Happy Friday, I hope you had a spectacular 4th of July!
My Mom, Dad, Ben and me spent the gorgeous evening of the 3rd at the Yankee Doodle Pops concert downtown, like we’ve done every year since the beginning of time, I feel.
We spread our blankets out on the capital lawn, busted out some yummy nibbles, then took in a lovely orchestra performance which culminated in a fireworks display as the 1812 Overture blasted from below. Classic!
I think I ate about 3lbs of the Best Fruit Dip. Ever. Also pretty classic. ; )
The next day the four of us met back up downtown for an early birthday lunch at Zombie Burger. Love this quirky, zombie-themed restaurant which carries the most ridiculous burger combos in town.
My Mom and I split the “Raygun” burger. A beef patty topped with Monterey Jack, fried jalapenos, caramelized onion, bacon, guacamole, and chipotle mayo. It was…epic. Must recreate. I also splurged on a Rice Krispie Treat shake because you only turn 30 once and, damnit, I wanted a Rice Krispie Treat shake!
Thanks Mom and Dad! : )
Afterwards Ben and I strolled along the riverwalk for awhile, hit the shopping mall for some relief from the heat (along with literally every other pregnant woman in town – it was hilarious) then spent the evening with friends at a great backyard BBQ culminating in another beautiful fireworks display.
‘Til next year!!
Today, well, today is my 30th birthday (AHH!) Ben took the day off and surprised me with a weekend trip to Kansas City for a few days of pre-baby fun! My family and I used to go at least once a year to shop at the Plaza and take in a Royals game, but I haven’t been back in years and years. Looking forward to re-exploring the city with my man (and, uh, maybe eating some vegetables!)
Well wherever you are, and whatever you do, I hope you have a fantastic weekend and please enjoy my favorite finds from around the web in this week’s Friday Favorites!
Click on the light blue links to be taken to the original source.
Favorite bite: S’mores Whoopie Pies. I have been seeing s’more everything on the interwebs lately. This is by far one of the most creative and delicious looking though. Ben and I have a little fire pit in our backyard that I’m dying to roast a couple of the OG ones on soon!
Favorite fashion: Athens Dress. How perfectly adorable is this dress? Great for a backyard party in the summer. Heart those shoes, too.
Favorite treat: Fresh Cherry Limeade Cupcakes. Everything about these cupcakes, from the lime-spiked batter to the fresh cherry-swirled icing, is simply begging me to make them.
Favorite furball. Awwww. Just, AWWW!
Favorite lick: Skinny Vanilla Bean Cheesecake Popsicles. Put “vanilla bean” in the recipe title and I’m already sold, but I’m especially loving that these treats are under 130 calories a pop. Totally decadent, and better for you than a blizzard, right?!
Favorite DIY: DIY Pixel Painting. This is such a fun idea, and I think the watercolors make the final painting look rustic yet high-end. Too cool.
Favorite fresh: Roman Salad. Salty, savory, no-recipe-needed salad. The best.
Favorite find: Chocolate Brown Bow Tote Bag. Normally I’m not a huge bow or ruffle fan, but this bow is just big enough to take it out of girly-girl realm and into chic territory. Know what I mean?
Favorite bomb: Monster Cookie Dough Brownie Bomb. Bahahaha!! These are insane!
Favorite funny: 15 Cute and Funny Kid Notes. These hilarious notes had me laughing out loud. Where do they come up with this stuff??
Favorite forkful: Avocado with Warm Bacon Dressing. I am not mad at a single ingredient in this warm and savory salad, and have always wanted to try a warm bacon dressing. What better way than over luscious avocados?
Favorite place: Summer out East (image via) As I look towards future family vacation plans, I keep coming back to renting a cabin somewhere for a week every summer, spending lazy afternoons on a boat and taking it totally easy. The logical thing would be to go a couple hours north to a lake in Minnesota, or even Lake of the Ozarks, which wouldn’t be that much further away, but part of me is craving an east-coast summer a la Cape Cod or Martha’s Vineyard. Love that style!
