I need to make a Spring/Summer bucket list. With school coming to an end, I need to start planning what I want to accomplish in my ultimate free time. I don't want to waste one minute, yet I also need the time to relax, recharge, and "re"think. But I want to keep myself on track and find some direction. Last Summer was rather wasteful and I wish I had done more. So I want to change that this year and make it count. My one favorite thing about last Summer was the amount of cooking I did. All the recipes you've seen on the blog this year since the Summer, were taken and made IN the Summer. I;m still not done posting them (there's a lot more!) So even though that helped my situation of being in college and not being able to effectively blog, I want to do more for my blog too this Summer. Anyway, it's time to sit down and make some new goals....after I wrap up a few final projects and what-not for school!
Happy Weekend Dear Friends and happy reading! XOXO
Monday: Gingerbread Doughnuts
Tuesday: 5 Fun Things To Livin' Up Your Spring
Wednesday: Slow Cooker Applesauce Chicken
Blog Posts and Links I loved this week:
Life, Mind, Body, Spirit:
There is a difference!
+ How To Write A Personal Manifesto
I think we should all have one!
+ 39 Insanely Stupid Things You Should Probably Stop Doing
Yea, makes sense!
+ 30 Life Lessons From Thirty Years
These are so great!
+ My Balance Is Not Your Balance
Exactly! We are ALL different!
+ 10 Things That Will Hold You Back From Being Happy
Yes! Work on these and free yourself!
+ What I Wish I'd Learned About Forgiveness (Before It Was Too Late)
Forgiveness is really hard.
+ 7 Beneficial Roles Of Fear That Drive You To Thrive In Life And Business
You can make fear be a good thing.
+ How To Get Through An Emotional Or Physical Setback
This is so needed in my life right now!
+ The Courage To Forge Your Own Path
Don't let anyone, even yourself, stop you!
+ Everything You Wanted To Know About Stress, In One Place
Now all you need to do is read, implement a plan, and practice it!
Fitness:
+ Why I Left Yoga (& Why I Think A Helluva Lot Of People Are Being Duped)
This is an older article, but it has some valid points.
+ Being A Woman In Pursuit Of Strength
Why being a strong woman is the best!
+ How To Write Your Own Running Training Plan
When you want to create some focus or train for a race!
Food:
+ Gluten-Free Restaurant Menus: Ready To Watch Them Disappear?
This is why eating out really isn't safe for Celiacs.
+ 20 Tasty Ways To Wrap And Roll Your Meals
Everyone loves a wrap!
+ 5 Grocery Store Myths That Need To be Stopped
I love debunking myths!
+ Why You Shouldn't Throw Away Cauliflower Greens
Omg! Don't waste them!
+ 10 Foods That Fight Inflammation
Let's just say I need all these right now.
+ Why The FDA Action Against KIND Bars Doesn't Mean They're Unhealthy
I mean...there are MUCH worse brands and products they should be going after...really.
+ Is This The End To Diet Soda?
Seriously, if you are going to poison yourself with soda, you should drink the "real" stuff, diet is even worse!
+ 10 American Foods That Are Banned In Other Countries
America is so stubborn and behind the health times.
+ Why Food Tastes Bad Right After Brushing Your Teeth
It's like torture...so don't do it!
Just eat what you damn want to eat!
Health:
+ 7 Best Nutrients For Healthy Glowing Skin
Good thing is, these nutrients are in so many yummy foods!
Great info on what it is and the symptoms!
+ 9 Things To Know About Nutritional Supplements
Know what's real and what's not.
Sometimes only you can help yourself.
+ Dear FoodBabe: Your Fearmongering Is Making People Unhealthy
Yea....
+ 8 Terrible Eating Habits You Need To Break Now
Yea, you should work on these!
Blogging, Social Media, Tech & Photography:
+ Blogging Communities; Be A Better Blogger
Are all your readers just fellow bloggers?
+ 12 Ways To Boost Your Facebook Posts For Free
I've really been loving Facebook recently! Make sure you follow 😉
+ How To Customize Posts With HTML And CSS
If you want to get extra techie 😉
+ How I Grew My Email List To 5,000 Subscribers In 6 Months
Do you follow me by email? Or an RSS reader?
+ I May Be Too Thin-Skinned For Blogging
Or maybe people are just damn rude on the internet?
+ 40+ Resources And Tools You Need To Create Stunning Visuals
A picture speaks 1001 words...on a blog!
+ How To Make Money From Ads On Your Blog
Let's say I do not make much....at all from what I have right now...
Other:
+ America's Most Beautiful Neighborhoods
O wow. Beautiful for sure!
+ 3 Ways To Pick Up A Skill Faster Than Anybody Else
Gotta be the best 😉
+ 7 Random Times To Brainstorm
I like brainstorming in the shower!
Favorite Pins:
(Follow me on Pinterest – RebeccaGF666)
Coconut Sugar Caramelized Plantains. Well now...that's just...perfect
Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal. I can't even imagine!
Coconut Carob Granola Clusters. It's granola..but better 😉
Gooey Caramel Chocolate Bars with Buckwheat. I just love this flavor combo!
