Right when Ryan got off work yesterday, we piled into the car and made the 6+ hour drive to my parents’ place in Jacksonville, Florida. We’ll be here through Sunday morning and came in town for my mom and dad’s big Kentucky Derby party on Saturday. I will be spending the day today helping with food and party prep and can’t wait for all the fun ahead! I’m also hoping to spend some time at the beach if the weather cooperates. I think Chase needs another beach experience under his belt since the last one didn’t go so well…
Throwback to one of my favorite pictures of Chase everrrr.
But before I sign off for the weekend, let’s dive into your weekly Things I’m Loving Friday blog post where I highlight a few things I’m loving each week. As always, you’re more than welcome to join in the fun and share a little bit about something that is making you smile in the comments section of this post.
Have a fantastic weekend, my friends!
Things I’m Loving Friday
- Ryan’s Massage Gift
I asked for one thing and one thing only for my birthday from Ryan this year: 31 massage coupons (one for each year of my life), each valid for a 20-minute massage from him. It’s quite a budget-friendly gift request (FREE!) and though I asked for massage coupons it as a joke (well, technically a “truth joke” because I really DID want it!), I was psyched when he came through and I opened up a piece of paper with “massage coupons” on it on my birthday last week. The best part? Ryan accidentally miscounted when he was copy/pasting “1 Massage” over and over again in a Word doc, so I now have 36 20-minute massages in my future. BIRTHDAY BONUS! WOOP!!!
- Burn Boot Camp Leg Workout
Thursday’s Burn Boot Camp leg workout was a KILLER. I had jello legs all day afterward so naturally I kind of loved it. After a brief warm up, we completed as many round of the above circuit as possible in 25 minutes, followed by 5 minutes of walking lunges to top everything off. It was a tough one for sure!
- Floor Mat Meals
Confession: I enjoy a lot of different aspects of being a mom but one thing I don’t really enjoy is feeding Chase real food. Sometimes things go well and I like it but I often find feeding him extremely messy and a bit frustrating. I’m trying to find ways to make it more enjoyable for all of us (eating my meals at the same time I feed Chase helps a bit so it feels like “meal time”), but when my mom bought these floor mats to help with clean up during her visit last week, I thought they might work well for on-the-floor eating fun!
On Monday night, I stripped Chase down to his diaper and set him up with some food and let him go to town while Ryan and I ate our dinners on the floor beside him. It was so much fun to watch him have a ball as he explored his food! Yes, he still got messy but he ate a bunch and we just brought him right upstairs for his evening bath after dinner, so cleanup was a breeze! I see a lot more floor mat dinners in our future!
- Wine to Water Cabernet Sauvignon
Ryan and I found a new favorite wine! We first tried this wine when we took a cooking class at Sur La Table for my birthday and Ryan ran next door to Whole Foods to grab a bottle of wine for us to enjoy throughout the evening. It was a little too drinkable (we finished the entire bottle before our dinner was done), but it’s a delicious cabernet and we’ve since purchased two more bottles to enjoy. I also love that $4 from every bottle sold goes to support the Wine to Water mission.
I am SO pumped for this *virtual* summit! Since having Chase, I am not able to travel and attend blogging-related events nearly as much as I used to (or, um, at all lately…), so when I saw Nicole Culver announce the first ever virtual Food Entrepreneur Summit, I had to register! Ever since I started listening to Nicole’s Blissful Bites podcast (<—highly recommended for anyone with an entrepreneurial spirit), I’ve found myself craving more and more information from Nicole and her inspiring guests, so this summit is right up my alley. I just had to share it here in case and of my fellow bloggers out there might be interested as well! (And just FYI, you can get 40% off your registration fee with the code EARLYBIRD through May 16!)
Here are more details from the summit’s website:
The Food Entrepreneur Summit is filled with 20 speakers and 18 masterclasses all geared to help you focus and grow your business while connecting with other entrepreneurs. The theme of this summit is CONNECT. Get ready to learn how to focus, zero in on your why, speak to your audience and so much more.
- More Outfit Breakdowns
I try my best to remember to provide outfit info in my posts but including fashion-related details often slips my mind! I’m sorry!! Here’s a breakdown of some of the requested items you guys asked about from Tuesday’s post:
Cheetah-print sandals: BC Footwear (I initially got these from White Plum but they’re no longer available. I found them on 6pm.com though for $40!)
Jeans: Just USA via Nordstrom Rack (These were super cheap – 30! I cannot find the exact pair online anymore, but these and these are similar and also only $30.)
- Strawberries and Cream Cake from Nothing Bundt Cakes
Prior to moving to the Charlotte area, I had never heard of Nothing Bundt Cakes (apparently it’s a franchise), but I’m so glad this little bakery is in my life now. Their cakes are so delicious and when my friend Carrie surprised me with a trio of mini bundt cakes for my birthday, I was especially excited to try the new strawberries and cream flavor. It lived up to my lofty expectations and tasted fantastic!
