Category: friday favorites

This week was back to work after a nice long Thanksgiving vacation. It was a fun weekend to spend time with the family watching Hallmark Christmas movies, doing some shopping with my mom on Black Friday, and enjoying turkey leftovers as much as possible! We wanted to enjoy a mid-week date night so we walked downtown to watch the tree lighting at City Hall and walked around to see the little pop-up shops. With the large crowds, we decided to come back another day to fully enjoy it because this year the Christmas Village set up is bigger than ever! Since it can’t be date night without a meal, we stopped at one of our favorite restaurants, Pub & Kitchen for dinner. We both got a cocktail to celebrate almost getting through the work week! Going into the week, we knew our work schedules were going to be super busy so to give us something to look forward to on the weekend, we made plans to decorate our house for Christmas this weekend. And if you cannot tell… I AM SO EXCITED!

So let’s get started and talk about my favorite things this week.

I’ve been enjoying 30 minutes of “alone time’ after work before J gets home. I usually curl up on the couch and watch an episode of Paris in Love or Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip on Peacock. It’s the perfect show to watch because it requires zero brain energy and is very entertaining. SPEAKING of Housewives, you must watch Housewive & Shah Shocker on Hulu if you follow the Jen Shah drama. I binge-watched Catherine the Great on Hulu one weekend because I love this show so much.

I love wearing a full face of makeup but I hate taking it off at night. Ugh, it is a struggle! I recently just finished using Maybelline Satin Liquid Foundation which I have used on and off for years. Luckily, I had a bottle of Maybelline Super Stay in my vanity that I’ve been using ever since. Wearing a mask most of the day because of work, I’ve found that using a full coverage foundation stays on the face better than a sheer foundation. Also I have been using this moisturizer every morning under my makeup and I notice my face looks brighter with daily use. At night I’m still using my retinol and dab a few spots of this moisturizer around my eyes since that area can be sensitive.

When we got back home from my parents house we came back home to an empty fridge and not much in the pantry. So on Monday after work I had to walk to the grocery store so we could eat dinner that night. This week I made barbeque chicken, stuffed peppers and quesadillas for dinner. Not that fascinating I know but it’s so nice to have options again!

I love visiting my parents because of how close they live to some of my favorite stores! We stopped in at Hobby Lobby and picked up a few things for the house before stopping at Homegoods and it’s dangerous when I walk in the front door! Hobby Lobby has an entire aisle dedicated to Grinch decor and I want all of it! Our Christmas plans are still up in the air so I delivered my parents Christmas presents when we were visiting at Thanksgiving to be on the safe side. I got my mom a butter ornament as a joke gift that I let her open early because we always joke about how much butter we use when we cook.

• I keep a semi-full closet full of clothes at my parents house as well as a bottle of my favorite perfume so I don’t have to bring it back and forth.
• My favorite Tarte eyeshadow palettes were on sale with Black Friday deals. Now is the time to stock up!
• The windows at Macy’s are all decorated for Christmas!
• The gin and tonic cocktail I had at Pub & Kitchen on our date night. Just thinking about it makes me want to have another!
• Shared some festive stocking stuffer ideas here.
• Last week I shared some gift ideas on the Blonde Rosie Facebook page. Keep an eye out because I’ll be adding more.

Happy Friday, friends! The Holiday season is here everywhere you look but I’m holding on to our fall decor for just a bit longer. Last weekend I did a deep clean around the house so it will be easy to put away the fall decor and bring up the Christmas boxes. I’m looking forward to spending Thanksgiving at my parents house in North Carolina. Our tradition is to start putting up Christmas trees as soon as the pumpkin pie is cut. My mom goes all out for Christmas and needs all of the help from her elves that she can get! We will put on a Christmas movie like A Christmas Story and eat pie while we flock trees around the house. It’s one of my favorite traditions! I got a bunch of errands done on Thursday since I was off of work. Christmas shopping is basically all finished so now I just need to wrap and place them under a tree. I’m trying to be as proactive as I can to get everything done so I can enjoy the holiday season. I’ll be sharing some gift guides on my Facebook page to give you some ideas. I forgot how much planning needs to go into the holiday season when I’m working and don’t have that much free time LOL! Hope everyone has a good weekend!

Our tv has been set to the Hallmark channel since November 1st so it’s been Christmas movies every day. On Sundays, we have been watching Succession and I’m loving watching this family drama unfold. Be sure to catch up on Dopesick on HBO. I also started watching MAID on Netflix late last night and WOW. I had read a lot of good things about it online and it’s a show I think everyone should watch but be prepared to be emotional.

Recently just picked up Chi x Barbie Silk Infusion and Chi x Barbie 44 Iron Guard Thermal Protection Spray that I found at Target. It looks like the hair products are no longer in stock but I saw a ton at TJ Maxx and Marshalls. Did I buy these products just because they are Barbie? Yes. Yes, I did! A few years ago I made the switch to aluminum-free deodorant and just finished this one and will definitely be repurchasing. I don’t notice the difference and it’s just healthier for your body so why not make the switch?

