I’m so, so ready for quality time with my family and I can’t wait for my sister and brother-in-law to see their nephew again! I’m looking forward to days filled with hiking, relaxing, reading (I just downloaded The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up), exploring and eating!
While vacation anticipation is obviously what I’m loving most at the moment, it wouldn’t be Friday around here if we didn’t share a little bit about what we’re all loving this week in your usual Things I’m Loving Friday post! As always, I’d love for you to join in the fun in the comments section and tell me about something that is making you smile.
I hope you all have a fantastic weekend!
Things I’m Loving Friday
- Toasted Coconut Ice Cream Cake
We celebrated Ryan’s birthday on Monday and Chase and I surprised him with a toasted coconut ice cream cake from Kilwin’s! You guys, this cake is unreal. Ryan first tried it during a coworker’s lunchtime birthday celebration and he came home absolutely raving about. It lived up to the hype and I’m not sure whether I loved the fluffy marshmallow topping, the creamy toasted coconut ice cream or the rich fudge layer most.
- Chase’s First Art Work
This first-time mom’s heart nearly exploded on Monday when I picked Chase up from Burn Boot Camp’s childcare after my workout. Miss Lindsay and Chase got a little crafty while I was sweating and when I saw this little foot print pumpkin waiting by my gym bag, I think I was a little too excited. Chase’s first art work! I immediately texted a picture of it to my mom and Ryan since I knew they would think it was just as fantastic as I did. I feel so fortunate to go to a gym with such wonderful childcare!
- Chai Banana Bread
I did a little experimenting in the kitchen this week! I made a loaf of chai-spiced banana bread and it was so tasty. I still want to tweak the recipe a bit before I’m comfortable sharing it on the blog, but I hope to share it with you guys soon. It made our whole house smell fantastic!
I’m a big fan of the paper planner. After using the calendar on my phone for a while, I found myself missing a good old fashioned planner. I like the ability to jot ideas and notes down on the pages of a planner and feel like a paper planner makes me more organized. The Emily Ley Simplified Planner may be the most gorgeous planner I’ve ever seen! Emily recently reached out to me to check out her 2016 planner and I was immediately smitten by the beautiful design (I love the gold pineapple and mint dot!), but it’s not just beautiful! The planner has plenty of space for schedules, notes, meal planning and more. I think it would make a fantastic gift for an organized loved one!
- Fall Nail Polish Colors
Now that cooler temperatures have returned, I feel like it’s time to retire my go-to bright pink shades of nail polish in favor of rich fall colors. Bring on the navy, burgundy and deep purple! Love ‘em! (I nabbed the smoky blue color above from Marshalls two weeks ago for $1.99! Woop!)
- Friday Flashbacks
Butterscotch Banana Bread Oatmeal Bites (Easy, tasty and perfectly pop-able!)
Cardio and Abs Circuit Workout (For days when you want to get your heart rate up and work your core in the same workout!)
Question of the Day
- What is one thing you are loving this week?
![\"Quantcast\"/](\"//pixel.quantserve.com/pixel/p-1e3-7hOJ_U8Bg.gif\")
So jealous of your vacation! My family goes to Deep Creek Lake in MD every year which is a moutain/lake vacation and it is the BEST!
I am LOVING Pumpkin Pie Larabars this week (so delicious) and running outside is this fabulous fall weather!
Hi Julie!!
That banana bread looks great! Can’t wait for the recipe!
This week, I am loving a fun-filled weekend ahead! We’re not doing much, but it’s the little things that count, right?! We’re hitting up a neighborhood garage sale, going to Fresh Market’s pumpkin tasting event, going to a pumpkin patch and relaxing! Should be the perfect mix of outdoor fun and relaxation!
Hope you have a wonderful time with your family in Boone!!! We have been dying to go there!!
– Sarah
I haven’t used a paper planner in awhile but I did end up getting a 2016 planner for a project that I’m hoping to launch at the beginning of the year…now that the planner has arrived, it’s REALLY tempting to just use it for everything. I may still use my phone calendar and notes but I used to love paper planners and it’s totally bringing my back to those days..
Boone is so fun! I grew up in Hickory and we used to drive up there all the time! Especially this time of year–it’s beautiful. Enjoy your vacation! 🙂
Happy Birthday Ryan! Honestly, I thought most guys HATED coconut! That cake is worth every minute of my workout though, yes, Billy Blanks and all.
