Hello, hello! It’s Friiiday and I’m just sitting down to check in after teaching a barbell strength class. When I woke up to teach this morning, I wasn’t feeling overly energetic and truthfully wasn’t convinced I’d be able to bring the heat to today’s class. But then the moment I put my playlist on and started to set up, I felt my enthusiasm kick in as it always does and we had a great strength session! It’s almost like my body and mind know when it’s time to tune in and enter into “go mode.” Thank goodness!
By the time I cleaned up and left the gym I was feeling much more like myself and riding the post-workout high. Love that!
And speaking of things I’m loving, it’s time for your Things I’m Loving Friday weekly blog post where we all come together to talk about what we’re loving most each week. Let’s get to it!
Things I’m Loving Friday
- Family Size Twizzlers and Baby Boy Clothes from Lindsey
Earlier this week, I met up with two girlfriends for lunch and my friend Lindsey made me smile when she greeted me with an unexpected little gift! Lindsey knows I cannot seem to get enough gummy candy during my pregnancy and surprised me with a bag of Twizzlers that I definitely broke into on the car ride home from lunch. I can’t be stopped! She also gave me the cutest little outfit for our baby boy and I cannot wait to dress him in the adorable khaki shorts and little lion polo. So sweet!
I am so in love with these new flats! I decided to buy them when I saw them on sale on RueLaLa a few weeks ago (they’re currently available for only $30 on NordstromRack.com!) because I’ve had great luck with Lucky flats in the past. At my friend Michaela’s recommendation, I bought a pair of Lucky Emmie flats last year when I was looking for a plain nude flat and think they’re crazy comfy, so when I saw this cute pair of strappy Lucky flats pop up on RueLaLa, I had to have them! I think they’ll be adorable with everything from jeans and skirts to shorts and dresses this summer. (FYI, I think they run true to size.)
As sexy as love handles spilling over my jeans look, I decided it was time to try out the waistband expanders my mom gave to me a few weeks ago when I joined Lindsey and Megan for lunch on Wednesday. I was surprised at how well the expander worked! I looped the loop around the front button of my jeans and put the new button through the loop and the extra few inches of wiggle room made such a difference in the comfort level of my usual jeans. I think these waistband expanders will help me continue to wear some of my non-maternity pants for a while longer (paired with a long top, obviously) which is a nice relief!
- Baby Music
My mom is officially the best. She copied my favorite childhood music onto CDs from cassettes and I cannot wait to play these rockin’ jams for our little one in the future!
- Turn Off Your Straightener Door Mat
This Etsy find is so creative! And necessary for some of us out there…
- Sparkly Charger
I could not resist this sparkly PhunkeeTree iPhone charger when I saw it on RueLaLa. I needed a new charger anyway (mine has been quite fickle), so this one just had to happen. Love it!
- Pregnancy Announcements
I am so thrilled for two of my blogging buddies, Meghann and Gina! They both announced their pregnancies within the past two weeks!! Gina is the mastermind behind my Snoogle obsession (she sent me the pillow after I first told her I was pregnant) and I had to laugh at this text conversation between the two of us…
Two pups whose love for the Snoogle cannot be denied! Haha!
Question of the Day
- What is one thing you are absolutely loving this week?
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Wow, pregnancy is definitely in the air! Congrats to you all..so exciting 🙂 Last night we had our first thunderstorm of the year and it made my sleep so amazing! I love the sound of rain and it was an absolute downpour all night. I’m glad it happened overnight and not on my walk to work!
happy friday 🙂
Woot Woot Happy Friday!! I think it’s so cool, how you’re able to keep working out through your pregnancy — and you’re so right about that post workout high, I love that feeling!!
Love that doormat. Too funny. I could definitely use that. I’m always paranoid about leaving my straightener plugged in even though I’ve only done that once!
Have a great weekend Julie!
I love that mat! Once in high school I left my straightener plugged in and burned my counter. Never made that mistake again! I’m also obsessed with that sparkly charger!
I’m 29 weeks and having horrible reflux and heart burn. So I’ve been loving Papaya Enzymes this week! It’s a chewable pill (similar to Tums) that you can get at Earthfare or Wholefoods and it’s a great all-natural remedy. I suggest it if you start to have that problem too!!! 🙂
Love this suggestion! I am 28 weeks and the relux/heart burn has been crazy lately! Thanks!
Cantaloupe and watermelon are also great natural remedies! It’s helped me SO MUCH.
