It’s time for another Things I’m Loving Friday!!! I have such a good time putting this blog post together every week. It’s a blast to talk about things that are making me smile and I love reading all about what you guys are loving lately, too.
Let’s get to it!
Things I’m Loving Friday
- My Attempt to Recreate The Coffee Bean’s Winter Dream Tea Latte
When I arrived home from San Francisco last Friday, I couldn’t get The Coffee Bean’s Winter Dream Tea latte out of my mind! It was the most delicious drink I had in the city and, determined to recreate it at home, I placed an order for a package of Winter Dream Tea on Amazon so I could have it back in my life. I’ve been playing around with different combinations and I’m coming very close to mimicking the real deal!
My latest attempt: 1.) Heat a large mug of unsweetened vanilla almond milk in the microwave. 2.) Add six to eight drops of liquid vanilla stevia (I love NuNaturals) and several shakes of cinnamon. Stir. 3.) Add Winter Dream Tea tea bag to the almond milk and allow to steep for a loooong time.
Sometimes impulse buys at Target do pay off! This popcorn called to me when I was at Target earlier this week and I’m pretty sure I ate half of the bag in the car on the drive home. It has a perfectly authentic gingerbread taste and I can already promise you I will be stocking up on this stuff throughout the holiday season.
These boots!! I saw a woman wearing them in San Francisco and asked her for all the details so I could find them online when I got home. They’re now on my Christmas list! I love the color and the zipper up the back of the boot. I think they’re the perfect dress-down boots. I picture them paired with comfy leggings and an oversize sweater or a white t-shirt and a cropped moto jacket. Another fun find? These ankle boots (in brown) that I bought on sale on RueLaLa earlier this week. I’m not sure if I’ll be keeping them though because I’m afraid they will make my short legs look stumpy. (Yes, I am 5’7’’, but I am all torso.)
As I’ve mentioned every day this week, our annual Friendsgiving party is tomorrow! Can you tell I’m excited!? I am so pumped to have a bunch of our closest friends (and their dogs) driving in town to celebrate Thanksgiving and eat lots of delicious food with us!
- Custom Designed Reebok Nano Speed Sneakers
Remember when I blogged about designing my own pair of Reebok Nano Speeds? They arrived earlier this month and I am a big fan. So snazzy! (If you have your eye on anything from Reebok, I got an email from the company earlier this week informing me about some super Black Friday sales. Woop!)
On my last Things I’m Loving Friday post, I raved about the incredible smell of Anthropologie’s Balsam and Cedar candle. Well, this week I stumbled upon a much cheaper candle that smells very similar! I popped into Bath & Body Works after work on Wednesday because we were out of foaming hand soap and we needed to stock up. While I was there, I got suckered into their candle sale and, after smelling practically every candle in the store, I bought two holiday mason jar candles. The two winning scents: Marshmallow Fireside (I really don’t know how to describe this one other than winter wonderful!) and Fresh Balsam, the scent that reminded me of the Anthropologie candle I mentioned last week.
Ryan bought this for me two years ago as a Christmas present and we’ve renewed our pass every year since! We use our annual pass all the time – often multiple times a week – and enjoy exploring the hiking trails near our house and all over Florida. We’re finally entering that time of year when we won’t sweat our faces off outside and I’m already looking forward to more weekend hikes with Sadie.
Past Things I’m Loving Friday posts:
Now it’s your turn…
Question of the Day
- What is one thing you’re loving lately?
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Ahh, what great idea for recreating the latte! I have all the ingredients except for the dream tea, but I just might have to purchase some! Also, I love the mason jar candles from Bath and Body Works. Seriously, it seems like the year of mason jars and I for one, absolutely love it!
The winter dream tea is seriously SO fantastic. It reminds me of chai tea, but a little sweeter. It’s amazing!
Ok I was going to ask…what does this tea taste like?! It got good reviews but was just curious…I do LOVE chai tea.
If you love chai, I think you’ll love it! It just has a slightly sweeter taste. Here’s the description: “Characteristically sweet rooibos and delicate black tea are highlighted by the festive flavor of mulling spices.” <3
We are having our first ever friendgiving tonight!! Very excited, made some green beans and sweet potatoes last night. Hope you enjoy yours!
YAY! I hope you have a BLAST! Happy Friendsgiving! 🙂
I just bought those 2 exact candles last week, my house has smelled AMAZING ever since!
Aren’t they fabulous? I was shocked when I liked the Marshmallow Fireside candle so much. I thought it would smell really funky, but it is amazing!
