Hiii! How are you today? I hope your Friday is a good one so far and that your weekend is filled with relaxation and time with the people you love most.
I kicked off this week feeling behind on life. I usually try to sneak in a couple hours of work over the weekends to make working from home during the week manageable but since I traveled to Chicago last weekend, I kicked off Monday in a bit of a blur. I finally felt caught up on Thursday night… and now it’s Friday. Phew!
In keeping with Friday tradition around here, below you will find a roundup of a few things that are making me smile this week in your usual Things I’m Loving Friday blog post. I’d love to have you join in the fun in the comments section and tell me a little bit about something that you’re loving this week!
Have a good one, my friends!
Things I’m Loving Friday
- Halloween Play Date + A Pumpkin Foreverrr
Is there anything cuter than babies in Halloween costumes!? I can’t handle it! Yesterday afternoon I met up with a few of my friends for a Halloween play date and we all brought our little ones in their Halloween costumes.
A little backstory on Chase’s costume: I had grand plans for his costume this year. I wanted to dress him up like one of his most beloved treasures… An elephant Wubbanub! I thought it would be equal parts cute and hilarious but every time I tried to put the elephant head on him, he would immediately start screaming and pull it off. He always managed to pull the hood/hat off in 2.5 seconds so the idea of even quickly putting it on him for a single cute Halloween picture rapidly fell by the wayside. Thank goodness we still had last year’s costume on hand!
My mom actually made Chase a pumpkin costume last year that was really easy to expand thanks to elastic and ties and now Ryan and I are joking that Chase will be a pumpkin as long as this costume fits him. So brace yourselves for a two-year-old pumpkin next year, my friends!
- Friendsgiving Planning
After a short two-year hiatus thanks to moving (aka we didn’t have enough friends the first year we moved here) and the birth of a baby (planning Friendsgiving with an infant sounded less than appealing), Friendsgiving is BACK and I cannot wait! We officially selected a date and I spent some time creating the ridiculously unnecessary invites you see above to email to friends last night. (Please excuse the cheesy poem. I just can’t help myself sometimes.) I am SO ready to celebrate one of my favorite holidays and bring back one of my favorite traditions. We’re doing it potluck style this year which I think will make things easier, but I’m still planning to make a bunch of my favorite dishes, desserts and mulled wine to share. I’ll be sure to recap the fun on the blog in a few weeks!
- EBF’s Pumpkin Spice Latte + Morning Culture Mug
After my friend Brittany shared a video on Facebook of her pumpkin spice latte recipe earlier this week, I knew I had to make it! After my Thursday morning workout, I whipped up the festive fall latte (the only substitution I made was using Fairlife whole milk in place of the almond milk for a creamier latte) and it was wonderful! If you are a PSL lover, you must make Brittany’s version ASAP. I promise you will love it! I think I also enjoyed it a little more than usual because of my snazzy new Morning Culture Rise & Shine diner mug! I received the mug from my friends at PopSugar in their latest Must Have box and quickly fell in love.
I could not wait to stream last Friday night’s PBS documentary this week and stayed up WAY too late on Sunday night watching it. I’m still dying to see Hamilton live but until that day comes, watching PBS’ Hamilton’s America documentary was a great way to satisfy my Hamilton craving. Hamilton better come to Charlotte – I mean I’ve been commenting on all of their social media pages to tell them to bring the tour to North Carolina and that WILL make them come, right!? Right??? My fingers are crossed!
- Friday Flashbacks
Legs + Abs + Arms Boot Camp Workout (A 32-minute total body boot camp style workout!)
Easy Baked Ginger Chicken (Simple and flavorful and great as leftovers, too!)
- Around the Web
Food: Pizza Casserole // Power Pistachio Butter // Baked Vegan Mac and Cheese // How to Make Tempeh Taste Good // Pumpkin Spice Blondies // Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Explosion Cookies
Fitness: 21 Day Fitness Challenge // 15 Burpee Variations // 15-Minute Lower Body Resistance Band Workout
Stellar Sales: Nike (Extra 20% off clearance with code BONUS20 – Includes some super cute Nike Flyknits!! This sale also includes Converse Chuck Taylors which is awesome but I have no idea why they’re on the Nike site!) // Macy’s (Extra 20% off + Free shipping $50+)
Question of the Day
- What is one thing that is making you smile today?