THOSE TWIZZLERS! need in my life right now 🙂 Awww I didn’t know Meghann was pregnant- so exciting! And I love that door mat, hahaha I’m pretty good about turning my straightener off but an extra reminder is always good 🙂
I’m obsessed with those flats!
Have you tried bellybands yet? These also work miracles if you want to wear your usual non-maternity jeans. I really like Bellabands. I’ve also heard good things about b-buckles.
That doormat is amazing. I feel like now that I am pregnant, I need a reminder for everything! Haha.
I still haven’t, but I’ve heard the best things about them!
This may not sound like a big deal for some but I recently made the switch to morning workouts as opposed to evening workouts. I am NOT a morning person, but I’ve been getting up at 6 a.m. every day for the past week for an hour of gym time. I cannot even tell you what a difference in energy and attitude this has given me! Not only does it make me feel more energetic in the mornings, but I’ve also had extra time to get ready. It’s so nice to cross something off my to-do list before 7:30 a.m.!
I had a similar experience with my early morning BodyPump class this morning. When I initially woke up, I really did not want to go, but as soon as we got rollin’, I snapped right out of my little funk and we had a blast! Gotta love it.
Something must be in the blogger water…everyone’s pregnant these days! 😉 So fun! I love that your mom put all your favorite childhood songs on CD’s for you and the baby – how thoughtful of her!
My mother in law bought me a belly band that helped me get extra use out of my pre-pregnancy pants. Unfortunately by 20 weeks or so I was just ready to be into maternity pants (the band would sometimes not hold my pants up well) but it definitely got me through until I found some work appropriate pants.
http://www.target.com/p/bematernity-by-ingrid-isabel-beband/-/A-13742281#prodSlot=large_1_13
I’ve heard those extenders are great, too!
My Ergo baby!! My daughter is 17 months old and I still use it ALL THE TIME!! One of our best baby purchases to date!
I need to get that door mat for my mom!
I love the mat!!!! What a great idea!
So cool that your blogger friends are pregnant too!
Obsessed with those flats. I need nude flats for work and can’t find the perfect pair. I am loving browsing interior design blogs/pinterest boards this week. We just bought a new house last week so I am getting super excited to decorate.
I am loving sleep. it’s been rainy and dreary all week in the Omaha metro area, and it just makes me tired. Thankfully, the sun finally decided to make an appearance today, so hopefully it’ll stick around for a bit, and my energy will return.
I’m pretty sure an Instagram account dedicated to dogs and Snoogles should be created! Pretty sure all of us would love to see those cute tired faces stealing the pillow 🙂
I am dying over that straightener floor mat!!!! Necessary FOR SURE! I’m surprised I didn’t burn my parents house down when I was a teenager. Also, pregnancy is definitely going around!! Crazy!!! This fall is going to be baby crazy!
I have been reading your blog for years to get workouts/ workout playlists, but I’ve been out of the loop because I’m over here raising a 14 month old boy 🙂 Congratulations!!! I also loved the name James, but my husband didn’t, so we went with Jameson. We also felt like sharing the name would invite unwelcome opinions, so we kept it to ourselves. Such an exciting time!!!
I was just commenting on Gina’s yesterday that I swear you guys all made a pregnancy pact! So many bloggers I know are pregnant right now haha.
I am loving having another article published in the Huff Post and just putting more work into my blog as a serious endeavor. Also Nivea came out with an in-shower lotion I have been using that means I don’t have to put it on once I get out. Thank the Lord!
You always find the cutest stuff on Rue La La! Lucky flats are my savior for the walk to and from work every day…they are so comfy without looking like orthopedics!!
My sis actually did a DIY version of the glitter charger, by wrapping glitter tape around a normal charger. So cute. I love that straightener mat too!
I love that I found out Sunday that I’m going to be a glam-ma! My step daughter is 9 weeks along! These post have helped me quickly as I am now buying her your recommendtions to help her through her pregnancy! Bought her the snoogle, belly rob and morning sickness drops. Yeah!!
aw, you are already the best glam-ma!! <3
So many adorable baby announcements! Love it!!! Also, those shoes…so adorable!
AHHA I need that doormat! I’m so OCD about my straightener being off… I usually go back in before leaving just to check that I switched it off!
I love that door mat!!! All my straighteners and curling irons have automatic shut off except one and I have turned around and gone back inside SO many times to check it. I will be on my way to work envisioning my house burning down. I keep telling myself to get rid of it but it’s my favorite!!
I am a first grade teacher and we have been on spring break all week so I have been loving being off and relaxing!!!
it’s baby william’s birthday today and sunday i’m running a half marathon!!
