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Friday Favorites

Friday Favorites #121

Hello everyone! Happy Friday! It is the Friday before Thanksgiving. The holiday being so late this year is really throwing me off, so I have already begun to do some of my holiday prep, since I know December will fly by.

Signs of Christmas have already been popping up!

I hope you have something fun planned for the weekend, whether it be festive or not. The past few weeks have been busy between work, family commitments and some trips too, so I am looking forward to a bit of a breather before the holidays. 

You know winter is getting close when you see frost in the mornings.

Todayā€™s post is very holiday themed and I have a feeling the next several Friday Favorites will follow suit, hereā€™s a look at what Iā€™ve been loving this week as I link up with Erika and Andrea.

Holiday Sweatshirt– I always love my festive graphic tee shirts to wear around the holidays. One of my local grocery stores had a bunch of seasonal items out for display, including sweatshirts. I thought they looked cute, but didnā€™t buy any. For the next several days, I kept thinking about the apparel and decided to go back and buy one and I couldnā€™t be happier with my decision. I love the colors and the fact I can wear it through the winter too, and not just on Christmas. 

Start of Holiday Baking– Since Christmas is weeks away, I have begun my holiday baking. As a way to make sure I donā€™t get too overwhelmed with the thought of baking dozens of cookies the week before Christmas, I started a new system last year that I will continue to use this year. I love to bake and typically bake one type of cookie or dessert a week. Now, through Christmas when I do my weekly baking, they will mostly be a family favorite cookie, and I will share half and save the other half. This way, people are still enjoying a homemade item every week, but I have cookies for the holidays. I am slowly making my way through my cookie list. A few weeks ago, I made my Halloween Candy cookies (itā€™s a sugar cookie with leftover pieces of candy) and they were a hit. I canā€™t wait to continue more baking in the next few weeks.

A beautiful first batch!

Bridget Jones New Trailer– I am a huge fan of rom coms and Bridget Jones Diary is one of my all time favorite movies. A new series was announced through Peacock following the three movies and the trailer just came out. You can watch it here. I was a bit sad to see the plotline and concept for it, but I will be watching. Itā€™s a great example of moving on in life after loss.Ā  Itā€™s so fun to see a lot of the characters return and interesting to see how they have aged through the years. Will you be watching?!

Outlander Returns– Sticking with tv, one of my favorite tv shows returned for a new season. Outlander is back! I binged watched this show several years ago and have been watching it weekly ever since. The show is in its final season, so I canā€™t wait to see how it all wraps up. I may or may not have started it yet, depending on when you are reading this, but I canā€™t wait to get back to binging it.

Here– Have you seen the new movie ā€œHereā€ yet? It stars Tom Hanks and Robin Wright. Itā€™s all about a home and all the different people who live there through the years. The coolest part of the movie was the fact it was shot from one camera angle. Itā€™s truly a cinematic masterpiece! I loved the concept, the storylines, and the casting. The message was truly beautiful too! Itā€™s a must see for me!

Thatā€™s a look into what Iā€™ve been loving this week. I canā€™t believe we are less than a week away from Thanksgiving! Time is going by too fast! Have a wonderful weekend!

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Friday Favorites

Friday Favorites #120

Hello everyone! 

Happy Friday! I hope you had a great week. I am off for a little weekend getaway which is much needed after a hectic few weeks. Iā€™m looking forward to some exploring, relaxing, and a change up from the regular routine. 

A beautiful start to the day.

As I continue my weekend away, I wanted to pop on here and share some things that have caught my attention and I have been loving this week.

Letā€™s get started as I link up with Erika and Andrea.

New Jacket– I mentioned that I am back to enjoying all the fall vibes and that includes fashion too. I got this heavier jacket/blazer from Old Navy and have been loving it. You can dress it up with a dress, skirt, or dress pants, or keep it casual with jeans and flats. I have worn it both ways and have been pleased with the end result. Itā€™s definitely a thicker jacket which is perfect for this time of year. A fall favorite for sure!

Fall Trail Mix– If you have been a reader for a while, then you know I love all things sweet and salty. I made this fall trail mix for Halloween and have been enjoying it all this week. Itā€™s so simple to make and Iā€™m sure you have all or most of the ingredients at home or you can supplement it with your favorite snacks. I combined pretzels, peanuts, rice chex, candy corn, m&mā€™s, craisins, marshmallows and chocolate chips all together for a trail mix. You donā€™t have to incorporate all these snacks, you can just do a savory mix or a sweet mix, but I LOVE all the flavors. Perfect for an evening treat while you watch a movie.

