Hi hi! Happy Friday! The weekend is heeeeere. What are you up to this weekend? Liv has a dance camp, I’m subbing a Zumba class (Latin Cardio since I’m no longer certified but talk about a blast from the past), teaching barre, and we’re meeting up with friends for dinner. I hope you have a lovely weekend, too!

It’s time for the weekly Friday Faves party. This is where I share some of my favorite finds from the week and around the web. I always love to hear about your faves, too, so please shout out something you’re loving in the comments section below.

(I don’t go wild with Halloween decor but I love these little touches around the house! Our giant Jack is definitely the most exciting thing we added to the collection.)

Friday Faves 10.6

Read, watch, listen:

Liv and I watched Dumplin’ on Netflix the other night and loved it. I’ve seen it previously but have been introducing her to new movies. Some of the ones we’ve watched together and have been hits (with strategic fast forwarding when necessary lol): Titanic, 13 Going on 30, Mamma Mia, Sweet Home Alabama, Miss Congeniality, Devil Wears Prada… let me know if we should add any to the list!

How to reduce inflammation and even get it to build muscle.

How a barbell got me to confront the harsh voice inside my head. 

Check out this week’s podcast episode here!!

Fashion + beauty:

This gorgeous Tanaor bracelet that was a gift from the company. The entire Bible is nano-printed onto a chip, that’s implemented on all of their designs. It’s so unique and would make a lovely Christmas gift!

Beautycounter holiday is out! ! SO excited for the holiday collection.

If you’re looking to get your shopping done early, here are some faves:

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Filled with slightly chewy pieces of black walnuts, this sweet and fragrant Black Walnut Ice Cream is a decadent treat.

Black Walnut Ice Cream

To me, black walnuts and black walnut extract smell just a tiny bit like anise, the flavor of black licorice. I was a little leery of them both initially, as I’m not a fan of black licorice at all.

However, the flavor and fragrance in the finished ice cream is not at all reminiscent of anise. Phew. This is a sweet, nutty ice cream that has been a win with all of the walnut lovers in our family. (I didn’t waste a scoop sharing it with the non-walnut-enjoying child. That’s his loss.)

Homemade Black Walnut Ice Cream

Whether your black walnut extract is specifically labeled as “imitation” or not, it likely is a combination of natural and artificial flavors created to mimic the flavor of black walnuts. This is the extract I used for this ice cream.

I looked around a bit and did not find a single black walnut extract that was actually made from black walnuts, with that information anywhere on the label. So, go ahead and pick up an imitation black walnut extract and make this ice cream without further ado.

Nuts in Ice Cream

With over 70 ice cream recipes here to choose from, there’s sure to be an ice cream for everyone! If you’re new to making ice cream, the Read more

Weekly Menu Plan – Oct. 9 to 15

Here is your menu plan for the week!

Monday: Taco Stew

Tuesday: Chicken Gyros

Wednesday: French Toast

Thursday: Sheet Pan Chicken Stir Fry

Friday: Date Night!

Saturday: Garlic Tomato Basil Orzo

Sunday: Stuffed Pork Chops

READ: Weekly Menu Plan – Oct. 9 to 15

Hi hi! How are ya? I’ve got a new solo podcast episode up today, chatting about how to adjust your workouts throughout the month!

You might notice that certain types of exercises and workouts feel differently throughout your cycle. Sometimes HIIT workouts are perfect, and other times, you feel more like yoga or light strength training. Today, I’m diving into how you can make your cycle work for you and optimize your workout routine for results and overall wellbeing.

Here’s what I talk about in today’s episode:

– How to adjust your workouts and nutrition to align with your menstrual cycle

– Why we shouldn’t do the same types of workouts all month long

– How our productivity and social interactions change throughout the month

and so much more.

 142: Optimizing your workouts throughout your menstrual cycle

More resources from this episode:

I love love love the meals from Sakara Life! Use this link and the code XOGINAH for 20% off their meal delivery and clean boutique items. This is something I do once a month as a lil treat to myself and the meals are always showstoppers. You can join their fall reset now!

If any of my fellow health professional friends are looking for another way to help their clients, I highly recommend IHP. You can also use this information to heal yourself and then go one to heal others, which I think is a beautiful mission. You can absolutely join if you don’t currently work in the health or fitness industry; many IHPs don’t begin on this path. They’re friends who are passionate to learn more about health and wellness, and want to share this information with those they love. You can do this as a passion, or start an entirely new career.

You can use my referral link here and the code FITNESSISTA for up to $250 off the Integrative Health Practitioner program. I highly recommend it! You can check out my review IHP Level 1 here! I just finished IHP2 and will share a review of my experience, too.

I’m still obsessed with my sauna blanket. This is one of my favorite ways to relax and sweat it out. I find tha

Apple cider vinegar, turmeric and other ingredients combine for this morning detox drink that can reduce sugar cravings, provide stable energy and help fight colds and allergies.

What are morning detox drinks?

Why do you drink it?

What are the measurements?

What are the benefits?

This is my favorite morning drink: a hot mix of water, apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, honey, turmeric and cayenne. I’ve been drinking it for years, and while I sometimes get out of the habit of drinking it every morning, I always come back to it. It’s going pretty strong right now. 😉 If I’m having this in the morning, it’s before anything else: coffee, fruit, or random bites while I make the girls’ breakfast.

Morning Detox Drink

Detox Drink Ingredient Benefits

Warm/Hot Water: can help to promote healing of the body, and decrease free radicals when combined with lemon. According to Ayurvedic medicine, we should drink warm or room temperature water instead of cold, as it can help to remove toxins (ama) from the body. Warm water can also promote healthy digestion, alleviate pain, improve blood circulation, and delay premature aging, according to this site.

Apple Cider Vinegar: this one is helpful in reducing infection, as many germs can’t survive in the vinegar. There are many benefits of drinking apple cider vinegar. It may help stabilize blood sugar and lower LDL (the bad kind of cholesterol) blood levels. It can also help to reduce weight and body fat by encouraging a healthy metabolism which could help with weight loss.

Lemon Juice: lemons contain vitamin C and potassium. When you drink lemon juice first thing in the morning, it gives the body a chance to absorb these nutrients and provide an immune system boost. Lemon juice can also help with maintaining a healthy weight, proper digestion and energy levels.

Even a simple glass o