Five Things Friday #73 + A Giveaway!
Hey guys! Is anyone else glad it’s Friday? I’ve been running all around this week teaching classes, meeting with clients, and prepping for some blog content coming at you next week. It’s great that things are starting to pick up, but I’m definitely a little ready for the weekend.
If you are celebrating Valentine’s Day this weekend, I hope you have a great time! If you’re not, you can certainly celebrate yourself by learning to love everything about you. One way to love yourself, er, treat yoself, is by getting to the end of the post for another giveaway (you know you want it). No matter what’s on your agenda, have a great weekend and here’s my weekly recap of what I’m loving this week.
1. FruVe xpress Juicery
If you follow me on Instagram, you may be familiar with my preoccupation with smoothie bowls as of late. In addition to trying out my own recipes, I’ve also been on the lookout here in Chicago for ones to grab when I’m not home or I just want someone else to make it for me. Surprisingly, there are fewer than I thought there would be, although if you are only looking for juices, then your options are slightly higher.
I had to run an errand in The Loop earlier this week, so I checked Yelp to see if there were any food stops I should make. I stopped into FruVe Xpress Juicery because the pictures on both Yelp and Instagram were ON POINT and I was not disappointed. They have the largest selection of different acai and pitaya (dragonfruit) bowls that I’ve found yet and you also have the option of designing your own! Don’t worry, if you’re not a bowl fan there’s also a huge menu of juices and smoothies to choose from.
If you are in Chicago or even the next time you come visit, you MUST try this place. Bonus is that they offer a 15% discount for students and a 10% discount for teachers (including fitness instructors!!).
2. Popular Pays
I’ve been using this app for somewhere close to two months and I love it. Popular Pays is a way for you to get paid for your Instagram photos by working with advertisers. Advertisers post their campaign requirements and you as an influencer have the opportunity to bid on said campaigns. The only drawback is that many of them require upwards of 5000 followers, with larger campaigns requiring 10-20K.
For where I am with my followers, the BEST part of this app, and what I didn’t see mentioned on their website, is that you have to opportunity to work with local businesses to receive free products. Termed as a “swap,” businesses in your area may trade you a piece of pizza or a coffee in exchange for a post on Instagram. The follower requirements are much lower than the paid campaigns, and I have helped myself to free pizza, donuts, and coffee using this app.
Currently it is only available for iPhones, but is in development for Android. The swap feature also isn’t everywhere, so smaller locations may not have options available yet. The best thing to do is download it and see what’s available in your area.
(source)
3. Lululemon Run Inspire Capris
I bought these through the Mercari app that I told you about the otherΒ week and they are now my all-time favorite exercise pant. I consulted with some friends who work at Lululemon and it appears that these are an older model with different fabric, which is what I love so much about them. The material is super thin, I don’t have to constantly pull them up, and they legitimately feel like I don’t even have them on. I’m so obsessed with them and just like has happened so many times in my life, once I find something I love, it’s either discontinued or I can’t find it anywhere.
If anyone knows where I can get more of these, PLEASE LET ME KNOW. I’ll send you cookies.
4. Almond Butter & Medjool Dates
I’m sure this has probably made an appearance on 565714 of my Five Things Friday posts, but I’m back into an almond butter and Medjool date phase. This used to even be part of my introduction on the sidebar. I took a break for a couple months, then added some to the cart the other day from Costco. The combination is just amazing.
Bonus: the package I got had a number of dates that were dried out, which is my FAVORITE way to eat them. I can’t stand soft, squishy dates, which is why I will sometimes caramelize them to dry them out faster.
5. DAVIDs TEA Sweetheart Collection
I told the lovely, lovely people at DAVIDs TEA how excited you were to win my last giveaway of their Feel-Good Collection, and just in time for Valentine’s Day they are offering one lucky reader their new Sweetheart Collection with a matching mug (not pictured). All you have to do is enter using the options below and you will have until next Friday at midnight CST to get them in! Remember, since DAVIDs is a Canadian company, both my U.S. and Canadian winners are eligible to enter!
Here’s a quick look at what’s inside:
- Green Seduction
- Peppermint Amour
- Forever Nuts
- Love Tea #7
- Cherry Blossom
- Chocolate Macaroon
- The Spice is Right
- Movie Night
- Green Passionfruit
- Dark Chocolate Delight
- The Earl’s Valentine
- Honey, I Dew
Questions:
- What’s one of your favorite things this week?
- What are you doing this weekend?
You know how pissed I am about the whole Popular Pays thing. Like, not ok, dude. We tried Fruve at CES the other morning and it was pretty good. I was not a fan of their green juice, though. The cashew milk juice tastes like horchata though π
Susie @ SuzLyfe recently posted…Friday Favorites! I RAN!! (ish)
Girl you need to get one of those BOWWWLLLSSS
Cherry Blossom sounds delightful!
Awesome post! Thanks for sharing about #2. I don’t have enough followers but I saved it for the future. Also LOVE #3 I have a pair and #4 is an awesome combo!
Yeah keep it on your radar! I could eat those dates allllll day π
Hi Erin! Totally cool about the pay app for IG — I’m going to check that out. And as far as your leggings – LOVE! And the giveaway too. We have a few DAVIDs Tea locations in SF, and I love the look and feel of the space, in addition to the tea. Thanks for the giveaway! Happy Friday! π
Ashley @ A Lady Goes West recently posted…Favorite Things: A big black bag, photos, snacks and more
Their teas are so good! I hope there are some swaps near you!
Goegeous set of teas! I’d like to try Chocolate Macaroon =)
I’m so jealous of your food options! I wish my area has a juice/smoothie bar nearby. I’ve actually thought about opening my own place. The closest thing is Jamba juice which is just ok.