I need to go get some candles like that how cute!!!!
Ooooh, that popcorn has my mouth watering — it looks so good!
Have a great Friendsgiving! Happy Friday! 🙂
Those Steve Madden boots are cute! Love the color.. Have a great Friendsgiving and weekend!
I love you doing this post. It’s so fun to see what cool finds other people are into. I am loving my Garmin Forerunner 220 (obsessed!), Starbucks red cup holiday beverages, Fresh sugar lip treatment, and MAC Care Blend powder. I have tried a million powders in my life and this one hands down is the most natural and photographs incredibly!
So glad to hear it. They’re really fun to write! And what is this “fresh sugar lip treatment” you speak of!?
OMG you are going to be addicted. Its a lip balm from a brand called Fresh. It will remind you of the smell at the beach, leave your lips as soft as can be and has SPF 15 🙂
Love Bath and Body Works candles. They have some really delicious scents! I’ve always been a huge PB fan, but over the past few weeks, I’ve been gravitating towards almond butter more and more.
That’s so great that you and Ryan support your state’s parks!! We’re in Virginia and love our park system….great for dogs who need to burn off some crazy energy, not unlike Sadie 🙂 Happy Friday!
Yes! Exactly! Sadie looooves it!
I <3 my state and national parks! If you would like a cause to donate to, you should check out:
National Parks Conservation Association
http://www.npca.org
I love to donate to this one, even $10 helps, and they send you great stickers and address return labels!
The Angie’s white chocolate peppermint popcorn is amazingggg. I’ve been waiting for it to come out again since last Xmas. I have already gone through 3 bags this season (they aren’t really that big…..lol)
That popcorn looks amazing! And maybe even call the coffee shop and ask? Haha if it’s not a big chain they might be willing to share their secret!
gingerbread popcorn!??! I need that in my life!
I’ve got to get my hands on that gingerbread popcorn. I love Annie’s brand popcorn. I also love the mason jar candles and fireside marshmallow sounds fabulous. I’ll be hitting up that store when I do my Christmas shopping this next weekend. Have a fun Friendsgiving!!
Pretty excited about the mason jar candles!! We also have a FL state park pass that I love! I picked up the Angie’s candy corn kettle c
Oops..popcorn and loved it! I also finished the bag in 1 sitting;) Will def have to try the new seasonal flavors! Have a wonderful Friendgiving! Such a neat idea!
I’m loving that St Augustine is turning into a winter wonderland tomorrow!!
I am obsessed with Bath & Body Works candles! My personal favorite this year was Snow Day. Every time I go in that store I leave with a bagful of stuff I didn’t intend to buy!
I just designed a custom pair of the nano 3.0s!!! I emailed it to my mom as a hint hint for Christmas 🙂
Bath and Body Works has the BEST smelling candles! I swear fresh balsam smells like a real Christmas tree. We buy a new one every year! And those boots are GORGEOUS!
You’re sneaks turned out SO cute! And stop it with those boots, I want them. So badly. Your Florida State Park passes remind me that I keep meaning to get on that (Michigan style, of course.) Still sounds weird to say, even to me. Have a great weekend Julie! 😀
P.S. I started hosting a Friday Favorites link-up a few weeks ago. I feel like these Things I’m Loving (<- I am loving by the way) posts would be a perfect addition. 😉
http://housewifeglamour.com/holidays/friday-favorites-12-week-of-1122/
I am also 5’7″ with a long torso and it seems like we have a very similar body type. You always look great in pictures and I love how you embrace your form. Personally, I can be so self-conscious about what I view as “out of proportion” on my body. Do you ever struggle with similar insecurities? I love your confidence and could use any tips! Thank you.
Love love love those boots! I am loving that it is Friday! It’s been a stressful week and I am happy to have made it through in one piece 🙂
I bought Angie’s dark chocolate sea salt popcorn & CANNOT wait to try it tonight. I haven’t seen the gingerbread kind-but definitely see that being a purchase when I do come across it!
Those boots are super cute! Target has some similar boots in a different shade. They looked a little funny on me…at least that’s how it felt but they were SO cute on the stand!
I love these Friday posts. :0)
I have some brown knee-high Steve Madden boots with a red zipper up the back. They were expensive – $250 – but I love love love them! I’m going to save them to pass down to my daughters one day. (Um, that is, if I have a daughter! I hope I will, ha ha.) My mom did that with a few items for me and it has been awesome to wear her old stuff now and then!
Your blog is so energizing and uplifting!
