Hey, hey and happy Friday! It was a short week for me so it’s hard to believe that Friday is already here but this is a “working weekend” so I guess it doesn’t really matter anyway. We have our third teacher training weekend (out of eight) and this weekend we’ll be teaching the trainees how to provide assists in various postures. One of the requirements for graduation is 20 hours of assisting and observing classes so they need to learn how to get their hands on people! 🙂

I thought I’d wrap up the week with a little “Friday I’m in love” and share some recent faves with you. Let’s get rolling.

I love hot tea. I drink it all year long but during the winter my consumption skyrockets to 2-4 cups a day. Current favorite is this organic ginger and turmeric tea from Celestial Seasonings. Apparently, they just launched this organic line in September 2015. Bonus, I got it on sale for just $2.50 at a local market. Check out this post for a list of six of my favorite teas!

The Whole30 says sunflower seed butter tastes just like peanut butter. While I DO NOT agree with this statement, I have been loving this sunflower seed butter from MaraNatha. Many sunflower seed butters contain added sweeteners and this is one of the few that does not.

I’ve always enjoyed kombucha but I’ve been drinking a lot of it during Whole30. It’s a nice sparkling alternative to wine or a cocktail. I recently discovered this High Country brand of kombucha for the first time and I think it’s the best I’ve ever tried! It’s brewed in Colorado Springs, Colorado and it comes in a generous 16-ounce bottle. There are no added sweeteners and there’s not too much added juice to make it overly sweet. It’s clean and refreshing and not sour at all. I LOVE IT! The only place I’ve seen it here in Charlotte is at Earth Fare.

Related: I am so excited for Emily of Daily Garnish and her family’s new kombucha business! I can’t wait until they make it to the east coast! 🙂

This Cider Pear candle. Sadly, I can’t link to it online because it’s sold exclusively at Costco but if you have a Costco membership, you should definitely add this to your cart. It smells amazing! And don’t you love it when the candles look pretty too?

Move over tuna, canned pink salmon is winning my vote these days. I had a selection of Chicken of the Sea Pink Salmon in the pantry that I was sent from the brand a while ago and I’ve been loving it for a Whole30 salad topper. Tons of protein! Bonus: it comes from wild caught salmon and not farm raised.

Speaking of salad toppers, I can’t get enough pistachios lately. I love them on salads and for snacking. They just have such a great and different flavor profile and have been a nice swap from my staple almonds/walnuts/pecans.

I loved seeing a giant wall of Premier Protein powder in Sam’s Club in Florida. This is the first time I’ve seen the protein powder available in stores. I have been a huge fan of the vanilla for a while now but can’t wait to also sample the chocolate. (Read to the end for a chance to win a tub for yourself!)

Also Premier Protein related, they sent me this awesome new thermal bottle along with my ambassador swag and it’s solid! I have been using it to transport my hot and cold beverages to the gym in the morning. My favorite feature is the built in strainer that can be used as a shaker or holds back your ice/tea bags/etc. Find a similar bottle here.

This girl. Man is she ever in a challenging stage right now. Zoey is just shy of 16 months old and challenging every single rule and boundary that has been set. It’s crazy! She is so mischievous but so sweet. She equal parts loves to cuddle and get into things she shouldn’t, counter surf, steal shoes and socks and bark. She keeps me on my toes, that’s for sure! We joke that she probably thinks her name is, “no” or “off.” (But seriously, look at that angelic face. Don’t let it fool you!)

Giveaway Winners

Premier Protein Prize Pack 

Sandra L. and I love her answer to what she’s wanted the “Energy to do one more of.” She responded, “One more plate on each side for squats. Giving 100% effort on the last rep and increasing weight as soon as I get comfortable. ‘If it doesn’t challenge you, it doesn’t change you.'” (<— fave quote!)

ALDI $50 Gift Certificate

Sarah F.

Both winners have been notified!

How about a Friday giveaway? 

I’ll give one of you your choice of vanilla or chocolate Premier Protein powder. Simply leave me a comment telling me which one you’d like to try! Giveaway ends Monday at midnight EST. U.S. readers only.