Happy almost Valentine’s Day!!! I have a feeling it’s only to be a love (chocolate) filled weekend! Hopefully all that will keep the cold away! The temperature has plummeted the last few days and the wind…crazy!!! I think there’s a high of maybe 15 tomorrow :/ Not used to that! Needless to say, this is the perfect weekend then to celebrate V-day by cozying up under some blankets and enjoying some celebratory pancakes! And if you need something to watch on Sunday, The Walking Dead is coming back on! Add some scary to your love 😉
By the way, head over to my instagram and make sure you’re entered to win my Enjoy Life Foods Valentine’s Day giveaway! The winner gets a love-filled box of pancake & waffle mix, dark chocolate morsels, a free product coupon, and a HEART-SHAPED pancake mold! I know, it’s some great allergy-free stuff 😉 (The giveaway ends Sunday night!!!) And with that I’ll leave you to browse this week’s Finisher, finish planning your Valentine’s Day treats and prepare for a lovely weekend! Self-love and pampering or sharing the day with your love bug(s), I hope you have a wonderful weekend!
Monday: Peanut Butter Espresso Banana Bread
Tuesday: Freedom Feature: Casey Cromwell ” The College Celiac”
Wednesday: Baked Yucca (Cassava) Fries
Blog Posts and Links I loved this week:
Life, Mind, Body, Spirit:
+ The Naked Truth: I Kind Of Hate The “Love Your Body” Trend
Agreed 100%!
+ 50 Thoughts That Can Motivate You To Do Anything
That’s right, anything!
+ 10 Things Enormously Productive People Refuse To Do
Lessons learned!
The most important investment!
Such a great visualization practice!
+ 5 Things To Tell Yourself When Feeling Down
Time to try and raise yourself up!
All too real! Let’s vow to “ruin” overthinking!
+ To Anyone Who Thinks They’re Falling Behind In Life
Read this, read this, read this!
+ 10 Smart Moves To Make When Nothing’s Going Right In Your Life
We can make things right, little by little!
Fitness:
+ The One Big Mistake Most Runners Make
I knew I was on to something 😉
+ The Colossal Failure Of Modern Yoga
There are no standards anymore. Any joe’shmo can get “certified” but it meas nothing.
Food:
+ This Is What You Need To Know About Kitchen Mixers
Every type and how to use them!
+ The 50 Foods Each State Is Known For
I don’t agree with NJs…
+ Enough Already With The Bone Broth Hype
Haha! Thank you! Just more silly unsupported claims to confuse the world 😛
Health, Celiac Disease & Food Allergies:
+ Gluten Sensitivity vs. Celiac Disease
Big HUGE difference.
+ Gluten Freedom And The Ethics Of Withholding A Celiac Diagnosis
When I heard about this, I seriously felt sick. This is insane! Why you you purposely and potentially kill your child just so they can still eat a damn gluten-filled cookie?!
Nailed it home again. There is no “one” definition.
Blogging, Social Media, Tech & Photography:
+ 7 Reasons Your Follow-Up Email Isn’t Effective
Believe me…I WILL follow up on you!
+ 6 Amazing Websites That Will Upgrade Your Business Skills
I see some new ones to stalk!
+ How To Make Your Own Lightbox For Under $7
One of these days….
+ I Secretly Turned My Wife’s 8 Years Of Blog Posts Into A Hardcover Book She Could Sell
Omg! This is the sweetest surprise!
+ 8 Ways To Find Trending Topics And Key Words
This has become a fun obsession of mine 😛
+ How To Promote Your Blog With 105 Blog Promotion Tactics
For each and every platform!
+ Sexy Scrumptious Food – How To Use Words To Sell Your Edible Sensations
A food blogger’s guide to making food sexy 😉
+ Fix These Overlooked SEO Opportunities In 10 Minutes Flat
Great tips you should be implementing!
+ 8 Things Bloggers With Non-Bloggers Knew
It is NOT a walk-in-the-park.
+ 10 Simple Edits That’ll Instantly Improve Any Piece Of Writing
Good stuff, good stuff!
Other:
+ 27 Worst Things About Going To Stock Photo University
Bahahahahaha!
+ Horror Films Are far Scarier Than In The Part, Here’s How
Some old movies are actually pretty creepy, if not scary! I think the oldness adds to the charm of the creepiness, you know?
Favorite Pins:
(Follow me on Pinterest – RebeccaGF666)
Longevity Noodles with Black Sesame and Crispy Shallots. This is a stunning noodle bowl!
