Ellen Slater

Five Friday Favorites 11/18/16

in Five Friday Favorites on

Happy Friday! After a stunning, stunning, stunning 70° day yesterday, it’s supposed to cool off and snow (???) over the next couple of days. Crazy. But I guess it is mid-November. So, you can find me inside, cooking, yoga-ing, doing laundry, and hopefully cranking out an essay due after Thanksgiving. Send me good writing vibes! What are you doing this weekend? I hope it’s exactly what you need. Before we end the week, let’s take a look at some of the little things that made it good. Ready? Let’s do it.

Cocoa + Coconut Almond Butter

favorites- cocoa coconut barney butter

Meet one of my nut butter obsessions. I love all sorts of Barney Butter for it’s incredible texture and simple ingredients, and I found this one at Target a few weeks ago. It’s not super sweet, but the cocoa and coconut still shine through and make it taste a little extra rich. I especially love it with bananas or sweet potatoes!

Guided meditation

I’m writing an article for Fit U about meditating every day for a week and what it does for me… and my “week” started on Tuesday. To make it less intimidating (what do you do when you meditate on your own?) and also to make sure I actually do it, I’m doing guided meditations. I’ve coincidentally encountered a few at my yoga studio, but I also love the Relax Lite, Calm, and Headspace apps. Meditating feels a little uncomfortable, honestly, but it also feels like a good thing. I’ll share my thoughts when I finish the article!

OPI You Don’t Know Jacques

favorites - you don't know jacques

You know how my life feels more together when I have painted nails? This is the current color. It’s a little hard to tell from the less-than-fabulous photo, but it’s a super flattering purple-ish grey that my aunt sent me a few weeks ago. I love love love it.

Pumpkin Spiced Pumpkin Seeds

I’ve tried two versions of these: the Archer Farms version and the Trader Joe’s version. The Archer Farms ones are a little sweeter and they’re coated in more of a glaze. I can imagine a donut being dunked in their coating. They taste more like butter and sugar (yum, though) than pumpkin spice. The TJ’s version has a thicker sugar-and-spice coating, but you can taste the spice a little more and the sweetness is balanced by a touch of salt. They’re extra crunchy. Personally, I love the TJ’s version more, but if you’re giving me spiced pumpkin seeds, I’m probably not turning them down. Also, I kind of want to try to make my own. We’ll see how that goes.

Essential oils yoga

Last night, one of the yoga teachers who is leading my teacher training invited an essential oils distributor and a live musician to an extended version of one of her yoga classes. The essential oils demonstrator walked around and tapped various oils on our hands (if we wanted) during class for extra energy, enhanced breathing, and easier relaxation. The musician played a soothing drum-like instrument and led a guided meditation at the end. Despite the fact that tons of people showed up and there was hardly any room to walk between the mats, it was an amazing, relaxing, therapeutic experience I didn’t realize I needed so much. But I totally did. 

Loving lately: Spiced pumpkin seeds, spoons of @BarneyButter, and simple meditation. #FitFluential Share on X

Your turn:

Do you meditate?

What are you loving this week?

If you could have a superpower, what would it be?

Linking up with Heather

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Comments

  1. Divya @ Eat. Teach. Blog. says

    I love using Vetiver when I do yoga! It helps keep me grounded and relaxed when my mind wants to run a mile a minute! Regarding meditation, I definitely need the GUIDING because it helps bring me back to the meditation. (Again, because of my mind! It never wants to stop! Haha)

    • EllenSlater says

      Oooh that sounds lovely. I should try vetiver! And girl, I totally relate to the mile-a-minute mind. Blessing and a curse.

  3. Emily Swanson says

    Yes! I do meditate, but it’s not typical to what they call meditation. I usually think about/meditate on Scripture throughout the day to keep my mind centered in the right place. It’s so important!

    And I LOVE Barney Butter for smooth almond butter; I love Georgia Grinder’s for crunchy almond butter!

    • EllenSlater says

      Having a focus like on Scripture is (I think) the original form of meditation! So glad it works to keep you grounded 🙂

      Yessss to both. Nut butter is just awesome.

  4. sweetandstrongblog says

    Oh I love the idea of essential oils being used during yoga. I go to a class where the instructor pushes your shoulders down and rubs lavender oil on them while in corpse pose at the end, and I love that.

  5. webmdiva says

    I have the exact same nail polish! I feel anxious when my nail polish chips…it’s the OCD in me. lol

    I actually do meditate often. I credit it for keeping me out of a straight jacket or in the back of a squad car. 🙂

    #FridayFavorites

    • EllenSlater says

      I understand nail polish chipping anxiety. I already need to redo mine 🙂

      Cool! I hope it keeps me a bit more grounded.

    • EllenSlater says

      Haha I get that. Nut butter is not the cheapest… especially if you go through it like I do 😛

  8. Sarah says

    OMG that nut butter looks fantastic, I will have to get my hands on that. And I agree, my life feels 10x more “together” when my nails are done- it’s the little things right 😉 Have a great weekend!

    • EllenSlater says

      It’s excellent! Definitely keep an eye out for it. And yes – the little things are actually pretty big things 🙂 Have a lovely weekend, Sarah!

  9. Mandie says

    I love this list! I love Barney Butter, though that’s not my favorite flavor. I have also been trying to meditate, but I have been using the 21-Day Challenge right now that is in week three from Deepak Chopra and Oprah. There’s a studio that does restorative yoga by us with the essential oils, so I LOVE that too! Sleeping used to be tough for me, but not on restorative yoga nights! <3

  10. Claire @ My Pink & Green Life says

    I would love love love to read that article about meditating when you finish it! I’ve always wanted to learn more about meditating. Also, pumpkin spiced pumpkin seeds?! Where have these been all my life?! 😛

    Well, tomorrow I’m going home until January, so that’s hands-down my favorite part of this upcoming week! 🙂

  11. Kristy from Southern In Law says

    Sooo that barney butter has been on my iHerb wish list for ages and now I NEED to buy it. I have a cacao and coconut almond butter from a brand here but it’s super runny and I think I’d much prefer that creamy version!

    I loveee essential oils so essential oil yoga sounds amazing!

  12. MICHAEL BRANDON says

    Well actually i prefer running than meditating 😀 ! Can’t sit immovably for a long time haha
    And a thumb up for almond butter ! I’m so into Almond *yummy*
    By the way, have a good week Ellen !

  15. Betty says

    Thanks for your sharing this post. Sometimes I do yoga I feel like not very well. Using oil is an interesting idea that I will try next time. Many thanks,

    • EllenSlater says

      If I’ve learned anything in yoga teacher training, it’s that there’s no being “bad” at yoga! People have different body types that allow them to move differently; if you’re trying, you’re doing just fine 🙂

  17. Jack says

    my favourite breakfast is cocoa + coconut almond butter with fruit or oatmeal. Its full of energy, saving time and delecious. Or you can take this butter along your trip, its quite a good snack too.