Friday Favorites, 12.27.2024.

 

Happy Friday, friends! I'm linking up with Andrea and Erika for today's blog post. 

Are you all finished Christmas-ing yet or are you still celebrating? It's funny how much love I have for the season and how over it I am the minute the day is over. I'm writing this on Thursday morning, and I'm seriously contemplating taking down the Christmas things today. It'll be a good chance because the boys will be here tonight to haul it all back upstairs for me after. I have one friend who takes hers down the day of Christmas every year! She always cracks me up sharing this on social media. 

Who knows what it'll look like by the time this post publishes...either way, I'm okay with however it turns out. I have some favorites from this week that I thought I'd share today! 

These little social media challenges to "add yours" are always a favorite of mine. I didn't participate by making one of my own, but this was my sister Trish's and I saved it for my own story on Instagram. Do you ever do these on your own account? 

My favorite thing about snuggling with Chloe every morning is how she buries her head either in the crook of my arm or into a blanket. She's the best! 

By the time you read this, I'll have abandoned the Hallmark Christmas movie train I've been on since mid-October, but in case you're still watching them, these were a couple of my recent favorites! I watched Red One on Prime TV. 

Seeing this picture of their sweet smiling faces is always a favorite! I love these girls so much and appreciate that their mom shares videos and pictures with us so we can watch them open their gifts and receive gifts from Santa. I think that's so thoughtful of her to think of us who can't be there in person! 

I am so glad I got to wear my favorite dress Sunday before Christmas! I was grinning and bearing it in this picture, but I'm glad I went to church. This was the dress I bought in November from Shein and was less than $20. I wore it twice before Christmas and I'll wear it more throughout the winter. I do think it's a little Christmas-y looking, but it's not that exclusively. I love how warm and soft it is, and I love the brown boots with it that I bought from JC Penney last year. 

This is one of my favorite things I saw online this week! I've tried some of these and they really do work. Humming or singing also works when I'm anxious. 

I received one of the most thoughtful gifts this week from a friend at church: beautiful pillow cases that are handmade with one of my favorite verses from the Bible inscribed on it. The verse is Isaiah 26:3 which say this: You will keep the mind that is dependent on you in perfect peace, for it is trusting in you. When I reached out to her to thank her, she told me she thought I could use the benefits of laying my head down on the Word of God when I go to sleep every night. Isn't that sweet? I love having beautiful pillow cases, so now I have these and two sets of silk ones for when I have people spend the night. I love small touches of something like that, don't you? It feels so extravagant, and I think things like that make great gifts, because it's usually a bit of a splurge. 

 

Another reason I'm glad Christmas is over is so that I can get back on track with eating healthy again. That will be one of my biggest goals in the new year; I sincerely feel better when I eat healthy and gluten free. Gluten causes inflammation, and for me, inflammation causes pain in my body. I found this recipe for protein bites recently and plan to make some at some point in January. They're a great snack to satisfy a sweet tooth craving in a healthier way. I'll adjust this a bit to make it lower in sugar by omitting the M&Ms and lowering the amount of honey and chocolate chips. 

Seeing Noah's little red Corvette sitting in front of my house is my favorite!
 

I have new favorite lip products! My mom is basically a genius and recommended a red lip liner instead of lipstick or gloss, so this is what I bought that she uses. I put the Elf lip oil over it, and the results are what you see below. 

Thanks, Mom! 

Christmas cards are my favorite! I like to hang mine like this; do you do anything with the ones you receive? 

Here are the few pictures I took before we ate on Christmas Eve. I love that we all coordinated so well together! My red shoes are still my favorite, by the way. 

Spending a little quality time with Graham on Christmas morning was my favorite. He drove my car to Mom's and Bill's house since I was on restriction from driving thanks to the meds I was taking. He stopped to grab a drink on our way out there, and I snapped this of the necklace I had hanging in my car. 

Dressing for comfort on Christmas day was my favorite. Stretchy pants for the win! 

The tryptophan took Drew out on Christmas day after lunch, and this was where he landed! 🤣 He reminds me so much of my dad doing this; Dad always preferred laying on the floor for a nap (until he was over the age of 83, then he got over that) and so does Drew. He looks like a giant laying there! 

This image of our Memphis bridge is my favorite that I saw on socials this week! I love how they change the lights depending on the occasion. 

And these guys are my absolute favorite of all time. I love how they're like shields around me; and they are! I am so grateful for them and the way they support me wholeheartedly. 

What are your favorites from this week? I'd love to hear from you! Thanks for reading my blog today, friends. Love to all! 

Jenn 🖤