Happy Friday, all!
Another week gone in the blink of an eye – I can’t believe December starts tomorrow! With it comes the kickoff of my 4th (!) annual Month of Holiday Giveaways (excited to share some awesome products with you this year) and my favorite holiday of the year, Christmas, which will be here before we know it.
In preparation, my Mom and are heading up to Minneapolis tomorrow morning for our annual mother/daughter trip to the Mall of America, to get all of our holiday shopping done in one fell swoop. My brothers and I decided to do a sibling swap this year – each sibling picks another sibling + their spouse, if applicable, out of a hat to get a gift for rather than buying 5+ gifts for everyone, which helps. Time to focus on the babies of the family, you know?
I’ll be working furiously today to get all my duties done before we hit the road. I hope you’ve got some fun plans in the works too, and in the meantime, ENJOY your day, and please also enjoy my favorite finds from around the web in this week’s Friday Favorites!
Click on the light blue links to visit the original source.
Favorite treat: White Chocolate Peppermint M&M Cookies. Two of my faves – white chocolate and peppermint – in one cookie! Love the chewy, gooey center too.
Favorite fashion: J. Crew Crystal Collar Herringbone Sweater via JWK Style. Preppy perfection! I hope it comes back in stock soon.
Favorite foodie gift: Boiled Apple Cider Syrup. If you pass on Puppy Chow (which, don’t,) try giving homemade Apple Cider Syrup for holiday gifts. Looks really yummy, and easy too.
Favorite bite: Antipasto Skewers. I am so drooling over these – the perfect salty bite.
Favorite find: Sorel Joan of Arctic Boots. I have been lusting after these boots for about 3 years now. Think I’m going to pick up a pair at Nordy’s this weekend!
Favorite app: Shrimp & Chorizo Bites. Totally craving 2-bite apps this week, obviously! :)
Favorite place: Knaresborough, England. Knaresborough is a historic market and spa town in North Yorkshire, England, located on the River Nidd. How perfectly quaint!!
Favorite breakfast: Peanut Butter Cookie Oatmeal. Love the beautiful, simple presentation of this yummy oatmeal, which I bet just melts in your mouth.
Favorite furball. Dad! DAD! Let’s go play! ;)
Favorite slurp: Jalapeno Popper Chicken Chili Soup with Bacon. This sounds PERFECT!
Favorite spot. Sigh! So cozy. :)
Favorite dunk: Make it Mine Cheddar Dip. An easy base recipe for Velveeta-free cheese dip, with a ton of different variations to jazz it up. YUM!
Favorite fitness: Tracy Anderson Arms. Attempting this workout this afternoon – I don’t know if I’m more excited, or scared.
Favorite fresh: Fruit, Nut, and Goat Cheese Salad with Pomegranate Vinaigrette. I almost made something similar this week…then made Puppy Chow instead. HA! Looks so delish. :)
Favorite style. I’d rock every piece of this outfit.
Favorite sip: Boozy Salted Caramel Mocha. Oh yeah! Definitely keeping this on file for cold, winter nights.
Favorite flavor: Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookies. December marks the busiest cookie-baking month of the year. These babies are at the top of my list!
Katie @ Blonde Ambition 11.30.2012
I don’t know how you manage to find all these week after week!! So good! I especially love the looks of that jalapeno popper soup and velveeta-free cheese dip! Maybe I’m a little hungry :P
Tommy 11.30.2012
Funny that you mention the sibling gift swap…this is the first year we’re going that route as well! With seven sibs/significant others, the shipping costs get pretty outrageous. Great minds think alike I guess ;) Safe travels to MOA!
Erin 11.30.2012
enjoy the MOA! smart move coming up in early december, as a local i avoid it like the plague after that! (and those sorels are amazing…i want some classics so bad.)
Lydia @HappyHealthyConfident.com 11.30.2012
I LOVE the fireplace photo, so cozy indeed!! Have a fun trip to MOA!!!
Molly 11.30.2012
1. Go eat at Masu (the new sushi restaurant) when you are at MOA. You WILL NOT regret it!
2. I am in love with my Sorels I got last year. The one perk of lots of snow in Minnesota :)
Jill 11.30.2012
MOA has really stepped up their game in the last year or two, some really good stores have gone in! Welcome back to Minne :)
Pinning those cookies! Definite keepers.
Lainey Stahle 11.30.2012
That Tracy arm workout is seriously the hardest arm workout ever…arms were sore for a week! Never knew you could work your arms like that without weights!!! Kristen will you be doing a holiday workout challenge this year? I always enjoy your posts about it….
Ed 11.30.2012
Wicked bulldog pic—-sooo cute!
Kate@Framed Cooks 11.30.2012
Thanks so much for including my little antipasto skewers in this glorious post! Between the salted caramel chocolate chip cookies. the boozy caramel mocha and the ADORABLE puppy picture my head is just spinning with happiness! Happy Friday. :)
Alyssa 11.30.2012
I bought the Joan of Arctic boots last year after seeing them on your page! I’m a midwest gal myself and these babies are totally up to the task. Warm, sturdy and totally adorable. I can’t wait for the first big snowfall so I can break them out again this year!
Amy 11.30.2012
Have fun in Bloomington,MN at the Mall of America! Try to stop at IKEA—-so close and so many great things too!
kim@hungryhealthygirl 11.30.2012
Now I’m craving me some cookies! I don’t know which ones I want first…the salted caramel or the peppermint white chocolate. Love the puppy picture! Have fun shopping!
Jack 11.30.2012
Headed to Minneapolis and IKEA this weekend. Can’t promise not to reenact the escalator scene from Soapdish if a sighting occurs.
Ginny 11.30.2012
Those Carmel chocolate chip cookies look amazing!
Ginny
mynewfavoriteoutfit.blogspot.com
Lori 11.30.2012
How do you find so many great Friday favorites? Impressive!
Have fun up here in the Twin Cities this weekend. The weather will be great!
We also draw names in our family for Christmas gifts among siblings/in-laws and it makes it sooo much easier. We also have 11 nieces and nephews so had to start just buying for the godchildren as it was getting a little out of control (and expensive!)
Brie 11.30.2012
I have been absolutely OBSESSED with all things salted caramel lately, so those cookies caught my eye.
Proof of my addiction:
http://entreethegiant.wordpress.com/2012/11/30/life-changing-chai/
Hannah @ CleanEatingVeggieGirl 11.30.2012
That Favorite Spot looks sooo cozy…talk about a dream home!
I cannot wait to make (and EAT!) those cookies..yum :)
Kristina 11.30.2012
If this is your first time doing a Tracy Anderson workout, you will not make it straight through! Don’t beat yourself up when your arms start to feel like wet noodles a couple of minutes in!
I have her post-pregnancy workout and it has a brief arm segment. Love the whole workout! Well, now I do anyway. :)
Becky @ Olives n Wine 11.30.2012
Those salted caramel chocolate chip cookies are calling my name!! YUM! I’m currently living in MPLS – enjoy the Mega Mall :)
Rachel (Two Healthy Plates) 11.30.2012
I can’t decide if I like to boozy salted caramel mocha or the apple cider syrup better- both sound amazing!