Good morning! Another week has come and gone and I’m left scratching my head and wondering where time is going… Into the tiny baby vortex, perhaps? Right when this blog post goes up, my mom, Chase and I are off to the airport to pick up my mother-in-law and grandmother-in-law who are flying in town from Sarasota to spend the weekend with us. I cannot wait for them to meet Chase and am especially excited to have Ryan’s grandmother in Charlotte for her very first visit since we moved. It’s a big deal for her to travel all this way and we’re so grateful she wanted to make the trip to meet her great grandson.
Our plans for the weekend include grilling out and hanging around the house with the baby… The usual around here these days! I hope you guys have a wonderful weekend but before we all check out for a few days, I wanted to share your weekly Things I’m Loving Friday post with you! Below you will find a short list of things that are making me smile this week. Feel free to participate in the comments section and share something that you’re loving this week with me as well!
Let’s get to it!
Things I’m Loving Friday
- Coconut Butter
This coconut butter (found on sale at HomeGoods!) is all kinds of delicious and I’m not sure if that’s a good thing or a bad thing because I can’t seem to stop eating it. Every time I walk by the pantry, I find myself grabbing a spoonful and also love it drizzled on top of a sliced banana with cacao nibs and shredded coconut as a healthier dessert. I can’t get enough!
- Chase’s First Mohawk
Can you tell Ryan was in charge of bath time earlier this week? He gave Chase his first mohawk and even though Chase’s face is sporting some serious baby stink eye in the above picture, I thought he looked adorable! His fluffy blonde mohawk melted this mama’s heart!
- Candy Cane Lane Iced Latte
For the past week or so, around 3 p.m. I’ve been making myself iced peppermint tea lattes. The cool mint flavor is incredibly refreshing and since the Candy Cane Lane tea I use is decaffeinated, I don’t feel like it interferes with my sleep at night… but then again, I am pretty sure Chase has a monopoly on my sleep disruption these days. To make my latte, I refrigerate a hot mug of tea made with two tea bags (for a more concentrated peppermint tea flavor) until it’s cold and then add almond milk and ice and enjoy! (If you want a sweeter latte, try adding a few drops of liquid vanilla stevia.)
- Lactation Cookies
Gina, one of my wonderful blogging BFFs, sent me the most thoughtful care package this week that was practically overflowing with delicious snacks and an adorable onesie and book for Chase. She’s the best! Gina also happens to make the tastiest lactation cookies! If you are breastfeeding right now or know a mom who is, I highly recommend baking a batch of these cookies as a special treat. They’re so good!
- Mystery Show Podcast
Thanks to your recommendations on Twitter, I downloaded a couple of episodes of the Mystery Show podcast to listen to on my walks with Chase and Sadie. The mysteries aren’t anything crazy – nothing like Serial – but they’re lighthearted and fun and producer Starlee Kine is quite entertaining!
- Peanut Butter Hemp Bars
Bless protein-packed bars! Since my breastfeeding hunger is raging these days, I need to have a constant supply of easy snacks on hand and these Peanut Butter & Peanuts Hemp Bars from CVS’ Gold Emblem Abound line boast 13 grams of filling protein and remind me of a peanut butter Rice Krispie treat! I first tried them as part of my Trail Makers partnership a few months ago and immediately fell in love the toasted coconut, crunchy peanuts and salty peanut butter flavor. I actually packed these in my hospital bag and recently restocked my supply. I’ve also been adding a smear of peanut butter on top before digging in because I am a peanut butter-loving machine.
- Giveaway Winners
Congratulations to Emily, the winner of the Celestial Seasonings giveaway and Natalie, the winner of the Sleep Number giveaway! Both winners were emailed first thing this morning. Thank you so much to all who entered!
Question of the Day
- What is one thing that is making you smile this week?
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Disclosure: I’m proud to partner with CVS/pharmacy as one of the “Gold Emblem Abound Trail Makers” this year! I am being sponsored by CVS/pharmacy for my Trail Makers posts and activities, but all opinions expressed are my own, and all product claims or program details shared should be verified at CVS.com or with the appropriate manufacturers.
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Love anything with hemp added, such a unique flavour! His hair is so cute!!!
Oh my gosh–he looks beyond cute with that mohawk!
Ahhh! Baby stink eye is just the cutest! My little one gives it to me all the time…she’s like mom get outta my face…hahaha
I’m not trying to rush summer, but I was beyond ecstatic when I found my first pumpkin flavored yogurt earlier this week in a grocery store and bought two of them. I can’t wait for all the pumpkin flavored things!!
My MIL is a lactation consultant and she’s always talking about lactation cookies and other home remedies! I’ll have to try them out for sure when the time comes this fall! LOVE Chase’s mohawk!!! I am currently loving the fact that it was in the 60’s this morning!!
That mohawk! Too cute. 🙂
I love coconut butter! My dad makes his own and it is just AMAZING! This past week he mixed a bit of his homemade coconut butter in with homemade almond butter….OH.MY.GOSH!
Love baby mohawks! Just a FYI but peppermint can affect your BM supply as it can decrease it. I found that out the hard way.
YES – I drank peppermint tea for TWO days around the clock to dry up my supply, & it worked surprisingly well!
Yikes!! I had no idea! Thank you for the info!
Was going to say the same thing. Occasional use here and there is okay, but my mom is a lactation consultant and recommends not consuming it on a regular basis while lactating.