Purple Potato and Romaneso Vegan Pizza. Let's have a pizza party!
Garlic Oven Roasted Vegetables & Chickpeas. This is the perfect simple dish!
Buckwheat Beet & Flaxseed Crackers. These are the most perfect snack!
Super Seed Cinnamon Roll Granola with Cashew Icing. Really...don't you think this is a gift from the granola gods to me?
Spicy Rice with Mushrooms and Snow Peas. I have a craving for some good white rice!
A few things I loved about my week or am grateful for:
+ The weather yesterday was rather nice! 70 and sunny!
+ I'm another week closer to my NJ homecoming! Woooooo!
+ Random, but I finally got my hands on another Asian Pear! I love those things, but haven't been able to find good ones down here! On that note, I also found...wait for it...Silk's Cashew Milk at my shack of a Safeway! I almost cried when I saw it! The glory! I missed it so!
So tell me:
+ Ever have an Asian Pear? They are SO good! Crunchy ,sweet, perfect!
+ Have you made a Spring/Summer bucket list yet?
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Arman @ thebigmansworld
Thanks for sharing, Rebecca! I'm in disbelief...Recipes from last Summer? Dude, you're a machine.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
And I need to start cleaning out that machine to make room for new ones!
Sarah
Thank you for the feature!
LOVE this post - what a great compilation of so many different articles and posts.
Keep up the great work!!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Welcome and thank you!
Emerald Lavender
OMG!!! I had no idea that you had featured me! Thank you so much! Love those caramelized plantains!!! yummo!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Haha, welcome my friend 😉 And o they do look so perfect!
Ariana
Oh my gosh those pins are just killing me!! I have the BIGGEST sweet tooth right now and there are so many delicious-looking things just calling my name haha. Thanks again for another great roundup!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Lots of sweets this week! They're all just too good!
Farrah
Thanks for these awesome links! I'm off to check out some of the blogging ones after I'm done studying for the night! My preceptor gave me the weekend off! :O
I may or may not have started singing the Pokemon theme song after your "Gotta be the best" comment on picking up skills. 😡
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Yay free weekend!
Hahahaha! Childhood!
Alyssa @ Simply Quinoa
As always, your food finds are amazing. I can't wait to try those s'mores waffles. Holy yum! I also read the article about leaving yoga which I thought was super interesting. I felt like she went a bit overboard, but can see where she was coming from. Thanks for sharing!!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Those waffles are just insane!
Yea, it was a bit "much", but some of the points did make sense!
Susie @ SuzLyfe
Thank you so much for shouting out to my post. And I am sorry to be so belated on giving you a full response! I've just hardly been at my computer all week, and I hate responding to those types of things on my phone. but I've got some opportunity this weekend, so look out.
PS these posts are always so incredibly impressive. And they make me sooooo freaking hungry!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Awesome! It's okay! I can't wait to talk to you (I have more to add!)
Hahaha, hungry is good...now go make some food!
Kelly
Hey, thanks for including me! I'm definitely going to check out a ton of the other links!
P.S. I saw in a comment above that you need help with blog design. If you have questions about techie stuff, feel free to email me! And I do designs too 🙂
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
So welcome!
Haha, thanks! I just need some annoying things fixed on this terrible design I have now!
Giada
Thank you so much for including my post (40+ Resources and Tools You Need To Make Stunning Visuals) in the amazing roundup you made here! 🙂
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
And thank you Giada!
Cecilia
Hi Rebecca, going through your list made me hungry 🙂 Great recipes and ideas. Thanks for sharing, and have a nice weekend!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thanks Cecilia!
Beth @ Running with the Sunrise
Seriously awesome posts you've curated here, Rebecca! I'm so honored you included one of mine! Time to get sucked into reading a bunch of these articles for an hour... 😉
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Or maybe 2 hours 😉 Haha! XOXO
Jessica @ Nutritioulicious
Great links and recap of the week. I always find some great articles/posts that I haven't seen on your Friday Finisher posts! Especially love The Kitchn's grocery store myths! Oh, and as for Asian pears, I love them too. I use them in salads, but mostly in the winter.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
They would be PERFECT in salads! O my goodness...now I'm craving that combo!
Sam @ PancakeWarriors
This page has been up on my computer for 45 mins lol I keep getting distracted by articles and pins! Guess that's a good thing 🙂 thanks for always inspiring me! And omg I can't believe you made all of your dishes over the summer, who ate all that food?
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Ahahahaha! It is a good thing!
And yes...Summer was a wonderful time filled with SO much yummy food!
Rebecca
Another great round-up! Thanks for including us 🙂 Let's blow the lid off of the FoodBabe's quackery!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Yes! Let's!
Linda @ Veganosity
Great links, again! 🙂 I especially liked the "39 stupid things..." link. I bookmarked it.
Savannah is definitely one of the most beautiful places I've visited in the states. I'd move there in a heartbeat. However, Hyde Park in Chicago? I lived in the city for a decade and in the burbs for almost 2 decades and I totally disagree. There are so many prettier neighborhoods in Chicago, so many.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Yea, good stuff right? 🙂
Haha, I have not been many places at all! But I'll take your word on that!
