Friday Favorites + Fun Announcement

Howdy, hello, and how are ya’? :)

I am so pumped that it’s Friday, and even more pumped to thank you again for voting for me in FITNESS Magazine’s Fitterati Blogging Awards a couple months ago. Because of your votes, I won Editor’s Choice for Best Healthy Eating Blog, and was included in this month’s magazine, on stands now – wheee!

The first-ever FITNESS Fitterati Awards aimed to highlight the best bloggers as voted by you, in such categories as running, personal training, weight loss, and more. Click here for a full list of the winners.

While I try to eat, and post mostly healthy and well rounded recipes here on IGE, I do think part of healthy eating and a healthy lifestyle is occasionally splurging on things like Dirt Cake and Baked Beans, which is why I occasionally post indulgent recipes too. Willpower is not infinite, and I find that occasionally treating myself “resets” my resolve to make healthy eating choices the rest of the time. Hopefully this is the message you get from reading my blog, and is what inspired you to vote.

Either way, seriously, seriously, thank you x 1,000,000. You guys are the best. This is such a highlight for me and IGE! :D

At any rate, me and the happy spoon are wishing you a lovely Friday, and great weekend. And, please enjoy my favorite finds from around the web and beyond in this week’s Friday Favorites!

Favorite side: Cheesy Zucchini Rice. YES! YES! YES! The perfect summer side dish.

Favorite bling: Kate Spade Good as Gold Bangle. Must. Have. This. Bangle. So chic.

Favorite funny. I want to cuddle the crap out of this sweet pooch!

Favorite wow: Cherry Torte. Wow, now this would make an impressive 4th of July dessert. It doesn’t look that hard to make, plus it would make great use of the tart pan I just had to have on my wedding registry that I’ve used cough, NEVER.

Favorite boost: Ultimate Green Juice. I feel healthier just looking at this picture. :)

Favorite view. Somewhere Ben is barfing (he hates heights.) ;)

Favorite dinner: Chicken Taco Pasta. An easy, satisfying dinner using some of my favorite flavors. Total weeknight winner!

Favorite sip: Watermelon Mint Lemonade. Totally keeping this recipe around, as the watermelon plant in my garden is going to produce approximately 15,000 melons by the time August rolls around (I thought it’d produce, um, 3, max) and my mint plant is showing no signs of slowing down!

Favorite must have: Marc Jacobs Henry Watch. DROOLING.

Favorite snack: Blue Bunny Snack Size Champ Cones. I’ve been buying these babies at the store lately for a small, 140 calorie treat at night. They’re the perfect size!

Favorite place: Porto Katsiki Beach, Lefkada Island, Greece. The name of this beach translates to “Port of the Goat” because it’s so remote that is used to only be accessible by goat. Breathaking!

Favorite light bite: Peach, Mozzarella, and Basil Salad. Perfect for these summer nights when it’s too hot to eat a big meal, or turn the stove on, for that matter!

Favorite accent: West Elm Andalusia Rug. Love this Moroccan-esque design.

Favorite site: DaFont.com. I have been addicted to this font site for years! There are thousands of fonts to browse through and download for free. A great resource to anyone who needs…fonts.

Favorite local event: Tapas and Tunes – June 29 (TONIGHT) at 6:30pm! I’ve had a Facebook friend, Doug, for the past couple of years whom I love to talk running with. His daughter has juvenile diabetes, and Doug and his wife are sponsoring a JDRF fundraiser TONIGHT called Tapas & Tunes, featuring singer Roxi Copland. Check out Roxi, browse over $5,000 worth of silent auction items, and sample beer and tapas from Court Avenue Brewing Co and Rocking Bottom at this fun event held at West End Architectural Salvage. Tickets are available at the door, or click here to purchase ahead of time!

Favorite bite: Brownie Fruit Kabobs. SO adorable for the 4th, and I am definitely not mad at the awesome combo of fruit and chocolate.

Favorite workout: Eating Clean, Getting Lean 30-30-30 Workout. Do each of these 30 exercises for 30 seconds each, resting 30 seconds in between. Kick butt!