Hello to yooou! It’s Friday and I could not be more thrilled because a bunch of my girlfriends are arriving in town today for my baby shower tomorrow!
(Last weekend my aunt and grandma hosted a shower for family and tomorrow’s shower is for friends. Believe me, I said many times I did not need one shower, let alone two, but I feel so grateful to my sweet family for their desire to celebrate this special time in our lives.)
My mom and sister are hosting a baby shower brunch on Saturday and so this weekend will be jam packed with quality time with some of my favorite people! Though a handful of my friends have already been to Charlotte to visit, a few haven’t seen our house or scoped out our new hometown yet, so Ryan and I are looking forward to hosting a big gang of people and having blast.
I know the next few days will fly by, so I’m hoping to take some time throughout the weekend to really soak everything in and enjoy catching up with my best friends, mom and sister.
Having so many of my favorite people in one place is definitely what I’m loving most today, but it wouldn’t be Friday on the blog without your usual Things I’m Loving Friday blog post where we all chat about what we’re loving most each week. Let’s dive right in, shall we?
Things I’m Loving Friday
- Pregnancy Scrapbook From My Mom
My mom clearly poured so much time and energy into making us a scrapbook that documented my pregnancy so far. When she gave it to me at my family baby shower last weekend, I was so overwhelmed and immediately started tearing up. My mom pulled pictures from the blog and from various text updates I sent her along the way and created a memory book that I’m sure took her hours to put together. It was such a sweet gift and one I’m excited to continue to fill in during the rest of my pregnancy! (And I love the Big Sister sticker next to Sadie hanging out in the Snoogle. So cute!)
- Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty
After loving The Husband’s Secret by Liane Moriarty, I ordered Big Little Lies for another easy summer read and am about halfway through it right now. So far The Husband’s Secret intrigued me a little more, but Big Little Lies is still an entertaining read that I’ve been looking forward to curling up with before bed every night.
We bought Sadie a life jacket back when we lived in Florida and would regularly take her on boating adventures but we misplaced it during our move to North Carolina. Even though we always keep a close eye on Sadie, I’ve felt a little concerned about her swimming in the lake when we anchor our boat off shore so I’m happy Sadie’s replacement Paws Aboard life jacket arrived earlier this week. She’ll be ready for lots of (safe!) fun in the water this weekend!
- This Spiky Bracelet
After I sent back my latest LE TOTE delivery, I totally failed and didn’t select any new items for my next shipment, so I wasn’t really sure what to expect since it would be full of surprises. Thankfully my third delivery was another great one! LE TOTE is totally killin’ it with the jewelry they include in my shipments and I absolutely adore the rockstar look of this spiky bracelet. So funky! (Full disclosure: I received my first LE TOTE delivery from the company to review but am continuing the service myself because I love it!)
- This 30 Minute Workout
My friend Merri will be the first to arrive in Charlotte this morning and since I have to be at the airport to pick her up by 8:30 a.m., I set my alarm to sneak in a quick workout and shower before it’s time for me to head out. I ended up completing a variation of the above 30-minute workout with a few modifications. (I replaced the squat jumps with a wall sit and completed 10 minutes of low-impact cardio on the elliptical followed by two 45-second planks in place of the cardio + core section.) And now it’s time for that shower…
- Around the Web
Pitch Perfect 3 Is Officially Happening (HOORAY!)
Workout Generator (This is way too cool! Answer a few quick questions and FitSugar gives you a customized workout to do!)
Fit Pregnancy Exercise Tips (Thank you to DailyBurn for including me!)
Free Tracy Anderson Workouts on YouTube (One of my favorite Pure Barre instructors shared this on her blog I thought I’d pass it along to those looking for free at-home/travel workout options! Saving this one for naptime workouts after our baby is born!)
- Giveaway Winners
Congratulations to Megan B., the winner of the Lorna Jane giveaway and Megan, the winner of the Blue Apron giveaway! Both winners have already been emailed. Thank you so much to all who entered!
Question of the Day
- Share one thing that made you smile this week below!
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Julie
Today is National Peanut Butter Cooke Day… per Lisa from Hungry Girl
🙂
What a sweet momma! The scrapbook is so cute 🙂
Hearing my baby’s heartbeat at my appt this week definitely put a smile on this girl’s face!
