I’m road trippin’ with my family today! We made it safely to Raleigh late last night and I fell asleep the moment my head hit the pillow.
My mom, dad, sister and I piled into the minivan in the early evening yesterday and I said, “So, where are we camping!?” as we buckled up because it felt like we were about to embark on one of the adventurous camping trips we used to go on when I was a little girl.
The drive to Raleigh took right around seven hours and we have another six hour drive to Gettysburg on the agenda for today. But now it’s time to squeeze in some family time with my aunt, uncle, cousins and grandma before we head on to Pennsylvania! You better believe “family time” deserves the number one spot on my “Things I’m Loving Friday” list this week!
Some more things that are making me smile…
Things I’m Loving Friday
This was a recent discovery thanks to my latest Birchbox! I love the smell of this thick and creamy body butter. It claims to be pomegranate, which I don’t think is accurate, but I can’t really seem to decipher what is it that I am smelling whenever I rub it on my hands. Whatever it is, I’m lovin’ it!
I bought these pens to address my sister’s bridal shower invitations. I wanted to use a peach-colored gel pen and I forgot how much fun gel pens are to write with until I sat down to address nearly 40 invitations. These particular gel pens claim to show up on dark surfaces, so I’m hoping to using all of the other colors in the future as well. Lots of bridal shower crafting is on the horizon!
- Columbia Winter Gear
Following my trip to Park City two weeks ago, a few of you asked for information about some of the jackets, boots and other cold weather apparel I wore during my time in Utah. Though I already blogged about my favorite hat (FYI – I saw it on sale for only $15 on SierraTradingPost.com), here are some more of favorite items from the trip:
Women’s Parallel Peak Interchange Jacket (in white plaid) – I wore this jacket throughout the whole trip and it kept me nice and toasty! I never felt cold even when I was skiing or driving a snowmobile during a blizzard thanks to the Omni-Heat thermal reflective lining. I also love that the inner layer can be removed so you can wear the jacket shell when it’s cooler outside or wear the puffy interior jacket by itself as well.
Women’s Bugaboot – These boots were the best thing going during my trip! I was so, so grateful to Columbia for providing our group with warm, waterproof boots and they never left my feet during the trip. I also love the fold-over feature of the boots which made them look a little cuter when I wore them with leggings and an oversize sweater after a day on the slopes.
Women’s Glacial Fleece Hoodie – Though seemingly thin, this hoodie added a lot of warmth to my skiing outfit. It was super soft and cozy but didn’t feel bulky underneath my jacket.
Ooooh, Click Mix! This website has quickly become my go-to website for workout songs for my group exercise classes. I know I briefly mentioned it before in my “Workout Music Resources for Fitness Instructors” blog post, but it really is fabulous. The ability to select my music, eliminate gaps between songs and search for songs based on their beats per minute helps me find energizing music to blast during my 60-minute classes. (If you’re a Whitney Houston fan, I think you’ll love a lot of the Whitney songs!)
Past Things I’m Loving Friday posts:
Question of the Morning
- What is one think making you smile lately?
![\"Quantcast\"/](\"//pixel.quantserve.com/pixel/p-1e3-7hOJ_U8Bg.gif\")
I love your nail polish in the first picture! What is it? Happy, happy Friday! 🙂
Thank you!! I can’t remember the name but it was a sparkly silver gel polish. I needed three coats to get it to be think enough not to show my nails through the polish, but I thought it was fun for my sister’s bachelorette party! 🙂
Isn’t actual warm clothing the best?! Moving from California to Colorado I didn’t realize I didn’t own proper clothes! I love that light columbia fleece pullover. Also thank you for the click mix link I am always looking for music for my classes (:
One thing I am loving lately? The unending love and support of my family and friends. This past week it has really shined through, I am so lucky to have such wonderful people in my life.
Happy Weekend!
Coffee is making me smile today, especially in K-Cup form. My little man had me up every 3 hours last night, so I think I’ll be enjoying a little extra this morning!
I hope you brought that Columbia gear with you for this trip to PA.. it is COLD up here!
GEL PENS! I loooooved those when I was in middle school.. I love when a pen writes the same way a gel pen does!
