Friday Faves

Hello and happy Friday!

We gumbo-d our way through Fat Tuesday with our favorite chocolate chip cookies then soothed our AliSmudge’s #5 ranked high school basketball team’s season ending loss at State (so proud of these girls!), watched as contractors finally got to work on a home improvement project we’re totally excited about, and babied my baby girl after the doctor determined she has walking pneumonia.

Ups and downs all around.

I re-shared a meme on my Instastories yesterday that I felt was especially appropriate in this climate of coronavirus worries, stock market slides, more mass shootings, political rivalries gone haywire, and those pesky everyday stresses that come with life.

Is the sky really falling?

I don’t know whether panic is truly happening or if it’s being spread faster with a wider net because the media is in a constant race to break the news that is literally at our fingertips every second of the day.

Am I reading too much into it? Can being over-informed be a bad thing?

The meme’s message I shared yesterday was simple:

Relax your shoulders
Unclench your jaw
Unclench your hands
Breathe

I also added one more line:

~ & Smile ~

Because smiles are contagious too.

But enough about all the worries of the world. How about we take a break and dig into some Friday Faves.

Surround yourself with people that…

This is pretty cool: What historical figures would look like if they were alive today.

Kinda sad I can’t find good cooking shows on Food Network anymore. Naturally, Netflix saves the day with this one.

Eat more plants with this list of 15 plant-based food blogs.

This is exactly how much you should spend on a kitchen renovation to recoup your investment.

Definitely on point: This risotto is the creamiest dreamiest brie-est.

These Korean turkey lettuce wraps got it going on.

The only thing better than short ribs is when they’re braised in beer.

Because you guys love chicken:

• Haven’t thought of this combo before: Baked maple + dijon chicken breasts.
• Noodle up to these Thai chicken satay bowls.
• These chicken burgers have the perfect Mediterranean twist.

Who doesn’t love a great meatball!

A decadently basic cake for your next beyond-basic party.

If you’ve been wanting to bake your own sourdough bread, this very thorough guide will start you on your way.

10 tools every baker needs.

And the mushrooms have it:

• This creamy chicken and mushroom dinner is the ultimate skilletizer (just made that word up).
• Add a green salad and this would be such a great meatless dinner, or make it a side.
• This garlicky mushroom risotto with brown buttttahhhh.

Forget the Reese’s and bookmark these for Easter: Homemade peanut butter eggs.

Here’s how to make Olive Garden breadsticks at home.

Break out the tots with this hot dish!

I’m living out all my fantasies in this INSANE carrot cake. MUST MAKE!

If you ever had a dollhouse (like me!) you’ll love this Instagram account. 

I mean, if you had to live in a school bus, this is the bus to live in!

14 tax season tips everyone should know.

I’ve always been curious: How to lay out a bullet journal.

8 tips for a better night’s sleep.

I bought this pair of camo leggings this week and I LOVE ‘EM! So dang comfortable.

And, I bought this pair of joggers I’ll be sporting all spring.

Such a cute jumpsuit for spring into summer (and it’s on sale.)

The not-only-skinny jeans you’ll want for spring.

And because we can all use more smiles, check out these amusing pics to start your weekend off right.

Later ‘gaters, and chins up! It’s a great day out there!

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