1. Printed leggings
I recently got these snake print leggings from Athleta on sale , and they’ve convinced me that, if one is committed to living life in stretchy pants, prints are the way to go!
Why? Because if you actually work out in ’em, prints hide sweat stains better than solid color leggings do. I’ve also recently discovered that prints do a better job of 1) hiding any wayward food stains and 2) underwear lines. If you’re as committed to wearing granny panties as I am, then you understand the significance of the latter.
2. THIS SANDWICH!
I am deeply enamored with this cheese, veggie and hummus sandwich.
So yummy, so satisfying, and so easy to make. You can have a meal on your plate in five minutes!
The beauty of this sammie is that you can tweak it. If you want to add a protein, add a few slices of turkey, or bacon, or turkey bacon, or both kinds of bacon. If you don’t like hummus? Substitute it for smashed avocado or spinach dip.
It’s just two slices of your favorite bread, cucumber slices (sliced lengthwise and cut thin), tomato slices, two tablespoons or more of hummus, a slice or two of sharp or medium cheddar cheese and a handful of greens.
Also, to make this sandwich all it can be, you need to do three things:
- Dress your greens! If you skip this step, then your sammie will taste like depressing rabbit food. Whatever greens and salad dressing you have on hand are good, just as long as you like it. I do a handful of spinach tossed with a teaspoon or two of Trader Joe’s Pear and Gorgonzola Dressing.
- Add a pinch of salt and pepper to the sliced cucumber and tomato. Yup, this adds more flavor. I just stack the veggies, then sprinkle a little on top. If you’re trying to cut down on salt, then a salt-free spice mix works, too.
- Choose a flavored hummus. Plain hummus totally works, but if you can find a flavored one, that’s even better. My fave is roasted red pepper.
My body also feels really good after I eat veggies, ya know?
3. Sweet Magnolias
I marathoned this entire Neflix series in three days, and once I finished the last episode, I immediately started re-watching it again. It’s like Gilmore Girls meets Virgin River, and it’s so good! The main characters are three lifelong friends who live in a small town called Serenity, and the show takes you through the ups and downs they experience while starting their own spa in town.
The show seems kinda old-fashioned in that the dialogue’s slower-paced than most modern dramas. The plots also focus on people actually trying to do the right thing and making choices that, you know, help themselves and the people around them, rather than celebrating cattiness and backstabbing. Sure, it’s a little cheesy…but it’s also refreshing. Who’d a thunk it? — a show that isn’t all about destructive friendships and relationships.
4. First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream
It’s thick and rich but doesn’t leave my face or neck feeling greasy, and it layers beautifully with serums and makeup. A big-ol’ 6-oz. tub of this super hydrating face cream is $34! It’s made for all skin types, even kids and babies.
5. Making a meal for the freezer
Lately, whenever I cook dinner, I try to make enough for an extra meal I can freeze and defrost at a later date. This works especially great with meals where you pour a sauce on top of pasta or rice!
Last week I made spaghetti sauce, and when I was done, I took an empty gallon-sized freezer bag, put it inside a bowl for stability, and filled it with the sauce. Once it was full, I removed as much air as I could from the bag, sealed it up, and placed it on a baking sheet, which I then stuck in my freezer. Doing this freezes the bag flat, making it easier to store.
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
P.S. TGIF! 🙂
Rachel says
That sandwich looks amazing! I’ll have Tofurkey slices on mine please!
And that First Aid Beauty cream goes on sale at Sephora on Black Friday for $15! I’ve also seen it at TJMaxx on occasion. Happy Friday!
Karen says
Thanks for the heads up on the cream! 🙂 And Tofurkey on this sandwich would be so yummy!
Lauren says
Love Sweet Magnolias! I totally agree that the characters are more like real life, not all good or all bad, having to deal with things like making meals, managing health, attending worship…. I cannot wait for the next season, who else was in the car?????
Karen says
I think it was Dana Sue’s daughter, because that way there’s more drama for the Magnolias. Wasn’t the season finale such a cliff hanger? It was so old school!
