Hello! It’s Friday Faves!
‘Tis the season for balancing my cookie consumption with something healthy to eat. Yesterday’s busy-day lunch salad was made super easy with a quick trip to Costco earlier in the week. And yes, I DO love the ‘Co hot dog more than most anything, but this time around, lunch was more about planning ahead and having a fridge stocked with a few items I could toss together. I mean, you really can’t go wrong with Costco’s $4.99 rotisserie chicken that I stripped bare and stashed in the fridge. I had also picked up a kale salad kit and tossed it with pomegranate seeds, canned chickpeas, and this nutty salad topping I’m eating on everything — so good on my morning yogurt. In addition to having shredded chicken at my fingertips for this salad and more, I made a batch of creamy chicken salad and a quick chicken broth from the carcass with a spoonful of chicken bouillon base. High fives to Heidi for making lunch easy without hitting a drive-thru!
Bundle up, and then look up! Don’t miss the geminid meteor shower that peaks this Saturday/Sunday am with 150 meteors per hour. Now that’s a show! Here’s a map showing the closest dark sky near you.
9 ways to make holiday gift-giving less stressful.
This is pretty cool: Santa Claus Is Coming to Town sung to Radiohead’s Creep.
One of my favorite bands to listen to while I work performed on the Tiny Desk Series, and as usual, I got lost in their sonic symphony. (This is a fave of theirs.)
Something to consider at this time of year: The most important factor to curb overspending, according to a financial therapist.
I have always been the queen of the Irish goodbye, slinking off, hoping nobody notices, which is why this 4-word trick to saying a great goodbye is going to change my tune.
Looking to make a move up in 2026, or have a kid graduating from college? Check this: 10 most useless master’s degrees if you want a good job.
From the experts: This is the healthiest vegetable in the world, and I definitely don’t eat it often enough.
While I’m not a fan of the Brussels, these smashed sprouts might have me making a turn.
This chicken stew has me craving stew in a big way.
It’s cookie time:
- Break out the powdered sugar, these almond snowball cookies are decadent!
- My chocolate-dipped almond cookies are the sandwich everyone needs now.
- These puffy cookies have a little bit of everything right.
- Hot cocoa cookies. Cute!
Then, take a cookie break with this buffalo chicken bowl.
These pancakes prove breakfast can double as an art project with the kids. Very fun!
Make French toast, but make it eggnoggy and overnight.
Or, maybe tiramisu flavors are more your love language.
Beef tenderloin for your holiday feasting.
Santa’s bringing the party with this jingle juice.
Oui, oui! This could be the ultimate beefy French stew.
A great idea for an easy neighbor gift: Toffee caramel pretzels.
This French onion braised beef is straight up there, too.
This sweet treat always reminds me of my mother-in-law.
Invite the whole gang over for this Texas sheet cake.
This berry tiramisu trifle will bring a hush to the table. Gorgeous.
A gift guide for the bread lovers.
Every year on Christmas night, we do an under $25 white elephant gift exchange with my husband’s side of the family. Here’s a few ideas I should have thought of sooner:
- For the ice-cruncher in your life, these mini ice-cube trays are the perfect fit.
- When I was in 3rd grade, my two aunts got me one of these for Christmas. I opened the gift, burst into tears, and cried, “This isn’t for me! This is for dad!!!” I spent the rest of the afternoon confined to my room for being such a brat. And yes, my dad did end up using it all of the time, so technically, I wasn’t wrong. And now I want one for myself.
- We’ve all seen him everywhere in the wild, now he can go home with someone!
- This little set would actually be really useful! And what great product design.
- I want one for walking my dog at night.
- The best accessory for the Stanley-cupping lover in your life.
- Give a simple, fun project that brings good luck in the new year.
- This candle pretty much sums it all up.
And that’s it for this week! I hope you have a festive weekend, and cook or bake some good stuff!
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