Since it’s Friday, you know we must keep things consistent around here and dive into your usual Things I’m Loving Friday post where we all chat about the things that make us smile each week. Below you will find a short list of the things I’m currently loving (plus a holiday giveaway!) and I’d love for you to join in the fun in the comments section!
Have a great weekend, my friends!
Things I’m Loving Friday
- Chase’s Four Month Checkup
On Monday, we headed into Chase’s pediatrician’s office for his four-month checkup. Everything is lookin’ good and I left feeling a million times better about everything from Chase’s small size to his less-than-stellar naps, challenging breastfeeding sessions (he’s so easily distracted!) and the fact that he’s still waking up to feed two times a night.
(He loves pulling my hair whenever I wear it down! Check out that handful!)
It is so incredibly easy to second guess everything about yourself as a parent when you’re a mom and having our doctor tell me Chase is doing great and I am not failing at life was so helpful. Chase also seems to be growing like crazy… Though he is still under 13 pounds, he has more than doubled his birth weight and is in the 78th percentile for his height. (What!?) According to my mother-in-law, Chase’s light weight and long little body are so similar to Ryan as a baby. When he’s awake, Chase doesn’t stop moving and absolutely loves to push off everything and be held standing up at all times. Our pediatrician commented on Chase’s activity level and said he’s clearly a determined little mover. We have a playful little dude on our hands, that’s for sure!
My thoughtful friend Merri brought this advent calendar with her as a special holiday gift for us when she came to visit last month and it’s easily the best advent calendar I’ve ever seen! Each day is filled with a chocolate surprise, but they aren’t your basic small chocolate squares. The treats range from chocolate-covered pretzel bites to chocolate-covered Oreos and sea salt caramels. They’re absolutely delicious. Thanks, Mer!
- Coconut Oil Peppermint Bark
A couple of days ago, I had a serious craving for something sweet and whipped up a batch of peppermint bark in the kitchen using only coconut oil, cocoa powder, peppermint extract and maple syrup and it was AWESOME. I’ll definitely share this one with you guys soon! It was so easy and a perfect festive treat! In the meantime, if you’re hoping to making peppermint bark this weekend check out this tasty throwback recipe: Peppermint Bark.
I don’t know how they do it, but month after month Fabletics somehow debuts new adorable workout apparel that I always seem to love. These black ice capris from their December collection are fantastic! Though I love funky patterns and vibrant colors on my workout capris and leggings, black bottoms will always be my favorite, so I love this take on simple black bottoms. You get a little spice and variety but keep the simple, flattering look of black workout bottoms.
- Candied Pecan Chex Mix
I have been on a Chex mix fix lately! I made another batch of Chex mix this week and it was wonderful! I followed Gimme Some Oven’s recipe for Candied Pecan Chex Mix and could not stop eating it. (I omitted the pretzels simply because we didn’t have any on hand and I also added almonds.) Ryan also gave it rave reviews. So good!
- Of Possible Interest
** Apparently the code I shared on my White Plum Giveaway post earlier this week wasn’t working for the first few hours but it’s back in action! You may use the code PBGIVE25 to receive 25% off everything from White Plum through December 15! And there’s still time to enter my giveaway!
** 14 Healthy Sweet Potato Recipes (Can’t get enough of them lately!)
** Interesting infographic about brands working with bloggers
** The PickFit app is giving away $75 Rent the Runway gift certificates! To be entered to win, post your outfit picture to Facebook or Twitter with the hashtag #PickfitRTR!
- Minted Holiday Cards + Giveaway
Our holiday cards arrived on Tuesday this week! I love the way they turned out and can’t wait to send them to our closest friends and family. Like last year, we ordered them through Minted, though this year Minted offered to collaborate with me and extend an awesome giveaway to you guys, too! If you are hoping to order holiday cards and haven’t done so yet, definitely check out Minted! Their designs are absolutely gorgeous and you can order everything from letterpress holiday cards to foil pressed designs (<—we did this last year!), all uniquely created by independent artists.
From the gorgeous fonts, quality paper and beautiful designs, you cannot go wrong with Minted holiday cards. (And they also have awesome gifts! I ordered this foil collage with photos of Chase for Ryan for Christmas… And made him promise not to read this post today!) Now that I’ve professed my love for Minted, I think we should get to that giveaway I mentioned above…
Three PBF readers will win a $100 credit to Minted to use toward their holiday cards!
To enter this giveaway, please click here to enter on Minted.com and leave a comment on this blog post telling me about one thing you are looking forward to this holiday season. We will randomly select three winners on Monday so you can order your cards ASAP!
Good luck!
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Can’t wait to spend time with my boys and my mom…. Family time is sooo special!
I’m looking forward to having my husband spend Christmas with my family for the first time!
Cookie
cookie swap!
I’m looking forward to the arrival of our baby girl! Due date is January 3, so we are counting down the days 🙂
Love your holiday cards! I am looking forward to spending time with family this holiday season and to eat lots of good food 🙂
I am looking forward to a vacation from work to spend time with my kids!
Love your Christmas card – Chase is so adorable! His smile is irresistible 🙂
I’m looking forward to spending time with family on the east coast and hopefully getting our christmas card in the mail soon!
I’m looking forward to spending time with family and friends!
I’m looking forward to our family Christmas Eve party. It’s our first ugly sweater theme!!! But especially, my little one’s first Christmas!!!
