Friday Favorites

Happy Friday, everyone, welcome to the weekend!

Sorry there hasn’t been a whole lot of “eating” here on Iowa Girl Eats this week. Post launch fixes, tweaks, and updates took up most of my week, but the site is 99.99% running smoothly now. I can’t tell you how unbelievable it feels to have this weight (albeit an exciting one!) lifted off my shoulders. I need some warm sunshine to open arm twirl around in, alas, while the foliage could not be more beautiful, it’s friggin’ freezing outside!

Thanks again for bearing with me this week as we got the new site up and rolling. I appreciate every positive, encouraging, and constructively critical comment and email. Like I said, I want IGE to be a space that YOU’RE excited to come to, so I take each and every one to heart.

In other news, Ben, the little man and I will be visiting family this weekend, and I’m looking forward to taking it easy before the madness of the holiday season is upon us. What will you be up to? Any fun Halloween plans?

In the meantime wherever you are and whatever you do have a wonderful weekend and please enjoy my favorite finds from around the web and beyond in this week’s Friday Favorites!

Favorite sweet: Gluten-Free Cinnabon Copycat Cinnamon Roll. The last time Lincoln and I went on our weekly date to La Mie, they had just pulled an enormous tray of cinnamon rolls out of the oven. The air smelled so Heavenly that we almost had to leave. Not even kidding! Need to make this gluten-free cinnamon roll stat.

Favorite travel: Telluride, Colorado. I randomly found this photo whilst surfing Pinterest a few weeks ago then sent it to my brother, who went to Telluride this summer, asking if it really looked like the picture. Yes, he responded. 360 degree mountain views – it’s mind boggling. This unbelievable mountain town is officially next on my Colorado bucket list.

Favorite plate: Chorizo Tomato and Charred Corn Salad. I love the combination of decadent chorizo, and fresh tomatoes and sweet corn in this big entree salad. Never would have put the ingredients together myself, but they make so much sense when I see them all together on a plate.

Favorite fashion. How adorable is this look? Cozy sweater, cute stripes, navy pants – even love the hot pink lip.

Favorite indulge: Herb Mushroom Cheese Bread. I’ve been roasting mushrooms with a fierceness lately – just tossing them with extra virgin olive oil, salt, and pepper then roasting at 400 for 20 minutes or so – they come out perfectly but would be even better mixed with herbs and cheese then sprinkled on top of a loaf of GF bread. YUM!

Favorite read: Essentialism. My friend Liz recently recommended this book and I read the whole thing in about 4 hours – it’s unbelievable. If you find yourself saying yes more than you’re saying no, feeling pulled in a hundred different directions, doing 10 things at once and none of them well, having your time dictated by anyone other than you, READ THIS BOOK. One of my biggest takeaways was constantly asking myself, what’s important NOW? Like, right this very second? Then doing that. :)

Favorite forkful: Butternut Squash Carbonara with Fried Sage and Caramelized Onions. Um, yeah. Will be making this with Capello’s gluten-free fettuccini (locals – HyVee started carrying it and it’s worth every penny!) the minute I hit “publish” on this post.

Favorite funny: If Moms Talked to Each Other The Way They Talk to Their Kids. I diiiiiied watching this. How ridiculous are we???

Favorite decor: Lanterns with Wrought Iron Hooks. I’ve been begging Ben to get gas lamps a la Charleston for our back deck to complete the outdoor space, but I’m thinking it’s probably not going to happen what with having to run gas lines through our siding and everything. Yeah. I could definitely be happy with these adorable lanterns with candles inside though. So fab, right?

Favorite festive: Healthy Halloween Candy Corn Snack. Now that I have a child of candy-craving age, Halloween kind of makes me want to scream. Go ahead and call me the un-fun Mom. It’s ok! #sorrynotsorry In my opinion, if it’s easy to make a healthy alternative to a sugary, food-dye-laden candy then why wouldn’t you? That said these layered fruit “Candy Corn” snacks are so adorable, and perfect for a healthier yet still fun-feeling Halloween treat. You could even sub whipped coconut milk fat for the whipped cream if you need to!

Favorite tips: 34 Ingenious Ways to Declutter Your Entire Life. The spirit of the book Essentialiasm (above) is “less is more”, which includes having less stuff. These tips for decluttering your house and life are great, and I especially love #34 which comes just in time for the holiday season. May I suggest mason jars of Puppy Chow for humans? :)

Favorite stuffage: French Onion soup au Gratin Stuffed Meatloaf. OH MY GOOD GRAVY, YES! Cannot wait to make this decadent-looking meatloaf! Has the phrase decadent-looking meatloaf ever been uttered before? You heard it here first! ;)

Favorite beauty: Under-eye Concealer Crease Prevention. Yes. Please. I need all the under-eye help I can get.

Favorite Halloween: 14 Creative and Easy Last Minute Halloween Treats. Because I’m not a total Halloween grinch! ;) Eww….!

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Have a great weekend, everyone!