Hey, hey everyone – TGIF! Got any big plans for the weekend? Fill me in! : )
Today my sister-in-law is taking me pre-baby registration shopping so Ben and I don’t run screaming from Babies-R-Us when we go to register later this weekend. I will never forget my first visit to the seemingly never-ending warehouse last year when I was picking up a baby shower gift for a girlfriend. I barely made it out of there alive, I tell ya’! So many options – just tell me what I need, right? Anyways, she’s a baby guru and will absolutely steer us in the right direction. Hopefully I can pay it forward someday!
Other than that, it should be a quiet weekend at home filled with sneaker squeaks (is March Madness over yet?) and getting ready for Charleston the following weekend. We never did make it out for a quick, 3-day trip we were talking about taking beforehand. Charleston kind of snuck up on us anyhow, so I don’t feel like we sat around twiddling our thumbs or anything!
Well I hope you’ve got some fun activities on the horizon and in the meantime, please enjoy my favorite finds from around the web and beyond in this week’s Friday Favorites. Have a great weekend!
Click the light blue link to be taken to the original source.
Favorite treat: Salted Dark Chocolate Cupcakes. Salted. Dark Chocolate. Cupcakes. You know my love for salty-sweet combos, and these babies look like bliss!
Favorite furball. I’ve looked at this photo at least 100 times this week, and it cracks me up every single time. I love how he (or she) is staring at a spot on the wall, concentrating SO HARD on getting that little tongue to curl. Precious!
Favorite fizz: Caribou Coffee Fizzy Peach Black Tea. I traded my standard ‘bucks for a ‘bou yesterday and ordered a Peach Black Tea to keep warm with while working the morning away. After ordering the hot drink I was quite surprised when the barista called my name and handed me a cold beverage…that was fizzy! My initial disappointment (seriously, it was freezing) was quickly replaced by sheer joy. This drink is AMAZING! Tasted like a yummy Italian Soda with a black tea base. I’ll be drinking these all summer.
Favorite devour: Italian Drunken Noodles. The only thing I like better than this blog post (it’s a great read) is the recipe for Italian Drunken Noodles within it. Total comfort food – I am so down!
Favorite tip: How to Clean Your Top Loading Washer. A couple weekends ago I cleaned my washing machine using the instructions in this post, and it looks as good as the day we bought it. Definitely give this a whirl if your washer looks as funky as mine did!
Favorite funny: 16 Breakfast Cereals that Should be Obliterated. I saw this on Twitter last night and Ben and I could not stop cracking up. Muesli: could you be any harder to pronounce or enjoy?
Favorite dinner: Chicken Parmesan Chicken. Crispy, cheesy, and decadent tasting for under 300 calories? Count me in!
Favorite thrill: The First Flyer – Grindelwald, Switzerland. I have zip lined through a jungle in Mexico before, but I think speeding down a mountain on a 2,400 foot cable, reaching speeds of 55mph just about sounds like the most fun thing ever. Look at those views!
Favorite sip: Coconut Lime Mojito. Mojitos are my drank, mmkay, and the only thing that could possibly make them better would be a splash of sweetened coconut milk. Yumm!
Favorite project: Travel Keepsake Kits. I always have the best intentions of making photo books when Ben and I come back from fun trips but it rarely ever happens. A fun keepsake kit to hold maps, ticket stubs, and other fun mementos is an awesome alternative.
Favorite cozy: Cheesy Chicken Orzo. Ohhh. Couldn’t you just curl up on a cold night with a big bowl of this?
Favorite decor. Not only do I love this color combo (pink + gold is the key to my heart) but I really like the idea of mixing different patterns and prints of the same color. Makes for a really interesting and cozy look.
Favorite fresh: Mango Coconut Smoothies. Sorry, could I fit anymore drinks into this post?! :) Seriously though It’s been a challenge drinking nothing but water, water, water throughout this pregnancy, as it tends to get boring – fast. Anything with flavor catches my eye these days – especially if it’s thick, cold, and full of fresh mango.
Favorite fitness: 10 Minute Arm Workout. This arm workout is led by Cameron Diaz’s trainer Teddy Bass. If he can get my arms looking ANYTHING like Cam-Cam’s then I’m in!
Favorite splurge: Brown Sugar Pound Cake. You’re welcome.
Have a great weekend, everyone!
That Brown Sugar Pound Cake. Goodness. Gracious. Do you think the 10-minute arm workout will burn enough calories to make up for a slice :)?
Hi IGE, as a fellow Iowan I love your blog and your recipes have made my husby one happy man. That cereal post made me laugh, however, I love all of those cereals she listed, especially grape nuts and cap’n crunch, ugh. Good luck with the registry, it’s very overwhelming at first…who knew there are different nipples to accommodate a newborn vs 6-12 months?? Seriously! And car seats, where to begin? OHMIGOSH, I remember that. Just remember to have fun. Register for at least 3 of those fitted water-proof crib sheets, (you will need them and thank me later ;)) I went thru all 3 in one night, poor kid. They go under the fitted sheet and save your mattress and keep your babe from getting soaked should they have an accident. Have fun!
Yikes! Good luck at Babies-R-Us! Glad you’ll have experienced guidance! That is overwhelming!
HI! Thanks so much for featuring my Cheesy Chicken Orzo, AND for introducing me to your beautiful blog!! Can’t wait to browse around and see how an Iowa Girl Eats! :-D
I can’t even look at that Brown Sugar pound Cake without feeling like I did something illegal!
Those cupcakes look amazing!! And you posted them just in time for my birthday on Sunday! ;)
I love all of these ideas! Everything is on my pinterest now!
I just sent my best friend (of 36 years…we met at age FIVE) a text that said “Please make me the salted dark chocolate cupcakes on IGE’s FF today. I love youuuuuu”. Do you think it will work? Please keep your fingers crossed for me :)
That’s awesome that your SIL can help you register. It’s nice to have the input of a seasoned vet ;) Best advice given to me: register in person and be careful if you go home and start changing things online that you’re not switching everything out for items (or even colors & patterns) that are online only. Unlike weddings, most people buy baby gifts in person and at the last minute. If it’s not in the store, then there’s a good chance you won’t end up getting it!
OMG I did that arm workout twice this week after seeing it on Pinterest and last night I thought my arms were going to fall.off. So good!
I definitely pinned the most alcoholic drinks while I was pregnant!
As for weekend plans, I hate to be a stereotypical Canadian but my hubby and I are in a curling bonspiel all day tomorrow, a good way to finish out the winter!
This was an awesome friday favorites! I think I clicked out on all the links! Thanks for sharing, friend!
This is my list I wrote on my blog for necessities for babies! But the most important advice I can give is borrow as much as you can!! And Congrats. Babies are the best!
http://www.foodtorunfor.com/2012/10/mommy-vice-registry.html