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 would love to try new eyeshadow colors from Birchbox. Smoky eyes would be nice. As for Fridays, I’m
loving going to barre classes once a week. Got hooked after reading about it from your blogs. Thanks Julie!
I’m in Canada now, where they don’t have Pandora! BOOOO! But I’ve been listening to “Holiday Hits” on itunes radio, pretty good!
I am dying to try lip gloss and lipstick! I have never worn it and realizing my lips need a little lift!
I’d love to see a new lip color in my Birchbox! I’m always too afraid to purchase new colors in beauty stores!
I need a new facial moisturizer for the winter months.
new mascara!
I would love to try some new lipsticks. I’m obsessed with lipstick and always want to try new ones out!
I’m loving winter in Florida! As a Pennsylvania native, I don’t miss the cold weather at all, and am so grateful for this warmer climate!
What is one beauty product you’d love to see in your first Birchbox?
I would love a new cleanser or moisturizer.
What is one thing you’re loving this week?
I’m loving the fact that testing is finally over. I’m a teacher and we had to finish a lot of state and district mandated testing this week. Now I’m looking forward to a week of fun activities and learning before break!
This week, I’m loving that my new husband and I are moving into our first house together!! As for beauty products…I’d love to try out some good face primers to help my make up stay put!
I’m on the hunt for a new moisturizer!! and this week I’m loving having the weekend off to do chirstmas-y things!! xoxo
I’ve been wanting to try birchbox for a while and would love to get a new lipstick or lip stain in the box!!
What I am loving is everything Christmas this week. Seems like everywhere you go there is christmas cheer!
I am loving starbucks mistos!
I’d love to see a lip scrub in the Birchbox!
a good mascara, eye makeup remover &/or a dry shampoo! I’ve never tried a dry shampoo but after you mentioning it before I’ve been interested in trying one.
I’m Loving that I put my Christmas decorations up! Really getting into the holiday spirit!
Would love to try out some new lip stains for the holidays!!!
I am in the market for a good eye cream!!
I’m always on the lookout for a great mascara! I’ve been loving Pentatonix Christmas album… On repeat this week!
I’ve been looking for a good skin toner, can’t seem to find one that works for me!
I would like to see a new eye shadow duo
Eyeliner and lipstick!
I’m lovin spending the holiday season with my momma!
I’m loving that the semester is almost over!
I’d like to see an eye cream made for sensitive skin.
I’m loving how slow work has been this month. It’s given me time to catch up on other projects!
Loving the anticipation of christmas and all that comes with getting ready for the holidays!
I would love to try new eyeliners! i cant seem to find one I’m totally in love with. I love the idea of this box as all my current makeup obsessions are recommendations from friends, this would be like a monthly recommendation for a variety of products!
I love trying new mascaras!
definitely a new cleanser and lipstick colors!
I would love a new perfume or nail polish!
I’de love some new makeup to spruce up my winter white skin, maybe a bronzer 🙂
I am loving that it is the WEEKEND!!!!!!! and only one more week till winter break (yay school teachers)
I would love to try s new lip gloss
I would love to try some dry shampoo.
I would love to try a new fragrance in the Birchbox… a sample is a great way to try it out before committing!
I would either love a lip scrub for my dry winter lips or an anti-aging serum to keep me wrinkle free!
I’d love to try a bronzer or tinted moisturizer!
I’m loving the warmer weather here in MN this week! I am also loving decorating and celebrating this holiday season : )
ohh…a new lip balm/stain would be good. Loving the cooler weather so I can wear my favorite boots!
I am loving being on break! Just finished another semester of PT school!
Giveaway – I would love to try anything by Lorac. That or I love travel sizes of dry shampoo since I’m not brand specific and it is irritating to tote around a full sized can.
Things I am loving – the snow outside and the view from my cozy living room!
Thank you for the giveaway!
I’ve been looking for a new facial moisturizer; it’s tougher to find than you’d think. 😉 One thing I’m loving…? We just had our company holiday party last night; I’m in charge of planning it and have been doing so since March (yikes!). It was a ton of FUN and my work family (all 120 of us) had a great time. Whoo!
I’m loving the Christmas season as well – all of the holiday decorations and time with friends and family is the best!
I would love to try some new eyeshadow! I am loving the Holidays right now and getting to do fun things with my daughters
I’m loving finding the perfect holiday gifts for friends and family!
I would love to try a new bronzer!
I love almost being done with school!
one thing i’m loving this week is all of the snow! it’s beautiful outside!!!
I desperately need to find a good concealer that’s not cakey and won’t make my breakouts worse.
I would love a bright/bold, matte lipstick. Something I’ve been loving lately is being on a break from graduate school for Christmas; it’s been so nice to spend more time with my husband and loved ones!
Nice shampoo that will keep my hair soft!:)