O Friday, these Finisher introductions are never easy to write. I'm not sure what to say, but am pretty sure you just want to get to the weekly links and pins. Am I right? π If I was a Friday Finisher fan, I'd probably skip this part too, no shame! I guess just a few updates. Last weekend my mom and I had a little mother-daughter time. We got some sun at the pool (I haven't been to a pool in at last 2 years!), nice way to cool off quickly as you're sunning. We happened to be close to a TJs so we picked up just a handful of things, 2 of which I've already made into delicious dishes. And of course a nightly walk, which I will always love doing and missed all last year.
Just a simple week here, which has become the motto of summer 2015. Wake-up before the sun, go to bed with the sun, and fill the days with simple things. I guess it's not bad. Some people like whirlwind vacations, going here, going there, others like downtime, and I think that's what I've needed, what I've always needed summer to be.
But the Friday Finisher is perfect for any type of summer, simple or not. You can read while your jet setting on a plane going to Europe, cruising down to Aruba, or chilling poolside with the kids. With that, happy Friday, happy weekend, happy summer!
Monday: Modern Macaroni Salad
Tuesday:Β The Awakening Of Yoga
Wednesday:Β Dijon Tilapia With Peach Zucchini Salsa
Blog Posts and Links I loved this week:
Life, Mind, Body, Spirit:
+ Believing You Are Worth More Than Your Schedule In A Culture That Glorifies Busyness
Never feel like doing less makes you less.
+ Yoga Soul Snack: Don't Take It Personally
Hard to do, but opinions from others don't matter, really.
+ In Defense Of Doing What You Love
This girl. Read her blog!
+ Do Stuff. Fail Well. Learn More. Repeat.
I think that defines life!
+ Post This On Your Bathroom Mirror
Print this out, read it every day!
+ The Lazy Way To An Awesome Life: 3 Secrets Backed By Research
It's about keeping the right people around.
+ Embrace Failure To Meet Your Goals & Be Awesome In Real Life
I've always been a big one on embracing "failure".
+ Feeling Stagnant? 5 Ideas For When You Need A Fresh Start
Education and learning a new skill is always a great way to freshen up!
+ 40 Questions That Will Quiet Your Mind
These are pretty deep.
Fitness:
+ When It Comes To Fitness, One Size Doesn't Fit All
This was such an enlightening post! Read it! I think I found my "right" program for maintaining, but still challenging, awhile ago.
+ 10 Natural Ways To Keep Sitting All Day From Ruining Your Back
I dare you to actually do the exercise ball one while in the office π
+ How To Become Comfortable In Your Own Skin
When what you used to do just isn't right for your body anymore.
+ Is It Okay To Run & Lift On The Same Day And Still Get Results?
This may still surprise some people.
+ Heavy Weights vs. Light Weights
It really just depends on your goal!
+ Half Marathon Training Plan Level 1
A plan like this seems super doable!
+ Interval Workouts: The Rest Is Where The Magic Happens
The actual interval may not be the most important part!
Food:
+ McDonald's Begins Closing Restaurants Across US As Clean Food Movement Sweeps America
Amen! (Starbucks is about to surpass McDonald's in locations!)
+ Understanding Nutrition Claims
Don't be fooled by the labels and words you see.
+ Let's Talk About Being A Vegetarian Who Doesn't Talk About Being A Vegetarian
Super interesting! How you "eat" really shouldn't be that big of a thing and it doesn't need to be if you don't make it so.
+ 5 Mistakes To Avoid When Making Veggie Burgers
There is an art to perfect burger making! But there's still time to learn!
+ 12 Reasons To Quit K-Cup Coffee
My #1, it's disgusting. You don't know coffee is you drink K-Cups (looking at you family!)
+ Yes, I Brought My Own Food To Your Party And Here's Why
Story of my life! Haha! #truelife
+ What Does Heirloom Actually Mean?
Like an heir to the thrown. The thrown of deliciousness!
Holy crap! This is awesome! What a cool DIY!
+ Why You Shouldn't Throw Away Corn Husks
I'm telling you, there need not be any food waste!
+ 13 Super-Nutritious Foods You're Probably Throwing Out
And you don't have to! I will keep reinforcing this to everyone!
