This weekend will be a good one because Ryan, Sadie and I will be heading to Jacksonville on Saturday to spend Christmas with my family. I’m so glad we were both able to get off work next week so we can soak up lots of family fun in Florida beginning tomorrow. Bring on Christmas Vacation (<— our family’s favorite holiday movie), Christmas cookies and quality time with the people I love most in the entire world.
But now I’m popping in nice and early to chat about the things that are making me smile this week in your usual Things I’m Loving Friday post. (Warning: It’s basically overflowing with holiday-related cheer.) Right when this post goes live, I’m heading off to teach a barbell strength class, so I gotta get rockin’!
Things I’m Loving Friday
- The Anticipation of Gift Giving
I always get ridiculously excited to give everyone their gifts on Christmas morning and this year is no exception. I cannot wait to eat my mom’s monkey bread and pass out everyone’s gifts as we all relax in our Christmas pajamas. I feel pretty good about a number of the gifts I have wrapped up for my family this year and I can’t wait to see them unwrap them in less than a week! (And yes, we are still using an angel ornament as our tree-topper. We haven’t found the perfect one just yet!)
- Hark! The Herald Angels Sing by Pentatonix
This is such a cool version of a beautiful classic Christmas song. Pentatonix is so ridiculously talented. A cappella = Amazing!
- Space Heaters
Thank goodness for space heaters! We have two (one in our bedroom and one in our family room that I will also often move into my home office) and they are my best friends right now. Since we don’t want to pay to heat all of our house, we’re trying to rely mostly on space heaters in the areas we frequent most and I’m so impressed with just how much heat a small space heater provides. YES.
- Giving Tree Gifts
Later today I am dropping off my gifts for a local high school girl I selected off of a giving tree at a nearby coffee shop! She asked for a hat and scarf and I selected some cozy warm-weather gear I hope she absolutely loves. I tried to get a combination of practical and cute items.
So many feeeeeeelings! What a sweet pup!
- Williams-Sonoma Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate
As a die-hard Williams-Sonoma peppermint hot chocolate fan, this year I decided to give the variety pack a go and am happy to report that their salted caramel hot cocoa is absolutely fantastic. The peppermint still has my heart, but the salted caramel flavor is spot on and so tasty!
And speaking of Williams-Sonoma, the annual Hater’s Guide to Williams-Sonoma debuted earlier this week and cracked me up as usual. The 2014 edition is packed with hilarious anecdotes like this regarding the above picture: “Yes, a hot chocolate pot. Because a fondue pot wasn’t quite useless enough. Hey, you know what other kind of pot is good for making hot chocolate? A POT. Like, any regular pot that you already have.”
Giveaway Winners
Congratulations to the winners of the following Happy Holidays Giveaway Week giveaways:
- Birchbox: Leann (grand prize), Kimberly (runner up)
- Suja: Hannah, Donna, Shannon
- The Shine Project: Danielle (bracelet), Adrianna (necklace), SJ (apparel)
- Blue Apron: Kim
All winners were emailed first thing this morning. Thank you to everyone who entered!
Question of the Day
- What is one thing you’re loving this week?
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OMG – Dog with Prosthetic Legs!!!! I love his happy gallop with a tail wagging in EVERY direction! I was sitting here cheering for the pup like Rocky Balboa’s! (< Arms in air …. jumping up and down….all that was missing was random children in the streets)
Happy Holidays!
Yes! I seriously LOVE giving the gifts I have for my family! I am WAY more excited about that Christmas morning than anything else, haha!
Pentatonix has been popping up on my Christmas Pandora station lately and I love it! Yay for space heaters. My last job was so cold I had to bring one in to keep under my desk. They do keep you surprisingly warm, right? Safe travels back to Florida.
I love Mary Did You Know by Pentatonix, so amazing! Though I’ve never heard any songs by them that I didn’t like! I am also loving Hallelujah by Cloverton. So pretty. I’m pretty sure the people in my office are tired of both though 🙂
Have fun with your family! My sister is coming from Charlotte this weekend, so I’m excited to finally get to see her!
