The holiday season is definitely the thing I’m loving most this week. From festive cookie exchanges to beautiful decorations and twinkling lights, it really does feel like such a magical time of year. I can’t wait to hop in the car next weekend and head to my parents’ place in Jacksonville for the week!
But I’m getting a little ahead of myself… Let’s jump into our usual Friday fun and chat about what we’re loving this week. As always, feel free to share something that is making you smile in the comments section of this post… It just might count as an entry into today’s Happy Holidays Giveaway Week giveaway!
Things I’m Loving Friday
- A New Gym Job (…but I’m still keeping my other gym job, too!)
About a week ago, one of my favorite Pure Barre teachers passed my name along to the manager of a small corporate gym at a local business park. Then, earlier this week, I went in for an interview and am happy to report I’ll be picking up some more classes and working a few days a week at another small local gym! Both gyms where I’ll be working (the one I’ve been working at since November 1 and this new one) are very small and quite different from what I was used to when I taught at the YMCA in Ocala. I am enjoying the change and really like the intimate atmosphere!
These cookies are just the best. I made them for my cookie exchange party earlier this week and baked another batch yesterday before our last Girls On The Run practice of the season. The girls absolutely gobbled them up and raved about them which naturally made my heart happy. My grandma’s oversized, fluffy sugar cookies were my all-time favorite when I was a little girl and I always knew I could expect to see her big glass cookie jar overflowing with them whenever we’d go to Gettysburg to visit. (And yes, that’s Mimi’s handwriting on the recipe card above. Love!)
- Pandora Rockin’ Holidays Station
If you’re looking for an upbeat holiday Pandora station, check out the Rockin’ Holidays station! It’s full of energizing Christmas songs and I’ve been playing it non-stop since the day after Thanksgiving!
- Beautycounter Glow Sugar Scrub
Ryan and I had such a nice time with our friends Amii and Walt over dinner last weekend. As we ate Amii’s amazing baked ziti and sipped on fabulous wine, Amii told me a little bit about some of the beauty and skincare products she’s been loving lately since she’s heard me complain about my skin a time or two. She let me take home a few of her favorite samples to try from Beautycounter (she’s a consultant – and not pushy at all), and I quickly fell in love with the Glow Sugar Scrub and Peppermint Lip Conditioner. The sugar scrub is unreal (it smells like refreshing lemongrass) and only uses real sugar and pure essential oils to exfoliate skin for a healthy glow. The mineral-rich evening primrose, sweet almond, apricot kernel, and sunflower oils leaves my skin feeling soft and so, so hydrated which is much-needed since my skin cannot soak up enough moisturizer in the colder months. I’ve been using it when I shave in the shower and adore it!!
Our realtor is absolutely the best! Earlier this week, I arrived home to find the sweetest package of holiday chocolates sitting on our doorstep from Diane which made me smile. She’s so incredibly thoughtful and clearly has the best taste in chocolate because every single piece of Davidson Chocolate included in the giant solid-chocolate star box I’ve tried so far has been fabulous!
- Happy Holidays Giveaway Week Winners
Congratulations to Bre (grand prize) and Molly and Arianne (runner up), the winners of the Lorna Jane giveaway! And congratulations to Karen G. ($250 gift card) and Rachel W. (Skyscapes), the winners of the Reebok giveaway! All winners were emailed first thing this morning.
- Birchbox Giveaway
I first started subscribing to Birchbox, a monthly subscription beauty box, last year. Each box includes five beauty samples from high-end brands and my ongoing subscription has led to some of my all-time favorite beauty product discoveries, including theBalm Stainiac lip stain, Klorane dry shampoo, Dr. Brandt skincare and more.
It’s so much fun to receive a pretty little box filled with fun beauty samples each month and I think it would make a great gift for the beauty-lover in your life! Thankfully, Birchbox was kind enough to agree to host an awesome giveaway on the blog today in honor of Happy Holidays Giveaway Week!
One grand prize winner will receive a 6-month Birchbox subscription and a Cynthia Rowley Beauty Palette! And a runner-up winner will receive a 3-month Birchbox subscription!
To enter this giveaway, please answer one (or both!) of the following questions:
- What is one beauty product you’d love to see in your first Birchbox? Maybe you’re dying to try a new kind of eyeliner. Or perhaps you could use a better cleanser or lip gloss? Let me know!
- What is one thing you’re loving this week?
I will randomly select a winner next Friday. Good luck!!
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Anastasia eyebrow pencil! It’s something I’m loving today but I’m almost out and it’s pricey!
A face wash. I feel like I need to upgrade from drugstore brands.
I am so addicted to new and different make up! I am a sucker for eye shadows, but could really use a new good moisturizer.
One thing I am loving this week is the Nathan Waterbottle http://www.nathansports.com/hydration/bottles-flasks/flip-straw-frosted-tritan. I bought one to keep at my office and one for home/workouts!