Favorite splurge: Salted Caramel Brownies. This picture is torture!! Going to whip these up for the next get together I attend, for sure!
Have a wonderful weekend!
Oh those s’mores whoopies on the vineyard. Perfection!
Need those bombs! Those are amazing!
Happy Birthday!! Looks like you had a great 4th of July! Rice Krispies treat shake sounds amazinggg!
Loving the look of all your Friday favourites as well!
Happy birthday! I’m 36 weeks pregnant as well (I think you are somewhere around there) anyway, your need to eat some vegetables comment made me chuckle as last night my snack was vegetables with some cheese because of how much sugar I had consumed earlier in the day. Hope you manage to find some great veggies in Kansas City.. and definitely enjoy the last few days with your husband before baby comes!
Happy Birthday!! Sounds like you will have a lovely weekend. You and your cute belly make me wanna be pregnant again…almost! ;)
Happy Birthday!!!! I hope you have a fantastic weekend.
Happy Birthday Kristin! As always, another fabulous Friday Favorites. I share the same series each Friday on my blog and I love seeing where we overlap- none this week, but I did drool over Tracey’s s’more whoopie pies and Haley’s cookie dough bombs. Have a great birthday weekend!
Happy Birthday!! I’m also headed to KC for the weekend and planning a trip to the Plaza. There’s a Nat Geo pirate exhibit at Union Station we’ll be checking out.
Happy Birthday! Have a great time in KC! We are going there in a week, so I’d love to hear where you went and what you liked!
In KC you must have the BBQ. Everyone has their favorites- I recommend Arthur Bryant’s!
Happy Birthday today! I hope you have a fantastic trip to KC. I was just there last weekend to prep it for you.
Those blondies look amazing!
I turned 40 on the 2nd. Happy Birthday!
Happy Birthday Kristin! Hope you have a fun weekend. Happy 4th too! I made Judy’s baked beans yesterday and they really are delicious…and addicting! Yum!! Thanks for all your wonderful recipes and the Friday Favorites are great as usual! : )
happy birthday! enjoy yourself and your weekend away. (also, no fair telling us about rice krispie milkshakes when we can’t get one!)
Happy 30th Birthday! Hope the weekend is AMAZING! Wanted to let you know I made the grilled corn on the cob with chili lime butter for a 4th picnic (in the rain…POUT) and it was a huge hit! Thx for all you do!
Happy 30th!!
Hope your weekend is awesome!
I made the fruit salad and it was delish! I omitted the banannas, and in place added raspberries and pineapple and it was AAAAAhhhmazing!
The cape is gorgeous, but busy! I grew up going their every summer..Rhode Island is a nice alternative, especially Charlestown or Watch Hill. Iconic New England!
Happy 30th Birthday! Have a GREAT Weekend in KC, maybe BBQ with a side of veggies! FF are awesome as always..
I just LOVE that bag! I’m not a big purse/shoe girl since I never fully outgrew my tomboy stage but I NEED that purse. You look marvelous by the way!
Happy Birthday! Mine is tomorrow, so I am totally loving all the 4th of July festivities as well. :) Summertime is the best!
Happy Birthday Kristin! I turn 30 later this month also :)
I always look forward to your Friday Favorites!! Wishing you a fabulous 30th birthday celebration in KC – & also wishing there was a Zombie Burger location in Virginia so I could take my Walking-Dead addicted roommate there for her birthday this Sunday!! LOL
Happy Birthday Kristen! Enjoy your birthday and fun-filled weekend! Your 30’s will bring you many blessings.
Happy Birthday, Kristin!! I hope it’s fabulous for you!!! Love your blog – I share it with everyone I know. Also love that cute pink necklace your wearing. Where is it from?
Enjoy your weekend!! :)
Happy Birthday!! Hope you have a wonderful weekend in KC! Thanks so much for sharing my s’mores whoopie pies! I don’t comment often, but love your blog and have been following forever :)
Happy Birthday!!! and have a fantastic weekend. I am now seriously craving those caramel brownies :-)
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! Welcome to the next decade, I’ve only been 30 for a few weeks now. I’m pretty sure it would be better if I weren’t pregnant as well, but….pretty good so far!
