Things I’m Loving Friday #64

Hello there! Happy, happy Friday to all and Happy Hanukkah to those celebrating!

This weekend will be a good one because Ryan, Sadie and I will be heading to Jacksonville on Saturday to spend Christmas with my family. I’m so glad we were both able to get off work next week so we can soak up lots of family fun in Florida beginning tomorrow. Bring on Christmas Vacation (<— our family’s favorite holiday movie), Christmas cookies and quality time with the people I love most in the entire world.

But now I’m popping in nice and early to chat about the things that are making me smile this week in your usual Things I’m Loving Friday post. (Warning: It’s basically overflowing with holiday-related cheer.) Right when this post goes live, I’m heading off to teach a barbell strength class, so I gotta get rockin’!

Things I’m Loving Friday

• The Anticipation of Gift Giving

I always get ridiculously excited to give everyone their gifts on Christmas morning and this year is no exception. I cannot wait to eat my mom’s monkey bread and pass out everyone’s gifts as we all relax in our Christmas pajamas. I feel pretty good about a number of the gifts I have wrapped up for my family this year and I can’t wait to see them unwrap them in less than a week! (And yes, we are still using an angel ornament as our tree-topper. We haven’t found the perfect one just yet!)

• Hark! The Herald Angels Sing by Pentatonix

This is such a cool version of a beautiful classic Christmas song. Pentatonix is so ridiculously talented. A cappella = Amazing!

• Space Heaters

Thank goodness for space heaters! We have two (one in our bedroom and one in our family room that I will also often move into my home office) and they are my best friends right now. Since we don’t want to pay to heat all of our house, we’re trying to rely mostly on space heaters in the areas we frequent most and I’m so impressed with just how much heat a small space heater provides. YES.

• Giving Tree Gifts

Later today I am dropping off my gifts for a local high school girl I selected off of a giving tree at a nearby coffee shop! She asked for a hat and scarf and I selected some cozy warm-weather gear I hope she absolutely loves. I tried to get a combination of practical and cute items. 

• Dog Without Front Legs Runs For The First Time

So many feeeeeeelings! What a sweet pup!

• Williams-Sonoma Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate

As a die-hard Williams-Sonoma peppermint hot chocolate fan, this year I decided to give the variety pack a go and am happy to report that their salted caramel hot cocoa is absolutely fantastic. The peppermint still has my heart, but the salted caramel flavor is spot on and so tasty!

• Hater’s Guide to Williams-Sonoma

And speaking of Williams-Sonoma, the annual Hater’s Guide to Williams-Sonoma debuted earlier this week and cracked me up as usual. The 2014 edition is packed with hilarious anecdotes like this regarding the above picture: “Yes, a hot chocolate pot. Because a fondue pot wasn’t quite useless enough. Hey, you know what other kind of pot is good for making hot chocolate? A POT. Like, any regular pot that you already have.”

Giveaway Winners

Congratulations to the winners of the following Happy Holidays Giveaway Week giveaways:

• Birchbox: Leann (grand prize), Kimberly (runner up)
• Suja: Hannah, Donna, Shannon
• The Shine Project: Danielle (bracelet), Adrianna (necklace), SJ (apparel)
• Blue Apron: Kim

All winners were emailed first thing this morning. Thank you to everyone who entered!

Question of the Day

• What is one thing you’re loving this week?