Happy Friday, all!
First things first, I need to announce the winner of the White Jacket Required book giveaway. Congrats to…
Chelsea: I would love to read this book :) My favorite comfort food is probably pasta with meat sauce and garlic bread…yummm!
Congrats, Chelsea! Email your mailing address to IowaGirlEats@gmail.com and we’ll get that right out to you. Thank you to everyone who entered, and do pick up a copy of White Jacket Required if you can, to support a fellow food blogger, and for a great read!
In other news, we went from a high of 83 earlier this week, to a predicted high of just 49 today. Brrr!! Seems like most of the country is experiencing some type of dramatic weather right now, from cold temps, snow, and rain, so wherever you are, try and stay warm, safe, and dry this weekend.
That was my Midwest instincts kicking in, btw. We love to talk weather. SO COOL. ;)
Anyways, my Mom and I are hoping to conquer the cold tomorrow and hit up the very last downtown Farmers’ Market of the season (sob!) then Ben and I have dinner plans with friends. Fun! Today I am spending the day staying warm indoors working on a few freelance recipe projects – a couple involving cranberries.
The holidays are coming! The holidays are coming!
Alright, I need to go, clearly. I hope you have some plans in the works, but in the meantime, please enjoy my favorite finds from around the web and beyond in this week’s Friday Favorites!
Favorite bite: Cookies & Cream Popcorn. One of my best friends and I used to hoard Hershey’s Cookies & Cream mini chocolate bars in our lockers, which were right next to each other, freshman year of high school. It was all fun and games until the boys on either side of us discovered our locker combinations and stole our entire stash. ‘Twas a sad day indeed. I would keep this stuff under lock and KEY!
Favorite cozy: Fitted Puffer Vest. I saw a girl at the grocery store earlier this week with the cutest vest on – puffy but fitted, with a cute, faux-fur lined hood. Kinda like this one!
Favorite fall: Butternut Bliss Fall Salad. I can’t decide what I like best about this gorgeous, Autumnal salad – the sight of caramelized butternut squash, tofu, walnuts, and dried cranberries – or the cute name.
Favorite furball. I vant…to suck…the cuteness out of this spooky little kitten!
Favorite fashion: Bahari Necklace. This statement necklace is GORGEOUS. I have so many outfits this would totally make.
Favorite project: Gallery Wall. So much easier than trying to figure out different hanging patterns, using a level, nails, and lots of prayers that everything lines up.
Favorite redo: Starbuck’s Cranberry Bliss Bars. A copycat version of Starby’s Cranberry Bliss Bars – these babies look sinfully delish.
Favorite must-have: Winestation. MUST. HAVE. NOW. How freaking cool, right?!
Favorite save: Green Mountain Fair Trade Coffee. I received some Colombian Fair Trade Select coffee through my GreenMountain.com K-Cup Ambassador Program earlier this month, and it is hands down my favorite coffee I’ve ever had. Sooo smooth, and not too dark, nor too light. Bonus – it’s on sale right now (as is all GM’s Fair Trade Coffee,) and you can get an additional 10% off all Fair Trader products with code: GMCFTC8131 through November 5 on GreenMountainCoffee.com.
Favorite dinner: Hummus Crusted Chicken. I love how moist and juicy this hummus-topped chicken looks. It would be a great weeknight dinner, plus you can never have too many chicken recipes!
Favorite DIY: DIY Mercury Glass Lamps. Apparently similar-looking lamps sell for $200+ at Pottery Barn. HAHA NO THANKS. This tutorial gives a pretty ingenious way to get the look for a LOT less.
Favorite indulge: Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies with Sea Salt. So simple. So divine. So want dozens and dozens of them right now…
Favorite vantage point. I don’t think I’ve ever seen this super-cool wedding shot before. Ladies – keep this one in mind for any impending nuptials!
Favorite upgrade: Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes with Walnut Streusel. Oh dear me! Love this idea for a Thanksgiving side!
Favorite place: Salzburg, Austria. Can you imagine how beautiful this place must be around the holidays, with twinkling lights and a light dusting of snow?
Favorite homemade: Homemade Tootsie Rolls. Homemade tootsie rolls are all the rage this year, and I, for one, am totally on board. How fun!
Have an awesome weekend, everyone!
Stephanie 10.26.2012
I will be out of the country during the week, so I’d love to go on Saturday! I love the Gift Mart. The first time I ever went was because of your talking about it and totally loved it!
Nicole W. 10.26.2012
I love your Friday Favs. I would attend on Saturday the 17th
Donna MacNeir 10.26.2012
Love your Friday favs and would love to attend Friday the 16th after work!
Meredith 10.26.2012
I’d love to attend Friday the 16th!
Stephanie S. 10.26.2012
I love all of these recipes. I’m going to have to make them all at some point. My co-workers love that I read your blog every day, because they get to taste all of the goodies!
I would love to attend the Gift Mart. I’d love tickets for Friday, November 16th!
Yvonne G. 10.26.2012
You can take the girl out of the Midwest, but you can’t take the Midwest out of the girl…..my mom and I talk weather all the time (she’s in Arizona, I’m experiencing a new part of the Midwest in North Dakota)!
Love the picture of the Getreide Gasse! I spent a sememster abroad in Salzburg and loved every second of it!
Emily 10.26.2012
I would go on the 17th!
Lindsay 10.26.2012
This sounds perfect! I would love to go on Saturday 11/17! I think I could get all my shopping done in one stop! :)
Michelle H. 10.26.2012
The Gift Mart would be perfect to take my Mother-in-Law to. She has a gift shop near Waterloo and loves this kind of stuff! Saturday the 17th would be a fun day to do this!!
LaurenO 10.26.2012
Salzburg is AMAZING! We went during Oktoberfest and it was simply a blast. The views no matter where you are are just stunning. You see why fairy tales were set in that area and the surrounding woods. A must-visit for any traveler!
Robyn 10.26.2012
WOW! I loved every single link in this post! My faves though were the WineStation (how awesome!) and that Butternut Bliss Fall Salad, looks delicious!
Lexi 10.26.2012
Gift Mart sounds great! I’d love to go on the 16th!
Brandi Nelson 10.26.2012
Woohoo! Love Gift Mart – any day would be great!
And after reading this blog I am very, very hungry…
Stacy @ Every Little Thing 10.26.2012
Ha they have a wine station at a new FANCY grocery store by my house (for self-service by the glass), as well as wine glass holders in all the carts!
Betsi 10.26.2012
I would love to go to Gift Mart! Any of the days work great!
PS – I am now obsessing over the vest!
Emily R 10.26.2012
Local Des Moines girl here! I would love to attend Saturday 17th! Also, why is it that we love talking weather in the Midwest? That’s my go-to small talk. haha
Rachel Pirkl 10.26.2012
I’ve been thinking Christmas for weeks! (ok…to be honest, since last Christmas was over:)) I’d love to go to Gift Mart Thursday the 15th!
Mollie @Sprinkles of Life 10.26.2012
How ironic! I just sent in some paperwork yesterday to start becoming a member of JL Des Moines. Would love to win this for Sat 17th.
I’m gonna brave the cold for our last DTFM (tear) tomorrow morning, too. *And* pop outta bed super early to beat the Komen crowd. It’s gonna be crazy down there!
Courtney F 10.26.2012
Vest=Super cute!
Wedding pic=amazing
Sweet potato with maple streusel=outta this world looking!!
Have a great weekend!
Rose Hake 10.26.2012
What a great start on holiday shopping…I’ve never been to this but would love to go!