Haha I definitely did! Wearing the jacket right now!
GEL PENS! What a throwback. It used to take me hours to write notes to my friends because I swear I changed the color I was using for every single letter. I thought had mad gel pen skillz… haha of course I had a sweet pouch to carry them all in, too. Ah, memories.
I HAD MAD*
I clearly still write on the same level that I did in elementary school.
Clif z bars for kids. They’re the perfect snack size!
Ah, gel pens. Those were seriously the best pens to write with! I haven’t written in one in so long, my love is the Sharpie pens :). One thing that has made me smile this week, is the text from my boyfriend. It sucks him going back to school, and us being long distance again, but his texts always make me happy 🙂
Oh gel pens… Brings back many memories of grade school! You would’ve been totally cool if you had that many gel pens in 6th grade. 😉
Hunter CRAWLING all over is making me smile these days. It’s the cutest!
I like your nail polish in the first picture too! Fun!
Question – I am in no way affiliated with them, but this granola company is about 15 minutes away from me, and I just tried their “Naughty But Nice” chocolate peanut butter granola, and it is delicious! http://www.pureblissorganics.com/
Do you have it in Florida, and have you tried it before? I can send you some if you want. Even thought I don’t know you IRL, I have been reading your blog for years, and when I tried the granola, I thought it was good and something you would like. Have a great weekend!
Gel pens rock!!! and family time is priceless! have funn!!
Columbia makes some of the best winter clothes!
Today I am smiling because I am ready for the weekend to spend with my family as well! Have safe travels the rest of the way!
I recently bought the women’s Chelsea Station coat, and it is one of the best purchases I’ve ever made. I tested out the claims to see if the lining was really as warm as they claimed, with only a tank top underneath on a cold day. It was! I didn’t feel any sort of chill come through. And it’s not a super bulky coat and the ruching is flattering. All of my coats will officially be from Columbia from now on.
Does it have the OmniHeat lining? I swear that stuff is amazing at keeping body heat inside the jackets. Nice and toasty!!
I am loving my Lucy sweatpants, I want to wear them every day! I am also loving getting back to my early morning workouts, getting so much more done during the day now that I don’t have to work in my workout and a shower.
Loving the new Caramel Flan latte at Starbucks! Sipping on it right now 🙂 safe travels!
I’ve heard such great things about that drink!
Have a safe trip! I use to life in Raleigh and I miss it so much! WisH I was there with you.
These all sound like awesome things!!! I haven’t used gel pens in forever!! I’m so excited to see what things you lave planned for Leslie’s bridal shower!!!! I’m totally getting all my ideas from you 🙂
I’m excited for the weekend!!! Sunday I get to think of lots of fun things to do to let my brain relax and be ready for my big test on Monday!!
I love the Whish line of products! Their blueberry scented ones smell so good! And, one thing making me smile is that fact that it’s Friday! Yay!
Have a great trip!
Have you tried any of their coconut scented stuff? That’s next on my list!
No I haven’t, but I love anything coconut scented, so I’ll definitely be checking that out!
Are you going to recap the final omnigames day? I would really love to hear how your trip ended!
I still have to!! Spoiler alert: We didn’t win. 🙂
Loving the new layout except the font is so small! I have such a hard time reading it on my iPhone now without having to keep expanding the screen!
We are working on a mobile version. I know it’s a pain to read right now! :/
Gel pens!! What a blast from the past! I used to absolutely love those. What a fun thing to incorporate into your party crafts.
One thing that is making me smile lately is eating childhood favorite foods again. Brings back great memories.
I’m currently loving my Bic Cristal colored pens! I bought a pack for like a dollar at walgreens I think and it’s got like 6 different colors and they write great!! If I don’t write in different colors at work I get so disorganized!! Gel pens would deff. be a fun addition to my daily roundup 🙂
Welcome to NC from a reader just down the road in Durham! Safe travels to Gettysburg. And I’m definitely snagging that hat off of Sierra Trading Post. Thanks for the heads up!
omg GEL PENS! I think I had a million back in 6th grade!
I love using gel pens too! They remind me of high school, but that’s okay.
