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\")
This week I’m loving Gingerbread Coffee Creamer in my morning cup of coffee!!
I’m always on the hunt for new, colored eyeliner that won’t smudge.
I’m currently loving honey vanilla chamomile tea!
I’m copying from some other ladies with great ideas: either dry shampoo or a new color of liquid eyeliner! This week I’m loving carrot juice – so bright!
I am currently loving the Country Christmas Station on Pandora but will have to check out the Rockin Holiday station.
I am on the hunt for a new eyeliner that isn’t liquid anymore. I have been using the same brand for two years and am ready for a change.
This week, I am loving Christmas music! Especially Sam Smith’s version of “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas!”
Hmm, I would love a cool lip color! It’s not something I wear a lot but it’s always fun to do a fun/bold lip
I’m always on the hunt for fun new lip color products – though my current favorite is the Nars satin lip pencil. I love that lip products come in all shapes and sizes – lipsticks, pencils, glosses, tubes…etc.
I’d love to get a fun new nail polish color to try out!!
I’d love to see a non-pencil eyeliner in my first Birchbox 🙂
My skin has been acting up lately, so I’d love to have some new skin care products to sample in my first birchbox. I’m in grad school right now, so I’m loving that I just officially finished my first semester today!!
I would love to try a new masque. Need some major deep pore cleaning!!
I am loving holiday songs this week. I am humming them at work. Undoubtedly annoying everyone with my holiday cheer.
I am dying for a new bronze eye shadow.
I am loving our tiny little table top xmas tree I decorated this week! I live in a small apt in SF so a tiny tree works!
I’m loving that this week Northern California has finally gotten lots of rain! And I would love to see a new mascara in my Birchbox, always searching for the ‘perfect’ wand!
I need lip gloss!
One thing I’m loving this week is red velvet cake! GET. IN. MAH. BELLY.
I could use a new lip color that’s natural and glowing! And this Friday I’m loving holiday city lights!
I am loving, the feel of the holidays and playing holiday music at work.
I’m loving everything Christmas!!
I could use some new lip gloss.
I’d love an awesome lip stain or mascara to try out!!
I’d love to try a new eyeliner or lip gloss. I’ve been really getting into colored lips lately!
Two christmas parties this week is making me smile!
I’d love to try a new eyeshadow or eyeliner. This week, I’m loving my new Ninja blender! It’s amazing!
I’m always looking out for a great lip balm
I would love to run a new eyeliner.
I would love to try a new mascara!
Mascara! And concealer
I’m loving that’s it’s my birthday today!!
i could definitely use a new eyeliner! or mascara for that matter
I would love to try some volumizing powder!
I need a new mascara…my current one is so flaky! And what I’m loving this week: that it’s FRIDAY.
I have pretty colorless lips unfortunately so I would love to try that lip stain!!!
I’d love to try a new lip stain!
Hot chocolate and tea to keep me warm!
Definitely would love an awesome primer or CC cream to try.
I could definitely use a good mascara and chapstick (WI winters are the worst)!
I would love to get a new winter lip color for winter! One thing I’m loving this week is Pure Barre’s holiday Jingle Bell Tuck challenge. Such a good motivator!
I’d like a good illuminator!
I am currently on the look out for some eyeshadow that can be natural and playful! I am loving all the Christmas excitement!
New eyeliner is always fun!
I would LOVE to see any Philosohpy product! This is on my Christmas list!!!
Ive recently developed a sensitivity to many of the lipbalms and lotions I have used for years so id love to try some new ones!!
It’s because of your recommendation that I now am addicted to theBalm Stainiac lip stain! I would love a great new mascara!
I’m loving snickerdoodles this week!
I am ALWAYS on the hunt for new eyeliner. I am addicted.
Lipgloss!
I need a make up remover that isn’t greasy!!!! Oh, and I am loving the rain right now here in Southern California 🙂
I would love a lipgloss that you don’t have to constantly reapply!
I feel like I’ve been using the same eyeliner for a decade. It’s time for a change. Also, I subscribed to birchbox for awhile, and LOVED it, but cancelled to save some dough.
I’d like to see some perfume samples. I’m searching for a new scent and it would help to try before I commit to a big bottle. This week I’m loving travel hand creams for my purse. With this cold weather, I need it!
Foundation that truly doesn’t rub off on your clothes!