I’m really looking forward to a couple of low key days ahead with my two favorite boys and furry BFF! (Well, as low key as possible with Tinytron in the mix.)
In keeping with Friday tradition around here, it’s time for your weekly Things I’m Loving Friday post featuring a short roundup of some of the things that are making me smile right now. As always, I’d love for you to join in on the fun and share a little bit about something you are loving in the comments section of this post.
There is also an awesome giveaway from Minted at the bottom of this post, so definitely check it out, especially if you’re in the market for holiday cards or beautiful prints this holiday season.
Have a great weekend, my friends!
Things I’m Loving Friday
- R.W. Knudsen Cider & Spice Apple Cider
You guys know by now that I have a serious obsession with Ina Garten’s mulled wine recipe. I’ve made it no less than four times since October and tweak it a tiny bit each time. For Wednesday night’s White Elephant gift exchange, I made it again and am convinced one key component to the mulled wine is selecting a wonderful apple cider to combine with your favorite red wine.
This R.W. Knudsen Cider & Spice apple cider caught my eye at Whole Foods before Friendsgiving and I’ve bought it for every batch of mulled wine since because it’s so fabulous. It seems more spiced and flavorful than other ciders and I love that the ingredient list is nice and simple. It’s also wonderful on it own and since we usually have a little leftover, I love heating up a mug of the cider as an afternoon pick-me-up on chilly days as well.
One of my girlfriends recently gave birth to a beautiful baby girl and everyone in my small group wanted to bring home cooked meals to Anna and her family to make the first few weeks a little easier. My friend Danielle coordinated meal deliveries for Anna using the website Meal Train and it made everything SO easy! We were all able to select a day and the Meal Train site said what time Anna prefers to receive meal deliveries, her dietary preferences, address, etc. We were also able to share what meal we were planning to make for Anna’s family to help avoid any repeats or similar meals back-to-back. I highly recommend this handy little site for anyone trying to coordinate meal deliveries for someone!
I was just talking about this cleanser with my girlfriends last weekend when my friend Leah said she is struggling to find a cream cleanser that doesn’t leave a film on her face. I was exactly the same way (don’t even get me started on my hatred for Cetaphil) until I discovered Beautycounter Nourishing Cream Cleanser. I bought it a while back after I downloaded an app on my phone that gave my previous cleanser horrific ratings for its ingredient list. I’ve been more cognizant of the beauty products I use thanks to pregnancy and nursing and have tried to keep up with buying safer products as my older products run out. This cream cleanser was a hit from the beginning and after cycling through a myriad of more natural face cleansers, it is the one I feel does the best job at keeping my skin clear while also moisturizing my face and giving it a clean feel after every wash. A small amount goes a long way and I love the way the coconut oil and aloe help hydrate my dry winter skin.
- Rockin’ Holidays Pandora Station
I think I mention this Pandora station around the holidays every year, but it deserves another shout out just in case you’re on the lookout for an upbeat holiday music station to help you get in the holiday spirit!
I’ve been on such a peppermint kick this week. Every day I’ve had either peppermint coffee, peppermint tea or peppermint hot cocoa. I don’t see this trend ending before Christmas and I’m definitely embracing the festive flavor! An afternoon mug of peppermint tea makes cranking out a couple of hours of work during Chase’s naptime feel a little more cozy and fun, especially when I light a balsam candle on my desk, too. I can’t resist all the Christmasy things!
- Minted Holiday Cards + Giveaway (THREE Winners!)
Is it just me or do you guys really look forward to checking the mail this time of year? I looove receiving holiday cards from friends and family and sent our holiday cards out earlier this week!
Like the past few years, we ordered our holiday cards from Minted who offered to collaborate with me this year and extend an awesome giveaway to you guys, too! If you haven’t ordered holiday cards yet, you have to check out Minted! Their designs are stunning and they have everything from thick letterpress cards to foil-pressed cards and more. The holiday card designs are created by independent artists and I had the hardest time choosing a favorite from so many gorgeous designs!
If holiday cards aren’t on your radar, Minted also has awesome holiday gifts including beautiful photo gifts like this foil collage I made of photos of Chase for Ryan for Christmas last year! And I actually ordered a couple of holiday prints from Minted (this one in green and this one) to hang in our bathroom as well this year and love them!
Now here’s the good news!!!
Three PBF readers will win a $100 credit to Minted to use toward anything on the site!
To enter this giveaway, please click here to enter on Minted.com and leave a comment on this blog post telling me about one thing you are looking forward to this holiday season. The giveaway will end at midnight on Sunday and we will contact the winners on Monday so you can order your cards and gifts ASAP!
Good luck!!
Note: Due to promotional laws, this giveaway is only open to U.S. residents.
- Friday Flashbacks
Gluten-Free Double Chocolate No Bake Icebox Cake (Change this one up and add crushed candy canes for a festive holiday dessert!)
20 Minute Total Body Workout (A total body workout that you can do in only 20 minutes! Add another round for a 30-minute sweat fest.)
Question of the Day
- What is one thing that is making you smile today?
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Disclaimer: Though I was provided holiday cards from Minted this year, this post and corresponding giveaway are not sponsored. Affiliate links are included in this post and do not affect purchase price. Thank you so much for your support!
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Spending time with family and giving gifts to others! I love Minted!!