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Chase in that pumpkin costume and the fact that it’s Friday are two things making me smile today! He looks so adorable! Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays, since we don’t have any family nearby, we usually end up having a Friendsgiving on the actual holiday. Nothing beats drinking wine and eating yummy food with your family and closest friends =)
Thank you, Patricia! <3 And Thanksgiving is one of my favs, too. Good food, good people... The best!
Ah, thanks so much for the link to the Nike sale! I’ve been contemplating buying a pair of white Chucks for my trip to Europe next month and just got them for half their normal price!
Have a great Friday!
I was so confused as to why they’re on the Nike site but thought the deal was too good not to highlight! I’m so glad you found a cheap pair for your trip! Have the BEST time in Europe! <3
Nike owns Converse!
I need the white ones, too! Thanks for the heads up.
pumpkin costume for the win!!!! that’s like a MUST for babies!! wubbanub would have been funny, too, but totally not worth the pain of screaming and an unhappy baby! good choice!
exactly! i was bummed to not be able to do a more creative costume but when he was happy and not tugging at his costume for almost 3 hours yesterday, i definitely didn’t regret my decision!
Aw–glad youre getting use out of the pumpkin costume again! My niece is dressing up as a bumblebee and i cant wait to see her!
One year I’ll get my act together for a friendsgiving. Does everyone contribute food? I had a similar situation with Mitch’s costume this year, but after he saw other kids dressed up he went for it as well. Roll with the punches!
Yes! The first year we did it, we made almost everything ourselves and it was a little overwhelming (not to mention expensive) so potluck style works MUCH better!
Thanks for the pumpkins spice latte suggestion, it sounds delicious! I’m going to make one today (with collagen, too). Also, so you know, Converse is a subsidiary of Nike, has been since 2003.
Nike bought converse a number of years ago. Nike also owns cole haan.
Makes sense! I probably should’ve figured that!
Good news! Hamilton is coming to Charlotte in the 2017-2018 season!
http://www.hamiltonbroadway.com/tour.php
No dates yet, but it’s totally happening!
HOORAYYYYY!
I love babies in costumes! A co-worker brought his nephew in to the office in a turtle costume and I about died. I also really want a pumpkin latte right now.
Have a great weekend!
Hi! I am actually hosting a friendsgiving on the 19th as well and have been looking for a good mulled wine recipe! Can you share?? Thanks!!
yes!! i LOVE this one!! -> http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/mulled-wine-recipe.html
I just bought Hamilton tickets for Chicago next April – I can’t wait! The documentary was absolutely amazing.
I’m doing a Friendsgiving with a group of my friends this year, as well! I would love a post “pre-Thanksgiving” about how to plan a Friendsgiving
Chase is too cure in his pumpkin costume! I saw Hamilton three weeks ago in Chicago and it was absolutely incredible. I’ve been entering the lottery for cheap tickets every day since. Once is not enough!
I need to catch up on the hamilton craze lol…I really know nothing about it except one of the girls i danced with for YEARS growing up is in the Chicago cast and it’s really cool to see her pics
Hamilton IS coming to Charlotte! It was announced a while ago:
http://www.blumenthalarts.org/news/detail/national-tour-of-hamilton-coming-to-charlotte-in-2017-2018-season
But be quick when tix go on sale – they’re going to sell out immediately, I’m sure!
Oh my gosh this is the BEST news!
I’m all about the fun autumn mugs now— nothing cozier than a cute mug in the morning by some candles!!!! One thing that’s making me smile is that it’s almost HALLOWEEN!!
Did you already print the invitations? November is misspelled as “Novemeber” :/
ughh that’s what i get for making them before coffee! i went the super casual route and just emailed it to friends so it has already been sent but at least i didn’t waste money on printing an invite with a typo! ah!
Those Halloween costumes are so cute.
Those Halloween costumes…OMG i can’t! Too incredibly cute. Also, would you be up for meeting for coffee or lunch sometime? I’d love to meet you in person, especially since we live so close!
Those costumes are so darn cute! Great faves as always. And a special thank you for sharing my upcoming 21 Day Fitness Challenge. I so appreciate your support. Have an awesome weekend!!
Chase in that pumpkin costume- so adorable!! I’m smiling today because my husband and I have a date night tonight (eh, with the little one, does that still count? ?) and my sisters + mom are coming over to hang out for a while this morning! Family time is the best.
Hamilton is coming to Omaha next year! I can’t wait!!
