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.
Favorite mini: Birthday Cake Brownie Pops. How adorable and intricate are these cake pops? Totally appeals to my miniature-obsessed self.
Favorite reads: 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.
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!
Happy New Year fellow Iowan! Rock on in the New Year, I look forward to your posts and photos!
Thanks for the books suggestions. I’ve had Gone Girl on my wish list for a while. Guess it is time to buy it! Will have to check out Violets of March while I’m at it.
I just read Blackberry Winter and loved it, will be on to Violets of March next! I too get excited to steam clean my dog-hair filled carpet, you are not alone in your floor cleaning glory!
I just read Violets of March this past week, too!! Love, love, LOVED it…especially the long-lost-love mystery entwined with the Pacific Northwest setting. Onto Blackberry Winter next!
I read Blackberry Winter after your post and recommendation. Loved it. Then I read The Bungalow. Now I happen to be reading Violets of March. I love her books!! I am sure this one will be great also!!
Gemelli is my favorite pasta too! Yummy! (:
I would love the peekaboo ponytail hat! I am going to have t read violets of march! I just finished blackberry winter and would love something else by her!
I keep hearing such great things about Gone Girl. I really need to get my hands on a copy and read it.
Awesome giveaway! I am LOVING that ponytail hat…so creative and cute! :)
I read both of those books last year and they were at the top of my list, too! Gone Girl is totally warped.
And I am in serious need of a ponytail hat! I end up wearing ear warmers/head bands on runs in the winter instead of hats, because I can’t stand my long hair sticking to my neck. Brilliant!
I love the give away. I hope my name gets drawn! I could sure use it! My fingers are crossed.
Literally died laughing at the “I trust you” video. hahahahah Just the kind of laugh I needed today.
Trust me! Hilarious! I was laughing out loud and my husband was starting to get annoyed and then he watched it and was dying!
Sarah Jio is AMAZING! Also check out Erica Bauermeister.
Thanks for the recommendation!