We are staying in town this weekend and I’m really looking forward to a low key weekend with my mom and Ryan. My mom actually arrived in town yesterday night (my grandma is thankfully no longer in ICU – thank you so much for your thoughts and prayers!) and I’m looking forward to some quality time with her before she makes the drive back to Florida. But before I get too ahead of myself, it’s time for Things I’m Loving Friday!
Below you will find a short list of things I’m loving this week. As always, please feel free to play along and share something that’s making you smile in the comments section of this post.
Have a great weekend!
Things I’m Loving Friday
- Essie Secret Lining Nail Polish
Essie Secret Lining is my current go-to nail polish! It’s a deep navy-gray color but the metallic flare makes it feel a little more festive during the holiday season. Dark nails? Who am I!?
- Girls On The Run Coaches’ Dinner
At the end of every season of Girls On The Run, a special dinner is held for the coaches and I attended the dinner for my chapter last night. I cannot believe this season is almost over! I’ve loved it so much and last night was such a fantastic way to round out the season. I enjoyed eating delicious food, spending time with my co-coaches and getting to know volunteers from other schools as well! We also listened to a guest speaker who shared the above quote from Polly Berrien Berends and I love it so much.
(Illustration by Jon McNaught)
This week a list of the top notable fiction, poetry and nonfiction books of 2014, selected by the editors of The New York Times Book Review, was published! Perfect if you’re looking for a great book to give someone this holiday season… or if you’re looking for a book to entertain yourself during holiday travels!
- Instrumental Christmas Music
Bring on all the Mannheim Steamroller and Trans-Siberian Orchestra I can handle!!! I’ve been blasting my Mannheim Steamroller Christmas CD non-stop and can’t get enough. A few of my favorite instrumental classics:
Mannheim Steamroller – Good King Wenceslas
Mannheim Steamroller – God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
Trans-Siberian Orchestra – Carol of the Bells
Trans-Siberian Orchestra – Christmas Canon
- Pine Scented Candles
I am usually a big time sucker for cinnamon-scented candles around the holidays, but I think I’m slowly converting into a pine candle lover. Every time I light a pine-scented candle, the whole house fills with the glorious smell of Christmas trees and I instantly feel the Christmas spirit rise inside me just a little bit more.
I bought this oil-free moisturizer after a few of you mentioned it to me when I complained about my skin being the worst it’s been in years. I am so grateful for the recommendation because I absolutely love this stuff. It’s not cheap but I started using it with Image Skincare cleanser (I’ll post more about that later!) and am finally beginning to feel like my skin is improving. For the most part, blemishes are only popping up around that time of the month (standard for me) instead of what felt like every other day. Thank goodness! I love that this hydrator is oil-free and fights blemishes while also moisturizing my skin. I use it in the morning and before bed at night.
So beautiful. And this is coming from someone whose Pandora station severely overplayed the original “Hallelujah” to the point that I had to give it the dreaded thumbs down.
Question of the Day
- Share one thing you’re loving this week below!
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I always find something new to check out on these lists! Glad to hear your Grandma is doing better 🙂
My skin has been out of control lately as well and I seem to have a new blemish daily. I’ve been using a mixture of coconut oil and olive oil to clean my face and unclog my pores to try and clear it up. I saw a post on a Wellness Mama about this method, and I will definitely let you know if it works so you can give it a try if you want. It is definitely a natural moisturizer. My skin has never been so soft.
Great favorites this week, Julie! I am really looking forward to checking out these music selections. Enjoy the weekend with Ryan and your mom! 🙂
Today is my office Christmas Party, and we all get the day off while the caterers set up our beautiful party at the office. Our bosses are always so generous, but a day off to go on a hike with the pup and bake some cookies is my favorite festive cheer this week!
Your candles remind me of the rosemary trees that were all over when I was in Chicago visiting family. They were about a foot tall and smelled SO good.. but now that I’m back at home, I can’t find them anywhere! Next time TSA be danged.. that tree is coming through security.
I too love instrumental holiday music. Staples in my house are George Winston’s December and Windham Hill Artists’ A Winter’s Solstice. Beautiful piano albums.
Thanks so much for your posts about Girls on the Run! I am looking into coaching or volunteering this spring in Rhode Island 🙂
I tried BodyCombat last night for the first time, and loved it! So that’s what I’m loving this week 🙂 Such a great end-of-semester stress buster!
