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Good morning friends! How are you? I hope that you have had a fabulous week. This Sunday is the end of daylight savings and it is time to turn the clocks back, theoretically we get an extra hour of sleep. I personally love it but I know that a lot of people dread this time of the year. If you are a person that does not like the long winter months make sure that you are doing self-care to help yourself make it through the next few months, there are some great tips in this article.
Let’s get to it friends, I have lots to share this week that I think you will enjoy!
Friday Favorites, including my favorite books, articles, recipes and finds this week.
Food
Sometimes I like to start with dessert, maybe a piece of pie or cake for breakfast, especially at the holidays or on my birthday. Does anyone else do this or is it just me? This cake is one of my favorites it is pumpkin with cream cheese frosting it’s almost like a pumpkin muffin or piece of bread with frosting.
This White Bean and Tomato Bake looks amazing and even better it is ready in 20 minutes.
Pumpkin fans will love this savory Beef & Bean Pumpkin Stew from The Curious Plate.
For a sweet treat how about Pumpkin Ice Cream made by The Suburban Soapbox.
This vanilla syrup from The Fox Valley Foodie is the perfect recipe to make for yourself and to give to friends and family for Christmas, it is perfect in coffee, hot chocolate or to use on breakfast treats.
I love my Airfryer and use it almost everyday to make chicken, roasted sweet potatoes and other vegetables and I am now going to add this recipe for Air Fryer Smashed potatoes to my list of things to make.
If you are looking for a few ideas for your Thanksgiving dinner you might want to bookmark this post.
Chocolate Sprinkle Donuts are perfect for the weekend or to pin the recipe to keep for the holidays.
Homes and Decor
Millichope Park is the perfect example of a picturesque 18th-century landscape. Take a minute and enjoy this fabulous house and garden.
A fairytale garden surrounding a 16th-century hunting lodge.
Articles
I shared Stanley Tuccis’ new book a few weeks ago but if you would like to read a recent interview with him, Stanley Tucci Is Savoring It All is a great one.
Exclusive: Pinterest’s mastermind departs for Jony Ive’s new design firm. Here’s why.
100 Ways to Live to 100: A Definitive Guide to Longevity Fitnes.
How Vincent van Gogh’s Favorite Works of French Literature Influenced His Art and Identity
Lights, Camera, Easels: Meet the Painters Behind Hollywood’s Onscreen Art
Memory lanes: Google’s map of our lives.
This is an interesting article about the longevity of images and date on the internet. Can Data Die? Tracking the Lenna Image
Who Could Dogs Become Without Humans in Their Lives?
How Long Can You Leave a Dog Alone? The Answer Might Surprise You.
11 Science-Backed Benefits of Lime Water
I love this, Shattered Porcelain Fragments Are Elegantly Bonded in Kintsugi Sculptures by Yeesookyung.
Love this, How the Maestro Got His Hands Back
If you will be traveling to Paris over the holidays you might be interested in The Best Coffee Spots in Paris Right Now. We have been to Paris many times over Thanksgiving and the first few weeks of December and it is magical, if you want to see a few of my photos from those trip you can see them, here and here. Also, if you are planning a trip in the future let me know, I have been going to Paris since I was 15 years old and I would love to share my favorite shops, cafe’s and tips.
Books
I just ordered all three of these books from my library, I cannot wait to start reading them. Have you read any of them?
An unforgettable story of resilience and resistance set during WWII and present-day France on a secluded island off the coast of Brittany.
What would happen if we called on God for help and God actually appeared? In Mitch Albom’s profound new novel of hope and faith, a group of shipwrecked passengers pull a strange man from the sea. He claims to be “the Lord.” And he says he can only save them if they all believe in him.
In 1937, young Lisette Roux and her husband, André, move from Paris to a village in Provence to care for André’s grandfather Pascal. Lisette regrets having to give up her dream of becoming a gallery apprentice and longs for the comforts and sophistication of Paris. But as she soon discovers, the hilltop town is rich with unexpected pleasures.
Children’s Christmas Books
This is an ongoing list of books to purchase for your children’s advent calendar to just to read in the 25 days leading up to Christmas. You can find all of the book on Christmas Gifts 2021 Pinterest Board.
This gorgeously illustrated, full-color classic celebrates a time before email with an interactive picture book full of real letters to read aloud. The Jolly Postman brings a batch of wonderful letters for Christmas, including notes from the Big Bad Wolf and all the King’s men. Open this book, take out the letters, and discover what favorite characters would write to each other–and reimagine best-loved tales together.
Help Mercer Mayer’s Little Critter get ready for the holidays in this classic, funny and heartwarming book. The perfect gift for Christmas!
Whether he’s making wreaths, eating gingerbread cookies, or putting the star on the top of the tree, parents and children alike will relate to this beloved story starring Little Critter.
Finds
Kim from Northern California Style shared this plaid tray this week to serve individual charcuterie trays and I thought it was such a cleaver idea for the holidays. I like these plaid napkins too.
If you are looking for a wicker/basket type tree collar, this one from Target is very pretty and reasonable priced.
Have you seen the adorable wood toys from the Hearth & Hand Collection at Target? I love this basket of pastries.
