And now it’s time for your regularly scheduled blog post where we talk about things we’re loving this week. As always, please share something that made you smile this week in the comments section of this post.
Have a great weekend, my friends!
Things I’m Loving Friday
- Hiking
We are getting awfully spoiled with all of the great hiking nearby! We recently found a trail north of the city at Lake Norman State Park that follows the lake for five miles and includes tons of little lookouts for hikers to take in the beautiful views. It’s gorgeous and I hope to go back soon!
This app makes creating a movie extremely simple! For my mom’s 60th birthday, I reached out to people she loves most and asked them to text or email me a short video wishing my mom a happy birthday. I added music and pictures and sent the video link to my mom on her birthday last Sunday. It was a huge hit and much easier to make than I anticipated. I highly recommend this app if you are in the market for something that makes video editing relatively simple.
- House Hunting
Since Ryan and I have never looked for a house before, the whole house hunting process is very new to us and I had no idea how addicting it can be! I check Zillow all the time. We’re planning our evening walks in different neighborhoods to get the feel of various areas around Charlotte. We’re talking with our realtor all the time and scheduling appointments to see homes. It’s exciting and incredibly overwhelming all at once.
- Black Cherry Sparkling Water
I bought a bottle of this water at the airport on Monday and thought it was so good! It reminded me of unsweetened Dr. Pepper, and I mean that in a good way!
- Vizsla Pictures on Instagram
Please tell me I’m not the only crazy dog lady out there who searches the hashtags of certain dogs on Instagram and freaks out over all the cute pictures. I love browsing vizsla pictures under the #vizsla or #vizslasofinstagram hashtags because they are all so similar. Ryan and I laugh at Sadie’s ridiculous tendencies all the time, such as her need to be touching us if we’re in the same room, and the vizsla pictures on Instagram make it clear vizslas really do deserve the “velcro dog” nickname. Plus the vizsla puppy pictures absolutely melt my heart.
- Scharffen Burger Milk Chocolate with Toasted Coconut and Macadamia Nuts
This bar was in a goodie bag I received from Hershey and after one bite, I knew it was going to be hard not to eat the entire thing in one sitting. It’s creamy, slightly crunchy from the macadamia nuts, sweet and absolutely delicious.
- Blue Apron Giveaway Winner
Congratulations to Aleysha, the winner of the Blue Apron giveaway! Aleysha was emailed first thing this morning. Thanks to all who entered!
Past Things I’m Loving Friday Posts
Question of the Day
- What is one thing you’re loving this week?
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This week I loved having time to relax and catch some rays at the pool! Hope you have a great weekend!
Sounds fabulous!
oh dont worry, I actually turned my instagram into my vizslas instagram…i am the craziest dog lady. I looked at vizsla pics all the time. I love them all!
Oh I’d love to do some hiking. I miss it; it has been way too long! This week I’m loving Orange is the New Black. I’m kinda’ obsessed…
Haha that dog face though!
I am also in love with the vizsla pics on Instagram. It’s not our fault they are the cutest dogs! You and Ryan should check out a restaurant that is featured for charlottes restaurant week! Tons of great choices and it’s a great deal!
I love hiking too! When I lived in Florida I never hiked (too hot and a not a lot of places to do it around Orlando), but in San Francisco, we have tons of gorgeous locales just minutes away. Happy Friday!
I am always looking up pics of beagles on instagram lol! Nick (my boyfriend) is always laughing at me! So no worries, your not alone!!! : ) Happy Friday!
Haha phew!!
Looks like a beautiful lake to go hiking around.
Mmmm…now I’m having a chocolate craving! That sounds delicious! This week I’m loving coconut water. I can’t get enough of it and I find it to be super hydrating and refreshing!
I’m loving trail running! A new love affair that started yesterday.
Trail running is the best!!!! It goes by so much faster than regular running to me. 🙂
I need to try that black cherry sparkling water. Dr. Pepper was my drink back in middle school!
