I have decided to start a new monthly “what I’m loving” series here on PBW that features some of my favorite things at the moment. Since it’s the end of May, I thought now would be the perfect time to start! I was inspired to start this series both to encourage myself to try new things (something I’ve been working on lately) and to stop each month and reflect on things I’m grateful for or that just simply make me happy! From food to fashion, music to apps, I’ll be sharing a list each month full of things that are bringing joy to my life and adding value in one way or another so that maybe you’ll discover something that can bring a little extra joy to your life too! Below is this month’s list. Keep reading to hear my thoughts on each!
Drive-up Grocery Pickup
Okay, okay. I know I am wayyy behind the times here when it comes to this concept. If you follow along on Instagram stories, you know how obsessed I was the first day I tried it. I haven’t walked into a grocery store since! For the longest time I thought it really only made sense for parents with kiddos in the car or maybe if you’re sick. BUT, the thing I didn’t realize is how much money I would save!
No more impulse shopping, no more grabbing snacks I don’t need, and no more wandering down the aisles at Target scooping things into my cart that I had zero intentions of purchasing until that very moment. Plus, I think it’s easier to hunt for deals and coupons when I’m shopping online. It’s also a real time saver. Rob and I maintain a running grocery list as we think of things, so I just use that to add everything to my pickup order and it’s ready for me to zoom by and grab after work! Please tell me I’m not the only one who hadn’t tried it yet! If you haven’t take advantage of this (FREE) service yet, no shame. You should totally try it though!
Peloton Digital App
This has been a game-changer for my fitness routine. It was something Rob and I had discussed for several weeks before taking the plunge. Because I spend so much time at the hospital every day, the last thing I wanted to do was go to a gym. We both used to go to a gym near his work, and we both really liked the classes they offered, namely, spin classes. That’s where the app comes in. Pelotons look ah-mazing, but we couldn’t justify the expense right now. When you subscribe to the Peloton digital program through the app, you get access to live AND on demand spin classes! We ended up buying this $260 stationary bike, subscribed to the app, and we’ve been hooked ever since. It has completely replaced our gym membership!
There were a few hidden benefits I didn’t expect too, like the fact that the app offers other workouts besides just cycling. There are guided runs for indoor and outdoor runs, yoga flows, meditations, bootcamp classes, bodyweight workouts, and even more. The app has programs too, so you don’t even have to think about what class to take next if you don’t want to.
The other thing I didn’t expect to enjoy so much about it was how travel-friendly the app is. If we’re staying in a hotel, we can still use the app for our workout based on the equipment in their gym! Now there are no excuses right? But really, this app has helped me stay consistent for the last 8 weeks and I’m still loving it. If you want to give it a try, you can do a 2-week trial period for free here. Also note: you only have to pay for one subscription per household, because you can add multiple profiles to your account!
Dead to Me on Netflix
No spoilers here (promise), but this is one of the most binge-able Netflix series I’ve seen in a long time. It’s a really dark comedy with a lot of twists, and it’s perfect for those times where you want to watch something juicy, but you also need a laugh, ya know? Plus, Christina Applegate and Linda Cardellini are absolute gold so putting them together is undeniably a good idea. If you’ve watched it, let’s chat! I have a lot of feelings…
Southwest Caesar Salad at Chili’s
So if you’ve been following along on my Instagram stories, you’ll know I’ve recently become a lover of salads. Which is weird, because until this point in my life I have absolutely despised all salads. It all started with what I’ve been calling the gateway salad (Caesar salad) and one day I woke up CRAVING vegetables so I got my fix with one. I have since ventured out of my comfort zone and experimented with other types of salad, but I am still always down for a good Caesar salad.
Recently, I grabbed lunch with some girlfriends at Chili’s (mostly for cheap margaritas, but also for food), saw their Southwest Caesar Salad on the menu, and decided to give it a go. It was delicious! Obviously it’s nothing fancy or groundbreaking, but it’s a spicy twist on a classic dish, and I really enjoyed it. The portion is big enough for two meals, and I add chicken or shrimp!
Zambeezi Lip Balm
If you’re a lip balm nerd like me, you’ve got tubes lying everywhere. I keep them in my purse, in my car, on my desk, in my scrubs, by the bed, you name it! One thing I’ve been trying to do though, is clean up my beauty products. I’ve become really interested in the clean beauty movement that’s happening right now (which I could literally write an entire post about), and I’m doing my best to replace products with cleaner, safer versions as I run out of the old stuff.
Since lip balm is one of my most-used products, I figured I’d start there! I did some asking around and was introduced to the brand Zambeezi. They have created a lip balm that is clean, moisturizing, and delicious! They come in a few flavors, and they even have a balm with sun protection (I wrote a whole post about it here). If you’re looking to clean up your self-care products, want awesome lip balm, and you want to contribute to a brand with an incredible story, check them out here!