I’d love to try some new eye shadows or texturizing hair powder to create extra volume! I’m loving Christmas parties that give me ANOTHER reason to wear my ugly Christmas sweater 🙂
i would love to try an awesome new eye shadow or a good treatment for my face!
something im loving this week is Christmas decorations~! 🙂
I would love a new dark nail polish for winter!
One thing I’m loving this week is… Christmas Cards! I love it when I get cards from family & friends in the mail since I live out of state. It makes me feel LOVED!
I would love to try a dry shampoo that actually works for once! I hate spending money on full size bottles just to be disappointed.
I need to update my eye shadow for sure!! And this week I am loving seeing my daughter walk for th first time!! Yay!!!
I would love if the box had a new quad eye shadow!!!
Really loving all the holiday spirit this week! 🙂
I’d love to try out a good peachy shade of blush – its always so hard for me to find a good winter color blush that just gives me enough color without being over the top.
I would love to find a mud face mask in my first months birchbox. 🙂 I love the feeling of such a smooth and clean face after you wash it off. I am loving primal Pitt paste deoderant, it is all natural and works great. They have one for sensitive skin but also have lemonade and orange creamsicle. ( smells great) 🙂 thanks for such a great week of a chance to win giveaways. 🙂 you have great taste and I have used your suggestions for presents. Thank you
I would love to see some new bronzers!
I’m loving all of the holiday parties and fun activities! And I could use a festive new red lip color.
I always love trying mascara and lip stuff! Things I’m loving Friday: all things cozy! Have a good weekend!
I love trying any new beauty products but right now I could really use a great mascara!
I would love a holiday or winter colored lip gloss! And I’m loving Podcasts this week, especially Serial!
Lipstick. I just can’t find the right color now that my summer glow is gone. Any lip suggestions for a pasty ghost?
I am loving that I AM DONE WITH THIS SEMESTER OF LAW SCHOOL!!!!!!!!
i would love to try a new moisturizer!
I’d love a new anti-aging moisturizer!
I’m loving my sweet little boy this week (& always!!) who turned 3 on Monday <3
I could really use a high-quality cleanser. I bop around between drugstore brands & none of them really agree with my skin.
I’m loving that I just became an aunt!
I would love some sort of cleanser
I would love a toner or something to help my recent acne. I’m turning 30 in March..what the heck!?!
I got hired as a personal trainer so I’m loving that! I have to do an internship first, but I think that might actually be best haha. I think I’d love to see anything… my makeup has gotten so routine and boring!
I would love to have the Stainiac lip stain. I am loving Hallmark Christmas movies!!!!
I’d love to see some waterproof eyeliner!
I’m loving that exams are over! Finished today! YAY! And I’m loving that my sister is giving birth next week and I will be driving to Charlotte to see my niece for the first time!
I would love a pink lipgloss, something fun and different. I’m really loving upbeat Christmas music sneaking into the playlists at workout class!
I would love to try some new mascara!
A new face scrub would be Great!!!
A neutral pink lipstick!
I would love any perfume sample! I love trying new scents. And I’m LOVING that its Friday!
A new effective under eye concealer. I’ve been wanting to try YSL touché éclat. I’m loving that finals are almost over and my former classmates from Boston are here!
I got hired to teach full time in Australia. I am pretty happy about that. http://www.eatallovertheworld.weebly.com
I would love some new eye shadow! I am never brave enough to try new colors.
I’ve been wanting to try Birchbox, heard great things! I’d love a bold lipstick. I never wear lipstick because I’m too afraid I’ll look like a clown, but I’m thinking I should try lol
I’m loving that it’s almost solstice and the days will soon be getting longer!
I would love to find makeup that I can actually wear! I somehow became allergic to eye makeup (which is all I ever wore) a few years ago and haven’t been able to wear any makeup at all. It would be nice to be able to wear some if I wanted to!
I’m always looking for a deep moisturizer that my skin will tolerate (i.e. not cause breakouts!). The small samples in Birchbox would be perfect to sample and determine what my skin likes!
I would love a good lip color!
I always enjoy trying out new lipsticks, especially in fun red colors.
i’d love a new foundation and moisturizer that works better for my dry winter skin!
I was about to say the cookies look super good but the chocolates steal the show!!! Well done on the job!
We’re having some friends over for a party tomorrow night and I’m looking forward to catching up with everyone!
I would love to find s new dry shampoo so I woul have to wash my hair every day
I’ve never tried dry shampoo but I’m super curious! I would love to try some if I were lucky enough to win a birchbox subscription.
Congrats on the new job! And those cookies look aaaaamazing. I love your Mimi’s handwriting, too!
Here are some things I’m loving right now: http://daybydaymasterpiece.com/2014/12/12/fabulous-friday-42/
I would love new lip sticks and eye creams to try out. I loving the smell of the christmas tree when I come home from work and the lights inside and out. Beautiful. Also loving seeing the neighbors houses all lit up !!
I can’t find and need a great hand lotion and I’m loving my husband because he made Buffalo Chicken Wing Dip for my office Christmas party tonight
I have been wanting to try Birch box for so long! Id love a new foundation.