This week was a little odd since Chase randomly had off from school on Tuesday for a teacher work day so Wednesday ended up feeling like Monday 2.0 and Friday came out of nowhere. I’m rolling with it though because anytime the weekend sneaks up on me, I consider it a good thing! After two back-to-back weekends away, we’re spending this weekend close to home. Our tentative plans include attending a local festival and spending time outside since the forecast is calling for lots of (chilly!) sunshine.
And now it’s time to dive right into my 300th Things I’m Loving Friday post. As always, I’d love for you to share a little bit about something you’re loving this week in the comments sections. I hope you all have a great weekend!
Things I’m Loving Friday
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Tea Lattes + Tazo Organic Baked Cinnamon Apple Tea
My love for a hot beverage in the afternoon continues! I have a feeling sipping on something warm and comforting is going to be a staple for me around 3 p.m. this fall and winter. Though I’m still loving my Four Sigmatic hot cacao and chai latte mixes, I sprinkled some of my own tea latte creations into the mix this week and was loving every sip. Though I have a big sweet tooth, I do not like my tea sweet (southern blasphemy, I know, but I was raised in the midwest), however, I do like it when my tea lattes have little hints of natural fruity sweetness. I discovered Tazo’s organic baked cinnamon apple tea last year and it’s been a favorite ever since. I love mixing it with frothy whole milk or coconut milk. The way I make my tea lattes is incredibly simple, but if you’d like a short run-down of the process, let me know and I’ll be sure to share more.
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Holiday Bedding for Kids
Growing up, my mom stored Christmas pillowcases away for me and my sister to use every holiday season. It was such a simple thing but I remember loving crawling into my “Christmasy bed” all December long. I’m not sure why I’ve never thought to look into holiday bedding for the boys until this year but once I got the idea, I couldn’t get it out of my head! As it turns out, there are tons of options out there but I loved this reindeer flannel crib sheet I found on Amazon and this Santa’s sleigh bedding from Pottery Barn Kids the most. Both are on their way to our house and should be arriving next week. Oh and if you happen to have a teeny baby in your family this holiday season, you must check out the My First Christmas trio of swaddle blankets from Pottery Barn Kids. The Fa-La-La one is way too adorable!
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After I Do by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Okay, okay I promise this is the last Taylor Jenkins Reid book I’ll be mentioning on the blog for a while. At least I think so. I’m feeling ready for a break from her work (and craving something non-fiction) but that’s not to say that the latest book I read from this talented author wasn’t another winner. It absolutely was and I’d add it to you’re reading list if you’re a fan of her other work.
The premise of After I Do seemed a little Sex and the City-ish but ended up having a lot more depth to it, which, having read other work by the author, I’ve come to expect. Lauren and Ryan find themselves in an unhappy marriage. They’re both miserable and are doubting whether or not they even love each other anymore. Neither Lauren nor Ryan are completely ready to call it quits and agree to take an entire year off from their marriage with the hope that they will miss each other and realize that their relationship is worth saving and fighting for once the year is up. As their year apart unfolds, Lauren finds herself missing Ryan, not missing Ryan, learning more about what makes her happy, what she values in a partner and what she wants after marriage. The question is, after a year is up, will Lauren and Ryan want to make it work? Is their marriage worth saving or is heartbreak inevitable?
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Midweek Birthday Party
On Wednesday evening, we headed off to my friend Laura’s house to celebrate her son’s first birthday! She planned an adorable dinnertime pizza party for Eli’s special day and the boys had a great time running around with their buddies. I also love the fact that the birthday party took place in the early evening on a weekday. While we love celebrating our children’s friends’ birthdays, sometimes so many weekend birthday parties can get a little overwhelming so having a midweek birthday party that felt like a fun early-evening activity for everyone was such a nice change of pace. We actually did something similar for Chase’s third birthday party and it’s something I want to keep in mind for the future, especially since Chase and Ryder have summer birthdays and so often families travel on the weekends. I figured this was worth highlighting here as well just in case you and your crew seem to be running from birthday party to birthday party these days!
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Around the Web
Food: Best Pumpkin Bread Recipe / 25+ Gluten-Free Thanksgiving Recipes / Spinach Artichoke Stuffed Mushrooms
Fitness: Core Pyramid Workout / One Song Workout: Legs and Cardio
Weekend Sales: 50% off + Extra 15% off with code BUNDLEUP at Banana Republic Factory / 50% off + Extra 20% off with code GFTWENTY at GAP Factory (My orders: These cozy plaid footie pajamas for the boys because Chase has been begging for footie pajamas ever since he outgrew his last winter + this sherpa-lined trapper hat and mittens for Ryder + these reindeer socks for stocking stuffers for the boys + this sherpa pullover for me because it looks ridiculously comfy)
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Friday Flashbacks
Hearty Vegetable Bolognese (I made this one again this week and was reminded, yet again, why this vegetarian recipe is one of my all-time favorites!)