I actually just finished Big Little Lies (The Husband’s secret is next!) It took me a few chapters to get into it, but I LOVED IT. Such a great example of character development and fantastic writing!
What a sweet scrapbook!! I was just thinking last night as I was drifting off to sleep that I really need to make one for my wedding… two years later! 😉
Have an awesome weekend with your girlfriends!!
ahhh i haven’t even seen pitch perfect 2!!!!! i need to get on that – i LOVED pitch perfect!! have an awesome weekend at your shower and with your gfs! 🙂
I’m loving the pup life jacket recommendation! My grandpup 😉 we have learned has a love for boating! But we are not sure how she will do in deep water, or if she will randomly just JUMP for a random fish hunt. We took her out on our double decker pontoon boat this week, and she was trying to drink the lake water as we were moving….. So I am thinking the life vest might be a smart idea. She’s probably near Sadie’s size – she’s a 1 year old lab/pit mix (oh, I wish I could upload pictures), and I’m wondering what size you got your pup? Also …. do you have a ladder for Sadie to climb up into the boat from the water?
Things I’m loving…. It’s a quiet day at work and ALL of the bosses are out. I’m thinking we might be getting an email this afternoon to hit the road early and start the weekend before 5pm! (wink wink nudge nudge)
Have a great weekend everyone!!!!
The scrap book is so sweet! I am loving that it’s the weekend and the summer weather is here. Looking forward to some time by the pool. Enjoy your shower!
That scrapbook is too sweet! Hope you have a great weekend and baby shower with your friends. I always love when I have friends come into town, so I’m sure it’ll be blast!
How exciting!!! I hope the showers go well!
Your Mom’s scrap book is soooo special!!
SEEING YOU IN LESS THAN 24 HOURS!
…this time tomorrow we’ll be sweatin’ through seat work. I can hardly wait. 😉
That big sister sticker is adorable!!
Mint chocolate chunk Quest bars! They are so deadly.
Your mom is so thoughtful!
This week I’m loving my iPhone 6. I finally upgraded from the 4s.
Where is that watch from? so cute!
I have not read The Husband’s Secret, but I loved Big Little Lies so I need to check it out! Wait until you get to the end of the book, SO SO GOOD.
Hi Julie! Have so much fun with your friends. And I LOVE that scrapbook. How thoughtful is your Mom. This week, I’m totally obsessed with my new puppy. He is a Maltipoo and I’m now dog-crazy! 🙂
Hi there and happy Friday! I was halfway through Big Little Lies when you posted about The Husband’s Secret, so I read it afterwards and I have to say that I liked Big Little Lies a bit more! I hope you enjoy the rest of it. I’m now reading Me Before You (Jojo Moyes) after you mentioned it. Haha – keep the book recommendations coming! Have a great weekend and shower:)
Big Little Lies gets better, I promise 🙂
I LOVE the bracelets!
You should check out the bracelets I made over in my Etsy shop or Instagram; BCcrafts101! I would love to do a giveaway for you and your followers 🙂
Your mom is a doll. Hope you have the best weekend with your family and friends – can’t wait to hear about it!
My friends and family have been giving me a big smile all week. They have been so supportive and I don’t know what I’d do without them! Also – I’m very happy to go into NYC this Saturday to celebrate my best friends birthday with a delicious brunch! Enjoy your shower!!
What a great day for Megans!
I am a huge fan of scrapbooking and LOVE that your mom took the time to put that together for you. You and your family will cherish it forever.
Yay for girlfriends and baby shower!!! I am already getting excited for mine and it’s not until mid-July. Patience patience.
This week I have been loving the sunshine – a mood booster for sure. Have a great weekend, Julie!
I totally agree about Big Little Lies — I’m almost done with The Husbands Secret and I’ve been pretty engrossed in it since the beginning but the ending of Big Little Lies definitely didn’t disappoint!!!
Oh my gosh! Love that bracelet. I also adore the shell-looking bracelet you’re wearing in the same photo. Where is it from? Enjoy your weekend!
Your mom is so sweet for making that scrapbook. I’ll have to give that workout a try once I’m feeling better.
awww that scrapbook! homemade thoughtful gifts are just the best.
big little lies is the only one of her books i’ve read thus far…i thought it was okay. easy to read but not anything to write home about. one of my girlfriends really enjoyed Husband’s Secret too, so maybe i’ll give that a whirl sometime. have a fab wknd!
