I am feeling rather chipper because Ryan and I have plans to head to Raleigh this weekend and while we’re there, we’ll be seeing my aunt, uncle, cousins and grandma! Family fun!
But before I get too ahead of myself, let’s dive into our usual Friday post.
This weekly Things I’m Loving Friday blog post is my favorite post of the week to write because chatting about the things we all love is so darn fun and uplifting. Thanks so much to all of you for participating in the comments section and sharing a little bit about something that’s making you smile. I love reading them!
Things I’m Loving Friday
I have to work hard not to include Girls On The Run in every Friday post, but I just had to mention it today! I left yesterday’s practice 5K feeling so incredibly proud of our girls! They did so well and are more than ready for race day on December 13. (If you happen to be local, you can run, too!! The race is taking place at Catawaba College in Salisbury and is open to everyone. Come run with us!) Also, the goody bags I put together were a HUGE hit yesterday. I am still incredibly grateful for the generosity of Columbia, Reebok and Fabletics. The girls were so, so excited! Also, I am planning to do a big comprehensive post about my GOTR experience once this season ends, so if you’re interested in volunteering with the organization, stay tuned.
- Whole Foods Carrot & Ginger Dressing
I am always tempted to try new salad dressings but I hate buying a bottle only to taste it and hate it. Such a waste! I apprehensively bought a bottle of Whole Foods carrot and ginger dressing which caught my eye because it featured their Health Starts Here logo, meaning it’s nutrient dense and made with whole foods. I am happy to report that it is awesome. It reminds me a lot of the ginger salad dressings I’ve enjoyed at some of my favorite sushi restaurants.
- This Ridiculous(ly Awesome) Sweater
No, I didn’t end up buying it, but I do think it’s all kinds of awesome. I stumbled upon this sweater at a local boutique (Julie’s Boutique in Birkdale for locals!) when I was out with my sister last weekend and am kind of regretting not adding it to my winter sweater collection…
- Elfster Secret Santa Organizer
The holiday season is upon us and if you’re anything like me, you get a little too into shopping for holiday gifts for loved ones. Well, rather than buy a bunch of individual gifts, my friends and I opt to do a Secret Santa gift exchange which is obviously more affordable but adds an element of mystery and fun to the holidays, too! Every year, I use Elfster to set it up because it allows me to add everyone to the group and randomly draws names for me without telling me who drew whom. It’s great and totally free. You can also have multiple exchanges going on at once like I do and it never gets confusing because everything is very organized. I highly recommend it for anyone interested in setting up a Secret Santa gift exchange this year.
I AM SO EXCITED for this movie! If you’ve been reading this blog for a while, you’ve probably picked up on my intense love for a cappella music. Naturally a movie that centers around a cappella music is going to be one I love and I thought the original Pitch Perfect was terrific. I immediately watched the trailer for the sequel when it debuted this week and I cannot wait for it to arrive in theatres!
Soulscarf scarves will be featured in my annual Gifts That Give Back gift guide, but I couldn’t wait until that comes out to mention them! These gorgeous and oh-so-cozy scarves first caught my eye at my local Pure Barre studio. When I found out that they give 20 percent of the proceeds from the sales of their scarves back to the charity that corresponds with the color heart on each scarf, I fell even more in love with them! The cranberry infinity scarf (pictured above) is my favorite, but they have a bunch of beautiful colors available including teal, black, cream, gray and more.
Okay, okay, I finally caved. I bought a pair of lululemon Wunder Unders. And I get the hype. They are ridiculously flattering and comfortable and I bought a pair that are reversible to help *kind of* justify the cost. (Very thankful for the trainer discount! FYI, if you are a trainer/group exercise instructor, you get 15% off lululemon apparel all day every day.) And yes, I definitely did bend over in the dressing room to make sure they weren’t see through before I bought them! While I was there, I also couldn’t help buy eye some of their adorable winter clothing and quickly fell in love with this studio jacket, this yoga jacket and this running vest. Please, lululemon, just take all of my money.
One guy shares his experience after he took Pure Barre with his fiance and it is hysterical. Thanks so much to a bunch of you for sharing this one with me. I passed it along to my local studio and shared it with my barre buddies and it had us all cracking up!
- Giveaway Winners
Congratulations to Rebecca, the winner of the Starbucks/American Express giveaway and Kristin, the winner of the three-minute snacks giveaway! Both winners were selected and emailed first thing this morning.
Question of the Morning
- What is one thing that is making you smile this week?
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Love the sweater! Where did you get the hat? Looks so cute on you!!
The brand it Tart and I got it from Stitch Fix!
