Happy Friday, and first day of June!
JUNE?
June!
This is when I start to panic that the summer is going to fly by before I get a chance to really savor and enjoy it. Isn’t that sick? That said, I’m going to try and spend some time outdoors everyday over the next three months (when it’s not raining, anyways,) to unplug, get away from the madness of everyday life, and just enjoy. That way I can look back in August and know I did all I could.
Luckily it’s a beautiful day here in central Iowa, and I’m headed out for a nice run after I hit publish. I hope you’ll be able to do some of the same this weekend, but in the meantime, please enjoy my favorite finds from around the web and beyond in this week’s Friday Favorites! 
Favorite dessert: The Twix Tart. Chocolate + caramel + shortbread = SOLD! Look how dense & fudgy this pie is!
Favorite fashion: J Crew Ring Around Eyelot Top. Sweet & summery. Love the sleeve length too.
Favorite refresh: Lemon-Blueberry Cheesecake Bars. I wouldn’t normally associate cheesecake with refreshing but the cool, creamy lemon center looks so, well, refreshing!
Favorite movie: Snow White & The Huntsman. I made Ben promise to take me to this movie when it opened months ago, and am finally cashing in on said promise this weekend – muwahaha! Can’t wait. Although annoyingly moody at times, I still love me some K Stew.
Favorite combo: Toasted Coconut Vanilla Limeade. I would literally give my left arm for someone to show up at my house with a pitcher of this toasty, tasty combo this very minute. How do people come up with this stuff?!
Favorite woah: Italian Moon. Do you think this is Photoshopped? Either way – incredible!
Favorite twist: Mango Apple Salad with Sugared Lime Zest. A new twist on the classic “fruit salad”. My mouth puckers and waters at the same time just looking at this picture.
Favorite DIY: IKEA Bookshelf Office Space. A workspace hideaway built out of 3 IKEA bookshelves. Genius! I especially love the burlap backing.
Favorite supper: Pesto Pasta with Chicken Sausage & Roasted Brussels Sprouts. This supper literally includes all my favorite things. ALL THE THINGS!
Favorite pooch. SQUEE!
Favorite sip: Sparkling Watermelon Limeade. A cool, ultra refreshing beverage for the hottest of summer days. Love how it’s alcohol free, but could be jazzed up with a hit of white wine, or vodka.
Favorite outfit. Coral and gold is one of my all-time favorite combos.
Favorite bite: Asian Shrimp Dumpling. If these babies taste half as good as they look, then I am in for a real treat. 
Favorite app: Wedding Snap. OH how I wish this existed when I got married! Have your friends snap pics at your wedding, then upload them in real time to a personal website which displays them all.
Favorite light bite: Thai Mango Salad. Love the sweet-tart dressing for this fresh, light salad. I would inhale this.
Favorite decor: Vintage Travel Posters. Want. So bad. ‘Nuf said.
Favorite feel good: Black Bean Veggie Tacos. An awesome combo of fresh veggies, flavorful cheese, and hearty black beans. This is feel good food, for sure!
Favorite funny. Sorry, but I laughed for legit 10 minutes when I saw this!
Favorite picture. Growing up, my neighbor had a natural hole like this in their fence which their black lab would always stick its nose through. We had so much fun with her.
Favorite treat: Caramel Marshmallow Popcorn. Perhaps I’ll make a batch to bring to Snow White?! YUM!
Ultimate Mr. Bar-B-Q Grilling Package Giveaway!
Whether you’re looking for the ultimate Father’s Day gift, or just need to outfit your grilling station before summer really sets in, you need to check out this Ultimate Grilling Package giveaway from Mr. Bar-B-Q! I’ve reviewed Mr. Bar-B-Q’s Grill Cover and Grill Skillet in the past, and have been so impressed. Their products not only look great, but work well, and are of high quality.
Mr Bar-B-Q put together the ultimate grilling package to give to one reader, which includes an 18-Piece Platinum Prestige Stainless Steel Tool Set and Magnetic Grill Light Combo Kit, Oversized Grilling Basket,
Collegiate Grill Cover (available in a number of different teams,) Grill Stone Pizza Kit, and a Cast Iron Wok. That’s over $200 in grilling gear – whee!
Enter to win this entire package by Sunday, June 3 at 12pm central, up to 2 times. Here’s how:
- Leave a comment on this post telling me your favorite thing about your Dad (or step-dad, Grandpa, or father-figure!)
- “Like” Mr. Bar-B-Q’s Facebook page and leave a second comment here letting me know you’ve done so.
Good luck, everyone, and have an awesome weekend!
My favorite thing about my dad is that he is so goofy!
I am now a fan of Mr. Bar-B-Q on Facebook.
My favorite thing about my dad is his funny nicknames for me!
My favorite thing about my dad is how wonderful he is with my son treating him like the most important thing in the world and always loving him and me.
