It’s hard to believe that five years ago at this time, I was getting ready to walk down the aisle and marry my favorite guy! We’ve been together 11+ years, lived in 3 cities, 3 apartments and 2 houses together and have created a family that I love with all that I am. Ryan is comfort, support, humor, love and home to me. I’m looking forward to celebrating 5 wonderful years tonight… likely in sweatpants, cuddling with our little boy. I’ll be sure to recap anniversary fun on Monday!
Before diving into your usual Things I’m Loving Friday post, I must wish you guys a very Happy Halloween! I hope your weekend plans include some festive fun! We still have to pick up candy for trick-or-treaters (we have no idea how many kids to expect since we were at a Halloween-themed wedding rehearsal party last year <—SO great!) and we haven’t decided what Chase will be just yet (I’m hoarding three costumes for him right now), but we’re looking forward to celebrating Chase’s first Halloween with our little dude! Have great weekend, my friends!
(Thowback pic from last year when we dressed up as Sheldon and Amy – aka “Shamy” – from Big Bang Theory!)
Like every Friday around here, below you will find some of my weekly favorites – things that make me smile or laugh every week – and I’d love to hear all about what you’re loving this week in the comments section! Let’s get to it…
Things I’m Loving Friday
- Farrier Presshouse Wine
This wine was a hit in our house last weekend! Ryan picked up a bottle of Farrier Presshouse 2010 red wine at The Fresh Market and my girlfriends and I loved it. I don’t have a refined palate or expansive wine knowledge so I don’t have anything fancy to say about this wine other than it’s smooth and delicious and worth trying if you enjoy a quality blend.
If you’re a candle fiend like me and have yet to add a Woodwick candle to your collection, definitely put them on your radar! They crackle when they burn and make the whole house feel extra cozy! I picked up this candle at Kohl’s a month or two ago and now that our bathroom renovation is finally done, it has a home! (I’ll share more about our bathroom renovation soon. I’m so glad the deep purple color is G-O-N-E.) The cashmere blanket scent is lovely for a bathroom and makes the room smell fresh and clean!
- Girls On The Run #GirlsGoRunIt Campaign
I have some exciting news to share from Girls On The Run! As you may remember, I coached an awesome team of girls with GOTR for two seasons last year and absolutely love the organization. GOTR recently partnered with ASICS and as part of this partnership, ASICS is launching a social media campaign (#GirlsGoRunIt) in conjunction with the New York City Marathon.
The campaign runs October 29 through November 1 and during the campaign, ASICS is posing the question “What have you learned about yourself while running?” to their digital audience. For each post that responds to the question via Twitter and Instagram using the hashtag #GirlsGoRunIt, ASICS will donate $5 to Girls on the Run (up to $26,200). It’s an easy way to help such an awesome organization raise money, so I just had to share! I hope you’ll join me and participate!
- Post-Workout Smoothies
After a short hiatus, I’m back on my post-workout smoothie kick! This week I’ve made the same smoothie three times and I’m loving it! It’s a combination of frozen banana, peanut butter, coconut milk, dark chocolate cocoa powder and chocolate protein powder. Tasty and filling!
- Kettle Corn
Chase and I had two rough days this week on Tuesday and Wednesday. He was cluster feeding like crazy and never napped for more than 25 minutes at a time (when he wasn’t attached to my chest, that is). Plus, Chase only seemed to settle and sleep in my arms which was both incredibly sweet and maddening all at the same time. Can I blame the second challenging day in a row on the fact that I ended up eating nearly an entire bag of kettle corn on Wednesday? Can’t stop, won’t stop. This stuff was just too good and this mama was addicted!
- Around the Web
21 Pics to Inspire You to Meal Prep (Thanks to Daily Burn for including me!)
Having a Baby vs. Having a Cat (LOLOLOL!)
Big congratulations to Gina on the birth of beautiful baby Penelope!
Blonde and a Brit’s Favorite Blog Posts (Still so psyched Laurel is blogging!)
- Friday Flashbacks
In honor of our anniversary, here are a few flashback posts related to our wedding day:
Our Wedding Kiss (Still cracks me up thinking about this moment even five years later!)
