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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I loved discovering Miss Jessie’s Pillow Soft Curls in my Birchbox. Best. Product. Ever. For my curls!
I am in desperate need of a new facial cleanser!
Birchbox looks amazing!! A good concealer would be what I would hope to find in a Birchbox treat!
And ’cause there are so many things to love this time of year, I’m loving all the Christmas lights that I see! Totally makes my day to drive home after work and see more and more of them going up. =)
I would love to see a new toner or wrinkle cream in the box!
Oh, boy, Birchbox! I would be excited to find blush in my box. I haven’t really done much beyond a pale pink and I’ve been wanting to try some warm peachy shades.
I’ve been needing some new eyeliner for A WHILE–it’d be awesome if I got some in a Birch box!
I could definitely use some new hair care products!
I’ve wanted to try BirchBox for so long! I’m dying for a new face mask…I hear Glam Glow is good.
My hair gets so greasy, I would love to try some new dry shampoos!
I would love a new eye cream and I’m always up for trying new hair products!
I’d love to try all of it! I’ve never really tried many “High end” products so this would be a treat!!
I would love to see a batiste dry shampoo spray in a birchbox. I would love to try one. Second, I just ordered make up forever hd blush in black currant and it is beautiful!!! Blends to a perfect shade of cranberry wine
Davines Replumping shampoo and conditioner caught my eye. Merry Christmas Julie !!!
I would like to try some concealers! I always have trouble finding ones that really match my skin.
I’d love to see a really good blemish spot treatment product, men’s cologne samples (I actually do prefer wearing cologne over perfume), and a shimmery emerald green nail polish.
This week I am loving Having my best friend home from Toronto!! Spending time with beautiful people, baking, Christmas everything, and a mom who lets me driver her car because I don’t have my own.
This week I am loving flannel popover shirts. They are comfortable, casual and so cute!
I would love a new shadow palette. I am making those sugar cookies for the holidays this year for sure!! Yum!
I would love to see some natural products.
I am LOVING Mmmine! Toasted Coconut Cashews that I found at Costco! They are SO darn good! According to the container, they have a luscious vanilla layer and I think that it what makes them so amazing!
I’d love to see the replumping shampoo and conditioner! My hair is thin and I would try anything to thicken it up…nothing I’ve tried so far works that great…
I would love to find new lip gloss colors/shades to help me step out of my box. I need help stepping away from my eos chapstick!
I’m loving the colours on the Cynthia Rowley colour palette! I love getting make-up/face product samples, etc.
Wow Wow wow! Amazing giveaway! I’d love to try some dr Brandt products… But really, what wouldn’t I like to try?! This week I’ve been loving my urban decay naked – the original!
I would love to try a new moisturizer!
I’m loving all of the holiday parties that are starting to pop up this time of year! It is so much fun to get dressed up and in the holiday spirit with twinkling lights and beautiful decorations and soak up lovely family and friend time.
I would love to try a new moisturizer. I have been using the same Olay stuff for as long as I can remember! I am one of those people who sticks with what works and doesn’t step outside the box much, so birchbox would be so eye opening and exciting!
Things I’m Loving…. My husband! My name just changed and it’s super exciting 🙂
I would love to see a moisturizing eye cream in my Birchbox. What I am loving right now is Christmas Blend starbucks k-cups!
A new lip balm that works.
I would love to try a new eyeliner or lip stain
I’d love to see a really good thickening and lengthening mascara!
I’d love to try a new eyeliner
Oh, Birchbox! I’d love to try a new mascara or nail polish! And I am totally loving that I have 1 week of work left before 2 full weeks off and a week with my family!! Congrats on the new gig, I figured you were going to be a PB instructor…maybe you should look into that as well since you love it so much!
-AJ
I really want to try a liquid eye liner! And this week I am loving my awesome coworkers for making me laugh every day!
Love trying new mascaras!
this week i’m loving the comfort of home! have been feeling a bit under the weather the past few days, but i’m thankful that i have a cozy home to come back to after a long day 🙂
I’m looking for a new (foolproof) mascara and eyeliner!
Love a new mascara!
Colored lip balm would be phenomenal!
What’s making me happy? My 6 month old is teething, which is so sad. But when he tries to laugh and cry at the so time, it cracks me up. I love him!
I could really use a new nighttime moisturizer!
What’s making me happy? Getting some time off of work this time of year and spending time with my family!
I’m loving the holiday decorating this week! I have found so many ornaments for my tree –> new home owner so I get to have one 🙂
I have been wanting to try Birchbox! I would enjoy a new eye liner or lipstick.
A new mascaras!
I’m loving Aveda Lip Remedy lip balm right now, so great for winter chapped lips.
So many awesome things in this post! One thing I’m loving this week is coconut oil – I use it as an all-over moisturizer and makeup remover, and with our cold dry weather, it’s been a huge lifesaver!
I really need a new cleanser/moisturizer combo. Mine just is not working anymore!
I would love to try a new dry shampoo. I have yet to find one that I love!
I would love an anti-aging moisturizer. I want to get proactive about my fine lines before they are full on wrinkles!
I’d love to find a more natural facial cleanser or some subtle lipstick colors.