I’m a friend of Mr. Bar-B-Q too!
I love the fact that my Dad is always wanting to share stories and talk whenever we can.
My favorite thing about my dad is that he’s always there to help me, no questions asked!
I am a fan of Mr. Bar-B-Q! Yeah!!
My favorite thing about my dad is he is always there for me and hes a wonderful grandfather to my son!
My favorite thing about my dad is our shared obsession with fresh tomatoes from the garden and ice cream (not together)!
My dad can make or fix anything! He really does know something about pretty much everything. (Does that make sense?)
I loved building model trains with my dad when I was a kid. We had a huge model train city set up in the garage and would spend hours out there playing with them. He’s been gone now for 26 years and I still miss him every day.
My favorite thing about my Dad, is how non-judgmental he is, and the support he provides us, especially since he’s our step-dad no one could be a greater father and we love him all the more
I like Mr. Bar B que on facebook (kim jos)
Liked Mr Bar-B-Q on FB (Rickandkim Kenny)
My dad is Mr. “Handyman” and I love that I can always count on him when I need help with anything!
I like Mr Bar-B-Q on Facebook!
Thanks for sharing! I liked Mr. Bar-B-Q on FB.
I have so many favorite things, I just love spending time with my dad and talking. He is a honorable and volunteers at so many things. He makes me so proud to have a great role model.
I have liked it on Facebook.
My dad and I share a sarcastic, deadpan sense of humor; we always have so much fun together with a running social commentary!
My dad is a grill master!! Thus, he has past on the love and passion to ME, and we always try to out-do one another! Its something I will always love and be thankful for!
PS-I “liked” Mr Bar-B-Q on FB.
As my father ages he mellows. We have become better friends as we become more alike.
definitely love his sense of humor!
Because although he was a great dad growing up, he is the BEST grandpa to my girls now!
I love my Dad so very much! Which also means I miss him even more since he passed away 4 years ago. Fathers day is alway hard to deal with because i remember his spirt and willingness to turn everything into a competition. He taught me how to do my very best and never ever accept anything less than that. I hope I can win this, but I have never ever won anything on a blog contest before so I’m not holding my breath.
My dad is always my biggest fan. Even though he is determined that running marathons are “bad” for me, he hasn’t missed a single one!
My dads ability to fix ANYTHING I never had to take my car to the shop, shelves were homemade, the man built everything!!
Liked mr. Bar-b-q on Facebook!
My favorite thing about my dad is how he gets pure JOY out of doing things for his family. He is impossible to shop for because he would rather do something…so that’s what we’re doing this year. Turning his gift into an experience
I love my dad’s sense of humor!
I would have to say my favorite part about my dad is the way he’s always looking out for me, his little girl, and of course, the way he loves my mom. I hope I can find a man half as awesome as my dad someday!
Liked Bar-B-Q on Facebook, too!
I loved my dad growing up and thought that he was an amazing dad…but now that I am grown and have children of my own, I must say that he is an even MORE amazing grandpa. My girls love him and I am so thankful for the dad and grampa he is.
I’ve successfully ‘liked’ Mr. BBQ!
I love my dad because he knows how to fix anything! From stuff around the house to bad moods, he can fix it all.
I love my dad because he’s not afraid to be anyone but himself and I love him for that!
I “Liked” Mr. Bar B Q Facebook account!
My favorite thing about my dad is that he would instantly drop anything he’s doing if I needed something whether i’d be drive 2 hours to help me with a blown tire or talk to me on the phone during an incredibly busy work day! He’s the best!
I liked Mr. Bar-B-Q’s facebook page, too!
WHAT A GREAT POST. I am definitely following you…and I linked to your Grapefruit Mojitos today.
I love my dad’s sense of humor! I have always looked up to him and he was a great role model to have growing up. He is the reason i am such a hard worker. I love just being able to sit and talk about nothing and just spending time together! And he is a even more amazing grandfather to my 3 kiddos! I am his only daughter so I think I will always have that special Father/Daughter relationship! I consider myself very lucky to have my dad!
My favorite thing about my dad is that he likes to have a good time!
I liked Mr. Bar-B-Q!
My Dad has been gone 20 years but loved that he taught me priorities of God first, family second, and career third.
I liked Mr Bar-B-=Q
I liked Mr. Bar-B-Q’s Facebook Page.
My dad is actually my step-father; but I have never once, in my entire 35 years felt that he was anything but my “dad”.
My dad adopted me when I was 6 months old, and has always, my whole life, been my DAD. Even when I became curious at the age of 26 and found my Bio-Dad, my Dad was there for me when my Bio-Dad turned out to be garbage (surprising, no?).
(this actually makes me teary to write) When I married my husband I knew that the measure of who he would be as a husband and father would always be compared to my Dad. My Dad is an amazing person.
My dad is a great role, he has an awesome sense of humor and stays super active
And I “liked” them on FB