Friday Favorites~a weekly series where we share our favorite books, decor, fashion finds, recipes, podcasts, articles and more.
Good morning friends, happy Friday Favorites.
It’s almost Christmas! Are you ready? I am as ready as I will ever be and that means that the cards will be New Years cards, some of the gifts won’t be wrapped and will be put into bags and there will be a few less cookies on the tray. And that is ok because I am spending my time making memories with my mom and family.
Last night we had a pizza party, and tonight we are hosting a game night. Everyone in the family will be wearing their ugly Christmas sweaters or holiday pjs(kids) and we will be snacking on fondu, cookies, candy and lots of appetizers in-between round of dominos, and other games.
What about you? What are you doing the next few days?
I know that the holidays are not happy for everyone for a variety of reasons, if you are one of those people you are in my thoughts as you navigate the next few days.
Ok, on to Friday Favorites.
FRIDAY FAVORITES NO. 564
FOOD~HOLIDAY
I am making this wild rice with cranberries and pecans for Christmas Eve dinner, it is a family favorite!
Baked pasta is an easy one pot dinner that is cheesy, hearty and delicious!
Need a quick dessert, make cupcakes, add frosting and sprinkles!
Cream cheese and fruit danish are easy to make and look like they came from a bakery! They are perfect for your holiday brunch.
This Pomegranate French 75 would make a great cocktail for your festivities!
LINKS TO READ+WATCH+LISTEN
How Word Puzzles Tickle the Brain and Satisfy the Soul
Holiday Joy Meets Panic and Food Insecurity As Parents Brace for Long Winter Break
Energy Drinks Are Out of Control
Meet Your New Landlord: Google
How Long Do Poinsettias Last? Try These Tips to Keep Them Alive Longer
10 Things We Often Wait Too Long to Do for Ourselves
Hidden No More: Why Women’s Contributions to the Italian Renaissance Matter
BOOKS~ ON MY LIST AND MY BEDSIDE TABLE
Earthy, magical, and utterly charming, this tale of family life in turn-of-the-century Mexico blends poignant romance, bittersweet wit, and delicious recipes.
This classic love story takes place on the De la Garza ranch, as the tyrannical owner, Mama Elena, chops onions at the kitchen table in her final days of pregnancy. While still in her mother’s womb, her daughter to be weeps so violently she causes an early labor, and little Tita slips out amid the spices and fixings for noodle soup. This early encounter with food soon becomes a way of life, and Tita grows up to be a master chef, using cooking to express herself and sharing recipes with readers along the way.
It’s Raining Men
A getaway to remember. But is a holiday romance on the cards?
Best friends from work May, Lara and Clare are desperate for some time away. They have each had a rough time of it lately and need some serious R & R, so they set off to a luxurious spa for ten glorious days. But when they arrive at their destination, it seems it is not the place they thought it was. In fact, they appear to have come to entirely the wrong village …
Despite the strange atmosphere, the three friends are determined to make the best of it and have a holiday to remember. But will this be the break they all need? Or will the odd little village with all its secrets bring them all to breaking point?
Half Blown Rose
An irresistible story of a woman remaking her life after her husband’s betrayal leads to a year of travel, art, and passion in Paris, from the award-winning author of This Close to Okay.
Vincent, having grown up as the privileged daughter of artists, has a lovely life in many ways. At forty-four, she enjoys strolling the streets of Paris and teaching at the modern art museum; she has a vibrant group of friends; and she’s even caught the eye of a young, charismatic man named Loup. But Vincent is also in Paris to escape a painful betrayal: her husband, Cillian, has published a bestselling book divulging secrets about their marriage and his own past, hinting that when he was a teenager, he may have had a child with a young woman back in Dublin—before he moved to California and never returned.
Now estranged from her husband, Vincent has agreed to see Cillian again at their son’s wedding the following summer, but Loup introduces new complications. Soon they begin an intense affair, and somewhere between dinners made together, cigarettes smoked in the moonlight, hazy evenings in nightclubs, and long, starry walks along the Seine, Vincent feels herself loosening and blossoming.
In a journey that is both transportive and intimate, Half-Blown Rose traverses Paris, art, travel, liminal spaces, and the messy complexities of relationships and romance, with excerpts from Cillian’s novel, playlists, and journal entries woven throughout. As Cillian does all he can to win her back, Vincent must decide what she wants . . . and who she will be.
MORE BOOKS
If you have already read these books or missed something I have featured before on the blog check out My Bookshop on Amazon.
FINDS~SHOP FOR THE HOLIDAYS
I love this whole outfit!
The shopping days are winding down but a book is something you can still order from Amazon or run over the the local bookstore to pick up. Here are 5 books that I have on my wish list.
An Entertaining Life: Designing Town and Country
The Art of Kinfolk: An Iconic Lens on Life and Style
UNTIL Next Time
I hope you enjoyed the recipes, links and books I discovered this week on Friday Favorites. If you did please share the post on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter!
Kim and Juliet are taking the weekend off from weekend meanderings.
Have a wonderful weekend and a very Merry Christmas!
If you have missed a Friday Favorites post you can find them all here.
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What pretty cupcakes! If I’m up to it, I might bake the turkey breast I ordered in the next day or so. But today is rainy and the arthritis in my ankle is saying “not today.” Looks like you’re all ready so enjoy the holiday and your family!
Brenda
Thank you for all the links to wonderful reads this year. Keep finding them & sharing them next year.
Merry Christmas to you and yours.
Merriest Christmas to You & Yours
May you holiday be bright with love and good food