Oh my gosh, I cannot believe Christmas is ONE WEEK away. I am SO thrilled and cannot wait to make the drive to Florida to spend the holiday with my family next week. But until then, let’s focus on the present and chat about what we’re all loving most this week!
(I’ve always thought Mimi looked so beautiful and glamorous in that photo. I love and miss you so much, Meems.)
Without a doubt, what I am loving most this week is that Ryan had a successful surgery yesterday. He had surgery to remove a hernia and it took place early yesterday morning. I had him home before lunchtime and now he’s relaxing and recovering. Lots of rest is on the agenda for this weekend!
And speaking of Ryan… Here’s a random little aside for those of you who may be new to the blog… I stumbled upon this throwback post from 2012 yesterday that features the Evolution of Ryan’s Hair and it made me smile! It’s hard to believe that when I first met him he had long, shaggy blonde hair. Love it.
Well, that was a random start to this blog post, huh? Clearly I’m feeling a little all over the place today!
Let’s move onto your usual Things I’m Loving Friday list of favorites…
Things I’m Loving Friday
- Holiday Phone Case
A few weeks ago, I placed an order on Casetify.com for three holiday phone cases (one for me, one for my mom and one for my sister) and they finally arrived late last week. Though I was hoping the holiday phone cases would arrive in time for us to enjoy them during the entire month of December, I suppose half of the month is okay, too, since we’ll get to use them during future holiday seasons, too. I love my JOY case and received a sweet text from my mom and sister saying their new cases made them smile when they got them in the mail earlier this week! Since I had the same phone case for years when I had my last phone, it’s fun to change things up a bit this time around. When I had my last phone I started to become superstitious and felt like my old Zazzle case was the only reason I never busted up my phone since I dropped it so many times! I was scared to switch it up!
- Santa’s White Christmas Coffee
Yep, this was definitely an impulse buy at Publix earlier this week! I threw a bag of Barnie’s Santa’s White Christmas coffee into my cart and have been enjoying it every morning with my beloved Fairlife whole milk and a splash of eggnog. It tastes like Christmas in a cup!
Ever since Chase made his debut over the summer, I’ve been looking for ways to streamline some of my tasks related to blogging. Up until now, I’ve never automated anything, used any scheduling tools or had any help, but I’m constantly feeling way behind on everything and I’m hoping CoSchedule will help alleviate this feeling a bit. I’ve read a lot about it and think it will be incredibly helpful when it comes to scheduling my social media shares ahead of time, managing my editorial calendar (errr… the one I hope to maintain better in 2016), etc. I started using it this week and so far find it fairly user friendly which is a major plus.
I was going to wait until Chase’s five month recap to blog about this sleepsuit, but I can’t hold it in any longer. It really is MAGICAL. During Chase’s four month check up, his pediatrician said we needed to stop swaddling him at night. Even though Chase isn’t rolling over from his back to his front yet (he’s been rolling the other way since he was 3-ish weeks old!), his doctor said it could happen any day now and swaddling him at night could be dangerous if he managed to flip himself over. Well, that’s all this paranoid mama needed to hear. It was time for the swaddle to go. Cue panic! Swaddling was the only way we could every get Chase to chill out and settle down before bedtime and naptime. What in the world were we going to do!?
I then remembered Baby Merlin’s Magic Sleepsuit, a puffy sleepsuit that is supposed to help with dropping the swaddle, that Meghann sent to me before Chase was born. I dug it out of the closet in Chase’s nursery and figured it was worth a shot. Before bedtime that night, I zipped Chase into the ridiculous-looking marshmallow suit. I nursed him as usual and when I placed him in his crib, I expected pure mayhem. Instead I was greeted with a sleepy baby who settled almost immediately. I pretty much ran around our house high-fiving Ryan and my mom (she was still in town from her Thanksgiving visit at the time) and we laughed repeatedly at his goofy splayed-out appearance on the baby monitor. The suit may look ridiculous, but it totally worked for our little man. I just had to share it here just in case any of you are in the same boat. If your baby is a swaddle lover but you need to drop it soon, I cannot recommend this sleepsuit enough. It is MAGIC and worth every penny.
- Nothing Bundt Cakes’ Gingerbread Bundt Cake
After Ryan’s ACL surgery, I had a surprise mini lemon bundt cake waiting for him from Nothing Bundt Cakes and for this round of surgery I wanted to do something similar. Chase and I picked up their seasonal gingerbread cake yesterday and had it waiting for him at home when he was all done. Of course I had to get one for myself as well because the mini cakes are irresistible and the gingerbread flavor was on point. So tasty!
- Friday Flashbacks
Roundup of Holiday Recipes (Lots of yummy festive treats in this 2012 post!)
Hot Holidays Workout (A throwback workout from 2013 that targets the whole body!)
My friends at Lorna Jane passed along this discount to me to share with you guys! Use the code LJTIGHTS through December 31 to receive $10 off any of the tights on their site! They have tons of cute options and fun patterns!
