The Friday 5

Hi, happy Friday! Can’t believe it’s the last Friday in July – summer is flying by! Mal and I are off to Nantucket with friends for a quick 24 hours. Woohoo! Parents’ night out!

In today’s edition of The Friday 5, there’s a mix of everything from summer attire to skincare to supplements and an invite to the Master Your Macros August Group – join us!

Enjoy your weekend, friends!

1. Brooks sprinkle sneakers – I can’t even with these sneakers. Have you seen a more perfect pair? Sprinkles on sneaker? OMG, I need these in my life!!!

2. Countertime – Beautycounter’s brand new, innovative anti-aging skincare line is officially here… meet Countertime! What makes Countertime unique? Beautycounter created a plant-derived Retinatural Complex using two clean, groundbreaking ingredients: Bakuchiol and Swiss Alpine Rose. These two ingredients give results that are comparable to retinol but are safer alternatives. I cannot wait to incorporate these new products into my skincare regimen. Check out the Countertime Collection here.

Women are getting such incredible results!!

image credit: @betterbeautyandbabies

I’ll be getting samples of Countertime in August, so make sure your on my Beautycounter email list, so you’re the first to know!

3. Pug face pool float – One of my followers on Instagram sent me this photo. I can’t get over how amazing this float is – it makes me laugh every time I see it!!

4. Madewell The Boardwalk Woven Slide Sandal – I’ve been looking for a new pair of slides for summer and these ones from Madewell are super cute – plus they’re on sale! I love a simple (comfortable) sandal that you can dress up or down. Now I can’t decide between black or brown…

5. KEEDONE Women’s Sleeveless Pocket T-Shirt Dress – This is the perfect casual dress or swim coverup. I wore it on our vacation in Florida – to and from the pool as well as to dinner one night! (Sorry I never snapped a photo!) It’s so soft and comes in a dozen different colors. The best part is it’s under $20 – can’t beat it. Thanks, Amazon! FYI: If you’re between sizes, size down. It runs a little big. 

Bonus favorite… 

Master Your Macros August Group – We took a little break in July, but we’re back at it with our next group starting on Monday, August 5th. If you’ve had a little too much fun this summer, and you’re ready to get back on track, be sure to sign up ASAP, so we can get you rolling. Have some questions? Check out this Q&A about the Master Your Macros Challenge. And, of course, feel free to leave a comment with your question or message me directly. I personally have openings for 5 more clients, so just request me when you sign up! 🙂

Flashback Favorites

• How to Make Air Fryer Cauliflower Gnocchi
• Paleo Morning Glory Muffins
• High Protein Vegetarian Breakfasts That Aren’t Eggs
• Our Weekly Grocery Budget
• My Experience with Eggs & Acne

Sales of the Week

• Zappos – Take an extra 20% off select styles with code BDAY20
• Lululemon Day Tipper Dress (25% off)
• Lululemon Tuck & Gather Pullover (30% off)
• Madewell 10″ High-Rise Skinny Crop Jeans (35% off)
• Madewell 9″ Mid-Rise Skinny Crop Jeans (35% off)
• Leith Ruched Body-Con Tank Dress (20% off)
• Outdoor Voices 7/8 Springs Leggings (50% off)

This post contains some affiliate links, which means I will earn a small commission from the company if you decide to purchase the product linked to. This compensation helps with expenses to keep CNC up and running. Thank you for your support!

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15 Low-Carb, Keto-Friendly Desserts

A special thanks to Courtney Hamilton at Paleohacks.com for today’s keto recipe roundup.

Yes, you can have desserts while on keto! These totally sugar-free and low-carb recipes prove that it’s not only possible, but also deliciously satisfying.

The trick to keto desserts is relying on healthy fats to provide richness while using low-carb sweeteners like monk fruit or stevia.

On this list, you’ll find a bevy of keto-approved dessert options, from fudgy brownies to dairy-free cheesecakes. Need a birthday cake recipe? We’ve got that covered. Craving candy? Try a keto and Paleo “PB&J” cup, no peanut butter necessary.

When a sweet craving strikes, these keto-friendly desserts are here to keep you on track.

#1 Our Paleo Life | Keto Chocolate Peppermint Fat Bombs

These candy-like treats are loaded with healthy fats from cocoa butter, coconut oil, coconut butter, and MCT oil.

#2 PaleoHacks | Keto Chocolate Avocado Brownies

We love these uber-rich, sugar-free brownies made possible with a healthy dose of creamy avocado.

#3 Paleo Running Momma | Fudgy Keto Brownies

If you’re not keen on avocado in your brownies, no worries. Try these impossibly rich, super-fudgy brownies instead.

#4 PaleoHacks | Keto “PB&J” Cups

Nix the lectin-filled peanut butter and whip up these almond butter cups with a stevia-sweetened raspberry jelly.

#5 Healy Eats Real | Classic Vanilla Coconut Flour Cake

Need a keto birthday cake recipe? This classically indulgent vanilla cake stays fluffy and light with a keto buttercream frosting. Top with berries for a pop of keto-friendly color!

#6 PaleoHacks | Keto Chocolate Cloud Cookies

Whip up these fluffy cloud cookies to see the power of egg whites in action.

#7 Pretty Pies | Key Lime Parfaits

Why bake up a whole key lime pie when you can enjoy these no-bake, keto-friendly parfait cups instead?

