Howdy everyone, and TGIF! :D
So earlier this week I mentioned that Ben’s turning the big 3-0 this weekend. Guess what he was greeted with when walking up to his desk this morning?!
BAHAHAHAHA! His picture text to me was accompanied with one word: furious. I say, HILARIOUS! Great job, co-workers! ;)
In addition to tearing 500 post it notes off his desk, Ben and I will also be driving to Chicago this afternoon for the weekend. Check this out – Ben’s favorite team in the entire universe is the University of Miami’s college football team. (Long story short, he formed the love as a young kid and his feelings have only intensified over the years, per this psychotic video I shot of him watching a Miami game several years ago. This, coming from the most mild-mannered man alive.)
Please excuse the sleeveless tee, btw, but please acknowledge the precious Miami flag.
Anyways, they’re in Florida, and we’re in Iowa, so we figured it was going to be awhile before we were ever able to go see them play. WELL, guess who’s playing Notre Dame at Soldier Field, merely 5 hours away, on the weekend of Ben’s 30th birthday??
MIAMI!
The timing was too perfect not to act, and it’s his 30th birthday after all, so I snatched up a pair of tickets 6 months ago and have been holding onto the secret for just as long. It’s been torture. I finally surprised him with the tickets last weekend after his birthday lunch, and I cannot wait to see his face when they kick off on Saturday night. WHEE!
So, open road, here we come! :D
I hope you have a fun weekend planned too (get out and enjoy those fall leaves and farmers’ markets!) and in the meantime, please enjoy my favorite finds from around the web in this week’s Friday Favorites!
Favorite must-try: Oil-Cleansing Method. I can’t remember the last time I was this excited to try something… I’ve been reading this week about the oil-cleansing method – cleaning your face with oils like castor, olive, and jojoba instead of commercial face wash. It makes SO much sense, and I’m going out later today to collect the supplies to start on Sunday. Has anybody ever tried this method?
Favorite slow cook: Slow Cooked Quinoa Chicken Chili. Whole Foods had a quinoa chili the other day that Ben and I were both drooling over. Bonus that this recipe cooks in a slow cooker.
Favorite recipe: Single Serving Chocolate Chip Cookies. I’ve been attempting to keep sugar consumption low lately, for the aforementioned skin and weight control, but BOY am I glad to have this recipe in my back pocket!
Favorite find: Mercer Tall Boot. OH. EM. GEE!!! Completely obsessed over every single detail in these boots, but equally as devastated that the shaft height is about 1-3/4″ too tall for my short little legs. These are the things us vertically challenged women must deal with.
Favorite bite: Sweet Potato Pulled Pork Slider. The ultimate 2-bite delight. My mouth is totally watering!
Favorite fantasy: Venice. Oh, this.
Favorite wake up: Caramel Apple Cinnamon Rolls. I would have to pinch myself to make sure I wasn’t still dreaming if cough, someone, cough, ever woke me up with a plate of these babies. ;)
Favorite furball. Cute. Overload.
Favorite supper: Pumpkin Coconut Curry. Oh my, you really need to check out this recipe. Thinking I’m going to make this for myself as soon as Ben has a late work night.
Favorite faux: Rachel Faux-Leather Clutch. I saw this at Banana Republic last weekend and was dying to get it. Perfect for a dressier occasion, but still holds a TON of essentials.
Favorite redo: Butternut Squash and Crispy Sage Pizza. A pizza version of my Butternut Squash Gnocchi with Garlic Butter & Sage Sauce! So clever to put these ingredients on a pizza!
Favorite photo. Ahhh, fall. :) Do you have your pumpkins yet? Ben and I still need to get ours. Hoping to pick some up at the Farmers’ Market next weekend.
Favorite treat: Ooey Gooey Caramel Pumpkin Blondies. Speaking of pumpkin…OMG! The ooo, the goo! ;)
Favorite tip: Custom iPhone Covers. This tutorial for creating custom iPhone covers is so clever!
Favorite outfit. I don’t know if I could pull off all the jewelry, but I am still crushing on orange clothes, especially going into fall. Looks so cute with chunky gold jewelry too.
Favorite sip: Honeycrisp Apple Sangria. How refreshing does this look?! Great cinnamon stick stirrer addition too. :)
Favorite spoonful: Chipotle Apple Turkey Chili. Unique, spicy, smokey, sweet combo. I am of the belief that you can never have too many chili recipes!
Favorite DIY: DIY Media Shelves. What a fun shelving unit – I’ve never seen anything like it, with the chains!
