Praying for the people of Maui this week, for their safety, and recovery from the devastating fires. It’s such a beautiful and special place, and it’s been absolutely heartbreaking to see photos of the damage. If you’re looking for ways to help, check out this link. 

Hi hi! Happy Friday! How are you? I hope you’e enjoying the week! It’s been a bit of a blur over here since the kids went back to school. The morning wakeups have been rough lol, but they’re happy to be back with their teachers and friends.

Before school started, we had a couple of fun last-minute adventures.

The girls and I went to pick veggies at Apple Annie’s with some friends. They had an awesome selection of peppers, melons, eggplant, squashes, green beans, corn, and okra.

We got a huge stash of veggies for the week, along with a giant watermelon and cantaloupe, some honey and salsa from the shop, and lots of apple butter. After veggie picking, we had Mexican food at La Unica in Wilcox. Definitely check it out if you’re in the area! They serve breakfast all day and have amazing horchata.

After lunch, we took the girls to see “The Thing” since they were all intrigued by multiple billboards. The venue has gotten an upgrade since I was a kid.

We also had an afternoon bowling with my mom and nani! We’ve gone roller skating and bowling lately; turns out we thoroughly enjoy vintage activities that require rented footwear that many others have worn since at least the 1960s.

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The quintessential summer flavor combination of peaches and cream has been transformed into cold and creamy scoops of peaches and cream ice cream and it is everything I imagined it would be.

I found myself repeatedly going back to the freezer for “just one more taste, you know, to make sure it’s perfect” the first time I made this ice cream. Spoiler alert, yes, it’s perfect.

Sweet Peach Ice Cream

Oh, peaches, how I love you. Let me count the ways. This sweet peach ice cream is the latest arrival in my love affair with peaches. It all began with this Southern Peach Cobbler. Topped with ice cream, it’s an absolutely perfect dessert in every way.

This cobbler led me to a dream of creamy vanilla ice cream filled with chunks of peach cobbler. Luckily that dream came true in my kitchen and it turned out to be everything I’d imagined. Peach Cobbler Ice Cream has proven to be irresistible.

Peach Crisp Ice Cream is creamy vanilla ice cream filled with chunks of peach crisp, a peach lover’s dream come true. With chunks of buttery brown sugar and oat crisp, and syrupy peaches in every bite, this ice cream is irresistible.

There is something almost magical about the way that roasting the peaches brings out additional flavor in this Honey Roasted Peach Frozen Yogurt.

Peach ice creams have proven to be some of my favorite ice creams to make each summer and fall, just as soon as the peaches turn fragrant and sweet.

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Sharing some alternatives to facial injections! You can also use FITNESSISTA15 here for one of my favorite wellness and anti-aging tools: the red light face mask. 

Hi friends! How are ya? I hope you’re enjoying the morning so far! I have a new post for you this morning + a corresponding podcast episode for those who want to listen on-the-go!

This was a popular readers request post, especially since I’ve mentioned before that I haven’t had any facial injections, like Botox or fillers, and have no desire to in the near future. This is ZERO shade to anyone who has had these procedures – do what makes you happy and feel good! – I just know they’re not a fit for me, right now (never say never though, right?). All of my friends who have gotten Botox, etc., swoon about it, but I feel like I’m the person who would have a crazy reaction or respond horribly.

Some reader friends asked me if I would do a post with my favorite alternatives if you’re also a little wary of facial injections.

139: Alternatives to facial injections

Frownies

Frownies are a unique and skincare product designed to help reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines, particularly on the forehead and between the eyebrows. They were originally created by a concert pianist in the late 1800s (!) who didn’t want a furrowed brow. You can read more about the history here! It has continued to be family run and owned for multiple generations.

Frownies are specialized adhesive patches are made from natural, skin-friendly materials. They work by gently holding the skin in place, preventing facial muscles from contracting and forming creases while you sleep. Think of Frownies as your beauty secret weapon against unwanted furrows and lines.

By wearing these discreet patches overnight or for a few hours during the day, you’re giving your skin a chance to relax and rejuvenate, helping to soften the appearance of wrinkles over time. Frownies are all about natural skincare and non-invasive self-care, offering an alternative to more aggressive treatments like inje

Sharing different types of meditation strategies and how to implement them into your routine!

Hiii! How are you? I hope you’re enjoying the morning! The Pilot is off work today (wahoo!) so I’m going to see if I can convince him to join me for F45 cardio day and then we’re going to grab coffee, breakfast, and maybe enjoy multiple consecutive sentences of adult conversation. What a treat!

For today’s post, I wanted to chat a bit about meditation and the different types of strategies. Meditation is something that’s been on and off in my life, but I’ve been pretty consistent for the past year. It makes a huge difference in my day. I feel centered, calm, and it’s one of my favorite daily rituals. I plug in my PEMF Go Mat (use FITNESSISTA15 for a discount), do 10 minutes of an eye mask while I meditate, and then I pray and journal. If I have extra time, I stay on the Go Mat a little longer and work on NYT Spelling Bee.

There are so many different meditation strategies out there, and it can be a little overwhelming, especially if you’re a beginner.

For today’s post, I wanted to break down some of the most common methods of meditation and how to use them in your routine.

*A friendly reminder that it’s helpful to have a designated meditation space that isn’t your bed! You don’t want to associate this space with anything else.Also, make sure that it’s free of work and clutter; you don’t want laundry and to-do lists to stare at you in the face as you’re trying to relax.

For more meditation tips, check out this post.

Meditation strategies

Guided meditations

If you’re new to meditation or find it challenging to focus, guided meditations can be an invaluable aid. These pre-recorded sessions are led by experienced practitioners who gently guide your thoughts and breath, helping you find your center. Choose from a myriad of meditation apps or online resources offering guided sessions tailored to various goals, from stress relief to improved focus. Some of my favorite include the Peloton app, Calm, and Headspace.

Breathwork

Breathwork is the heart and soul of meditation, weaving a profound connection between your mind and body. Practice deep belly breathing to calm your nervous system and bring your attention inward. Pay attention to each inhale and exhale, allowing your breath to be your anchor in the present moment. I like to do box breathing (in for 8, hold for 8, out for 8), or the 6-7-8 method (in 6, hold 7, out for 8). Next-level: think of a word on the inhale and another word you want to feel on the exhale, or think of something you’re grateful for on each exhale.

Mind

You need just three ingredients to make this homemade peach sauce. The deliciousness begins with ripe, juicy, peaches. When the peaches grow fragrant and soften, that’s the signal that it is time to start making our favorite peach recipes.

Peach Sauce

Gather your peaches, add a sprinkling of sugar and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice and you’ll have everything you need to make this mouthwatering peach sauce.

Soon, you’ll be pouring it over ice cream, stirring it into yogurt and oatmeal, topping pancakes and waffles, spooning it over English muffins, making Bostock with it, and trying to resist eating it by the spoonful. (Not that I know anything about that.)

Peach jams, syrups, and sauces capture the essence of summer in every spoonful. There’s nothing better than opening a jar filled with summer peach flavor in the middle of winter

This perfectly sweetened and wonderfully spiced Homemade Peach Jam has been a staple in our home for about 15 years. And while we’re talking about jam, have you tasted Habanero Peach Jam? There is really nothing else like it. The balance of sweet and spice is unforgettable.

Sweet Slow Cooker Bourbon Peaches