This post contains affiliate links.
Welcome to Friday Favorites, a weekly series where I share interesting articles, books, fashion finds, recipes and more.
Good Friday Favorites morning friends. Let the countdown begin, we are 6 days from Thanksgiving and 37 days days away from Christmas.
Do you have your table scape planned, your turkey purchased and the menu set or are you still making up your mind? We are still finalizing a few things.
As for this weekend, it is going to be busy. Tonight we are going to a party, tomorrow we have a dinner party and Sunday we are headed to the festival of trees. I love this time of the year, fun with friends and family and of course the magic of the lights and the spirit of Christmas.
Get yourself a cup of tea and sit a spell. I have lots to share this week, a few Christmas books, a cocktail, a gluten free pie crust and lots of interesting links!
FRIDAY FAVORITES NO.507
Food
I think I had carbs on my mind this week when picking out my favorite foods.
Image 5 Boys Baker
Is there anything better than heat roll hot out of the oven? Maybe a Rosemary yeast roll hot out of the oven slathered in butter.
Image Dinner at the Zoo
If you are looking for a last minute side dish this Thanksgiving Salad is healthy, easy and delicious.
Image Bojon Gourmet
Tender flaky gluten-free pie crust , add this recipe to your file so that all of the guest at your holiday dinners can enjoy dessert.
Small Batch Pumpkin Pie Cheesecake with Bourbon Whipped Cream, yes please! This cheesecake is going right next to the pumpkin pie on the dessert table this Thanksgiving.
A coffee cake is always a good thing to have on hand during the holidays, this is Ina Gardens sour cream coffee cake.
Image What’s Gabby Cooking
Apple Cranberry Moscow Mule, a festive cocktail to start the weekend and to serve over the holidays.
Interesting articles
Flu and Colds Are Back With a Vengeance — Why Now?
The 50 Most Banned Books in America
The Secret to Talking to Someone Who Always Gets Defensive
How Not to Care When People Don’t Like You
Routines Not Working For You? Try a Daily Checklist
The End of Silcon Valleys 20 Year Tech Boom
The English Word That Hasn’t Changed in Sound or Meaning in 8,000 Years~ so interesting.
Goodbye to All That :The afterlives of Joan Didion’s possessions
Books
Naturalist Stephen Moss digs beneath the surface of some of our most popular Christmas carols in an ornithological celebration of the Festive Season. Using the structure of the carol as a jumping off, he explores the palce of twelve fascinating British birds in our, history, culture and landscape.
Some of the birds are obvious, there’s the swan and of course the partridge. Other chapters are loose interpretation of a verse: for drummers drumming he delves into the woodpecker’s distinctive drumming tap.
Woodpeckers, he explains, have special padded skulls to mitigate against using its head like hammer drills. They carefully select dead trees for the most hollow, sonorous sound, and in Florida a space mission was once delayed because woodpeckers had pecked holes in the outer surface of the space shuttle.
With brilliant anecdotes and insights, Stephen Moss weaves history, culture, bird behaviour and folklore into a compelling narrative for each species, tracing its fortunes over the past two centuries.
The Christmas Bookshop. I read this last year and loved it.
Laid off from her department store job, Carmen has perilously little cash and few options. The prospect of spending Christmas with her perfect sister Sofia, in Sofia’s perfect house with her perfect children and her perfectly ordered yuppie life does not appeal.
Frankly, Sofia doesn’t exactly want her prickly sister Carmen there either. But Sofia has yet another baby on the way, a mother desperate to see her daughters get along, and a client who needs help revitalizing his shabby old bookshop. So Carmen moves in and takes the job.
Thrown rather suddenly into the inner workings of Mr. McCredie’s ancient bookshop on the picturesque streets of historic Edinburgh, Carmen is intrigued despite herself. The store is dusty and disorganized but undeniably charming. Can she breathe some new life into it in time for Christmas shopping? What will happen when a famous and charismatic author takes a sudden interest in the bookshop—and Carmen? And will the Christmas spirit be enough to help heal her fractured family?
