Happy, happy Friday! I hope you are stopping by the blog today with a little extra pep in your step heading into the weekend. We have a Christmas cookie swap party on our agenda for Saturday and hope to make the most of a relaxing weekend at home.
I’m really looking forward to a couple of low key days ahead with my two favorite boys and furry BFF! (Well, as low key as possible with Tinytron in the mix.)
In keeping with Friday tradition around here, it’s time for your weekly Things I’m Loving Friday post featuring a short roundup of some of the things that are making me smile right now. As always, I’d love for you to join in on the fun and share a little bit about something you are loving in the comments section of this post.
There is also an awesome giveaway from Minted at the bottom of this post, so definitely check it out, especially if you’re in the market for holiday cards or beautiful prints this holiday season.
Have a great weekend, my friends!
Things I’m Loving Friday
- R.W. Knudsen Cider & Spice Apple Cider
You guys know by now that I have a serious obsession with Ina Garten’s mulled wine recipe. I’ve made it no less than four times since October and tweak it a tiny bit each time. For Wednesday night’s White Elephant gift exchange, I made it again and am convinced one key component to the mulled wine is selecting a wonderful apple cider to combine with your favorite red wine.
This R.W. Knudsen Cider & Spice apple cider caught my eye at Whole Foods before Friendsgiving and I’ve bought it for every batch of mulled wine since because it’s so fabulous. It seems more spiced and flavorful than other ciders and I love that the ingredient list is nice and simple. It’s also wonderful on it own and since we usually have a little leftover, I love heating up a mug of the cider as an afternoon pick-me-up on chilly days as well.
One of my girlfriends recently gave birth to a beautiful baby girl and everyone in my small group wanted to bring home cooked meals to Anna and her family to make the first few weeks a little easier. My friend Danielle coordinated meal deliveries for Anna using the website Meal Train and it made everything SO easy! We were all able to select a day and the Meal Train site said what time Anna prefers to receive meal deliveries, her dietary preferences, address, etc. We were also able to share what meal we were planning to make for Anna’s family to help avoid any repeats or similar meals back-to-back. I highly recommend this handy little site for anyone trying to coordinate meal deliveries for someone!
I was just talking about this cleanser with my girlfriends last weekend when my friend Leah said she is struggling to find a cream cleanser that doesn’t leave a film on her face. I was exactly the same way (don’t even get me started on my hatred for Cetaphil) until I discovered Beautycounter Nourishing Cream Cleanser. I bought it a while back after I downloaded an app on my phone that gave my previous cleanser horrific ratings for its ingredient list. I’ve been more cognizant of the beauty products I use thanks to pregnancy and nursing and have tried to keep up with buying safer products as my older products run out. This cream cleanser was a hit from the beginning and after cycling through a myriad of more natural face cleansers, it is the one I feel does the best job at keeping my skin clear while also moisturizing my face and giving it a clean feel after every wash. A small amount goes a long way and I love the way the coconut oil and aloe help hydrate my dry winter skin.
- Rockin’ Holidays Pandora Station
I think I mention this Pandora station around the holidays every year, but it deserves another shout out just in case you’re on the lookout for an upbeat holiday music station to help you get in the holiday spirit!
I’ve been on such a peppermint kick this week. Every day I’ve had either peppermint coffee, peppermint tea or peppermint hot cocoa. I don’t see this trend ending before Christmas and I’m definitely embracing the festive flavor! An afternoon mug of peppermint tea makes cranking out a couple of hours of work during Chase’s naptime feel a little more cozy and fun, especially when I light a balsam candle on my desk, too. I can’t resist all the Christmasy things!
- Minted Holiday Cards + Giveaway (THREE Winners!)
Is it just me or do you guys really look forward to checking the mail this time of year? I looove receiving holiday cards from friends and family and sent our holiday cards out earlier this week!
Like the past few years, we ordered our holiday cards from Minted who offered to collaborate with me this year and extend an awesome giveaway to you guys, too! If you haven’t ordered holiday cards yet, you have to check out Minted! Their designs are stunning and they have everything from thick letterpress cards to foil-pressed cards and more. The holiday card designs are created by independent artists and I had the hardest time choosing a favorite from so many gorgeous designs!
If holiday cards aren’t on your radar, Minted also has awesome holiday gifts including beautiful photo gifts like this foil collage I made of photos of Chase for Ryan for Christmas last year! And I actually ordered a couple of holiday prints from Minted (this one in green and this one) to hang in our bathroom as well this year and love them!
Now here’s the good news!!!
Three PBF readers will win a $100 credit to Minted to use toward anything on the site!
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. The giveaway will end at midnight on Sunday and we will contact the winners on Monday so you can order your cards and gifts ASAP!
Good luck!!
Note: Due to promotional laws, this giveaway is only open to U.S. residents.
- Friday Flashbacks
Gluten-Free Double Chocolate No Bake Icebox Cake (Change this one up and add crushed candy canes for a festive holiday dessert!)
20 Minute Total Body Workout (A total body workout that you can do in only 20 minutes! Add another round for a 30-minute sweat fest.)
Question of the Day
- What is one thing that is making you smile today?
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Disclaimer: Though I was provided holiday cards from Minted this year, this post and corresponding giveaway are not sponsored. Affiliate links are included in this post and do not affect purchase price. Thank you so much for your support!
