How are you today? This week has been a busy one but a fun one thanks to a super-short visit from my parents.
They passed through Charlotte en route to Virginia Beach for my cousin’s Chief Pinning Ceremony (an important ceremony celebrating Rick’s promotion to Chief Petty Officer in the US Navy – so proud!) and it was such a treat to be able to spend the day with them on Wednesday.
Plans for this weekend include catching up on some neglected behind-the-scenes blog work, decorating for fall, spending time outside and hopefully relaxing a bit, too! But before we unplug and head off to enjoy the weekend, I wanted to stop by PBF and share your weekly Things I’m Loving Friday blog post.
Below is a short roundup of a few things that made me smile this week and, as always, I’d love for you to join in and share a little bit about something you’re loving this week in the comments section. I hope you all have a great weekend!
Things I’m Loving Friday
Apparently I’m 31 going on 13 but I am such a sucker for gel pens! I think gel pens deserve a spot on my “Little Indulgences = Big Happiness” list because they bring me a disproportionate amount of joy whenever I use them. I bought this pack of Petite Point gel pens on impulse when I was browsing around Zulily and they’re AMAZING. They glide across paper perfectly without leaving weird skip marks and are perfectly velvety. (I bought them when I bought my first adult coloring book!) And now I’ve officially typed up 100 words about gel pens. Wow.
I’ve been mesmerized by the short, entertaining recipe videos that have been popping up all over Facebook for a while now and I’m so excited to bring you guys my first PBF recipe video! You may have see my banana bread protein pancakes video debut on Facebook this week and I hope to bring a lot more quick and easy recipe videos your way in the coming months.
I wanted to kick things off by working with a videographer to make a video of my banana bread protein pancakes because that recipe continues to be one of the most popular PBF recipes I’ve shared on the blog to date. It’s delicious and kid-friendly (you can even make a big batch and freeze them to reheat later!) and I love the way they keep me full for a lot longer than traditional pancakes. Plus, they don’t require the use of protein powder and I promise you cannot taste the cottage cheese at all. If you haven’t made them yet, I hope you’ll give them a try soon. We love them in our house!
- Runny Eggs On Waffles
I go through such phases with my food and right now I’m on a serious eggs and waffles kick! I love this meal for breakfast or lunch and have fun changing up the toppings with everything from tomatoes and green onions to avocado and leftover roasted sweet potato cubes. The key is topping the waffles with over easy eggs and using the runny yolks as a sort of sauce. Easy and delicious!
- 1st to Die by James Patterson
My mom and I frequently share books and she gave me this book promising a thriller that would have me flying through the pages of the story. Well, she was right! The book is the first in a series of novels by James Patterson (the Women’s Murder Club series) and follows a homicide detective as she works with three of her close friends to try to figure out the killer behind a series of newlywed murders. I started the book Tuesday night and have a feeling I’ll be finishing it this evening. It’s a page-turner and is definitely holding my interest.
A few years ago I met Kelli Davis at IDEA World (she helps run the show!) and immediately noticed her happy, smiley demeanor. Well, earlier this week I stumbled upon the Happsters Instagram account and loved the upbeat, positive messages. It wasn’t until a few a days later that I realized it was Kelli’s account! I am not one who usually loves tons and tons of quotes all over my Instagram feed but when I find an account that seems to hit the nail on the head and share quotes that are exactly what I need to read at the moment or quotes that inspire me to live a better life filled with happiness and kindness, I’m all about it! Happsters is a good one and I’ve already been taking screenshots of a bunch of Kelli’s shares because they are so great!
- Car Seat Safety Questions
Did you guys know September is Baby Safety Month? (I swear there is a month for everything, right!?) I am working with Chicco to help spread the word about car seat safety this month and wanted to see if you guys have any specific questions for their car seat safety experts? I’ll be sharing a Q&A with their safety experts on the blog in the coming week or two and would love to include any of your car seat safety questions in the post! If you have a question you’d like me to pass along, please leave it in the comments section of this post. Thanks so much!!
- Friday Flashbacks
Bridesmaid Gift Ideas (Still one of my most popular posts to date! Lots of fun and unique bridesmaid gift ideas based on some of my personal favorites.)
Creating a Baby Registry (A roundup of the items on our baby registry thanks to your advice!)