On the other hand….lactation cookies ROCK!!! For milk supply and for your sanity!
Well that mohawk is just adorable! Nice work, Ryan! 🙂
Super cute mohawk – what a cutie!!
That mohawk and stink eye! Too cute! I came across this http://wjla.com/news/videos/sassy-6-year-old-commands-r-e-s-p-e-c-t-aretha-style-during-dance-recital-114627 on Facebook this morning and it was just the right way to start a Friday. Kiddo’s all have such amazing personalities!
Hey Julie! Long time silent reader here! Just wanted to give you a heads up from a mama who breastfed exclusively for 1 year! Mint = a BIG no no!! There are certain herbs that significantly decrease your milk supple. Mint being one of them! Just wanted to make you aware if you’ve recently noticed a shortage.
Kellymom is awesome to refer back to! http://kellymom.com/bf/got-milk/herbs_to_avoid/
Big Congrats to you and your little family! Chase is absolutely adorable!!!
I was also told that peppermint can decrease your milk supply!
Being with loved ones is making me smile! It’s not too often that you get to all be together!
His hair is so cute, I can’t stand it! You can really see how tiny he is in that picture!! So precious.
Hope you have a great weekend.
Yay I’m glad you’re enjoying Mystery Show! Aren’t the stories so charming?? Belt Buckle in particular was so sweet!
I also love Mystery Show! I’m so sad that the first season is over, because it was great listening to it. I also love the Happiness podcast with Gretchen Rubin and her sister. So great to listen to on my morning run! One thing making me smile is my new favorite drink- spicy chai latte mix from trader joes with just a splash of hazelnut creamer. SO good!
Hey Julie, will you touch on having that spare bed in your nursery? As a soon to be mama I’m just curious how helpful it is/if it’s something you like? I guess I just see sleeping in the nursery and not with my husband as a thing that would make you grow further apart in the tough times of parenthood? Thanks!!
Love the Mohawk! 🙂
If you’re looking for a really great podcast that’s similar to Serial, you should try The Black Tapes! It’s a little spooky, but very addictive and is similar to Serial in that the reporter is essentially telling one story, week by week.
That mohawk on Chase… dying. So flipping cute! I hope you enjoy a much needed family weekend with the in-laws. Happy Friday!
that coconut butter looks like a dream. Home Goods always has THE best snacks and products. who would have ever known you can get food there!?
1. that picture of Chase is ridiculously adorable – loveeee that bebe stink eye! <3 2. your iced latte looks delicious, and I just might have to put those on my rotation this week! 3. what I'm loving this Friday is my wedding branding website finally launching! Woohoo! Have a great weekend with your fam Julie! xo
Those hemp bars look delicious, I always see them but am a little hesitant to try them out. I’ll have to give them a try now!
I am semi-loving the cooler weather here in southwest Missouri just because we can leave the windows open 🙂 But I am not ready for summer to be over just yet!
Oh my gosh, that mohawk is too cute!! I loved doing that with my baby’s hair. Others may have mentioned it already but careful with peppermint. It can reduce your milk supply. The lactation cookies may balance that out but just fyi.
Yea coconut butter! The best!
baby mohawks are THE BEST!! when the nurse bathed him in the hospital she made one, so i always did! until his hair fell out lol and then it grew back and i did it again, but now it’s so long and curly i can’t anymore!! love it!!
Oh my goodness, the hair! I loves playing with my son’s little fluffy newborn hair before it all fell out and new thicker hair replaced it. I love that coconut butter – they also make a chocolate one that is TO DIE for.
Aww I’m loving Chase’s little mohawk!! Too cute!
The pic of Ryan holding Chase while kissing Sadie reallllllly made me smile. :o)
Chase’s mohawk look awesome, lol, stank eye and all!
A friend of mine recommended I try out the Mystery Podcast, I haven’t done it yet but will check it out this weekend.
That mohawk totally melted my heart! So cute!
I’m really loving sautéed asparagus this week! So perfect!
Check out “The Right Reasons” podcast. It is a recap of The Bachelor/ette. I became addicted and binge-listened for the 2nd half of Kaitlyn’s season. They recap other trashy reality shows, too.
Sounds fun!! Thanks for the rec!
Ok..that mohawk is super cute! I am definitely going to do that to my kids one day!
I will definitely be making lactation cookies this time around! I’ll probably even bring them with me to the hospital, haha.
Love the mohawk:)
Warm weather with low humidity
Dark Chocolate
Pictures of my niece
Love all of your pictures of your son. Congratulations!!
You have the most beautiful family. Your son is so precious! Congrats again to you and Ryan.
I just want to echo what others have said about peppermint. It can decrease supply so be careful. Especially right now while you’re working on building yours up.
Aww, congrats and cute baby boy!!!
What makes me smile is my job. I work as a fitness program director in Huntersville, NC and I love it! I’m a fitness instructor and trainer at heart, and my job allows me to do these things. It’s very rewarding to empower clients. I notice live near the Lake Norman area. Maybe we’ll run into each other some day!
I found a 16 oz jar of the Artisana Coconut Butter at in the home section of Burlington Coat Factory. Score! I put a little in my spoon smoothies and it hardens to deliciousness. Keeps me full until lunch & makes me smile!
That baby mohawk is adorable!!
I’m going to have to find myself some of those peanut butter hemp bars! They look great!
Warby Parker x Pop-in@Nordstrom in San Francisco