Before family Christmases in both NH and TN, we are escaping to NYC for a long weekend to celebrate our engagement!
Congratulations to you, Liz!!! SO EXCITING!! <3
My grandmother’s christmas eve party has always been my favorite part of the holidays. I’m going to make your reindeer cupcakes to bring along this year!
I am looking forward to my baby’s first Christmas. I love Minted products!
I’m looking forward to celebrating and experiencing the holidays with my new baby! He’ll be 3 months at Christmas 🙂
Experiencing the miracle of Christmas with our son for the first time-he is five months old!!
I am looking forward to spending our first Christmas together an an engaged couple. This will be an exciting year!
I am so excited to see my family! We don’t get as much time as we normally do since we also have to move the day after Christmas since we just sold our home!
I’m looking forward to baking Christmas cookies with my kids!
We are expecting our first baby the week before Christmas – I’m looking forward to all the newborn snuggles this holiday season!
I entered the minted contest! I have been meaning to order Christmas Cards just haven’t gotten around to it yet. Ahh!!
I am looking forward to spending the Holidays in England with my husbands family =) It will also be my daughters first Christmas yay!
I’m looking forward to spending time with family watching Hallmark holiday movies!
Cannot wait to see my 2.5 year olds face when he walks down the steps Christmas morning! His favorite exclamation is “oh, wow!”. I’m sure we will be hearing it a bunch!
So cute!!!
I’m looking forward to my annual Secret Santa with my girlfriends! I’ve known these ladies since middle school, and it’s so nice to have this tradition!
My fiancé and I are traveling north to meet an entire side of his family I’ve yet to meet in our four years together. I cannot wait to meet more family and spend the holidays up north! ❄️
I am excited to spend Christmas with my family and my fiancé’s family all together! Both our siblings are traveling from New England and PA to NC!
I’m looking forward to spending my first Christmas in my new home! We’ve been having a lot for fun dexorating.
Also, peppermint tea is awesome for congestion & our sinuses. An added bonus!
What’s making me smile this week is my office Christmas door decorating contest. My team made one of our doors an Elfie Selfie Station ?
Holiday baking!
I look forward to drinking hot chocolate while seeing the Christmas lights in town with my family!
I’m looking forward to watching my 18 month old niece get excited when she sees that Santa came while she was sleeping. Last year, she was too young to understand so this year, I’m pretty excited to see her eyes light up on Christmas morning and see that Santa ate the cookies she left out for him!
My son’s first Christmas!
Looking forward to enjoying Christmas as a family of 4 this year!
Looking forward to our first Holiday Nights event and having the extended family together!
Excited to travel to Florida for Christmas with my fiancé ‘s family and then my fiancé and I are moving into our first home together!
Looking forward to celebrating with family at our house
My baby’s first Christmas
I love Christmas music!
I can’t wait to head home and spend time with my family, in-laws, and friends. It’s been a while since we saw everyone!
I’m looking forward to spending time with my family. We’re all only together this time of year. I also love some holiday baking and indulging in some good food. Happy Friday!
I am looking forward to going home for the holidays. This is our first year away from family, so I am excited for the opportunity to still go home and spend the holidays with them.
My little man’s first Christmas! He loves tearing paper so it will be a blast watching watching him rip into everything 🙂
Seeing my family and baking cookies!
I am looking forward to seeing my 2 year old’s face when he sees all the presents on Christmas morning!!
I would love some of the stationary “for her” – i haven’t updated my personal stationary in years!!
I love baking cookies and eating wayyyy too many!
The thing I am most looking forward to is just being able to relax with family…bake cookies, binge watch shows, etc. This is my first Christmas with my employer and they give us the week between Christmas and New Years off, which is so nice.
I’m looking forward to having my last Christmas as just husband and wife – our baby girl arrives in March! I can’t wait to savor these moments together and think about how exciting next year will be!
It’s my son’s first Christmas and I can’t wait to share all of the fun with him!!
Our boys are just getting old enough to be excited about santa!
I always look forward to seeing the Christmas carol play w my family. It is such a feel good play and puts my heart in the right place for the reason for the season.
My son just turned 3 so this is the first Christmas where he is really starting to get it. Everything is SO fun. Picking out a tree, santa, baking cookies, leaving cookies for santa, ect.
I cannot wait to put up our Christmas tree and decorations. We are late this year because we just moved into a new house yesterday! I can’t wait to get in the Christmas spirit.
Love your holiday cards. I enjoyed designing mine this year and sending them to relatives. This weekend is a quick day trip to NYC and then packing to move.
I’m due with my second baby (a girl!) on December 26, so it’s safe to say that our whole family is really looking forward to her arrival sometime during this holiday season. I would love a little love from Minted, as I plan to do a combo holiday/birth announcement card as soon as she is born.
I also have a 4 year old, and she makes the holiday season so much fun! It’s fun to get to feel like a kid again with her, and also watch her experience the magic of the season.
I’m most looking forward to hosting our first “adult” holiday dinner party tomorrow night!
So excited for Christmas cookies!
Going home to see family!
I’m looking forward to spending time with family 🙂
We are expecting a little girl in a couple of months and haven’t seen our family since we announced it to them (we live across the country), so we’re looking forward to some quality family time over the holidays!
My favorite part is Christmas cards, too! I’m normally terrible about checking the mail but during the holiday season I check it every day!