- Around the Web
Fitness: 7 Surprising Benefits of Exercise // Full Body Kettlebell Workout // Running Safety Tips // Lower Body Circuit Workout
Food: 8 Traditional Thanksgiving Sides Made Vegan // Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bread // Gluten-Free + Dairy-Free Carrot Cake // Kale, White Bean and Chicken Soup
Question of the Day
- What is one thing that is making you smile this week?
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Hi!
Does your stroller in the registry list convert to a jogging stroller? Do you like the stroller btw?
Thanks!
Christine
Hi Christine! The one in my registry (the Chicco Bravo) isn’t meant for jogging but I DO love it!! It’s a great stroller that collapses SO easily and I love it for running errands, walks and mostly for travel, too! As far as a jogging stroller, I have both the Chicco Tre and the BOB stroller (full disclosure: both were given to me from the brands to review) and honestly love them both! I’d recommend both for jogging but if I had to pick one, I’d pick the BOB just because it’s a little more lightweight and has a ton of pockets and other features (like a foot lock break) that have been awesome. Definitely check out LuciesList.com if you haven’t already for a TON of stroller reviews!!!
Hi! I love those gel pens. As a teacher, I’m a supply addict. Can’t wait to order. Cut visit from your parents. Very sweet. I love seeing my parents with my kids, it’s a totally different side to them. It’s like, wow, I had to buy everything myself starting at 14 and all my parents want to do is take them out for ice cream! Nice.
I love the Women’s Murder Club series! Just finished the newest one, #15! Some of the books in the series aren’t as great as others, but I love them all.
This week I’m loving prepping for Mitch’s second birthday party! I’d love to hear more about working with the videographer and making your first video!
Happy Friday! Your runny eggs on waffles look AMAZING!! – I have a car seat safety question if you don’t mind!… I heard that we shouldn’t put babies in their car seats wearing winter coats? We get some pretty COLD winters in NJ so I’m curious to see if there is any truth in this. Thanks!! 🙂
I’ll definitely ask about this!
Thank you!!!
The Bundle Me should solve that problem but it only would work if your baby is still in their infant carrier. It basically is a baby sleeping bag that still lets the car seat straps rest directly on your child. I had one for both my girls and I loved them!
https://www.amazon.com/Cole-Original-Bundleme-Infant-Graphite/dp/B003KN27C8/ref=sr_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1474049565&sr=8-1&keywords=bundle%2Bme&th=1
I love this! Didn’t even think about it! – Thank you!!
I heard the same thing. It’s because babies need to be buckled snug. When they have a thick jacket on, the harness is not as tight as it should be and can cause more harm than
good in an accident! During winter months I just hop in the backseat and put on my daughters jacket before we get out of the car! We have freezing winters too (I live in Montana) where it gets we’ll below 0 degrees! Just warm
Up your car before you head out and put jacket on before getting out of car 🙂
That definitely makes sense! Warming up the car is probably what i’ll do! I’m not looking forward to leaving the house every day in the winter – I have 6 1/2 month old twins, so leaving the house is a project to begin with!
I loooove the women’s murder club series. I used to read James Patterson like it was my job but this is now the only series really that has kept my hook. Keep reading them they only get better!!!
My husband surprised me with scented gel pens as a random gift a few weeks ago…he knows my love language. Haha
And I have 2 babies in car seats & all things car seat related stress me out! Our pediatrician told us that our baby girl should stay in a rear facing car seat until she’s 2! Two seems so old. We switched my son to a forward facing car seat when he was a little over 1. He seemed so much more content during car rides when he was forward facing. When to make that switch from rear to forward facing would be a question from me. 🙂
Happy Friday!
My question for Chico. What do they suggest for kids to wear in the winter months in car seats? I know no coats but how realistic is that when winter hits and mama needs to get out of the house!
On first glance, it looks like Chase has an over-sized baby hand on your Dad’s shoulder.
Haha!!
I thought the same thing!
That was the first thing I saw too!!
Things I am loving today: reading this blog post while eating PB toast and drinking my iced coffee…so appropriate right?
Looking forward to a weekend of quality time with my little family and some friends…and also some outdoor walks to enjoy the foliage and football of course! It is really feeling like autumn around here 🙂
I used to be an avid collector of gel pens when they were huge in the 90’s! Total flashback! Congrats on the video–I’m hoping to incorporate more video with my recipes too.
My sisters and my mom are obsessed with those james patterson books–i have yet to read them! There are so many now that its overwhelming me! haha!