Falafel Salad with Orange and Lemon Tahini Dressing. Perfect falafel, if I do say so!
Vegan Chocolate Pie with Pecan Crust. Any Valentine would approve 😉
Gluten-Free Vegan English Pancakes. Look at the thin crepeiness!
Creamy Sundried Tomato Hummus. I love the smokiness of sundried!
Mini Chocolate Layer Cake. For you and your Valentine 😉
Pan Seared Salmon with Wild Rice in Coconut Curry Broth. Who wants dinner?!
Peri Peri Warm Chicken Salad with Lime Dressing. I’ve been making chicken salads all week this this chicken recipe!
Slow Roasted Salmon with Meyer Lemon Gremolata. I need to slow roast!
Beet & Chickpea Pasta with Lemon Tahini Sauce. Everything I love!!!
A few things I loved about my week or am grateful for:
+ Daiya cream cheese. 😀
+ The satisfaction you get from finished 2 formal lab reports and a 3 page ethics essay….time to relax!
So tell me:
+ Breakfast in bed or fancy dinner (for V-Day)?
+ Have you tasted the greatness that is Daiya cream cheese? I’m late to the game here, but I haven’t had “cream cheese” in, um like, 5 years!?
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Barbara says
February 15, 2016 at 5:07 pmValentine’s Day was a fancy steak dinner at home. Too cold to go out. 🙂 Great post. Have a wonderful week.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
February 15, 2016 at 6:03 pmThat’s for sure!
Emily says
February 14, 2016 at 9:26 pmGreat roundup…as always. 🙂
I enjoyed the post the habit loops. Creating habits is such a great way to reach goals and the habit loops are a great visual!
The coschedule post on how to promote your blog: I found great info on e-mails and will be making some changes. Thanks for sharing!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
February 14, 2016 at 11:11 pmWonderful!
Amy Jones says
February 14, 2016 at 12:08 pmIm totally hungry now ! All of these pics look incredible! I’m going to try to make some of this dishes home
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
February 14, 2016 at 12:39 pmFantastic! Have fun!
Sam @ PancakeWarriors says
February 13, 2016 at 1:23 pmDave and I are actually meeting my parents for dinner tonight (out of the blue request from my parents, I’ll take it). Otherwise, weekend at home working and hopefully getting some relaxing in. It’s chilly here to and might snow on Monday so I guess I should hit up the store so I don’t run out of coconut milk or coffee 🙂
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
February 13, 2016 at 1:49 pmIt’s like 5 degrees here! I just stocked up on groceries too! They say it will snow Monday :/
But a dinner out sounds fun! Pre-V day hoorah!!
Lucie says
February 13, 2016 at 10:39 amYum! I love that falafel salad <3 all those flavors! And that overthinking article really hit close to home 😀 thanks for shraing!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
February 13, 2016 at 11:16 amI think that calls for some “mindless” falafel making 😉
Lucie says
February 13, 2016 at 12:21 pmOh absolutely! I’ll mindlessly stuff my face with it right after too
Harriet Emily says
February 13, 2016 at 5:47 amLove love love the 105 blog promotion tactics! It was so helpful! Thank you for sharing so many great links 🙂 hope you have a great weekend!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
February 13, 2016 at 6:20 amThat post was packed! I need to really give it a look again!
Thanks dear! Happy weekend!
Bianca @ ElephantasticVegan says
February 13, 2016 at 5:20 amThis is going to be the awesomest Valentine’s Day because of Walking Dead! I can totally see me and my boyfriend munching on a Chocolate Lovers Cake and starring onto the TV screen. We LOVE walking dead – I’m so excited!
Oh and I’d take a fancy dinner over breakfast in bed anytime… but HOMEMADE fancy dinner 🙂
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
February 13, 2016 at 6:19 amHahaha! Scary Valentine’s win! And yes! Always homemade for any and every meal! Cheers my dear!
Farrah says
February 13, 2016 at 3:30 amHeart-shaped pancake mold? I am IN, haha. :]
I liked Carla’s post on habit loops and the “falling behind in life” article too!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
February 13, 2016 at 3:59 amThey were both great reads!!!
Yes! Pancakes should always be hearts anyway!
Farrah says
February 17, 2016 at 7:19 pmSO EXCITED TO USE IT TO MAKE GLORIOUS THINGS. <3 hehehe, thank you again!!!
Crystal W says
February 12, 2016 at 7:01 pmThat Stock Photo University list is hilarious! Where are all the kids in PJ pants and messy buns? 😉
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
February 12, 2016 at 7:02 pmI’m assuming you’re not in college?
