Friday is here! Woohoo! This past week was such a weird one… Wednesday felt like Monday and now Friday feels like Wednesday but I’m not complaining one bit because the weekend is upon us!
Ryan and I are looking forward to this weekend because our friends Dru and Carrie and their three boys will be arriving on Saturday and staying with us! We chatted last night and I’m pretty sure the last time we saw them I was pregnant with Chase and Carrie was pregnant with her son Eli and now they’re both almost two. Clearly we need to catch up like crazy!
I’ll be sure to recap all of the weekend fun on the blog next week but until then, here’s your weekly Things I’m Loving Friday blog post! As always, please feel free to join in the fun and tell me about one thing that is making you smile in the comments section. I always love hearing about the things that are making you guys happy! Instant mood booster!
Have a fantastic weekend!!!
Things I’m Loving Friday
- Celebrating Lily
My friend Laura (aka the ultimate hostess who always hosts the most amazingly beautiful parties) planned a birthday party play date to celebrate her daughter Lily’s second birthday yesterday afternoon and it was absolutely gorgeous! I loved the idea of a more low-key birthday celebration (a weekday play date as opposed to a big weekend shebang) and Chase had a blast running around with his toddler BFFs. Lily is so special to him and to our entire family and we had such a wonderful time celebrating her second birthday yesterday! (Side note: HOW are our babies turning TWO YEARS OLD already!?!)
- The Look of Love by Sarah Jio
You know those books that somehow feel like they take you for-ev-er to get through despite the fact that you’re actually enjoying them? That was One Lavender Ribbon for me. It was a good book and entertaining enough to finish but man I felt like I was reading it for a LONG time. (This could also be because I found it pretty darn predictable and cringed at the time spent on describing things like the way one male character looked without his shirt on.)
And then there are books that make you feel like you’ve been reading for a hot second because you’re flying through them and loving every minute. That’s Sarah Jio’s books for me! I am about halfway through The Look of Love, the very last of her novels that I had not read yet, and I don’t want to finish because I know I won’t have any of her novels left on the backburner to dive into! Love Sarah Jio so much! If you haven’t read any of her books yet, I recommend starting with The Violets of March. It’s the PERFECT summer beach read with plenty of intrigue!
- Reign
This is a show I’m almost embarrassed to admit I like but if you’re on the lookout for a mindless show that will suck you in and take you back to the kind of drama you might’ve liked in high school, Reign is a good one! I began watching it on Netflix after I read that the plotline follows the life of Mary, Queen of Scots, and I imagined it being sort of Downton Abbey-esque. Equating this show to Downton Abbey is a bit of an insult to the Dowager Countess but the best way I can think to describe it is a hybrid of Downton Abbey and Dawson’s Creek. It’s guilty pleasure TV at its best!
- Push/Pull Burn Boot Camp Workout
Yesterday morning, we went through a push/pull workout at Burn Boot Camp that absolutely flew by and kept me engaged the entire time. I never got sick of any of the exercises and it was a fun one that had everyone sweating!
We completed as many reps as possible of the first circuit in the workout for 12 minutes before moving onto the second circuit and completing as many rounds of the three exercises in the second circuit as possible. It was a great one!
Do you guys ever find yourself craving guacamole but don’t want to take the time to whip up a batch for just yourself? I know I can’t be the only one! Thank goodness for the Wildtree Guacamole Starter! I can just add a pinch or two if it to half of an avocado and have a tasty serving of guacamole (or a guacamole spread for wraps and sandwiches) for one! I LOVE having this stuff on hand for impromptu cookouts as well. Easy guacamole is always within reach!!
My friend Jess is a rep for Wildtree and I attended a party at her house to show her some support and ended up buying WAY too many spices, marinades and dressings because everything I tried was so delicious and all of the ingredients were organic and super clean. She didn’t ask me to blog about any of this, nor did she give me anything for free, but I’ve loved everything I purchased and wanted to share it here to support such a kind and thoughtful friend in case you are looking for clean spices (LOVE the taco seasoning!), oils, sauces and marinades/dressings that also taste amazing!
- Friday Flashbacks
What I Wish I Knew Before My Baby Was Born (This post was one of my all-time favorites to write a little over a year ago!)
Easy Baked Ginger Chicken (Such a simple recipe that tastes great as leftovers, too!)
