{Friday Favorites} Grilled Cheese, BCAAs, and StrideBox

Disclosure: I received 3 complimentary boxes from StrideBox. As always all thoughts and opinions are my own. 

Happy Friday! It's been a while so I decided to share some of my favorites from the past couple of weeks. I haven't run at ALL in 2 weeks, and it's been okay. I am letting myself rest and recover while I'm in the boot. 3 weeks of no exercise won't kill me. Besides I have a LOT of studying to occupy myself with this weekend.  Be sure to enter my blog birthday giveaway! 

Favorite Easy Cause to Support: Tab for a Cause

So I I'm one of those people who always has tons of tabs open in my Google Chrome Internet browser window. I can't help it. I've always have a few tabs I'm actively using, a few that I am saving to work with later as a reminder, plus constantly am clicking on things. My friend Kate suggested checking out Tab for a Cause, an internet browser extension that replaces your tab page with a beautiful page that raises money for charity. It's free and for every tab you open, you earn hearts which you can choose to give to your favorite charity. The extension's sponsors provide money to charity divide all the money raised amongst the charities based on the number of Hearts donated to each charity/cause. 

 It hasn't slowed my internet down, and if my excessive internet browsing can help a charity that is awesome! 

Favorite Snail Mail: StrideBox

October's StrideBox goodies

November's StrideBox

StrideBox reached out to me a few months ago offering to send me some complimentary monthly boxes. StrideBox is a monthly subscription box for runners that includes a set of curated running gear, accessories, and nutrition products in each box. Now I had done subscription boxes before such as Birchbox and BuluBox and always found that it ended up being a waste of money because I wasn't really using any of the products. I just ended up with bags of samples or things I threw out so I really was turned off by them. So far the StrideBoxes I've received have had some cool products and a nice variety. There was cool gear like the blinking light for running and some YogiTea which I love in the most recent box. This is a cool gift for the runner on your Christmas list!

Favorite Supplement: Slap Nutrition Salted Caramel BCAAs

I had tried supplementing with BCAAs because they are shown to reduce muscle soreness  and may assist in muscle-protein synthesis or building. However I honestly don't have the time or the brain power to remember to take multiple pills, supplements, powders. Also a lot of the flavors didn't taste super great for the powder forms so I stopped. I found Slap Nutrition and was intrigued by the short list of ingredients and unique flavors. This Salted Caramel BCAA powder tastes so good when mixed with something. There is a bit of a fake sweetness taste I found when mixed with just water, so I always mix it with almond milk or coffee.  

In the summer I was mixing these in with an iced coffee after runs for a yummy caramel coffee treat. I am still taking it despite not running or really working out at the moment, hoping to help anything that needs recovering in my foot-plus it just tastes good. 

Favorite Baltimore News: 'Homeless Veterans...Baltimore Bike Share' from The Baltimore Sun

I love Baltimore because despite its problems, there are many amazing people trying to do good things here.  I was especially touched by this article describing how Baltimore's new bike share program is being serviced by a few homeless veterans. As a future occupational therapist the man's story they profile is everything about changing your life and 'becoming' through doing something.  

Favorite Easy Dinner: Grilled Cheese & Tomato Soup

As the temperatures start to drop, I crave warm and comforting meals for dinner. I have whipped up some grilled cheese and tomato soup for dinner a few times because it's filling, quick to prepare, and reminiscent of my when my mom would make me this for lunch or dinner( she still makes the best grilled cheeses!). 

This post was linked up with my fave Friday Linkup ladies with Nicole and Amanda .

What is one of your favorite cold weather meals? Do you pay for any monthly subscription boxes?