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!
Bekah 10.26.2012
The wine bar near me in Omaha, Brix, has dispensers like those. They do half price on Mondays. That cat cracked me up. Those sweet potatoes are going to be considered for Thanksgiving.
Amber 10.26.2012
Thanks Kristin for your Friday Lists! I don’t know how I found your blog but I am so happy that I did. It makes my Fridays…keep them coming!
Jessie Liebenguth 10.26.2012
Kristin, did you know that you don’t have to travel very far to try out the Winestation for yourself? Della Viti wine bar is on Main Street in Ames and all of their wine is self-serve! JJ and Cora (the owners) have made a totally great little spot to enjoy 48(!!) different wines. They also offer cheese, meat, and olives, which I can never turn down. You gotta make the trip up some time. Tell them Jess sent you!
em @ simplypresent 10.26.2012
Hummus-Crusted Chicken? Who would have thought?!
I should try making those homemade Tootsie Rolls for my mom. She’d love them!
Happy Weekend! :)
ErikaMC 10.26.2012
The Gift Mart looks so much fun. I would love to go on the 17th.
Love your Friday Favorites list!
Linda 10.26.2012
Haven’t been to gift mart in years. Would love to go Friday during the day.
Erika Schrader 10.26.2012
I would love to attend on November 17th!
Jordan Henkenius 10.26.2012
I would love to attend on November 17th!
Rachel 10.26.2012
I would love to go to Gift Mart Friday night!
kim@hungryhealthygirl 10.26.2012
Don’t feel bad….we’re big weather talkers here in Texas too. It’s always changing and very unpredictable {except for Summers}. Those sweet potatoes definitely need to make an appearance on my Thanksgiving Day menu! I love that picture wall too!
Denise Gibbs 10.26.2012
I would like to attend the Des Moines Junior League event on Saturday, November 17th, please! LOVE your Friday favorites!
Julie 10.26.2012
Ha – checking the weather is as routine as brushing one’s teeth around here. Wearing shorts just days ago and now hat/gloves. Completely normal. :)
I’ve never attended the Gift Mart, but I’m intrigued. I adore boutique sales for the love of getting introduced to an entirely new group of unique retailers. Yeah – mark me down as interested in Fri or Sat tickets. Thanks!
Dawn Mather 10.26.2012
I would make plans to attend any of those days if I could win a pair of tickets. Imagine all the holiday shopping I could do for myself (and others, of course)!
Kristin 10.26.2012
I would love to go to the Gift Mart this year on Friday or Saturday. It has always looked like a great event but I’ve never been able to make it!
Meghan 10.26.2012
I’d love a pair of tickets for Saturday, November 17th. My mom’s birthday is earlier that week and I know this is something she would LOVE to do!
Hannah @ CleanEatingVeggieGirl 10.26.2012
Cookies and Cream Popcorn…um, yes please!
Midwesterners talking about the weather? No way! ;) It is one of our favorite past-times!
Christa Marchant 10.26.2012
I would love to go to the gift mart on Thursday! I’ve never been opening night…I usually go on the weekend. Love you Friday favorites! I look forward to it each week! :)
Jv 10.26.2012
Friday the 16ty would be fantastic! I’m sure ill go either way :)
VMeeink 10.26.2012
Saturday the 17th is my birthday, I’d love to spend it at GiftMart. Love your blog, I just found it and am obsessed!
Julie 10.26.2012
Sat. the 17th is my b-day. Attending Gift Mart sounds like a fun way to spend the day! :)