Hello from the other side of the holidays! They seem to go faster and faster each year, don’t they? I took down all our decorations on Wednesday, Ben is back to work, and while the cozy, magical feeling of Christmas has left the air, I will admit that it’s nice getting back into a routine. Ask me if I feel the same in a month when the snow just won’t die and I’m dying for something to look forward to!
That being said, I think we’re ready to travel with Lincoln again this spring/summer. I believe it was somewhere between praying the too-loud music at a breakfast joint wouldn’t wake him up, and Ben and me taking turns eating dinner at my cousin’s wedding to tend to our screaming infant when we traveled to Denver a few months ago, that I actually said “we are never doing this again.” Hmmm…
Looking back it wasn’t bad at all. He did really great for only being 3 months old, plus as Lincoln’s gotten older his moods and needs are much more predictable. So, where should we go? What’s your favorite family-friendly destination in the US? Spring break has always been one of my favorite travel times during the year!
In the meantime, I hope you have a wonderful weekend, and please enjoy my favorite finds from around the web and beyond in this week’s Friday Favorites!
Click the light blue link to be taken to the source.Â
Favorite thing ever: Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream Sandwiches. DYING over this creation. Sheer brilliance!
Favorite kitchen. This kitchen island is making me all sorts of giddy and I adore how the cooking area can be closed off by barn door-style cabinets. What an awesome space.
Favorite dinner: Mexican Quinoa. Loving the flavors in this one-pot quinoa dish. Looks like a perfect weeknight meal.
Favorite find: Picture Rail Inspiration. I finally ordered picture ledges (I got these and love them) for the big long wall in my long and narrow awkward-shaped living room and this picture is my inspiration for how to style them. Need to stock up on frames, knicks, and knacks, then they’re goin’ up!
Favorite crunch: Thai Chicken Salad with Spicy Peanut Sauce. A reader sent me a link to this recipe earlier this week, thinking Ben and I would enjoy it – she knows us so well! I’m on a huge Thai peanut-sauce kick right now – stay tuned for a recipe using it on Monday!
Favorite place: Grand Hotel, Lake Misurina. O.M.G. This hotel in northern Italy has officially made my bucket list. What a breathtaking shot!!
Favorite stuffed: Cheesy Chicken Enchilada Style Burritos. Me thinks I don’t eat enough burritos. Will have to change that ASAP with these babies.
Favorite bling: Love Knot Stud Earrings. I pretty much only wear stud earrings so I like that these guys are studs, but fancy, know what I mean?
Favorite flavors:Â Brown Rice Bowl with Asian Vegetables and Sesame-Lime Dressing. Got the ingredients to make this for dinner tonight. Can’t wait!
Favorite tip: How to Travel-Proof Your Razor. One life hack I will definitely be using.
Favorite idea: Smoothie Packs. I’ve been on a big smoothie kick the past couple of weeks and while they’re awesome, it’s definitely a pain in the butt to get out all the ingredients, load them in the blender, put them away, etc. Love the idea of spending some time pre-making smoothie packs to make the whole process go much faster!
Favorite natural: Citrus Kitchen Cleaner. My sister-in-law turned me onto this tip – use leftover lemon or lime segments to clean sinks and cutting boards, then send ’em down the disposal (if they’re cut small enough, of course) to get your sink smelling nice and clean. I rubbed a leftover lemon all over my stainless steel sink a few nights ago and it seriously looked brand new.
Favorite bake: Italian Chicken. Tomatoes. Basil. Chicken. Artichokes. Cheese. One pan. ‘Nuf said!
Favorite tips: 10 Ways to Declutter Your Day. Wonderful ideas on how to stay focused throughout the day. I especially love the one about the laptop – if my work didn’t involve the computer/internet so much I’d be all over it!
Favorite upgrade: Braided Brown Sugar Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Danish. Regular danish? Snore. Brown Sugar Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Danish?! YES!
Have a great weekend!
Elyse 01.05.2014
San Francisco! California is always beautiful and that city is the perfect mix between outdoor activities and great food. You could rent a car and drive along the coast, walk on the beach, bike ride, etc. I went once before when my husband and I were still dating and we had a blast. I have family in southern California (orange county area) and I enjoyed seeing how different northern California is in comparison. It seemed more laid back, and who doesn’t love a town with a chocolate factory?
Lisa L 01.05.2014
Lincoln is pretty little yet but sometime you will have to take a vaca to Mt Rushmore and all the other sites in western SD. It truly is a tourist destination and so many great things to see and do. Thanks for the Friday favorites. Always fantastic stuff!
