Hey, hey, happy Friday!
My schedule has been all out whack this week, what with the holiday on Tuesday, then having Ben home from work, then not – I feel like I’ve lived 3 Fridays already!
I’m looking forward to a quiet weekend at home, including making homemade sushi for dinner tonight with Ben, then STEAM MOPPING my entire house this weekend with the new STEAM MOP I’m buying today. I could not be more excited, if you can’t tell (what has my life come to…) All I can say is keeping the tile in my entryway, kitchen, and bathrooms is, well, it’s a challenge my friends. One I’m going to tackle head on with the power of steam on my side, muwahaha!
At any rate, let me in on your fun plans for the weekend, and in the meantime, please 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.Â
Favorite mini: Birthday Cake Brownie Pops. How adorable and intricate are these cake pops? Totally appeals to my miniature-obsessed self.
Favorite reads:Â The Violets of March by Sarah Jio. I have now read all of Sarah’s books and The Violets of March might be my favorite. I read it in one day over Christmas break (which seems to be a pattern with her stories – I cannot put them down!) and was enchanted by the tale of a mysterious novel that the main character finds in a drawer at her great Aunt’s house, whose story somehow weaves itself into her present-day life. LOVED it!
Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn. I also read this book over the holidays, and it is warped in the best possible way. It’s a tale of a toxic, he said/she said relationship that has the craziest ending. This was a day and half read – again, totally sucked me in!
Favorite bite: Browned Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie Cups. Mini, browned butter, chocolate chips, plus a gooey center? ‘Nuf said. Oh, one more thing, YUM!
Favorite fitness: Brazilian Butt Workout. I find walking incline workouts to be much tougher than running workouts. They BURN to the point where running feels like relief! That said, I can’t wait to try this one out. :)
Favorite sip: Spiced Ginger Pear Cocktail. Festive for the season, but also really fresh too. This actually sounds like it’d make a really good tea blend!
Favorite tip: Pashmina Wrap. I have tons of pashminas which I love taking with me to weddings and events to drape around my shoulders if I get chilly, but they’re hard to wear as scarves because they’re so long, and I’m so short! I think this simple way to tie a pashmina as a scarf, with a unique little wrap on top, is sooo cute though. There’s also a video which show’s you how to do it!
Favorite dish: Roasted Corn Pasta Salad. To be honest the gemelli is what first caught my attention (my favorite pasta shape!) but the flavors of chipotle and sweet corn in this recipe had me hooked.
Favorite space saver: Bed Sconces. None of the bedrooms in my house are particularly huge so I’m always looking for ways to save space. This sconce solution would totally work for me!
Favorite yum: Honey Mustard Glazed Chicks in a Blanket. Because, what isn’t made better by wrapping in bacon, and glazing with honey mustard sauce??? Love the super-short ingredient list in this recipe, too.
Favorite funny: Trust Fall. Ok, this video is really stupid, but it makes me laugh really hard. I TRUST YOU!
Favorite sweet: Fresh Strawberry Cake. While it’s definitely not strawberry season – far from it – I’ve been seeing strawberry recipes everywhere lately. Perhaps its our collective wishful thinking for warmer weather? Whatever the case may be, this Fresh Strawberry Cake is the best looking recipe I’ve seen yet.
Favorite place. If I can’t be twirling in strawberry fields, I’ll take a cup of hot chocolate and a good book in front of this roaring fire in my cozy, log cabin thankyouverymuch.Â
Favorite fresh: Deviled Egg Chef Salad. I am a total sucker for Chef Salads (sans bleu cheese) and Deviled Eggs. What a great, fresh combo of the two!
Favorite furball. Been there, done that…
Favorite brunch: Coffee Crunch Cake. Oh crumble topping, take me away!
Favorite funky: Herringbone Scarf. How chic would this look with a nice black wool coat for a night out?
Favorite devour: Low-Carb Caramel Machiatto Tiramisu. Oh the humanity! Would you believe this epic dessert is low-carb, too?!
Have a GREAT weekend, everyone!
Kristin 01.04.2013
I LOVED Gone Girl. I read it in a day. Totally freaky but I couldn’t put it down. You can read my full review on my blog. I’m a book blogger, but I love your recipes!
Maria 01.04.2013
OK, I really think I want to punch the ‘trust me’ guy!