Question of the Day
What is one thing you are loving this week?
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Guacamole Starter……wwhhatt? =) I need this in my life!
Have a great weekend!
I am loving that the weekend is here already! Have a great weekend!
I agree — this week has been so confusing, but I’m happy that it’s the weekend again! 🙂
I need that guacamole starter in my life! There’s never a wrong time for guac!
Agreed! It’s great! Loveeee guac!
I totally agree with this week feeling weird because July 4th was a Tuesday. Your friend Laura is slowly becoming hostess goals for me!! I hope when I get a house in a few years, I can throw get togethers like hers! (my apartment is a little too small for big parties)
https://maureengetsreal.wordpress.com/
We are all always so impressed with her skills!!
I also started a book that I can’t put down – I love that! This week I’m loving being on vacation with my extended family. Nothing like a week at the beach filled with swimming, good food and a lot of laughter!
That looks like a great workout! I am loving that it is Friday, lol. It was a surprisingly long short week, also I am just really looking forward to the weekend. Hope you have a great one!
One thing I am loving in my life is good2go protein bars and cropped workout tops! I’m obsessed with both right now. Have fun with your friends visiting! I definitely feel like time has been flying by lately….I don’t like it!
I am loving the short work week (4th of July is my favorite holiday!) I love the link back to your “What I Wish I Knew Before My Baby Was Born” post. Do you think you would ever make a blog post on how your relationship with Ryan changed once your son was born? My husband and I are nervous about considering to start a family since our marriage is of the most importance to us. If it’s not to personal, I’d like to hear how it changes (better and worse) especially since like yourself, before you had Chase, I’ve never had the ‘oh my gosh baby fever’ feeling.
Also, wanted to recommend a book I just read – Stillhouse Lake by Rachel Caine. It is a page turner! The woman finds out her husband is a serial killer when a drink driver crashes into their garage. Once she was acquitted as an accessory, she spends her life in hiding/moving every few months. But just when her life gets comfortable at Stillhouse Lake, women are found dead in the lake outside her home in the same manner her husband at murdered woman – only problem is, he’s spending life in prison. Such a great book and hope you had it to your list!!
Going to check out Sarah Jio books! Loving this weird feeling but short week!
I’ll second the weird week feeling, but like you said, I’m not not complaining about it being Friday! 🙂
Something we’ve been loving lately is homemade, cheesy popcorn! It’s super easy and dangerously addictive! It’s simply air popped popcorn + a generous drizzle of melted coconut oil + nutritional yeast + garlic powder + salt. SO GOOD.
Okay, this popcorn sounds amazing. I recently hopped aboard the nutritional yeast train and have been loving it! Definitely adding this homemade popcorn to my to-do list for the weekend!
Ooo I need some new shows, so Reign looks like a grat one! Im loving the fact that Im goinf HOME to London next week for the first time ine 2.5 years!
I just finished Morning Glory by Sarah Jio. I am hooked! I can’t wait to start another one of hers. It has been a while since I have found a book that I can’t put down and I think she does it!
I’ve heard great things about Wildtree products, but haven’t tried them for myself. Eager to see what you think of the ones you ordered. And I just finished the book The Husband’s Secret last night! I was balling my eyes out with Polly got hurt and love the ending message about how one simple decision or moment in life can have such an effect on it. Happy Weekend!
I’m always looking for new books to read, so I’m adding The Look of Love to my list.
You always have the best book recommendations, Julie!! I am going to have to read that one next, thanks so much! Your “what I wish I knew before my baby was born” post is definitely one that I found so helpful…even though I have a baby or even pregnant, but this is going to be something I read and re-read over and over again once I have a baby! I hope you guys have a wonderful weekend!! Xoxo
I have been loving cantaloupe so much lately! So refreshing. And looking forward to a 4 day long weekend trip with my little family! 🙂
Also, regarding your comment about weekday kids parties… Those of us parents that throw weekend ones have full time jobs and that is the only option. Just wanted to note that.
Truth. If any of my friends threw a weekday birthday party, the only guests would be grandparents.
