Should I be embarrassed by the amount of joy I get from reading someecards?
Don’t answer that.
In other news, happy Friday, everyone! Got any fun plans for the weekend? We’re on what feels like the 27th weekend in a row of zip, zilch, nada on the calendar, except trolling Amazon Prime for soap dispensers. #sendhelp We’ve got a nutty couple of months coming up traveling for work and friends, so it’s been tough trying to fit in a much-needed, family-only getaway before summer hits. Every time we think we’ve got a free week, I remember something that wasn’t on the calendar, or March Madness game watching gets in the way.
March Madness: YOU’RE KILLING ME.
Anyway, wherever you are and whatever you do have a wonderful weekend and please enjoy my favorite finds from around the web and beyond in this week’s Friday Favorites!
Favorite crunch: Fried Calamari. Ever since I got over my fear of deep frying (looking at you, Fried Goat Cheese Balls and Chicken Fingers with Everything Sauce,) I embrace the chance to try recipes at home that I’d usually have to go to a restaurant to enjoy. This pile of Fried Calamari not only has me craving the satisfying crunch you can only get from cooking something in piping hot oil, but the flavor of Fried Calamari drizzled with fresh lemon always makes me think of happy hour on a patio. Spring can’t get here soon enough!
Favorite clean slate: 100+ Things to Throw Away. YES to this list to help declutter our homes and lives of random little things that we overlook every single day. This is the best list of it’s kind that I’ve seen. Pick one number a day for the next 3-4 months and give your old, broken, and tired stuff the heave-ho.
Favorite fashion: Flutter Sleeve Top. I bought this top at J Crew last week and LOVE it. Lightweight but not sheer (are we almost done with the sheer fabric movement, clothing companies?!) and easy to dress up or down. I want one in every color!
Favorite fusion: Slow Cooker Carnitas Kimchi Fries. Can we talk about how Lauren from Climbing Grier Mountain always has the best, most interesting recipes?? Her double-decker Mexican/Korean fusion fries are calling my name. Loudly.
Favorite project. Sad news at Casa de IGE – we have to get rid of our pond this spring. ? It was what really sold us on the house when we bought it in 2013 but we’ve had several electricians over to look at the electrical (the pumps keep going out,) and they won’t touch it with a 10 foot pole since it was built by the previous homeowner vs a licensed electrician. Aside from that, the maintenance is insane, it attracts (big) wild animals, and the mosquito situation is pretty bad.
All that to say, we have a very large project ahead of us this spring and I REALLY want it to look something like this at the end. It’s got everything we could ever want! I’ll keep you posted on our progress!
Favorite skillet: Honey Garlic Shrimp Skillet. 5 ingredients, great reviews, and on the table in 10 minutes? On the menu for tonight.
Favorite find. My life summed up in a sweatshirt.
Favorite tutorial: Easy Topknot that Stays Put All Day. I will admit to knot (see what I did there? ?) even being able to sit through this short tutorial on how to make an easy topknot that stays put all day before racing up to my bathroom to try it for myself. I used a small claw vs a large one, and used just one ponytail holder instead of two, and it was a complete success! I am always insanely jealous of women who can effortlessly swoop their hair into a gorgeous, messy topknot, but now we can join the ranks, muwhahaha!
Favorite fake-out: Drunken Noodles (Pad Kee Mao) Ali’s description of how she nailed this homemade version of Thai Drunken Noodles had me searching for the ingredients to make it mere minutes later. I still need to get my hands on gluten-free oyster sauce, then it. is. ON!
Favorite decor. I’ve been looking for a dining room table with a bench on one side for literally 2+ years now, but never thought to look for a high-backed tufted bench instead of a backless one. Game changer! Love this pretty look.
Carrie Ann 02.26.2016
I love the size of that tote! There are some great colors as well!
Hillary 02.26.2016
I think I would have to go with grey!
Meghan 02.26.2016
The original vintage!
jenny 02.26.2016
THAT.BAG. Too, too good! I’d use it to carry my stretchy pants around so I could change into them after I horsed down a platter of those Kimchi fries. Perfection.
Heather Temple 02.26.2016
Black! Perfect for all of my work files
Laura Elias 02.26.2016
I would choose the blue because it’s such a pretty shade and would compliment a lot of my outfits.
alyssa 02.26.2016
I like grey, natural, and black!
Ann 02.26.2016
Vintage Original – so pretty!
Claudia Halasz 02.26.2016
I love the classic vintage tote bag or the brown version. I’ve been looking for a bag like this for so long! Also loved the list of things to throw away :)
Allison 02.26.2016
I love the gray!
Anna 02.26.2016
It’s so hard to choose! I think I’d go with gray.
Tina 02.26.2016
Love the vintage
Laura 02.26.2016
I love both the gray and black colors! Gorgeous!!!
Tina 02.26.2016
I love the vintage tote
Stephanie Trovato 02.26.2016
This bag looks amazing! Big enough for work essentials plus family essentials– perfect for the busy mom on the go– because who says you can’t still be stylish with snack bags of goldfish and a stuffed Mickey Mouse in your bag? Would love to win one!
Kirsten 02.26.2016
I like the original vintage tote.
Katie 02.26.2016
It looks amazing. Love the original color.
Rhonda Pearson 02.26.2016
Vintage or Black? I’d have a very hard time deciding!
Barbara Harrington 02.26.2016
I think I would go with the original color love it.
Dawn 02.26.2016
Love your Friday Favorites and love that bag. Now just to decide between the gray and the vintage. Decisions, decisions!