It’s Friday!! Can I get a woohoooo!? This morning is a busy one for this girl, but it’s filled with fun things that make me happy: Teaching barbell strength and PiYo classes! Thankfully I have a little break between the classes to refuel and catch my breath, but I really do love the enthusiasm I seem to find in Friday morning classes at the gym. Everyone is a little happier on Fridays, right?
Speaking of things that make us happy, let’s dive right into your weekly Things I’m Loving Friday blog post where we chat about what is making us smile every week. I’m especially excited about an Uptown cooking class date night Ryan and I have on the agenda for this weekend. The anticipation of good food and weekend fun is definitely making me smile today.
As always, please feel free to join in on the fun and share something you’re loving this week in the comment section below. I always love reading your Friday comments every week!
Things I’m Loving Friday
- This Hair Color
![Great Blonde Hair Color_thumb[5]](https://i2.wp.com/pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Great-Blonde-Hair-Color_thumb5.png "Great Blonde Hair Color_thumb[5]")
With each passing day my naturally blonde hair seems to get darker and darker and it’s bothering me more and more. I’m seriously considering lightening it for the first time ever and this is the color I absolutely adore. I wonder if I will ever get brave enough to actually do it. (FYI, for those curious, Lauren Conrad’s beautiful locks are pictured above. I took a screenshot of one of her Instagram photos because I’m creepy and definitely follow celebrities like it’s cool.) If you are a natural blonde and have experience lightening your hair and have any advice/words of wisdom for a newbie like me, please let me know! I don’t want to leave a salon swimming in a pool of regret…
![Suja Green Delight Smoothie Juice_thumb[1]](https://i2.wp.com/pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Suja-Green-Delight-Smoothie-Juice_thumb1.jpg "Suja Green Delight Smoothie Juice_thumb[1]")
I’ve been a fan of Suja juice for a while now and this week I cannot stop drinking their Green Delight smoothie. Oh my gosh, it’s so good! It’s sweet and refreshing and packed with superfoods like spirulina and chlorella. I swear I feel more energetic after downing one of these babies! It’s a great post-workout smoothie option for me since I can grab it on the way out the door and store it in the fridge at my gym. I’ve been pairing it with two hard-boiled eggs after teaching some of my 9 a.m. classes and loving it!
- This Sign
I would buy pizza from this place based on this sign alone. Lion King fo’ life!
- Noosa Coconut Yoghurt
This yogurt tastes like dessert in a cup!!! A few of you recommended Noosa to me when I blogged about my love for coconut-flavored anything in the past and I finally picked some up this week. I sprinkled some sunflower and pumpkin seeds on top for a little crunch and dug into the Aussie-style yogurt after I taught my 9 a.m. cycle class yesterday. It was so, so delicious! Great recommendation, guys!
- Andy Grammer “Honey I’m Good” (Music Video + Song)
I love everything about this music video! It’s the cutest! Ryan actually showed it to me last weekend and said he knew I’d love it right off the bat. He was right! Not only are the couples in the video adorable, the song is so darn catchy. Just try to watch it and not smile. (Warning: This song will get stuck in your head for all the days.)
- Lenny Boy Good Ol’ Ginger Kombucha
![Lenny Boy Kombucha_thumb[1]](https://i2.wp.com/pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Lenny-Boy-Kombucha_thumb1.jpg "Lenny Boy Kombucha_thumb[1]")
After sipping on this stuff at Luna’s Living Kitchen last Saturday, I was on a mission to find it at a local grocery store this week. It’s absolutely the best ginger kombucha I’ve had to date and I was so happy to find it at Earth Fare! Naturally I nabbed a few bottles and have enjoyed it as a treat when I want something fizzy and tasty!
![Loreal Sunless Tanner_thumb[1]](https://i2.wp.com/pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Loreal-Sunless-Tanner_thumb1.jpg "Loreal Sunless Tanner_thumb[1]")
It’s the middle of January and I can use all the help I can get to try to give my skin some color! This sunless tanner is my go-to and I’ve been using it on my face for years. It doesn’t build-a-tan so you can wash it off immediately if you put too much on, but I feel like a few tiny squirts of this stuff give my face a much-needed dose of color during the winter months. My mom, sister and I all use it regularly and swear by it!
- Giveaway Winners
Congratulations to the winners of the following giveaways!
Chocolate-Covered Katie Cookbook: Krissy S.
HIIT It!: Zoe S.
Both winners were emailed first thing this morning!
