Friday Faves

Hey, hey and happy Friday friends.

This week I learned that one of my dear high school friends passed away after a too short, but furious fight with ovarian cancer. She is the first of my longtime friends who has left us way too soon. With all of their ups and downs, those high school days created so many memories, and put an indelible stamp on who I am today. Even more, her passing is yet another reminder that life is only what you make it right now. We are only guaranteed what we have today.

I admired Darcie so much. Oh man. So many memories! She was beyond witty, a little quirky, and had the widest, brightest smile that infected everyone else. She was always quick with that one-liner you wished you’d come up with first, usually a riff from one of our favorite Eddie Murphy sketches, but also had the gift of being a very deep thinker. She glowed with a lust for life that made her game for any adventure and didn’t let anything get in her way, including eating. She is literally the only high schooler I ever met who would absent-mindedly forget to eat, simply because it was just too much of a diversion to take time to make food. I remember wondering how was it even possible to forget to eat? I mean, I was always starving. And probably why I was always the cook in the group.

Sometime after college we fell out of touch with visits few and far between, but these days my high school friends (hey, hey ATNA crew!) have become more and more present in my thoughts and even my dreams. I’m sure it’s due to re-living our high school crushes, stunts, and hijinks as I reassure myself that yes, even with all the dumb (but so much fun!) stuff we did as teens, I still turned out okay, and yes, my AliSmudge will too. I just hope she’ll look back on her high school days as I do, where all these years later the days I thought were so earth shatteringly horrible have since fallen from my memory bank, thanks to the good vibes and memories that because of my friends like sweet Darcie, still shine so bright.

Make those memories my friends. That’s what life is all about. But first, this week’s Friday Faves.

All your voting questions, answered. GET REGISTERED AND CAST YOUR VOTE!

4 things non-black families can do for racial justice.

The happiest state in America isn’t much of a surprise, but take a look at #2!

50 ways to spend your mental health day. It’s not like we all couldn’t use one.

and…

Science says baking DOES help reduce stress.

This is what’s really happening to your body when you’re skipping meals.

If you think you don’t have time to make lunch, make this ridiculously easy veggie sandwich.

Air fryer recipe alert: Pizza pockets!

This baked cauliflower parmesan is pure comfort food, lightened up.

Pineapple and red bell pepper make this Hawaiian chicken dinner a meal to remember.

This is how you make egg rolls a little healthier: Make them as an egg roll meal in a bowl.

Pumpkin chocolate chip muffins are how you should roll.

Don’t drink your cider, eat it in these muffins instead. That frosting though.

This pumpkin-laced baked ziti doesn’t even need time to boil. Plus, sausage, hello.

Authentic falafel recipes aren’t always so, but with her heritage, I know this recipe is the real deal.

My favorite Thai chicken appetizer got made into a casserole. Smart!

I’m definitely bookmarking this pie for Thanksgiving.

How to hack your jack-o-lantern. 

The best pumpkin patches in every state. 

10 shows to watch on Netflix now.

although…

We’ve been getting our fill of trash TV watching this reality show and it is ridiculously mind numbing. (Piece of advice: Fast forward through all of the dumb challenges and get right to the juicy parts.)

10 ways to revive your workout routine if you’ve totally given up.

These slippers…just as cute and so much less expensive than UGGs.

but…

Sometimes you have to go with the brand name when you want to be sure these cozy comfy socks won’t fall down.

I’ll always be a fan of this look. (of the jacket, not the steely-eyed model HA!) At a good price too.

My Smudge and I did a little beauty product shopping, and came home with:

• My favorite moisturizer
• My favorite under-eye concealer
• Her new favorite body butter that is almost too cool to look at to use
• New tweezers that ALWAYS stay sharp so she’ll quit stealing mine (just like I used to do to my mom’s!)

See-through public bathroom stalls...weird at first, but kind of genius!

57 best fall decor ideas for 2020.

and…

The chicest Instagram accounts to follow for autumn inspo.

I’m feeling the light-color wood in this modern but simple kitchen.

These storage containers are made for organizing your fridge, but I use them through the whole house.

This hanging planter will put a smile on everyone’s face.

I think we’ve all been there, or will be at one point: Grieving the loss of the life you wanted. GAH! Middle age!

Switch it up! Why you should un-routine your daily routine.

Here’s why walking on a regular basis could help fight cold and flu season.

12 mistakes to avoid when renting a vacation home.

and…

50 great fall quotes to celebrate autumn.

Now get out and enjoy it! Have a great weekend everyone.

We send good emails. Subscribe to FoodieCrush and have each post plus exclusive content only for our subscribers delivered straight to your e-mail box.

Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter for more FoodieCrush inspiration.

As always, thank you for reading and supporting companies I partner with, which allows me to create more unique content and recipes for you. All opinions are always my own.