Homemade Bread– I know making your own bread was big during the pandemic, but it seems to be making a resurgence. I am thinking about learning to make my own, but that might get pushed to the new year. One of my friends has started to bake her own sourdough bread and I was able to snag a loaf and it was delicious. Look how perfect it came out. We enjoyed it fresh with homemade soup and it was the perfect pairing! This gives me the push to learn how to make it on my own even more.Ā 

Face Mask– I love pampering myself with sheet facemasks and tried this one recently. It was cooling and my face felt rejuvenated and fresh once I was done using it. I donā€™t pamper myself with face masks or beauty products too often, so when I do, itā€™s always a treat. I will definitely be buying this one again to use.

New Book Haul– I typically go to my local library once or twice a week to drop off or pick up books and recently, several books that have been on hold came in and I couldnā€™t wait to pick them up. Now, itā€™s just a matter of figuring out what book to start withā€¦I have some mysteries, new releases and recommendations. Have you read any of them? If so, what are your thoughts? These will keep me occupied until I start reading holiday books.

Thatā€™s a look into life lately and what Iā€™m loving. Iā€™m off to continue my weekend break. Iā€™ll see you back here on Wednesday! 

Have a great weekend!

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Let's Look

Let’s Look: Gift Guides for Guys

Hi everyone! 

Happy Wednesday! I hope you are having a great week. These next few weeks will be busy as we get ready for Thanksgiving and then eventually, Christmas, but I am ready for it. Bring on the challenge and the fun too! It’s still fairly decent weather for November, so I have been doing my best to enjoy the outdoors as much as I can, even enjoying my drinks outside when I can.

Itā€™s the second Wednesday of the month which means itā€™s time for another Letā€™s Look as I link up with Shay and Erika.

Hereā€™s a recap of the things we have talked about so far this year:

In January, we talked about How We Clean Our Closets.

In February, the topic was Things We Do Every Day

In March, it was all about whatā€™s in our Grocery Carts

In April, we chatted about our Quiet and Prayer Time.

In May, we talked about Summer Staples.

In June, we shared our Summer Schedules.

In July, we chatted about our favorite TV Shows and Podcasts.

In August, we learned about our Pantry Staples

In September, we shared Easy Weeknight Meals

In October, it was all about how we Prep for the Holidays.

I canā€™t believe we only have a few more to go this year. Todayā€™s topic is Gift Ideas for Men, now guys are hard to buy for, no matter the age, so hopefully, this gives you some ideas or suggestions. I asked my boyfriend for some help on this and I came up with my own ideas too. I created five categories or groups to get ideas from. 

First, when it comes to men, always think practically. It may not be as fun, but most guys prefer a practical gift that they will use time and time again over something that is nice, but not as functional. Letā€™s dive right in!

  • Experience– Rather than getting a guy something they may not use or like, think about getting them an experience. This can be anything from tickets to seeing their favorite sporting team, going to a concert, maybe doing an activity, like beer tasting or trying a new hobby, and taking lessons or a course in it. You can still wrap up the tickets and make it something fun to open with the information inside.
  • Game Day Gear– Whether they are into sports or music or another hobby, you can never go wrong with getting them some gear. This can be more traditional items like jerseys or t-shirts, or you can go the more unique route and find something vintage online. Etsy always has such unique gifts and I love supporting local businesses too!
  • A Nice Watch– Guys might not be into jewelry as much as girls, but, you can never go wrong with a nice watch. You can take the more route with a traditional watch that they can dress up or down, or if they are more sporty, you can go the fitness watch route. I personally love my Apple Watch and use it every day. This is definitely a practical and useful gift for the guy.
  • Favorites Gift- For the guy who has everything, get him all his favorites. This can be his favorite foods, drinks, snacks, and gift cards to his favorite restaurants. You can even use this gift as a way to restock on his go to items, maybe he has a favorite type of pen that he only uses or a brand of shirts that he always wears, buy all his must have items and wrap them all up together or separate.
  • Upgrade Essentials– Purchase some higher quality versions of his favorite items. This can be anything from buying some nicer dress shirts or socks if he works in an office, to getting him a new pair of running shoes. Guys donā€™t always want to spend money on themselves, so this is a great way to get them things they need and splurge a bit.Ā 

I know these arenā€™t specific gifts for guys, but hopefully these suggestions lead to more ideas for the special guy in your life. Tell me: what are some things you plan on buying for the men in your lives? Iā€™m always open to ideas! Happy Christmas Shopping!

