Oh happy day – it’s Friday, whoop!

That said, I feel it’s only appropriate that I recap the weather from this past week and forecast the days ahead. It’s just what we Midwesterners do. This was the first “fall” feeling week we’ve had this year, complete with drizzly rain and lots of lattes, but even better is that it finally looks like fall around here. I’ve been seeing pops of orange, red, and yellow from my friends to the north and east, but it was still relatively green until this week. That has meant lots of looking up!

 

And looking straight forward. That’s right, Ben’s and my Breaking Bad addiction has reared it’s ugly head again. We watched 1-1/2 seasons in, gulp, three days, and I haven’t been to bed before 11pm since Tuesday. Thank you, Walt and Jesse, for the (even darker) bags under my eyes. I want the series to end so I can get some sleep but am already mourning the last episode. WAHH!

Ahem, anyway. Lot’s of sunshine on the way this weekend which means it’s time to winterize the yard. Ben’s sweet folks did it for us last year when Lincoln was just a few months old, so this should be interesting. I’ve never winterized, well, anything. Wish us luck!

Wherever you are and whatever you do have a wonderful weekend, and in the meantime enjoy my favorite finds from around the web and beyond in this week’s Friday Favorites!

Click the light blue links to be taken to the original source.

Favorite devour: Spanikopita Stuffed Spaghetti Squash Bowls. Usually Ben and I just roast, shred, and then top our spaghetti squash with meat sauce, but the combo of flavors (and hello, cheese!) in this recipe is genius! Say it with me: kalamata. olives.

Spanakopita-Stuffed-Spaghetti-Squash-Bowls-8_mini

Favorite travel: 29 Surreal Places in America You Need to See Before You Die. I am drooooling over this list. And hey…check out the second picture under #25. Look familiar?

Antelope

Favorite sip: Maple Spiced Almond Milk with a Hint of Pumpkin. I’ve been contemplating making my own almond milk over the past few weeks, since Lincoln can’t drink cow’s milk and will likely be drinking a truck load of it in the coming years. That said, this recipe might just be a trial run treat for me. What a lovely combo of warming fall flavors. I can imagine adding homemade chai spice to it and sipping warm out of a big mug.

maple-spiced-almond-milk-with-a-hint-of-pumpkin_mini

Favorite DIY: $10 Wooden Blanket Ladder. Gor-geous! And $10?? You can’t beat that with the basket I currently stuff all my blankets in which not only make them unattractive but unreachable! Translation: I need dis.

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Favorite bite: Simply the Best Mac and Cheese. Speaking of needing dis… Oh my gosh. This plate of creamy mac is simply Heavenly looking, and has ZERO processed cheese!

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Favorite tip: The Only Stainless Steel Appliance Cleaner You’ll Ever Need. Moving into a house with stainless steel appliances last year got me pretty excited. They weren’t on my “must-have” list but I mean, yeah they do look nice….except when they don’t. Like when you’ve got a 14 month old with perpetually sticky fingers and a profession that has you using said stainless steel appliances all. the. time. That is to say, it feels nearly impossible to not only keep my appliances clean, but get them shining in the first place. I’ve tried a ton of different products and feel like they either leave a film or just don’t clean the way I want them to.

Already long story short, I am PSYCHED to give this natural cleaner a try!

Stainless-Steel-Cleaner_mini

Favorite supper: Chicken with Feta Cheese Sauce. Not only does this recipe look simple enough for everyday, but I cannot believe the cheese sauce calls for feta. It is so smooth looking! Can’t wait to try it out myself.

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Favorite fall: Gilded Branches. This is such an easy and inexpensive way to add a pop of color and shine to your home and you could really do it to anything – leaves, branches, pine cones, and other stuff I can’t think of right now…

golden-leaves-closeup

Favorite side: Roasted Garlic and Hasselback Potatoes. I am deeply exhaling while looking at this picture. I just wish this pan was sitting in front of me right at this very moment instead of being stuck inside my computer screen. Sigh!

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Favorite funny. Basically. You’re welcome, everyone!

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Favorite tip: Avoid These 5 Common Mistakes When Using Your Slow Cooker. Totally agree with the points in this article on common slow cooker mistakes, and I even learned something about adding alcohol to your slow cooker – basically that you should save it for drinking. I’m down with that!

SlowCookerMistakes_mini

Favorite treat: Pumpkin Cupcakes with Caramel Cream Cheese Icing. I can’t decide what I’m more obsessed with – the filling or the icing on these delectable fall cupcakes. Regardless, I’ll take 8 dozen.

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