Favorite indulgence: No-Bake Stuffed Cookie Dough Bites. UMMMMM!!!!!!!!!!!! I’m pretty sure these are outlawed in 19 states – good thing Iowa’s not one of ’em! ;)
Happy weekend, everyone!
On a post a while back, you had a fragrance from Victoria’s Secret. What scent was that? Thanks!!
Pure and Pretty Body Mist!
Thank you for your reply on the scent!! I walked in there and couldn’t remember!!
please update us with your ocm experience! i have struggled with acne for over ten years and am always looking for something to help. i read the link you posted and it sounds amazing. might hav to give it a shot…
I totally will!
College football is the best!! Love it!!
Kristin, keep me posted if you find the perfect riding boots for a shorty. I am 5 ft. tall and am dying to have a pair of fab tall boots but cannot find a shaft height right for me. Thought I found a pair at Macy’s online and received them to find out the web site had wrong shaft height, ugh!
PS. My legs are too short, too :( Go Canes.
Happy birthday, Ben!!! My husband (and son right now) went/go to UF…so they hate Miami. It’s strange to me. How the heck do you find so many wonderful things in a week…truly amazing. I should not be reading about all these delicious things late at night (and we even split an apple galette and ice cream at dinner tonight!). Cute boots. I LOVE your Friday favs.
Totally drooling over those caramel apple cinnamon rolls! Happy Friday!
My husband turns 40 Dec 1. His favorite author also happens to be having a book release party in AZ that very same day. Because I like you, an awesome wife. I bought tickets to the book signing and am flying him to AZ for that weekend.
That is sooo sweet – what a great surprise!
Omg those cookie bites look SOOOOOOO GOOD! Make a healthified version for me, yeah? ;) Naw such a good wife- hope you guys have fun. Oh and I love that Iphone case idea! Why have I never thought of that before? Haha so simple but so brilliant.
I tried OCM, but it made me break out like CrAZY. I’ve read some places that you have to persist for 2+ weeks as your skin purges itself but I tried it for six weeks and my skin got worse and worse. My face cleared up soon after I stopped – BUMMER! I was so excited for this all natural method. Luckily, my skin is now clear once again ., I’m still a bit traumatized but am not trying to detract you from trying, I’ve heard great things from others and believe it is great for some but just not for me. You have gorgeous skin so I am sure it will be fine. I have sensitive and oily skin and it just made my face freak out.
HAHA I love that you recorded him! Boys and their sports… My BF isn’t as much into sports as he is nerdy video games, but they all have something don’t they?
I don’t normally use oils on my face, but I *have* noticed lately that when I use my oil-based makeup remover at night, my skin is SO nice and soft in the morning!
My mom made pumpkin curry once and it was prooobably the best curry I’ve ever had. I bought a tiny pumpkin at the grocery store for $1.99 and I’m going to make pumpkin puree soon! Then I’ll buy another one for decoration P
P.S. I’m going to Napa tomorrow! I will say hello for you :)
Ahhh – have a blast! What wineries did you end up going to?
We went to Domaine Carneros, which is a winery that does mostly champagne :D http://www.domainecarneros.com/
I was with the BF’s mom (who lives there) and she was driving, so we only did one winery before we went back so we could both drink in the safety of her home! But it was a beauuutiful, perfect day!
I have used the OCM and should get back to using it. When I do use it those nasty blackheads on my nose actually go away! In an old (cleaned) baby food jar I mix 1 part sunflower oil and 2 parts castor oil (unless I’ve got that ratio switched-Friday brain, sorry!). Pour about a dime size of the oil into clean hands, rub hands together to warm the oil, rub/massage over face while running the water in the sink to warm it. Now take a washcloth and wet it in the now warm water and do not wring it out. Leaning over the sink, hold the washcloth to one area of your face at a time. Do your chin, wring out the washcloth, run under the warm water and repeat on forehead, etc.
A couple tips: 1) do not do this in the shower! It is more convenient as it doesn’t matter if the water runs down your elbows in the shower instead of in front of the sink, but if anyone else in your household takes a shower after you, the tub floor can be slippery. @) I enjoy using hot water and this helps “steam” your pores and remove the oil. Our water heater is set at 108 degrees.
Well, I’m off to round up ingredients for some Ooey Gooey Caramel Pumpkin Blondies!
Enjoy!
I was hoping you would be around for the Color Run in Des Moines this weekend. Was hoping I could run into you there. (Clearly, I need to get out more). :)
That aside, the surprise you set up for your husband is really nice. My husband surprised me last year with Pearl Jam tickets for my birthday and it was awesome!
Hope you have fun. Your Friday faves always brighten up my day (and fill up my pinterest account!).