This week I’m loving my friend’s new puppy! He’s a mini husky and is just the sweetest pup ever.
I love Essie as well, and if you are ever feeling bad about the price tag for OPI or Essie, they are both polishes that don’t have the “big 3” toxic chemicals found in polish!! Yaaaaay! The things I learn while pregnant 🙂
I’m loving Trader Joes Mushroom Mochi-sweet ‘lil dumplings that are sooo tasty!!
i never knew that about essie and opi! great to know! thanks!
I had a friend recommend the Podcast “Serial.” I know you have mentioned listening to them when you walk in the past, so I would definitely check it out! It is a journalist outlining an actual murder case that happened. I have only listened to half of one on my way to work and I am hooked!! Have a great weekend! I am glad to hear your grandmother is doing better.
I’m loving Starbucks Holiday Blend K-Cups!
So glad to hear your grandma’s doing better – keeping you all in my thoughts and prayers. Enjoy your time with your mom this weekend!
I literally just posted my christmas playlist and sure enough, Manheim Steamroller made the cute! I grew up on manheim, and its’ rockin’ beats!! Haha, I just love it!!
And by cute I mean cut. Either way, manheim is my jam.
Hey Julie!
I religiously follow your blog and thoroughly enjoy reading your posts everyday… you truly have a gift for this work! Anyways, if you love pine-scented candles and want to explore the whole wax melt craze, febreze has a pine scented candle wax that is to die for! I have it at my office now and every person that comes in comments on how great it smells!!
Kristen
thank you so much for taking the time to comment! 🙂 and thanks for the recommendation!
So glad to hear your grandmother is doing well! I totally feel you on the instrumental music. Try the Nutcracker Pandora station. It’s amazing 😀 Happy Friday!
Where did you get your candles? I looked at some at Target and they were pricey.
The Illuminations candle is from TJMaxx (they still have them!) and the other one is from Bath & Body Works last year. 🙂
Can’t wait to read your GOTR overview post! You seemed like you’ve really enjoyed it, and I’m excited to get more info and possibly coach myself! 🙂 I’m loving Rold Gold original pretzel crisps this week. So different from usual pretzel crips, but delicious! Have a great weekend!
I am loving these perfect temps we are having in Florida!
love mannheim! both versions of “God Rest Ye” especially!!! have already listened to their Live CD while at work this morning, but i have all of the others here with me too!
I would love to get involved with Girls on the Run. This week I’m loving trying out yoga after going way too long without some good stretching!
Those candles look amazing- so does that polish!! Have a fun time with your mom!
I am going to see Mannheim Steamroller the day after Christmas here in Austin with my family and I can’t wait. They’ve been my favorite for a long time.
i think i will print out that 100 notable books list and see what i can check off –thx for sharing! something great from my week: i’ve had alllll the plans and been able to catch up with most of my close friends this week, and see the 1975 (fave new band!) in concert last night!
I’m loving this Runner’s World article!
http://www.runnersworld.com/fun/14-thoughts-every-runner-has-during-a-cold-run
Pine scented candles just warm my heart. I’ve never had a real Christmas tree, but who needs the extra mess when I have the candles to give me the same effect?
CHRISTMAS CANDLES! They just make my heart so happy!
I am loving Hobby Lobby this week!!! I just discovered this store and it’s AMAZING!!
I got to see “straight no chaser” for the first time the other night, and I loved that! so entertaining and talented…I know you share the love!
Thanks for the book list as well- I have a 3 week break from grad school and this month and I can’t wait to read just to enjoy reading! 🙂
jealous!!!! SNC is amazing!!
Have fun with your Momma! I can’t wait to see mine over Christmas. What I’m loving this week? Match Green Tea Lattes at Starbucks. They aren’t on the menu … have you ever had one? So good! Happy Friday!
no but i need to try it!!
I just bought a pine scented candle too and love it! It makes me feel like our tree is real ;). I have a similar navy color from Essie that I love! I adore dark nails in the winter!
haha we have a fake tree, too!! maybe that’s the reason i love the candles even more! 🙂
Have to go check out that book list!
I love Pine scented candles!!!
OMG I love Mannheim Steamroller & Trans Siberian Orchestra. Some of my faves for Christmas!