Wedding Recaps: Ceremony, Reception: Part I, Reception: Part II
Question of the Day
- What is one thing you are loving this week?
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Sheldon and Amy…such an amazing costume!!! I’m not sure you could beat it this year!
Happy Anniversary! I am loving making pumpkin pie protein smoothies this week after workouts! Pumpkin, frozen banana, pumpkin pie spice, vanilla protein powder, almond milk. So good!
Can’t believe it’s been 5 years already! Happy Annuversary!’ 🙂 I remember stumbling across the blog when searching about “peanut butter” recipes & the picture of you came up with your finger dipped in pb and I’ve been reading every since! Woah time flies!
Thank you for reading for so long! <3 Hope you have a wonderful weekend!
Happy, happy anniversary!! I remember reading while you were planning your wedding. I hope you and Ryan enjoy your day! <3
Happy anniversary and YAY to Chase’s first Halloween! Whatever you dress him up as, he’s going to be the cutest 🙂
Happy Anniversary!!! Hope you and Ryan (and Chase!) have an awesome time celebrating! I’m loving seeing all the creative Halloween costumes!
Happy anniversary! Can’t wait to see what Chase ends up dressing as!
I love Woodwick candles! I’ll need to check out that scent!
Happy Anniversary!! It goes so fast! I’ll be celebrating my third wedding anniversary in a few months and it seems like we just got married yesterday!
This week I’m loving apple cider with a splash of caramel vodka. its like caramel apples for adults and its amazing!
Happy Anniversary! Hope you have a wonderful weekend!
Happy Anniversary! Hopefully you’ll be able to do something fun to celebrate. Plus, I’m sure there will be so many cute pics of Chase’s 1st Halloween.
I got a pine-scented woodwick candle last year and loved it! The crackling sound is so comforting.
I’m loving warm apple cider and lots of walks outside before winter comes!! Sounds like the 3 month growth spurt!! My baby girl is one week younger than Chase…. She’s been in the ‘nap only in mommy’s arms’ phase for weeks. I can’t complain, since she sleeps through the night….but I sure do use my baby k’tan daily 🙂
Happy 5 years!!!
Happy Anniversary, hope you guys have a great weekend celebrating!! And I’m totally digging your costumes from last year, my hubby and I are big Big Bang fans! 🙂
Happy Anniversary! Have a wonderful weekend!
So my very first Halloween I was a pumpkin, the pictures still crack me up to this day! Julie, please be sure to share pics of that sweet baby boy in his costume 🙂
On another note, happy, happy anniversary to you and Ryan!!! Today happens to be both my brother’s birthday and my Aunt and Uncle’s anniversary, so October 30 is a special day in our family already.
Have a great weekend!
That Shamy costume is just hilarious! Happy 5 years to you all 🙂
Happy anniversary to you and Ryan! And to many more! You guys are such a great couple! As a long time reader I have loved seeing (reading?) you guys go from engaged to married and build your life together! Happy Halloween! Cant wait to see pics of Chase in his costume!
I am without a doubt loving the weather this week! We had our all time low this season of 30 degrees here in MO and I have been loving the cooler weather!
Hope you guys have an awesome weekend!
I looove the Asics campaign! I’m going to blog on this topic soon- thank you for putting it out there!
Happy Anniversary! I had a very similar shake for breakfast this morning but I added in spinach and frozen strawberries.
Happy anniversary, Julie! I remember reading your blog even way back then, and I believe you were sick on said wedding day. 🙁 No big Halloween plans for me this weekend, although this is my first time not living in a City apartment, so there’s a chance we may FINALLY get some trick-or-treaters. Here’s hoping! Have a great weekend!
Happy Anniversary!!!! XO
I remember your costumes from last year and how much I loved them then and still love them today. It was so cute!
Happy Anniversary! I’m loving that my friends & i are headed to the Escape Room tonight for some Halloween fun. Pumpkin soup before our shenanigans is a 14 year tradition.
Hahahhaaha that wedding kiss story is hilarious!!! I don’t even know if practicing helps because everything gets thrown out the window during that moment. My husband grabbed my face and I just stood there haha, and we DID practice beforehand!
Happy Halloween and Happy Anniversary!!! x
Happy Anniversary!
