Today’s Friday Five topic–Friday Favorites–comes at a perfect time, because there are lots of little things I have been loving lately that I want to share with you! Hopefully you’ll forgive me if there are more than five?
Breakfasts I’m Loving Lately
I am still loving these three-ingredient breakfast cookies for pre-workout fuel. I pop one or two in the toaster oven and top with a schmear of peanut butter. They seem to be easy to digest and have enough staying power to get me through a long run or indoor cycling class.
My favorite way to refuel after a long run is to enjoy a slice of leftover pizza with a sunny side up egg. This means we have to have leftover pizza in the house, but that isn’t a problem, since I am so addicted to our favorite pizza place!
I usually have oatmeal for a mid-morning snack at work, and I’ve got a new “recipe” that I’m loving lately. As a Tastemaker for BlueDiamond and Almond Breeze Almondmilk, I was given an opportunity to try Almond Breeze Unsweetened Vanilla Almondmilk. As soon as I tasted it, I knew it would be good in oatmeal. And, with only 30 calories per 1 cup serving, it’s also a great base for protein powder smoothies.
To make my oatmeal, I use 1/3 cup old-fashioned rolled oats, 2/3 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk, 1 tablespoon Hemp Hearts, and 2 tablespoons of raisins. The unsweetened vanilla almond milk adds great flavor and depth without making the oatmeal too sweet.
Snack Bars I’m Loving Lately
To prepare for our ski trip, I bought a variety of snack bars for easy fuel on the slopes. My favorite was the apple cinnamon Health Warrior Chia Bar (100 cal, 3g protein, 4 g fiber). They are delicious and satisfying. Plus, they provide hours of entertainment as you try to use your tongue to free the stray chia seeds from your teeth. 😉
I also discovered Caramel Almond and Sea Salt Kind bars–I still love that salted caramel flavor!
Books I’m Loving Lately
Two long flights to Utah and back meant time for reading, and I enjoyed both of the books I downloaded to my Kindle.
The Girl On The Train by Paula Hawkins is #2 on Amazon, so maybe you’ve already read it.
(Click image to see on Amazon via my Amazon affiliate link.)
It’s a murder mystery told from three perspectives: Rachel (the girl on the train) who is an alcoholic, the murder victim, and Anna (Rachel’s ex-husband’s wife and the murder victim’s neighbor). It’s a real page turner as you try to figure out “who done it” and also brace yourself for the train wreck that is Rachel’s personal life.
Speaking, of wrecks, the other book I read was Wreckage by Emily Bleeker. I was able to download this book for free via the Amazon Prime/Kindle First program, which lets Amazon Prime members download two out of four selected books every month. I stumbled across that program while looking for my next book to read and may be hooked!
Wreckage tells the story of Lillian Linden, who has survived a plane crash and two years of living on a deserted island, but the experience and secrets she is keeping with her fellow survivors may be tearing them all apart. It was interesting to see how the characters coped with survivor’s guilt, and to follow their struggles to re-establish family relationships after they were rescued. It might not have been the best choice for airplane reading, but at least I wasn’t flying over the ocean!
Compression Socks I’m Loving Lately
I believe in the benefits of compression socks, and I wear them for hilly runs, races, and post-race recovery. With my history of DVTs (you can read more about that here) I also wear them on long flights, and probably could benefit from wearing them for long days at the office.
A few weeks ago Susan Costa Walston, the founder of Lily Trotters, reached out to me to see if I would be interested in trying their new line of compression socks. There are so many brands of compression socks out there, but she got my attention because while Lily Trotters have all the compression technology of performance compression socks (they provide a pressure of 15-20 mmHg), they are made with a proprietary 100% micro nylon weave that makes them thin enough to wear with regular shoes. Oh, and they come, in several fashionable designs!
Are these cute or what?!
I wore these to work the day after the Reston 10 Miler, and I definitely noticed the compression. Plus, my legs felt good during my run the next day. Lily Trotters is still in their pre-launch phase, but I’m watching their progress on Kickstarter.
Blogging Things I’m Loving Lately
I am loving the community and camaraderie of the link ups I participate in, including the Friday Five link up, and the Tuesdays on the Run link up. I know every link up has their freeloaders, but I find that most people who participate in these link ups play nice and I am getting to know some great people.
