Sharing a few of my Friday favorites on this last Friday of February!
TGIF! Anyone else feel like this month just flew right by? I don’t know about you, but I am so happy that spring is just around the corner. Definitely don’t want to wish the days away, but I am a warm weather girl so I’m looking forward to higher temperatures and more sunshine in the near future. Fingers crossed!
This week we were hit by a couple of snowstorms. When I say snowstorms I mean we got a couple inches…Portland rarely gets snow during the winter, so when we get any it is a BIG deal. So big that my kids missed 2 days of school and had a late start today. Another reason I am ready for spring! I took the picture below from the back of our home. The snow covered trees were beautiful!
One of the reasons why I decided to start a monthly Friday Favorites post was because I love sharing my favorite finds with others. Especially things that I think you all may be able to find useful or fun in your own lives. So here are my five Friday favorites!
Love Real Food Cookbook
I truly enjoy trying out new cookbooks – and I’m picky, so you know this one is a winner! Love Real Food Cookbook is by Kathryne Taylor of Cookie + Kate. If you are not familiar with her vegetarian and all-natural food blog I highly suggest that you take a peek! I have been using this cookbook for a couple months now and have really been liking her recipes. It is definitely one of my cookbooks that I pull out when I am working on our weekly meal plan. If you would like to learn more about how and why I meal plan each week for my family, you can check out my post, Meal Planning 101: Ultimate Tips For Busy Moms. It also includes a free weekly meal plan template!
Most of her blog readers are actually not vegetarians, but appreciate her fresh cooking style. However, I think you could add meat to several of her recipes if you prefer.
The cookbook starts off with a short introduction where she talks about eating whole foods, why she became a vegetarian, cooking tips, a few of her favorite ingredients, as well as a quick page about dogs and food (the “Cookie” in Cookie and Kate is her dog!).
Here is an overview of the different chapters in Love Real Food:
Some of my family’s favorite recipes so far are Kate’s Colorful Weeknight Burrito Bowls, Roasted Cherry Tomato and Brown Rice Risotto, Blueberry Maple Muffins, and her Banana Nut Bread. My eleven year old daughter actually just made the bread this afternoon. I love that she has been baking healthy snacks lately because it is one less thing for me to do! A few recipes I am excited to try soon are Heirloom Tomato Pesto Pizza, Sweet Potato, Poblano and Black Bean Enchiladas, and her Peanut Butter and Chocolate Chip Cookies (no flour!).
Loft Ruffle Shell
Last week I shared this top in a post on some of my favorite spring wardrobe finds, but like it so much that I wanted to also include it in my Friday favorites. I am so excited to wear this blush ruffle shell sleeveless top this spring! Yet another reason I want that darn sun to come out! I found this darling, feminine top when I was trying to do a little spring shopping. The ruffle details around the sleeves and neckline are so pretty, and blush is one of my favorite colors right now. The fabric is very lightweight and almost a little sheer, but a nude bra underneath works just fine. It is definitely not a long top, hits about at my hips, which I am totally comfortable with.
Wonder
If you have not seen Wonder yet, it is the perfect movie to watch together as a family. I bought it for my older kiddos for Valentine’s Day, but even my two year old watched it for the first hour (anything with big kids and she is hooked!). The movie is based off the novel, Wonder by R.J. Palacio. Both are about a boy who was born with facial differences that prevented him from going to a mainstream school until he started fifth grade. Not only is he the new kid, but he looks different than everyone else too. This is an extraordinary story about family, friendships, courage, compassion and acceptance. Such a beautiful and powerful message and a must see for all! Be warned though, keep a box of tissues handy!
The author actually decided to write the book after a real-life encounter with her kids several years ago. While eating at an ice cream shop they sat next to a little girl with a facial deformity. Palacio’s three year old son cried in fear so she quickly left the shop with her children, thinking she was protecting the young girl, but also avoiding how uncomfortable she was.
Palacio was angry at her response and felt she should have turned to the little girl in the ice cream store and started talking to her, to show her kids that there was nothing to be afraid of. After the encounter she started writing the book that evening. The central idea of the book is how to deal with discomfort when we are presented with differences, and how to choose kindness above all.