Tatiana says
Can you fit a big iPhone in the pocket of those tights? As much as I love printed tights, if I can’t fit my phone in the righthand pocket and my huge inhaler in the lefthand pocket I won’t wear them.
I noticed the FAB Ultra Repair Cream has Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Extract in it. Does it smell like it the way all the La Mer creams do?
And yes, making double batches and freezing food for later is the way to go. Just make sure to put a date on it, so you know how long it’s been in your freezer. I also label what it is, because after a while everything in my freezer starts to look the same.
Karen says
I have a big iPhone, and with the snake pants, I have to get it in at an angle and smoosh it in. It’s in there most of the way but not all, and it definitely doesn’t feel as secure as other pairs I have, but I can get it in there.
I wish I had an answer to for you about the Leaf Extract. It’s been ages since I smelled La Mer, and I don’t remember it. I don’t really get a strong scent from the FAB cream; it’s very neutral now that I think about it.
Good call to label the bag. I’m going to put an expiration date, just like we did at the bakery.
Happy Friday, by the way. What are you guys doing this weekend?
Tatiana says
Yeah, I like the blue/black snake print. I just want my iPhone secure. I don’t think I could deal with the head roll from Dear Husband if I lost it. Lol.
I label everything in my fridge, when I brought it home, when I opened it, if it’s in one of my containers in freezer, what it is, and the date. Dear Husband thinks I’m nuts with my tape roll and marker. I also have a rotating post-it on the fridge door with what’s inside and needs to be eaten. Like tuna salad, chicken curry, mapo tofu. That way we eat things that might get lost in the shuffle and I waste less food. I list all the fresh veggies stored in the bins, too. Because somehow the scallion bunches always work their way to the bottom and then get really gross if I don’t use them in time.
Not doing much this weekend. Dear Husband and Dear Daughter are going camping next week and then Dear Daughter is going to pick up the PCT with her friend again.
Hope you have a good weekend, whatever you’re up to!
Karen says
That is SO SMART. I need to clear off some space on the front of our fridge (it’s full of Connor’s artwork) to do lists like that. Right now I set alerts on my phone with the dates of when things expire but I know I’d do better if I had a visual reminder that I could see every day.
Where are your loves going camping? It’s my dream that El Hub and Connor do that together when she’s older. In fact, this was supposed to be our summer of camping. Our first trip was scheduled for Memorial Day weekend.
Jennifer Emmett says
I never knew you could toss greens in a dressing BEFORE making a sammie. I always pour dressing on, use too much and make a saucelogged mess. This is genius.
Karen says
It’s life changing! I just bought two bottles of Bolthouse Ranch dressing and can’t wait to try it in my next sandwich.
Michele DiCola says
I love sandwiches. Doesn’t matter what kind of diet I’m on I will find a Sammy !
Hummus and avocado ? make great spreads along w cucumbers ? and tomato ? slices .
Most recently I started using laughing cow cheese as a spread too.
Love snake or camo anything !
Those snake leggings lol fabulous !
Chelsea says
Ugh, I wish the Ultra Repair Cream liked my skin because it’s so lovely. I think I have an issue with the eucalyptus and maybe the feverfew (related to chamomile, which I am allergic to).
I’m loving buckwheat crêpes (got my host mom’s recipe and bought some Breton-milled buckwheat flour) filled with eggs and cheese, and also green salads with my host mom’s salad dressing recipe (simple lemon vinaigrette with a tiny bit of dijon). You can tell I’m missing Brittany!
Also loving walks with my dog. They make her so happy, and I enjoy them too. I think they’re also helping with my hip stability.
Marty says
Love that Ultra Repair cream- last year when I went through a weird- drier than usual -skin phase it was the only thing my skin seemed to tolerate well. Also I appreciated that for a heavy cream it was definitely not greasy.
Your dinner plate looks delish!
Anne says
Sweet Magnolias is on my list of things to watch, but I need to finish the second season of Dead to Me first!