Without a doubt the thing I’m loving most this week is Christmastime with my family, but there are still a handful of other things that are making me smile as well. As always, please chime in below in the comments section of this post and share something you’re loving this week, too. I always love reading your comments!
Things I’m Loving Friday
- Lunch at Sweet Pete’s
Early this afternoon, the whole family headed to downtown Jacksonville to check out Sweet Pete’s, a new restaurant in the area. It’s part candy shop, part restaurant and the atmosphere is upbeat and quirky. We all gave it rave reviews and I would gladly go back again both for the food and the candy.
- Dog Playtime on the Beach
I don’t know why, but watching Sadie and Kona go absolutely crazy on the beach makes me so happy. You can see the joy in their faces and their excited energy makes me smile so big! They are beyond adorable together and their enthusiasm for the beach and the saltwater is contagious.
I’ve briefly blogged about my love of this recipe before, but it’s quickly becoming a family favorite in our house. Ryan, Ross and I made it together on Wednesday night and served it for dessert on Christmas and it got rave reviews from everyone… even the typical banana pudding haters (myself included). There’s no artificial banana flavoring (only real bananas are used) which I think makes this banana pudding appeal to people who usually scoff at banana pudding that tastes like all the other weird banana-flavored treats out there. This dessert is creamy and oh-so-delicious! (Oh, and the dessert on the right above is a family favorite, too! You simply top crushed Oreos with peppermint ice cream and more crushed Oreos. Yum!)
- Smashbox Bordeaux Long Wear Lip Lacquer
This arrived in a POPSUGAR Must Have Box I was gifted from the company for the holidays (thank you!) and I initially thought it would be waaaay too dark, but I am a big-time fan of Smashbox products, so I gave it a go for our family’s night out to see A Christmas Carol and was surprised by how much I loved it! The bordeaux color went on rather dark but within 20 minutes it faded a tiny bit and left a lovely deep red color that lasted for hours and hours. I’m a big fan!
- Peterbrooke Chocolate
This chocolate has been a favorite of mine since I first discovered it back when we were living in Orlando. (Their chocolate-covered popcorn is unreal.) My whole family shares my love for this stuff and my dad surprised my mom with a big box of the chocolate as part of her Christmas gift yesterday. She was kind enough to share with everyone and I was reminded, yet again, just how much I love it!
- This Photo of Sadie
This photo of sleepy Sadie is my favorite picture from Christmas yesterday. She was absolutely passed out on Ryan’s lap during the present unwrapping extravaganza and Ross quickly snapped her photo. I love my sweet little girl so darn much.
Question of the Day
- What is one thing you are loving this week?
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Every Friday I love reading this blog!
My dogs love the beach. They go crazy! Today I am loving that I ran 11 miles at an 8:43 pace. So proud of myself!!
Awesome pace!
You might already know this, but the lady who started Peterbrooke Chocolate over 20 years ago named it after her children, Peter and Brooke. Her son Peter is the one who started Sweet Pete’s Candy Shop and Restaurant that you mentioned. Crazy right! (I am from Jacksonville, so I love this little bit of Jacksonville trivia!)
I tried French Macarons (the sandwich cookies) for the first time yesterday (my mom bought them at Sam’s Club for a special Christmas treat), and they were delicious. I now want to learn to bake them. They look like little easter eggs!
Those chocolates look divine!!! Part candy shop part restaurant…sounds heavenly! Happy Boxing/Stephen’s Day!
I love dog walks! Just took ours out to the park! We are nowhere near a beach, haha!
Happy Friday Julie!! Hope you have great weekend.
I am loving no work and catching upon your blog!
Yes! Dogs! I am always loving cute pictures of pets 🙂
Love Sadie at the beach! Looks like it was a fun Christmas Day. 🙂
I think Sweet Pete’s was on the show “The Profit”!!!! Glad to see its doing well!
It was! I just watched it last week!
Happy Friday, Julie! Sadie is so photogenic. 🙂 Today I am loving my new SOAS cycling kits. I am about to go for a ride and can’t wait to sport my new Christmas gift.
I’m loving all the chocolatey desserts that we’ve made for the holidays! Peanut butter buckeyes, chocolate cake, toffee bars, white chocolate cranberry oatmeal cookies…all soo good!
What an adorable picture of Sadie! The new place looks so good! Oh and I am currently I’m loving the book Wild.
Sweet Petes looks adorable! I’m loving Christmas as a momma for good first year!
Have you even see the show The Profit? Sweet Pete’s was on it not long ago!
no! apparently i should check it out!
We watched sweet petes on the profit and im so glad they are successful. There is always time for pbfingers! Im loving my husband and cats this friday. They are my family and always make me feel so loved.
I’m loving all the holiday leftovers! Not having to cook or go food shopping sounds good to me!
