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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I’m so excited to go home and bake Christmas cookies with my mom!
I cannot wait to bake cut out sugar cookies and chex mix with my husband! It’s our Christmas tradition!
I’m looking forward to a break from work to spend time with friends and family!
I can’t wait to decorate the christmas tree with my family!
So excited for family to come to town!
I’m excited to make (more) Christmas cookies and Christmas morning cinnamon rolls!
I’m looking forward to taking some time away from work and relaxing with family and friends
I always thought I was more of a Thanksgiving than Christmas girl, since December shopping comes with so much stress… but this year I really planned ahead and had lists of gift ideas for everyone on my phone since the beginning of the summer! It made finding the perfect gift (and the perfect sales! 😉 an exciting and rewarding experience. So, I’m excited for the joy of giving– which at first may seem like a materialistic tradition, but I think it really conveys that the people I love are meaningful to me and I think of them year-round. Merry Christmas to you and your family Julie.
Peppermint tea is so good! I’m definitely a fan. Best thing to happen in my week was that we booked our trip to Paris in May!
We close on our house next week, and while it is super close to the holidays and we will have a million boxes to unload I cannot wait to set up the tree for our first Christmas as homeowners!
I am looking forward to taking my kids to see the Nutcracker for the first time!
I am looking forward to my first Christmas with my new husband! Merry Christmas!
I just had my 4th baby, on December 1! I’m looking forward to introducing her to all of our special family traditions! It’s so sweet watching my three older children get so excited watching her “do” all of the fun activities with us!
I normally get my cards done early in December, but wanted new baby in the family picture. This gift card would be a dream come true…. I feel so behind!
I am looking forward to spending time with my family and friends, especially just hanging around a bonfire and eating s’mores and hot chocolate!!
I am excited to decorate our Christmas tree!
I’m looking forward to benign newly married!!!
Looking forward to having some time off work to spend with family and friends!
I’m looking forward to seeing my family this holiday season!
I’m so excited to go back home (I grew up in Chicago and currently live near NYC) to spend time with my family and to surprise my boyfriend with a ticket to come visit me during the month I’ll be gone.
I’m looking forward to time with family and getting lots of items for our April wedding checked off the to-do list while I’m at home.
I am looking forward to the snow!!
Can’t wait for our new Christmas Eve pajamas & so many other fun traditions with our families!
I’m looking forward to hosting my family for Christmas! Last year was our first Christmas in our new house, and it brought me such joy decorating and cooking to host my family Christmas Day. With more decor up and my recipes ready to go, I can’t wait to have my sister and parents and cousins over again. It definitely makes me feel like a real adult, but in a good way. Merry Christmas!
I am looking forward to making Christmas cookies with my family and seeing my brother (and his family) who live many states away for the first time in months!
I am looking forward to making cinnamon rolls w my mom…our yearly tradition.
I’m looking forward to watching my son Jack really experience the holidays this year! Last year he was only three months old, so this year I’ve loved seeing the Christmas decorations through his eyes, and reading him Christmas books and watching holiday movies with him!
I can’t wait for cold weather and snuggles in front of the fire and our tree!
I’m looking forward to watching my kids open presents and spending the morning in our pajamas!
I always look forward to getting to spend extra time with family over the holidays!
This holiday season I’m looking forward to spending time with out of town family. Also starting some new traditions w our son. Starting elf on the shelf tonight??
I am looking forward to quality time with my family, including celebrating my grandmother’s 89th (!!!) birthday!!!
Looking forward to Christmas with my 21-month old! He loves the Christmas tree and all the lights, and he keeps saying “Santa’s comin!”
I’m looking forward to alot of family time! My son was born Sunday so having a new little one will make things so different and exciting!
I’m looking forward to spending time with family and eating the cheese ball my mom always makes sure she has for me when I arrive. Total guilty pleasure.
Looking forward to picking out gifts for my loved ones and relaxing with my family. Happy Holidays to you and your family : )
I’m looking forward to quiet time with family and getting ready for our baby who is due at the end of January!
All.the.christmas.music!!
I am looking forward to our two year old starting to understand the joy of christmas! She is already so in to it, I can’t wait for the actual day! Also, we have our family holiday weekend starting tonight- Looking forward to good food, great company and laughs!
Christmas cookies!!
I’m looking forward to telling my extended family and more friends that we are expecting!!
Can’t wait for holiday baking
I would love to order some of their prints to frame in my son’s room!
I’m looking forward to driving around and taking a tour of the holiday lights in my neighborhood!
I look forward to spending time with my family during the holidays.
Christmas Eve is always my favorite! Candle-lit church service followed by dinner and games with my family!
I took off work between Christmas and New Year this year. I can’t wait to soak up all those days with my kids and enjoy some down time after the hustle of the holidays.
I have been enjoying this holiday season on an entire new level as it’s my daughters first Christmas. Seeing her eyes light up at all the lights, Christmas decor is so so special!! Her Brother is due Jan and would love to win this for his birth announcements!!
I’m looking forward to spending my FIRST Christmas as a married couple with my husband! We got married in October and have already started several traditions of our own <3
I’m looking forward to seeing all the holiday lights around my surrounding neighborhoods this year.
I’m obsessed with the beauty counter charcoal face mask! it is amazing!