Hello, hello – welcome to the weekend!
I am feeling particularly bright and sunshiny today because, well, this weekend is supposed to be particularly bright and sunshiny! We’re talking highs in the 60s and 70s, even climbing into the 80s by the beginning of next week.
Can I get a collective, WHEE?! Goll, so ready for this.
I told Ben that I want to do something especially fun this weekend to celebrate our first warm weekend of the year, so he’s been sweating it trying to come up with something good. I know he will. He always does. Some people have all the best ideas. ; )
Anyway, wherever you are, and whatever you do, I hope you have a great weekend, and please enjoy my favorite finds from the web and beyond in this week’s Friday Favorites!
Click on the light blue links to be taken to the original source.
Favorite sip: Watermelon and Mango Agua Fresca. Ahhh, so refreshing, and nice to find a fun mocktail to enjoy in the hot spring and summer months!
Favorite outfit. This top is so out of character for me, but I’m just loving blue these days. Plus those shorts? Adorbs! (PS if anybody knows where I can get a decent-looking pair of maternity shorts, I will forever grateful.)
Favorite crunch: Chopped Thai Chicken Salad. I have been drooling over this salad all dang week. Crunch, freshness, and peanut sauce. What more do ya’ need?
Favorite reminder. This print is intended for a child’s room, but I kind of want to plaster it all over the world.
Favorite bite:Â Coconut Crunch Chicken Strips with Creamy Honey-Mango Dipping Sauce. Obsession alert! Can’t you practically feel the crunch, and taste that sauce through your computer screen?
Favorite fashion: Jade Boho Rings. I’ll take one in every color, mmkay? Thanks.
Favorite refresh: Tropical Chia Smoothie. Basically a super-fresh, virgin pina colada with healthy chia seeds in the mix. Great for deck sailing or a morning treat.
Favorite furball. Hey y’all. Awww… :)
Favorite dip:Â Easy Feta Dip. This would be such a hit at BBQs and get togethers. I know my Mom would love it.
Favorite find. I don’t know when/if I’ll ever need to skewer Mike & Ike’s with toothpicks to mimic mini popsicles, but OMG HOW CUTE!!!!
Favorite homemade: Homemade English Muffins. I always forget about English Muffins, then when I finally have one I want to slap myself for waiting so long in between sessions. They are so good served hot and crisp then slathered in a little salted butter and sweet jam. Mmm.
Favorite fitness: Jillian Michaels’s 45 Minute Treadmill Workout. I’m all but done with running until after the baby is born, but I could modify this to be all walking and it’d still be a great workout with those inclines.
Favorite mini: Blackened Chicken Sliders with Warm Mango Salsa. What a fantastic flavor combo, and I love the fact that these mini burgers are served on tiny little slider buns. So cute.
Favorite find: How to Brew the Perfect Cup of Tea. This video makes me happy. :)
Favorite sweet: Brown Butter Oatmeal Chocolate Chunk Cookies. Oatmeal chocolate chip cookies are my number 1 favorite cookies of all time. These babies are made even more wicked by browning the butter in the dough first. I could pop about 87, me thinks.
Have a great weekend!
Christy Denney 04.28.2013
Thanks for including me on this. Wait? You’re pregnant too! I missed the memo. How far along? I’m 22 weeks. I wish I could find some cute maternity shorts too. My husband just showed me that my current ones have a hole in them. Awesome.
Jeri Wendzel 04.28.2013
I got my maternity shorts at Target and my sister-in-law loved them so much (she is smaller than I am) so she bought 2 pairs in her size when she was pregnant!
LJCM 04.28.2013
I cannot WAIT to make that mocktail. It’s still a little cool here in NYC, but as soon as I can find some fresh watermelon I’m making it. Great recipes in this post, Thank you! :)
Debt girl 04.28.2013
Love the Friday finds!
Courtney 04.27.2013
Hi Kristin! I was out shopping today and while I was browsing through skin care products I remembered one of your posts about a moisturizer that saved your skin when you were dealing with acne.. it wasn’t the Cetaphil brand, but another one. I can’t remember the name and I have no idea what post it would be under. Haha, sorry for such a random question, but just thought I would ask! Thanks :)
Andrea 04.27.2013
Was it the dual action shown in this post?
https://iowagirleats.com/2010/08/19/the-best-skin-care-advice-ive-ever-received/
Iowa Girl Eats 04.28.2013
At the time I was using the Target brand Dual Treatment Moisturizer with salicylic acid. I think I have the best combo now though – Cerave cleanser in the am and pm. Cetaphil moisturizer in the pm and Neutrogena oil-free moisturizer for sensitive skin in the am!
Rhonda 04.27.2013
Getting that sunshine and warm weather a day later than you over here in SE Wisconsin. It’s going to be a great weekend! And this was a great Friday post because I think I’ve clicked on just about all the links and haven’t got any work accomplished since I sat down at my desk!
Jan @ Sprouts n Squats 04.26.2013
That Thai chicken salad looks great as do those cookies.
Loving the rings and that outfit with the blue colours.
We are just leaving warm weather here in australia and heading into autumn.
Amanda B. 04.26.2013
OMG Thank you for posting the Chopped Thai Chicken salad! That looks so good and it’s my favorite kind of salad at Panera. I can’t wait to try the at home version. :)
Mandy 04.26.2013
I love that outfit! So cute! And those cookies look kind of ridiculous…in the best way.
Jane 04.26.2013
You might for fun, look at consignment shops as well for maternity clothes. You would be surprised at what you could find. That or plunk down some money on a couple of good quality staples, then hang onto them for later!! You could also find some of your old jeans, cut them off into shorts and modify the belly’s on them!
Georgia @ The Comfort of Cooking 04.26.2013
Those sliders and cookies are sorta kinda killing me right now! Thanks for sharing the workout plan, too – sounds tough but perfect for getting bikini-ready!
Nicole @ FruitnFitness 04.26.2013
I love the sweet puppy picture. Coconut chicken sounds great! I always used to love coconut shrimp when I would go out to seafood restaurants.
lisa@cookingwithcurls 04.26.2013
Pulled out the flip flops yesterday and cannot wait for the 70’s to arrive!!! Have an awesome weekend:)
Kathryn 04.26.2013
Ann Taylor Loft was my go-to for maternity clothes. The line is adorable and often they have the same styles from their regular line in maternity sizes too. Plus, they always have huge sales via their email list.
The one drawback is that maternity is sold online only but I found returns and exchanges to be easy via mail. Good luck!
Kate 04.26.2013
My maternity shorts were from Old Navy and the Gap. I only had one pair (and wore maternity clothes all summer long) because the sun dresses were much better. I just bought maxi non-maternity cotton sundresses from Target and Old Navy and lived in those. Good luck!
FitBritt@MyOwnBalance 04.26.2013
Oh what a good roundup of favs! I’m making at least three of these! Coconut chicken! Tropical chia smoothie! Blackened chicken burger with mango salsa! Yum! I also detect a tropical theme. :)
Hannah @ CleanEatingVeggieGirl 04.26.2013
I am absolutely LOVING that outfit (how perfect is royal blue for Summer?) and those rings are fabulous! Yet again, another great week of favorites :).
Julia Jolliff 04.26.2013
Cheers to 70 degrees, that’s for sure! I am loving that agua fresca! A must try.
Pamela @ Brooklyn Farm Girl 04.26.2013
The cookies and the sweet dog – those are great Friday favs! :)
young c 04.26.2013
Those cookies look delish!