I loved the documentary. Lin Manuel Miranda is a genius. I’m so bummed I never got to see him as Hamilton.
There’s nothing cuter than kids in Halloween costumes! That is something that made me smile today! I’m also really excited about the pumpkin spice latte you posted. I love to get into the holiday spirit, but it isn’t always good for my health. I’m glad I can celebrate the season and be healthy with this one!
Diana
betterthanalive.com
Can we talk about Pistachio Butter?! Why have I never heard of this?
Your Friendsgiving is the day of my wedding! I guess I’m technically doing Friendsgiving too? Ha
Hi Julie,
I’ve followed your blog for several years, but I have noticed a lot recently that you tend to complain a lot about not having enough time to do things, or being tired, yet you seem to travel/have houseguests an awful lot. It is something that has started bothering me as a reader, because I have such a hard time relating – I have a very active 16 month old (and I mean REALLY active, he walked at 9 months and dropped his 2nd nap at 11 months), and also have a part-time job out of the home, so I bring in child care a couple of days a week to ensure that his and my needs are met. I think, just as some constructive criticism, don’t complain about those things so much if you’re not willing to change them, since they are not “needs” as much as privileged opportunities. Just my $0.02, but I’m finding it much harder to enjoy your blog these days with the frequent complaints about being tired/behind etc. from your travels.
Best, Ainsley
Thanks for you input! I’m sorry if this is rubbing you the wrong way. It is definitely not something I’m dwelling on, but it’s just a struggle for balance at the moment. I know finding childcare would obviously help this a lot, but I haven’t been able to pull the trigger and make that next step just yet. I am sure I’ll get there eventually. I also sometimes don’t know what to say on the blog because sometimes when I don’t share struggles people see that as phony and all “rainbows and butterflies” and not a realistic glimpse at motherhood either. Believe me, I know I am lucky to feel stressed by juggling working from home and caring for Chase in addition to traveling but I’m still working to find balance in my life while prioritizing people who are important to me (as most travel I’ve done lately involves family and longtime friends). I will absolutely take your feedback to heart and appreciate your comment.
Oh my goodness, such a cute pumpkin costume!! My 3 year old actually wanted to be a pumpkin for his preschool halloween party :). I made his costume, and I have to say, it came out nowhere near as nice as your mom’s! She is talented!! Don’t, worry, he was still the cutest thing, even if he did look more like an oompa loompa than a pumpkin ;).
Chase looks so stinkin’ adorable in that pumpkin costume!!!! Love babies in costumes! We are doing a Friendsgiving this year too and I can’t wait!
My mom has season tickets for the Charlotte shows and I believe she told me Hamilton was on the list to be on the 2017/2018 line up. Fingers crossed its true!!
Converse is actually owned by Nike! Not a well known fact, but that should explain the chucks being on the Nike sale! Love the pumpkin costumes (and the others as well!! )
Oh man, thanks for the heads up on the Nike sale! I just scored a sweet new pair of Metcons at a great price for the gym! Happy Friday!
Chase looks so cute as a pumpkin!
My sister’s BF just moved in with us and they are hosting a friendsgiving for 16 people. I am looking forward to attending my first one even if it’s being held where I live!
Have a great weekend, Julie!
So fun!!
Yay for Friendsgiving! We have ours scheduled for the Saturday before Thanksgiving and our friends are deep frying the turkey. Can’t wait! Enjoy your weekend, Julie!
No worries, Julie! Hamilton is coming to Blumenthal for the 2017-2018 season
http://www.blumenthalarts.org/news/detail/national-tour-of-hamilton-coming-to-charlotte-in-2017-2018-season
I don’t want to wait that long either but there’s a light at the end of the Hamilton tunnel!
YAYYY!
LOVE the pumpkin costume, Sully borrowed one from his buddy who’s a few years older so we’ll have matching baby costumes this year! Love it!
I’m totally with you on the costumes…my little one is wearing the same kitty costume by oldest daughter wore 4 years ago and be still my HEART! Cutest little fuzz ball ever! I remember the first year we moved to UT from Chicago we knew ZERO people! I was determined to have a home full of “new friends” on Turkey day…so I must’ve invited 100 people over (including total strangers) and NO. ONE. accepted! LOL! So it was just the 4 of us. Thankfully by the next year we made friends! LOL!
Chase is the cutest little pumpkin I’ve ever seen! Hope you and your family have a great Halloween, Julie