The J. Crew holiday shop just opened and it is fabulous! There are so many beautiful dresses, sweaters and more. Make sure to check it out, they are already having a sale on a bunch of things.
Pin Me For Later
Have you been shopping yet for the holidays, have you found anything that you think I should know about?
Did you order your advent calendar yet?
Have you started decorating yet?
Have a great weekend my friends.
Monday Musings
Friday Favorites from Smitten Kitchen, Country Living, Foxes Love Lemons, and More
Friday Favorites from Foxes Love Lemons, Cosy Little House, My Scandinavian Home and More
Friday Favorites from Foodie Crush, Chow Hound, Joyous Apron and More
I am flying to Paris just before Thanksgiving, 5 days in Paris and 6 days in Alsace. I will have to read through your tips.
I am one of those dreading the darkness and rain that has arrived for the next 6 months. I have started baking!
Melba, there are so many things you can do to take care of yourself during these dark times. Baking is at the top of my list for coping and self care too! Have a great day friend.
Dear Elizabeth,
Wonderful links, as always. I can’t wait to read the van Gogh piece. We just got back from a week in the Netherlands, and we loved the van Gogh museum. As in France, one must reserve online for a timed entry, and they do sell out. For readers like Cathy, don’t wait to commit to buying tickets for your must-see museums! The upside is that there are no lines and less crowding.
As for Parisian cafés, I am familiar with Peloton, but in general I think the best café is the one with good people watching! A tip: I had learned in high school French that coffee with milk is café au lait, but the French usually call it un café crème, or just “un crème” (sounds like kremm). Although crème is feminine, it’s masculine here because it refers to coffee. There’s also “le flat white,” which some say is the same thing, but others say is different (and both may appear on a menu). I am just happy if my coffee has milk in it.
So many great tips! I love the Netherlands, the VanGogh museum is such a beautiful place. On one trip to Amsterdam we stayed in what amounts to an Airbnb and every room was painted like a Van Gogh painting it was so fabulous.
I have to agree, all of the tickets sell out fast. My favorite places are the ones I have found with the best hot chocolate! I do love some many of the famous ones in Saint Germaine too but off the beating path is just as good too. There are so many little gems in Paris, you simply walk and there is something to see.
Have a great weekend friend.
By the way, I am sure that you can offer so much more advice and tips about France/Paris as you live there!
My neighbor uses her air fryer for just about everything. I don’t have one but have thought about it. Don’t have a lot of room left in my kitchen! I sent the article about how long you can leave dogs alone to my oldest daughter, the one who flips houses, because she is gone so much and has two dogs.
Brenda
Brenda, I think your little oven does a lot of the same. The article on dogs is so interesting! I had no idea although I have always worked from home and my pups are always with us. The longest we do leave them is 4 hours. I think it is quite enough. Have a great weekend!
So many links to enjoy! Thank you!
Have a great day!
Oh, my favorite night of the year is when we turn the clocks back – I adore dark cozy winter days and early nights – especially wonderful if there’s a snowstorm and I can snuggle into the featherbed and duvet with a good book. I was born during a blizzard right after Christmas and I think that’s the reason I love winter so much. I think I have the reverse of SAD – I need self-care tips for surviving summer!
Am getting the Godiva Advent calendar, but also bought a coffee Advent calendar from Door County Coffee – 24 pot sized bags of coffee in different flavors.
We’ve already had 3 inches of snow (we live in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan). Yay for snowshoeing on the horizon!
Amy I think we must be twins! I love this time of year, my favorite day of the year is when we change the clocks back too. I relish every day of these cosy months reading, baking, cooking, and staying at home. I was born in Michigan and lived many years in Wisconsin then moved to the east coast and the heat of the south. I am a little jealous of your snow! Now that we are in NC I do not think we will see too much, maybe a few flurries but that is about all. As for snowshoeing!!!! My husband game me a pair 25 years ago for Christmas when he lived in Wyoming, he thought I would want to go out for an hour and be tired of it, our first trip out 5 hours later I agreed to go home.
You live in the UP? My Uncle and cousins are members of the Ojibwe tribe and spend a lot of time on Sugar Island. My cousin Angeline Bouley wrote the book The Firekeepers Daughter which was on The NY Times Best Sellers List this year.
I hope that you have a wonderful weekend!
I just put a hold on your cousin’s book at the library! Can’t wait to read it.
Any time you need a dose of snow come on up to the UP! Every late winter our town features the Copperdog 150 dogsled race and everyone turns out:
https://www.copperdog150.com/Site/Galleries
The Keweenaw is a magical place to live.
I meant to add in my last comment – are you familiar with the Jacquie Lawson Advent Calendar? I’ve been getting them for years and they are so charming – she’s done a London one this year:
https://www.jacquielawson.com/advent
I hate DST. We need to get rid of it once and for all.
I am not sure that we will be seeing the end go DST anytime soon, although it seems that it has out served its original purpose.
Planning our first trip to Paris 2022, August. Have you been during that month. I know most Parisians/French are on vacation. Hopefully, being a little slower with less lines!
Do you recommend a hotel centrally located?
Thanks and LOVE your blog!
Hello Maria, yes I have been in August. I have send you and email with some details.