It is so weird seeing you talk about local things like the upcoming race at catawba college! I live literally 15 minutes away from there and love downtown Salisbury! I know you’re not living in that area, but it still just baffles me how close you are:-) I’m currently in college right now at AppState in Boone, NC so I moved away right around the time you moved to Charlotte but it’s just so cool seeing you up here haha little fan girl moment over:p
I think you should go back and buy that sweater! It is fantastic!
that trailer!! I was dying laughing. I need to watch it again!
I still have yet to buy wunder unders, but I’ve got a gift card and so I just might…. 🙂
That scarf is SUPER cute! And I love anything that also gives back like that. 🙂
LOVE lululemon pants! I have four pairs and I’ve had them for 3 years and still like brand new! Totally worth the money!
The studio jacket is my favorite. I have 4, because after my first one I wanted all of the colors 🙂
I was reading this post in my email between patients at work and deleted right as I read “true life…” So I went back to my trash undeleted and read the last paragraph!
Love a Capella too! That’s all I’ve been listening to lately. I just bought a pair of wunder unders too, so comfortable!
Okay so I totally want your sweater and I am going to watch the Pitch Perfect 2 trailer right now!!!
So much great stuff…particularly that sweater. As an elementary teacher, I could totally pull it off, don’t you think? I’m SO excited for Pitch Perfect 2! Spring can’t get here soon enough!
I LOVE THAT SWEATER! I already have a few holiday parties lined up, and that would be perfect!
Did you get permission from the girls parents you posted on a blog and IG? That’s a big no no. Would you like me to report to the gotr director or would you like to remove the pictures?
Hi Jenn! We have signed photo releases from all the parents and our local chapter encourages us to share photos on social media to help spread the word about Girls On The Run. Thanks for your concern.
Catawba College is my Alma Mater! It’s such a small school I never hear anything about it, so it was neat to read that’s where your race will be held 🙂
I LOVE LOVE LOVE lululemon but I eye things there for MONTHS and save save save before I end up buying anything but in the end I remember just how worth it the product ends up being
I think you need to go back and get that sweater – it totally works on you 🙂
My silly dog always makes me smile, especially when he’s extra crazy.
That sweater definitely made me smile! Also I’m about to have cauliflower crust pizza for dinner which my boyfriend helped me prep which is another thing making me smile 🙂
That article is hilarious! 🙂 thank you for sharing.
I take pride in the fact the lululemon has only taken {most} of my money…it’s so hard to not want something from there! Have you seen the Vinyasa Scarves? I feel like that’s something you would also really like…I’m obsessed with mine. Here’s the vid tutorial that shows you the 10 different ways to wear them, I want one in every color!!! Lol https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=CY8ZtcLrpL0
i love the sweater Julie! i think the one thing that made me smile today was the batch of lemon vanilla cupcakes that i just made 🙂
A giant vegan pumpkin pie made with cashews + pumpkin butter, and a baked oat-date crust made me smile 🙂
I’m beyond excited for Pitch Perfect 2!
Random question-I love that style of cross body bag you have in your sweater picture-where did you find it? You should totally get the sweater 🙂
It’s Marc Jacobs and Ryan got it for me for Christmas last year from Nordstrom! 🙂
That sweater is legit! It would make the the Huxtables jealous!
This week, I’m loving cozy nights at home with my husband. I’ve been making soy tea cup candles like a maniac, since we’re prepping for a huge holiday craft show. We’re tired, but happy (and obviously listening to Christmas music while we work).
I’m SO looking forward to your Gifts That Give Back guide. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that you share it before most of my shopping is done. 😉
I love Julie’s in Birkdale!! They have the cutest things in there!!! Love your friday favorites!!!
Emily
Dimples of Dixie
Just an FYI Athleta offers a 30% discount to instructors and there is a store in Sothpark Mall!
Another AWESOME read on a guy’s perspective of Barre. I was crying laughing…
(Excuse the strong language)
http://www.brobible.com/life/article/tried-pure-barre-being-woman-hard/
Love these posts! I always ask for lulu lemon and Lorna Jane as gifts because the stuff is so cute but so pricey but like you said SO worth it!
That sweater is perfect! You gotta go back for it!
Love it all so much!
What do you need to get the 15% discount? I’m a CPT through NASM. Is that sufficient? Thanks!
I’m pretty much obsessed with lululemon and I LOVE the Soul Scarf mission!!! I also teach highschool businsess and we do a “Monday Minute” where we watch a video clip about a company that is involved in philanthropy, social resp, etc… will add this company to our list!!