Friday Favorites~a weekly series where we share our favorite books, decor, fashion finds, recipes, podcasts, articles and more.
Friday Favorites No. 664
Good morning friends! How was your Thanksgiving? Are you stuffed? Or are you still enjoying leftovers? We had a quiet and leisurely Thanksgiving of 5 and we had Italian. Yes, we missed the stuffing and the yeast rolls but we will be having them at Christmas when we most of the family here and I cannot wait.
We did not skimp on the desserts, we had pumpkin pie, pecan pie and banoffee pie. In fact this morning, like yesterday morning I am having pumpkin pie for breakfast. When I was little I did the same, in fact my grandmother would save me a piece to have the next day. I learned how to make pie crust among many other sweet treats by her side and in each thing I make I feel like a part of her is baked into them.
Tell me about your Thanksgiving, what did you do? Did you host? Or were you a guest? What was your favorite part of the day?
It’s Black Friday! Are you shopping? Is it really such a thing anymore? I feel like I have been promoting pre-black Friday sales for months and honestly, some of the sales were better than today!
I have shopped, mainly for me and I did get the Dyson hair dryer, this skirt, this bag and a few other things. What are you shopping for this weekend?
Ok, on to Friday Favorites!
FOOD
If you have leftovers you might enjoy making turkey and wild rice soup!
Or this turkey Shepherds pie made with leftover mashed potatoes and turkey.
Craving something sweet? Try leftover cranberry sauce muffins!
If you are too much, like me, and you want something a little lighter try Golden Healing Cauliflower Soup.
LINKS TO READ+WATCH+LISTEN
The Fast Rise, Long Decline, and Agonizing Downfall of the MTV Empire
9 TV Shows to Get Hyped for in 2026
Movies Are Glen Powell’s Love Language
The Chefs Are Right: Air Fryers Make Your Kitchen a Better Place and Changing the Way That We Cook
Reconnecting with an old friend is a story of distance, loss and rediscovery
The Best Places to Go in the US in 2026
17 Ridiculously Good One-Pot Meals You Can Make Without a Sink Full of Dishes
Meet Canada’s Coziest Comfort Food—and It’s Not Poutine
Hold an Ice Cube – and Shake Like a Dog: Therapists on 16 Simple, Surprising Ways to Beat Stress
Why we get dark circles and eye bags
BOOKS
During the hustle and bustle of the next few weeks why not escape with a book? I read a lot all year but at this time of the year I am all about lighthearted romance, and books that are set in bookshops or quaint English villages. Basically the Hallmark Chanel in book form.
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?
A Highland Christmas
Snow is falling in little village of Applemore and the air is full of the smell of gingerbread from the Harbour Cafe…
but owner Sarah Wilson wants to forget Christmas this year.
It’s been three years since her mum passed away – and she’s thrown everything into running the bakery in her memory.
The little coffeeshop is sparkling with fairy lights, but this Christmas – with her brother escaping to Morocco and no plans of her own, she’s planning to pretend the holiday isn’t happening.
Then Jim Fletcher walks through the door…
The American professor is spending Christmas in Applemore, researching small-town revivals and running from his own ghosts. A simple cup of coffee turns into something unexpected – snowy beach walks, sharing spiced apple cider by the village Christmas tree, and facing up to the possibility of something more.
But Jim’s research will end. He’ll return to New England and Sarah will stay exactly where she’s always been – won’t she?
Sometimes it takes a stranger to help you see that honouring the past doesn’t mean surrendering your future.
Merry
Merry Bingham used to love Christmas—until she started worrying all the time about family, money, and death. The only thing that continues to bring her joy is reading from her heirloom edition of A Christmas Carol, autographed by Charles Dickens himself and passed down through five generations of her family. Now, as she waits for the results of the medical tests that will tell her whether this Christmas season will be her last, Merry prepares to give her book to the next generation. Except none of her three children wants it.
The Night Nothing Went Right
One little elf named Tiny, with the best of intentions, commits a blunder so monumental that it could dismantle the magic of Christmas Eve. As the clock ticks away, witness a flurry of frosty fiascos and holiday mishaps that put Santa, Tiny, and their team to the ultimate test. Can they fix the mess in time to ensure no child wakes up disappointed? This narrative unfolds a thrilling race against time, with a sprinkle of Christmas magic.
Looking for 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.
SHOPPING~Black Friday Sales
There are a gazillion Black Friday sales, here are a few of my favorite shops and sales. You can see more in My Shop!
Boden~40% off Black Friday and 20% off Everything Else
Hotel Lobby Candle – up to 25% off the best candles ever. The new Holiday candle is one of my favorites.
J.Crew – 50% off your purchase!!! One of my favorite sales to stock up on classic pieces. This fair isle cardigan is a favorite as are these plaid pajamas.
Rifle Paper Co. – 30% off my favorites. I love Rifle! Whether you’re looking for cute coffee mug or stocking up on paper products.
Talbots–40% off. I like this belt, and this skirt and of course all of the plaid shoes.
UNTIL TOMORROW
I hope you enjoyed the recipes, links and books I discovered this week on Friday Favorites. Don’t forget to come back tomorrow for Weekend Meanderings with Kim and Juliet!
I hope that you have a wonderful day, thank you for spending part of it with me.
Before you go, tell me what are you going to do to relax and rejuvenate this weekend?
Don’t forget to follow us on Pinterest, Instagram, and Facebook. And last but not least, if you like Pinecones & Acorns share it with a friend!
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More Black Friday Sales
