Happiest of Fridays, friends! To say I’ve been a stranger around these parts would be a vast understatement, but a lot has been going on in my personal life/behind the scenes (all good!) and I took a step back to pour some time into getting a few things in order and then let myself breath easy for a few days (something I haven’t done in far too long). First things first, I finally shared my 101 in 1001 list and I’m determined to set a new PR in the half marathon. I ran my first Chicago race last spring and I’m so excited to be partnering up with All Community Events to run the Chi Town Half Marathon in April! I’m going to be sharing check-ins from my half marathon training on Instagram Stories and Snapchat (to hold myself accountable!) so be sure you’re following along with me there if that’s of interest to you. Side note: The registration price for the race will increase on February 21st. If you’ve been toying with the idea of running, time is of the essence!

Also on the fitness front, I’m going to be hosting a free class at [solidcore] in River North on Saturday, February 24th at 2:00pm and I’d love for you to join me! If you’re interested, leave me a comment below or shoot me an email and I’ll let you know how to get set up.

Song of the week:  Calm Down – Burna Boy. Turn it up and listen as you browse this week’s links 🙂

AROUND THE WEB/WORLD:

• Holy grail status: Sunday Riley Good Genes is without question the best skincare product I’ve ever used (and I’ve used a lot of skincare products). I apply a thin layer to my skin after washing my face each night and wake up to softer, smoother skin. Not to mention it has been helping with some of my discoloration! You can get it for 20% off right now with code FRIENDS (plus free shipping and three free magazine subscriptions – no strings attached).
• While on the topic of skincare, I’m dying to try this facial steam bath.
• Mimosas or margaritas? Take your pick. Wearing my 👄 😜Soludos always puts a little pep in my step!
• I had an Amazon gift card burning a hole in my pocket and ordered this book and I can’t wait to dive in. If I end up loving it as much as everyone says I will, I’m going to put together a blog post on some of the things I’ve been working through over the past seven months when it comes to food and nutrition.
• I have never related to anything more than this post on being breadcrumbed. Nothing is fair in love and Tinder (or Bumble, Hinge, or The League, for that matter 🙃)
• Ann Taylor brought back my favorite block heels in blush pink and I’ve never needed anything more! (they’re 40% off with code GETMORE)
• Chelsea Fagan is one of my favorite people to follow on Twitter and I love her take on body image.
• I went to step on the scale earlier this week and, well, it’s broken (lolz). Admittedly, I’m someone who steps on the scale nearly every morning because it helps to keep me in check and make better choices throughout the day. I remembered Meghan recently shared this smart scale and I think it will be the perfect replacement.
• I picked up this pullover sweater and may or may not have worn it two days in a row last weekend..shhh. I can’t get enough of the ruffle detail on the collar! It’s the perfect weight to transition to spring, too. Next up, this silk button-up which could easily be dressed up or down. Use code SOGOOD for 30% off!
• A little delayed in sharing this considering I read it when it was first published, but have you read Cat Person on The New Yorker? If not, you must. The ending is so…spot on, sadly.
• I’ve been searching for a new down comforter and this one by Ralph Lauren is a great deal!
• I love my SeaVees and recently spotted this pair on Shopbop – too cute!
• If you’re looking to give your workout wardrobe a refresh, try these on for size.
• Two recipes to try: Can’t wait to whip up these walnut cardamom bliss balls (I’ll have to substitute the almond meal for hazelnut meal since I’m allergic, but the good news is…I now know that hazelnut meal exists and hopefully I can make some of the other recipes I’ve had to miss out on!) Also, I made these brown sugar cookies a while back and holy yum.
• Man Repeller never disappoints: Why movie sex is the worst
• A reader reached out and asked if I could share some of the blogs I follow and these are the gals I find myself coming back to on a regular basis! Jen Gotch‘s Instagram is more of a microblog and her openness when it comes to mental health, navigating the world of dating, and just generally trying to get through this life has been seriously refreshing as of late. My friend Nicole puts together the most thoughtful posts! Hallie has a knack for telling stories and shares them on her blog Among Other Things and I love Jessica from Bows & Sequins – her wellness and travel posts are always a highlight for me! Grace blogs at The Stripe and not only do I love her style, but the Winter Wellness Challenge she put together has been super inspiring.
• In case you missed it: My goals for 2018 and my 2017 favorites (all of which are still going strong).

SHOP THE POST:

There’s quite a bit to catch you all up on when it comes to those exciting things I talked about above, but for now, I’m off to enjoy the next few days to the fullest (read: with a crisp glass of rosé in hand) before I say hello to my new office on Monday morning. 😉

Whatever the weekend holds for you, I hope it’s great! I’ll be sharing in real-time over on Instagram, Snapchat, and Twitter.

See you back here next week, guys!