We are especially looking forward to the next few days because Ryan is back! He was traveling for work most of this week and didn’t arrive home until yesterday evening so we’re excited to have him home again. Bring on the family time! Also on our agenda for this weekend is a birthday party for one of Chase’s friends and family pictures! It should be a good one.
And now before it’s time to sign off and let the weekend fun take over, let’s dive into your usual Things I’m Loving Friday post where we chat about what we’re loving most every week, shall we?
Things I’m Loving Friday
I saw this tinted lip color pop up on a bunch of different fashion and beauty Instagrammer’s feeds (is Instagrammer a word?) and eventually bit the bullet and ordered it for myself with hopes that it would be as moisturizing as they all claimed and also add a hint of color to my flesh-colored lips. After one simple swipe of the Rose color lip balm, I was sold. (I’m wearing the lip balm in the above picture with Chase in case you’d like an example of how it looks applied. They have a ton of beautiful colors available!) It absolutely lives up to the hype (500+ positive reviews!) and I can already assure you this will be making at least one of my holiday gift guides this year. It gives my lips the perfect punch of natural-looking pink while making them feel moisturized in a way that seems to really last without that waxy feel!
Several years ago, I bought a handheld milk frother off Amazon and I’m honestly shocked it lasted as long as it did. It worked well for years but a month or so ago it finally conked out and found its way into the garbage. Womp, womp. Well, I immediately began researching a new frother and I wanted one that could froth coconut milk and almond milk (no easy feat, apparently) and simultaneously heat the milk as it frothed. Let me introduce you to my latest obsession: The Mixpresso Electric Milk Frother.
I ordered the electric frother a little more than a week ago and I’ve been making lattes that feel coffee shop worthy almost every day since when I’m not in the mood for one of my blender coffee creations. It creates the best frothy foam (I’ve primarily been using coconut milk in it) and I love that it’s incredibly quiet (great when Ryder is napping nearby) and warms my milk up in no time at all. Plus, it was only $34 which is a lot cheaper than others I found. LOVE this thing!
You know you’re a mom when you’re slathering the same stuff you rub all over your baby’s butt all over your hands. I fell in love with this stuff back when it was dubbed The Honest Company’s Healing Balm but my love for it skyrocketed after we had kids because I use this stuff on everything from dry baby skin and baby bottoms to prevent diaper rash (if a diaper rash occurs, I switch to more powerful stuff) as well as fluffy hair to help with frizziness and my own dry skin spots (hands, elbows, knees). It’s moisturizing and made with gentle organic ingredients I trust around my family.
Thrive Market is beginning to know me a little too well because every time I’ve been placing an order lately, I cannot help but add one of their “recommended for you” items to my cart before checking out. My latest discovery came in the form of Foodstirs organic baking mixes.
Baking is one of my all-time favorite things to do and while I’d love to make everything from scratch all the time, I’m not beyond using box mixes for sweet treats either. I almost always have a couple of box mixes in our pantry for cakes, cookies or brownies and when Chase asked me if we could make something together this week (pull right at my heartstrings, why don’t you?), I figured we could try out the chocolate chip Foodstirs mix I impulsively included in my recent Thrive Market order. The mix totally exceeded my expectations and the cookies turned out buttery, slightly chewy and perfectly sweet. Foodstirs, you have a new fan! I’m comin’ for your gingerbread cookie and snickerdoodle blondie mixes next!
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Friday Flashbacks
Apple Pie Spice Chex Mix (It’s that time of year when party mixes pop up all the time whether you’re serving them during a holiday celebration, Sunday afternoon football game or a girls’ night. This one is a sweet and salty treat packed with traditional apple pie spices, pecans and crumbly oatmeal cookie pieces that will quickly become an autumn snacktime favorite!)
No Gym Workout (A great bodyweight workout to keep on hand when you can’t make it out of the house or want to work up a sweat when you’re traveling this holiday season.)
Question of the Day
What is one thing that is making you smile this week?
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That apple spice chex mix looks so good! I am feeling the need to get in the kitchen this weekend. Maybe that and cookies will happen! Have a great weekend, Julie.
I’m so obsessed with my milk frothier, I didn’t know you needed specific ones for coconut or almond milk!
I’m not sure you do but so many of the reviews I read complained about many frothers not working with milks other than traditional dairy milk so I searched hard for one that seemed to work with all kinds of milk! Love this thing!!
The frother looks like a game changer! Do you add anything special to your latte recipe to flavor it?
I’ve been using coconut milk and pumpkin spice (just the spice) or a combination of coconut milk and Nutpods pumpkin spice creamer and it’s so delish!!!
Do you know where that Joy mug is from? My daughters name is Joy and I’d love to buy it!
Yes! Bed Bath & Beyond or I just saw it on Amazon, too!
Oh and the brand is ED by Ellen Degeneres 🙂
Foodstir mixes are fantastic! The sea salt brownie, mmmm!! I like to pick them up when they are on sale for those nights you just want a lil’ something sweet but are too lazy to do everything yourself 🙂 I’m putting that frother on my list, I think I just might have to get it for my sister for Christmas!
Hi Julie! That frother looks great. What espresso machine do you have to make the lattes? Thanks.
Could you share your latte recipe? This looks like a great Christmas gift for my husband 🙂
Love your Friday posts! I saw Ryder wearing a bandana bib somewhere that is adorable! Do you know where it’s from?
Yes! Love that balm from Honest! I’ve found myself slathering my hands with B’s lotion at night after bath time too – baby lotions just smell so good and work so well! I’ve been loving the cooler weather, and easing into the Christmas season!
I need to invest in one of those frothers…I especially love that you said it’s quiet. My daughter wakes up so easily and is terrified of anything loud right now! Lately I’ve been obsessed with the pumpkin muffin/bread mix from Simply Mills….so good!
I recently became a mom of two ( I have a 3 year old and 3 week old) and I have to say, I don’t know how you do it with Ryan away! And also how you seem so put together! I can barely get dressed in the morning let alone out of the house with my rambunctious two year old. My husband was away for ONE day this week and I thought I would kick the bucket while he was gone. Seriously though, if you have any tips dealing with two and keeping it together, Im all ears! Also, your family is BEAUtiful and I love your blog ( duh). I don’t comment often but I think I’ve been following since your wedding! Crazy how time flies. Hugs from New Zealand. Xx
Ahhh where are your leopard mules from in the pic with Chase? I’m in love!
PS thank you so much for the frother rec – we are on the hunt for a new one!
Thank you! They’re from Banana Republic Factory! Just went to grab a link & saw they’re 50% off! http://bit.ly/2Pmb5hj Also, they fit true to size 🙂
Totally buying this frother as a little holiday gift for myself! Could you do an insta story on how you make your espresso drinks (what kind of coffee, espresso machine, etc) used?
I have a very similar milk frother which I purchased from Aldi for $29 a few years ago. It is awesome and froths up almond milk with no problem. It’s the Aldi brand one. Love it, love Aldi!