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’d love to try Benefit mascara and I’m loving the unseasonably warm weather in the midwest!
Hand lotion! My hands get so dry this time of year. And I’m loving everything about the holiday season, especially being with my 5 year olds who couldn’t be more excited for it all.
Things I’m loving is all the Christmas lights and my kids getting excited about Christmas. Would live lip stain to try!
I would love to see more vegan products!
I have been on the hunt for a new cleanser, so definitely that!
I’d love a new mascara!
I would love a new lip gloss or maybe a fun sugar scrub!!
First of all, I’m loving that you’re having giveaways on your blog! 🙂 And I could really use some great moisturizer in this cold weather.
I am always on the hunt for a new lip gloss!
One thing I’m loving this week is that my awesome roommate surprised me during finals week by decorating our apt with xmas decorations and it looks amazing!
I want to try GlamGlow moisturizer! Also I’ve been loving Celestial Seasonings Caranel Apple Tea. It is amazing!!!
I definitely need some new mascara and eyeliner. Also, I feel like it would be fun to give dry shampoo a try.
I’d love a new lipstick. I feel like I always wear the same colour, so I’d love to try something new.
I would love to see some new (to me!) eyeshadows in my Birchbox! I never buy new eyeshadows for myself, but always want more variety!
Some pretty good colored eyeshadow
One thing I am loving this week is all the Christmas preparations…decorating the tree, wrapping gifts, getting my oil samples for my kids teachers – yay for christmas!
I would love to find a new lip balm. And i am loving the slight warm up in the temp!
I would love a liquid eyeliner! I’ve never tried one and have always wanted to!!
A safe makeup remover is something I’d love to see in my birchbox! Or a new mascara!
I am loving getting ready for Christmas. Presents are wrapped and under the tree! I can’t wait for all the holiday fun!
I’m loving visiting with my family and taking my one year old daughter to visit Santa for the first time. It wasn’t pretty, but we still had fun! 😉
face cream!!!
I would love to try a new eye liner in my 1st box
I’d love to see a new moisturizer, I still haven’t found my holy grail! This week I am loving that I’ve been cooking every day!
I would love to see some new skincare items. I need some kind of skincare regimen!!
Honestly anything new! I feel like I’m in a rut with my makeup. Maybe something new for my lips would be fun.
I’m always on the hunt for a new lip gloss, but I’m also curious about dry shampoo. As a personal trainer, I don’t always have time to wash my hair between clients, so dry shampoo would be a huge help!
i would love a new dry shampoo!
I’m always searching for a new lip gloss. Would be grateful to try something new!
I am loving time spent with family around the holidays–my sister is back in town and it is the BEST. Sister time makes my heart happy. 🙂
I’m always loooking for new skin products like highlighters and matte-ifying powder, so I would love to get some of those!
I would love a good face moisturizer in mine
I would like a good moisturizing eye cream with SPF. And if it could reduce dark circles, even better! And I am loving my Christmas tree 🙂
I need a new moisturizer! This week I’m loving time in Michigan with my brother and grandmother – quality family time and some hockey!
I have been wanting to try this! I would LOVE a new mascara or lipstick!
I would love some night face or eye cream!
I’d love to see liquid eyeliner! I keep thinking about getting one but can’t commit so getting one in a birchbox would be perfect!
I’m always looking out for a new mascara!
I am loving holiday office parties 🙂 time to meet coworkers’ families
I’m looking for a great concealer. I’ve also always wanted to try using a primer, so that would be awesome!
I’d love to sample a new mascara! I’ve been on the hunt for a better one than I currently use. I would love to finally try Birchbox!
I’d love to get a new blush or lip moisturizer.
i am totally loving ice cream this week!
I would love to fins a lipstick that doesn’t irritate my lips. (open to suggestions here) The only thing I’ve been able to wear in the last few years is Burts Bees Lip shimmer. Don’t know what changed but everything I’ve tried BURNS my lips and they swell and peel.
What I’m loving this week: My new Old Navy Christmas jammies!
I’d love some new skincare and a new mascara to try!
Loving our anniversary trip this week!
Some new blush!
I’d love some new eyeliner and eye shadow!
New mascara!
I am in search of some good dry shampoo and some sort of toner to even out my skin tone!