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Christmas time is always one of my favorite times of the year – but this year it will be extra special as I get to experience it through the eyes of my 5 month old daughter. She is too young to understand a lot of it, but right now she’s in love with staring at the lights on our Christmas tree, and it’s amazing to watch her stare, smile and coo in delight! Celebrating her first Christmas surrounded by family and friends will be extremely special for us. Feeling extremely luck and blessed!
I’m excited for time with family and friends!
Every year we see The Christmas Carol with my husband’s family. It’s fun to get all dressed up and do something together as a family!
I’m looking forward to a break from work and time with my family! I love this season!
I am looking forward to spending time with the family playing games, watching movies and hopefully eating some yummy holiday food. Thank you for the giveaway!
I’m most looking forward to the huge (multi-course) Christmas Eve dinner with my boyfriend and his whole extended family, and then taking off on the 26th to meet my family in San Juan for a 6-day Caribbean cruise – a family tradition!
Seeing family!
I’m super excited to start a couple of my own traditions this year with my fiancé. We’ve decided to do a PJ and ornament swap on Christmas Eve and I cannot wait! I think it will be so much fun!
If you can manage to have those decorations up without Chase pulling them down, I refuse to believe you have such an “active” baby. My DD walked at 8.5 months, and climbed everything, ran everywhere, and was into everything. From what you’ve said about Chase, he sounds like a normal-to-laid-back baby, and it grates on my nerves every time you endlessly complain about him and how “active” he is. He is a normal baby! You have no idea what a truly active baby is like! Please stop complaining about him so much!
I’M MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO FAMILY TIME WELL SPENT! NOTHING LIKE THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS!!!! (ANNNND, I HAVEN’T DONE MY CHRISTMAS CARDS YET :0 )
Looking forward to spending time with family since I live 1500 miles away from them! Also, looking forward to cooler Northeastern temperatures (I live in New Orleans but am going home to CT), because a cold Christmas is the only kind of Christmas I can do! Love me some snow 🙂
I’m looking forward to early holiday celebrations with family beginning this Saturday.
I’m looking forward to celebrating Christmas Eve with my family and then, escaping the snow to sunny Florida Christmas day 🙂
I love all the holiday food and cheer people have!
Looking forward to watching my toddler open a few gifts this year! Last year she was too young to participate, but this year she’ll get it!
I’m looking forward to watching Christmas movies with my family!
Since I graduated this past May, I’m looking forward to not having to study for finals during my Christmas break! So looking forward to a less srressful holiday time with family and friends!
looking forward to seeing my nephew who i haven’t seen since july!
I’m looking forward to relaxing with family!
I’m looking forward to spending time with friends and family and prepping for our 1st baby to arrive!
I am looking forward to seeing my niece and nephew celebrate Christmas through toddler eyes. 🙂
I can’t wait to see family and celebrate my sister who is newly pregnant!
The spirit of Christmas with a one year old. So excited to share my love of the holiday season with our new little one!
Looking forward to being with my whole family for 2 days of celebrating!
Looking forward to hosting our first Christmas in our first home!
I’m excited for my growing bump! We can’t wait to send out our holiday card with our bump announcement!
Spending time with family!!
Family time and Christmas cookies!
I’m looking forward to spending Christmas morning with my husband and 16 month old and 5 year old boys. Having kids to spend Christmas with makes the holiday so much more special and fun!
I am looking forward to having some time off to relax, write christmas cardss, make christmas cookies and sleep in!
I’m looking forward to baking this holiday season!
Now I’m craving Apple Cider! I’m looking forward to celebrating my sons first Christmas!
I am most looking forward to spending time with friends & family around the holidays. I would love to try Minted!
I’m looking forward to celebrating our first Christmas as husband and wife! And spending time with family and friends.
We’re considering ordering our wedding invites from Minted! This year I’m looking forward to going home to visit family and reminiscing about last Christmas time when we got engaged!
I am looking forward to seeing my 10-month old son’s reaction to his first Christmas! Guessing the wrapping paper will be the biggest hit 🙂
I am looking forward to having all of my family home and watching Christmas movies! 🙂
Looking forward to sending out holiday cards this season and it would be AWESOME to win this giveaway!! Thanks for sharing!
I am looking forward to celebrating my daughter’s first Christmas!
I am looking forward to all the magic of this season with a 4 & 6 year old! It is amazing watching them appreciate everything.
Looking forward to a ‘just us’ Christmas as a family of 4!
I heart minted!! I actually ordered birth announcements/Christmas cards from them!! The thing I’m looking forward to most this holiday season is celebrating it with our new son! He just turned 2 months old! ❤️
I’m looking forward to spending time with family and getting to meet our very first baby boy!! ??????
I’m looking forward to the lights, food and celebrating with family and friends. Merry Christmas!
Our first Christmas as a family of three!
I’m looking forward to celebrating my first married Christmas with my husband 🙂 and making him watch a bunch of Christmas movies with me. And the cold weather! Hopefully Dallas will get some snow this year.
Can’t wait to hand out my presents
Looking forward to spending time with my family. It’s also my last year as a “single lady”, so I’m looking forward to sharing this holiday season with my fiancé. It’s extra special!
It’s my first Christmas with my boyfriend! I’m looking forward to visiting each other’s families.