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Friday Favorites

Friday Favorites #119

Hello All! HAPPY FRIDAY! We made it through the week! This has been a hectic week at both home and work, but we made it to Friday and Iā€™m very grateful for that. Iā€™m hoping things slow down just a bit, but we shall see.

The last of the fall leaves

I hope you have had a great week and are ready for the weekend and maybe have something fun planned. As we move away from all the Halloween fun, I am back into fall mode, before Christmas in just a few weeks. I really like to take this time for my prep or calm before the storm. I LOVE the holidays, but Iā€™m hoping for a few quiet weeks before the hustle and bustle. 

Hereā€™s a few things on my radar that Iā€™m loving this week as I link up with Erika and Andrea.

Insight Timer– I recently started to try mediating, mindfulness, and deep breathing exercises. I have always taken time at the start and end of my day for prayer, but have also incorporated some guided breathing exercises too. I have found it to be very beneficial, especially when I am overwhelmed and stressed out. I typically take time at the start and end of my day for breathing, but have found myself doing exercises through the day too. I have been using the app, Insight Timer daily and itā€™s been doing a great job at holding me accountable and providing resources for guided meditations and breathing exercises. I am just using the free trial, but have been really loving it.

Atoms– Speaking of apps, I also have been using the app called Atoms to hold me accountable. The app was created by James Clear, author of Atomic Habits, a book I read this past year. I have really been loving his app which helps you track new habits or break bad habits. It sends you daily reminders about completing your tasks and gives you positive affirmations through the day as well. I have used the app to help with putting my phone down and now with meditation and both have been very helpful. Iā€™m using the free version through this as well.

The Diplomat– Season two of The Diplomat starring Keri Russell came out last week and I have slowly been making my way through the season. It picks up right where it left off from season one. This show has me hooked with new characters, storylines and of course some crazy plot twists. The finale had me shocked and I can’t stop thinking about it. I binged a lot last weekend. You can watch the trailer here and stream season two on Netflix.

Outer Banks Part Two Out– Another season of a favorite show of mine is out. I mentioned this a few weeks ago, when the first part of Outer Banks season four was released, but now the second half was released and I canā€™t wait to watch. I may or may not have started depending on when you are reading this, but I canā€™t wait to see how season four wraps up. The premiere was really good and I’m looking forward to the rest of the episodes. The first half started out a bit slow, so Iā€™m anxious to see what storylines get solved and what cliffhangers remain. Here’s a look at what you can expect.

Atmosphere– Taylor Jenkins Reid announced her new book coming out next summer last week. Itā€™s called Atmosphere and I canā€™t wait to read it. Hereā€™s a look at the synopsis and the cover art. I personally love the UK version more, but I canā€™t wait to get my hands on it. I doesnā€™t seem like it will be in the same universe as some of her other books, regardless, I canā€™t wait to read it.

Thatā€™s a look into life lately and what Iā€™m loving. 

Tell me what are some highlights from your week? I would love to hear them! Have a fantastic weekend!

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Friday Favorites

Friday Favorites #117

Hello all! 

Happy Friday! I hope you had a fantastic week. I donā€™t know about you, but I am ready for the weekend! Fall is flying by, I truly canā€™t believe we are almost to November. November always feels like the calm before the storm of the hustle and bustle of the holidays, which donā€™t get me wrong, I love, but it can also be very chaotic. Needless to say, Iā€™m enjoying the slower fall days with sunshine and crisper temperatures for as long as I can. 

Signs of fall at the farmer’s market

To no oneā€™s surprise, todayā€™s Friday Favorites features A LOT of seasonal items. How can I resist seasonal flavors and scents?! I plan on trying all the fall things until Thanksgiving and then itā€™s switch to Christmas! Anyways, letā€™s get to some of my favorite things from the past week as I link up with ErikaĀ andĀ Andrea.