Yup! I’m obsessed with pitbulls of instagram, they are adorable 😀
Chocolate + toasted coconut is sooooo good!!
We’re celebrating 3 months of marriage AND my husband’s birthday this weekend, so it should be a fun one! I’m planning on taking it easy and relaxing like it’s my job 🙂
That app looks so cool! Was it free or did you have to pay for it? PS we’re house hunting too, and OMG yes, I’m on Zillow ALL.THE.TIME. like I’m expecting 100 more houses to pop up in the hour breaks in between, haha, ridiculous, I know.
Happy anniversary!!! And the app is $4.99 but totally worth it in my opinion. It really is very user friendly.
I love looking at homes too and we’re not even seriously looking. I can understand how it could get overwhelming fast.
We had ice cream in San Francisco with Scharffen Burger chocolate sauce on it. Soooo good!
House hunting has always looked like so much fun!! I look forward to when my boyfriend and I get to look around for an apartment next year. Hahahaha I’m always looking at dog pictures, and I’m actually following 3 dog accounts, can’t help it, the pictures just make me so happy :). And yum!! That chocolate bar sounds like such a good flavor! I had one like that recently from Trader Joe’s, it was the 70% Chocolate Coconut Caramel. Only bad part was that you tasted no coconut haha. The Caramel was good!! Especially after I refrigerated the bar!!
Have so much fun house hunting! I’m excited to do that one day.
I’m loving my new blog name! It was a long time coming and a stressful process but so worth it in the end.
I’m heading to the beach this afternoon to meet up with my parents on the Texas coast!
Fun!! Hope you have a blast!
I’m loving this week because it FLEW by! Tonight we are meeting up with one of our old neighbors and his 2 year old son at an outdoor concert. I’m pumped!
If you like the combination of dark chocolate and coconuts you should definitely give Theo toasted coconut dark chocolate bar a try. You won’t regret it!
This week I’m loving the hiking i did around Starved Rock State Park! Did you ever visit there while you lived in IL? I didn’t even feel like I was in the Midwest when I was there. Absolutely beautiful!
Have a wonderful weekend Julie!
I’m loving my new blog name!
I tried the black cherry water, but I wasn’t a fan! It tasted kind of grainy and stale to me. But, I really liked the raspberry lime flavor. Check that one out if you get a chance!
I really want to try that black cherry water! Sounds awesome! I’m loving that it’s Friday and I get to spend the weekend with my sister! 🙂
That chocolate bar sounds incredible! It surely wouldn’t last long around me. 😉 Oh Girl, I totally feel ya on the house hunting business. It’s super fun and addicting but can totally be overwhelming too. I don’t know what the housing market is like out there, but I learned quickly not to get TOO emotionally wrapped up in a house until everything is final AND you gotta jump quickly if you find something you like. Hope you’re finding some stuff you like! 🙂
That iMovie app sounds great, thanks for the suggestion! Good luck with the house hunting and Happy Weekend! 🙂
I so need to they that app and that chocolate looks amazing!!
I follow pointingdogs on IG too! Obsessed. My parents have two German Shorthaired Pointers (brother and sister) and I am so in love with them.
I looooove GSPs!! Too cute!
What a genius idea to plan your walks in the areas you’re house-hunting. One thing I’d change about our house is that it’d be within walking distance to a trail to walk, bike, and run on.
I’m loving that I quit my job this week – gave my 2 weeks notice. Starting a new adventure on a path to become an RD. Hooray! Have a great weekend.
Hiking is one of my favorite things to do when I’m visiting a new place. I think it’s one of the best ways to get to explore a new area–plus it’s great exercise! Last week my husband and I hiked Torrey Pines while we were in San Diego & we loved it!
That bar does sound heavenly! My favourite chocolate combo is pecan, coconut and pistachio…!
Do you follow any of the Vizsla pages on Facebook? My husband and I are so obsessed with looking at all the V pictures/videos and seeing how all Vizslas and Vizsla owners act the same!! Vizsla International is a great one.