Just a note: Conditions apply. This offer is not in conjunction with any other offer and is only available while stocks last. Valid online at lornajane.com from 12/9/15-/12/31/15. There are no product substitutions unless specified by Lorna Jane. Lorna Jane has the right to extend offer periods without notice. The promotional code must be entered at the shopping cart section of the checkout process to redeem this offer online and it cannot be added after the order has been placed and the confirmation email has been sent.
- Minted Giveaway Winners
The winners of last Friday’s Minted Giveaway were emailed earlier this week. Congrats to Karin, Emily and Melissa! And thank you so much to all who entered!
Question of the Day
- What is one thing you are loving this week?
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Ugh, they just opened a Nothing Bundt Cakes near my house and my friend and I went their first week open because we had coupons. They gave us a gingerbread one for free and it was SO good. It’s so dangerous that it’s super close…the cakes are delicious!
They also have Bundtinis which are a little less dangerous… unless you eat like four in a row which, um, I neeeever do. 😉
Oh my gosh the evolution of Ryan’s hair post is hilarious! I have pictures of my hubby like that, only he has JET BLACK hair and for some reason he thought growing it out would equal shaggy blondish hair like Ryan’s. I’m sorry hunny but your hair does not change color when you grow it out, so instead he looks like a big of a faunzy. This week I’m loving the fact that I got a new camera, haven’t taken it out of the box yet #DSLR intimidation but I got it!
Love that photo of your family at the top of the post! Mimi is gorgeous and I can see where you get your smile! How is Ryan healing from both surgeries?
This week I’m loving homemade cookies! I don’t know why I save baking these cookies for the holidays, but it makes them special I guess!
I have the perfect laid back ‘one-week-before Christmas-date-night’ for tonight! We’re getting subs for dinner, hot chocolate, and having a Christmas movie marathon. You can’t watch Christmas movies without hot chocolate and you can’t have hot chocolate without mini marshmallows. We’re also making caramel apple pie dip to bring to my boyfriend’s family Christmas party that’s tomorrow and we may have to triple the batch so we can ‘taste-test’ it while movie watching!
Sounds amazing!!
What size sleepsuit do you have? I’d love to get one for our daughter when she hits four months, as it’s been recommended to me by a few moms in my local moms’ group. Also, can I ask how much Chase weighs? Just want to get an idea of which to order. Thanks!
Hi Lisa!! We have the 3-6 month size and it’s perfect for him! Chase is small (he weighs only around 13 lbs.) but he’s super long. I think they have sizing guides on their site that seem to be accurate!
I am LOVING that Christmas is only one week away!! We are going to visit my family in Nashville and I can’t wait. I love that phone case!! Love the revolution of Ryan’s hair! ha!
Those bundt cakes are amazing! Luckily there are no stores near me or I’d eat them all the time. Seriously the best!
Hope Ryan’s feeling better soon! I had 2 surgeries this year, too – foot surgery at the beginning of November & a tonsillectomy this week (FYI, not fun at 33…). I’ve been joking that I’m falling apart as I get ‘old’…ha.
Oh man! I hope you’re feeling okay and can rest this weekend!
Hi Julie! Poor Ryan! Firs the knee and then the hernia. 🙁 I’m so glad he is home and recovering. As far as your favorites, I did notice some more regular Facebook posting from the PBF, and it’s nice you’ve found a tool to help with that. And I love the festive phone case, I seriously should do that next year. I need a case for my new iPhone badly, but bought one that didn’t work out and had to return it. Anywho. Happy Friday, Julie! Have a wonderful weekend.
That phone case is the cutest thing I’ve seen in a while! Love it. Lately I’m loving my holiday blend coffee…so simple and delicious 🙂
Merlin has been less than magical in our house. I was so hoping it would work for us!!
Oh no, really!? When I read the reviews it seems like there are a few people who it just didn’t work for… Hopefully you can resell it! It really worked wonders for us.
Oh, man – perfect timing. I may be in desperate need of one of those sleep suits. Our 3 1/2 month old has figured out how to roll from her back to her front, but doesn’t go the other way – not ideal for swaddling at night at all!
It is so fantastic!!! I truly don’t know what we would’ve done without it!
CoSchedule has been so helpful for me–I don’t know what I’d do without it!
Ha! I am superstitious about my phone case too! Two years strong and no cracks yet despite constant drops by my toddler. Hope I didn’t jinx it.
Ha! Glad I’m not the only one!
I have been using CoSchedule for about six months now and I love it! I don’t know how I did it before. The editorial calendar keeps me so organized too.
I definitely have high hopes for it!
LOVE Nothing Bundt Cakes! When I lived in Arizona, they had one near my place and I just adored everything they made. I’m SO excited that they’ll be opening one up near my condo in Chicago!! The gingerbread cake looks amazing!
One thing I’m loving this week … The peppermint bark from William & Sonoma. Can’t get enough!
THANK YOU for your magic suit info! I ordered one the second I read it. I’ve been trying to break my daughter of swaddling, but have had no luck!! Can’t wait to high-five around my house when it’s delivered!
I love that iPhone case, the trouble with those things is you can really only use them for 2 months a year without being weird (not that I am not already weird haha!)
