Things I’m Loving Friday #159

Fun fact: I typically write the introduction to my Things I’m Loving Friday blog posts LAST. I will often try to work on this post throughout the week as things pop into my mind so my intro falls to the wayside and is basically the way I wrap up writing my TILF post every week. Okay, maybe I was playing it fast and loose with the term “fun fact” to begin this post, but now ya know!

As you know if you’ve been reading this blog for a while, I love sharing my Things I’m Loving Friday posts with you guys every week because writing these posts serve as a great reminder to me to look for the simple things in life that evoke a big smile. I absolutely love reading your comments on my Friday posts every week and would love it if you shared a little bit about something that is making you smile with me today!

Have a great weekend, my friends!

Things I’m Loving Friday

• Why Not Me? by Mindy Kaling

I actually bought Why Not Me? when it first came out to send to one of my girlfriends who was going through a very hard time because, after reading Mindy’s first book, I knew she was likely to help bring some laughs into my friend’s life. Well, last Friday I ended up buying the book for myself at the airport during my travels because I needed something light to read on the plane and the thought of reading even the most basic novel didn’t sound appealing. Thank goodness for Mindy Kaling! She had me laughing out loud and, at a time when I really needed the extra laughs and distraction, I couldn’t get enough of this book. I finished the book in two sittings and was done with it before I even arrived back in North Carolina.

If you would like to read this book and are going through a bit of a tough time right now and could use some extra laughs, please leave a comment on this post and I’ll happily send my copy to the first person who requests it.

• Chase’s First Haircut

It needed to happen and it finally did. Chase’s first haircut! I took Chase to a kid-friendly place called Snip-Its to get his first haircut and I really wasn’t sure what to expect. I went in with loooow expectations and honestly thought it would be a bit of a tear fest. Leave it to Chase to keep me on my toes because he LOVED it.

He pointed at different things around the salon and waved at the other kids and people the entire time. He also loved the toys they had on hand (he is quickly becoming obsessed with cars) and the woman who cut his hair was a total pro. She moved quickly and carefully and somehow managed to cut the hair of a very wiggly toddler like a champ. Woo!

Here’s the after shot:

(It totally looks like the sides are buzzed up but they were just wet and combed back. I wasn’t ready for a total transformation!)

I’m pretty sure Chase will be a lot happier since his mom and dad won’t be rushing over to brush the hair out of his eyes anymore!

• Pumpkin Spice Cake Mix Cupcakes with Cinnamon Buttercream Recipe Video

 

My latest recipe video went up on the blog and social media on Wednesday! You can see it above and check out the recipe in its entirety here: Pumpkin Spice Cake Mix Cupcakes. It’s pretty much the easiest cupcake recipe on the planet (only two ingredients!) but the homemade cinnamon buttercream frosting kicks it up a notch. Keep this recipe in your back pocket for any festive fall parties you may have on your calendar this month!

• Halloween HIIT Leg Workout

I am typically not a fan of leg workouts so when I do one that I actually somewhat enjoy, I think it’s pretty share worthy! The above workout is Monday’s Burn Boot Camp Halloween HIIT Leg Workout and it was a good one! (Yes, I couldn’t resist creating a Halloween-themed graphic. Just wait until December when 99 percent of the workouts I share will likely scream CHRISTMAS!) I had to modify the workout a bit but since I’m pretty sure most of you don’t have a broken toe to worry about, I figured I should share the original workout in all its glory. Enjoy! And please don’t hate me when your legs are on fiiiire!

• Bearcubs Blankets

A couple of weeks ago, sweetest blog reader Andrea reached out to me about her beautiful Etsy shop, Bearcubs, and sent us three of the softest, cuddliest blankets for Chase.

The fabric she chose is adorable and since Chase is currently in a big-time peek-a-boo phase, the Mint and Navy Stroller Blanket is following us all over the house as he uses it to hide various treasures (you know, important things like plastic spoons).

The Bearcubs blankets are gorgeous and I think they would make the sweetest gift for someone with a new baby in their life this holiday season. (The holiday fabrics are beyond adorable. LOVE this ‘Christmas Baby’ blanket!) Thank you so much for the sweet gift, Andrea!!!

• The Sweetest Play Date: Lilly + Tinytron

As I briefly mentioned on Wednesday morning, on Tuesday I had two kiddos on my hands and spent the majority of the day watching Chase and his BFF Lilly while my friend Carrie was out of town. You guys, Lilly is the sweetest little angel! I texted Ryan halfway through the day to tell him that watching Lilly made me realize our child his basically walking mayhem! Haha! Lilly was just so sweet and calm while Chase squealed like a dinosaur, ran all over the place and definitely earned his “Tinytron” nickname. (A few months ago, Ryan dubbed Chase Tinytron after Megatron, a character from Transformers who Ryan told me is essentially the “Master of Destruction.” Now whenever we see Chase looking around the room for something to destroy we say Tinytron is looking for trouble!)

• Friday Flashbacks

Maple Cinnamon Roasted Acorn Squash (Brushed with a lightly sweet maple cinnamon glaze, this recipe is a simple four-ingredient side dish that is as healthy as it is delicious!)

Beat Boredom Cardio Interval Workout (A 50-minute cardio workout that changes things up to keep boredom at bay!)

Question of the Day

• What is one thing that is making you smile today?