Kristin 01.04.2013
I love my steam mop, and guess what? It is strawberry season in Florida. In February (I think) they hold the Strawberry Festival in Plant City, which is a little bit like a state fair. Food, rides, music acts. I just had my first pint of strawberries, and they were delicious. And, I hope you’ll consider an Italian greyhound for your Friday favorites. I just hugged an IG puppy today, and he was the cutest! Made my Friday :)
Renee 01.04.2013
I LOVED The Violets of March! I read all of the Sarah Jio books over Christmas after pinning the recommendation for Blackberry Winter that you posted. Keep recommending! I’ve set a goal to read 50 books this year (Christmas to Christmas) and I’ve finished five so far…
Leslie 01.04.2013
Seriously my favorite tea is by Forte tea and it’s a white ginger pear. It’s phenomenal. I can’t wait to have this baby so I can make this cocktail!!
Jenny 01.04.2013
Sweaty bands are the best I have a serious issue so much so I cannot go to their website. I give them as gifts all the time and everyone loves them. I am going to look into that hat it would be perfect for winter! It is cold out there!
Iowa Girl Eats 01.05.2013
Hahaha, I know – they have so many cute designs to choose from!
Marilyn Martin 01.04.2013
LOVE the furball! We have one just like him!
Erin Kaye 01.04.2013
LOVE this giveaway! I have long, thick hair and hate having to wear it down to run in cold weather… Please let me win for that hat!
Lindsey F 01.04.2013
What an awesome giveaway! I may have to get some of those no slip headbands, they are adorable!
Ashley 01.04.2013
I love your Friday Favorites! The chef salad looks amazing. Also, need that herringbone scarf–so cute! Hope I win the giveaway :)
Katie @ Blonde Ambition 01.04.2013
I totally love gemelli shaped pasta too :D
OK so I’ve only ever heard about Gone Girl on a bunch of the blogs I read (all written by women) so I got this idea in my head that it was 50 Shades of Grey-esque in its reader appeal…and then died laughing when I realized my boyfriend’s super fratty 25-year old dude roommate was reading it! But he said it was crazy so I might have to steal it from him soon :)
Iowa Girl Eats 01.05.2013
That’s so funny because my brother-in-law recommended it to me – said his roommate was reading it, and everyone was laughing at him because they thought it was chick-lit, which it obviously didn’t turn out to be!
Valerie 01.04.2013
The Sweatybands and Peekaboo ponytail hat are AWESOME! Makes for good running accessories all year round! Thanks for offering this giveaway- what a great collection of items!
Jackie 01.04.2013
Steam mops are the best invention EVER for tile floors. I love mine, and you will instantly be able to feel the difference on your bare feet! Thanks for the giveaway! We will be cheering on the Vikings tomorrow night in the playoff game! Skol!
Erin 01.04.2013
oh man do i ever need some motivation to work out. apparently, a honeymoon trip to st. john isn’t enough of a kick in the bootie! love all these favorites too.
mary s 01.04.2013
def needed the pashmini lesson and….. must say…. I wait all week for the Friday Favorites. and this week has been a week of fridays, or mondays, Either way it’s been LONG.
ErikaMC 01.04.2013
Since we finally have snow I will be going snowshoeing! I’m very excited.
Be sure to tell us how you like the steam mop – I might need to get one too.
Lacey Bean 01.04.2013
OMG I need the ponytail hat in my life! That would solve all of life’s (first world) problems!
Sarah @ The Cyclist's Wife 01.04.2013
That is so funny about the steam mop. I totally want one of those and I’ve been perusing the user reviews. Please let us know which one you get and what you think. Happy steaming!!
Rose Ann 01.04.2013
I used to have a shark but I bought a Oreck & it’s amazing…so much better and does an amazing job!!!
Sarah @ The Cyclist's Wife 01.08.2013
Thanks!
Bobbi 01.04.2013
Yum! Those chocolate chip cookie cups look awesome and love the herringbone scarf. Enjoy your steam mop – absolutely adore mine. Did you hear they’re making Gone Girl into a movie? The whole time I was reading that book I kept thinking it would make a good movie, excited for it to come out
Iowa Girl Eats 01.05.2013
Ooo, awesome I didn’t know that! Can’t wait… :)
Averie @ Averie Cooks 01.04.2013
Kristin thank you for linking up my Browned Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie Cups as your fave bite – that’s so sweet! I’m pretty much in love with everything from the Tiramisu to the Pear Cocktail to the Strawberry Cake! Hope your 2013 is off to a great start!