I love that text between you and Gina! And how sweet that your friend surprised you with baby clothes! Happy Friday!
hahah I need that door mat in my life! I think my live-in boyfriend would definitely appreciate it too!
Crunchy almond butter from Trader Joe’s … Just got another jar after being out for the past few weeks and I’m a happy girl!
I’m thinking of ordering those flats… so cute! And I love the phone charger. I saw a DIY for those on Pinterest using glitter and nail polish! 🙂
Happy Friday!
WOW! I feel like that mat was made for me lol!!!! Happy FRIDAY!!
My best friend and I are planning her trip to come visit and I am so excited! I haven’t seen her since her wedding two years ago, so I am so stoked to see her!
I didn’t know waistband expanders existed! I always used a hair tie (loop 2 together to form a “figure 8” knot; loop one side around button; loop other side through button hole and back around to button).
Hi Julie! Happy Friday! I didn’t feel very energized this morning either, but went to the gym, taught BODYATTACK and walked out on a high — much like you did too! And I have a sparkly iPhone case much like that charger. Too cute. Hope you have a wonderful weekend! 🙂
I didn’t use fancy waist expanders, just a hair tie and then a bellyband to hide the evidence. Although now at 32 weeks pregnant in April, jeans are too hot. So I’m exclusively wearing leggings and dresses. My favorite dress is this one from Old Navy. It got it in every color for $15 each. It is ridiculously comfortable!
http://oldnavy.gap.com/browse/product.do?cid=1029965&vid=1&pid=174123022
Baby gifts are the best! I love the cute phone charger 🙂
You’re too sweet- glad you love the gift. I can’t stop myself from looking at baby stuff any time I have a reason. 🙂 I am obsessed with the turn off your straightener mat!!
sooo that bag of twizzlers is already almost gone… 🙂 loved seeing you this week!!
That little lion polo is adorable! So cute for your little one.
I love those flats! I am always looking for a good pair, unfortunately I have such narrow feet they are often way to wide for me! How would you say New Lucky shoes are? Because those are so cute!
I SO need the turn off your straightener mat! I have that problem way too many times throughout the week. One time I was so worried I left it on, I asked my boss if I could go home and check! Thankfully he did, and it was off. I felt so embarrassed and bad! I try really hard to make sure I consciously unplug it!
I love your Friday posts!! One thing I am loving is a new podcast my sister in-law introduced me to called Boo Mama (or maybe it’s called Big Boo) anyhow – it’s by Melanie Shankle who wrote the book “The Antelope in the Living Room” which I think you’d love btw, the podcast is hilarious! You should definitely check it out, along with Melanie’s books! Have a great weekend 🙂
Your mom sounds so sweet. I love that she put your favorite childhood music together for your baby.
Our dog loves sleeping with her head on my snoogle pillow, too! It’s the cutest thing. Unfortunately though, she also wants to sleep on it at night and keeps waking me up because she’s trying to squeeze in between me and the pillow.
Hi Julie! My yoga sculpt instructor played “Shut up and Dance” by Walk the Moon during our cardio portion of the class last night, and it was fantastic! I would recommend adding it to one of your playlists if you haven’t already. 🙂 Have a great weekend.
LOVE that welcome mat! I totally need that… I cannot count the number of times I’ve had a mild panic attack wondering if I’d left on my straightner/burned down my apartment accidentally.
LOL – love that doormat. I can’t tell you how many times I have left for work and then turned around and came right back home because I knew I left my curling iron on. Mine has an automatic timer so it turns off after an hour, but I still freak out about it!
Happy Friday! I love these weekly posts, they get me stoked on the weekend!
I also love that mat-so cute! Great find!
And that two of my favorite bloggers are pregnant at the same time (you and Gina!) It’s so exciting!
This week I’ve been loving having some time off work! I work at a school and had Spring Break off, which was so great! I also loved taking my first aerial yoga class! SO fun!
Have a great weekend!
I am absolutely loving the fact that it’s Friday and I have great plans for my weekend! Hope you have a good one 🙂
I love those days when you think you are in for a bad workout and you end up finding some energy within yourself! It is empowering. In fact, I definitely had one of those days, and I enjoyed every second of it today! That “high” from endorphins is a real thing!
Hahah that door mat would be perfect for my dorm next year. My best friend and I always step into the dorm’s elevator and freak out because we think we have not shut off our heating products. We always do, but there is still that uneasy feeling!
Have a great weekend Julie!
Oh my gosh that door mat must have been made for me! I just showed my husband and he commented that I would need a velcro strip across the middle so that he could change it for hair dryer/iron/etc…!