- Videos To Share
If you’re into videos, I share a lot more videos on Snapchat (find me at juliepbfingers), but here are a few videos from some recent projects I’ve had the pleasure of being a part of over the past few months…
The video I shoot with the Marriott in Charlotte is done in editing and available for viewing! You may see it here:
The videos from the Pureology shoot I flew to NYC for back in March are also up! If you’d like to check them out, you may see them here:
- Friday Flashbacks
Cherry Almond Chia Seed Pudding (Cherry and almond flavors take over this pudding thanks to the crunchy almond pieces and sweet crushed cherries you’ll find in every spoonful. It’s a recipe you can enjoy for breakfast or dessert!)
Dumbbell Core Workout (This core workout utilizes a dumbbell to maximize the burn. It can be done at home or in the gym for a challenging abdominal workout.)
- Around the Web
Interesting reads: It’s Hard For Them Too (<— Love this perspective! Great read for all parents.) / Why I Leave Good Reviews Whenever I Can / I’m Sorry For What I Said When I Had An Easy Baby
Fitness: Plank A Day In May Challenge / How To Fuel For A Marathon / 20 Minute Treadmill HIIT Workout
Food: Simple Maple Balsamic Chicken / Apple Cider Vinegar Coleslaw / No Bake Chocolate Protein Bars
Question of the Day
- What is one thing you are loving right now?
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I always drive by Nothing Bundt Cakes, but now I”ll have to stop in! Look at Chase with no hair, such a cutie!
Thank you so much for sharing my plank challenge. I hope you enjoy your weekend at home. That Derby party sounds like so much fun! I love the party prepping part too! 🙂
I cant wait to check out those two videos! I’ve never heard of those bakeries either…are they only down south? Too bad it looks delicious!
This week I’m loving that it’s friday…haha its been one of those weeks!
thank you SO Much for sharing the summit! I’m SO super psyched about it!
i finally broken down and ordered a spiralizer, i love it!!!
I’m so looking forward to the summit. The virtual option is such a cool way to host a conference! Super convenient.
yay! so excited to have you!
I heard about the summit and it sounds really awesome! Such a good line up of speakers. Thanks for including the link to my recipe! It’s such a nice and easy chicken dish. Great for a quick dinner. Love your jeans and will have to check out your videos. Have a wonderful weekend! Xo.
thanks lauren! i hope you’ll join us 🙂
Hey Julie– a tip for messy baby meals– we use old flat bed sheets and put one under our son’s high chair before meal time. Once we’re all done, it gets shaken out over the trash and then put right in the laundry room to be washed. It’s really saved our dining room rug and made it so that I don’t have to sweep after every meal!
Re: meal times – why not put the mat under his high chair and eat with him? What we’ve found that works well with our 7-month-old is this –
1. Dad plays with baby while I finish supper
2. Strip her down and put her in the high chair with a mat underneath (dog gets all excited and plants himself under it as well haha!)
3. Dish up supper for the grown ups and put whatever baby is having on her tray (no dishes for her since they’ll just end up on the ground!)
4. Everybody eats. I love Baby Led Weaning because it keeps her happily occupied so we don’t have to rush our own dinner. She’s part of it and we get to chat with her. I think this will really help when she’s older too – she’s learning to have patience and sit at the table with grown ups and have dinner conversation, etc. Apparently baby led weaning really helps with table manners and even though it’s super messy now, kids who do it actually learn how to be cleaner eaters quicker!
4. Once supper’s done, baby goes straight into the bath! Then gets her jammies on
5. I nurse her while my husband cleans the kitchen and her mess up, then I put her to bed
6. We enjoy our evening!
This has worked really well for our family, I really recommend it!
We’ve been doing the same kind of routine with our almost seven month old, and it’s been great. I love being able to put her in the tub right after mealtime, and it’s fun for us to all sit together.
We also love the IKEA Antilop high chair. It’s really easy to clean, and while we haven’t hosed it down yet, lots of people say they throw it right in the shower to give it a good washing every now and then.
We have the same high chair and it’s the BEST! So easy to clean and it looks good too!
The videos turned out so cute! And I love that the Nike Flyknits made a cameo at the end of the Marriott video, those are my absolute favorite shoes (and I bought them based on your recommendation!)
the videos are adorable! great job Julie! You look and sound like a natural 🙂
Also, just thinking about meals, remember that “food before one is just for fun” and that Chase still gets most of what he needs from your breast milk. Right now he’s exploring texture and taste so it’s important that he’s allowed to get messy when eating! But the more time you spend eating WITH him while he’s in his high chair, the quicker he’ll pick it up! I really recommend the book “Baby Led Weaning” – it’s a great resource!
