Friday Favorites {12.10.21}

And just like that, it’s the last Friday Favorites of 2021 for me!

Where did this year go?!

Grab your Grown Up Hot Chocolate (ha!), turn on White Christmas and settle in…it’s a festive and fun Friday post!

Just like every week, I’m linking up with my friends Andrea and Erika .

Have the merriest weekend, friends!

This is without a doubt, my FAVORITE FAVE of the week!

You guys!  Sheaffer and I are beside ourselves over how much money we raised this week!

In just two days, you helped us raise $79,493 for  St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital®!

OH MY GOSH!!!!!!!

That is truly unbelievable!

I mean…UNBELIEVABLE!

Like, I cannot believe it.

This is lifechanging money, and we are FOREVER GRATEFUL to all of you for helping us do this!!!!!!!!!!

So, let’s put this into perspective.  How does $79,493 help?  The recent results around Neuroblastoma research is a great example of this!

• Neuroblastoma is a cancer of the nervous system that is diagnosed in about 700 people in the United States annually. Sadly, most of those patients are 5 years old or younger. Despite aggressive therapy, nearly half of patients diagnosed with high-risk neuroblastoma die of their disease.
• Researchers at St. Jude have found that when a particular antibody manufactured on the St. Jude campus is administered throughout treatment to high risk Neuroblastoma patients while enrolled in this clinical trial the three-year disease-free survival was nearly 74%!
• This is life changing for the 64 patients that were a part of this clinical trial at St. Jude!
• This promising treatment protocol will move on to other medical institutions throughout the country to be replicated in order to verify that it is effective.
• If results are replicated at other institutions it will change treatment protocol for high risk Neuroblastoma and improve survival rates for children around the world!

The children enrolled in this trial, like all St. Jude patients, will never receive a bill for their treatment, travel, food, or housing while being treated at St. Jude. Below is a breakdown of what the funds you raised would cover for patients like these.

Here are a few examples (each bullet point would cost roughly $80,000):

• Three surgical procedures
• 54 days of chemotherapy treatment
• 144 Platelet Transfusions (almost every patient regularly has platelet transfusions during their treatment)
• One week of inpatient care
• Two Prostheses

UNBELIEVABLE!  Thank you all so much!!!

So, what about our Christmas Giveaway?????

One lucky donor will receive our amazing and FABULOUS tote filled with all of our favorite things.  Last night, after our fundraiser ended, a random name was selected to win.

Drumroll please…

Congratulations KELLY FRANKS!

You won our special tote filled with our favorite things!!!  Thank you so much for being one of the generous people to donate this week to St. Jude.  We are so grateful for you and everyone else who participated.  Kelly, we emailed you this morning.  Please email us back ASAP to claim your prize!

Truly, God bless each and every one of you!

I’ve shared this before, but I’ll share it again…

…every year, the teachers and administrators at our school board a school bus and drive through the neighborhoods that feed into our school caroling.

It’s magical.

It truly is like something you would see in a movie.

This will forever be a favorite of mine.

Oh hey there cozy Buffalo plaid fleece. I want to wear you every day 🙂 .  You are totally a favorite of mine this week!  This Amazon find comes in many other colors/patterns too!

I’m extra excited about my fourth Fave this week!

I’m partnering with one of my favorite brands ever and sharing their ‘Tis the Season Sale!!!!

You know how much I love Colleen Rothschild!  It’s the only skincare my mom and I use and right now, you can get up to 50% off select gifts PLUS 20% off everything else (no code needed)!  Woohoo!!!  This sale goes through the 12th, so if you’re thinking about shopping, now is the time!

We just love, love, love our skincare products 🙂 .

Wait, wait, wait until you see these sales right now.

You know how much I love this…

…it’s the Discovery Collection!  This bag includes an assortment of all of Colleen Rothschild’s most popular products in smaller, travel-sized bottles PERFECT for traveling or for trying her line for the first time!  I take this with me on every trip because it’s all I need for great skincare but in smaller bottles. If you’ve been hesitant to purchase any full-size bottles, this is the kit for you!  This kit is regularly $95 (a $150 value), but today, it’s only $69!!!

Speaking of great collections for trying new products…

…right now, the Exploration Collection is only $49 (regularly $65!).

Their Quench & Shine Trial & Travel Essentials is $39 (regularly $54!) and…

…the Body Butter Trio (which is regularly $54) is only $39!

Now, if you’ve been around awhile, you know that these products here are the ones I swear by daily…

My tried and true faves are:

#1: Retinol Supreme Eye Serum 
#2: Age Renewal Super Serum 
#3: Sheer Renewal Cream
#4: Radiant Cleansing Balm
#5: Complete Eye Cream 
#6: Extreme Recovery Cream  

Here are the steps I use each day: I always add the Age Renewal Super Serum  all over my face to start each morning.  Then, I add the Retinol Supreme Eye Serum under my eyes and then add Sheer Renewal Cream on top.  Then, I add my makeup for the day.  At night, I always, always, always cleanse with their Radiant Cleansing Balm.  It takes off all of my makeup (even stubborn waterproof eye makeup!) without leaving my skin feeling dry or tight.  It’s truly a magical cleanser!  After my face is clean, I add Complete Eye Cream under my eyes and then Extreme Recovery Cream as my nighttime moisturizer.

Right now, the Radiant Cleansing Balm is only $49 (regularly $65!!).  That is such a great deal!!!  The Restorative Hand Cream, Intense Hydrating Mask, and Clarifying Detox Mask are also in the sale right now too PLUS 20% OFF EVERYTHING ELSE!

We love ourselves some Colleen Rothschild 🙂 !

‘Tis the season to head to Trader Joe’s!

I’m like a kid in the candy store when I walk in this time of year.

The decorations.

The music.

All the festive food.

It’s my version of a mini-vacation. Ha!

This week, I found these items to share…

…the Truffle Pecorino is seasonal and ALWAYS a hit when I serve it!

Yes, yes, yes!  These are great little gifts to give plus, they’re fun little after dinner treats too.

This with a cup of coffee is the perfect afternoon snack for me.

Speaking of which…

…the Sweet & Salty Snack Mix is too!

Don’t forget, you can see my complete guide to shopping Trader Joe’s at Christmas HERE!

Did you catch this yesterday?!

I made a Hot Chocolate Board!

If you are looking for fun ideas to jazz up your hot chocolate this season, I have them all right HERE!

From whipped creams to marshmallows, candy, peppermint, even adult add-ins, I have you covered!

Finally, I’m finishing off our Friday with my annual All About Holiday Appetizers post!

Whether you’re looking for a dip, a small bite, a slider, something a little spicy or a whole lot of savory, I have all the seasonal deliciousness HERE!

That wraps up our FABULOUS week!  Here’s hoping you have a wonderful weekend! xx