Happy Friday, everyone! How’d your short week go?
For once it wasn’t too big of an adjustment coming home from vacation. I can be quite lazy at times but there’s one thing I’m adamant about after taking a trip and that’s unpacking the second I get home. Otherwise the suitcase becomes a permanent object in the corner of the bedroom collecting dust much like the stack of books on my nightstand that’s been sitting there largely untouched for, cough, a YEAR?
Note to self: quit watching trashy reality television at night and read! What’s the best book you’ve read lately?
Anyway, where was I, oh yes. My bags are unpacked, the fridge is stocked, and our sights are set firmly on Saturday – game-day, baby! We’re heading to my parent’s house to watch the Hawkeyes play Ball State. Can’t wait. I’m bringing a new Savannah-inspired appetizer recipe that I’m testing out for Monday’s post, so stay tuned!
In the meantime, please enjoy my favorite finds from around the web and beyond, and have a great weekend!
Click the light blue links to be taken to the original source.
Favorite decadence: Double Chocolate Cookies. I can’t even handle the meltage in these cookies. A chocoholic’s dream come true!
Favorite DIY: Turn a Drawer Into an End Table. This drawer-turned-end-table project is one of the coolest DIY projects I’ve seen. The leather strap and etched details are so smart.
Favorite upgrade: Spaghetti Squash Lasagna Bowls. Wait ’til you see these! I just bought a spaghetti squash to make Low Carb Spaghetti Squash and Meatballs but am totally reworking the menu to make these instead. Looooove it.
Favorite travel: 19 Truly Charming Places To See Before You Die. Good grief this roundup just gave me the travel bug (and hey, check out #5!)
Favorite devour: Sweet Chili Garlic Chicken Pizza. One gluten-filled craving I just cannot kick is a doughy homemade pizza. MAN I’d kill for a cheesey, sweet-heat slice of this homemade pizza from Pinch of Yum!
Favorite funny: 21 Actual Analogies Used by High School Students in English Essays. Ben and I found this floating around Facebook the other day and were dyying. #14…I can’t even.
Favorite bite: Bacon Wrapped Grilled Peaches with Balsamic Glaze. Seriously all my favorite flavors in one bite. These would be awesome for a tailgating party since they can be served warm or room temp.
Favorite project: DIY Chalkboard Sign. How adorable are these DIY chalkboard signs? Rustic and fabulous. Are you getting excited for fall?
Favorite fall: White Chocolate Pumpkin Snickerdoodles. The folks at Trader Joe’s recently told me that all their pumpkin products are coming in next week – whee! In the meantime, I’ll be over here drooling over these chewy pumpkin-spiced snickerdoodles. :)
Favorite slurp: Slow Cooker Quinoa White Chili with Roasted Poblanos. I’ve had soup, stew, and chili on the brain in a major way lately. Think I’ll kick off soup season with this thick and hearty chili with a unique touch of roasted poblanos.
Favorite fashion. Ok, if fall food isn’t getting you excited for the next couple of months, maybe this charming fall outfit will. LOVE me some fall boots, scarves and sweaters!
Favorite crave: The Shiny Shiny – Gruyere, Jamon Serrano, Candied Garlic and Tomato Chutney Grilled Cheese. Holy buckets – need to get me one of these stacked grilled cheeses, stat!
Favorite decor: Log Filled Fireplace. I really like the looks of this log filled fireplace with brick up to the ceiling (swoon!) but what I’m really loving is the mantle decor! It’s the perfect styling for a side table I have in the entry hallway that’s kind of awkwardly styled at the moment. Taking notes…
Favorite breakfast: Cinnamon-Pumpkin Waffles with a Caramel Syrup. I saw this photo on my Instagram feed a few days ago and my mouth instantly began to water. I want to take a swim in that caramel syrup!
Have a great weekend!
A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness is a great read, you can get totally caught up in it. Plus it’s the first of a trilogy so there’s more to read when you finish.. :)
One of my 2014 resolutions was to read more, and I’ve actually stuck with it for once! Favorites so far include:
-Bread & Butter by Michelle Wildgen
-Seating Arrangements by Maggie Shipstead
-Wonder by R.J. Palacio
-The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh
-The Kept by James Scott (Heavy, but good)
-Where’d You Go, Bernadette? by Maria Semple
So looking forward to Trader Joe’s pumpkin items! Those bacon wrapped peaches with the balsamic look totally amazing and Sally’s pumpkin cookies are on my must-bake list. Thanks for sharing!
If you haven’t read the Outlander series yet I highly recommend it. Starz has just launched the first season of the TV which is amazing, but I recommend reading before watching. Also, GO HAWKS!
I love the Outlander series! I am currently reading the eighth book, “Written in My Own Heart’s Blood.” I can’t wait to watch Outlander on Starz (first we have to upgrade our cable subscription).
I just finished “Reconstructing Amelia” and it’s SO good. Couldn’t put it down.
I’m sooo excited fall is almost here! Bring on the soup posts!
(go hawks!)
An all blue smurf town? Who knew? I promise I read intelligent books as well, but I just finished “I Didn’t Come Here to Make Friends” by Courtney Robertson (of Ben Flajnik bachelor episode). Pretttttyyyyy interesting! Oh, and am I the only one dreading the invasion of all things pumpkin that is about to start? BLECHHHH. ACCCKKKKK. Did the survey, entered the giveway, THANK YOU!
I just read Ordinary Grace this summer. It was great. Also love Cutting for Stone. Happy Reading! Thanks for all the great finds.
Favorite books recently: This Is Where I Leave You–Jonathon Trooper; Following Atticus-Tom Ryan; We Were Liars-E. Lockhart :)
Yay for your reader survey!!! And I love that fall fashion photo. I’m not ready to say goodbye to summer, but I can get on board with those boots and sweater! So cute!
Go Hawks!
Oh man, ignore my survey. I asked for my GF recipes, but I just had been working off your recipes I pinned years ago, and had ignored the GF recipes and was just diagnoses with Celiac, so please excuse my ridiculous survey!
Wow! Today’s Friday Favorites was a great one! Those cookies look epic, but I’m so excited about the spaghetti squash. Our one hill yielded 30+ squash! Oh and a couple good books I’ve read this summer were: Orphan Train, Calling Me Home and Attachments. Check ’em out and let me know if you liked them!
On the log-filled fireplace, I saw a similar photo in BH&G, but they had painted the ends of some of the logs to match the season. The ones I saw where pastels for spring. Interesting decorating idea.