Friday Favorites~a weekly series where we share our favorite books, decor, fashion finds, recipes, podcasts, articles and more
Friday Favorites No. 644
Good morning friends, it’s Friday. It has been a long and heavy week hasn’t it? I don’t know about you but it’s hard to “show up” when there is so much sadness and tragedy going on. The destruction in Texas, the missing and the ones who were lost weigh on my mind. And then I get irritated by the sniping and blame from both sides. I stay away from politics on the blog but my suspicion is that both sides share the blame.
On a trivial note, are you tired of the sales? Me too! Holy moly, I cannot believe how many emails I received with the exact same picks. There are a gazillion products on Amazon but everyone’s favorites are mostly the same. Honestly, I only bought 2 things from Amazon, college powder and 6 lbs of Tcho drinking chocolate. I use the drinking chocolate as part of the bespoke chocolate mix that I make for my morning hot chocolate.
Did you shop on Amazon? What did you find? I think next up is the Nordstrom sale, I may look to see if there is anything great for Fall. But truth be told I do not need another sweater, coat, boots or scarves, I have plenty of them.
What are your plans for this weekend? Rain is in the forecast so I am not sure yet what our plans are.
I have lots other share so let’s get to it.
FOOD
It’s National Blueberry Day! Here are a few of my favorite blueberry recipes.
Strawberry and Fresh Herb Salad with Blueberries and Feta is the perfect spring and summer salad recipe to make for a weeknight meal or a bbq.
Roasted blueberries are easy to make and so versatile, use them on yogurt, ice cream, cheesecake, desserts, over chicken, or goat cheese. The possibilities are endless.
This Blueberry Lemon Lavender bread is moist, flavorful and delicious! Topped with a lemon glaze this easy bread recipe is a classic combination of summer flavors. Serve it for breakfast, snack, or dessert!
Blueberry Crumb bars, browned butter shortbread cookie crust filled with fresh blueberry jam topped with butter crumbs.
A refreshing blueberry mojito is perfect for Friday night cocktails!
LINKS TO READ+WATCH+LISTEN
1 Important Step We Always Take Too Late in Life
Time 100 Creators and Influencers
Minimalism won’t look the same for everyone.
Want better bakes? Here’s what your ingredients actually do
These are the worlds best cruise ships.
Small Town Celebrates Graduates with Annual Free Scholarship Tradition!
Thyme Founder Caryn Hibbert Has Created a Cotswolds Retreat That’s as Warm and Stylish as She Is
Did we ruin summer camp by making it safe?
An incredible multi generational Maine home.
BOOKS~ ON MY LIST AND MY BEDSIDE TABLE
The Wealth of Shadows
1939. Ansel Luxford has everything a person could want—a comfortable career, a brilliant spouse, a beautiful new baby. But he is obsessed by a belief that Europe is on the precipice of a war that will grow to consume the world. The United States is officially proclaiming neutrality in any foreign conflict, but when Ansel is offered an opportunity to move to Washington, D.C., to join a clandestine project within the Treasury Department that is working to undermine Nazi Germany, he uproots his family overnight and takes on the challenge of a lifetime.
How can they defeat the enemy without firing a bullet?
To thwart the Nazis, Ansel and his team invent a powerful new theater of battle: economic warfare. Money is a dangerous weapon, and Ansel’s efforts will plunge him into a world full of espionage, peril, and deceit. He will crisscross the globe to broker backroom deals, undertake daring heists, and spar with titans of industry like J.P. Morgan and the century’s greatest economic mind, Britain’s John Maynard Keynes. When Ansel’s wife takes a job with the FBI to hunt for spies within the government, the need for subterfuge extends to the home front. And Ansel discovers that he might be closer to those spies than he could ever imagine.
Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea
Leah O’Connor is torn between her current existence and the allure of a phantom life that can no longer be hers.
Swept off her feet by the gentle charm of Lucas O’Connor, Leah’s unexpected pregnancy changes the course of her carefree and nomadic existence. Over a decade and three children later, Leah is unraveling. She resents the world in which her artistic aspirations have been sidelined by the overwhelming demands of motherhood, and the ever-present rift between herself and her mother-in-law, Christine, is best dulled by increasingly fuller glasses of wine.
Christine represents a model of selfless motherhood that Leah can neither achieve nor accept. To heighten the strain, Lucas’s business venture, a trendy restaurant that honors his mother, has taken all his attention, which places the domestic demands squarely on Leah’s shoulders. Seeking an ally in her sweet sister-in-law Amy, Leah shares a secret that, if made known to the wider family, could disrupt the curated ecosystems that keep the O’Connors connected.
As Leah dances with the devil while descending further into darkness, her behavior becomes more erratic and further alienates her from both Lucas and the wider family. Leah’s drinking threatens the welfare of her family, prompting Amy to turn to Christine for support. A duel for loyalty ensues. When the inevitable waves come crashing down, it’s the O’Connor women who give Leah a lifeline: the truth of what they’ve all endured. But Leah alone must uncover the villain of her own story, learn how to ask for help, and decide if the family she has rejected will be her salvation or ultimate undoing.