#8 PaleoHacks | Strawberry Cashew Fat Bombs

Cashew butter and coconut butter are the creamy base of these fat bombs, made complete with freeze-dried strawberries and a dash of lemon juice.

#9 Food Faith Fitness | Whipped Shortbread Cookies

I can’t believe there’s no butter! These buttery keto shortbread cookies are made from dairy-free ghee.

#10 PaleoHacks | Keto Almond Fruit Apricot Crumb Bars

If you’re a fan of apricots, you’ll love these healthy bars with a coconut cream layer and a crumbly almond flour topping.

#11 The Big Man’s World | No Bake Salted Caramel Energy Balls

All you need is five minutes and five ingredients for these sunflower seed butter treats!

#12 PaleoHacks | Keto White Chocolate Truffles

While you can’t technically have white chocolate on keto, these sneaky truffles combine coconut butter and coconut cream to achieve a similar effect.

#13 PaleoHacks | Keto Eggnog Cheesecakes Made in a Muffin Tin

A simple almond-cinnamon crust sits at the bottom of these rich eggnog cheesecakes, made with coconut cream, nutmeg, and cashews.

#14 PaleoHacks | Slow Cooker Keto Blueberry Lemon Cake

Did you know you can make keto cake in a slow cooker? Yeah, that means you don’t have to turn your oven on!

#15 PaleoHacks | The Best Keto Chocolate Chip Cookies

If you’re a chocolate lover, you’re not going to want to miss these classic chocolate chip cookies.

Thanks again to Courtney Hamilton from Paleohacks.com. Interested in seeing a certain recipe or roundup of a certain category—Primal or Primal-keto? Let us know below!

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Baby Feeding: Solid Foods + Favorites

Birch The Big Eater

Baby nutrition is one of the most fun parts of motherhood. And the most messy!! Birch is a very good eater, and he really enjoys mealtime. He’s eating three times a day – breakfast, lunch and dinner – and nursing 4-5 times a day. I nurse him when he gets up for the day, after both naps, and at bedtime, sometimes with a bonus session if he doesn’t nurse well at one of the others. I usually wait about an hour after nursing to do a meal to create some space in his stomach.

Baby Led Weaning Or Purees?

We started out slowly with purees and pouches and have moved to mostly finger foods. I’ve had several people ask me if we were going to do BLW or purees like I have to choose between one or the other. We do both! I think there are good reasons to do both.

I look at pouch purees as the best way for him to get nutrients that would either take me a long time to make myself (ex: beets) and/or foods that he can’t chew all that well but are nice to get in his diet (ex: kale) or foods that we don’t always have fresh but he sometimes gets as finger foods too (ex: mango). But I wouldn’t want pouches or purees to be the only way to eat!

I try to give him veggies, fruits, whole grains, fats, and proteins at every meal, made up of finger foods we have on hand from our own meals. Surprising even myself, I didn’t do much homemade baby food making this time around because most of B’s meals come out of our dinners / leftovers. He’s been a better self feeder than his brother was, and it’s great for us to let him feed himself, mostly hands off, while we either eat ourselves or work in the kitchen/dining room. He’s had flakes of salmon, gnocchi, pasta, beans, fancy cheeses, pulled pork, guacamole, etc. – all from our meals. Plus the usual baby favorites: bananas, blueberries, muffins, scrambled eggs, french toast, avocado strips, baked sweet potato cubes, peas, shredded cheese, macaroni and cheese, steamed broccoli and carrots, smoothies, yogurt, etc.

Blueberries + Muffin Crumbles + Yogurt Pouch for breakfast

Baby Foodie Favorites

Here are some of our MVP items for baby feeding this time around.

1. OXO Tot Sprout High Chair // Shout out to our high chair because we love it – for its looks and functionality. I like that they tray is small-ish and easy to clean and the seat is wipeable instead of cloth. Also shout out to the OXO customer service who replaced the old tray for free when it had a sticking issue.
2. OXO Tot Sippy Cup // Has a straw for easy sipping, no spill, handles for easy holding. The OXO Tot spoons are also our favorite. 
3. Ezpz mini mat // This silicone mat suctions to the tray (or any surface) and is a great first plate. Dishwasher safe. Also comes in elephants and flowers! I’m going to order another one soon.
4. Boon Feeder // I’ve mentioned this a zillion times, but I had to include it here because it’s been an MVP for those first few months when I was on super high alert for choking. Our favorite thing to put inside is a strawberry!
5. Smock bibs // These have been AMAZING for keeping food off of B’s clothes and arms. It’s a lot easier to wash a smock than it is to wash a baby at the sink. They do get a little stained, but machine washing and sunshine help.
6. Silicone Bib // Silicone FTW. I put this on top of his smock to keep the smock cleaner and because the pocket is big enough to catch food that he finds later and eats
7. Happy Baby Pouches (flavor variety, organic) + Once Upon A Farm (organic, cold pressed, B corp) 

Feeding himself oatmeal. This was before the mess really started!

Meals out of the house

Meals out of the house are always the hardest, again I think that’s when the pouches and puffs save the day! I also try to pick meals that he can share with me or bring a whole fruit like a banana too. We love the Lobster high chair for eating out, and also the ezpz mat I mentioned above which has its own little carrying case.

Banana at the pool!

Please share your best MVP feeding items and tips!

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