Health:
+ Living With Invisible Illness
Those of us with chronic conditions that you can't see on the outside.
+ What To Do When Your Lab Tests Are Normal, But You Still Feel Off
Because this is all too real.
+ 10 Things I Wish I Knew About Celiac Disease
These are all spot on. But #4...for real!
+ Everything Vegetarians Need To Know About Vitamin B12
Your nooch must be fortified!
+ Don't Define Your Diet By What You're NOT Eating
It's about what you ARE eating!
Blogging, Social Media, Tech & Photography:
+ 31 Days Of Writing Prompts For August
I wouldn't feel right if I didn't always include these posts!
+ What Is The Best Blogging Advice You've Ever Received?
I'm not sure I could say what mine is just yet. I feel like I'm still waiting for a revelation.
+ Why Google Thinks Your Blog Comment Is Spam
My god. If you are a host of a link party and you leave a comment and link telling me thanks for sharing on "blah blah" link up, I delete it (or just that part of the comment). So annoying!
+ How Facebook Came To Be The Most Depressing Place On Earth
But we still, and always will. come back.
+ The Writing Tools You Need To Attract Your Readers
A good writer attracts good readers.
Other:
+ On The Importance Personal Of To-Do Lists And How To Stay Accountable
I think this is what I do!
+ I Have No Idea What You're Talking About. And I'm Not Sorry.
Let's all stop pretending and let go of the feeling that we need to already know.
+ 25 Of The Most Ridiculous Things People Got In Trouble For At School
Hahahahahahaha! This makes me feel better!
+ One Of The Biggest Ways College Students Are Ripped Off Is Getting Out Of Control
I'm still sick over the fact that I spent almost $200 on ONE bio textbook and never even opened it. And no, at GW, we couldn't wait to get books, you were expected to have them the first day of class and some teachers would give you a grade!
+ 6 Rules You Need To Follow If You Truly Want To Avoid Office Drama
Because it's kinda like high school.
+Β 5 Unusual Tips To Fake The Perfect Smile In Photos
Great tips if you can remember in the moment! (But hopefully you aren't always faking your smiles!)
+ 5 Reasons I Never Want To Have Kids
I have always used #1 as one of my reasons.
+ 23 Reasons Lazy People Are The Smartest People In The World
#5, #15, #17, #18 π
+ How To Actually Get Into Disputes Over Your Diet
For some more good chuckles π
Favorite Pins:
(Follow me on Pinterest β RebeccaGF666)
Avocado Dill Vegan Roasted Potato Salad. I am a full believer in roasted salads
Smoky Black Bean Burgers with Guacamole and Plantain Chips. Veggie burger + plantains? Um, yes!
Creamy Sweet Corn + Blueberry Ice Pops. I think these win in the popsicle category!
Gluten-Free Chocolate Cake with Cheesecake Frosting & Cookie Crumble. Yea, and this is vegan. This just makes you want to cry tears of joy!
Grilled Salmon Salad with Blueberries and Figs. I just want this for lunch every day! 3 stellar foods in one awesome salad!
Thai Sweet Chili Glazed Salmon. More salmon, because it's just so damn good!
One Skillet Tuscan Chicken. O it's dinner time!
Black Bean Burgers with Cilantro Lime Sauce. Who wants a big bite of that!?
A few things I loved about my week or am grateful for:
+ I got some fun packages from some awesome companies! We're talking Banza and Windy City Organics. I am also blaming WCO on the fact that I opened my first can of pumpkin for a Fall recipe idea yesterday with one of their products. So yes, no shame, there was pumpkin goodness happening in my kitchen...all for the blog π
+ I started a new book! No, not on the Kindle (still holding off, but I might change my mind once school starts!). I'm now reading Always Watching, by Chevy Stevens. She is a great author! Read her books!
So tell me:
+ Jet-setting or relaxing summer?
+ Pumpkin in August. Shame? No Shame? No shame here! I plan on some pumpkin pancakes tomorrow!
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Sherry
No shame about the pumpkin. Once school starts here, I'm all over the Fall stuff.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Haha, pumpkin goodness!
Heather@hungryforbalance
There is no shame in professing (and sharing) your pumpkin love anytime of the year! Thank you for rounding up so many great links! I love that quote from The Angry Therapist. So beautiful.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
I agree 100% π
It's the best right!