Solo Dates– I was talking to a friend years ago about the concept of solo dates, essentially itā€™s making the decision to take yourself for an activity or date. I spent a lot of time alone in college and gained a lot of independence that way. But since I began working, I havenā€™t had too much time for myself to take myself out on a ā€œdateā€, I would often do things with family, friends or my boyfriend. This year I wanted to make more of a point to have solo dates. Iā€™ve only done it a few times, but Iā€™ve had good experiences. So far, I have visited a new library and actually took the time to sit and read and Iā€™ve also gone on walks after work to different parks. Other examples of solo dates would be taking yourself out to dinner, going shopping or trying a new coffee shop, or even seeing a movie by yourself. You donā€™t have to spend a lot of money, in fact, most of these dates are free, the point is doing something for yourself. Iā€™ve enjoyed the independence Iā€™ve gained by doing these solo dates and I look forward to doing more of them.Ā 

Snapshot from a recent solo date

Cinnamon Roll Flavored Rice Cakes– Are you surprised thereā€™s a seasonal food item in this weekā€™s Friday Favorites?! Iā€™m not haha!! I really have started to enjoy rice cakes especially with peanut butter and banana or even jelly. When I saw my local grocery store had cinnamon roll flavored rice cakes, I had to try them. They have the perfect amount of flavor of fall. Thereā€™s just a drizzle of maple so you can still enjoy other toppings with them if you like. Definitely a favorite snack for this week.

New Candle Scent-Sticking with seasonal flavors and scents, my mom picked me up this candle from Michaelā€™s Craft store. They always have great deals when it comes to candles. You can get multiple, large candles for a great price. The names of the scents are so creative and they smell so good too, I also love how the scent lasts after you blow the candle out. My current pick is Candy Corn Maze, and yes it does smell like candy corn.

Darling Girls– In honor of spooky season, Iā€™ve been trying to read more mysteries and thrillers. Iā€™ve had Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth on hold at the library for a while and couldnā€™t wait to start reading when it was my turn to get it. It tells the story of three foster sisters who learn that a dead body is found under the house they grew up in. Who does the body belong to and how did they die? There were so many twists and turns that I was not expecting, even up until the last chapter. 5 stars from me!

Magnolia Cook Books– I mentioned last week that I had been checking cookbooks out of the library to try different recipes and I have been loving this life hack. I will browse lots of different cookbooks on the shelves, but I have really been loving Magnolia cookbooks by Joanna Gaines. She has so many unique recipes, from sweet to savory and everything in between. What I also really love about her cookbooks is the how fresh, natural and even simple her recipes are. It has definitely inspired me to think outside the box when it comes to cooking and baking. If you are an avid cooker or baker, who are some of your favorite cookbook authors? I would love to get any other suggestions, especially as we get closer to the holidays and I will be ramping up my time in the kitchen.

Thatā€™s a look at some of my favorite moments and items from this week, tell me, what has brought you JOY recently? Let me know in the comments below! Happy Friday!

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Friday Favorites

Friday Favorites #116

Hello All! Happy Friday! I hope you had a wonderful week! I have a packed full weekend around the corner with family time, activities, and some fall fun thrown in there too! It will be a busy, but fun weekend.Ā 

Pumpkin patches and farmer’s market stands bring me so much JOY!

Before I hit the ground running today, I wanted to share some things that I have been loving (hint-most of them are fall and entertainment favorites) as I link up with withĀ ErikaĀ andĀ Andrea.

Light a candle, curl up with a blanket and letā€™s dive in!

The Simple Sophisticate– Shay Shull of Mix and Match Mama recommended this podcast on her blog and I finally got around to listening to it. Shannon Ables started the podcast after her blog back in 2014 and still continues with episodes to this day. The theme of the podcast is all about living a simpler, calmer, and French way of life. Ables has such a soothing voice and attitude that you will find yourself relaxing and feeling peaceful no matter what she is talking about. I started at the beginning of the podcast and I have been loving all the different themes and topics. Episodes vary from 30-60 mins. Definitely worth giving it a listen to over the next few weeks.

The Home Edit– I love following The Home Edit on Instagram and love their show on Netflix too. I decided to check out Clea and Joannaā€™s book during my latest library haul and learned a lot from it. They give practical advice and ways to organize your spaces. Not only do they write about ways to organize areas, but they have great photos to demonstrate it too. After reading their book, I wanted to do a massive purge and organization.