I’m looking forward to spending my first Christmas with my boyfriend. we just recently moved in together and I’m looking forward to starting some of our own traditions for the Holidays!
Oh, Julie, it broke my heart when I read ‘… not failing at life…’ – it must be so hard to doubt yourself and your abilities as a mum! Of course I don’t know you in real life, but on the blog you come across as such a loving and caring person, and I’m sure you are an incredible mum to Chase!
I can imagine that the transition was hard for you (especially since I remember you saying you weren’t around babies much growing up) and I hope you will feel more confident in your role as a mother over time.
I’m looking forward to spending quality time with family and opening my stocking!!
I’m looking forward to my family’s Christmas Eve tradition of church, dinner, and watching Christmas Vacation by the fire with my mom’s Christmas cookies!
I can’t wait to see my family from Florida!!
I’m looking forward to more baking!!
I am looking forward to seeing my grandparents on Christmas!
I am looking forward to my son, Wright’s, first Christmas! He is only a week younger than Chase, and I am so excited to see him experience Christmas for the first time (even if he won’t know what is going on 😉 )
I’m looking forward to a few days off work after a busy year! To relax, sip red wine, and eat all the holiday cookies.
I’m looking forward to getting to relax with my family for a bit. I love watching my four children open their presents.
I’m definitely going to have to order that advent calendar for next year! I’m most excited about driving around with my husband and looking at holiday lights! Sounds silly but my we really love it and try and get out one night a week or so. Just fun reliving that childlike wonder inside. 🙂
I’m looking forward to some vacation time off of work, so needed right now!
I just got engaged a few months ago! I’m excited to create new traditions with my family and my future in-laws!
I’m looking forward to a break from nursing school!
I love reading your updates on Chase. My baby girl was born 8/14- our due dates were just three days apart 🙂
My daughter is really big, but I can relate to everything else just perfectly- it’s pretty cool to have someone else going through this all at the same time, even though I don’t know you in real life!
How did he do after his four month shots? We go Monday for ours and I’m nervous!
To spend cozy Time with family and my fiancé. I can not wait!
My two weeks off of being a teacher so I can hang out with my one year old, husband, and dogs!
I’m looking forward to baking Christmas cookies with my grandma!
Getting to see all of my family for the first time since July!
Looking forward to my kiddo’s first Xmas. He was born 11-30, so as you’d expect, I’m typing this one-handed while the little one nurses.
I’m looking forward to the pie!!!
I’m looking forward to baking Christmas cookies with my mom
I AM so excited for the peppermint bark recipe, I literally LOVE LOVE LOVE bark and whips a bunch up during the holidays 🙂 xo C
This holiday season, I’m most looking forward to getting to know my little one (who may be joining the world today)!! As I’m catching up on your blog, I’m timing my contractions and about to wake up the hubby to drive me to the hospital! We haven’t ordered our Christmas cards yet because we were waiting on our little man to arrive so we can double our cards as announcements. Would be such a blessing to win this giveaway!!
I’m looking forward to spending time with my husband and our 2 sons, 20 mths & 3 weeks. I feel so blessed to have them.
Chase is adorable!
I’m looking forward to experiencing my son’s 1st Christmas and seeing it through his little eyes!
The main thing that I’m looking forward to thus holiday season is honestly just quality time with family. My parents are visiting this weekend and last night as I headed to bed, I felt overwhelmed with a sense of gratitude to have them here and to do simple things like play cards and go to group exercise classes together 🙂
I am looking forward to seeing my daughters eyes lit up on Christmas morning–she is almost 2 years old and can understand Christmas for the first time this year
Merry Christmas! I can’t wait to spend family time and some good husband time! We’re also painting our baby’s room… One closer step to our first coming in May! I’ve been so thankful for all of your pregnancy posts!
I’m looking forward to Holiday break to spend 2 full weeks with my husband and our 2 little ones. At 2.5 years and 9 months they both change everyday and I’m ready for plenty of cuddles and laughs!
I’m looking forward to baking and cooking for holiday parties! Tonight is my gym’s and I’m making bacon wrapped sweet potatoes!
I’m looking forward to seeing my son open presents! He is 20 months, so this will be his second Christmas, but the first time he can really get into it!
I’m looking forward to spending time with family in Chicago!
It seems like Chase is changing every time I see him! I’m looking forward to starting a new tradition with my husband this year by baking doughnuts on Christmas Eve. I’m also looking forward to having my English students over for some Christmas fun!
I’m looking forward to having my baby sister and her husband home for Christmas…and getting to rub her baby belly:)
I totally feel you on how nice it is to be reassured by the pediatrician that everything you are doing ISNT wrong and you don’t suck at life, lol. I made a special apt for my baby last Friday because I was so unsure of everything – come to find out he is growing and doing just fine! It’s so easy to second guess yourself. Chase is a cutie and you are doing a great job!
I am looking forward to the week of Christmas because my son will be 6 weeks old and I feel like that is one of our first big milestones! Can’t wait to spend his first Christmas with our families.
spending time with my newly born niece! we don’t live in the same area but i’ll be traveling to see her and my sister 🙂
Time with loved ones!
I’m looking forward to making that delicious looking chocolate peppermint bark (once you post recipe on your blog)! 🙂
I am looking forward to my 20 week ultrasound to check in on my little baby!