Megan @ Skinny Fitalicious recently posted…Healthy Raspberry Oatmeal Cookies {GF, Low Cal}
Come visit!
Green Passionfruit sounds like a healthy tasty blend. Thanks!
I would be ALL ABOUT the chocolate macaroon tea! I gave up desserts for Lent, and need to sneak my chocolate in however I can!
Jessica recently posted…Currently: January
Haha I love it!
I want to try the chocolate macaroon tea
The Chocolate Macaroon sounds great!
Just getting onto Davids Tea and am loving it!
I know they’re so good!
I basically held a funeral at the store the day I found out that Run: Inspires were going out the door. They were my first pair ever (and I got them WITHOUT the discount so you know that says something). SO GOOD TO KNOW that I can get 10% that deliciousness! I’ve been drooling at your social media lately!
Lauren @ i had a big lunch recently posted…Thinking Out Loud: Ebay, donuts, and the great grammar epidemic
I need more of those pants!!
YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW EXCITED I WAS TO SEE THIS POST! I was happy the first time you included David’s tea so I was in love this time, hah! Giveaway aside I hope to buy these collections some time because they’re too cute π Also, those capris look great! I have a few pairs that are thicker but I hope to get a thin/fit like-a-glove pair soon.
Oh good I’m glad! Hopefully there will be more to come in the future. I need to find more of those pants!!
I would love to try the Chocolate Macaroon tea
The Green Passionfruit sounds yummy, trying to drink different kind of teas these days π
forever nuts!
yum… green passionfruit!
I’m excited to try Chocolate Macaroon!
I would love to try the Dark Chocolate Delight!
Whatever is in that glorious yogurt/fruit bowl pictured at the top of this post, I NEED. So delicious! Thanks so much for linking up. Those teas look awesome!
Heather @ Life In Leggings recently posted…Friday Favorites #128: Week of 2/12
Right?! It was amazing!
I want to try Green Passionfruit
Cherry Blossom sounds really good
I want to try the Green Seduction
Can’t say I’ve ever had Chocolate Macaroon tea, but I know I’d love it. Sounds awesome right now.
Chocolate Macaroon would be a divine dessert tea to try!
Cherry Blossom sounds sweet
I love David’s Tea! Cherry Blossom sounds amazing!
Luv What You Do recently posted…On Fridaysβ¦We Catch Up {and Relax}!
Green passionfruit sounds delish!
I would love to try chocolate macaroon. Two of my favourite things: chocolate and coconut
Well that app just sounds like the coolest thing ever. Definitely signing up for that to keep in my back pocket for when I (hopefully) increase my # of followers. Also, that smoothie bowl looks to die for and I wish I lived in Chicago right now just so I could eat that.
Kerri McGrail recently posted…Red Velvet Cupcakes w/ Whipped Coconut Cream Frosting
I would love to try the Green Passionfruit.
My favorite thing this week was celebrating my first Canadian Valentines Day- helping my son make 24 Valentine’s & then opening his bag was incredibly cute! Would love to try the spice is right tea.
The Earlβs Valentine sounds yummy!
ooh so many id love to try but chocolate macaroon sounds like a slice of heaven
mmmm the pashionfruit!
I’m excited to try their Chocolate Macaroon
I love to try the Green Passionfruit
I would love to try the Cherry Blossom, sounds like a fresh spring tea!
Mmm I want to try green passionfruit!
Lululemon ALWAYS does that crap – discontinuing good stuff! Haha. But then again, they always come out with awesome stuff….
Jess @hellotofit recently posted…6 Oat Recipes for Heart Health
Chocolate Macaroon sounds delish!
My MIL got me hooked on David’s. I’d love to try green passionfruit. Thanks for hosting and giving.
Besos, Sarah
Journeys of The Zoo
Sarah at Journeys of The Zoo recently posted…Enjoy a Heart Shaped Pizza at @BostonPizza on ValentineΓ’ΒΒs Day and Support Charity! #HeartShapedPizza
Id love to try the chocolate macaroon tea. Great contest
I’d love to try the Earl’s Valentine, I love Earl Grey tea
The Earlβs Valentine
Green Seduction
The chocolate macaroon. I’m also hooked lately on the Birthday Cake and Strawberry Parfait.
I would try the Peppermint Amour first.
Green seduction
The Dark Chocolate Delight sounds intrigueing
I’d love to try Chocolate Macaroon – I can’t imagine the taste, so would have to try it π
I would like to try “The Spice is Right”. Sounds really interesting.
Cherry Blossom
I would want to try the Peppermint Amour! Thanks for the chance
I would love to try the Green passionfruit
I want to try the Chocolate Macaroon tea!
Forever nuts is my favourite! I’d love to try Chocolate Macaroon, I haven’t tried that one yet! Thanks for the chance.
I want to try Love Tea #7 because it’s a mystery as to what’s in it! It’s not all in the name π π
Dark Chocolate Delight would be my first one that I would try
I would be most excited to try Peppermint Amour
I would love to try the Cherry Blossom.
Chocolate Macaroon tea sounds yummy
Dark Chocolate Delight sounds just like its name~ delightful! What a nice treat that would be!
I want to try the chocolate macaroon tea!!!
the chocolate macaroon tea sounds going
Oooh! I love David’s tea!! I would love to try the Spice is right!!
For serious, dates and PB is my chosen dessert it’s soooo good!
I just bought the Earl’s Valentine and it’s amazing. I’m so glad we’re David’s Tea buds. I just need to connect with some awesome peeps in the Calgary stores. (Tell me your secrets – ha!)
Ange @ Cowgirl Runs recently posted…Why it’s Important to Blog Authentically
I’d love to try the Green Passionfruit tea. And I love snacking on dried dates as well – have to look for those next time I’m at Costco!
chocolate macaroon intrigues me