Friday Favorites: Beauty, buddha + blog events

Hi, friends! Even though it’s been a short week, I’m ready for it to be Friday. Unfortunately, I came back from my Florida trip feeling a little tired, and that little bit of tired, turned into a little bit of a bug (oh those darn cross-country plane rides). I’m not in top form, and the chance of me securing a sub to cover my BODYPUMP class tonight or my BODYATTACK class tomorrow is slim, so let’s hope I make an amazing comeback before 5:30 p.m. Pacific time and can power through. 

I don’t have much of a break this weekend either. This one’s another in which I’ll be in the gym all day on both days. I’m attending a pre- and post-natal personal trainer certification workshop at the Equinox in San Mateo on Saturday and Sunday. I’m very excited about learning this material, which is so important for women and will be sure to report back on it all very soon. 

Now, because it’s Friday, it’s time to take a look at a few of the things that I’m loving lately …

My favorite classic glam products

Before I went home to Florida for Labor Day weekend, I gave my Mom a very strict rule that she was not to buy any presents for Dave or for me and have them waiting for us. You may be wondering why I would turn down gifts. Well, my Mom tends to go overboard with us (she gets so excited), and we just don’t have any space for anything else in our little apartment. Every drawer is bursting, our closet is likely to collapse at a moment’s notice, and every shelf is full. That being said, I didn’t really put a limit on little finds. My Mom exploited that loophole and had a gaggle of good stuff waiting for me …

Throughout the years, I’ve tried so many designer brand cosmetics and lotions and fragrances, and I still go back to the basics at Bath and Body Works and Victoria’s Secret. I love to use body spray on workdays at the gym and save my fancy perfume for evenings out, so this lemon body spray is perfection and so is this coconut body lotion. And all that Vicky’s Secret make-up? Yes, that will be fun to dive into as well. A girl can never have too many lip glosses, especially this Gilded Gloss kind. Thanks, Mom!

My favorite pet Instagram account

If you’re on Instagram picture-sharing service, you should follow me. Not, but also, you should follow Buddhathepug. While I like animals, Dave and I don’t currently have any pets, and I’m by no means animal obsessed. Yet, Buddha is a world-traveling adorable pug, who I just so happen to know personally. His Mom is one of my college roommates and friends, who lives an awesome life teaching English abroad. Buddha has been with her throughout her journeys, and together the two of them have amassed a good following. Check him out.

My favorite fun weeknight event

Last night I attended a blogger’s event hosted by Lululemon and Project Juice at a lovely local cafe in the Financial District called Cafe Foundation. There were about a dozen San Francisco food, fashion and healthy-living bloggers in attendance, and we were there to meet and greet and provide our insight into the local trends and scene. It was so great to be introduced to some fellow local bloggers, like Kristine, Chandamheer, Brandy and Catherine, who were all friendly, personable and very down-to-earth. We shared a love of restaurants, workout classes, stores and all things San Francisco and blogging.

The LuluLemon team was so kind to put together the event, in which we learned about Project Juice, had some cocktails, healthy finger foods and participated in a super informal focus group. Not only did we come away with an interest in how LuluLemon invests in the communities it operates by hosting free local events, but we also learned about the benefits of juice cleansing and the new product line coming out of San Francisco-based Project Juice. Oh, and they so nicely sent us all home with a super cute Lululemon tank, a yoga mat and a certificate to redeem for a complimentary juice cleanse. While I’ve said in the past I wasn’t interested in a juice cleanse, I may consider this one, just to support a local company and see what it’s all about. More on that to come soon …

Did you read the tank? So fun. I can’t wait to wear it.

I’ve talked before about my love for the perfect sweatshirts that Dave and I both have from Lululemon, and I’m definitely interested in purchasing a few more investment pieces from the brand in the near future. And you know what would be so cool? If they actually used some of my ideas for future community events. Stayed tuned on that one!

That’s it, friends. I’m going to rest, hydrate and hope I can pull myself together to PUMP it up later tonight. Have an awesome day and an even awesome-er weekend.

More Friday Favorites

Check out all of the previous “Friday Favorites” posts below. And for even more, visit the the link-up hostess, Heather. 

1. A snack, a purse and a ritual
2. A delivery, a bra and a guy
3. A sweet, a wine and a read
4. A drink, a gadget and a plan 
5. A time, a bottle and a powder
6. San Francisco edition
7. Beauty edition
8. Beach vacation edition
9. Hidden meanings
10. Kicks, a book and a bowl
11. The very best sweatshirts
12. Party hosting and froyo
13. Fourth of July daytime activity
14. Beauty basics edition
15. Workplace edition
16. Shopping, sales and a show
17. The foods I always buy
18. Sushi, a game and pants
19. Fitness apps
20. Delicious and healthy products
21. Comfort, fitness and function

Questions of the day

What are you up to this weekend? Do you have any recent favorite finds to share?