- Around the Web…
Hilarious Bachelor Recaps (AshleyJonesy.com — Hat tip to Colleen for sharing this one!)
Tabata Workout, 30 Minute Total Body Blast Workout, Arms + Abs Workout (Big thanks to FitSugar.com for sharing my workouts on their site!)
What 2,000 Calories Looks Like (NYTimes.com)
Best Fitness Quotes to Motivate You (FitBottomedGirls.com)
9 Bloggers Who Changed Their Lives One Post at a Time (Thank you to DailyBurn.com for including me! Very excited!)
Easy Restaurant Style Blender Salsa (AverieCooks.com – I need this in my life.)
Question of the Day
- What is one thing you’re loving this week?
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I bet your darker hair is pretty though! But you’re right, I do think LC’s hair is beautiful, of course! I’m considering doing a slight ombre thing to mine, just give it a little more interest since I’ve grown it out to my natural color. I just feel so boring right now!
me too!! i just feel like it’s looking so drab lately…
I am in the same situation with my slightly darker blonde hair now (boo) if you consider lightening it- try more of an ombre highlight style! My hair looked great after doing this because it gave me my natural look back without being like, WOW you dyed ALL of your hair. There is not maintenance to it and when it’s growing out it’s not like your roots are showing and its something you MUST keep up with. It gives you the option 🙂
i do like that idea a lot! i’m just so nervous to go the ombre route b/c i’ve heard so many horror stories!
I know what you mean! I said that to my stylist as well, but what she did was piece the highlights through my hair to make it look cohesive if that makes sense. Try pinterest for ombre highlights and you should see some awesome styles! 🙂
Right now I’m loving the fact that the new semester has started! Ready to get back into the swing of college after winter break! Thanks for including some fun things from around the web!
I love the way that hair is styled as well!
This week I am loving my green tea (decaf) with lemon and candy ginger pieces at the bottom. Eases the ache of my no caffeine 🙂
i am naturally a blonde and have lightened in the past – like several years ago – and honestly, i just come out of the salon thinking about how expensive it is! lol. I am like you – very low maintenance and just go to hair cuttery for hair cuts, trims, etc, so in the past when I have highlighted, or done anything else, i may not regret the color/look, but i always regret the amount of $$$. I say enjoy your natural blonde locks because not many people can say that these days. Plus, come summer it will lighten back up again!
i knoooow! every time i am ALMOST ready to do it, i text some of my friends who always sway me away b/c of the $$ and the upkeep!
You should try a semi permanent color first to see if you like it. My stylist did that once for me so it washes out just in case you don’t like it. Also I love the green delight suja and that sign just made my day!!
Thing I’m loving Friday – WINTER WARM UP! I live in Michigan and it has been COLD in the tundra. There is always a January thaw every year, and I’m thinking it’s this weekend. We are supposed to see above average temps this weekend, and I’m so excited to wash my car (nerd alert!) and hike outside without 8 layers!
Have a great weekend, everyone!
That song. I can’t stop.
I’ve never dyed my hair, but I do really love Lauren Conrad’s hair.. and makeup,, and clothes,, and life. 🙂
I have naturally blonde hair, and after I got married last December and saw my wedding photos, I thought to myself “Oh my gosh, has my hair really gotten that dark!?” So after 25 years I finally went to the salon to get my hair colored in May, and I was SO nervous. But besides my hair dresser giving me a glass of wine beforehand to calm me down, here are some other tips people gave me before I went that helped:
1. Go to a salon that carries high-end products like the Keratase brand. That is a sign of a professional salon (no idea what the truth is behind that, but it worked for me!)
2. Only get partial highlights the first time as opposed to a full
3. Tell your stylist that you want your highlights to only be one shade lighter than your natural hair color
And then this is something I did: I told my hair stylist that I wanted my hair highlighted in a way that if I decided to never do it again, it would be okay. Meaning that I wanted the color to blend in rather than worry about whether my roots were going to look terrible in 8 weeks. Because I am NOT one of those girls who wants to get her hair done that often, nor do I have time. But I may not be the person to listen to because when I got home after getting highlights for the first time, my husband said “awww you decided not to go through with it?!” Soooo…maybe I went TOO subtle! 🙂 Good luck!
yes!! i love this idea! i think that’s why i always freak out — i’ve gone to salons before that say once a natural blonde colors her hair, you can NEVER stop and that made me so nervous. thanks for taking the time to share a little bit of your experience with me!