Love your costumes from last year. 🙂
Happy Anniversary!!! Have a great weekend with Ryan and Chase! Can’t wait to see Chases Halloween costume 🙂
Happy 5 years! I can’t believe it’s been that long; I feel like I was just reading your wedding posts the other day.
Happy happy anniversary to the cutest Shamy since the original!!
11 Years Together!!! Five Years Married!! Your two are a powerhouse!
Woot Woot to the Fagans!
Happy Anniversary I have been following your blog since it started. A friend had sent me a link to one of your articles and that’s when I started reading. Can’t believe its five years since we watched the preparation for your wedding to Ryan. Have a great day.
Happy Anniversary!!! Yes, your wedding kiss still kills me!!! LOL
I always appreciate when you mention your wedding kiss because mine was super awkward too! Makes me feel like I’m not a weirdo. LOL
Happy Anniversary!
Haha! Definitely a hilariously awkward moment!
Happy Anniversary!!
Aw! What a fun and special post! Happy Anniversary! You guys make such a cute couple…even as Sheldon and Amy! <3
I am so loving this Girls on the Run campaign. I will definitely join in!
And, that candle makes me want me to ditch work to go pick one up. It sounds like such a nice scent! 🙂
Happy Anniversary! I also have 3 costumes hoarded for my 18 month old! Just couldn’t decide! We have: Snow white, a ladybug and a tiger…..I’m leaning towards tiger!
Cats vs Babies – LOLOLOL!!!!!
Happy anniversary!!! My 3rd anniversary was on the 20th, so happy anniversary from one October couple to another 🙂 My daughter was born on the 19th of October last year, so we spent out 2nd anniversary in the hospital (I think In N Out was our dinner LOL). This year we were able to have my in-laws babysit for a weeknight date which was fun! Enjoy your day, and Happy Halloween as well! I can’t wait to see pics of Chase in his costume on Monday 🙂
We went as Amy & Sheldon last year, too! I just sent you a pic via e-mail. 🙂
Happy Anniversary!
5 YEARS?! Wild. So glad you’ll be spending it with your little one. Can’t wait to which costume you select for Chase. I’m certain that it’s going to be your favorite Halloween yet! 🙂
I found your blog this week, don’t remember how, but the title caught my eye because my mother used to make peanut butter fingers when I was growing up. I can’t remember if they came for a pillsbury cookoff book, or a newpaper magazine. When my brother was in Iraq (about 10 years ago) that is what he requested that we send him in his care pkgs. They are a bar cookie, topped with chocolate and then a peanut butter topping that you swirl with the chocolate. There is oatmeal in the bar cookie, so there is a little good in with all the not so healthy.
Also, I just became a grandmother and got my daughter in law a solly baby wrap, she really liked it because she could get something done while cuddling her baby. You may want to check it out.
Have a good anniversary and if you would like the peanut butter finger recipe (if you bake) let me know.
Happy Anniversary! I hope you have a wonderful day celebrating!
HAPPY Anniversary! You two are such a wonderful married couple, and it makes me excited for my own future relationship. I hope you guys have an incredible time celebrating and enjoying your festive weekend. And, it is Chase’s first halloween! Cannot wait to see all of the adorable pictures that come from this.
Can’t wait to see what costume you pick for Chase!
Happy anniversary!
Happy anniversary! I hope you guys had a great weekend! This is a little late, but it’s been a busy weekend! One thing I was loving last week was incorporating group fitness classes into my workouts. I took a boot camp style class yesterday morning and it was fantastic!
Happy anniversary, Julie! I can’t believe it’s been that long. I started reading your log shortly after you got married and that feels like yesterday! God bless.
Happy Anniversary Weekend! And can’t wait to see pics of Chase dressed up for his first Halloween. And I haven’t tried that popcorn yet, but kettle corn is one of my favorite snacks. And there are so many healthy versions to purchase now! And chocolate post workout shakes are the best, knowing I get that shake literally gets me through most workouts.
I know you’re a big Pentatonix fan- did you see there’s a new documentary about their latest tour on Netflix now?!?
YES!!!! We made it about halfway through this weekend and hope to finish it soon. Love them so, so much! I’m still dying to see them live.
Happy Anniversary! I hope you had a great time celebrating with Chase!