potato casserole with candied nut topping I had at a friendsgiving. All delicious!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Happy T-Day to you too! Wow, that all sounds super delicious! I wouldn't be able to pick either 😉
Michelle @ Vitamin Sunshine
Ahh-- great list as always! I always find new blogs to follow after reading your Friday Finisher. I think I'll just rely on you to sift through everything out there!
It looks like you had a wonderful holiday! I had to work-- late! Life in a foreign country 🙂 But we had a mini- Thanksgiving both the weekend before with my friends, and this Saturday the two of us. My favorite thing was my Grandma's stuffing recipe-- the only really traditional thing I made, and it reminded me of home 🙂
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Haha, I accept that responsibility 100% 😉
That is so great you had a little holiday fun! Anything to bring the warmth or love of home in anyway is always the best! XOXO
GiselleR @ Diary of an ExSloth
I took a break from blog related social media this weekend, and it's been awesome. Sometimes you just need a break!
Hope you had a great time with your Daddy. I only see my parents once a year at Christmas, so I know how it feels to need to spend as much time as possible when them when you can 🙂
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Blogging break was so needed and I fully enjoyed it!
Absence makes the heart grow fonder right 😉 XOXO I hope you had a great holiday!
Erin @ The Grass Skirt
Thank you for including my post on essentials oils. You're so sweet! You should definitely try them. I am hooked! 🙂
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
The whole concept seems so interesting!
Kelsey @ Snacking Squirrel
i love that sweater! thats what i need right about now!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Girl, same here! It just looks so damn cozy and warm!
Liz @ I Heart Vegetables
Thank you for that post from Better With Sprinkles! It was just what I needed to read today!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
That girl is so awesome, right? I'm happy you read it!
Sam @ Better With Sprinkles
Thanks for including me here Rebecca! And thanks so much for the kind words <3
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
XOXO
Katie Ringley
Hey love! I'm so excited to have happened upon your blog from Brittany Lesser (who is my girl lol) and now I'm gonna add you to my little blog lovin 🙂 Love finding new blogger friends!!! YAY!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Hey Katie! I'm so glad you found me then! I just followed you on all your social media, haha! You have a beautiful blog! XOXO
Katie Ringley
Aww yayy!! So glad 🙂
jill conyers
You always have the best collection of link love! My favorite from Thanksgiving is a toss up between the best turkey I've ever made and my Perfect Pumpkin Pie. Yum!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Pumpkin pie is always a winner! I know I missed having mine this year!
Brie @ Lean, Clean, & Brie
Such a great picture of you and your dad! Looks like you had a great Thanksgiving! I can't wait to read your recap. Isn't it great when parents visit and take you shopping?! haha. Hope you have a wonderful weekend!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thank you! Haha, it was the only one that came out 😛 Our waiter offered to take our picture together, but all the others were blurry!
Haha, parents are the best 😉 I am so stocked up now...I think I can make it through these last 3 weeks of school!
Michele @ paleorunningmomma
Can't wait to read some of these since I've been pretty behind on reading with Thanksgiving this week! Just read "what normal looks like" and loved it! Totally relate to that as a mom. I'm completely stuffed with leftovers right now but that pumpkin tart is calling to me! Gingersnap macaroon crust will be mine!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Even though I'm not a mom, haha, I loved that article too!
The gingersnap crust is so legit! It is one beautiful work of art 😉
genevieve @ gratitude & greens
So glad you got to see your dad! Excited to read about it on Monday. Just started reading 3 things I've learned about feeling overwhelmed... so true! I'm trying to apply those lessons in my own life. Hope you had a happy Thanksgiving + have a great weekend!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Have an awesome weekend to love!
Feeling overwhelmed is all to real and so hard to get past. But we can do it!
Sonali- The Foodie Physician
Great links! I love that last pic of you and your dad. Can't wait to read your "ultimate recap" on Monday!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Haha, thank you Sonali! I hop you had a great holiday! XOXO
Linda @ Veganosity
I'm so happy you were able to spend Thanksgiving with your dad. Such a sweet picture!
Great links, thank you! I especially like the weight lifting myths link. It's so true, weight lifting is the best way to lose weight. Cardio is important, but you have to lift if you want great results. I've also saved the link to running faster. That's my goal for the next year.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thank you Linda! XOXO I hope you had a wonderful day too!
I wish everyone would lift and lift HEAVY! It is the best, I can't understand why women are still so scared of it!
Farrah
<3 for "If I Had My Life To Do Over" post! I'm bad about hoarding/saving things for "special" occasions, especially if said thing is expensive, but..at some point, I gotta learn to live a little! 😛
I love the posts you gathered up! :] Lots of great reading material for the weekend! (I need to make pizza again too; that picture looks so good!)
P.S. I hope you had an awesome Thanksgiving, and thanks for including my post! <3!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
That post was so good! And the pizza does look so delicious!
I hope you had a great day too Farrah! XOXOXO
Margaux
Great links - thanks for these! They will give my brain something to think about and unwind over 😀
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Yes! Relaxing reads for the whole holiday weekend!
Alanna
Glad you had a nice Thanksgiving! My favorite from dinner was homemade Utica greens-a traditional upstate NY side dish that I was so happy to be eating in Cali!! Today is my last day of work...trying to convince myself I don't need to buy anything!!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Sounds wonderful!
I just did some shopping with my dad! Crazy because I never buy things, I hate spending money! But some new clothes were had 😉
Marie
LOVE that sweater, looks great for the cozy, snowy times coming 🙂
Denmark is trying to jump on the "Black Friday"-wagon, but the stores haven't really got the concept of "insane-discounts"... it's more like Tax-free days around here. Not that I'm complaining, but c'mon. If you wanna do it, do it right! 😉
So I'm going to do some webshopping instead! YAY 🙂
Happy Thanksgiving to you, girl - and happy shopping!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Huge sweaters are my favorite piece of clothing 😉
Haha, well, at least they are starting with something 😉
Online is much better! You can get deals anywhere in the warm comfort of your home!
Thank you! XOXO
Lauren @ The Bikini Experiment
Great links! Look forward to checking theses out.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thanks Lauren!
Katie | Healthy Seasonal Recipes
Happy Black Friday Rebecca. Glad you had a great Thanksgiving too. The best thing I ate was the stuffing. I wish I wrote down how I made it!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Ah stuffing! I'm just a little sad I didn't get to make mine! I always look forward to it!
Lindsay
what a great pic of you and your dad!! I hope you had a blessed thanksgiving. Love all your wonderful links and thanks for including me (us)!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thank you Lindsay! XOXO We had a great day and I hope you did too!
Natalie
I took a little break yesterday from blogging, and it was much appreciated to be able to focus on my family for an entire day. I love that sweater and outfit at the bottom of the post, and I really, really need to try that pumpkin pie! 🙂
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
It felt so good to not comment of 5050505050 blogs and worry about my own post! I need to do it a lot more often!
jess meddows
Rebecca, more great links! I could get stuck for hours going through these. The blogging and fitness ones in particularly were useful for me. I need to get cracking on a blog plan for 2015, I think! 🙂
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Me too! I want to set some clear goals for 2015!