The only festive thing about Debbie Hutchins is her online persona, the Sugarplum Fairy. The whimsical screen name is a front for her holiday hustle: buying worn-out decorations from estate sales and reselling them online at a steep markup. As a child, Debbie treasured her personal collection of holiday trinkets—especially her nutcrackers. Encouraged by her grandmother, Debbie’s passion for The Nutcracker grew into dreams for a future as colorful and fantastical as the ballet. But when her grandmother passed away, Debbie’s days of dreaming abruptly came to an end.
When she unexpectedly comes across a large collection of authentic vintage nutcrackers, Debbie can’t sell them soon enough. Until she finds a note tucked among the collection, written from a great-grandmother to her great-grandson. As nostalgic memories of her own grandmother flood back, Debbie’s new holiday mission is to reunite the heirlooms with their rightful owner. Helping a grieving family will be challenging, but the process just might help Debbie rediscover the Christmas dreamer that still thrives inside her.
For Kids
Once you find a friend, how do you BE a good friend?
Jojo looks around and everyone seems to have friends but her. She feels sad and lonely. Then, Jojo meets Puddles, the snowman made with magic friendship snow.
For every child who struggles to make friends and parents who try to show them how, this children’s book celebrates the special bond between friends.
Jojo will reassure children that they too can learn how to make friends. Join the more than 20,000 people who have read this book and discover how Jojo makes a forever friend.
A wonderful winter treat to share with your children or grandchildren.
Finds
Lately I have been shopping and I picked up of a few things, in plaid of course that I think you might like too.
I love this dress! It is not black watch plaid but green and blue looks similar. It fits great, is well made and reminds me of Hill House dresses. I don’t love the scalloped bottom but I can live with them. The dress is onsale and with all of the discounts I think mine was $39.00.
This dress is soft, cute and comfy. But I think it is too short for me. I posted it on Instagram and a lot of people liked it and purchased it. I paired it with a pair of Frye boots
This skirt is my favorite of all three pieces. This skirt is nicely made, full, warm and it going to be perfect not only for holiday parties but all winter long.
These plaid charger plates are great, they are fabric covered and are on sale for $4.00! I purchased both patterns for my holiday table.
Pre-black Friday Sales
J Crew is having a 50% off sale! I like this sweater and this sweater.
Talbots 40% off accessories and sweaters.
Pin Me for Later
In case you missed it
I’ve “opened” a Holiday Shop on the blog. You can find Christmas decor including trees, wreaths, pillows and more, I have been sharing over the last week or two all in one place. You can also find holiday outfits, plaid finds and so much more.
UNTIL TOMORROW
Have a great day friends, I hope you found something to read, make or enjoy on Friday Favorites No. 507. Thank you for spending part of your day with me, I really appreciate it. I hope to see you back here tomorrow for Weekend Meanderings with Kim and Juliet!
Subscribe to the blog and you will get the latest recipes and post to your inbox! You can also keep up with me on Pinterest,Instagram, and Facebook.
This post contains affiliate links.
Friday Favorites No. 561 from Smitten Kitchen, Minimalist Baker, The Curious Plate, Proper Foodie and more
Friday Favorites No. 560 from Gimme Some Oven, The Woks of Life, Foxes Love Lemons and More
Friday Favorites No. 559 from The Endless Meal, Bev Cooks, Simply Delicious and more.
Friday Favorites No. 494 from Blue Bowl, Julia’s Album, Pardon Your French, and More
I definitely like the idea of a list as opposed to a routine – and your book selections look wonderful. I always enjoy your recommendations, Elizabeth. Have a wonderful weekend!
April, I love a list, even if I do not finish it. Have a wonderful weekend!
I always look forward to your Friday article links. Funnily enough I found myself googling Christmas birds this week to learn why the cardinal was on a furniture transfer. For me, the classic is a robin. Thanks for sharing with us.
Rachel, thank you! I thought the bird book was so interesting! Have a wonderful weekend!
Pumpkin pie cheesecake sounds good.
I thought so too! Have a wonderful weekend William.
I could make a complete meal out of those dinner rolls and the salad. Sad, Joan Dideon’s diet. And the word “lox” would never have crossed my mind.
Brenda
Good morning Brenda, it was sad Joan Didion passed and even more interesting to see people wanting her used cooking utensils. I am with you, bread and salad, although the bread has too be warm.
Have a wonderful weekend.
So many great reads, articles and sales here Elizabeth!
Thank you Maria, have a wonderful weekend.