Fall Harvest Mix-If you have been following along for a while, you know I love a good festival or seasonal food. My local grocery store had this seasonal harvest mix and I had to give it a try. Itā€™s a delicious combo of sweet and salty. Thereā€™s peanuts, M&M, cereal, and peanut butter cups. Itā€™s by no means a healthy trail mix, but it certainly satisfies the sweet and salty tooth.Ā 

Gilmore Girls- Watching Gilmore Girls was on my fall bucket list and Iā€™m slowing making my way through it. I started the show last year, but then life happened and I never finished it. Well, now I am back on the Gilmore Girls bandwagon and I have been loving it. Itā€™s the perfect fall show to cozy up and enjoy. I know this will also help me get through the cold winter months as well too.

Nobody Wants This- This new Netflix mini-series is what everyone is talking about. Nobody Wants This stars Kristen Bell and Adam Brody and itā€™s all about a couple who starts dating later in life after not having luck in the dating department. There are so many funny one-liners and relationship connections besides the romance between the two main characters. I really loved the message how you can have a relationship after you have worked hard in your career. There are only ten episodes and they last between 20-30 mins, perfect to binge watch in a weekend.Ā 

If the weather is getting cooler by you, I hope these favorites gave you something new to try or enjoy this weekend. What have been some things you have been loving this week? Let me know in the comments below! 

Happy Fall Friday!

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Friday Favorites

Friday Favorites #115

Hello all! Happy Friday! I hope you had a great week and have something fun planned for the weekend. I am excited for all things fall this weekend as it will be a busy few days with lots going on. Needless to say, I am counting down to the weekend. 

Hint, this weekend will involve lots of festive, fall fun!

Before we get to all the fall fun this weekend, I wanted to share some favorite things of mine from this past week. Without realizing it, thereā€™s a bit of a theme to todayā€™s post, books and fall food, so if you are fans of either of those, you are in for a treat.

Speaking of treats, one of my most recent treats…snickerdoodles!

Letā€™s get to it as I link up with Erika and Andrea.

The Plan– Kendra Adachiā€™s third book The Plan is finally out. I got a chance to read it ahead of time and loved it. I plan on re-reading it now that itā€™s out in the world. Like Adachiā€™s other books, this one is very conversational and easy to follow. Not only does she talk about planning and organizing, but she gives real life examples and ways to get your life in order. She touches on her Lazy Genius principles and introduces some new ideas too! I will have a full post about the Lazy Genius way of thinking coming soon, but until then, go out and read The Plan today!

Fall Shows– With fall, comes the return of fall tv shows. Besides binge watching some of my favorite tv shows, I have been enjoying weekly shows like Greyā€™s Anatomy and The Masked Singer. I have watched these shows for years and always look forward to the weekly episodes. Even though I do love a good binge watch, itā€™s nice to look forward to a show every week to see what happens next.

Cook Books from the Library– I had a great library book haul a few weeks ago and that included some cookbooks. I love cooking, baking, and trying new recipes and often get ideas and inspiration from Pinterest. Thereā€™s nothing quite like flipping through a cookbook for new tastes and flavors. I recently checked out the second Magnolia cookbook by Joanna Gaines and have found so many great recipes that I canā€™t wait to try. 

Maple Granola– Speaking of food, I love seasonal foods and treats and canā€™t resist when I see something seasonal at the grocery store. I have been on a granola kick with yogurt and berries and decided to add some maple flavored granola to my rotation. It has been a delicious success. I enjoy granola on its own, but thereā€™s something extra sweet with the maple flavor that screams fall. Itā€™s a nice, subtle nod to the season. 

The Summer Pact– I have had The Summer Pact on my to-be-read list for the longest time and finally got around to reading it. Itā€™s by Emily Giffin and I have read several of her books. She was recently on Books, Beach and Beyond to talk about her latest book and after hearing her talk about it, I knew I had to read it. Itā€™s about three friends who go on a trip together in honor of their fourth friend who died while they were all in college. The three current friends are all at different crossroads in their lives and are all looking for clarity in their own ways. I really liked the book, but felt that it wrapped up a little too quickly. Just a warning, there is talks of mental health and suicide in the book. But, overall, well worth the read!

Thatā€™s a look into life lately and what Iā€™m loving! I hope you have a wonderful fall-like weekend! See you back here on Wednesday!

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Let's Look

Let’s Look: How We Prep for the Holidays

Hello all! Happy Wednesday! I hope you are having a great week as we made it to hump day!Ā I don’t know about you, but it is full on fall here, we have had rainy days, leaves falling and some sunshine peaking through, but the changing weather is getting me excited for the next few months.

