Welcome to Friday Favorites, a weekly series where I share interesting articles, books, fashion finds, recipes and more.
Good Friday favorites morning to you my friends. This is my 500th Friday Favorites post, can you believe it?Me either! Just over nine years of sharing great books, food, blogs and more.
How are you? It has been a week hasn’t it? I’ve been glued to the weather reports about Florida, so much devastation. Now I am preparing for Ian as it makes it way through the Carolinas. As I type this the wind is blowing, the pines are swaying and the rain is lashing the windows the worst part is that it isn’t even here yet. Ian is still in South Carolina. Needless to say, it is going to be a long, wet, nerve wracking day.
On to better things, I have lots to share with you this week, I hope that you find something to make, to read and to enjoy.
Friday Favorites No. 500 ~Inspired by Charm, The Curious Plate, Seasons & Supper and More
Food
How cute are these mini pumpkin cheese ball appetizers?
On the menu tonight, sweet potato and black bean nachos!
Add this pear chopped salad to your fall table. It is easy, delicious and good for you.
Baked pumpkin donuts with maple frosting, yes please.
Interesting Links and Articles
5 Thrifting Enthusiasts Share Their Craziest Shopping Stories
How to Let Go of the Family Heirlooms You Don’t Want in Your Home
15 of NASA’s Coolest Inventions That Regular People Use
Stone Skipping Is a Lost Art. Kurt Steiner Wants the World to Find It.
Hilaree Nelson notched many firsts in a life of high-altitude adventures
Live Like a Rockefeller at These Dreamy Airbnb
Rattan Is This Fall’s Hottest Interior Design Trend
If You Don’t Yet Use Marcella Hazan’s Recipes, Here’s Your Excuse to Start
Why hurricane storm surges are so dangerous
Choosing the Best Protein Powder
Have you seen Katie’s new office? It is gorgeous!
Books
The Ways We Hide
As a little girl raised amid the hardships of Michigan’s Copper Country, Fenna Vos learned to focus on her own survival. That ability sustains her even now as the Second World War rages in faraway countries. Though she performs onstage as the assistant to an unruly escape artist, behind the curtain she’s the mastermind of their act. Ultimately, controlling her surroundings and eluding traps of every kind helps her keep a lingering trauma at bay.
Yet for all her planning, Fenna doesn’t foresee being called upon by British military intelligence. Tasked with designing escape aids to thwart the Germans, MI9 seeks those with specialized skills for a war nearing its breaking point. Fenna reluctantly joins the unconventional team as an inventor. But when a test of her loyalty draws her deep into the fray, she discovers no mission is more treacherous than escaping one’s past.
Inspired by stunning true accounts, The Ways We Hide is a gripping story of love and loss, the wars we fight—on the battlefields and within ourselves—and the courage found in unexpected places.
In this novel filled with friendship, grief, and travel gone awry, three friends take their dream trip to Florence, Italy in memory of a beloved woman who has passed away.
As the last will of a close friend is read, three women discover that they have inherited a legacy from her: the funds to take a dream trip to Florence, Italy, in her memory. With plenty of hilarious travel mishaps along the way, this book is a story of deep friendship, of making room in our lives to celebrate and remember, of grief, of the realization that friendship keeps the memory alive, and the sweet discovery of unexpected romance.
I love rereading old favorites and anything from Maeve Binchy is wonderful. This week I read Light a Penny Candle.
To escape the chaos of London during World War II, young Elizabeth White is sent to live a safer life in the small Irish town of Kilgarret. It is there, in the crowded, chaotic O’Connor household, that she meet Aisling—a girl who soon becomes her very best friend, sharing her pet kitten and secretly teaching her the intricacies of Catholicism.
