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’ve been wanting to try birchbox for a while now! I’d love to try a new moisturizer! One thing I’ve been loving is a nice cup of Trader Joe’s chai tea after a cold walk! I’ve been obsessed lately!
I have heard such great things about Birchbox from all of my friends and have been wanting to try it! I would love to find a great, long-lasting lip stain.
I would loveee to see some fun nail polish in my birchbox! I usually stick to the same boring red OPI, and would love to try a new color/brand. One thing I’m loving this week is finally having presents under our Christmas tree!
I would love to try Birchbox and one thing I would love to see is a new Blush and/or Mascara. I use blush and mascara every day and I”m always looking out for a cool new product 🙂 AND my favorite thing of the week is Mark Bittman’s chicken tagine with bulgur. Out of this world delicious, cheap, and makes a ton of leftovers.
Congrats on the new job. Your morning emails are always pleasant to read. I graduate with a Masters degree from Northwestern university this week and that’s the one thing I am loving about the week 🙂
I’d love new eyeshadow!! and loving the holiday spirit
Our daughter is at such a fun age – so we’re just LOVING that this week! And I’ve always wanted to try one of these since I’m terrible about buying new beauty products – I’d want to see as much lip color as possible ha
I’d love a new lip color- especially a stain since my staniac ran out recently! and this week I’m loving the podcast Serial! It’s so fun to discuss with my coworkers, friends, and family.
I’m on the hunt for a good mascara – I’d love to see a sample of one of those in my Birchbox! No matter what the price – it seems so hit or miss to me!
I would love to find a mascara – I am always searching for and trying new ones.
This week I am loving the cooler temperatures. I know that sounds crazy, but I can’t get used to 79 degree days in December. I’m having a hard time getting in the Christmas spirit with the A/C on.
One thing I’m loving this week is the weather! I’d love to see a YSL mascara sample in a birchbox.
Lip gloss/stain or a fun eyeshadow I wouldn’t ordinarily buy! I am truly a makeup addict! I can’t believe I don’t have a subscription to Birchbox already! This week I am loving shopping online. So many good deals right now!!
I’d love a new moisturizer for the winter!
I am a serious mascara addict and I love trying new brands so finding a new brand I love in a birchbox would be great!
I would love to see eye shadow in my box. I’m not good at doing my eyes – at all!! I barely have any eye shadow colors because it kind of scares me to do a lot with eye shadow, but I’d like to try something new!
I would love a new eyeliner or eyebrow powder. This week, I’m loving cold, outdoor running.
I would love to try a new eyeliner!
I’m currently loving gettin ready for my housewarming party !
This week I am loving my apartment all decorated for Christmas! My boyfriend and mine’s first Christmas living together and picking out our first tree was definitely my favorite activity of this week 🙂
Any beauty products would be great! The thing I’m loving right now is that my brother was told there are no more living cancer cells in the tumor on his pancreas! That’s the best gift of all!!!
Right now I’m on the hunt for the perfect eyelid primer, and I would love to find some in my Birchbox! Seems like my makeup just slides off my face without a great primer nowadays.
I would love to see a trial size of the Urban Decay Perversion mascara. I’ve heard so many great things about it but I have a hard time committing to pricey mascaras!
I would love to see a primer in my box, I am in search of one and there are just so many to choose from!! I am loving pumpkin pie coffee in the morning!! Start the day off right : )
I would love a new toner!
I’d love to see a new primer!
I am loving the hot yoga classes I have been taking this week! So energizing and refreshing.
I am also loving the Christmas season! I’m making cookies and going to Chicago Zoo Lights this weekend 🙂
one thing I am loving this week, is planning my birthday party. Sequins and Bowties theme 🙂
I would love to see a new mascara and lip gloss in the Birchbox.
One beauty product that i’d love to see in my first Birchbox is a light eyebrow pencil. I’ve never tried a product on my eyebrows but have been thinking about purchasing a product to give it a try!
One thing I am LOVING lately is my new hair straightener that works incredible. BaByliss Pro Nano Titanium <~ it's a little expensive but is well worth it if you have stubborn hair that NEEDS some daily attention.
I am loving doing yoga these days. I am kind of beginner in it and now totally loving it.
I’d love to try out some new dry shampoo!
I am loving the sunny weather in Nashville today!! It has been overcast for almost a week and I couldn’t be happier to see the sun this morning!
And I would love to try a new lip color, not necessarily a gloss but maybe a stain or something!
I’d love to see a nice neutral eye shadow or a natural looking lipgloss in my first birch box!
This week I’m loving quality time with my girlfriends 🙂 Went to dinner with some one night this week and it made me realize I don’t spend nearly as much time with them as I should! Much needed!
Oil control primer or foundation.
I’d love a new mascara! My go to Target one is just kind of blah. It does the trick, but it’s not great.
A new mascara would be awesome, good ones are hard to find! Also, any type of hair product…new ones are so fun to try out! As for what I’m loving this week, I’d have to go with peppermint coffee I randomly found at TJ Maxx – delicious and festive!
I would love a new primer!
•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 would love some hair crème to help the top layer of my hair that gets the most sun and heat damage!
I have been working pretty long hours so this week my morning walk/gym work I have been really loving. That hour/hour and half I manage to get in and have some “me” time has saved me on some long late work nights….also blueberry pancakes at hotel breakfasts. Yum 🙂
id love to try a new mascara!! I need one so badly!
I would love to try out a new foundation or tinted moisturizer.
I’d love a good concealer or foundation to try.
I would love a new lip gloss to try! Thanks!
I’d like a great new lip gloss!
We have been incredibly blessed all year and I’m just soaking in that today 🙂
I live in Northern California (hello, drought) and I’m LOVING the rain that’s coming down right now!!
I am dying to try the Cynthia Rowley liquid eyeliner that is perfect for a cat eye. I also would love to try a new exfoliating scrub, especially since I’m so dry in these winter months!
I’d love to see a new cleansing product! Pregnancy has not been kind to my face lately!
I’m loving that I will bet to see family so much in the coming weeks! I can’t wait.
Some new lip liners would be so fun to play around with
I love some new eye shadows!
I’m loving getting back into my running routine!