AshleyCS4 01.04.2014
I grew up in South Carolina at the beach and now I live in St. Augustine, FL. And let me tell you, St. Augustine has to be the greatest small town in the world. The beaches are incredible (powder soft sand, blue-green waters and no crowds!), there is great shopping, and history all around. But the best part has to be the incredible restaurants! The food in this town is spectacular. And you can vacation here year round!
Nicole | Feeding This Family 01.04.2014
Have y’all been to Austin? I’ve only been a handful of times but going off what I’ve seen you and Ben enjoy in terms of cities and food scenes, it sounds right up y’all’s alley. I took my daughter when she was very young, maybe 2 months old and everything went fine. Very laid back diverse city.
Stephanie @cookinfanatic 01.04.2014
The binder clip trick, I love it! (perhaps that’s just the accountant in me haha)
Sarah @ People,Places&Plates 01.04.2014
Come up to Vancouver!! (not exactly in the US but close enough!)
Carrie 01.04.2014
Come to Scottsdale. It’s paradise here. Right now, it’s sunny, 70 and no humidity. In the cool evenings we sit around our outdoor fire pit with a glass of wine. Ahhhhh…heaven. In March, the desert will be in full bloom. If you have never experienced the Sonoran desert in full color, it’s a must.
You can find all kinds of fun cowboy activities for the kiddies too. Dude ranches, horseback riding, jeep tours in the desert………
Kate 01.04.2014
I have three little ones (7, 6, 2). We’ve been taking them to St.louis and Wis Dells since they were about Lincoln’s age!
Mindy Ruzynski 01.03.2014
When our first child was just 3 months old we went to Napa Valley and checked out the wineries. Just don’t forget your pump ;)
Claire 01.03.2014
Saugatuck, Michigan is FABULOUS. It will be a little chilly for Spring Break, but it is great during the summer. The town is full of cute shops and restaurants. The beaches are great and the sunsets on that side of Lake Michigan are to die for!
Greg H 01.03.2014
North Carolina is a great family friendly vacation. There’s great food, good people, and lots to do – from Asheville, along the Blue Ridge Parkway, and right over to the Atlantic coast.
purelytwins 01.03.2014
that hotel…makes me want to book at ticket to Italy now!
Derek in Tokyo 01.03.2014
Hi!
Long time, first time… (-;
Love the blog and recipes.
The Mexican Quinoa recipe looked great, but the site seemed to be down. This might be a temp problem, but if it isn’t, do you have a copy of the recipe somewhere else?
Cheers!
D
Kate 01.03.2014
Hi Kristin, just wondering about an ad that has been appearing when I visit your website. It seems to be for a video game called War Thunder, and it plays loud audio that can’t be muted. It’s quite annoying and really contradicts your peaceful, friendly blog experience – any chance that it can be disabled? Thanks so much!
Jackie 01.03.2014
Thanks for sharing! The Mexican quinoa bowl looks great!
Lisa E 01.03.2014
Have to agree with the people that said Wisconsin Dells. We live 2 hours away, go often, and never get bored. There’s not a lot of trips that can be appreciated with a baby, but the Dells has something for all ages, and Lincoln would love getting in a little water park time, I’m sure. The Wilderness is definitely a good family- friendly spot.
Morgan 01.03.2014
You should check out Captiva Island, FL. My family and I have been going there almost every year since I was four months old. It’s a gorgeous, tiny island in the Gulf of Mexico. The shrimp tacos from Captiva Cantina and the Bubble Bread from the Bubble Room are worth the trip alone. :)
Sarah 01.03.2014
Are the pin icons on Friday Favorites new? I’ve never noticed that before. It seems kind of shady to have a pin on other peoples’ recipes so that it will take the person back to your page. They should have to go to the source to pin it.
Iowa Girl Eats 01.03.2014
They are new as of today – site-wide (definitely NOT just for Friday Favorites.) I agree that it’s not ideal for these types of post. I’ll look into a solution ASAP.
Iowa Girl Eats 01.03.2014
Hey Sarah, thanks for bringing this to my attention. We’ve disabled the feature until we can figure out a work-around!
Sara 01.03.2014
Love these! If you want to keep your trip closer to home this year, we always head to Lake Okoboji at least once every summer…and the babies/kiddos have a blast. Barefoot Bar anyone?
Tracy 01.03.2014
A plumber once told me that citrus rinds are horrible for your disposal…proceed with caution!!
Carrie 01.04.2014
I second that. A plumber told me the same thing about NOT putting rinds in the disposal.
LucyMay 01.04.2014
My brother is a plumber. He said it’s not an issue of citrus rinds being horrible for your disposal, but the size of the rind is the issue. Don’t shove half a lemon or orange down there; instead just use a wedge or two or a couple of slices. That’s plenty to create a nice smell.