Friday Faves

Hello and happy Friday!

This summer my goal is to make great memories. And yes, great food too. I have a whole gaggle of recipes to share that I’m loving and know that soon, you will too.

I am already on a roll with my summer memory making with several bucket list items complete! I don’t know…maybe they could count as 5 or ten because we packed in a lot of memories in just a few days.

Last weekend was my Ali Smudge’s birthday (thanks for all her birthday wishes BTW) and on Monday we made a quick trip to Southern Utah. It may have been only three days but we packed in a whole lot of adventure for such a short time. It’s exactly what Utah is famous for.

Bucket List Item #1: Visit Best Friends Animal Sanctuary

Our first bucket list item checked off summer’s  list was a visit to Best Friends Animal Sanctuary. We toured the sanctuary and attended the weekly piggy social where we played and scratched and petted rescued pot belly pigs. We fed horses and took a tour of Dogtown where we saw where some of their 350 dogs are housed until adopted. The girls favorite part was socializing with the puppies and all their kisses.

Nearby Kanab, UT is the gateway to several of Utah’s national parks and monuments including Insta-famous Vermilion Cliffs National Monument, Bryce Canyon National Park, the Grand Canyon (North Rim), Zion National Park, Lake Powell, and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.

Where to Stay in Kanab, UT

We stayed at Quail Park Lodge, one of the cute little motels that dot the main drag—it’s part of a small, locally owned hotel group and any of their properties would be a nice choice. We rode their free community bikes to dinner, checked out the Little Hollywood Museum and had lunch at Kanab Creek Bakery, that among many others, I’ve decided is the best Parisian bakery in Utah (their baker is from Belgium.)

Bucket List Item #2: Get Lost In Coral Pink Sand Dunes

Then it was off to the Coral Pink Sand Dunes which literally look like you stepped onto Mars. It was absolutely stunning. The daily entry fee is $10 per car and covered picnic tables are available with camping spots for additional fee. Bring your own sleds to surf down the dunes or rent them there for $25. The sand can get extra hot when the sun is bright, so wear shoes you don’t mind getting sandy in.

Bucket List Item #3: Soak In Mystic Hot Springs in Monroe, UT

Another item checked off this summer’s list was our overnight stay at Mystic Hot Springs where it’s all about being hippie, not hipster.

We slept in one of their converted buses (the Nature Bus is the largest of the buses and surprisingly comfy!) while Smudge and her pal stayed in the Gypsy Wagon with twinkling Christmas lights for that perfect Instagram glow.

The owner—a former follower of the Grateful Dead—has set cast iron tubs into the sandstone where over time the tubs have melded themselves into the sandstone rocks because of the minerals mixing with sandstone. It’s a trip.

When my husband and I held hands across our tubs in the outdoor air it was like we were in a real life Cialis commercial. Awwwww. There are also two pools the hot springs feed in to.

If you stay in the busses during the summer be prepared because there is no air conditioning (our bus and the Gypsy Wagon each had a small fan) and those babies aren’t insulated. Men’s and women’s communal shower and toilets offer an experience definitely more in the realm of car camping. There is no restaurant so be prepared to bring your own food and drink. If you’re into live music, check out their calendar for summertime music festival dates that look like they’d be a whole other awesome jam.

If you want to see more behind the scenes of our trip, check out my Instagram story highlights where I’ve saved where we visited and what we did.

I’m always ready for more inspo, so tell me, what’s on your summer bucket list? Let us all know in the comments below.

If you haven’t made one yet, here’s my tips for creating the best summer bucket list with a few ideas to get you started.

But enough about me, let’s dig into this week’s Friday Faves.

Awwww. Van Gogh’s Starry Night goes to the dogs. I wish I could paint like that.

and…

How they do that??? Fork calligraphy marries my two loves: food and fonts.

Mark your calendars for June 25: Bourdain Day.

I have a beach bag I really like from the same company who makes these reusuable grocery shopping coolers so I just ordered two to keep in my car.

Finally! I love her music and glad this talented artist is back. But where is Fiona Apple these days?

This may be the world’s most amazing swimming pool. Obviously there’s no need for a diving board.

The easiest way to pick out a good rosé. Cheers!

30 pasta salad recipes to make all summer long.

Caprese lasagna all day every day.

This summer salad is gnochi-ing my socks off. Get it?

Summer’s best G&Ts with a Spanish twist.

No need to fight the lines at Ikea with these Swedish meatballs.

This pasta is perfect.

When I’m not grilling my chicken, I’m baking it and this recipe looks on the money.

A healthy fish taco with all the tropical salsa.

The best way to store baking staples.

This summer snack plate will keep EVERYONE happy and avoid the hangrys.

A birthday cake for your beloved puppers. (it’s grain free.)

This is the easy recipe way out for that potluck where you’ve been assigned to bring dessert.

The best board games to break out after dinner. Personally, I’m a huge fan of this game. 

4 simple habits of all great leaders. 

This airfare expert shares his top 6 tips every bargain lover should know. 

Your A to Z guide to all the lush green houseplants you want in your house now.

This is why boredom can be a good thing.

or…

94 fun things you can do at home to cure the borings anytime.

This iPhone trick will make you a better picture taker.

This summer work out guide is totally inspiring me to get moving now because it won’t take all day to do.

because…

Time to do more ab work because the low-rise pant may be on the comeback.

9 wardrobe staples you need by the time you turn 35.

These sweatpants are the reason you wear sweatpants even if you don’t sweat.

This sundress looks super comfy but not frumpy.

And this dress’s color blocking won’t look like all the others.

Last week I was in search of a creamy eye shadow so naturally I texted my beauty guru who said this is the one to buy. So I did, in After Party. And I love it.

While I was at Sephora I also bought this eye shadow palette. It’s so hard to find single eye shadows these days.

Take a time out and enjoy Esquire’s best movies of 2019 so far.

That’s it for this week. I hope you find time this weekend to get out and enjoy it.

XO H

Craving more life balance, less stress, and better health? Check out my Nourished Planner, the daily planner to help create simplicity and under-schedule your life.

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