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!
Sarah 03.23.2013
Italian Drunken Noodles? To die for!
I will actually be headed to Osaka tomorrow for Spring Break! I’m staying for the week to check out Nara and Kyoto as well. I know that you lived in Japan for as summer, and I’ve made your Yoshinoya Beef bowl recipe. それがおいしかった!
Congrats on the baby boy news:)
Nina @ Too Hottie For That Body 03.22.2013
Oh my goodness, my stomach dropped just my looking at the zip lining photo. That looks like such fun!
Ja @Athlete Within Ja 03.22.2013
Yum! Coconut Lime Mojito. Looks so refreshing!
Trisha 03.22.2013
1. The coconut mojito?! No words.
2. Serious LOLing over that cereal post. Hope you weren’t too attached to the roof of your mouth. Curse you, Cap ‘N Crunch!
3. Good luck with the baby registry. I couldn’t even handle our wedding registry. I don’t even want to think about an eventual baby registry. In fact, I may just hire someone right now…
Kristen 03.22.2013
The ‘Bou is SO much better than the Bux! Wish I had one near me
Lisa 03.24.2013
Tried the sparkling peach tea at ‘Bou. Delicious. Thanks for the tip. Wonder if they can make it sugar free as large is 180 calories. But it’s great, almost dessert worthy.
Jan @ Sprouts n Squats 03.22.2013
Yum that brown sugar pound cake looks great!
Ann 03.22.2013
Have fun in Charleston! Take a 45 minute side trip to Kiawah island….it is so lovely, quaint, and the best beach! The Sanctuary is FAB – go have lunch on the patio and take in the ocean breeze. If you have a little extra time – check out the Kayaking by Cassique Golf Course. I was there last fall and had dolphins swimming up less than a foot away! It is a special place – you will be googling rentals for a summer vacation on the beach next summer. I have 3 teenagers now, but my motto always was, have baby, will travel!
Nicole @ Fruit 'N' Fitness 03.22.2013
Have fun shopping this weekend! I go into Babies R US every few months to get my dog Bentley a new tiger and am always overwhelmed with all the crazy kids and parents running around. If Bentley didn’t love the stuffed tiger so much I would be at pets mart. It does appear to have everything a mom could need though. Good luck shopping.
Georgia @ The Comfort of Cooking 03.22.2013
Holy MOLY. Those drunken noodles are killin’ me!
Courtney 03.22.2013
Can I make a request that you do a post on a copycat recipe of that fizzy peach black tea (or what you can taste is in it)?! Oh lord, we only have the ‘bucks up here in Seattle but that looks incredible.
Melissa in IA 03.22.2013
I’ve been casually toying with the idea of somehow cleaning all the gunk out of the little nooks of our washing machine and now you leave me no excuse not to do it! Doggone it! LOL! Thanks for the link!!! :)
LOVE-ing the looks of that brown sugar cake…sigh.
Lisa 03.22.2013
I’m going to Charleston in 2 weeks for the first time. Let me know of any must “sees” or “EATS”!!! Thank you! :)
Katie @ Blonde Ambition 03.22.2013
The travel box idea is SO cute! When I studied abroad, I kept every single subway map, train ticket, museum brochure, etc. and they’re all just sitting in a bag at my parent’s house!
Lovin’ the drinks :)
lovecooking 03.22.2013
I literally gasped when I saw the picture of the brown sugar pound cake. Gasped.
Catherine 03.22.2013
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 :)?
Erin 03.22.2013
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!
Tracy 03.22.2013
Yikes! Good luck at Babies-R-Us! Glad you’ll have experienced guidance! That is overwhelming!
Kate@Diethood 03.22.2013
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
M. Vivian 03.22.2013
I can’t even look at that Brown Sugar pound Cake without feeling like I did something illegal!
Hannah @ CleanEatingVeggieGirl 03.22.2013
Those cupcakes look amazing!! And you posted them just in time for my birthday on Sunday! ;)