This video is making me smile because I just adore the older and younger generations. Bringing them together is genius.
http://www.quirkyfeeds.com/senior-care-living-community/
HAVE AN AMAZING BABY SHOWER! xo
I came across The Husband’s Secret when walking through my neighborhood a week or two ago — right after you recommended it! Someone had set up a little “free library” box in front of their house, which is pretty much the coolest thing ever. I’m really enjoying the book! Thanks so much for the recommendation.
Enjoy your shower!! And PITCH PERFECT THREE?!?!??! YES!! I have to wait for 2 to be on DVD or on demand because I’ve got a little dude who would not dig the movies, but still can’t wait
i’m doing my first attempt at a circuit workout, self magazine 30 day summer challenge. it’s a killer. i thought burpees would be the worst but it’s actually the commando reps. my arms need some work.
It looks like your bracelet is from Stella and Dot (the Renegade Cluster bracelet to be more specific!) My cousin is a Director for the company, and all of there items are great quality and super trendy. Love it!
I hope you have an awesome baby shower this weekend, Julie!
I wanted to buy Tracy Anderson’s Metamorphosis about a year ago and I’m so happy to see I can now do this for free! Thanks for sharing!
Awww… Sadie looks so cute in her doggie life jacket!!
That scrapbook is the sweetest!!
Have fun this weekend!
have so much fun at your baby shower and with your friends!!! hmmm one thing I’m loving this week is WALKING! I’ve been walking to my local library once a day and it’s been so great! I work from home so getting out of the house is SO good, ha!!
I hope that you have a wonderful baby shower!! And that workout looks like it could totally kick my butt!
Thanks for including a dog vest! I’m taking my dog out on a lake a few times this summer and have been trying to find the best one for her. Definitely checking that one out! This warm weather is definitely making me smile..I love the summer!
Love Tracy Anderson! I got her Pregnancy Project DVDs as a present and I LOVE them. Just the right balance of stretching, strength and challenge. There are parts when I’m like “Ohhh this feels good” and then “Omg, when will this set be over?!” Like I said, just right balance. It’s nice to feel a little bit challenged (in a healthy way) during pregnancy. There are different workouts for each month based on trimester and Tracy is pregnant doing the workouts, too. I really can’t say enough good things…these DVDs have been saving my (pregnant) ass — literally! 🙂
That Total Body Blast workout is JUST what I was hoping to find on your site today. Thanks for posting and have a great weekend!
The pregnancy scrap book is the sweetest thing ever!!! I love it! And I love your watch in the spiky bracelet picture- where did you get it??
Hooray for another baby shower weekend with friends and family! Have a great time!!!
I absolutely love Liane Moriarty and all of her books! 🙂
I hope you have a great time at your baby shower! <3
Amy @ http://befilledwithj0y.blogspot.com/
Baby showers are the BEST!!! I only had 1, but it was right up there w/ one of the happiest days of my life… SO.MUCH.FUN! Have a great wknd!
Something that made me smile this week was seeing my picture on a local events website after working my first Washington National Opera Ball on Saturday: https://www.bisnow.com/washington-dc/news/washington-dc-scene/opera-ball–46634 (I’m in the second-to-last photo, third person from the left)!
I’m loving s’mores oreos! If you haven’t tried them, you should! Have a great weekend, sounds like you will have a blast!
I’m reading the same book! And finding it extraordinarily difficult to keep up with all of the characters. And my smile is from Y O U! Thanks for sharing some <3 🙂
The stories and positive feedback from the Love Your Bodies Campaign on my blog justmejennb.com
A group of 20 women have come together to share their stories about overcoming their obstacles with poor body image. There photos and stories are inspiring snd spreading positivity like wild fire!
I love that first picture of you and your friends! SO much love!
The thing I am loving most this past week is being with some of my long-distance friends that I hadn’t seen in a while and basically spending the whole week laughing! I also was able to celebrate my boyfriend graduating from Officer Candidate School, and that was really special and really inspiring! It’s been such a wonderful week!
Looking forward to hearing about your shower! So happy for you!
I am totally going to give that 30 minute workout a try tomorrow! I am so excited to hear about your shower!