Friday Favorites~a weekly series where we share our favorite books, decor, fashion finds, recipes, podcasts, articles and more.
Friday Favorites No. 672
Good morning friends! I hope that you had a lovely week. It was beautiful here with the snow while it lasted, which sadly was not long enough for me. I will just have to enjoy the cool winter weather while it is here because the days of heat and humidity will be here soon enough.
It’s Super Bowl weekend, is your team playing? I say this every year, I am here for the snacks and the commercials.
Aside from game day we are going to a celebration of life this weekend for a friend who never met a person who did not become a friend. Eighty-one years was not long enough on this earth but clearly God had other plans.
Bill is finally feeling better after almost 2 weeks of being sick. I do not know if whatever he had was that bad or that as we age it seems to take us longer to recover?
Ok, let’s get to the good stuff.
FOOD
It’s Super Bowl weekend so I thought I would share a few game day foods.
A scrumptious dip is always at the top of my list and this loaded, cheesy hot corn dip is perfect!
If you want to add an appetizer try these 3 ingredient Ruben Egg Rolls.
Chicken chili verde street corn tacos could be served as an appetizer or with beans and rice.
Tex-mex chili is another favorite, serve with sour cream, cheese and cilantro.
Last but not least, a sweet treat! A pan of condensed milk brownies and some chocolate chip cookies make everyone happy no matter which team their are rooting for.
LINKS TO READ+WATCH+LISTEN
Should You List Olive Oil on Your Resume?
Why so many people online are leaning into ‘turning Chinese’
How to Trick Your Brain Into Doing Something You’re Avoiding
When Mao’s Mango Mania Took Over China
Frozen Niagara Falls draws captivated tourists
Moltbook, the AI Social Network Freaking Out Silicon Valley, Explained
10 Hard Things that Are Worth Doing for Yourself (Before it’s Too Late)
The 10 Most Beautiful Bookstores in the World
A 25-year study found an unexpected link between cheese and dementia
BOOKS
Elodie’s Library of Second Chances
When Elodie applies for the job of librarian in peaceful Willow Grove, she’s looking forward to a new start. As the daughter of a media empire, her every move has been watched for years, and she longs to work with the thing she loves most: books.
It’s a chance to make a real difference too, because she soon realises that there are other people in Willow Grove who might need a fresh start – like the homeless man everyone walks past without seeing, or the divorcée who can’t seem to escape her former husband’s misdeeds.
Together with local journalist Finn, Elodie decides these people have stories that need sharing. What if instead of borrowing books readers could ‘borrow’ a person, and hear the life stories of those they’ve overlooked?
But Elodie isn’t quite sharing her whole story either. As the story of the library’s new success grows, will her own secret be revealed?
Less than one year into her marriage to respected magistrate George Knightley, Emma has grown unusually content in her newfound partnership and refreshed sense of independence. The height of summer sees the former Miss Woodhouse gracefully balancing the meticulous management of her elegant family estate and a flurry of social engagements, with few worries apart from her beloved father’s health . . .
But cheery circumstances change in an instant when Emma and Harriet Martin, now the wife of one of Mr. Knightley’s tenant farmers, discover a hideous shock at the local church. The corpse of Mrs. Augusta Elton, the vicar’s wife, has been discarded on the altar steps—the ornate necklace she often wore stripped from her neck . . .
As a chilling murder mystery blooms and chaos descends upon the tranquil village of Highbury, the question isn’t simply who committed the crime, but who wasn’t secretly wishing for the unpleasant woman’s demise. When suspicions suddenly fall on a harmless local, Emma—armed with wit, unwavering determination, and extensive social connections—realizes she must discreetly navigate an investigation of her own to protect the innocent and expose the ruthless culprit hiding in plain sight.
Mattering
In this groundbreaking work, Wallace makes an urgent case: mattering—the feeling that we are valued and have an opportunity to add value—is a core human need, as essential to our well-being as food and water. And yet, in today’s world, that fundamental need is going unmet, with perilous consequences. As mental and social health crises surge, we often blame social media, the pace of modern life, and polarizing politics. But beneath these issues lies a deeper crisis, what Wallace calls “an erosion of mattering.”
With her signature warmth and insight, Wallace weaves together research and deeply moving stories of mattering lost and regained. From burned-out employees to overwhelmed caregivers to people grappling with grief or struggling through a destabilizing transition, Mattering explores how our lives are transformed when we are reminded, in small and intentional ways, that we are valued and that we have value to offer. Wallace provides the essential elements to building what she calls our “mattering core”: recognizing your impact, being relied on (but not too much), feeling prioritized, and being truly known and invested in. Strengthening this core helps us reconnect to our sense of purpose, deepen our relationships, and navigate life’s uncertainties and challenges with greater resilience.
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, Barnes & Noble or Bookshop.org or your local library.
SHOPPING~OUTFIT OF THE DAY
Red is not just for Valentine’s Day, it adds a pop of color to your wardrobe in any season, but it seems especially vibrant in winter. This week I paired stripe shirt with a red cashmere sweater, a fun pair of trouser jeans, booties(on sale), a cross body bag and of course a heart charm bracelet in honor of the season.
You could also weather these jeans with ballet flats, loafers, trainers and a t-shirt, or pair the sweater with a skirt or wear it over a dress.
Click the images to see the outfit separates
Follow me on ShopMy for more outfit inspiration.
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 your favorite game day food is.
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