Good morning and, SPOILER ALERT:
Gooo Gabby! :D Sorry, I’ve had just about every Olympic event spoiled by media headlines, so I wanted to give you a heads up in case you DVRd last night’s women’s gymnastics individual all-around competition, where Gabby Douglas won the gold medal!
Gabby trains here in town and we could not be more proud of our little “Flying Squirrel”. I actually met her a couple years ago (she went to my Mom’s school and was in her office when I went to visit her once) and, like a little squirrel, she is ridiculously tiny. I’m only 5’2 and I felt like I was towering over her. How she gets to flying to those heights, I’ll never know. What a freaking stud – you go girl!!
Geez, I seriously don’t know what I’m going to do with myself after the Olympic are over. Oh wait, yes I do. Do more than sit on my butt from 7-11pm. I just love ’em so much! :D
Seeing as how the summer is winding down though (sniiiiff) we’re going to have to kick the DVR into high gear this weekend so we can get out and enjoy these last few weeks of summer fun. Got a couple of activities on the docket.
What are you up to this weekend?
Whatever it is, I hope you have a blast and, in the meantime, please enjoy my favorite finds from around the web and beyond in this week’s Friday Favorites!
Favorite song: Phillip Phillips “Home”. NBC played this song during nearly every single Gaby montage this week (she moved to Iowa from Virgina when she was 14 to train – hence the lyrics just know you’re not alone/I’m gonna to make this place your home – at least that’s what I got out of it ;) ) which made me weep EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. Every time!
Favorite idea: Angel Food French Toast. Now WHY didn’t I think of that? Decadent!
Favorite finally: Braid Bun for Short Hair. Finally a cute ‘do for us short haired gals. :)
Favorite sip: Key Lime Pie Mojito. Great recipe here – sounds uber refreshing!
Favorite improve: How To Stain Builder-Grade Cabinets. I semi-loathe the builder grade cabinets in our home, and this finish looks so luxe, don’t you think? Perfect for sprucing up our bathroom/hiding the hair dye I accidentally smeared on the vanity 3 years ago…
Favorite photo: Siena Market. I gasped when I saw this picture – it looks nearly identical to the tiny town market Ben and I went to everyday on our Amalfi Coast vacation, straight down to the gorgeous fresh fruit display out front!
Favorite MMMM: Chocolate Birthday Cake. LOOK at the luscious icing dripping down the sides of this cake. Wait ’til you get a load of the filling. ;)
Favorite getaway: Club Med – Maldives. Absolutely unbelievable. Can you imagine?!
Favorite tip: No More Icky Pans. Now to track down the secret ingredient that will save all my rusting baking sheets!
Favorite Fall: Stuffed Shells with Butternut Squash, Spinach, and Ricotta. RIGHT? I tried to hold off posting this until closer to the Fall, but I just couldn’t help myself. Love this blogger’s recipes!
Favorite room: Industrial Rustic Room. Love this mix of brick, wood, and steel – awesome style.
Favorite awww. Ben nearly wept when he saw this picture. He wants a bulldog more than anything!
Favorite indulge: Bloomin’ Onion Bread. Bread, cheese, butter, onion, herbs. Need I say more?
Favorite fit: Sworkit App. I can’t wait to try this app which allows you to set the length of your workout, and which areas you want to target, then walks you through exercises in real time. Sounds awesome!
Favorite sweet: Watermelon with Ginger Syrup & Lime Zest. I’d love to try this with the remaining 22 cups of watermelon I have sitting in my fridge!
Favorite feature: Island End Cap Refrigerator. Absolutely must have in my future dream home!
Favorite swap: Morning Cocoa Rolls. CHOCOLATE rolls instead of cinnamon rolls in the morning. What a way to wake up!
Favorite sip: Nutty Hazelnut Iced Coffee KCup. Obsessed with this iced coffee flavor. I’ve been having one nearly every morning for the past two weeks! PS: Enter code LUCKY1-8131 at www.GreenMountainCoffee.com for 10% off storewide until August 8!
Favorite spin: Spinach Artichoke Pasta. Skip the dip and give me a giant bowl of this pasta instead. Holy cow does this look good!
Favorite DIY: Toilet Paper Roll Painting. I love the rustic look of this painting technique. It’d look so nice on a series of tall/thin canvases, I think.
Favorite refresh: Mango Lassi and Strawberry-Honey Yogurt Popsicles. Creamy, cold, refreshing. I would devour these.
Favorite style. All the things!
Favorite find: Brownie Batter Parfait. You have GOT to see this recipe – it is off the chain!!!
Have a happy weekend everyone!
tom h. 08.03.2012
Mmmm…Siena…
Loved it so much that we named one of the girls after it! HIGHLY recommend a stop there next time you find yourself in Tuscany… Open air store fronts everywhere you turn, plus the best piazza in Italy!