Get a few highlights in your top layer. Won’t hardly be noticeable. You’ll be just fine
I had the same experience with my blonde hair darkening over the years. I never realized how much I cared about it until I got a new driver’s license and they put my hair color as brown – it sounds so silly but it threw me off! I don’t want to spend a ton of time or money maintaining it, but once or twice I year I’ve gotten balayage highlights which I love. The balayage blends much better so you don’t get those terrible lines at your roots, they just grow out naturally.
i’ve never heard of this before! thanks for sharing!
No prob! If you try it once and don’t wait to continue (or just want to wait a long time between highlights), they grow out into a sort of natural looking ombre. It’s makes my hair look almost exactly the way it does when the sun lightens it in the summer and then that grows out – sort of the equivalent of hair self-tanner! 😉
I was going to comment the same thing. First, it’s really important that you find someone who specializes in blond highlights. Any old colorist won’t do because with blond highlights, it’s really easy to make it look fake. Next, tell them you want to make it look as natural as possible and have it grow out without roots. If you find the right colorist, you will not need to keep up the maintenance as frequently because it will grow out naturally. I have been highlighting my naturally strawberry blond hair since I was 13, and only recently discovered balayage last year and really love the way it looks and grows out!
I second this comment!!! I have dark blonde hair naturally and about 4 months ago I decided I finally wanted to take the plunge to color it for the first time. I got balayage highlights and they look SO natural. The best part is that they are painted on freehand instead of with foils so there is no drastic line that grows out so that your roots show. I will probably get them touched up every 3-4 months or so when I get my hair cut. Highly recommend!!!!
I have naturally super dark hair so I won’t have you any advice! I would say to go to a good salon for advice and look for one that uses quality products. It’s so important! One thing I am loving is the sunshine peaking out in Austin. It’s been dreary for days so it’s such a nice break. Enjoy your weekend!
I am now obsessed with this video! It’s adorable and the elderly couples made me teary-eyed. Thanks for sharing!
<3 <3 <3
I just tried Noosa yoghurt this week! It was amazing. I tried raspberry. Next on my list is peach! 🙂
i want to try the mango!
Look up balayage blonde highlights! It’s similar to ombre but a bit more natural, focusing highlights on where the sun would naturally lighten your hair. You also don’t have to highlight as often!
thank you!!
With that self tanner, it says it lasts one day… Do you find it rubs off on your clothes or linens? My boyfriend always complains that I stain the towels or sheets with my self-tanner, but I’m so pasty. so I’m always on the lookout for a good tan-in-a-bottle that won’t break the bank. Last year on my birthday I went on a Sephora-spree and picked up a bottle of the Tarte Self Tanner, but its $40 a bottle, and worth it, so I may have to splurge again.
i only use it on my face, so i don’t feel like it rubs off! i do wash my face before bed and stuff though!
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha that sign just MADE MY DAY. Love it!
Hey Julie! Have you ever tried Sun-In? It’s a spray that works pretty much like lemon juice in your hair just a bit strong. I use it on my dark brown hair and it brings out the lighter and redder shades of my hair. I heard it can really lighten blonde hair. Might be worth a try! Just remember a little goes a long with with this stuff!
That song/video is SO cute!
I have done so many terrible things to my (dark brown) hair. I’ve gone almost blonde, almost black, red, had streaks of crazy colors (purple, red, blue, pink). I haven’t dyed my hair in almost 2 years now, and it’s probably the longest I’ve gone without messing with it since middle school. Strange to have my natural hair color – it’s darker than I remember 🙂
I have naturally blonde hair and I have been getting partial highlights every 3-4 months for the past 6-7 years. I just really love that it brightens up my blonde and complements my natural hair color. The key is to find someone you trust (ask around especially other blondes) and be willing to shell out a little money. Like I said I only need it done after 12-16 weeks because my hairdresser evenly and lightly spreads out my highlights and my base color is already light (like yours is!) Start out small and only get a few! Also, bring pictures so you and your hairdresser are on the same page. There is nothing wrong with accenting your natural color. In fact, I’ve fooled even my closest friends…people don’t realize I dye my hair! The key is definitely starting with a few highlights and gradually working your way up if you decide to. I really love my blonde hair and believe it’s completely worth the money and upkeep to keep it a little lighter as I get older. Good luck!
Do you mix the self-tanner with your face moisturizer or do you put it on afterwards?? I bought the same product but i’m to scared to use it and turn out super orange!