I’m loving the holiday music all around, it’s been unseasonably warm in NYC but the city does get decked out no matter what 🙂
Coschedule is amazing and from what I’ve experienced, run by good people who really care about your business!
As for Ryan’s changing hair, omg so funny! When you’ve been together for a long time it’s really fun to look at old pictures. I met my husband when I was 15 and we oddly look very much the same at 26 and 28 🙂
I too love the Merlin marshmallow suit! My daughter is 7 months now but I still like using it for naps. When we first started using it she would nap for 3-hour stretches!
My husband had hernia surgery 4 years ago right after Christmas – good luck to Ryan! Love your holiday phone case, so cute! And you write the BEST holiday recaps (my favorite to read out of all the blogs I read – so festive!), so I’m looking forward to those.
What a cutie your sweet Meems was. I find that when I miss my mom, making one of her recipes makes me feel comforted. Whipping up a batch of Mimi’s sugar cookies sounds like a fun way to stay connected to her.
I remember that post about Ryan’s hair, LOL. You guys look so CUTE in those flashback photos! Fun to revisit that post again.
Have a great weekend!
I just ordered the Merlin for my little one. He’s a swaddle escape artist! I can’t wait to try it out!
From the Merlins website, once they are able to roll you should take them out of the suit. It doesn’t allow them enough room to push up if they get face down. I’ve heard from my mommy friends it’s a great transition but you will still have to break him of the suit one day as well! So I have been putting off trying it because of these reasons. Did it help chase sleep longer or just go down easier?
That CoSchedule sounds really neat. I need something like that lately since I’m back at working in an office and I don’t want to even touch a computer at night to blog. Little tasks can really add up though!
We’ve been using magic Merlin for naps and overnight sleep since about 3 months since my little guy didn’t like the transition to his crib. My little guy is almost 6 months. He’s tall (95%) and has been wearing the 6-9 month size since 4 months. I’m afraid he’s going to outgrow this size soon (6-9 months is the biggest they come). I don’t know what we’ll do after that!!! And what to transition him to next!!
Excited for a date with my hubby tomorrow. Headed downtown to see straight no chaser and then dinner afterwards!
You in that blue dress = STUNNING, Julie! I’m so glad Ryan’s surgery went well and I hope his recovery is smooth. Have a wonderful weekend, Julie. 🙂
Gingerbread bundt cake?! omg! soundsd heavenly!
Hope Ryan has a speedy recovery!
I absolutely loved the book Ready Player One by Ernest Cline! It’s a type of geeky dystopian novel about a treasure hunt inside a virtual reality world – with dozens of 80’s cultural references mixed in. The perfect escape from a busy work week : )
I love Nothing Bundt Cakes! We typically get an assortment of bundtinis and I am always amazed at how delicious they are! Thanks for the information about CoSchedule – I’m looking for something to help me get organized with respect to the blog. I’m so glad Ryan’s surgery went well. Have a fabulous weekend!
We are using Nothing Bunt Cakes for our wedding cake next fall – I am so excited. The GF one is amazing!!
Can I come!?!? 😉
I agree! Your Mimi looks very beautiful in that pic!
A couple of the girls at work use CoSchedule and love it! I haven’t yet used it for blogging, but I could definitely use some help in the content-organization world, hmm… 😉
We are also loving Nothing Bundt Cakes! My husband received coupons for free bundt-lets at work and they were delicious! So far gingerbread, chocolate chocolate chip, and red velvet are wonderful.
My girlfriend whose baby is turning 1 this upcoming Jan swears by the merlin magic suit! Its so cute looking too! Love these posts xo C
Just a warning about the Merlin – it SHRINKS a LOT when dried. We air dried mostly and then put the dryer on extra low. ONce they can roll IN the merlin, the sleepsuit becomes dangerous as well. We just transitioned from Merlin to the Zippadeezip http://www.sleepingbaby.com/ check that out as well. We used it for the first time last night… 🙂
Loving your gram’s sugar cookies. Made them for the first time and can’t stop eating them. Thanks for sharing.
I’m loving my new blog! I started this past week and it’s been a whirlwind. I’m reading articles, making lists, posting on social media, etc. It’s fun and scary all at the same time. 🙂
I’m a new Mom too struggling to keep up with blogging. And I’m going back to work in a month so it’s time I figure it out. I’m excited to try Coschedule- thanks for sharing!
Julie, I have been looking into getting a Merlin Magic suit but wasn’t sure about the hands and feet. The suit does not appear to cover the hands/feet and I worry that my son (who is nearing months) would get cold. Do you cover Chase’s hands or feet? Also, do you use JUST the suit or do you put Chase is a onesie and then the suit? Sorry for so many questions… but I wanted to ask someone with experience. 🙂
I love Christmas flavored coffee! That sounds so good! I also love that phone case, how festive!
Glad that Ryan is doing well after his surgery! I love that you posted about Santa’s White Christmas Coffee because it’s seriously one of my favorites. We are getting some on our grocery run to Publix today and I can’t wait!