Thank you for the sharing the summit info, Julie!! Just registered! 🙂
yay! so happy to have you! i know you will love it!
Thanks for the podcast recommendation! I’ve been looking for another good one for entrepreneurs, especially females. I just downloaded all the episodes!
enjoy them! 🙂
Ryan’s goof up on the massage count cracked me up so much. That’s such a cute gift! It’s kind of funny how extravagant we can be with each other before kids, and things kind of shift after you have kids. 🙂 The videos were awesome! I love your snaps as well; seeing Chase talk is the cutest thing! Good to know we’re not the only one that bugs out about messy eating. My twins are 8 now but that was a hard stage for us. We’re such clean freaks and always felt we were so weird when seeing other parents embrace the messiness so well. My kids are well past the age but it’s a breathe of fresh to read about your experiences with Chase, he’s so adorable! Oh, and I meant to say that what you wrote about your mom last week was so sweet! She seems like the perfect mom!
There’s a virtual summit?! OMG, so game. I can’t wait to check it out. 🙂
While my entire post is about what I’m loving this week, I’m now loving that chia pudding. It looks delicious!
Have a great weekend and Mother’s Day! Hooray!
XO, Jessica
http://www.semisweettooth.com
let me know if you have any questions! 🙂
Nice work on the video and photos girl! Killin it!
I just finished my first week and BBC and my legs are killing me! After taking 3 months off postpartum, my body is not as strong as it used to be. I always love checking out your snapchats and look forward to watching the other videos.
Hey Julie! Do you have the recipe for that delicious looking blueberry breakfast crumble you posted recently? Was interested in making for my mom on sunday! happy mother’s day 🙂
That picture of Chase on the beach is so adorable! Massages are one of my favorite things in the world so I think that’s an awesome gift. I have a gift card for one I need to use!
The picture of Chase on the beach cracks me up! I’m looking forward to visiting family in Washington, DC this weekend for my cousin’s first communion 🙂
Cahse on the surfbaord is the best. Also, the pureology photo of you looks like its for casting of the Bachelor! 😉
Hubs and I are going to Jacksonville next weekend! We usually stay at Atlantic Beach! Hubs has work in Jax so I am tagging along and taking advantage of the beach front resort. Jacksonville is where by husband lived when we first started dating and I would fly in and visit from Texas. Oh, the memories!
Those videos are all so great!!! Awesome job!!
Great post! Loved watching your videos and the Pureology products sound really great, I’ll have to give those a try 🙂
Love these posts!!! Have fun with your parents this weekend!!!
31 massages is GENIUS!!!!! I am planning on getting a massage when I’m at my parent’s house for memorial day weekend! My husband is staying back in AR, so I’ll have all weekend with just Adeline and my parents 🙂 Hello free babysitting and lots of shopping!!
Anyone else loving the new Justin Timberlake song Can’t Stop the Feeling?! I’m trying so hard not to start dancing at work right now listening to it! It’s definitely the perfect song to ring in the weekend with 🙂
Thanks for giving us info on your outfit – could you let us know where you got Chase’s outfit in that pic! It’s so cute and I’d love to get one like it for my 8-month-old little guy!
Have so much fun at the Derby party with your fam, Julie. I so want those animal print shoes. I also want to eat my food on the floor like Chase.
I am with you on nothing bundt cakes! I refuse to buy any other cake now. The strawberries and cream flavor is actually not new, it’s their May seasonal flavor. I love it because my birthday is in May! I actually picked up some bundtinis today for Mothers Day with my in laws. Yum!!! I think they are all over the place now because I discovered it living in Texas and now live in Ohio with a location nearby. So good!!!!!
I love Nothing Bundt Cakes! And the frosting is excellent (total sucker for cream cheese frosting) 😀 Your videos are great! Have a fabulous weekend, Julie!
It was so fun to see the videos! How cool. Also, I have the same exact hair you do, so it was interesting to see the blow dry video.
Can’t wait to see the Kentucky Derby party post! I’ve always thought that sounded like SUCH a fun (event/party idea). Cute hats? Sounds perfect! Have a great weekend. 🙂
The blow dry video link isn’t working for me. When I click on it it takes me to the Pureology website?
Thank you so much for mentioning the summit! I listen to Blissful Bites sporadically and hadn’t heard about it … I signed up right away! 🙂
Hooray for bonus massages, what a unique and thoughtful (even though it was your idea) gift! The floor mat idea sounds brilliant! Much better for an easy clean up!
Chase is so so cute! What an adorable little handful <3
And Wine to Water is based just up the road from you in Boone, NC! …and my husband actually works there. 🙂
Great organization though, and great wine! 🙂
Oh goodness! I work for Marriott and didn’t realize you made this video! How cool!!