Ooh, I have that same Fresh Balsam candle! I have a fake Christmas tree (something I said I’d never do, but in a NYC apartment, we adapt!) and the candle helps me feel like it’s real. 🙂
You have hormonal acne (from reading about your skin problem). You need a prescription of Epiduo. If you go to their website and print off the coupon, the first 3-month supply is $25. In less than a month, my “skin bumps” were non-existent. I highly recommend!
thank you for the recommendation!
I have a similar Essie nail color that I LOVE called Lots of Lux.
I also really like the electronic Christmas music station on Pandora…it’s different from all the regular songs you hear and puts me in a good mood!
I am so glad your grandma is doing better!
I actually am someone who can’t stand the smell of pine. We used to have real trees every year until we finally just couldn’t take the smell and the watery eyes any longer!
Glad that you liked the Hallelujah link I sent you and that you made it part of your Friday List … no Pandora where I live (and I hate Leonard Cohen) but I do enjoy the Canadian Tenor’s version of it.
yes!! thank you again!! 🙂
I LOVE the smell of pine! Scott isn’t the biggest fan, so I only sneak it into the house around Christmastime. So glad to hear your grandma is doing better! Have a great weekend with your mom. <3
Getting a start on my Christmas shopping!!! And having an genuine reason to wear a hat every day…getting cold here now!
I cannot get enough of the Fresh Balsam scent! It always reminds me of my parents house when I was a kid.
the best!!
I’m fully stocked on pine scented candles and can’t get enough! We have a husky puppy who would try to eat a real tree so we stick with a faux but miss the smell of real!
Such a nice quote! Also I LOVE that nail color. I’m a huge fan of dark nails!
Glad to hear that your grandmother is doing better. Over the last two years, we’ve had to deal with my grandma’s slow decline (both mentally and even more so physically). It’s been exceedingly rough on those of us that live nearby, particularly since we decided she was going to be a permanent resident of the care center where she lives, meaning that she won’t get back to her appointment. They just moved her to the “memory unit”, which is for those with memory issues such as Alzheimer’s. It’s so heartbreaking because she pretty much cannot do anything on her own anymore and I hate that she has to live in this state of helplessness. I know that God has a plan and everything, but sometimes I wonder why he’s still keeping her alive if her quality of life is so diminished.
Sorry to dump all of this on your fun Friday Faves post, but you talking about your grandma just struck a chord with me.
i am so sorry for you and your struggle. with my grandmas, one just JUST like your grandma and struggles with severe memory loss and also much be in a memory unit because she was doing dangerous things at home like leaving the stove on, etc. it was such a hard decision to make. 🙁 my other grandma (my mom’s mom) is absolutely fine mentally, bit is having serious physical issues and it’s heartbreaking. praying for you and your grandma, too!!
Thanks so much. I really appreciate it. Her memory just hasn’t been the same since she was most recently in the hospital this last May after breaking her hip. I knew quite a while ago that she wouldn’t be able to go back to her apartment, since she couldn’t even walk and she seems to have no motivation to get stronger or anything. It puts such a strain on my mom because she goes over there pretty much every day after work (after an already long day), does her laundry, does her bills and such, and I hate to see her so stressed. She has another brother who helps out a fair amount, and one who comes up here when he can, but two of them just don’t really do anything.
I’ll keep praying for your grandmas as well. 🙂
I love metallic nail polish around the holidays as well! Mmmm, I think my favorite thing this week is warm oatmeal cookie hot chocolate by Land O’Lakes! Yum!
I love pine scented candles too.. I need to try these because mine from last year is on its last leg..
I love Essie nail polish and dark nails in the winter. Great picks!
I’m sharing in the B&BW Balsam love, too! I got it for my bathroom soap. 😉
Also, you MUST try Zoya’s color, Remy. It stays on a little longer than Essie polish does, and I’m obsessed with it! http://www.zoya.com/content/category/Zoya-Entice-Ignite-Fall-2014.html
xoxo and love to your grandmama!
I loooooove Image Skincare. I’ve been wondering about Dr. Brandt products, and I’m glad to hear this one’s working for you! I’ve recently tried a few samples of high-end, quality skincare products (not Target brand or similar products), and my skin has improved so much. I’m forevermore investing in great skincare products, especially since a dollop’ll do it! :-p