Abigail and Alexa Save the Wedding
You’re invited…to a delightful modern comedy of manners about two moms, the best-laid plans, and one very memorable wedding.
Penelope and Chase make a lovely couple. She’s a bubbly Southern California girl with killer work ethic. Chase is smart and charming and has political aspirations. They’re planning a spectacular California wedding, wrapped in peonies and thousands of little white lights, soaked in custom cocktails and romantic hashtags. Everyone’s excited about Penny and Chase’s wedding—except their mothers.
The Mother of the Bride, suave Greek-born Alexa Diamandis, doesn’t understand why any woman would get married. Ever! Raised in Athens and now perfectly situated in sun-splashed Montecito, California, she raised Penny as single mother by choice, supported by Lord Simon Fox, her old college friend who just happens to be an English aristocrat, and a wealthy circle of lady friends who call themselves the Merry Widows.
The Mother of the Groom, Abigail Blakeman, is a garden club stalwart firmly planted in coastal Connecticut. She thinks the whole enterprise would be so much easier if the wedding was at their golf club. Especially because the Blakeman’s fortunes have taken a turn for the worse—not that you would ever know it by looking at Abigail. Keeping up appearances is exhausting, but it is everything.
But when a sudden twist of fate calls them into action, these two very different women are forced to take over the wedding planning. Despite their differences, Alexa and Abigail charge in to save the day. How far will two moms go to make their children’s dream wedding a reality?
MORE BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS
If you have already read these books or missed something I have featured before on the blog check out My Bookshop on Amazon.
SHOPPING~OUTFIT OF THE DAY
Blue and white is my favorite color combination. There are endless shades of blue and they all pair nicely with white! This weeks’ outfit is a chic, comfy pair of Bermuda shorts with a stripe linen shirt. Paired with flip flops and a wicker tote you can do errands, stay home or head out for lunch.
Outfit Details Below~Click the Photos
Looking for more outfit inspiration? Check my LTK!
UNTIL TOMORROW
I hope you enjoyed the recipes, links and books I discovered this week on Friday Favorites.
Before you go:
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Don’t forget that Kim, Juliet and I will be back tomorrow on Weekend Meanderings!
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On My Radar~Summer
Hi Elizabeth,
Yes, it’s been a heavy week with the Texas tragedy, and whats happening around the world and in our own country’s leadership.
The sales going on is way over the top. I have so clothes and everything else, we need nothing. I think this is what happens when you get older. It’s nice being content either way what you have.
Katherine, I could not agree more. I think as you get older you realize that you really do not need much. Not that the trappings of life are not nice, believe me I have done my share of shopping over the years. But as you age, you want less, at least I do. And frankly, we do less entertaining, and traveling for work so I do not need some of the clothing I purchased before. Thankfully I have never ever been one to follow trends and I am not “influenced” to buy things like people are today.
How did your mammogram go? Are you staying inside and keeping cool?
Have a lovely weekend!
Hi Elizabeth,
Thanks for asking about my mammogram. My report was clear, such a blessing to hear those words as I’m sure you can appreciate. My technician, Mary Lou did not use heavy compression like in previous mammograms that I have had. I guess that is okay, I was prepared for discomfort. I have had ultrasounds done before because of strange discomfort I have had in my left breast as a cautionary measure. I have dense breast tissue, that as you know makes it more difficult to detect possible concerns. I like what your doctor suggested for you to have done the safe side. Investigative doctors are my type of doctors…smart.
We have two doctors in our family and they operate like that.
Have a lovely weekend.
The situation in Texas is beyond sad. I do think funding and staffing the National Weather Service, NOAA and FEMA is extremely important. The random and chaotic cutting of services is dangerous. An orderly and considered approach is absolutely necessary if we want things to function well. Gutting agencies and losing experienced and dedicated people is no way to run…well…anything.
Stacey, I agree whole heartedly. Our agencies need funding and staff. I also think that the money allocated for infrastructure needs to be used for that. For many years under both parties money allocated for roads, bridge maintenance, etc has been used elsewhere and these repairs or upgrades have been pushed to the side.
As for Texas, it is heartbreaking, it is not the same but the disaster is similar to what happened here in Western NC. I wonder if the alarm or alert system that they have wanted and discussed for over 10 years would have helped? I obviously do not live there and do not know what that would entail. Not to mention, even with an alert/warning system it wasn’t going to stop the water but it may have given people some time to leave.
I hope that you have a lovely day!
First time Reader – You have such lovely content. I know I will visit frequently.
Eileen, Welcome to Pinecones and Acorns! Thank you for the kind compliment. I hope that you visit again!
Have a wonderful week.