I wanted to share an easy recipe that makes a tasty dinner in 5 minutes. The other night I heated up a bag of Trader Joe’s fried rice, towards the end I cracked two eggs in the pan and let them fry, and thawed some frozen fish to mix in later. It felt like we were eating take out but it was cheaper and a bit healthier.

As I mentioned, I just finished all of my Christmas shopping because I’m trying to get ahead of the game. While I was out running errands, I also picked up this garland for under $3 and this flocked garland because when I went to buy it last year, they were all sold out. Be sure to buy Christmas decorations early because they are going to sell out quickly.

I’m sure I am going back to buy more, but I picked up two Hallmark Christmas cards to send to our families. Browse their website here if you know of anyone who loves the Hallmark Christmas movies because they have the best gifts for anyone on your list.

The stores are READY for Christmas! Lots of great gifts and holiday decor at TJ Maxx and Homegoods.

The Hallmark Channel Christmas movies are so bad but bring me so much joy.

Starbucks red cups are here!

Ed loves to be in my lap any chance he can now that I go to work every day. That includes when I’m reading the newspaper in the morning or on a work Zoom call.

Most importantly, RED TV will be on repeat in this house all weekend.

Not sure why we thought it was a good idea to make a car service appointment at 8am six months ago. Yikes it was a struggle to get out of bed but happy we did it! After we dropped the car off we went out to breakfast and got back home early afternoon after errands. It was a nice mix of super productive around the house and writing lesson plans while making time to relax. This weekend will still be an early start to the day but only because we have a busy weekend planned!

So excited that Succession on HBO is back! This season is going to be so so good.
Binge watched season 3 of YOU on Netflix in three days and did not expect that ending!
We are watching Dopesick on Hulu because we have been following the drama unfolding with Purdue Pharma the last few years. It’s insane it took them this long to be shut down.
I’ve been making friends on the internet because of needing people to talk to about the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills especially part 2 of the reunion.

Desperately need a haircut so for now I’m using Loreal Elvive Dream Lengths shampoo and conditioner to keep my hair long and healthy.

I’m still trying to balance working during the day and coming home with enough energy to make dinner. Trader Joe’s meals have been a lifesaver this week. On Monday I made TJs fall zucchette pasta with autumn harvest sauce for national pasta day and it was soo yummy! I’m a big fan of the ravioli and potstickers for tasty meals when I’m lazy. Also salad kits are my go-to for lunch this week because they are so easy to make. Made cookies to bring to school today for one of my students birthdays. I love baking for other people 🙂

Being able to wear the clothes in my closet again!
I’ve been wearing these shoes to work on repeat.
Reading the newspaper while I drink my coffee in the morning is my new favorite way to start the day.
Trying to enjoy the sunshine when I get out of work while I can with a walk or run after work.

This week has flown by so fast that I blinked and all of a sudden it was Friday. I’m still adjusting to working and balancing other responsibilities but I am sure I’ll adjust… soon! I’m looking forward to a relaxing and fun weekend. This weather is a little odd because it feels like summer but I reallly want to start wearing my fall sweaters. Not much going on for me this week besides work but I have really enjoyed working again. Spending time in the classroom has become the highlight of my day!

I stayed up past my usual bedtime to watch this weeks Real Housewives of Beverly Hills Reunion live and while texting my friends because the drama is going to get good. Don’t have much time for tv lately but I am rewatching Bones for some white noise while I unwind at night. On Sunday, we saw the new James Bond movie and it was a really good way to end the Daniel Craig chapter. No spoilers – but you will not be ready for the ending!

I recently finished my far of Botanics Simply Calm with cannabis sativa seed oil Hydrating Overnight Mask this week. It’s a really thick moisturizer that a little goes a long way and lasts forever. I use it once a week during my pm skincare routine to keep my face hydrated and feeling soft. For now, I’m using my Olay Regenerist Retinol 24 night cream but need to use it every other day because my skin is sensitive. I love love love my Trader Joe’s Ultra Hydrating Gel Moisturizer.

Spontaneous decision to get lunch at a pop up at Love Park on Saturday
The Harvest Festival in Dilworth Park was the best way to get into the fall spirit
Walking around the art show in Rittenhouse Park on Sunday
Our mums and pumpkins on our front stoop
Seeing a movie and getting popcorn on Sunday made me believe we are going back to normal
Our tomato plant is still giving us delicious tomatoes
I want to complain but I am secretly loving this warm weather lately
Working on fun projects at school with my kiddos
Decorating my classroom has been a challenge but it’s looking so much better
These pajamas I bought over the summer are so soft and perfect for lounging after a long day
Caffeine. Lots of caffeine this week!