Cool crisp fall mornings

This year has been flying by, I canā€™t believe we are already at the second week of October. Itā€™s time for another Letā€™s Look, where we share different parts of our lives. Each month, I link up with  Shay and Erika to share my thoughts on different topics. 

Hereā€™s what we have covered so far this year:

In January, we talked about How We Clean Our Closets.

In February, the topic was Things We Do Every Day

In March, it was all about whatā€™s in our Grocery Carts

In April, we chatted about our Quiet and Prayer Time.

In May, we talked about Summer Staples.

In June, we shared our Summer Schedules.

In July, we chatted about our favorite TV Shows and Podcasts.

In August, we learned about our Pantry Staples

In September, we shared Easy Weeknight Meals

This month, the topic is how we prep for the holidays. I love all the seasons, summer is by far my favorite, but I do enjoy the ā€œBerā€ monthsā€¦September, October, November and December. There is so much to look forward to, from the holidays, traditions, extra family time, and festivities. 

Fall, one of my favorite times of the year

As we get closer to the holiday months, Iā€™m sharing how I prep for all the fun and I hope you will share some of your holiday prep hacks too! I donā€™t have my own home or family yet, so how I prepare may look a little different.

I always like to prep for the holiday seasons, by creating bucket lists, by writing a bucket or goal list, this ensures that things that I want or hope to get done, get accomplished. Some are big activities and others are little outings or things I want to cook or bake. For example, my fall bucket list includes celebrating Halloween, Thanksgiving, watching festive movies, enjoying holiday treats and Halloween activities.

I donā€™t know how I will celebrate Halloween on the actual holiday, but I do plan on making some festive treats, decorating and enjoying some Halloween movies. 

Some fall treats from last year

As far as Thanksgiving goes, we typically enjoy the holiday with family and then we have our own Thanksgiving dinner the weekend after. Preparations for Thanksgiving looks like figuring out what traditional dishes will be made, baking pies, and doing some decorating around the house. These are subtle ways to celebrate the holiday. Thereā€™s so much cooking and baking that goes into Thanksgiving that it is nice to just enjoy the time with family. 

A delicious, Thanksgiving spread!

Christmas always comes with the most prep. Once again, I make a Christmas bucket list of things I want to do around the Christmas season, from ice skating, baking cookies, shopping, looking at lights, and decorating. I like to make the most out of the Christmas season.

Prep for Christmas starts with decorating the day after Thanksgiving, itā€™s a tradition we have been doing for years and itā€™s always one of my favorite things.

I will also make a master list of people I want to buy for and set a budget. I keep a running list in my phone of who I need to buy for, what the gift is, the status of it, and how much I spent. Once all the gifts have arrived, I take time to wrap them all and watch a holiday movie. This method always keeps me organized.

I love to bake cookies around the holidays and one of the ways that I prep is by making one or two types of cookies a week leading up to Christmas. I will share some with family after I bake them and then store the rest for the holidays. This method ensures that I get all my baking done, but Iā€™m not stressed getting it done.

After all the prep is done, itā€™s time to enjoy the holidays and relax. Thereā€™s only so much prep you can do, what matters is the end result and spending time with family and loved one around the holidays. They will be here before we know it, so I want to know what hacks you have to make the holidays smoother? Let me know in the comments below! Happy Holiday Prepping!

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Friday Favorites

Friday Favorites #114

Hello all! 

Happy Friday! 

I hope you had a wonderful week and are ready for the weekend. Itā€™s the first weekend of October and it certainly feels like October. Fall is settling in which means several weekends of pumpkin patches, apple picking, leaves falling and cooler temperatures.

First signs of fall with the changing leaves

Iā€™m excited to start crossing things off my fall bucket list. 

Before we get to a weekend of fall fun, I wanted to share some things that I have been loving this week as I link up with Erika and Andrea 

Midnight at the Pera Palace– The second season of Midnight at the Pera Palace came out towards the end of September and I have been slowly making my way through the season. It picks up right where season one end as storyline goes back and forth between the past and present. Although it can be hard to follow since itā€™s in a different language, the English dialogue does help, so do the subtitles.

Dot Pretzels-I was influenced by Erika and Shay to try these Dot pretzels and they are so good! I have only tried the original flavor, but I love the extra bite and zest they have. Definitely more flavorful than your average pretzel, but so delicious. I plan on trying on the other flavors too!