This week I’m loving apple cider–decided to buy my first gallon of it 😀
Question for car seat safety month! My son is 14 months and into the convertible car seat and out of his infant seat. No matter how hard my husband and I try (envision pulling on the latch straps, sweat, me sitting IN the car seat in effort to weigh it down) we never feel like the seat is strapped in as tightly as we were able to get the infant seat base. To make me more nervous, we do have to remove the seat 1-2 times a week to juggle daycare pick up/drop off with one seat. So – are we wrong to think that the seat should be as snug as the infant base was? How can we possible get it any tighter?
Not a question but something to highlight: my daughter is 10 months old and we just found out you aren’t supposed to have the car seat handle all the way up in the carry position while driving! Apparently it is super unsafe and we had no idea!
I am confused about this! I heard it was unsafe to have the handle locked up to, but I couldn’t find anything in the manual for the Chicco Keyfit about it. It seems to say that in any locked position it is fine.
I love the video and looking forward to trying out the recipe since I’m in a breakfast rut lately!
One of the things I’m loving this week was my doctor’s response that if he didn’t want me bringing in treats from recipe testing, I could stop without being offended. He gasped, stopped what he was doing and said “are you KIDDING ME!? Keep ’em coming!” Good to know they don’t secretly go in the trash when I leave! 😉
Have a great weekend and post pics of the Fall decorating! I love seeing how other people decorate their space!
What made me smile is knowing my son’s seventh grade teachers feel he is a good kid, and a pleasure to be around. As mom that to me is a huge accomplishment.
I love gel pens also, something about the brightness on the paper.
My question is about rear facing car seats. When do you switch them to forward? I know you should wait as long as possible, but once their legs reach the back seat do they just sit with their legs folded? Or is it time to switch?
I love James Patterson but have always stuck to his Alex Cross series. I’ll have to give these a whirl. Have a great weekend!
Question about car seats: How do you know when to transition your baby from an infant car seat to the next one? Also, what can we put in to protect his head from moving around once he has outgrown the big cushion thingie (<— real word!) that comes with the car seat but still needs head support? THANKS!
PS. obsessed with gel pens.
How do you make your over easy eggs? I’ve never made my own, and I’m definitely going to be trying … !
I’ll have to check out that thriller! If you haven’t read it yet — I definitely recommend The Girl On The Train. Sooooo good!!
I think I’m in the minority here, but I’m super anxious about car seat safety due to a past bad car accident (pre-baby, thankfully!!). Our son turned two TODAY and I’m nervous to turn his car seat forward facing! I guess my question would be — when it comes to forward facing, is it more about age or weight/height??
I’ll definitely pass along your question. (Also, I’m so glad you were okay in your past accident. So scary!) And I have read Girl on the Train! Loved it — can’t wait to see the movie version!!
I didn’t know Kelli had that Instagram account until this past year at BlogFest, and I’m now SUCH a fan. Her posts always make me smile. 🙂 Happy Friday, Julie!
I have a car seat question! My baby spits up in his car seat once in a while. Is there a way to clean a car seat safely? I’ve heard that soaking it in water can make it unsafe.
Car seat question! When should I move my 8 month old from the infant bucket car seat to a convertible car seat? I read that it goes by weight and height, but then a friend told me to ignore that and just move them once they literally just don’t fit in it anymore.
YES! Forever will love gel pens!!!! The colors and shine to matte just lift my mood!!!
I have that same stroller in the registry and although I like it, I think the car seat is pretty heavy! My husband and chiropractor agree that it’s heavy too. Lol. I’m looking forward to your upcoming post about car seat safety!
Chase looks just like your mom in that first picture – so cute! <3 TGIF!
That’s so funny, I think he looks just like her dad!
You will LOVE that series of books! I binge read them and couldn’t stop! There are a few where they slow down a bit but stick with them. Happy reading!
How funny, I was just reading your bridesmaid gift post for ideas for my girls! I ended up buying the Dogeared “Best Friends” necklaces with little angel wings through Haute Look 🙂
Things I’m loving – honeycrisp apples with peanut butter and pumpkin spice sprinkled on top! And the Chobani pumpkin harvest flipz….I pretend it’s actually a yogurt and not a dessert lol, it’s so good!!
Have a great weekend!
I love the women’s murder club series! It’s a fun easy reading series!
