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!!
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I’m loving the morning date I had with my kid- children’s museum and 5 Guys for lunch. Happy mama!
I really want to try a new face moisturizer! I’ve been really loving all the holiday themed items such as peppermint hot chocolate!
I’d love to get a great facial cleanser! And this week I’m loving getting back into a normal routine.
I am constantly in pursuit of the perfect mascara so I would love that in the birchbox!! This week, I’m loving watching Christmas movies at night. Such a nice way to wind down!
I would love to see some eyeshadow and lately I’m loving Christmas season and all the decorations!
I am on the hunt for some lip gloss, so I would love to see that in my birchbox!
I’d love to try some new samples of eyeshadow to get out of my rut!
Any new makeup would be good for me – I am the worst at buying it, especially the fun stuff like liners and eye shadow.
I would love a neutral lip gloss or lipstick.
I would l Love to try a New cleanser!
I would love a new moisturizer!
My sister has a Birchbox subscription and is always raving about the products she gets to try! I’d love to have one too so we can compare notes!
I’d love some skin care samples in my box! Thanks!
I would love to see some eye shadow or face moisturizer!
I would really like to try some new dry shampoo!
I am loving my peppermint mocha creamer in my coffee this week!
I would love to see anything by Bite Beauty in my birchbox. I’ve been hearing such good things about the brand! This week, I’ve been loving the lights on my Christmas tree- we moved it to a different location than it’s been in previous years and we can enjoy it so much more!
I would love to try a new mascara.
I would love a fun new polish color that would be good for the winter.
I would love some new eyeshadow!!! I’m still using my palette from Mac that I used for my wedding 2 1/2 years ago, HA, time for something new and fresh!
I am dying trying to find a good lip stain/gloss. I don’t want something too flashy just a good go-to on a day to day basis. Also what I am loving this week: all the home made cookies coming my way! I know I shouldn’t…..but they are just so darn delicious!
i’d love a new moisturizer.
I am in need of some new eye makeup inspiration!
Absolutely dry shampoo!!
I am loving Christmas cards this week!!
I would love to get to try a new lip gloss or color! It’s always so hard to pick a good one, it would be great for someone to pick for me!
My friend introduced me to a crystalized honey ginger tea that I am now absolutely LOVING! I simply cannot get enough.
I have quite a few beauty counter stuff, but would love to see that lip conditioner in a birch box .
This week I’ve been loving spruce scented candles!
I always love a new lip gloss! And this Friday I am LOVING the Hershey Bells. So addicting!
Lately I don’t like ANY eyeliner! I need a new one.
I’m all
About the eyeliner-any new color or style would be awesome
I would want to try a new eye cream or nail polish! And I am loving homemade chocolate chip cookies this week!
A product for my winter dry lips
I love little beauty supplies! I’ve been on a lookout for a good mascara. 🙂
What I’m loving this week: I was just re-united with my dog after not seeing her for 4 months!!
I’m always interested in a great new hair treatment or styling product!
Anything to hide the increasingly dark circles under my eyes!
I would love to find the perfect mascara! I just can’t seem to find one that I absolutely love.
I really need to up my lip game! So I would love to find some awesome lip products in a Birchbox. This week I am loving having the time to put together our new house! It will be all prepped and ready right for Christmas and that is so incredibly exciting!
I would love a new lipstain that lasts! Mine tends to wear off quickly!
I am loving the opportunity to see my twin sister over Christmas! We live in different states (Washington and Oregon).
First off that sugar scrub sounds and looks awesome!!!!!!!!!!! Second, I love trying any new kind of makeup! I’ve been really wanting to find a good eyebrow pencil or whatever and lipgloss lately!
I’m still on the hunt for the PERFECT mascara, so any mascara samples in the Birchbox would be greatly welcome. So much easier to try a sample than commit to a full size.
I have very dry skin and would love to try a new moisturizer.
I’m loving having a green juice with lunch everyday!
I would really like a new base/primer for my skin!
Something I’m loving this week…I get to see my sister who lives across the country in one week! So excited!
I would LOVE to see some lip gloss in my first Birchbox. Currently, I’m pretty much just a clear lip balm girl, so I would really get a kick out of some extra color for a change!
a daring lipstick for the holidays 🙂
i’m loving wrapping all the christmas presents 🙂
I’m in the hunt for a new liquid eyeliner. Would love to discover a new one through Birchbox!