Marshalls is great. I find so many steals there. Especially Ahava skin products from Israel. Love those! So much cheaper there.
Have a lovely vacation! Sounds wonderful. Hiking is perfect this time of year =)
That ice cream cake sounds amazing! have such a fun time on your family vacation.
I have that same planner for this upcoming year- adorable! I’ve had Emily’s planners for the past two years and have loved them!
Ps, those pumpkin toes?! It doesn’t get any cuter!!! <3
I love my paper planner too! I use Erin Condren and it is a lifesaver!
Have a fabulous weekend, and an even more fun vacation!!! 🙂
2016 will be my second year to use a Simplified planner. It’s great!
I love paper planners. I just can’t get used to it on my phone and feel better writing everything down, and then love crossing them off 😉 Have a blast on vacation! I know what you mean about waiting for it to come! That’s the worst with vacation, but then it goes so fast, so enjoy it!
toasted coconut ice cream cake?!?! AMAZING!! i’m loving it’s friday! it’s my niece’s birthday party this weekend, william has soccer, the cardinals are going to dominate the playoffs (i’m going on saturday!), and i’m running a 5k on sunday!
Chase’s first artwork is so cute!
That planner speaks my language! I have a planner but it does not have room for the “extra” notes and meal planning like this one does. I have retired my bright colored nail polishes as well and actually just put on a deep orange since it’s October and and all 😉
I am loving is some quality shopping time with my best friend tomorrow and tonight I will be going to our local dinner theatre with my mom and sister. Have a great weekend!
im excited for that chai banana bread recipe to come out! It looks and sounds amazing 🙂
I feel you on vacation. Two weeks from today, I’ll be boarding the Disney Magic in Miami with my sister and a friend (not just for kids and families!). I am So. Flipping. EXCITED.
Sounds like so much fun! Hope you all have a blast!
Holy cow! That ice cream cake looks insane! 🙂
And, look at Chase’s little tootsies! Adorable!
Have a great weekend! And have a great time on vacay!
That ice cream cake looks UNREAL! I am loving baking lots of pumpkin, apple, and generally sweet sugar n’ spice treats for the season.
A week in the mountains sounds great and you two definitely deserve it! I’ve heard really good things about that book, too. I get the urge to clear out everything in my house at least once a season, so I’m guessing I’d really enjoy reading that.
That artwork is so adorable! I don’t have kids yet but I don’t think you were too excited about that! I would be ecstatic about it too! Something I have been loving is canned pumpkin, I truly forgot how great it is when it comes to baking!
Planners are the best! I love having one and having everything written down. Makes my life so much easier! I just got a new kind of coffee concentrate at the store and it’s SO good! Made an iced coffee for breakfast and it’s so delicious! Have a great weeekend and a great vacation!
For some reason my brain kept reading that at CHIA spiced banana bread and I could not for the life of mw figure out what that was ahahah!
Haha! Ooooh delicious chia spices! 😉
Yay for vacation! That’s so awesome, Julie. I’m dying over that cake. My husband’s birthday is coming up, so I may look into it. Of course, I’ll likely end up eating most of it. I’m loving the fact that fall-ish weather is FINALLY here in the Bay Area. 🙂 Happy Friday and weekend!
I just finished reading the Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up and it truly is life changing!! I think you are going to love the book, Julie!
This Friday I’m loving my morning coffee and looking forward to a weekend with my best friend! Enjoy your vacation!
I hope so! I’ve heard the best things about it!
Love that planner, and that cake looks SO YUMMY!!
That looks like a greatttt workout!
That cake is life. Happy birthday to Ryan! I’m excited for you guys to get away with your family. Oh, and Chase’s pumpkin is RIDICULOUSLY adorable. <3 Happy Friday!
Ha!! “That cake is life” made me laugh out loud! 🙂 Yes!
I’m so excited this week because I’m moving to Australia in 10 days!!
Julie, that pumpkin is too adorable!! So glad you are able to get away with the family. Question, what are those nail polish colors? I love them all!
I just discovered Emily Ley’s planners this year and I also ordered the pineapple print. After spending more time than I’d like to admit looking for the perfect planner, I found her work and I LOVE IT. I also think it’s really great that you are supporting and sharing her business! It’s so funny when two people who I follow on social media know of each other 🙂
Happy Birthday to your Mr! We’re celebrating my Mr’s birthday this weekend.
