It’s that time of year finally…fire pit season! One of my favorite things to do is hang by the outdoor fire pit with friends or family because it’s a time where I can decompress and chat for hours. There’s something about staring into the fire that is so calming to me. It also reminds me of our family farm up in Oklahoma which is one place where I don’t have to worry about makeup or what I look like. It’s just time to unwind and reset. 

Fire pit season also reminds me of the holidays! One of my absolute favorite experiences last year was in Whistler, Canada with my best friend. We sat by the fire and watched the snow fall while sipping hot cocoa…it was absolutely magical. Another favorite outdoor fire pit memory was on New Year’s Eve two years ago with my best guy friend. We had zero intentions of going out to party and all we wanted to do was grab dinner and then drink wine by the fire pit. Best New Year’s Eve I’ve had…let me tell ya!

I’m excited to see what memories I make this year around the fire pit.

Next week I head to Lake Tahoe with my family where I’m sure there will be one memory made by the fire. Honestly, these are the moments you’ll probably always remember during the holiday season because sometimes an experience like this can’t compare to a gift. 

Well…maybe! I actually bought this fire pit and chairs from my partner Academy Sports & Outdoors for my good friend because  I knew he’d love it. We spend every Sunday evening at his house for our “family dinner” night we started earlier this year. I figured if I was going to spend time over there, he could use some new backyard gear. After all he is a guy… Just saying single guy living isn’t always super nice, ha.

I’m so excited to use the new fire pit and chairs this weekend during our Friendsgiving!

It’s not supposed to be super cold here in Dallas, but I also got these plaid fleece blankets to use. Also, you can’t have a fire pit night without s’mores! Clearly Cooper really enjoyed allllll the fire pit activities 😉 Can dogs eat marshmallows? Oh well! Academy had some great options for s’mores sticks and I had to get these YETI cups for some apple cider. 

Anytime I’m sitting around the fire pit I usually wear something casual and easy to wash because majority of the time you’ll end up smelling like smoke. That’s why I snagged my entire outfit from Academy, too! This zip up fleece keeps me warm and cozy around the fire and will be perfect for my trip next week. And, these duck boots will be great for activities in Tahoe. 
So here is a challenge for you this holiday season… What can you gift someone from Academy that will create an EXPERIENCE like sitting around the fire pit?!

P.S. Don’t forget to enter to WIN a $500 gift card in the “10 Days of Thankfulness” Giveaway!!

*Thanks Academy Sports & Outdoors for sponsoring this post. All opinions are my own.