Five on Friday #2

Tuesday I posted a delicious recipe (Shredded Chicken and Bacon sandwich with Ranch Slaw) and talked about establishing some consistency on my blog. Well, I had so much fun doing Five on Friday last week I think I may just make that a tradition around here too! Every now and then I may be mixing in five of my favorite things or trends or even doing holiday editions! I'm excited to see where it goes! 

O N E:

Living in West Michigan, we have so many local breweries it's hard not to start to fall in love with a good craft brew! There is this new local brewery called Mitten Brewery that is located in an old firehouse (such a cool vibe!) and their peach cider is SO yummy! Not to mention, they make some pretty mean pizzas too (I just enjoyed a Thai edition there a few weeks back and I've heard they make a Thanksgiving one!). One of my favorite limited release beers made by Short's Brewery is going to be released sometime the end of this month and I am super excited!!  They team up with Half Acre Beer Company out of Chicago and make this delicious guava beer called Freedom of '78.  I am going to be stalking grocery stores and local specialty markets for releases!! Do you like to enjoy a nice craft brew? If so, what is your favorite?

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T W O:

My name is Ashley and I am a shopaholic. Seriously, it's out of control (bigger, more elaborate post on this topic to come soon!). That being said though, I found some stellar Presidents Day deals on Monday and also received some adorable stuff via mail this week! I cannot wait to try it all out! I wanted to share some pieces with you below! I'm not the only one out there that enjoys, ok, indulges in some retail therapy, right??

(some awesome trends right now: leggings, lace, oversized sweaters, ankle booties!! I am in love!)

T H R E E:

I'm not too much of a follower of the Winter Olympics (Sochi 2014) but one story I found to be pretty cool and inspiring is of Lolo Jones. Lolo was a track olympian athlete in the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics where she experienced the frustration of tripping over a hurdle in her race resulting in a seventh place finish. Some time after that hardship Jones was introduced to bobsledding by Elana Meyers (American bobsledder since 2007) and was chosen for the U.S. bobsled team (2014) in October 2012. This makes Lolo Jones one of very few athletes that have participated in both the Summer and Winter Olympics. I think it's awesome that she decided to take up a whole different sport in hopes of attaining her goals! She is an inspiration to others for although her career has taken some decent blows, she has never stopped fighting for her dream of an Olympic medal. It also shows us that sometimes in order to keep fighting for your dreams, you may have to take alternative routes to get there. These paths may have never even existed or been known to you at the time you set your goal but for some fortunate reason they are opened up to you! Keep fighting and never give up on YOUR dreams and goals!!

(more on Lolo Jones can be found here)

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F O U R:

I cannot tell enough people how delicious Oikos Greek Yogurt DIPS are!! If you love French Onion dip or a good salsa/cream cheese one... you have to try Oikos greek yogurt versions! You will not even be able to tell the difference; actually I think they taste better. And they are definitely better for you with the yogurt base instead of sour cream. I have found them at the local grocer by the sour cream. I could eat the whole thing in one sitting if I didn't have will power!

F I V E:

With my job as a nurse comes weekend work requirements. I work every third weekend; sometimes Friday rolls around and it feels like my Monday. This is my weekend so it will be three long nights in a row but what makes it all O.K. is that I love my job and I love my co-workers. Those are two things that I feel very fortunate to be able to say because I know most people cannot. Even though there are some mornings where I leave work after a crazy night where almost every little thing that could go wrong, did; I still love to be a nurse! I work with some of the most amazing, self-less, hard working people and I don't know if I would love my job as much if I did not work with these wonderful ladies and gentlemen. Thank you to all my co-workers for ALL that they do everyday!

Thanks for stopping by and have a GREAT weekend!!

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