In this Sunday Funday Series, I share little tidbits and finds from my week that brought a smile to my face, in the hope that they’ll do the same to you!
1. Getting a “Leg Up” On Running
As I mentioned here, autumn arrived with a bang burst of 18 mile per hour winds last week, so I broke down and set out to buy new running leggings to stay warm. Short on time, I blitzed through Walmart and spotted these Danskin Now ones on the rack. I picked out two: plum and royal blue. With their soft stretchy fabric and secret mesh pocket for my key, I never want to take them off!
2. Chocolate Pumpkin Donuts
Nicole of Prevention RD published these Chocolate Pumpkin Donuts last Sunday, and I began daydreaming about those moist breakfast sweets before I even scrolled through her post. She mentioned that she finished her latest cookbook manuscript of entirely gluten-free recipes and baked these with whole wheat pastry flour instead to celebrate. I can’t wait to see her work in print!
3. Wind Sprints
After our little dog nudged her ball around the family room floor with a forlorn look on her face, we walked over to the park that afternoon to raise her spirits and play fetch in the huge grassy field. Watching her 15-pound Chihuahua frame take off at a dead sprint in chase of a tiny blue tennis ball would make anybody chuckle!
4. Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes
I came across these Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes by Lindsay from The Live-In Kitchen and nearly dashed to the store a minute later. I’d eat soft sweet caramelized onions every day if I could (especially since their smell permeates throughout the entire house!). Lindsay’s story about preparing for her first vegetarian Thanksgiving was inspiring too!
5. Bartering Candy
When I dropped off these acorn treats at my friend’s house, her son hurdled out of the house in his PJs and presented me with candy. As I thanked him for the Reese’s and Butterfinger, his mom explained that because he hates peanut butter, he used those candy bars as bartering chips to trade for “better” treats from his older sister. So he gave up the chance to get a few more of his favorites by handing those to me. (I teared up in the car ride home… So sweet!)
6. Love in the Library
I stopped by our public library one evening and nearly toppled over as I walked back to the car. I checked out 16 different titles, including 3 novels for my guy and a few cookbooks (as photography inspiration) for me. My inner bookworm really shone through!
7. Microwave Popcorn
Have you heard of the microwave popcorn trick? You only need a brown paper lunch bag and kernels—nothing else! (Find my easy directions here.) On quite a few nights, I popped up a batch to munch on while typing up posts and scrolling through Pinterest. With lots of fiber and practically no fat, it’s my new favorite go-to snack!
8. Snip, Style, & Sweets
After almost 3 months, I sat down in my favorite hair stylist’s chair to get my countless split ends snipped off. While she previously remember me as “Amy the Chemist” (she majored in Physics in college and loved Organic Chemistry too!), my stylist started asking how baking was going over the summer. And on this past visit, she even promised to bring in and lend me her favorite dessert cookbook!
9. “Weight” For It…
I finally caved and ordered a kitchen scale on Amazon. It arrived yesterday morning, and I’m already itching to measure out ingredients for my favorite cookie recipes in ounces and grams! Its compact size fits nicely in my overcrowded kitchen, and I love its sleek silver design. Watch out metrics, here I come!
10. Skinny Pumpkin Spice Latte
As the temperatures fall, I constantly crave comforting mugs of coffee in the chilly mornings. With my Skinny Pumpkin Spice Latte recipe, I can whip up my own fancy Starbucks drinks at home! (Bonus: You can actually make these vegan, unlike the ones offered in stores!)
I LOVE YOUR NEW HAIR! You look gorgeous!! I also love Danskin products from Walmart, they are surprisingly great! I will need some potatoes now with a side of donuts! YUM!
Aww thank you Brittany!! 🙂 The hair stylists always curls it so nicely. I’m too impatient to do the same in the mornings and just let it air-dry! I started out with the Danskin Now sports bras (convertible ones that they only offer online now, boo) and was immediately hooked. If only they sold a few more long sleeved running shirts for us!