Neli @ Delicious Meets Healthy
Great round up of delicious recipes!! I am swooning just looking at all these gorgeous pictures! Thanks so much for including my One Skillet Tuscan Chicken!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
That chicken looks amazing!
Jessica @ Nutritioulicious
So many fabulous links. I especially appreciated (and can totally relate to) the first one about busyness.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Totally!
Farrah
Great links, as always! _>
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Hahaha, thank you π As always!
Michele @ paleorunningmomma
I love freezer fudge π Anyway, loved the article about not pretending to know things anymore! It's strange how we feel we "should" in the first place. Glad you are enjoying some nice down time this summer, I also like things to be simple this time of year because I have less energy to be on the go all the time, that's what the school year is all about.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
I know! You get this like "guilt" feeling if you don't know something...but it's OKAY!
Ah! We need to still meet up!
kenzie negron
that black bean burger looks AMAZING!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Right!?
Angela
I'm so excited to have found your blog. I have a lot of food allergies and have to avoid eggs, dairy and wheat - and I'm always looking for new recipe ideas. The cake looks fantastic. And so does the macaroni salad. I've never heard of chickpea pasta, but I have this gluten-free baking mix that I really like that has chickpea flour in it - so I'm excited to try chickpea pasta!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
I'm so glad you found me Angela! Let me know if you need and help of specific recipes! xoxo
Debbie @ Coach Debbie Runs
Love the links! Really interesting about spammy blog comments. I never knew!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
They kill me!
Margaret
Thank you so much for including my gluten-free chocolate cake recipe!
I'm all about a relaxing summer, no big plans but lots of down time to just tackle projects I've been holding off on. Also, no shame at all with pumpkin in August - I've totally been working on Fall recipes since last month haha #allthepumpkinspicerecipes!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
That cake is going to make many people happy π
That's exactly how summer has been here!
Haha, gotta do it for the blog π
Emily
You donβt know coffee if you drink K-Cups...HaHa. Yes!!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
The truth!
Bianca @ ElephantasticVegan
Awww, thank you so much for linking to my newest post! I'm so happy you enjoyed it π
This summer is all about relaxing and doing nothing... I really enjoy not having planned too many trips because it's the hottest summer like ever and I prefer just hiding at home where it has at least a few degrees less than outside.
I've been seeing pumpkins in the stores already but decided not to buy them yet.. however I know It won't be before too long and I will have to give in because I simply love pumpkins but they go together so well with cold, rainy weather. I'm looking forward to your pumpkin pancakes - sounds like a lovely combination.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Relaxing summers really are good!
I had so many cans of pumpkin in my pantry from last year...so might as well crack them open now!
Rebecca @BeTrulyNourished
Great round-up! Thanks for including us π have a great weekend
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
You too Rebecca!
Liz
You always have the best links!! Thanks for sharing. Have a fab weekend! π
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
You too Liz!
Trish
Looking forward to checking out some of these great links. This one sounds especially interesting to me: Believing You Are Worth More Than Your Schedule In A Culture That Glorifies Busyness.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Right, you don't have to do everything all the time!
Rachel
Thank you so much for featuring my crème brûlée's Rebecca! You have definitely been missing out! But I am so glad you can finally experience them! :p Have a lovely weekend! x
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
It looks simply amazing Rachel!
Jessi Haynes
Reading posts like these gives me such great ideas. Maybe once my blog really takes off and I start posting every day, I'll start doing a Friday recap of that week's posts! Hmmmm
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
So many bloggers do a round-up, however, I may be biased, but the Finisher is the best π
T Austin
That burger looks fantastic! Yum yum!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
They both do!
Katie | Healthy Seasonal Recipes
Writing prompts are sooo helpful. Thanks for sharing that link. Plus love the creme brule and the thai salmon. Yumminess!!!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Those two together would make the ultimate feast!
Emily @ My Healthyish Life
I had a mostly "jet-setting" summer, but I didn't take a plane all of the time. Now I'm enjoying the next two weeks of pure relaxation before school (how is it already time to go back?!).
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Haha, yes you did Emily!
I know! It's not right!
Melanie @ Nutritious Eats
Drooling over all the recipes. Have a great weekend Rebecca and thanks for the reading!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
You too dear!