Aisling’s boldness brings Elizabeth out of her proper shell; later, her support carries Elizabeth through the painful end of her parents’ chilly marriage. In return, Elizabeth’s friendship helps Aisling endure her own unsatisfying marriage to a raging alcoholic. Through the years, they come to believe they can overcome any conflict, conquer any hardship—as long as they have each other. Now they’re about to find out if they’re right…
Cultivated The Elements of Floral Style
Cultivated: The Elements of Floral Style elevates floral design to fine art in this richly informative work on the principles of floral style. A charming and intelligent mentor, Christin Geall emboldens designers, gardeners, and entrepreneurs to think differently and deeply about their work with flowers as she draws upon the fine arts and historical sources, exploring Baroque music, the paintings of the Impressionists, or the work of floral innovators like Gertrude Jekyll and Constance Spry.
Just in case
If you missed a book I have featured or need more books to read of to add to your stack you can find a list of books here in My Book Shop.
Finds
Amazon Prime Days
Did you hear that Amazon announced early Prime Day this year, it is October 14th, just in time to stock up for the holidays.
I have these espresso cups, they are perfect for espresso, hot chocolate and even to use for desserts like pan cotta, rice pudding, etc. And they are on sale at the early Prime sales. You could also add them to a gift basket with some coffee and cookies to give at the holidays.
I have no idea what I will be buying if anything but if this book is on sale I am giving it to myself for my birthday!
Coffee lovers, espresso lovers or wanna be baristas, this coffee machine is amazing. Admitidly, I do not drink coffee but my husband has this machine and uses it everyday. And I believe that Juliets’ husband Jim uses the same machine. That said, this is a big ticket item so maybe purchase this as a gift for the family and safe money going to your local coffee shop.
While you’re browsing early Prime deals, keep in mind that Amazon is not the only retailer hosting a mega sale in the next few weeks.
Target Deal Days
Target announced that Deal Days will happen Oct. 6-8 Even better news, if you make a purchase during Deal Days and Target sells your item for a lower price they will price match and refund your money to you until the end of December so hold in to your receipts if you shop the sale.
UNTIL TOMORROW
I hope that you enjoyed Friday Favorites no. 500! I cannot wait to make the sweet potato nachos and the donuts. Which recipe will you try?
Have a wonderful weekend friends and don’t forget to stop by tomorrow for ”weekend meanderings” with Kim and Juliet! We will have lots to share from coast to coast.
This post contains affiliate links, if you make a purchase I will earn a commission at no cost to you.
I am fairly new to your blog and am enjoying it. i have tired of many blogs always trying to sell something. I would kindly like to point out that its hurricane Ian, not Ivan. since it was used several times i don’t think it was a typo. Its also interesting that you report winds and rain, when Ian is still off shore South Carolina at 9:00 this morning. Please, please keep it real.
Sheran,
I appreciate you letting me know about the name, I am not sure why I had Ivan on my mind.
Respectfully, as it is raining, and windy and the house is being pelted by pinecones and sticks, and the yard is littered with pine straw and cones, I think I can report that as my experience this morning.
Have a great day and thank you for reading the blog.
You always find such interesting links. Have a great weekend. I’m assuming your kitchen is all ready for cooking and you’re all ready for fall and holiday baking!
Brenda
Good morning Brenda, I am indeed ready for the holidays and I cannot wait to start baking! Have a wonderful weekend friend.
Greetings from Northern California, where we live with fires, drought and earthquakes. I hope the hurricane does not damage your property and you and your loved ones remain safe. We are watching its progress from a distance and feeling for all those whose lives have already been affected. Thank you for your 500th Friday Favorites! That is quite a record! I always enjoy your posts. They are a light in troubled times.
Apple streusel sounds good.
Congratulations Elizabeth on your 500th post.
I pray your are safe and well. I cannot imagine how scary the storm must be. I hope it passes quickly and you don’t have any damage from Ian.
Thank you for sharing so many wonderful recipes and I can’t wait to order the book Cultivate.
I love your receipes!! Where is the black bean soup one??
Thank you, love your blog!!!
Always interesting….
Great post ad recipes. Congratulations! As always great links to dive into!
Thank you Cindy.
Wow ! Congrats on 500 Friday Favorite posts! That’s quite an accomplishment! You always have such interesting links to share! Here’s to 500 more! Blessings, Donna