Friday Favorites

TGIF, y’all!

One of the reasons why I think it would have been fun to grow up in the south (besides epic BBQ, crawfish boils, and wearing pearls to tailgates) is so I could legitimately say y’all. It always sounds so charming coming from a Southerner. ;)

All I’ve got is heck, dang, and shoot. Wait, that’s perpetuating a horrible Midwestern hick stereotype. We are not hicks! We don’t all live on farms! Although we adore our farmers! I was so annoyed at the show Smash this year for always making fun of the main character Karen for being so small town, as she moved to New York from Iowa.

Anyways, total rant, sorry. It’s supposed to be wretchedly hot this weekend, and apparently the heat has already gone to my brain.

I hope you have a wonderful weekend, wherever you are, and please enjoy my favorite finds from around the web and beyond in this week’s Friday Favorites!

FAVORITE THING EVER: The Big Yellow Bike. This is a local company that built a 16 person bike which you can pedal around downtown visiting different bars. SO. AWESOME.

Favorite sink: Key Lime Cupcakes with Blackberry Frosting. As in, I want to sink my teeth into one (or five) of these babies! Love the fuchsia color of the icing with the bright colors of the cupcake wrappers, too. Very festive for summer!

Favorite floor. Rustic, cozy, and perfect for hiding crumbs!

Favorite wake up: Sugar Crusted Vanilla French Toast. What a decadent way to start a weekend, no?

Favorite awwww: Tired Allen. I feel ya’, buddy!

Favorite shortcut: Vinyl Backsplash. Because who has the time/ungodly amounts of patience needed to stencil a backsplash?!

Favorite bite: Hummus and Avocado Toasts with Roasted Tomatoes. Wow, these look so satisfying and delicious, and super easy too.

Favorite DIY: $1 Store Pot Holder Flat Iron Caddy. GENIUS. I usually cough borrow a hotel washcloth to wrap my hot flat iron in when I’m traveling!

Favorite twist: Salted Caramel Rice Krispie Treats. Awesome twist on the classic Rice Krispie Treat. Who doesn’t adore the unique chew of salted caramel?

Favorite tip: Chobani Conversion Chart. This is so great to keep on hand. I never knew I could use Greek yog to replace a portion of butter in recipes!

Favorite RRR: Candle Jars turned Storage Containers. This is an awesome way to turn empty or near empty candle jars into something that looks super chic and expensive.

Favorite app: Peach & Prosciutto Bruschetta. I was working on a freelance recipe using peaches the other day and was dying over how delicious and juicy they were. Love this salty-sweet combo!

Favorite place: The Blue Lagoon outside of Vang Vieng, Laos. I can feel that cool water on my skin already! (Totally jealous of this blogger, btw!)

Favorite devour: Baked Brown Sugar Chicken Wings. Oh. Heck. Yes.

Favorite photo: Morning Sun in Viddal, Norway in a Bubble. WOW.

Favorite before & after: DIY Ottoman. This is so cool. Heading to Craigslist, mmm, NOW!

Favorite must-have: Rain Gutter Drink Cooler. Borrowing my Dad’s saw this weekend. How freaking awesome is this?!

Favorite dinner: Spaghetti in Garlic Gravy with Herbs and Lemon Marinated Chicken and Cherry Tomatoes. How ya’ gonna hate on anything with gravy in the recipe name? :)

Favorite duh: Cord Control. Place opposing pieces of velcro on appliances with long cords. This would have come in handy yesterday when I tripped over the long cord of a computer monitor I was carrying and nearly fell down the stairs!

Favorite party: Watermelon Keg. A fun feature at any summer party!

Favorite tip: Pillowcase Fan Duster. I’m going to go ahead and bust myself out by saying I haven’t turned the fan on in my office in about ohhh two years, simply because I don’t want to clean the fan. I know. So shameful. Totally using this tip to avoid having dust fly all over the room dusting the traditional way!