I am reading that same series. They are a quick read, but all sooo good!
I would LOVE to know when my son HAS to go from an infant car seat to a rear-facing convertible one!
LOL, for a split second when I saw the picture of Chase and your parents I thought Chase had his arm around your dad’s back and said “wow, he’s got a huge hand!” Yeah…that’s your mom’s hand…Cleary I’m ready for the weekend around here. Happy Friday!
Car seat question: I’m due this week and can’t find anyone who will check my car seat! The local fire department, highway commission, police, etc are no longer allowed to due to “liability concerns.” And tips to help ensure I’ve done a good installation, or other resources I haven’t thought of? Thanks!
I LOVE the Women’s Murder Club series, they are so, so good! There are 15 of them and I am really hopeful there will be at least a few more! Hope you enjoy them!
This week, I’m loving Amy Schumer’s Girl With the Lower Back Tattoo, volunteering, half marathon training for the Charlotte half, and that my 3 year old almost made me a blubbering mess this morning when he told me this morning I was his best friend. It’s been a good week. 🙂
Love, love, loveeeee runny eggs on waffles!
->https://poweredbysass.com/2016/09/16/surprise-were-hopping-a-plane-to/
Your mom’s hand on the back of your dad in the first picture totally looks like Chase’s hand haha!
I have been doing some online window shopping now that we are expecting a little one in March and I would love to know if there is a difference in an infant car seat and a convertible one as far as safety is concerned? Thank you!
I adore that Instagram quote! Such positivity!
Ok I TOTALLY have a car seat question! Why on earth do they expire? And will I get in trouble if I use an expired car seat? According to my husband, “it’s made out of materials that will still be in a landfill somewhere long after we’re gone!” LOL LOL! If I had another baby I would have to purchase a new car seat because mine is “expired” which seems super silly to me!
Look at you being all trendy with that pancake video! And I’m with you, there’s nothing better than NEW PENS!!!! Always so much fun!!
Car seat question – how true is it that putting the carseat on the rear passenger side is actually the safest? I feel like it would be much easier to put it behind the driver side so you don’t have to walk around the car every time, but I’m all for what’s safest. Right now we have it in the middle, but once we switch to a convertible car seat, we’ll likely pick a side.
I also love the women’s murder club series. Anxiously awaiting for the next release in March!
Today I’m loving the cooler fall weather here in Canada! This summer was a hot one!
Car seat question: now that my almost one year old is in a convertable car seat I’m wondering if there are tips on how to bundle them up in cold weather. Apparently they aren’t supposed to wear anything plush so snow suits are out. Fleece is recommended but I’m scared that won’t be warm enough in our sometimes -40 degree celcius winters.
Great video!
Emilie
Oh man, I picked up #13 in that book series at a hostel when I was on vacation in Nicaragua, and I kid you not, I finished it in less than 24 hours! So trashy but so addictive! And love that instagram – now following, thanks! Have a great weekend.
I’ve been wondering what age/weight/height is safe to switch your babe to a forward facing car seat position. Excited to see more tips on car seat safety!
1. I often go to sleep and/or wake up with baby songs stuck in my head. Annoying, but sweet.
2. Gel pens?! Have you written with them on black paper yet because if so, that’s awesome and I kind of want to go get some so I can do the same.
3. I feel like making a recipe video is a big step so congratulations! What is it about the videos that make a recipe seem so much more do-able? I bought cottage cheese wishfully thinking I would suddenly like it but, nope, I still don’t. But the pancakes sound like the perfect way to use it so thanks for the idea!
Happy Friday! 🙂
Aw I love recipe videos! Yay for starting your own! And omg that waffle, egg combo sounds delicious. I need to try it ASAP. Have a wonderful weekend!
love the happsters instagram account!! want to print out all the quotes and post all over!!!
I’ve just pinned your post on Little Indulgences. I’m not one to treat myself with big indulgences, but I buy things like nice teabags, candles, a cup of coffee, and they bring me so much joy! Also, runny eggs are my absolute soul food- I have them pretty much every day for dinner…mainly because I’m lazy.
I made your pancakes this morning and they went down a treat! My three kids LOVED them, and they were so easy, perfect for a busy Mum. I’m always looking for non-meat ideas to get more protein into my kids, thank you.
I’m currently reading 15th Affair (the 15th novel in the Women’s Murder Club series), I’ve read them all and they’re fabulous fun!