Friday Favorites

Friday has arrived!  Is there a slow-motion button I can press?  It’s Josh’s last weekend before he starts working.  While I’m happy he’s done with school (he’s been a student for the 7.5+ years we’ve been together), it’s going to be hard to get used to our new schedule.  It’s been nice these last few months, with me working from home and him here woodworking and doing other manly things (i.e. yard work, talking about his new pickup, and listening to music while playing video games).  It’s been a peek into what our lives will be like when we’re 85. 🙂  But alas, I must enjoy these last few days before he joins the real world.  I’m certain this new chapter will be a good one.  I’m just realizing that I will actually miss those afternoons that he’s singing his face off while playing video games.

Question for you all.  I’m determined to start waking up earlier (aiming for 5:30) so that I can work out in the morning and have breakfast with Josh before he goes to work & I start working at 7:00.  Do any of you have any good go-to quick breakfasts?  I’ve been looking for crock-pot oatmeal recipes that I can have going overnight, know of any good ones?  I’m open to all the suggestions you have.  It is, of course, the most important meal of the day.

Enough babbling, time to get to the point of this blog post.  FRIDAY FAVORITES!  I hope you enjoy my collection of favorites from around the web in this week’s Friday Favorites.

***Click on the red text to be led to the sources of my favorites.

Favorite Lunch: Zucchini and Chickpea Baked Falafels.  I need more healthy lunches in my arsenal.  I tend to stick with sandwiches and salads at lunchtime.  This tasty and fresh recipe looks too good to pass up.

Favorite Apple Guide: Apple season is upon us!  Use this guide to learn about all the different apples and what they are best used for.

Favorite Basic Ingredient:  Homemade Mascarpone.  Sure, it’s easier to buy a tub of this at the grocery store, but isn’t it nice to know where your food is coming from?  Plus, it gives me a good excuse to make tiramisu…

Favorite Wall Art: Use leftover scrapbook paper to make this lovely wall hanging.

Favorite Drink: Homemade Pumpkin Spice Latte.  I may have gone to Starbucks twice this week.  I’ve told you I love pumpkin and Starbucks decided that it is autumn (a.k.a.-that time of year when I can have all things pumpkin).  My pocketbook would appreciate if I learned how to make these bad boys at home.

Favorite Retro-ware: Old-school deli baskets & condiments.  A-dorable!

Favorite Breakfast Staple: Homemade Basic Granola.  I don’t know why I’ve never made homemade granola before.  I heart granola with fruit and yogurt.

Favorite Freshener: Glue cinnamon sticks to the outside of candles.  I bet the scent is amazing!

Favorite Soup:  Loaded Baked Potato Soup.  Sounds good, doesn’t it?  It’s made in the crock-pot, too!

Favorite Store: I went to H&M for the first time with my sister this past week.  Talk about affordable/adorable clothing (like this pretty little dress)!

Favorite Hand-Held Dessert: Apple-Cinnamon Empanadas.  Yes!  A pastry pocket filled with steaming cinnamon flavored apples.  Ugh, I want 72 of these.

Favorite Kitchen Organizer:  I love me some dollar store crafts!  These DIY Apothecary Jars are perfect for storing cupcake wrappers.

Favorite Snack: Baked Sweet Potato Chips.  Potato chips don’t last very long in our house.  Baked Sweet Potato Chips might need to replace the salty, greasy store-bought chips so I can snack guilt-free.

Favorite Restaurant: If you’re ever in Boulder, CO you must check out Half Fast Subs.  The menu is ginormous!  We ate there on Sunday and I had the Gobbler…turkey, stuffing, gravy, and cranberry sauce.  Thanksgiving in sandwich form.

Favorite Apple Dessert: Baked Apples.  As much as I love baking and LOVE pie, sometimes I don’t have time to do it.  Baked apples are a wonderful alternative to baking an apple pie.  You get all the flavors of apple pie (or an apple crisp) with out all the fuss of baking one.

Favorite Nail Polish Organizer: This how-to will help me organize my nail polish collection.  It’s about time I get my act together.

Favorite Comfort Food: Mushroom Beef Stroganoff.  Yum, yum, yum.  A hearty bowl of stroganoff sounds amazing right now!

Favorite Cookies: M&M Pumpkin Pudding Cookies.  Do you like hard or soft cookies?  If your answer was soft, you MUST try cookies with pudding in them.  They are unbelievably soft, chewy, and fluffy!  Make that pudding pumpkin flavor, and there’s no way I can resist baking some!

Favorite Funny: Funny Fall TV Alert!!  New Girl premiered on Fox Tuesday night with the first 2 episodes of the second season.  Gosh, I love this show. 🙂

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MW33mlkSasE]

 

Have a FANTABULOUS weekend!