The holiday season is definitely the thing I’m loving most this week. From festive cookie exchanges to beautiful decorations and twinkling lights, it really does feel like such a magical time of year. I can’t wait to hop in the car next weekend and head to my parents’ place in Jacksonville for the week!
But I’m getting a little ahead of myself… Let’s jump into our usual Friday fun and chat about what we’re loving this week. As always, feel free to share something that is making you smile in the comments section of this post… It just might count as an entry into today’s Happy Holidays Giveaway Week giveaway!
Things I’m Loving Friday
- A New Gym Job (…but I’m still keeping my other gym job, too!)
About a week ago, one of my favorite Pure Barre teachers passed my name along to the manager of a small corporate gym at a local business park. Then, earlier this week, I went in for an interview and am happy to report I’ll be picking up some more classes and working a few days a week at another small local gym! Both gyms where I’ll be working (the one I’ve been working at since November 1 and this new one) are very small and quite different from what I was used to when I taught at the YMCA in Ocala. I am enjoying the change and really like the intimate atmosphere!
These cookies are just the best. I made them for my cookie exchange party earlier this week and baked another batch yesterday before our last Girls On The Run practice of the season. The girls absolutely gobbled them up and raved about them which naturally made my heart happy. My grandma’s oversized, fluffy sugar cookies were my all-time favorite when I was a little girl and I always knew I could expect to see her big glass cookie jar overflowing with them whenever we’d go to Gettysburg to visit. (And yes, that’s Mimi’s handwriting on the recipe card above. Love!)
- Pandora Rockin’ Holidays Station
If you’re looking for an upbeat holiday Pandora station, check out the Rockin’ Holidays station! It’s full of energizing Christmas songs and I’ve been playing it non-stop since the day after Thanksgiving!
- Beautycounter Glow Sugar Scrub
Ryan and I had such a nice time with our friends Amii and Walt over dinner last weekend. As we ate Amii’s amazing baked ziti and sipped on fabulous wine, Amii told me a little bit about some of the beauty and skincare products she’s been loving lately since she’s heard me complain about my skin a time or two. She let me take home a few of her favorite samples to try from Beautycounter (she’s a consultant – and not pushy at all), and I quickly fell in love with the Glow Sugar Scrub and Peppermint Lip Conditioner. The sugar scrub is unreal (it smells like refreshing lemongrass) and only uses real sugar and pure essential oils to exfoliate skin for a healthy glow. The mineral-rich evening primrose, sweet almond, apricot kernel, and sunflower oils leaves my skin feeling soft and so, so hydrated which is much-needed since my skin cannot soak up enough moisturizer in the colder months. I’ve been using it when I shave in the shower and adore it!!
Our realtor is absolutely the best! Earlier this week, I arrived home to find the sweetest package of holiday chocolates sitting on our doorstep from Diane which made me smile. She’s so incredibly thoughtful and clearly has the best taste in chocolate because every single piece of Davidson Chocolate included in the giant solid-chocolate star box I’ve tried so far has been fabulous!
- Happy Holidays Giveaway Week Winners
Congratulations to Bre (grand prize) and Molly and Arianne (runner up), the winners of the Lorna Jane giveaway! And congratulations to Karen G. ($250 gift card) and Rachel W. (Skyscapes), the winners of the Reebok giveaway! All winners were emailed first thing this morning.
- Birchbox Giveaway
I first started subscribing to Birchbox, a monthly subscription beauty box, last year. Each box includes five beauty samples from high-end brands and my ongoing subscription has led to some of my all-time favorite beauty product discoveries, including theBalm Stainiac lip stain, Klorane dry shampoo, Dr. Brandt skincare and more.
It’s so much fun to receive a pretty little box filled with fun beauty samples each month and I think it would make a great gift for the beauty-lover in your life! Thankfully, Birchbox was kind enough to agree to host an awesome giveaway on the blog today in honor of Happy Holidays Giveaway Week!
One grand prize winner will receive a 6-month Birchbox subscription and a Cynthia Rowley Beauty Palette! And a runner-up winner will receive a 3-month Birchbox subscription!
To enter this giveaway, please answer one (or both!) of the following questions:
- What is one beauty product you’d love to see in your first Birchbox? Maybe you’re dying to try a new kind of eyeliner. Or perhaps you could use a better cleanser or lip gloss? Let me know!
- What is one thing you’re loving this week?
I will randomly select a winner next Friday. Good luck!!
![\"Quantcast\"/](\"//pixel.quantserve.com/pixel/p-1e3-7hOJ_U8Bg.gif\")
Hi Julie! I’d love to try a new cleanser. I can’t find a happy medium between being so dry right now due to the winter weather or randomly breaking out! Thanks and happy holidays! 🙂
I am loving that finals are officially (almost) over!! One more to go…..:)
One thing I’m loving this week is that my mom is coming in to NYC for the weekend 🙂 Love mother-daughter time!
I’m loving that it’s finally Friday!
One thing I’m loving this week is my bubble umbrella! It’s one of those umbrellas that is clear and basically houses your entire body. It was so useful when it was horizontally raining on Tuesday here in Boston!
I would love to try some new lipsticks. I love lipstick but I never want to buy it for myself.
I’m loving my Victoria Secret work out pants. I never would have thought that they would be so stretchy and comfy but when they went on super sale, I bought them. The colors are amazing and I’m definitely now a big fan! https://www.victoriassecret.com/victorias-secret-sport/all-bottoms/knockout-by-victorias-secret-crop-victorias-secret-sport?ProductID=120763&CatalogueType=OLS&swatchImage=AH0
I’m loving holiday movies on the Hallmark channel. In my birch box, Id like to see a good eye brow pencil or powder
One thing I’m loving this week is the fact that windows were installed on the house we are building. Who would have though one could get so excited about windows??