Chrissa - Physical Kitchness says
February 12, 2016 at 6:46 pmThat state article was interesting! I’m from North Dakota and have had bison burgers maybe like twice in my life. So funny!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
February 12, 2016 at 6:56 pmWho ever put it together did not do a good job :/
Michele says
February 12, 2016 at 5:59 pmThat’s the cutest little chocolate layer cake! I know I’ve said it but you really have the best links in these posts. Oh and I need to go enter that giveaway 🙂
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
February 12, 2016 at 6:01 pmDo it!!! Then you can make chocolate chip heart pancakes 😉
Kristy @ Southern In Law says
February 12, 2016 at 5:24 pmHappy Friday, gorgeous girl!! I hope you have a wonderful weekend!
Way to go on finishing up your reports and essays! There’s no better feeling than handing a project over and knowing you don’t have to worry it anymore!
I totally get your cream cheese excitement. I couldn’t live without cream cheese, haha!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
February 12, 2016 at 5:26 pmI think for some reason I always thought Daiya had soy…but no! Totally allergy free! Haha!
And thank you dear! xoxo
Angela @ Happy Fit Mama says
February 12, 2016 at 4:23 pmAhhhhh…I’m so excited for The Walking Dead to be back. The best Valentine’s Day gift, right? 🙂
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
February 12, 2016 at 4:46 pmHahahaha, a little unconventional, but yes 😉
Kris | iheartwellness.com says
February 12, 2016 at 1:49 pmI LOVE everything under life, mind, body, spirit! Gawddd I could relate to all of these and love soaking it all in.
Happy FRIYAY!!
xxoo
Kris
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
February 12, 2016 at 3:07 pmHappy reading Kris!!
And have a fantastic weekend!
Linda @ Veganosity says
February 12, 2016 at 12:55 pmAmen to The Naked Truth article! Bone broth is just disgusting. Think about what that actually is! Code Academy is going to get a long look from me. Thanks for the great links and have a happy Valentine’s Day!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
February 12, 2016 at 1:31 pmI know….All those silly trends like juicing and what not…let’s just stick to 3 liquids…water, coffee, and tea 😉
Happy V-Day Linda!!!!
rachel @ Athletic Avocado says
February 12, 2016 at 12:19 pmNo wonder why you don’t agree with Nj’s food, I hate salt water taffy’s! They are literally just eating pure sugar!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
February 12, 2016 at 12:38 pmWe have MUCH better things…like…no.
Natalie | Feasting on Fruit says
February 12, 2016 at 12:17 pmThat mini layered one with the sprinkles takes the cake (pun intended) for cuteness! And I love that half the cake is one serving too 🙂 And the stock photo post, oh man, so creepy and funny all at once hahaha! Sounds like you are killing it on the homework front though, does that mean free time for the weekend? I hope so. And I hope you don’t freeze! xoxo
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
February 12, 2016 at 12:37 pmI know! She’s a genius 😉
Haha, it made me laugh while I was scrolling through my phone at like 1am 😛
Yes! Free time…and kitchen to myself…new recipe time!!! (INSIDE!!!)
Amber says
February 12, 2016 at 11:08 amWell, now I’m hungry!
My husband and I will be watching The Walking Dead.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
February 12, 2016 at 11:44 amI’ll be watching it the next day online 😉
Trish says
February 12, 2016 at 10:20 amWhat a fun round up! I want to check out the link and discover what foods each state is known for. BTW that Mini Chocolate Layer Cake looks AMAZING.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
February 12, 2016 at 10:54 amIsn’t it so fun!
Leah M @ love me, feed me says
February 12, 2016 at 10:03 amGreat links as always!! I still haven’t tried Daiya cream cheese, but I’ve been eyeing it up a lot lately! I think you may have just convinced me 😉
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
February 12, 2016 at 10:53 amDo it!!!!! From what I remember, it tastes like the real deal 😉
lacey@fairytalesandfitness says
February 12, 2016 at 8:04 amAll those dishes look delicious! I am not vegan but that pie looks so tasty. I wonder if it tastes like the real thing?
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
February 12, 2016 at 8:12 amOf course! Vegan is always better!
Susie @ SuzLyfe says
February 12, 2016 at 6:37 amGluten sensitivity vs gluten intolerance vs Celiac. SUCH an important distinction. Just like Crohn’s vs UC vs IBS. So sosososo different, yet many overlapping similarities.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
February 12, 2016 at 6:59 amYes, yes! And it always gets “lost in translation” :/