Love hiking and LOVE looking up labrador photos on instagram 🙂 Definitely guilty of that! I am loving my Hydro Flask water bottle as of late! It keeps my water cold for up to 18 hours!
Those hiking trails look beautiful! I’m the same way with looking at photos of boxers and boxer puppies, since I grew up with two boxers. They have so much energy!
Here are some things I’m loving on this fabulous Friday: http://daybydaymasterpiece.com/2014/07/25/fabulous-friday-28/
I have one quick real estate tip: check your potential areas during rush hour traffic, both ways, for Ryan’s drive to/from work. In my major city, getting to the south side suburbs has crazy ridiculous traffic compared to getting to the north side suburbs. So if you live 10 miles from the city center to the north, it will take you much less time than living 10 miles from the city center to the south. This will really help, because bad commutes = very unhappy people/lifestyle. And less free time. And unhappy arrivals home.
You guys are doing all the right things while looking, but I’d add the above! Love the Friday 5!
Thanks a bunch for the tips!
this week i’m loving the brand new Havaianas my friend just gave me. the besttttt.
Cherry sparkling water is my favorite doesn’t matter the brand it is always delicious! I’m loving enjoying the beautiful and a bit cooler weather in the mornings here in NC. My cavapoo and I go on lots of early morning walks!
Took today off, so I’m loving that I had a short work week and can enjoy the beautiful San Diego sun for an extra day!
Thanks for including iMovie! I want to start doing some short videos so this would be perfect. I’ll give it a try soon!
One of my new favorite things (food related) are the chocolate sea salt caramel truffles from Whole Foods. A friend gave me a few this week and now I am straight hooked. Fighting the urge not to go buy a giant bag and go to town this very moment.
Have a great weekend!
I totally agree! I just hiked the Catskills Mountains in Upstate NY and it was beyond gorgeous!
House hunting is so fun! I remember learning a lot about what we wanted/needed after we bought our first house. We never considered a few things that were huge in our latest move (ie: South facing for afternoon sun in the backyard, a non-busy street especially now that we have a child, schools nearby and proximity to things we use on a daily/weekly basis. Good luck! I’m so excited for you guys!! Have a great weekend 🙂
I am always looking at Westies on Instagram because I have one (Duncan_the_westie)!
That chocolate looks all kinds of delicious. 🙂 One thing that made my week pretty great was a successful meeting with my new web designer! She’s very talented, and I’m so excited for the new site to launch!
Don’t worry…you aren’t the only one who looks at hashtags of the same breed as your dog. I hash tag my dogs pictures just so I can go back and look at everyone else’s pictures. I love to see the similarities in personality!! I’m going to download the imovie app…that is a great idea!! I can edit pictures all day, but not movies!
Love seeing all of your new adventures in NC!!
Love that idea!!
This whole week I have been obsessed with lettuce wraps! They are so light and refreshing but leave me feeling full and satisfied at lunch time; its a salad and sandwich all in one!
I haven’t had sparkling water in so long but I’m craving for some right now! I like carbonated drinks. I’ll also check iMovie out! Sounds like a great app!
Aw Julie! My comment made it on to your picture! I have a Vizsla (Sadie was an inspiration for me to get a Vizsla!) I love my Penny! She is my running buddy & is my fur baby! Love her! & Love your blog! Happy House Hunting!
-Kaylee
Your hiking pictures look really beautiful and are inspiring me to hit some of my own hiking trails in Perth! We’ve got some gorgeous ones but I’ve never hiked on any of them – maybe when the weather warms up here, I should really get out and try them!
This week, I’m loving wedding planning! Invitations go out today! 🙂
Yayyyyyy! Congrats amy!! 🙂
My husband has a go-pro and uses iMovie all the time. He LOVES it! I can’t wait to hear how the house hunting is going. One of my favorite shows is “House Hunters.” Why is it so interesting to be so nosey about the homes others are buying?! 🙂