Tomorrow (March 7) is the March edition of The Ultimate Coffee Date Link Up that I co-host with Deb and Lynda. One nice thing about The Ultimate Coffee Date Link Up is that it is not limited to any specific niche or theme. If you haven’t joined before, check out last month’s link-up to see how it works. We’d love to have you join us!
Another fun thing about blogging is blogger giveaways, and I’m hosting one now for MealEnders, which are lozenges designed to help you stop mindless munching. See what I think about them so far and enter the giveaway here.
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Want to know what others are loving lately? Check out the Friday Five link up hosted by Eat Pray Run DC, Mar on the Run and You Signed Up for What!
Have you tried any of the things I’m loving lately?
![The Ultimate Coffee Date](http://got2run4me.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Ultimate-Coffee-Date.png" "The Ultimate Coffee Date")
Wow, those compression socks are super cute with polka dots. I love to read and will definitely check out the books you mentioned. Have a great weekend.
Those cookies look great! We are sock sisters! Happy weekend!
I love those Chia bars! The company is actually based in Richmond (their factory place is like half a mile from my house) so we were thinking about doing a blogger meet up/tour there! I’ll keep you posted 🙂
Oh, that could be worth a road trip!
Leftover pizza is one of my favorite things!!!
I love Blue Diamond almond milk! I always get unsweetened too! I am always looking for new bars to try and haven’t tried those chia ones yet. Thanks for the recommendation!
Those compression socks are absolutely adorable! So cute!
thanks for the reminder about the coffee date tomorrow – i loved joining in february and will join in again tomorrow. question – do you cook your oats in a mug? that is genius!
Yes, I use a huge coffee mug for my oatmeal — it has plenty of room for it to bubble up.
Great list and it’s like you read my mind – I’ve been looking for cute compression socks!
love the socks! I’ve never seen pizza and eggs together interesting combo. I am also reading girl on the train. It’s good! See you for coffee
I’m linking up for the Coffee Date for the first time tomorrow…I’m super excited!
I keep seeing that “Girl on the Train” book everywhere, so it must be a sign that I need to read it.
Also, I like your style. Cold pizza and a fried egg after a run? Props, girl!
I never thought of the combination of pizza and eggs for breakfast. I do like both so why not? Those socks are super cute. Never heard of that compression brand.
Wreckage sounds really good! I’m to Amazon to check it out…
I think you’ll like it!
Love the polka-dot compression socks – super cute. I like that those socks don’t seem to have quite as much compression as some so I would probably enjoy the benefit of compression and yet not feel like my calves are squeezed too tight during a long run.
I’ve worn them all day twice and they are comfortable. They also are designed to be easier to put on and take off.
Hi from Virginia Bloggers! Those compression socks are ADORABLE!! I’d definitely buy a pair (or three).
I totally know what you mean about the chia seeds! I put some in my oatmeal yesterday morning and went to an appointment and worried I might still have some in my teeth. Those bars sound yummy!
Those socks are so cute! I want a pair 🙂
I love the chia bars. I haven’t had the apple cinnamon yet, those sound amazing! Super cute compression socks too! Very fun!
I’m still laughing about your chia seed comment. That would be me! I hate that I missed the Coffee Date. I’m marking my calendar for April. I love recipes with just a few ingredients. You’ll lose me at ingredient 4 or 5! I clicked on your link for 3 ingredient recipes. I promise to try all of them. The breakfast cookies look wonderful.
I am really hooked on them, but they do benefit from being warm and topped with a dab of PB! We keep the coffee date link up open through Monday, so you can always join on Sunday. I look forward to seeing you in April though.
Very cute compression socks, I’ve been seeing them on the web the past couple o weeks. I am a fan of unsweetened vanilla almond milk, I usually pick up the Trader Joes version out of convenience.
I love your pizza with an egg meal after a run! That’s great you aren’t depriving your body. I’m going to try that combo some time. I’m also going to check out that Ultimate Coffee Date Link Up. I may see you there 🙂
Chia Warrior! My favorite flavor is the PB 🙂
Karen @karenlovestorun
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