I also have been loving candles lately! I hate a sweet cinnamon pumpkin mason jar- so adorable and smells delicious!
Those Reeboks are awesome!! I am so looking into getting some of those!!!
I NEED THAT GINGERBREAD POPCORN. Holy moly. I’m going to Target on Sunday after church for some shopping so I will definitely be picking some of that up!
sticking with the tea theme, one tea i’m loving lately is tazo’s wild sweet orange tea (http://www.amazon.com/Tazo-Wild-Sweet-Orange-24ct/dp/B0000DBN2I). it’s fruity and refreshing!
i am loving:
1. a tall skinny peppermint mocha at starbucks has only 100 calories!
2. morning runs that are no longer hot and humid (gotta love tx weather)
3. football season! and my baylor bears are winning!!
I love the fresh balsam candles from B&B Works! I buy them every year. I cannot wait until after Thanksgiving as that’s when I allow myself to break them out for the season! Fun fact: I found the balsam tea lights on super clearance as the season was ending and I bought about 60 of them to use at my wedding!
The short boots are so cute but I never know how to style them. Do you have some tips on what you do??
http://www.sneakersandspatulas.com/2013/11/20/easy-crockpot-applesauce-recipe/
That tea sounds amazing!! I’d have to say that I’m loving my Garmin Footpod 🙂 It keeps track of my mileage when I have to move my runs in doors and that’s nice considering we are moving into the cold winter months here in Wisconsin.
LOVE the boots!!! Soo cute!
One thing that I’m loving lately is that I start Thanksgiving break today! I’m in college and a week off sounds absolutely amazing!
I’ve been loving homemade tea lattes, too! I got a milk frother for $3 from World Market and I froth my almond milk before adding the tea bag and hot water. The foam gets sweet and the leftover almond milk (with stevia drops in it) gives the rest of the tea sweetness! I love my frother!!!
I love BBW candles!!! They’re the best and are reasonably priced. I didn’t know about these mason jars ones – going to have to stock up!
I love Angie’s too!! I am especially “proud” of the company because it was started and is owned by a married couple from my hometown of Mankato, MN! Anywho, I just tried the holiday “White Chocolate Peppermint” and “Salted Dark Chocolate” kettle corn flavors, and both are FAB. I need to try the gingerbread flavor!
Bath and body candles are my OBSESSION! I hoard them. I always get sucked in the store when I go to the mall and buy 4 more. I have about 50… ::walks away with head hanging::
I am in love with Angie’s kettle corn! I haven’t tried the gingerbread flavor yet, but I love the dark chocolate/sea salt and the white chocolate peppermint. So yummy! My friends and I are also having our Friendsgiving tomorrow! Have fun!
I have those same boots in black. Well similar bc mine aren’t Steve Madden..I got them from JustFab. 🙂
Those candles! I would love to smell them! Those with holiday scents are so cool 😀 The boots are gorgeous and the year pass looks amazing and a fun way to spend time with our furry friends 😀
I love that whole popcorn line!! Omg yum!
I make tea lattes all the time! And I love them! One tip I’ve discovered is if you put about an inch of hot water in your mug and let the tea steep in that and then add the hot milk and spices you get a lot more flavour!
Perfect! Thanks for the tip!!!
Just got a 20% coupon from B & BW in the mail yesterday. I know what I’m using it for. I’m a candleaholic and haven’t tried theirs yet. Fireside Marshmallow sounds like a fall campfire roasting marshmallows for smores.
I’m loving my new Mizunos that arrived this week and I’m also loving that next week I only work 2 days!
I’m super pumped to hear about the Reebok specials!! Merry early Christmas to me!! Also, isn’t anything in a mason jar 10x better than in a normal jar??
I picked up Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin candles from Bath & Body Works (I’m a sucker for anything pumpkin!) and they smell really good, too. I look forward to seeing your blog re-design soon! Have a great Friendsgiving!
Hoping to have it up within the next couple of weeks!
Donut House decaf coffee with International Delight pumpkin spice creamer. Gets me my pumpkin fix without spending $5 a cup at that well-known coffee joint 😉
Those boots are amazing! I love the purple!
I guess it is time to start loading up on B&B winter candles 🙂 The make a house just seem so cozy and inviting.
Bath and body works fresh balsam scent is my favorite for Christmas– and you can’t beat 2 for $22!! Right now, I’m loving the Hunger Games: Catching Fire soundtrack!
I’m starting to think I really need to try out this tea! Sounds amazing. Since I’m a huge chai fan, I’m sure I’ll love it. Thanks for telling us about it!