I have naturally blonde hair that has been getting darker as I get more into my twenties. I also don’t have the patience to sit in a salon chair every 6 weeks to get a touch up on my roots. I what I do is I tell the colorist that exactly, and what she normally does is some peek-a-boo highlights that are under the top layer of hair. That way its still some fresh and brighter looking hair, but if it grows out, you can’t really tell because the roots aren’t showing. It works great!
I love your natural hair color! If you do decide to lighten it I would recommend finding a stylist that is great at natural and subtle highlights and going the bayalage route. When I used to highlight my hair my stylist made it look so natural and I never got any harsh regrowth lines at all.
I love your natural hair color! I think it’s so rare these days to find many women with their natural hair color, and it always looks best on everyone in my opinion! My hair is naturally light brown and I have been dying it blonde for years. I am finally starting to get it back to its natural color (thank you ombre for being an actual style – ha!). If you absolutely want to dye it I recommend finding a great stylist by asking around. It’s SO hard to find someone who you can trust. I would also recommend bringing in pictures of what you want so there is no confusion. Good luck if you go that route! Happy Friday!!!
When I lived in the UK my hair was darker in the winter and lighter in the summer. I’ve noticed now in Spain it’s lighter all year round thanks to the many sunny days we have! My only guess it’s getting darker is that it’s not getting highlighted by the sun as much now your NC! But like the other girls say, do your research finding a colourist! I’m dreading the day my strawberry blonde hair starts to grey. You can’t cover it as easily as brunettes!
Well done featuring in The Daily Burn!
I saw that Bachelor recap on Colleen’s blog too. So good!
Hahaha that sign is magical. I would totally buy pizza from that place. I want to meet the person who made that sign. Suja juice is still one of my all time favorites ever. I loved their juice cleanse.
My hair is naturally blonde but it started growing in darker when I hit middle school. I’ve been getting highlights for over 20 years, and here are my tips:
1) Make sure you know if you have a “cool” or “warm” skintone. Being able to identify whic one you are will help your colorist be able to select the color that looks the most natural, while brighting up your natural shade.
2) Tell the colorist that you want the highlights to look natural, and that she should do lots of little streaks, as opposed to chunky ones. Believe it or not, some people want the strupey look but I’ve always wanted my color to look natural.
3) I’d recommend partial highlights rather than full highlights. Partial highlights include the areas of hair that people usually see the most: around your face and your hair on top. It’s natural for the hair underneath to be darker, so I always thought it looked more fake to have highlights there. Plus, partial highlights are less expensive so it’s a win-win!
4) If you have a blonde friend that lives near you, ask her if she gets highlights and if she could give you a referral. Most blondes over the age of 20 have to get highlights to stay blonde (you are one of the lucky ones!) A referral is a must because highlights are an investment, and if you don’t like the finished product, you are limited in what you can do to “fix” it until it grows out or fades.
Have a great weekend!
I am a natural blonde as well and have been highlighting for years. I think that subtle highlights around your face can really brighten your face. If you find a good stylist they can help make it look natural and help eliminate the distinct line when it grows out. On the same point, there is something to be said for never coloring your hair. I agree that once you start it is hard to stop! Gook luck on the decision. I need to pick up some bronzer this weekend and start using it. I am getting pale 😉
I can’t reccomend baylage highlights enough! They’re hand painted on, subtle and not streaky. Plus there’s little to no upkeep on them since it looks natural when they grow out.
I think the band Us the Duo would be right up your alley – check out their mashup of the big hits of 2014: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JzrFtImnuqI
Now that you’re an NC girl, you’ll appreciate that Michael went to high school in Raleigh. 🙂
Happy Friday!
I think your hair would look gorgeous with some of those highlights!
Hip Hip Hooray for Friday! Have a great day! 🙂
That sign! Marketing genius. I have blonde hair as well and I’ve never had my hair dyed. I found an ombre look that I want to try. So rather than spending big bucks at a salon, I’m going to a beauty school around my neighborhood. My aunt is the director at the beauty school, and she will be there to help students. And if I don’t like it, then I’ll just grow it out. No big deal.
Don’t do it! Your hair is so pretty already. I’ve been getting highlights since my first time in 6th grade. I wish my mom would have said no. I would much rather have natural hair vs. processed look. I’ve tried a few times to go back to my natural color but it never gets back to how it was. I wish I could stop, but I can’t deal with the roots so I have to keep going. Summer will be here soon enough and your hair will get light on its own again 😉
WHY IS THIS VIDEO/SONG SO GOOD!?!?!?!?!?!?! Is it weird that I want to share it with anyone and everyone I know?