Aww I love handing out my presents as well! I have a hard time waiting until Christmas for my husband to open his presents, haha!
I read that haters guide to Williams Sonoma and laughed so hard! Right now I’m loving that today is the first day of being off work for the next 17 days!
I love that you are making sure to give to others. Another way that people can help teens & younger children is to contact local schools and see if they have a clothing closet for their students. I work at a high school and we run a Care Closet loaded with gently worn shirts, pants, shoes and brand new socks, etc.
This week I am loving the fact that I get the next 3 weeks off of work {yay for being a school employee} and will be able to spend major quality time with my family & friends! 🙂
I’ve seriously been on the lookout for that peppermint hint water you mentioned awhile back for the longest time and still haven’t been able to find it. I’m starting to think they’re not going to have it available in my area. 🙁 As for what I’m loving this week, I’m loving the holiday spirit. I love spending time with friends and family doing fun holiday related things. It’s my favorite!
boo!! i buy it at fresh market, so i’d check there if you have one near you!
I feel like I could really get a kick out of the hater’s guide!!! And, I think the hats and scarves you picked out are perfect!!
Have fun in Jacksonville! Today is my hubby’s last day of work and then we head to Anna Maria on the 22nd!!
Anna Maria is so beautiful! Enjoy! xo
Woohoo!!! Hope you have a blast! 🙂
I just bought this hot chocolate for Scott as part of his Christmas present (he’s obsessed with caramel), and I’m dying to open it and try it already! The peppermint bark sure doesn’t disappoint. Enjoy the holidays with your fam! <3
This week I’m loving my new deadliest PR. 205 pounds!!
I’m absolutely loving that my best friend just got engaged last night! Let the fun wedding planning begin 🙂
yay! how exciting! congrats to her!
love your Giving Tree gifts! I participated in Operation Christmas Child this year and had such a good time picking out Frozen and Barbie items for a little girl (:
Salty caramel hot chocolate! That sounds so yummy and here I am just satisfied with regular milk hot chocolate, looks like I am really missing out!
The Hater’s Guide to Williams Sonoma is always hilarious! The best.
My parent’s stopped by for the night last night and will be back on Monday to spend Christmas with us and I am soo excited! It’s what’s getting me through the next two days of work!
Loving some hot cocoa by the fire! Enjoy time with your fam, nothing beats it!!
I’m totally with you on the anticipation of gift giving – I am SO EXCITED to give people the gifts I got them! It’s so fun!
I’m loving all the Christmas movies on TV 🙂
I love the movie Grinch 🙂
I actually smile when I see the angel on top of your tree. It’s adorable!
I’m so reading the Williams Sonoma hater thingy because I always dreamily float around the store but in the end, I can never bring myself to do anything more than sample their awesome lotions. (Oh and I think of you when I see the peppermint hot cocoa!)
I am loving time with my baby girl. I am done maternity leave in a couple weeks so I am soaking up every moment that I can with her!
enjoy your time with your sweet little one! and congratulations! 🙂
Thanks for the Friday cry! Loved Darby’s story!
I’m leaving tomorrow for Florida for a week too! Can’t wait to see my peeps. My hubby and I are also doing one night in Orlando to visit our friends and old stomping grounds. This week I’m loving my maroon-colored gel manicure, because I needed it! And those space heaters can be very helpful for sure!
I’m LOVING that it is finally Christmas!! Have a fun week with your family! I’m also obsessing over this Taylor Swift mash-up by Sam Tsui: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zoB_iovbByk
Oh my gosh, that William Sonoma list is hilarious!
The Williams Sonoma haters guide had me in TEARS last week! I shared it with everyone at my office and everybody was rolling on the floor with laughter! Too stinkin’ good.
My favorite(s) (really, who can choose??) on the PTX album are Carol of The Bells, Mary Did You Know?, and Let It Go. ALL.SO.GOOD.
I am loving that I get to run out of my classroom today (okay waddle, lol) and show off my pregnant belly at the family Christmas along with the gender reveal!!!