LOVE Peterbrook chocolate!! Every time I walk by their store on Park Avenue I have to stop and get some chocolate covered popcorn. It’s the best!
so delicious! 🙂
A thing i’m loving this Friday (actually Saturday here) – this blog! I’ve been reading everyday since 2010, and still love it! Thank you Julie, for being a constant source of inspiration, positivity and joy. Happy holidays 🙂
I’m loving christmas time with my family as well! Also, trader joe’s hot chocolate mixes! It’s so delicious and feels festive this time of year!
Your Sadie photography is spot-on.
Girl, I read blogs everyday! Unless I’m out of town on vacation, I’m reading my fave bloggers, it makes me happy 🙂
Enjoy the rest of your time with your family!
Hi Julie! My favorites are all about family time this week too. I love that so many of your favorites are sweets — that’s the way to my heart too. Enjoy the time with your people!! I have to head back to California tomorrow sadly, but look forward to being back in Florida again in the spring.
Thanks for the Peterbooke reminder! I lived in Orlando for 3 years and took a weekly escape to Winter Park to feel like I lived back in the South. I loved that Peterbrooke chocolate covered popcorn. YUM!
I’m loving so many of the things you recommend! Although I’m yet to win one of your giveaways, I have bought the North Face zip jacket and the Columbia light weight vest you recommended. I ABSOLUTELY love them both! Thank you!!!
Kind of a weird thing to be loving, but I am loving how clean the glass on my oven door is! I went crazy and cleaned it today and it looks amazing!
Love that I was off on Christmas!
Hi Julie! Where are your boots from? Im trying to find a good pair but am still fixed on getting some Hunter Boots 😛
they’re corso como from ruelala.com! 🙂
That lip gloss looks awesome!
That lipstick looks lovely! Will you post photos of what it looks like on you? I have the same kind in coral- looks very peachy in the bottle but is a bright coral pink once it sets. I love how long it lasts!
Oh my gosh! That photo of Sadie made me tear up! Too precious!! This week, I’m loving cozy sweatshirts and relaxing with family 🙂
Peterbrooke is one of my favorites too. Would visit it all the time when we lived in Jax. Loved the choc covered pretzels!
I had the Not Yo Mama’s Banana Pudding for the first time this year at a work potluck. It was amazing! If I got ahold of the recipe, it would be dangerous. 🙂
I LOVE peppermint ice cream, it’s too bad it doesn’t love me! 🙁
Did you color your hair darker?
no! i wish it stayed blonder but it always seems to get a little darker in the winter w/o the sun to lighten it.
I just tried Smashbox lip gloss for the first time and am loving it! Will have to try this color.
Sweet sadie! She is adorable in her little pajamas! I also loved the beach picture on Instagram. I wish Goose would allow us to dress him in absurd dog outfits but his usually stay on for about 5 minutes!
hahah that last pic of sadie– so funny!
I am loving that is was 53 degrees in northwestern PA today and it provided me with an opportunity to detail the inside of my car! it smells so nice now.
Yay for Sweet Pete’s! Definitely a local favorite!
love your whole blog, Julie! where did you get the tan leather jacket? i’ve been looking for one just like that.
thank you! it’s from off 5th avenue but I got it a few years ago! 🙂
I love the picture of Sadie on the beach best of all! This week, I am loving the love and support I’ve felt from my family.
We brought my dog to the beach for the first time ever this Christmas while in New Smyrna Beach and she went crazy for the water! She liked to the bite the waves though and ingested a lot of water which resulted in her getting the squirts. 🙁 Poor girl had water shooting out of her bottom. Did this ever happen to your dog? Do you have to keep an eye on her to stop her from drinking or is she not interested in drinking it?
oh yes!!!!! oh my gosh, it’s horrible, isn’t it!? it happened to Sadie once and I think she learned her lesson. we do still monitor her just to be sure she’s not drinking salt water, though!
That photo of Sadie and Ryan melts my heart. <3
That’s such a sweet picture of your puppy Sadie. It looks like everyone had a very happy holiday!
I am loving the engagement ring I got on Friday!!!
CONGRATULATIONS!!
I love that picture of Sadie! How adorable! Glad you had a Merry Christmas!
I’m not sure which photo of Sadie I like better! Great photography!
Sweet Pete’s looks like it is straight out of Dr Suess. Jacksonville seems like the cutest town!
Ahh wow Sweet Pete’s looks AMAZING like a dream! I love the idea of restaurant meets candy store 🙂
Happy Holidays xo C
That picture of Sadie is the cutest thing I’ve ever seen. She will always be your first baby!
I am loving the cheap flight I found from Ireland to London for Feb next year for Ross and I 🙂 a break just the 2 of us, the first in a looooong time. oh such bliss… that pic of Sadie is just so cute!x
I can totally relate to dogs and their happiness on the beach! I loved watching my dog run along the shore, she was always so happy :). And that photo of Sadie asleep on Ryan’s lap, so adorable!!