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The new Body Pump release came out this week, 92, and I was able to take the class twice! The music is fantastic and works great with the challenging choreography. The squat and back tracks are killer.
My hair is getting darker as I get older as well! Dyeing it dark red last year didn’t necessarily help me at all… I’m counting on my highlights and the sun in the summer to get me back to normal! Lauren Conrad is pretty much perfect in everything she does, so it’s no surprise that her hair color is spot on as well. Happy Friday Julie!
Ok first of all that Rafiki picture is AMAZING! Second, I recently tried that Suja flavor and loved it. Third, that Honey I’m Good video is adorable!!!! Happy Friday 🙂
Oof! I could not drink the green Suja…I think the spices or something were too overwhelming for me. I like the dark purple berry one best! In regards to your hair, I would recommend getting bayalage color…it’s when your stylist “paints” on highlights, as opposed to doing the typical foils that start at the roots. Bayalage is a more natural, sun-kissed effect…..and you don’t need to worry about going to the salon every 4-6 weeks when outgrowth starts, because the highlights aren’t at your roots! I suggest heading to pinterest and searching blonde bayalage 🙂 I have my appt in a few weeks! I’ll never go back to regular highlights.
If you ever find yourself back in Ocala, definitely go to Tiffany at Enve in Downtown. Before I got married .. about 3 years ago .. I was in the same situation. I had long, blonde hair .. But found that my hair was getting darker due to age and lack of sun in the winter. I went and had partial highlights done before my wedding .. And my hair looked so natural! Fast forward 3 years … I now have short, blonde hair .. And have even done platinum blonde for a bit. Just find a stylist who knows what they are doing, and it will come out looking natural, with little maintenance.
Also, the YMCA in Ocala now has Body Pump as a class … And I am enjoying every second. Couldn’t wait to try it after hearing you talk about how much you enjoyed the workout!
Happy Friday!
I’ve been colouring my naturally dark blonde hair ligher for nearly 8 years and trust me I’ve had my fair share of salon mistakes…
I would recommend trying T-Section highlights (show them that photo for the colour). T-section can look a little more natural than full head due to the underneath still being your completely natural colour. It also tends to stand out a little less when you get root growth. Not to mention it’s the cheapest type of highlights you can get!
PS. I love that lion king sign!
Hi Julie! A cooking class sounds fun. So, a few things: Yes to Noosa yogurt, I love the coconut flavor, and those little guys are quite filling. Also, that “Honey I’m Good” song made my favorites last week, because I just can’t get enough of it. And, lightening your hair isn’t that scary, so go for it! I’ve been blonde and brown and it’s just hair. Finally, I read that DailyBurn article today and was so excited for you! 🙂 yayyyyy PBF!
I’m loving the excitement among my group of friends for our trip to New Orleans this weekend! Can’t wait to get a little crazy and eat way too much good food. 🙂 Have a great weekend!
OMG that sign is brilliant. happy weekend Julie!
I’m loving eating wraps – they feel so healthy are so tasty! Yesterday’s was spinach, broccoli slaw and Korean beef in a flax/whole grain wrap. I’m also loving my my nails done, I didn’t have time to do anything with my nails for a couple weeks so now it feels extra special plus I have cute snowflakes on my nails 🙂
How awesome that you were in the 9 bloggers article. So happy for you Julie!
I’m a nautral blonde and I’ve been having the same problem. My hair was starting to look brown, but it wasn’t pretty at all. I’ve been highlighting my hair for almost three years, and I envy those that tell you it’s not high maintenance because it has been extremely high maintenance for me. I usually go back and forth between partial to full highlights and if I don’t do it about every 6-8 weeks, my roots look AWFUL. So I wouldn’t recommend that you do it if you aren’t prepared to consistently keep up with it….and it’s not cheap. Beauty is a pain in the butt.
Congrats again on the success of your blog! 🙂
What I’m loving: blueberry almonds. My sweet tooth gets out of control but after discovering these (I believe they are Blue Diamond) I don’t feel as bad when eating them!
Have a great weekend Julie
I am ADORING not having to bother as much with my hair anymore. I went from it being well past my bra to chin length. It’s INSANE.
That hair colour is beautiful and the one I want too! My natural blonde hair has darkened over the years and became “dark dirty blonde”. It feels so plain and drab to me. I have gotten highlights and experimented with colour before but would love to just get to a colour similar to that one in the photo. Looks natural and it would be good for root growth.
http://www.mintnotion.com