I would love to see some type of lip scrub and balm! My lips are so dry and nothing seems to help them!
The one thing I’m loving right now is any type of Christmas smelling candle; they put me in the holiday spirit so quickly!
I am loving Perfectly Posh products this week. My friend just became a consultant and I can’t get enough of it. Ho Ho Hot Cocoa Body butter is just amazing and smells absolutely delicious!
I would love to try a new mascara! I can never find one I really like!
I’d love a new primer!
Oh I have always wanted to try Birchbox! I would love to try a new lip gloss..or a new cleanser.
And I am also loving holiday movies 🙂
Congrats on your new job!
I am loving that it is the weekend!
I would love to see a good lip gloss/stain in the birchbox! I’m constantly on the lookout for new lip products, and I haven’t found a favorite yet.
I’d love some new eyeshadow and mascara!
I would to see a volumizing mascara and dry shampoo. Fav product of the moment is BareMinerals, just tried it and love it!
I’d love to get into lipstick!!
I have the hardest time finding lipsticks I like, so I would love to have some samples to try!
Dear Birchbox … please send me a overall skin moisturizer that isn’t slippery, greasy and will keep my hands, arms, shoulders, feet hydrated this winter! That miracle product would be what I would want to see in my Birchbox!
This week, I am LOVING half days! I’m using up my vacation time before the end of the year, and find that a Friday afternoon to run ALL of my errands makes a world of difference! I get all of my “chores” done so I can kick back and enjoy the weekend plans of cookie making with family!
i’d love to see a concealer that actually works!
I have the driest skin this winter and would love to find a product to counteract this crazy winter weather. Sample size would be perfect because there are sooo many amazing products out there and I don’t know what my skin would like best.
I would love a new primer, or something that reduces shine and makes make up stay! Or a new lip gloss.
Congrats on the new job 🙂
and I’m loving everything Christmas and that we finally have ‘cool’ weather down here. We had our school Christmas play last night and all my little ones stayed on stage and some actually sang! 😉
I would love to try some lip stains! I’m loving this trend and would love to try out some colors before actually buying one 🙂
I’m obsessed with trying different kinds of mascara so I’d love to try something new!
And I am LOVING having officially completed my Masters!
I’d love to try a new tinted moisturizer. I’m still trying to find the perfect one for my skin type. I also love the Christmas decorations that have been put up in our city – love seeing the wreaths/garland on the light posts and random mistletoe downtown!
I recently started experimenting with dry shampoo and would love to try a new brand!
Congrats on the new job! One beauty product I’d like is new eyeshadow. I always use the same super light neutrals and would like to branch out. This week, I’m loving that I’m finally finishing my graduate school applications and taking the next step toward my future.
I’m loving my hubby who has been a huge help while I’ve been sick.
If love to try out Dr Jart’s stuff
I am LOVING the endless mugs of hot cocoa. And I would love to try out some new eyeshadows!!
ooooooooooooh- i am in serious need of a new moisturizer (preferably tinted!)
One thing I’m really loving this week is Egg Nog. I picked some up from the store, used it to make french toast, and have been using it to top off hot beverages…coffee & hot chocolate, both rock. Gives an extra little kick!
I think I would love to see either a black mascara (mine is too clumpy and I would love to find a new one) or a red lipstick! I am too nervous to buy red lipstick, as I don’t wear it often, but would love to try for special events, and I am terrible with matching colours to my complexion. So getting one for free would be nice for me to try out and experiment with without forking out $15 for one 😛
I would love to try a new eyeliner! Also, a good eye makeup remover that doesn’t burn my eyes 🙂
I’d love a new moisturizer- this harsh Chicago wind is making my skin so dry!
i would love to try some new hair products
I’ve been looking for a new kind of mascara to try. Always fun to try new products!
I am loving christmas music 24/7!!!! and i desperately need new eyeliner!
i would love to find a moisturizer that doesn’t clog my pores!
This week I am loving having my first real Christmas tree (I always had fake growing up). It is so much softer than the fake branches and the smell is lovely.
Thanks!
I’d love to try some new mascara! I’m always on the lookout for a good mascara!
I’m loving that the weekend is just a few hours away because I have too much fun stuff on the agenda!!
I would love to try out a new lip gloss that’s also moisturizing and helps my dry lips! One thing I’m loving this week is that I’m wrapping up grad school and can finally celebrate the holiday season!
I have been looking for a new mascara. It is my go to for makeup. I have been loving all the holiday parties I have been attending this week and can’t wait for more to come in the following weeks.
I’d love to receive a new mascara! The one I’m using now is starting to get clumpy so I’m on the lookout for a new one!
I’d love to find a sample of GlamGlow in my first BirchBox! I’ve heard their masks are life changing! And who couldn’t use a mini at-home facial?
I would love to see some different eye shadows in my Birchbox. I’m loving that my daughter (who is a Freshman in college) is coming home today for the holidays. I can’t wait to see her and spend time with her!!!!
Last night we adopted a new 6 month old puppy named Lucy from our local humane society, so thats what I’m loving today! I have been wanting to try out Birch box and would love new samples of pressed powder…my current product and I have grown apart. 🙂
I’m totally loving the holiday season this year- lots of holiday parties, treats and perfect weather!