I’m ending this week on such a high note. It was my second week at my new job and first week in the classroom. I thought I would feel exhausted with this career change, new job, new routine, etc. but I have such an adrenaline rush. It is so nice to be in a job that I love this much. I’m excited to get out of bed in the morning and the day goes by so quickly because of all of the fun I’m having. This weekend we are headed to a fall festival in the city and I’m excited to celebrate fall… if only the weather would get cooler!

There has been very little time for tv this week but I have been able to catch up on Real Housewives and watch the first episode of the new Grey’s Anatomy season. While getting ready for work, I’ve been rewatching one of my favorites, Bones. We are doing a quick binge watch of the James Bond movies before we see the new Bond movie, No Time To Die, this weekend.

Wearing makeup everyday again means I’ve been using micellar water at night to get my makeup off after I wash my face with my face cleanser.

Halfway done with Outlander book #4, Drums of Autumn.

Not including all of the classroom supplies I picked up this week, I was able to pick up a few fall themed goodies at Trader Joe’s. Last weekend we picked up mums and pumpkins for our front steps. The mums are slowlyyy starting to blossom and I’m eager to see what color they will actually be since we couldn’t really tell when we bought them. We also went to Homegoods to browse and found a lot of really cute pieces that we totally would have purchased if we had a bigger house ha!

Getting dressed for work.
Slow mornings reading the newspaper while I drink my coffee.
Ed has been so cuddly lately since J and I are back in the office full-time.
Our tomato plant is still blooming so we’ve been enjoying them with every meal that we can to enjoy them.
I shared what steps I’m taking to keep my skin healthy while we transition into fall.

Happy Fall y’all! I’m cozied up in warm pajamas as I write today’s blog post. Last week, I started a new job and forgot how much work it is to balance work and life. I was going to bed before 9pm because my body was not used to waking up early and working all day. It was a long week but I had a lot of fun getting to know everyone and I’m looking forward to getting back to work. On Friday, we celebrated by going out to dinner at Thai Square and then I went to bed early. Is this what my thirties are going to look like?? It was so nice to sleep late on Saturday with no alarm. I threw on some comfy leggings and hung out with a friend I haven’t seen in over a year because of the pandemic. I feel like I blinked and we went from living in quarantine and the next minute things are kinda like back to normal? Sunday morning we were up early to take a train to New York City. Jake had to work out of the New York City office so I went with him for a few days. I shared what we did, where we stayed and a delicious restaurant recommendation in this blog post . I’m looking forward to a slow weekend at home. Hope you get out and enjoy this nice fall weather!

• Only Murders in the Building on Hulu has me laughing out loud and the casting is genius!
• Real Housewives of Salt Lake City is back and I’ve been texting my friends to talk about it while I watch. The drama this season is goood!
• LuLa Rich on Netflix is a documentary show about the rise and fall of Lularoe. I started to watch it and then restarted it when Jake walked by because I knew he would love the drama.

Since I got back from our cruise, my hair has felt dry and brittle so I’ve been going longer between hair wash days and using Redken shampoo and conditioner to get my softer hair back.
But going back to work means that I have to style my hair every morning. For an easy blow out, I’ve been using my Conair hair dryer brush. It takes less than 5 minutes in the morning to turn my bedhead into a salon blowout.
I am constantly rotating my mascaras and this week I’ve been using Too Faced Better Than Sex mascara.
Last week my Tarte Sex Kitten Eyeliner ran out so I picked up L’Oreal Paradise Eyeliner. It’s easy to use and love love love it!

Loving this new line of OPI nail polish called Nature Strong. It lasts a lot longer than my other nail polish and it’s vegan.

I stayed up way too late last night to read my book because I am almost finished reading it. When I was reading the first two books of the Outlander series, I read them within days and now that I’m back home from vacation I’m enjoying my time and making them last a while. I have less than 100 pages left of Voyager so I went to Barnes and Noble and bought the rest of the books in the series so I wouldn’t have to wait for them to arrive by mail anymore.

Finally did the thing and bought the Lululemon belt bag.
Bought way tooo much at the Harry Potter store in New York. Browse for yourself here.
Since I’m reading the Outlander series so fast, I picked up the rest of the books at Barnes and Noble.
I got a PR box of Pete’s Coffee Creme Brulee k-cups and they are the perfect afternoon sweet treat.

Finally got around to sharing pictures and what we did on our cruise last month on the blog.

Early mornings to myself.

Looking forward to a weekend at home.

This past week in New York was such a nice treat! I talked more about what we did in this blog post.

Starting to decorate our house for fall. All of our fall decor sat collecting dust on our dining room table for a few weeks but now pumpkins are being put around the house to get into the fall mood.

Still looking at pictures I took at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and planning our next trip back!

Almost finished with my book, Voyager – the third book in the Outlander series, and I’m eager to get started on the next one in the series.