Large Lavender Lotion– I love lavender lotion and use it every night. I had been getting small bottles of lavender hand cream and lotion, but kept having to purchase refills more often than I would have liked. I decided to buy a large bottle of lavender lotion from Bath and Body Works. I love using a pump every night, it not only is softens my skin but soothes me as well. Definitely worth paying more for more product.

A Family Affair– Have you seen A Family Affair on Netflix? It stars Nicole Kidman and Zac Efron. Itā€™s all about a widowed mom who falls for her daughterā€™s boss and letā€™s say things become quite the family affair. Although the storyline is for mature audiences, I really enjoyed watching it and I think the casting and chemistry was well done. Definitely a movie with adding to your watch list for your next movie night.

People We Meet on Vacation Casting– Iā€™m a big fan of Emily Henry and I have read all of her books. Some are currently in the works to be made into movies or mini series, including People We Meet on Vacation! This is one of my favorite books by Henry and I canā€™t wait to see the adaptation. Iā€™m familiar with some of the actors and actresses but I canā€™t wait to see them bring these characters to life. 

Thatā€™s a look into what Iā€™m loving this week! As we fully embrace fall, tell me whatā€™s on your bucket list for this month?! Let me know in the comments below! Happy Fall Friday!

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Friday Favorites

Friday Favorites #113

Hello all! Happy Friday! I hope you had a wonderful week and it feels like fall wherever you may be. September started out with summer still holding now, but now as we get closer to a new month, fall is really starting to settle in. 

A crisp, fall morning by the water.

I hope you have something fun or relaxing planned for this weekend. Before you jump into the weekend vibes, I wanted to share some things I have been loving this week as I link up withĀ ErikaĀ andĀ AndreaĀ 

New Hand Lotion– As fall has settled in more, I have slowly been transitioning more of my scents to match the season and that includes my hand lotion. I tend to get dry hands, no matter the season, so I always have lotion with me. Gingham Glow has been my new scent for the fall months. I got it from Bath and Body Works and I love the subtle and warm scent it gives off. In the spring and summer, I prefer floral scents, winter I like pine or minty, but in the fall I like subtle scents and this fits the bill. I also love how the lotions come in different sizes, so if you buy a scent and donā€™t love it, you donā€™t have to commit to it long term.

New Mascara- I am always trying different makeup products and brands and decided to try Super Goop mascara. I love SuperGoop for suntan lotion and wanted to test out more of their beauty products. I have been pleased with it so far. This mascara doesnā€™t necessarily give full and voluminous lashes, but it does a great job of separating the lashes (if that makes sense), plus I have found the more you put on, the fuller they get. I also really love that itā€™s clean makeup with not as many chemicals in it. I will be using the mascara, but Iā€™m not sure if I will reorder it.Ā 

Swan Song– I know I mentioned this book in Wednesdayā€™s Currently post, but I loved it so much, I had to re-share. I ended summer by reading Swan Song by Elin Hilderbrand. This was her final beach read set on Nantucket as she decided to retire and I really enjoyed it. There were a lot of references to past characters from other books, and I loved the description of Nantucket and all the restaurants and hot spots. Those are always my favorite parts of her books. The book follows a couple who moves to the island and immediately makes themselves a part of the community, but there is a bit of a mystery to them especially when they hire a girl who has no connection to Nantucket either. I like how there is more substance to Hilderbrandā€™s books, they arenā€™t just light and fluffy. This was not my favorite Hilderbrand book, but it was definitely worth reading and I loved that I have really gotten into more of her books this year. Now, I just need to go and visit Nantucket after reading all about it. Add it to the bucket list!

Greyā€™s Anatomy Trailer and New Season– Greyā€™s Anatomyā€™s new season returned last night on ABC. After a shorter season last year due to the writerā€™s strike, Iā€™m looking forward to more episodes this year. If you didnā€™t watch last night, you can check out the trailer here. This season looks like it will be a good one with more drama, romance and interesting patients. If you watch, what are you looking forward to most this season?

Selling Sunset– Iā€™m not a big reality show person, but I do love Selling Sunset. I have been watching the show on Netflix for years and always look forward to when a new season drops. This season was filled with more girl drama in the office, bigger homes to sell and of course lots of drama and crazy fashion. This show is always a good thing to put on in the background for some mindless tv.Ā 

Thatā€™s a look into what Iā€™ve been loving this week. Tell me, what are some things that have caught your attention? Let me know in the comments below! Have a great last weekend of September!