Friday Faves
Hi friends! Happy Friday! What are you up to this weekend?? Anything fun on the agenda? We had a road trip planned, but we’re undecided on whether or not we’ll go. Miss P came down with a cold, and has been up all night most nights this week, so fingers crossed she feels much better this morning. I’d love to hear what you have going on! Since the weather is cooling down, I’ve got the itch to sign up for some 5ks. I might walk most of it, but I think it will feel so good to get out there and shake my legs out.
It’s time for the weekly Friday Faves party! It’s always fun to compile this list each week and feature some of the things that made me smile. I really enjoy hearing what you’re eating, wearing, cooking and reading, too, so please shout out some faves in the comments section. Happy Fri-YAY.
Birthday celebrations:
Miss P had a low-key birthday since she was under the weather, but we still sang, “Happy Birthday” with a cupcake and candle. I’m holding off on giving her bigger bday gift – a scooter and helmet – until she’s feeling better, since she’ll undoubtedly want to take it for a spin around the driveway.
For the Pilot’s birthday on Tuesday, we had an excellent family dinner at Friend’s,
and then came home for dump cake. It makes the house smell SO AMAZING, and each time we celebrate his birthday, I tell myself I need to make it more often. Liv went crazy for it, too.
Halloween festivities:
Livi had a cake decorating contest at her school, so we put together this pumpkin cake. The rule was that the parents could help with baking, but not the decorating. (And, as always, many parents do not follow the rule, haha.) I was determined to let her do it herself and she made the most gorgeous pumpkin cake. We made spice cake for the base, using pumpkin instead of oil, and topped it with cream cheese frosting. She was so proud of her cake.
She also had a little fall festival at her school! They had lots of games set up and a cake walk (<— our fave).
Fashion + beauty:
This mask (from Thrive Market).
A reader friend mentioned that I should try the purple Andalou mask when I professed my love for the pink rose one a couple of weeks ago. She promised it would make me look 27, and since I’m inching towards 33, I thought I’d give it a whirl. It’s AMAZING. It made my skin feel smooth and bright, and there’s the bonus of looking like a total creeper while the sheet mask is on, and totally freaking out the Pilot. Wins all around.
Mules! When I saw that these were back in style a couple of years ago, they reminded me SO MUCH of the shoes my teachers used to wear in elementary school. At the same time, I was like, “Well… they look kind of comfy.” I ordered this pair; they’re super comfortable, and perfect with embellished or destroyed jeans and a sweater.
Speaking of sweaters, I want to curl up and live in this drapey cardigan. After the one from the Nordstrom sale was back ordered – I was trying to be patient but it was from July- I canceled it and picked up this one instead. It’s very soft, the perfect light gray, and a longer cut.
I’ve worn it a few times this week.
Recipes + cooking:
Green pan. I’ve been trying to reduce toxins in our lives, especially in our skincare/beauty products and kitchen tools, and was intrigued by these Green Pans. We had some nonstick pans that I’d been trying to ditch, but I wanted to make sure this one worked just as well. I’m definitely going to start slowly adding to the collection and swapping out for these. They’re nonstick, heat evenly, and don’t emit toxins into the food you’re cooking from the coating.
I need to make some chili and this cornbread.
This vegan cake is calling our names.
I’m bringing back these pumpkin protein pancakes this weekend.
Good reads:
Fitness:
20-minute power yoga flow video.
5 moves to add to your ab workout.
So, tell me friends: are you dressing up for Halloween? What about your kiddos or pets?
xo
Gina
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Just a heads up on the green pan… I had one and loved it, but after a few months it stopped being nonstick. Even when I would spray coconut oil in the pan the food still would stick. I have had to revert back to normal nonstick pans to cook my eggs until I can master the cast iron pan. After reading reviews on the green pan, this seems to be a normal occurrence.
This happened to me too. I was hoping someone might have some tips!
i’m so glad you told me! i’m going to wait and see how it holds up before i order any more
thank you!
I love that drapey cardigan and I have been looking for new cookware. I saw the GreenPan on BalancedBites but could not believe how much cheaper they are than some others.
yes, it was really inexpensive!
I love Andalou naturals skin products, can’t wait to try the mask! Livi’s cake looks so cute, I couldn’t decorate one that well 🙂
she surprised me! she did such an awesome job
hope you love the mask, too
Count me in! I am inching toward 54 so if that Andalou face mask will make me look 27 I will buy an entire case! Not even kidding, so going to try it.