Arganikare Day Therapy Miracle Blend Oil
This Arganikare Day Therapy Miracle Blend Oil is one of my new favorite hair products, so I thought I would include it in my Friday favorites list. My hairstylist has used this oil on my hair for at least a year now, but I have never asked her about it until now! Basically you can use a few drops on damp hair before styling and/or a small drop or two after styling to add shine. It smells amazing, smooths out my hair, and adds extra shine. I have thick, natural wavy hair that I typically straighten or curl with a curling iron. The oil also nourishes the hair and helps regenerate over-stressed hair (mine!) so it works great for my hair type. At $30 it is not a bargain, but my hairstylist said the bottle will last me a really long time.
I’ve had a difficult time finding this outside of my stylist, so if you are interested, ask your hairstylist if he/she carries this brand.
Scratch that. My two year old just got ahold of my bottle when I wasn’t looking and dumped almost half of it on our stairs. Guess it won’t last as long as I had thought…At least now the carpet smells good!
BaubleBar Mini Piñata Tassel Earrings
My final Friday favorites item that I wanted to share with you are these fun earrings from BaubleBar. I have been getting a lot of wear lately out of these BaubleBar Mini Piñata Tassel Earrings. I received them for Christmas in ivory, but they come in several other colors. These are a little smaller than their best-selling Piñata Beaded Tassel Earrings. The minis are lighter weight and not as long as the regular earrings. Super fun earrings that look great with casual or dressier outfits.
I’ve definitely been wanting to see Wonder! & Those tassel earrings are gorgeous! Great round up!
Thank you Jennifer! Wonder is such a great movie! Make sure you have a box of tissues handy though! 😉
What a round up. That book looks like one I need to add to my collection. I can use some miracle blend oil for sure.
Hi Serena! I am actually rereading the book to my oldest kiddos. They have both already read it on their own, but wanted me to read it to them. Love that they still want to do this at 9 and 11!
I need to check that cookbook out! Also, Wonder is amazing I read the book and took my daughter to see the movie. We both got a little emotional watching it and it was an amazing bonding experience.
We are really liking the cookbook! Definitely give it a try. Oh Wonder makes me cry everytime I watch it. I think I embarrass my kids a little bit with all of my sniffling!
That ruffle shirt looks great on you! I can’t wear ruffles… I keep seeing lots about Wonder.. I think I will have to put it on my to watch list for this upcoming week!
Thank you Desirae! I hear you on the ruffles! I can wear smaller ones, but not tops that have bigger ruffles. You definitely need to watch Wonder! Make sure you have a box of tissues handy though!
That book looks awesome! And your top is suuuper cute! I keep seeing a lot about Wonder, I’ll have to check it out!
Yes Ashley! Wonder is such a great movie. Don’t forget to have a box of tissues next to you though. I cry everytime I watch it. 🙂
Oh no! So sorry that your daughter dumped out your hair oil bottle! I love how you are able to laugh about it! That’s just how life as a mom goes, isn’t it? We do our best to take care of ourselves and splurge every once in a while, and then whatever efforts we made get ruined, and we are still ok because we love our kids and they are worth more to us than whatever special thing we bought or tried to do for ourselves!
Hi Carmela! I think you almost have to laugh about the little things, right? Really, that is all they are. Little! I guess it will teach me not to leave things like that out where she can get to them! 😉 Thank you for stopping by!
Great suggestions. I love the oil…too bad she dumped have of it out!!
Thanks Holly! My little one gets into things so quickly! Although, I did have it out where she could get to it…Lesson learned! 😉
Love the top with its ruffles! It’s so pretty! I follow someone on Instagram who shares that R.J. Palacio book all the time and the quotes in it are so insertional! I need to buy it so I can read it daily for myself!
Hi Erin! Thank you – I am so excited to wear the top when the weather warms up! R.J. Palacio also has a book called 365 Days of Wonder: Mr. Browne’s Precepts. That must be the book you see quoted on Instagram! I will have to check that one out too. There were several good quotes in the movie!
I also like the Love Real Food book. The burrito bowls are yummy. I also have tried and liked the Hearty Lentil Minestrone, Butternut Squash Chipotle Chili, and the Tuscan White Bean, Kale and Farro Stew. All nice warm meals for our still chilly weather!
I have been wanting to try the minestrone! Maybe you can make it for us next time we come visit! 😉 The butternut squash sounds good too, but someone in this house hates squash…