Pumpkin Icebox Cake (Homemade cinnamon whipped cream, Biscoff cookies… How could you go wrong?)
Question of the Day
What is one thing making you smile this week?
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Where in the midwest did you grow up? And yes please on the details of your latte making! I use an electric milk frother. It is good but I cannot get it as great as the local coffee shops. 🙂
Stay tuned!! And I grew up in Palatine, Illinois! Lived there from first grade through high school!
Julie, we are originally from Palos Park, IL, live in SC and will be moving to Charlotte next year! I’m a coffee person but you might change my mind with your tea picture! Yes a tutorial please! ?
Hi Julie: Congratulations on post 300! One thing that makes me smile is when I have a cup of Dandy blend and I use my frother with almond milk creamer then sprinkle cinnamon on top. Pick up limes just posted some warm drinks. How does peanut butter caramel latte sound? Have a great weekend!
Please do give details on the tea lattes!! And congrats on your 300th Things I’m Loving Friday post! They’re my second-favorite posts you do (day in the life and weekend recaps will always be tied for first in my book!), and I frequently find myself trying recipes/ideas you recommend. Thank you!! Have a wonderful weekend!
Thanks so much!! I’m so glad you enjoy them!!
Did I miss Chase moving into a big boy bed?! Or is he still in his crib? Just curious our sons seem to hit their milestones at similar times?
Oh no he’s still in the crib! Crib life foreverrrr! ? he got the Santa’s sleigh crib sheet from that bedding from PBK!
Yes, please share tea latte details! I’ve been trying to become a tea drinker for years with zero luck, but what you shared today sounds delicious!
I LOVE Christmas sheets. We have ones for our own bed, as well as our guest bed (even if we don’t have anyone stay with us, I just like knowing the sheets on that bed are Christmas-y). Ordering the crib sheet for my 6-month-old immediately!
The thing making me smile this week? We had the carpeting in the upstairs of our house yesterday and it feels like a brand new house as we’re moving everything back into the rooms and “unpacking” – so fun!
I just started drinking tea again and would love a “how to” on the tea latte!
I love sharing my own “Friday Favorites” on my blog, and I always love reading yours! I see that you already have it in the works to share your tea latte recipe, so I’m excited for that! Thank you for the GF Thanksgiving recipes. My husband has Celiac, so those will be very helpful! Have a great weekend.
I love that you share sales that are going on-thank you! Also I’m waiting on Daisy Jones and the Six from the library based off your recommendation. Can’t wait to read it!
Another vote on how to make the tea lattes – I have one of those electric milk frother wands but what do you use to heat the milk? I also love a warm bev in the afternoon but can’t drink caffeine after 12pm so this sounds perfect.
Love the Christmas sheet idea! Might have to order for my 1 year old.
Tea latte tutorial! Yes, please;)
I had my daughter’s 3rd birthday Wednesday October 30th in the evening and 22 families showed up. Weekdays are the way to go. Her actual birthday is today.
Hot beverages this time of year in the afternoon is the best! For me, there is nothing better than a warm mug of coffee sweetened with my favorite flavored syrup to provide the ideal pick me up!
Congrats on the 300th but damn he’s 4 1/2 and in a crib!!! That ridiculous!
If it’s working for our family and not hurting him, I don’t see the problem or the reason for judgment. I was actually going to transfer Chase to a big bed before Ryder was born and had numerous blog readers chime in and dissuade me from doing so since, as they put it, sleeping in a bed is “not a milestone.” He sleeps great in his crib (and perfectly fine in a big bed when we travel) so I see no problem letting it ride!
Weekday birthday party? That’s actually quite rude for families where both spouses work. I’d be really taken aback if I was invited to one…
There were actually a number of families with two working spouses who attended, as the party took place in the evening. Just like with every party, if timing doesn’t work well, it’s more than okay to RSVP “no.”
I love most of Taylor Jenkins Reid books but I haven’t read this one. I’ll have to put it on my list. Can’t wait to see what non-fiction you pick. My favorties nonfiction I’ve read in the last couple months have been the Shipwreck Hunter by David Mearns and The Moment of Lift by Melinda Gates.