Happy Friday everyone!
This weekend I’ll be donning my bikini for the very first time all summer (I know) as Ben and I are heading to the Lake of the Ozarks for a few days of fun in the sun with friends!
I feel like I’m the only person in the Midwest who has yet to see the popular summer spot in central Missouri, and I’m beyond pumped. Hopefully we’ll get to swing by the legendary Party Cove, which one travel writer from the NY Times dubbed “the oldest established permanent floating bacchanal in the country.” Bahaha!
(Ok after a quick Google image search of party cove I am slightly rethinking that request…)
Anyways we’ve felt trapped indoors for a good part of the summer because of the heat, so a real “summery” experience is just what Ben and I need. Here goes nothin’! :D
I hope you’ve got some fun plans too, including spending some time outdoors (should be a blissful weekend around here!) but in the meantime, please enjoy my favorite finds from the web and beyond in this week’s Friday Favorites!
Favorite fantasy: Gooey Chocolate Caramel Fantasy. OMG – all the things!
Favorite fashion: J Crew Classic Wide Bangle. Pink? Check. Shiny? Check. Adorable? Check!
Favorite fitness: Fitnessista’s Rainy Day Workout. I trucked through this workout yesterday and holy buckets, it is killer! The bicep curl countdown was pure torture, but as they say – no pain, no gain!
Favorite pooch: Dapper Dog. What a gentleman!
Favorite sip: Peach Margaritas. I had the best. peach. ever. last weekend and have been obsessing over everything peach ever since. These margs sound perfect.
Favorite tip: Coaster Tray. Although there’s only two of us, Ben is constantly putting his cup on the counter and I’m constantly putting it in the dishwasher – then we’re both irritated at each other. Love this blogger’s solution to our situation!
Favorite dish: Lime & Coconut Chicken. Ohhh this sounds so exotic and delish. Like something from a tropical island vacay.
Favorite craft: Custom Wrapping Paper. Ok this might not be as cool as I’m thinking it is in my head – but ironing two pieces of wax paper together with tissue paper cutouts in the middle to create custom wrapping paper is freaking awesome, right?
Favorite place: Edinburgh Castle, Scotland. Seriously the coolest.
Favorite remix: 25 Alternatives to Potato Chips and French Fries. Loving these clever ideas – especially the zucchini & beet chips!
Favorite how-to: 12 Ways to Knot Your Belt. As someone who is extremely fashion challenged, this is so helpful!
Favorite funny: Ham Dogger. Call me the weirdest person alive, but I cannot get over this ham dogger contraption. I mean…right?! Hilarious!
Favorite woah: Lake House in Muskoka, Ontario, CA. Forget the ham dogger, get me this place, stat!
Favorite fresh: Orecchiette with Cherry Tomatoes, Mozzarella & Basil Pesto. A beautiful summer dish.
Favorite obsession: Neon Pink Wooden Bowl Set. Must. have. NEON PINK BOWLS.
Favorite Top 10: 10 Reasons We’re Cuckoo for Coconut Oil. Some really great ways to use coconut oil – besides chewy homemade granola bars. :)
Favorite save: Remove Rust Spots from Knives. Great recipe for saving your good knives from rust stains when you’re cough too lazy to hand wash them the second you’re down with them cough. (Me.)
Favorite slurp: Sausage and Bean Soup with Pasta. Going into my Sunday night Fall dinner rotation!
Favorite save: Save 15% off all Green Mountain Coffee® flavored coffees available in K-Cup® packs with code YUMMY-8131 until September 12 on GreenMountainCoffee.com. I have been loving down the Wild Blueberry flavor as of late! (Full disclosure, I am a Green Mountain K-Cup Ambassador!)
Favorite recipe: Apples with Salty Medjool Caramel. You will not believe this recipe for “caramel” apples. Hello, healthy Fall!
Favorite find: Jeweled Espresso Spoons. I am pining after these spoons so bad. They’d look so amazing in food photos.
Favorite sweet: Caramel Apple Cake. If you think the outside of this cake looks good – wait to you see the inside. Oh yeah!
Have a fantastic weekend!
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Amanda 08.27.2012
The boathouse picture cracked me up because it’s only about 30 minutes from me. Boathouses like that are almost the norm now around Lake Muskoka and Lake Rosseau. The boat houses cost more (MUCH more) than my house! But they are beautiful…that’s for sure. :)
Ashleigh 08.20.2012
I have actually seen that boathouse out on the lake, and while it is beautiful, you should see the monstrosity of a “cottage” that it belongs to! :)
I love these Friday Favourites!
Dannii @ Hungry Healthy Happy 08.20.2012
I need to live in that lake house – it looks beautiful.
Ryan @ RppFinancial 08.19.2012
Hopefully you had a chance to check out Hahatonka State Park. It is a great experience and its free so you can’t find any better value in entertainment.
Melissa 08.19.2012
My favorite LOTO spot – On the Rise Bakery & Bistro! Hope you got to check it out!
Brooke 08.18.2012
We used to vacation down at Lake of the Ozarks, and my parents actually moved down there when they retired a few years ago and live there full-time. We get down there a few times each year! Many good places to eat (both on and off the water); I still have ones I’ve never been to, especially since new ones pop up each year. Perhaps skip Party Cove, but definitely hit the outlet mall!
Nicola 08.18.2012
I’m from Edinburgh and I pass the castle every day on the way to work(my office is on the next street)! Good to see it on here :) x
Iowa Girl Eats 08.20.2012
Woah – jealous!!
Nagore 08.18.2012
I was in Edinburgh this May and I LOVED it! it is amazingly nice, people are friendly and it looks like you are in a city hundreds of years ago :)
Katie 08.18.2012
I love these Friday Favorites! You should head a little farther south to TAble Rock Lake. By far it’s better, but I am totally bias :)
Alexia @ Babies & Bacon 08.17.2012
Just wanted to say how much I LOVE Friday Favorites. It’s like this lovely little e-magazine in my inbox every Friday night. Such great inspiration and drool-worthy obsessions in each post. Have fun on your vacay!!
gina (fitnessista) 08.17.2012
thank you for the shout out! so glad you liked the workout- and yes, the bicep curls killed me too!
have a great weekend <3
xoxo
Bek @ Crave 08.17.2012
Sounds like an awesome weekend! We have beautiful weather atm in Aus! But it’s a bit chilly with the wind- I guess we are still in our winter season haha! Oh and I love your favourites that have the caramel- the cake and the fantasy. mmmm!
Rachel 08.17.2012
Moved to Denver 3 months ago, but your blog has become my favorite place to come when I need my midwest fix!
Don’t know where you will be, but around Laurie (I think, or that general area) there is a great breakfast place called Cousin’s. My family always eats there! Osage has a great outlet mall, too. Ohh, and great antique shops if you are into them. Have fun!!!!
Edinburgh Castle, love it!
Rachel 08.17.2012
My favorite of YOUR favorites: Lake of the FREAKING Ozarks!
I live in Kansas City and I spent most of summers at the Ozarks and it’s just the best, you’ll have a great time!
And that Scottish castle MIGHT be better than the Ozarks.
Well, duh, but I got mad Midwest pride!
food-hugs.com
Beth @ Running with the Sunrise 08.17.2012
Have fun in the Ozarks! I never went in my 22 years of living in the Midwest, but I know plenty of people who have been and they all had a great time.