September 1,, 2024
Welcome to A Lovenote.
A weekly digest where I say hello and share. You’ll find things you can cook this week + some things you didn’t ask for but might enjoy. I’m so glad you are here!
It’s officially the last weekend of summer! Well, not equinox official, but according to the school year calendar official. And I am very ready for school to start. There’s just something exciting about September. It’s the end of summer that feels like a fresh start. It probably started when I was a school aged kid and now as a parent, it’s so deeply ingrained. It’s a great time to get organized and back in your groove. Every year as fall approaches, I feel a deep need to reset. Establish new routines. To quickly create a new rhythm and to nest. Can you relate?
I’ve been off my game this last month. I am a creature of habit and balance (hello….any fellow Libras out there? ) I do best when I am organized and I feel like I’m in a rhythm.
Hoping you are all having beautiful long weekend! Let’s enjoy the fleeting moments while we can. Find water. Sit near it. Buy some fresh produce from a roadside stand. Drink lemonade and leave your phone inside. Pick the flowers, take a nap and ignore your email.
xoChristie
LIMITED INTRO SPECIAL!
Yogi’s! Back to School also means Back to Workout Routines! I for one am sooo excited to be getting back to yoga! I will be back teaching this September and am looking forward to seeing your beautiful faces! All classes are 60 minutes and there is an intro offer available this fall!
Mondays at 7:30pm (Maison Movement)
Thursday mornings @sevenyoga
Fridays at 9:15am (Maison Movement)
If you’re interested in trying a new form of fitness, or recommitting to the one you may have been neglecting, now is a great time to get back into a routine.
Let’s move, connect, unwind and strengthen together. I would love to practice with you.
Are You New Here?
WELCOME! to our new subscribers! I’m thrilled you’re here. In this newsletter, I share insights into my life, my adventures, and discoveries from my online explorations. Sharing is caring, and I’m excited to pass along helpful tips, hacks, and valuable intel as we all strive to be our best.
I hope to get to know you better. I always love hearing from you and learning what you need most from me.
Let’s dive into today’s newsletter, shall we?
What caught my eye this week
MOVING My bestie @lindsay.moves and I got in a much needed hike and gab this weekend. We are both in our weighted vest era. If you are considering buying one, they are excellent. Anyone nearing or in menopause should consider joining the club. Weighted vests have been shown to improve osteoporosis prevention and bone density improvement. Mine is 12lb…roughly 10% of my body weight. I was very challenged walking up the hill with it so if you aren’t used to working out, I would maybe start a little lighter.
WATCHING Sully and I started watching Life on our Planet and we LOVE it!
READING This article from the Surgeon General saying that Parenting is Hazardous to your Health was a bit jarring. The report says that more than half of US parents (and I can only assume Canadian as well) are crippled with a level of stress that is overwhelming, and most can barely function due to a combo of loneliness, stress and money woes. To which, I responded immediately with ‘ummm….WE KNOW!’ It would be nice if the Surgeon General offered some solutions on this. I definitely feel I’m on a hamster wheel, trying to do it all. I think we all know that the #1 attack on our nervous systems is our phones and the internet. But how do we fix this??
If you needed to make yourself feel better about this news, I found this article about simple, inexpensive things that make your life better, and I love the comment section! I read it all the way down and was intrigued by one person who mentioned this product. So much so that I ended up ordering it. Stay tuned!
Ummm…IDK if this is seriously inspiring or if I’m doing something wrong. I too, have a 15 year old at home. She’s not thinking about this stuff. Time Kid of the Year.
SHOPPING I actually haven’t been shopping much. I did pick up a set of these sheets that are AMAZING. I slept in them at a friends’ cottage this summer and they were lovely. Crisp, light and now 40% off! I didn’t realize Labour Day sales were a thing until my inbox was flooded with emails telling me so.
I was, however, seriously hoping that the Ninja Creami was going to be on sale because although it’s cooling a bit here in Ontario, I have a major craving to make my own frozen treats. Sadly, we’ll have to wait.
High Protein Cinnamon Bun Overnight Oats
I love that this healthy breakfast tastes like dessert but is a totally acceptable form of morning sustenance! You can whip up this recipe in minutes before you go to bed, and it’s ready to go the next morning.
Make Ahead Breakfast Burritos
These Make-Ahead Breakfast Burritos take a few steps to prepare, but the convenience of having a freezer full of 2 minute nutritious breakfasts is totally worth it to me. And my kids (and husband!) love them.
Golden Harvest Zucchini Muffins
Whether you are a seasoned baker or just a novice, try these muffins. The strudel on top is EVERYTHING! These are the perfect breakfast or lunchbox snack. You can also make this recipe into a loaf!
My go-to Post Workout Smoothie
This smoothie it gives you everything you need to refuel after a workout: Healthy fats from the avocado, fibre from the spinach, and omegas from the flax seeds. So whether it is a meal or a snack, you can count on lots of protein and energy.
I made these Browned Butter Peach Bars for the What to make with Allll them Peaches Series over on Instagram and they were INSANE! Serve them with salted caramel ice cream and your tastebuds won’t know what to do with themselves!!
Lastly, in case you missed it, I rounded up some seasonal inspiration of what to cook, bake and eat in August! So many amazing recipes that you will love (I know, I know….It’s now September…but there is still time!) If you try any, I’d love to see what you make. Tag me on instagram.
Looking for past issues of A Lovenote? Catch up on what you missed with Episode 32 and Episode 33 and Episode 34.
We appreciate you being here! Are you enjoying these emails? Please do let me know what you want to see more of!
TRAVEL heading to NYC to cheer Fras on in his charity bike ride in 2 weeks! Every year, Fras participates in a gruelling ride from Toronto to NYC and I’ve never been able to join him with the kids just getting back to school. I’m so excited that we’re now at a place where we can leave them solo for a few nights! The freedom!! I would like to see a show on the Saturday night (I’ll be there with a few cycling wives before Fraser arrives). What should we see? Please send recommendations!! Also, shameless plug, you can donate here to help support crucial in-hospital and other programs for children undergoing cancer treatments. That’s Fras in the photo! He ‘s so close to his fundraising goal! He is such a force!!
SCROLLING I stumbled upon this instagram account this week and am so drawn into the warm aesthetic and cozy hues. I could get lost in all of these homes and never want to return! @vivirdesign
Also, this father/daughter ping pong chat melted my heart! Just listen - it will put a huge smile on your face!
ORGANIZING These lunchboxes are great quality. I have a free guide to packing lunches that I hope will help us all with the chore of lunchbox packing this year. You can save the digital guide or print if off for 20+ lunchbox ideas. I’m going to put them on the inside of my cupboard so my kids and I don’t have the mental fatigue of having to decide what to make each day.
COOKING Let’s start the week off strong with make ahead breakfasts. Mornings are about to get much more hectic for most of, which is why it’s so important to have a good, balanced breakfast ready to go! If you are anything like me, you run around getting everything that needs to get done, done. And the minute you get out the door, your stomach starts to growl, and your blood sugar drops. The solution? Recipes that actually work for busy mornings.
Recipes to try this week…..
This week’s meal plan
Thank you for being here!
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I would LOVE to hear from you! Please let me know what is on your mind and how I can help!
These easy protein peanut butter and jam cups are the perfect midday treat. Rich and creamy peanut butter center, with a dollop of sweet jam hidden inside, they taste so good you won't even be able to tell these are packed with protein!