Where did u get the white jars with silver lids on ur kitchen counter?? I love them!
Williams-Sonoma! Ryan’s aunt gave them to us as a wedding gift. 🙂
The Williams Sonoma hater thing. Loll!!!!! That made my day haha!!!
I am so grateful for members of the community who go to the school’s angel trees. I did as much as I possibly could for my daughter’s school tree, but we had an email from the principal that there were still 60 tags left!! Breaks my heart. I hope members of our community who don’t have children at the school helped out as well.
FYI, space heaters can actually make your bills rise even more.
what!? how?? definitely looking into this…
We got a space heater for a cold part of our condo and running it maybe 6 hours a day quadrupled our electric bill with no appreciable difference in our gas bill (we have a gas furnace). I am back to hiding under blankets and multiple layers unless the temperature outside is sub-zero.
This week I have been a little under the weather, so I have enjoyed making myself a cozy little nest on the floor in front of the fireplace. I’ve been catching up on blogging, reading a lot, and watching a lot of DVRed shows and movies. There is nothing better on a cold day than a fireplace.
Hi, random question: What is the paint color on your walls by the Christmas tree?
i’m not sure! the previous owners of our house chose them. :/ wish i could be of more help!
Winding down for Xmas!!! Finishing up work on Tuesday but we closed early today, and only working tonight, off tomo night so last of Xmas shopping to do! I’m also loving all things cranberry and pistachio! Biscotti, in salads, by the handful!
I can’t wait to read the haters guide to williams sonoma! I think you introduced me to it last year and I thought it was the best thing ever. hahaha
I read the William Sonoma haters guide earlier this week and cracked up! Giving Trees are so awesome! I usually donate toys to a local shelter through work. It just feels good to know that you are making Christmas special for these kids.
I’m loving the fact that this week after two trips to the ER I FINALLY got a diagnosis for my ankle pain. After 3 months of being passed around from doctor to doctor and no one listening to me, I finally have answers and know I’m not imagining the pain and inflammation. I’m not happy about being injured again, but relieved to have answers and hopefully be on the road to recover. Thankfully it happened over the holidays too so I can kick back and relax without feeling guilty.
wishing you a speedy recovery!
Enjoy the warmth in Florida!! Do you think you will turn on the heat soon in your house? It gets pretty cold in NC and know we were scared a few times last year that out pipes would burst without the heat on.
haha I get ridiculously excited to give gifts also. The only problem is I usually get so excited that I end up blabbing what it is or just completely giving it to the person way before Christmas. haha
I think you mean “AcaAmazing” :p
that was aca-awesome 😉
Bahaha I saw the hater’s guide the other day and lol’d. It’s just too great!
I’m loving my new membership exchange job at a local studio. I only have to work 3.5 hours a week and I get an unlimited membership that values at almost $200 a month. There is no way that would fit into the budget, so Im so happy that I got this break!
That Williams Sonoma haters guide is too funny!
that’s awesome! one of my girlfriends did that for a while at core power in Chicago and loved it!
I love the Haters Guide, so funny and true!
Omgosh I read the Williams-Sonoma article earlier this week and was literally laughing so hard I was crying. I had two coworkers come to my desk to ask if I was okay. Best thing EVER.
My favorite this week is that my job allows (sometimes encourages) drinking, and we are about to have a holiday party complete with margaritas and mimosas 🙂
So exciting when schedules with your significant other line up! Enjoy your time with family 🙂
OMG, THAT DOG. Hit me right in the feels.
And I have tears rolling down my face from that Hater’s Guide to Williams-Sonoma. So funny – and true!
Have fun in FL with family!!!
Love that you did that giving tree gift. So cool!
I laughed out loud several times while reading hater’s guide to Williams Sonoma, too! Loved it, too!! Have a great weekend!
Things I’m loving this week…my birthday!! My birthday was on the 17th, and I got to spend the day with friends and family and feel the love – there is nothing like quality time with your loved ones:) Merry Christmas and safe travels tomorrow!
It is so hard to find a good tree topper! I am using a big bow on both of my trees and I love it.