Kimberly/TheLittlePlantation
Hi Rebecca,
thanks for this list. I have book marked the blogging elated posts for a read this eve. There is still SO much I need to lear about social media. I'm pretty rubbish at it actually 🙁 and I feel it is part of what's holding me back.
Good luck planning your summer.
K
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
If you ever want to email me for help, DO IT! XOXO
Kimberly/TheLittlePlantation
Rebecca you are so, so kind. I genuinely mean it. Your quiet but consistent support for my blog really toches me 🙂
I would love to take you up on your offer as I feel a little bit lost with it all 🙂
Wishing you a fab weekend.
'Speak' soon
Kimberly
Natalie @ Feasting on Fruit
You and I must've been snooping around similar blogs this week, because many of your recipe links were things I've been drooling over and pinning too 🙂
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
I added some last minute additions too....I really had to many....we foodies are just too great 😉
Ana Valentin
Normally I leave your Friday Finishers in a state of such zen it's ridiculous. But this time.. this time I want to punch the FDA right in their hypocritical faces! How silly are they?! Uh SUPER! I have so many issues with their regulations and UNregulations! So they're attacking the fat in nuts but they won't tackle our huge issues with hormones and additives and you know slowly killing Americans? YEESH! I'm ready to move to europe. please take me away now! Great post Rebecca, and I'm equally as excited for the summer and productivity! I've bombarded my mom with photo after photo of future meals headed her way ( my family isn't a veggie eating family but my mom is the most willing to eat "healthy" foods aka you know.. nutrient dense haha). I have a feeling this summer is going to be a GREAT one, including a visit somewhere with me possibly? Down the shore? Or explore Reading Market in Philly?
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Hahahahahahahah! This is why I think I want to work somehow in food policy and public health so I can fix this crazy mess of a country!
We so need to have a meet-up! I am going to have a lot of free time!
Farrah
<3 READING MARKET IS WONDERFUL IN EVERY WAY!
Sorry for hijacking the conversation. I'll shut up now, but forserious, food heaven. <3
rachel
Great link up share! And... as always... off to check out some of the new reads. 🙂
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Haha, thanks Rachel 😉
Lisa @runwiki
You have a way of carefuly crafting your FF posts. The way you pay attention to every detail is so impressive. My computer is down and I'm on my phone right now (I'm not a huge fan of reading on my phone- I'm old school) however there are several articles this week that peaked my interest-- and pins! Rebecca- I am always so honored and grateful when you include something that I've written in your Friday round up. I can never thank you enough. I am even more grateful that we made a connection -- I feel like you're forever in my circle of friends. That's truly the gift. Have a wonderful weekend. Love you!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thank you, thank you so much Lisa! You are a beautiful blogger and what you write is always so inspiring, I can't NOT share it! XOXOXO
All my love!
Paige @ Your Trainer Paige
My summer goals, as always: hike as many mountains as I can, have as many barbeques with friends as possible, and try lots of new Colorado beer! haha 🙂
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Haha, sounds like it should be a pretty "perfect" summer 😉
Michele @ paleorunningmomma
Lately I haven't been focusing on the tech related stuff with blogging or even the ads and such, and I think it's time I revisit since I know there are improvements to be made! I'm amazed that you created all those recipes last summer! That reminds me of the summer in grad school that I taught myself how to cook. I made something new every single day and by the end of the summer I finally knew what I was doing 🙂 I thought it was pretty productive, and I wasn't even creating recipes or blogging!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
I wish all the tech stuff could be done on it's own! Plus....I need someone to help with my design since my designer was horrible and left me now with nothing....I can't even access my logo and what not myself :/
This summer I plan on taking on some "difficult" things in the kitchen! Should be fun...and major learning experience!
Channing
My spring/summer bucket list is pretty much to go on vacation some where. I haven't been on vacation in over 2 years!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
I've never been on a real vacation ever! Haha! Just Disney World in 4th grade!
Amanda - RunToTheFinish
I love that you always include so much mental stuff and not just fitness, I think it all works together!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Well, this isn't a "fitness" blog.
Jerusha @CitrusSwirl.com
Thank you for these posts! It's like my CNN recap of the world around the internet. I loved the manifesto blog post and what a fantastic idea... And the donuts? Yum...
Have a great weekend!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Hahahaha, The CNN recap! Love it! Thank you so much dear!
Elizabeth @ Enjoy Every Bite
I'm so impressed you made all those recipes last summer! I'm also in the process of setting new goals for my blog to make it better and more manageable for my schedule 🙂 Good luck finishing your semester!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
I basically made one or 2 new things every day! I was so worried, but thank god I did!
Thank you friend! XOXO
Emily @My Healthyish Life
Thanks for including me, friend! It's weird to think that my big item on my summer bucket list LAST year was starting a blog 🙂 So glad I followed through with it! Yes- Asian pears are so good but hard to find!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
And now this Summer, it's time to GROW that baby 😉
I know! I wish I could find an endless perfect supply 🙁