I’m very late to the party but this week I have been loving Rx Bars. I’m not a huge bar fan (until now) but running around like crazy prompted me to pick up a Chocolate Sea Salt one, which led another day to Peanut Butter Chocolate – filling, healthy and crushes cravings all in one. Winner.
Funny, I was meal planning right before reading this post and your idea for pumpkin protein pancakes hit the spot. Making up a batch and freezing those for breakfasts this coming week.
ohhh i’m so glad you like the rx bars! they’re so delicious, and i like the chewy texture 🙂
hope you had a happy weekend!
Can I just say that Liv did a fantastic job on that cake!!!!!!! The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree! Great job Liv! 🙂
thank you! she did such a great job!
LOVE your mules! Ive been on the search for the perfect pair. Ther are too many choices! Dump cake sounds insane– I must have some!
thank you! they’re so cute and comfy 🙂
hope you enjoyed the weekend
Have you ever tried the dumpcake witha berry mixture? My hubby hates pineapple.
I’m not Gina, but I can chime in to say yes! I don’t like pineapple either. You can just use two cans of whatever fruit you like.
thank you for chiming in! i want to try different flavor combos 🙂
This was in a recent Real Simple that I read this weekend: https://www.realsimple.com/food-recipes/browse-all-recipes/dump-cake-recipes?xid=rsrd-sept17 (yum x5!) The chocolate pumpkin one looks delicious – but a bit more involved than a true dump cake. 😉
omgggg thank you for sending! they look amazing
No Halloween costume for this chica. Halloween scares me! Tonight we’re going out for a little pre-birthday celebration for me. I’m excited to see friendship and eat chips and salsa.
hope you had fun!! <3
Her cake is perfect! I still remember winning a cake in a cake walk circa 1st or 2nd grade, so fun!
cake walk is my favorite event haha
YASSSS purple mask!
YAS i thought it was you who recommended it! i love it! thank you 🙂
I’m glad you love it as much as I do! I feel like it should cost more than $5 for how awesome it is… but I’m really glad it doesn’t! haha 🙂
Ummm I think you need to post a picture in the mask! 🙂
hahah i would but things on the internet NEVER DISAPPEAR
We just did a dumpcake last week with apple pie filling instead of pineapple and cheery and it was SO GOOD! I also usually make it with berries like someone mentioned above, since I don’t like cherries.
Jules is a witch and my 13 year old son is dressing up as Bob Ross (it’s amazing). I need to start blogging again STAT so I can post pictures for everyone to see 🙂
ohhh that is a brilliant idea! i definitely need to play around with combos 🙂
hahaha and the bob ross is amazing. i want to see pics!
OMG….the “Couple Goals” read?! Almost makes me cry. Thank you for sharing. I LOVE reading love stories like Terry and Jane. Happy Fri-YAY to you and your family!
so glad you loved it, too! it made my heart so happy 🙂
hope you enjoyed the weekend!
Hey Gina! Longtime reader here… take your time purchasing additional green pans. Make sure the pans you already purchased hold up. I’ve had a few of these ceramic coated pans (although I’m not sure it was that exact brand?) and they lasted only 4-6 months before the coating cracked and food began to stick. Also, whatever material is being coated can leach in to your food at this point. If your green pans hold up… please let me know! Like I said I can remember if I had a green pan
i’m so glad you told me! i’ll wait and see how it holds up before i get any more
Such a pet peeve of mine when parents do the work for their kids! Livi’s Cake is so cute! Happy weekend!
thank you! hope you had a great weekend!
I am so impressed with Liv’s cake. It looks great! Our office had a Halloween party last night and I dressed up as Bellatrix Lestrange (from Harry Potter). It was such a fun party and I loved getting to be Bellatrix for an evening.
thank you! she did such a great job! LOVE your costume idea 🙂
I don’t know if you have a sprouts near you but can get three 2-pack masks for $10 right now….
sadly, no sprouts near us! i’ll stock up when we got to tucson!
Ooooh, I need to try that mask! I’m 27, but in grad school, so I feel like my skin needs all the help it can get to not look zombie-level-exhausted haha.
For Halloween, I have classes all day (instead of internship at the hospital) so I can sort of wear a costume. Definitely “repurposing” my old high school private school uniform for a Catholic schoolgirl costume 😉
haha sounds perfect! and i hear ya on that. i hope grad school is going well for you!
I ditched my non sticks in favor of green pan and never looked back!