Hey friends, welcome to the very first Friday Faves of 2018 — brand new and shiny all over again!
I'm currently up in the air, heading home from an incredible family vacation. My little crew, along with my sister and her family, spent two amazing weeks exploring three cities in Vietnam and one in Cambodia.
Flipping back through my iPhone photos and reliving our journey makes it seem like we were gone much longer than we actually were. Side note: I splurged on the iPhone X right before the trip and haven't looked back once — the camera alone is worth every penny. Would you all be interested in a full travel recap post of our adventures?
Even though we kept a jam-packed agenda of sightseeing and exploring, what truly made it feel like a real getaway was the fact that — apart from posting on Instagram stories — I was practically invisible on social media and blogging.
Honestly, that wasn't even my original plan. But when my laptop gave up the ghost because I forgot to pack a converter plug at one of our hotels (so annoying!), and since I couldn't recall my Facebook password to log in on my phone, I ended up on an unintentional digital detox. And let me tell you — IT WAS INCREDIBLE!
This whole experience really drives home the word I've chosen as my guiding intention for this year, my annual word of the year, the one word meant to shape and direct the next 12 months.
Over the past 4 years, my intention words have been:
- Focus
- Enough
- Present
- Thoughtful
Did I follow through on all of them? Hard to say if I'm the best person to judge, but I gave it my all.
This year's intention word is: Nourish.
Nourish is such a beautifully comprehensive word that it clicked the moment I picked it. To nourish the body, heart, mind, and soul. To nourish with food, with love, and with positive intentions. To nourish both ourselves and others by building a satisfying life rooted in our values.
Guiding people toward discovering and clarifying their values is one of the biggest reasons I'm so thrilled to have co-created the Nourished Planner. Not only to support others, but also for the purely selfish goal of keeping myself on track.
I captured what living a well-nourished life means to me in yesterday's Nourished Planner Instagram post: "Happiness bubbles from within when we create moments and opportunities that sprout from the values we live by."
Now that I'm back in the groove of everyday life, I'm energized and eager to start working on identifying and embodying my values for 2018, to build a year overflowing with things that fulfill and nourish me so I can do the same for those around me. Because honestly, it's all about those bubbles of joy, right?
I'll be sharing more about my journey and my monthly intentions bucket list in upcoming Friday Faves, and I'd genuinely love to hear from you. Have you picked a word of the year? Have you considered drafting an intentions list? I'm always on the hunt for fresh inspiration, so drop your thoughts in the comments below.
Come along and define your values while setting your own intentions with the Nourished Planner. But you'll want to grab it soon before stock runs out, and if you use code ONETIME15 at checkout, you'll snag 15% off your entire order ?
Okay, enough about me — let's jump into this week's Friday Faves lineup.
This documentary on finding happiness with less is absolutely wonderful, and my friend Courtney even appears in it! I could really stand to take a few notes from this one. (And if you haven't picked up her new book yet, do yourself a favor!)
The filmmakers also host a podcast. Definitely one to add to your listening queue.
I'm a huge admirer of this podcast centered around slow living.
And rounding things out, here's a fantastic episode all about meditation (something I'm determined to weave into my daily routine more this year).
What an adorable little illustration about New Year's resolutions.
Speaking of resolutions, are you a fan or a skeptic? I side with this article — it really comes down to how you frame things.
I'm also completely smitten with this free printable for setting 2018 intentions.
One thing I'm determined to improve in 2018 is packing lighter! I wish I'd stumbled across this before my Vietnam getaway. Next time, I'm following this as my playbook!
This raw, honest blog post about our love/hate dynamic with social media really hits home, and I have to admit, the idea of stepping away for a few months is incredibly tempting — even just that single week without my computer made a noticeable difference.
And I'm really enjoying this blog post outlining 5 ways to live more intentionally — every tip matters, but I'd say #3 is a real standout.
Totally aligned with the 2018 vibe:
This is so uplifting. Seriously, how many people can honestly say they actually LOST weight over the holidays? Ashley, you're amazing!
and…
I'm loving these 7 fitness resolutions that outshine simply losing weight (especially #3)!
I'm pushing myself to try this 5-minute exercise routine each morning. Who's in with me?!
Obsessed with this incredibly simple salmon recipe. Weeknight dinners just got a whole lot easier.
Definitely adding this 15-minute salmon dinner to the rotation. Easy, wholesome, fast — check!
Holiday leftovers taking over your freezer? Whip up an everything-but-the-kitchen-sink soup.
This pork tenderloin dinner is incredibly healthy yet feels wonderfully cozy.
This easy vegetarian curry is exactly the kind of meal I'm craving for dinner tonight.
These healthy peanut butter cookies look incredible (and you'd never guess they're healthy). #winwin
5 delicious, nutritious breakfasts to kick off the new year:
Struggling to ease back into the routine? Here are 8 podcasts to help fuel your work week.
This reflections journal seems perfectly suited to me!
and…
This one would be perfect for staying uplifted and motivated.
Coloring is already pretty calming, but it's next-level zen with a coloring book like this one.
On the topic of books, here are 6 to kick off your year with — (yeah Lily)!
Can't get enough of the colors on these adorable sneakers — I'd probably move a lot more with these cuties on my feet.
I've got a whole stack of new links from my travels coming your way next week, so make sure to swing back by, y'all!
Alright friends, that's everything I have for you. Happy New Year, and have a wonderful weekend!
As always, thank you for reading and supporting the brands I partner with, which makes it possible for me to keep creating fresh content and recipes for you. All opinions are entirely my own.
Thanks for reading, and sign up to have each post delivered straight to your inbox.
Hungry for more life balance, less stress, and better health? Take a look at my Nourished Planner, the daily planner designed to bring simplicity to your life and help you under-schedule your days.
Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter for more FoodieCrush inspiration.
SaveSave
Subscribe and have every FoodieCrush post delivered straight to your e-mail inbox
Success! Now check your email to confirm your subscription.
(Visited 1,243 times, 1 visits today)