Gwen 08.03.2012
I totally downloaded that song after I heard it on the Olympics the other night. <3
Ashley @ Coffee Cake and Cardio 08.03.2012
Key Lime Mojito?? Sign me up!! I also couldn’t stop cooing at the puppy photo. I’ve been doing lots of puppy research lately, maybe next spring :) Have a wonderful weekend!
Kayla 08.03.2012
My husband also has an obsession with bull dogs – I have to admit, they do look pretty cute.
This doesn’t really have anything to do with Friday Favorites, but I also live in Des Moines and my husband and I have been trying to decide on a restaurant to eat at on Tuesday to celebrate our anniversary… we want to try somewhere local that we haven’t been to before. Any good local suggestions??
Iowa Girl Eats 08.04.2012
Miyabi 9 is always my go to. If you don’t like sushi though, I’d try Lucca, Centro, or Cool Basil!
Katrina 08.03.2012
One of my favorite things about Friday’s is reading your Friday Favorites. I freaking LOVE them!!! Thanks so much!!
jad18 08.03.2012
That soap used to be at SuperTarget and you can get it at drugstore.com I believe. Phillip Phillips won American Idol this year and I believe “Home” was his winner song. If so, then it is definitely the best song for a winner the show has ever had. I love the “settle down” part.
Iowa Girl Eats 08.03.2012
I had no idea he was an AI winner! Good for him!
Sam @ Better With Sprinkles 08.03.2012
I just clicked over on that Chocolate Birthday Cake recipe, and oh my goodness. Cannot.stop.salivating.
Abby 08.03.2012
I just needed to tell you that I love your Friday Favorites. I always find myself sharing at least a few links with my husband :) I dig your taste!
Hayley @ Running on Pumpkin 08.03.2012
I love your Friday posts!! So fun! That spinach artichoke pasta looks to-die-for.
Linda W. 08.03.2012
You can purchase the soap at Campbell’s Nutrition, 42nd and University, also!
Love your Friday Favorites! The Brownie Batter Parfait looks W.O.N.D.E.R.F.U.L.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Amy 08.03.2012
I just made the Spinach Artichoke Pasta this week (with a little leftover chicken thrown in.) It was delicious!
Marcie 08.03.2012
Those photos are lovely..really gorgeous. Love the bun, love Gabby and love pasta.
Erin @ erinberries 08.03.2012
How funny! I’ve been to that Siena Market! I went to Italy last year with my mom and spent a few days in Siena. They have a bunch of pottery in the back. I bought this super cute Olive Oil bottle!
Nancy 08.03.2012
SO that means I totally met Gold Winner Gabby because I met you last year. Right? Isn’t that how 3rd degree separation goes? ha!!
Whitney 08.03.2012
that SONG! I clearly live under a rock and have never heard phillip sing – nor do i have cable and have been out of the olympic loop as well (save the online updates). in any case, that song just reaches right into the lonely places.
thanks for sharing it.
Iowa Girl Eats 08.03.2012
You bet, glad you like it :) It’s been playing on repeat on my comp for the past 3 days. :)
Lauren T 08.03.2012
I love your Friday Favorites almost as much as I love all your awesome recipes! I always bookmark several of them :) My boyfriend will go crazy over the spinach artichoke pasta! Spinach artichoke dip is one of his favorite things ever!
Stephanie 08.03.2012
Hey you can buy that soap for the pan at whole foods also I see it at target (in make up isle – like near Burt’s bees). It is great soap, you can use it everywhere! We use the peppermint one in shower, makes a refreshing shower in the hot summer.
Iowa Girl Eats 08.03.2012
Good to know – thank you for the tip!
Laura @ Mrs in the Making 08.03.2012
I read on One Good Thing by Jillee that the secret to cleaning your pans is something called Sol-u-mel.
I tried the baking soda and peroxide thing I saw on Pinterest and it didn’t work —- don’t bother with the scrubbing!!! :)
Noelle 08.03.2012
Hey Kristin! Try this recipe from Food & Wine for all that watermelon. The combination is just…amazing! I literally eat this until I can’t fit another piece in my stomach :)Have a great weekend!
Watermelon Salad with Mint and Lime
Ingredients
8 cups seedless watermelon chunks (1 inch), from a 6-pound melon
1/4 cup fresh lime juice
Pinch of cayenne pepper
1/2 cup mint leaves, torn
Salt
Directions
In a large bowl, toss the watermelon with the lime juice and cayenne.
Fold in the mint leaves, season with salt and serve.
Make Ahead
The watermelon salad can be refrigerated overnight. Fold in the torn mint leaves just before serving.
Iowa Girl Eats 08.03.2012
I’ve got all these ingredients on hand right now – I’ll whip this up this weekend. Thanks!
Sworkit 08.03.2012
We’re excited for you to try Sworkit as well. Let us know how it goes. If you haven’t upgraded to try Pro yet, email me and I’ll take care of that for you. contact@sworkit.com
Lindsey 08.03.2012
I have that cabinet re-do on my list of “projects” also…
You do it first and let me know how it turns out. :)
I will be making the brownie batter parfait soon!!