Hmm, this week I’m loving that some boots I’ve had my eye on are on sale. I might actually buy some for once!
So glad I’m not the only one who still loves a real planner. I thought my sister & I were the only ones!! Have a great weekend & a wonderful vacation!
That cake looks so delicious! Enjoy your vacation in Boone! I’m currently a student in Boone and our fall break is next thursday and friday, so hopefully the town will be a little less busy and chaotic with students being gone! Be sure to check out Hob Nob Cafe, and The Local..two awesome restaurants in the downtown Boone area!
Thank you for the recommendations!! Adding them to my list of things to do in the area! <3
I’m not a huge fan of coconut but that cake looks yummy! I’m looking forward to the recipe for the Chai Banana Bread. Omg Chase’s artwork–how cuuuuute!!!! I’m so glad you are able to continue working out/getting out of the house and don’t have to worry about someone watching him, I’m sure it lifts some stress off your shoulders! I’m looking forward to my beloved Cardinals playoff game tonight! I love the playoffs and this one is even better because we are playing the Cubs–Go Cardinals!
I found the Simplified Planner online a few months ago and ordered the 2016 daily version the day it went on sale. As much as I love this time of year, I’m really looking forward to January when I can start using it 🙂
For now, I’ve been using the printable version of the pages on Emily Ley’s website! For anyone considering ordering the planner, I highly recommend it because it let me know for sure it was the right set up for me! You can also test out the daily or weekly versions.
Hope you have a great time in Boone! My friends and I had a girls weekend in Boone a few weeks ago and it was beautiful.
Those little footprints are just the sweetest!
You two deserve this trip!!! Have so much fun!!!
Toasted coconut cake sounds really good! There is a Kilwin’s near me but I’ve never tried anything from them
I want some alone time with that cake! Haha!! Happy Birthday to your hubby and OMG – the footprints! So precious!! Have a great vacation!
I so wish we would’ve traveled with my daughter when she was still in the “newborn” phase. It just seemed so incredibly daunting since we were already so tired. When in reality, that’s when she would sleep anywhere, anytime. Now she’s 1 year old and naps & sleeps at night in her crib and has done so for months, , has a routine and we don’t mess with nap times. Plus, she’s mobile & into everything, so traveling and messing with her sleep seems like insanity to me. Enjoy your family time and vacation.
I’m lovin’ a pending trip I have in November! 😉
Aw Chase’s little feet! My mom still has all of our first artwork pieces like that too, and I’m so glad she kept them for us 🙂 I made chai-banana bread the other week! What a perfect way to celebrate fall. Have a great little fam vacation and take it easy!
Enjoy your vacation. Everyone deserves down time. We are camping this weekend. Love chilly October campouts. Makes the fires a little more worth it. The trails are beautiful this time of year in IL. I love the baby feet artwork ! I’m new to your website and I’m really loving it. I’m all about staying fit and healthy, spoiled dogs and cute babies !!
It’s an absolutely beautiful time to head to Boone! Wish I was going there this week. Supposed to be near peak leaf week, and I’m still upset that I missed Appalachian’s homecoming last weekend.
Oh my goodness, that cake looks incredible. There’s a Kilwins near me that I have yet to try!! Definitely going to look for that cake 🙂
Have a fun and relaxing vacation!!! You deserve it!
OMG. I love the pineapples on that planner. I SO don’t need it, but OMG I NEED IT.
You just reminded me I need to order my planner for next year. I am just like you in that I need a paper planner! I get mine from Erin Condren. A bit pricey but I love it!
I JUST finished The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up and it rocked my world! I’m sure you’ll love it! I’ve been recommending it to everyone in my office and putting some ideas into practice! Things I’m loving this week are car repairs that end up being 1/3 of the price we thought and crock pot meals! They save me on a weekly basis!
That cake sounds amazing and love the footprints! Adorable! I’m loving my little one night get away to Salt Lake City tonight. It’s for work but we get to spend some time together and I get my first Orangetheory Fitness workout in tonight!
We are headed to Ashville Wed for our fall vacation! You all MUST visit Tweetsie Railroad! Its so much fun and you have to ride the train. We went last year and had a blast. Enjoy!!!!
There is a Kilwins in Blowing Rock, which is right down the road from Boone! I was actually there tonight! Maybe you can find another one of those cakes for your vacation week. Enjoy! 🙂
I think we might have to! My sister texted me saying she needed it in her life! 🙂