Totally just bought the hat – it’s SO COLD in Chicago – especially during my 5 am walk to the gym!
If you enter ACAFROZEN4 (at the Sierra Trading Post) you get yet another 20% off! In total, with shipping, the hat was $18. I think that’s a pretty darn good deal for such a cute hat! Thanks for passing along the recommendation!
Oooh! Thanks for sharing that coupon code!
I just bought your cute hat off of the Sierra Trading Post website and they also have an additional 20% off coupon!!! The code is ACAFROZEN4 Woohoo for saving money!
I’m smiling extra big because I’m going home to Florida for the weekend!!! Also I absolutely adore that Columbia knit hat. I need it for the harsh temperatures Nashville is getting right now!
Yaaaay!
Did you get the fleece in Small? I love the hibiscus colored one!
I did! It fit just fine, but if I were to order it myself again, I might go a size up for extra length b/c my torso is so long. 🙂
Such a cute nail polish you’re wearing! 🙂 I loveeeeed gel pens when I was in elementary school. Seriously, they were THE coolest things ever and I always got in trouble for doing my homework in sparkly purple!
Have a wonderful time with family! Something that’s making me smile right now:
http://www.kittyarmy.com/story-of-a-kitten-born-with-backwards-legs-found-love-and-home/
It’s a story of a kitty born with backwards legs that had them fixed and found a forever home. So heartwarming! ❤️
That list of Whitney songs is making me smile! I’ve been a fan since I could talk. And the fact that it is Friday. 🙂
You and me both! She has the voice of an angel! 🙂
ClickMix looks awesome!! I have to try it out!
It’s the best!! Perfect for creating upbeat, energizing playlists!
Hope you all have a safe trip. I know the weather hasn’t been great in Pa.
It’s tough packing up the memories. I’ve done it twice now for relatives. We all however took great comfort in the memories & laughs that some of the things stirred up. I hope your grandmother is settling in to NC.
Thank you <3
Thanks for telling us about the sale on the adorable hat. I admired it when you posted about it, forgot all about ordering it, and your reminder was great. I ordered the gray one immediately…now, if only it will look as cute on me as it does on you and all the other bloggers in your pictures!
Hope you love it!
OO I have lots of bridal shower invites to address and want those gel pens!!
Ahhh I also recently got that body butter in my Birchbox and I love it! Enjoy family time this weekend 🙂
My first Birchbox is winging it’s way towards me as we speak and this makes me all the more excited for it! Enjoy your trip!
Whoah – this ClickMix thing seems AMAZING! I’m working on a playlist right now.
Yesterday I was in spin and the instructor hadn’t even planned out the tracks ahead of time. It made for a bumpy, disjointed ride 🙂 I should recommend this to her.
One thing making me smile lately is chia seed pudding. I just made it for the first time and couldn’t believe how simple and delicious it was!
ClickMix seems awesome! So do you have to buy the playlist once you’re done creating it? The fact that today is Friday and the weekend is almost here makes me smile 🙂
The ClickMix idea is such a great concept. Thank you so much for sharing!
~Bre
I will have to check out Clickmix! One thing I am loving lately is Simple Abundance. It’s an older book but I always dust it off the shelf to read when I need to be reminded to stay positive about all of my blessings. Happy Friday!
At the beginning of this winter I finally splurged on a Columbia Omni-heat Jacket. Love it! I live in Chicago and we are no stranger to brutal winters. The jacket has been a lifesaver. Now if I could only get an Omni-heat body suit!
When are you going to post about the finale of the Omnigames event? I want to know if you won the trip to Jordan!
I didn’t win but I still have another recap post coming!
Peanut Butter Pretzel crisps — I’m obsessed!
thanks for the Clickmix suggestion!! Now I can even work out on “Say Something” ( remix version ; 140 bpm!!)
I really need to sign up for one of those boxes, it seems like they are filled with some great stuff!
Have a lovely trip!!
Those boots sounds super sweet. I love ones that keep my toes toasttttty
Fun list! Have a great weekend with your family!
I didn’t even know Columbia made fleece hoodies!!! I practically live in their fleece zip ups. Those look so cozy. Thanks for sharing.