Have a great birthday weekend and welcome to the 30s (I personally love them)!!
I went to Zombie Burger on Wednesday. Love that place!
Happy 30th Birthday!! I hope you have a fabolous weekend in Kansas City and enjoy the pre-baby time with your husband!
those monster things… ::whistles:: the EKG afterward would be worth it.
I’ve lived in the new york area my entire life and i used to LOVE driving(never flying or by rail, always driving)to cape cod for summer trips-including trying to take a photo of the kennedy compound EVERY. SINGLE. SUMMER. youd love it, though! it’s no Cali, but there’re nice beaches, insane seafood, especially in the coastal towns, and shopping is great. its easy to take a day trip from the cape to boston, too, if desired.
have a wonderful birthday! enjoy your trip!
Happy Birthday! And Kansas City! My stomping grounds! :) Hope it doesn’t disappoint!
Happy 30th Birthday, Kristin! So sweet of Ben to plan a trip. Have fun celebrating!
Happy 30th! Looks like you guys had a great July 4th celebration!
You are looking super cute!! Happy 30th…. by the way the 30’s ROCK!
Happy Happy Birthday, Kristin!! How exciting! You’re coming to my home city! I hope you have a great time here in Kansas City…weather is supposed to be good….Plaza and Power & Light District are both always fun. Enjoy!!
Happy Birthday!! Have a wonderful weekend in KC! :)
happy birthday kristin!!, hope you had a nice 4th,your 30’s will be the best, like lilly said,i share your blog with everyone i know also. thanks for eveything you do.
That salad looks delicious!! Yum, need to create that stat.
Also you pick of the East Coast, beautiful! Makes me want to go…like yesterday.
Happy birthday! Welcome to the 30’s club – it’s been some of my favorite years so far! Seems like you’re having a pretty sweet celebration so far. :D
Those caramel brownies look INSANE, yum.
Saugatauk area of Michigan on Lake Michigan is wonderful. Beautiful area, great restaurants and shopping. Very relaxing.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE CUTEST MOMMY-TO-BE!!!
Can’t believe you’re coming to KC – I live in downtown KC! We’re headed to OK this weekend for a concert though, so no, we won’t be able to join you for dinner on the Plaza.. ;) haha. Our favorite place is Kona Grill! I get sushi & the husband gets pizza :) Enjoy your visit!!
Happy Birthday to you Kristin! You look adorable in that black top and so does little man! Have a happy day!! Your 30’s are so fun, make sure you enjoy them. This from a lady who turns 50(!!Ouch!!) next week. Once the baby is here time goes so fast! I’m sure your Mom can attest to that.
omg, you’ll be in my city! Make sure you check out Natasha’s Mulberry and Mott, a french pastry shop on the Plaza, for french macarons and more!
Happy birthday!!! You look simply amazing! I hope you have a great time! I will be finally painting my kitchen a cheery yellow and white! At least I hope it is cheery and not post it note yellow! But i am happy to be putting up some paint!!
I was born and raised in DSM and love seeing pictures of it. I also miss spending my 4th of July at the most stunning Capitol in the United States. Hope you had a wonderful birthday and God bless you, your family and your new baby boy!
That pops concerts looks like so much fun! The perfect way to celebrate the holiday. Have a great rest of the weekend, and thanks so much for featuring my avocados w/ bacon dressing. I appreciate it :)
Oh my gosh. The kids notes were the funniest things I have read in a long time!! My husband and I were crying, we were laughing so hard! Thank you for sharing. Your Friday Favorites always get me through the last day of the work week!!! :)
Happy Birthday! I was pregnant when I turned 30 too! the next year I celebrated my bday with a much needed big wine tasting trip through Sonoma :-) Hope you enjoy your surprise vacay!
Those brownie bombs look, the bomb! hehe sorry I had to!
I’m checking out that skinny cheesecake popsicle recipe now. That furball photo is too cute!
Loved how the burger that you and your mum had looked, yummy.