Happy Friday, everyone!
Holy buckets this week went by at warp speed – perhaps because I literally couldnotwait for new fall Thursday night NBC shows to premier last night. Did anyone else watch? It always takes a few episodes to get a feel for the new season, but it appears Parks & Rec and Up All Night (adore) will continue to bring the funny this year. The jury’s still out re: The Office though. That episode was a little depressing! One thing I do know for sure is that I am loving the new assertive Andy. HA!
As excited as I was for last night’s shows, I can’t even imagine how belligerent I will be when The Big Bang Theory premieres next week on CBS. I am completely addicted – best show on television, if you ask me!
Anyways, enough TV talk – should be a fun weekend around these parts. Tomorrow I am helping judge a cooking competition between local culinary school students at the Des Moines World Food Festival.
The World Food Festival is a free event running all weekend with foods from all over the world that you can taste for $1-5, plus tons of global beers and wine. I have wanted to go for YEARS, but always had something going on the weekend it’s in town. Can’t wait to go, help judge the competition, and EAT, natch!
Hope you’ve got a fun fall weekend in the forecast (sorry I can’t even help myself,) and in the meantime, please enjoy my favorite finds from around the web and beyond in this week’s Friday Favorites!
Favorite treat: Chocolate Cupcakes with Peanut Butter Cookie Dough Frosting. I cannot TELL you how bad I want to sink my teeth into twelve one of these!
Favorite find: Chloe Stud Earrings. My “everyday” earrings are gold balls, so I am loving this flattened version. Super cute and casual, but unique and elegant too.
Favorite game-day: Honey-Chipotle Turkey Meatballs. It’d be fantastic to have a big batch of these keeping warm in a crock pot for a yummy game day treat.
Favorite workout: The 5-4-3-2-1 Workout. 15 minute, heart-pumping workout.
Favorite nibble: Caramel Apple Scones. I am into EVERYTHING apple these days!
Favorite scent: Victoria’s Secret Pretty & Pure Body Mist. I am not a perfume girl – it makes me sneeze and gives me a headache – but this light-and-clean, yet girly smelling body mist is perfect. I picked some up last weekend and can’t stop spraying it! (PS this is the eau de toilette bottle – the one I bought is in the body mist bottle!)
Favorite supper: Sausage & Quinoa One-Pot Supper. Looks hearty but light, with tons of flavor.
Favorite fashion: Pippa Bag. Obsessed! Obsessed! Obsessed! Not only with the look, but with the amount of separated storage inside.
Favorite yum: Peach Almond Muffins. As much as I am loving apples these days, I’m still holding onto summer peaches with a fierceness, and I love the idea of pairing them with almonds in a yummy muffin. :)
Favorite project: Ombre dresser. Get a paint sample of every color in a paint swatch, then paint the drawers of a dresser accordingly. Super cute idea for a kids room.
Favorite sip: Maple Concord Cocktail. Perfect to use up all those in-season grapes!!
Favorite ‘do: Low Rolled Updo. Even shorter-medium length haired girls could pull off this cute rolled ‘do.
Favorite tutorial: How to Turn Leather into Suede. I have never seen anything like this! I’ll never get rid of scuffed or scratched leather shoes again!
Favorite bite: Garlic Cheese Pull Apart Bread. THIS.
Favorite place. Ben and I both agree that our “forever house” will need to have a massive front porch surrounded by trees with tons of room for rocking chairs so we can look at views like this every fall.
Favorite decadence: Fudge Brownie Cookie Dough Cake. BAHAHAHAHA! Unreal!
Favorite project: DIY Chevron Pumpkins. Some years the thought of digging into slimy pumpkin guts and carving a couple for the front porch appeals to me. Other years, it doesn’t. I think this is one of those years. Might try my hand at this fun project.
Favorite brew: Green Mountain Naturals Hot Apple Cider. Green Mountain just came out with these Apple Cider K Cups that only contain 5 ingredients and have no artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives. They are DELICIOUS and right now you can get 15% off all Green Mountain Naturals K-Cup packs with code: GMN8131
Favorite room: Navy & Coral Bedroom. I love to WEAR navy and coral together, but never thought to DECORATE with the combo. Love this bedroom color scheme!
Favorite find: Cinnamon Swirl Banana Bread. O. M. G. That is all!!
Have a great weekend everyone!
I am loving your Friday Favorites! Love the Brownie Mountain cake. Can’t wait to try and make it!
The honey-chipotle meatballs turkey meatballs are excellent! My family enjoys them; I second your recommendation! :)
I can’t even begin to tell you how many things you just made me want to do/cook/bake/buy. Pinning like crazy, thanks for all the great ideas!
Love this list! And I love that I just found your blog. I can’t wait to see what you post next. :)
Have a great weekend!
-Jenn
Please, please adopt from a local shelter. You will save two lives that day. The one you rescue, and the space left vacant for one more. I’m sure you and your husband will fall in love with a rescue. There are so many choices out there.
I look forward to your Friday Favorites. We love Big Bang Theory, agree….one of the best shows on TV. The cinnamon swirl banana bread is on my to do list this week. I have a seven year old that eats like a teenager ! I try to fill him up on healthy muffins and bread, this one fits the bill. Just picked up local, a mile down the road, apple cider yesterday….it is awesome and we look forward to it every year. Have fun at the food festival, that sounds awesome !
Just wondering what happened to the super cute picture of the Labradoodle?
Me too! I hope it wasn’t removed because of the comments about adopting. You can still include the picture AND consider adopting instead of buying!
Oh no, I 100% believe in adopting. I got a few really nasty comments directed towards people who had already commented, which I removed, then just decided to remove the picture altogether. While I believe in adopting, I also believe that people have to the right to do whatever they want in regards to buying or adopting a dog (their life = their choice,) and didn’t want them being attacked on my blog simply for voicing their opinion.
I am a guardian for an Australian Labradoodle and he is the most wonderful dog. (red as the one pictured) If you are within driving distance of Solon, IA you could also be a guardian home rather than buying. If you want to know more, let me know!
Love your Friday favorites! And the Labradoodle is so cute! But please consider rescuing instead of buying a breed. I am sure there is a dog out there, in a shelter or a foster home, that would love to be spoiled by you and your husband. : )
Omg that peanut butter cookie dough frosting and that brownie cake- I think I only ever comment on your sweet friday favourites- can you tell I love dessert and have a massive sweet tooth? Haha.
Check out Tibetian Terriers- slightly smaller than a doodle, non-shedding with a wonderful soft fluffy coat and the most unreal temperment. They are such people lovers, it’s like having a furry toddler. We love ours so much!
There is waaaaay too much goodness in this post for me to comment on just one thing. BUT. Since I’m the always hungry pregnant lady…I’ll choose the cupcakes. ;)
So, I totally agree with everyone about adopting a dog. Or at the very least, do not buy from a pet store. They get their dogs from puppy mills which are basically puppy breeding farms with atrocious environments. You will just support them by buying one of their puppies.
On a completely different and random note….did you watch the Awkward episode after the season finale with all the cast??? Umm, I did not even recognize Jenna! She looks completely different all blonde and tan. And, I thought she was drunk or something at one point while watching it. I thought she was acting so weird! It may have ruined the show for me! ( You are the only other person I know who watches that show :)