I love weekend parties, too! We did a weekend party for Chase last year an will be doing that again this year as well. It was just fun to have something a little different on the agenda but weekends are absolutely fun as well. I hope my comment wasn’t taken the wrong way!!
omg i’m obsessed with Reign, too!! i got into it a few years ago and binge watched it like crazy, but i haven’t played catch up in awhile! that might be a good thing to do this weekend…haha
and i was just about to place an order on amazon for books so i think i might add your recommendations to the list! have a great weekend 🙂
Yay for friend visitors! Have so much fun with them! I actually hate it when a book takes me too long to read. And I am going back to read the things to know before becoming a mom post STAT! 🙂 Happy Friday, Julie!
I might need to check out Reign! Not sure if my husband would be into it but it’s not always about him! Haha
I loved going back to your “What I Wish I Knew Before My Baby Was Born” post! I shared it with my sister-in-law who is pregnant with her first baby 🙂 I can’t wait to be an AUNT!!
I’d be interested in this type of a post from Ryan’s perspective as well…if it’s not too personal!
I shared my favorite things this week here: http://www.hornestateofmind.com/friday-faves-3/
Check it out!
Have a great weekend!
I’m intrigued by these spices! As someone who loves guacamole but often has trouble limiting myself, that guacamole seasoning would come in handy! Some things I’m loving this week are of the unhealthy variety: TJ’s tortilla chips with a hint of lime and mint chocolate Oreo Ben & Jerry’s. Obsessed. With both. I have had great early-morning workouts this week, so… balance? 🙂
I just read your “What I wish I Knew” post and loved it. As a first-time mom to a (small) three month old boy, I can absolutely relate how you felt and what you experiences. It also gave me hope for the future, still we’re still working on sleeping for longer stretches. Thank you for re-sharing!!
I’m so glad you liked it! And congrats to you on your sweet little one. It’s so wonderful but so hard sometimes. For me, I feel like things got easier at 6 months when I finally saw some consistent napping/longer sleep. Big hugs to you!!
Happy Friday! It was definitely a strange week, but for me, it was a great one. Lots of happy times with my husband, and just good, low-key, feel good times. I hope you have a fun weekend with your house guests! I love that you always link back to stuff you’re talking about (I mean, I know this is good SEO etc., but I just plain like it, too.) So I loved seeing one of your famous wedding recaps – I really enjoyed them! I’ll bet they’re a treasure to each bride and groom, too.
Happy weekending!
Okay so I am just as embarrassed as you to admit that I watched Reign (and liked it as much as I did). My favorite thing about it is the fashion – I love how they wear medieval dresses but pair them with modern accessories!
With that said, if you enjoyed Reign and are looking for another guilty pleasure (disclaimer: it is a show about high schoolers), you MUST watch Riverdale (you can watch it on Netflix). It is a CW show based on the Archie – Betty & Veronica comics but with a murder-mystery twist! Also, it is a show developed by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa who wrote a bunch of episodes of Glee and I know you used to be a huge Gleek!). It is SO good! You definitely need to check it out!
The Reign obsession is real for my husband and me, too! We decided to start watching it on a whim and flew through all of the first seasons in a major binge watching fiasco at nights after our daughter went to bed. We ended up watching this season as it came out and I’m embarrassed to admit how upset I am that this was the last one! ?
What other authors do you love? I love Sarah Jio, so we have the same taste. 🙂
Have you read Liane Moriarty? I’ve loved most of her books as well!!
I’m loving FINALLY having a front walkway! And our kids’ joint birthday party is today (oldest turns 6 on Monday and youngest turns 4 the following Monday). Birthday season is upon us 🙂
I look forward to your FRiday favorites all week. My favorite this week is definitely anything cooked on the GRILL!!
I wish I hadn’t started Reign after seeing this post because I’ve watch four episodes this weekend! It is entertaining and addicting although definitely not on par with Downton. If you are looking for a similar show, you should try the show Poldark on PBS. It’s streaming on Amazon prime and is very good. It’s set in a totally different time but I’d say it’s as good as Downton was.
Thanks for the recommendation!!
As an avid reader, I’m a huge fan of Sarah Jio novels. I’ve read them all and I find her latest one, The Look of Love, one of the most compelling and emotive and I truly loved every word of it! If you’re a fan of her writing, then I would definitely recommend books by Taylor Jenkins Reid. She’s a wonderful author who has an incredible way of writing and I find all of her books a joy to read. Her latest one was just released and I’m actually in the midst of it right now!
Hi! I know this is ranodm but since you read so much i thought I’d ask. Do you use a book light? And if so, can you recommend one?