Hello! Happy Halloween weekend! Wait, is it not technically Halloween weekend unless Halloween falls on a Saturday or Sunday? I don’t know but it sure feels like Halloween weekend over here with all of the trick-or-treat activities and spooky fun events popping up all over town. We’re planning to attend the annual Trunk-or-Treat event at Chase’s preschool on Saturday and I cannot wait to see all of the little ones dressed up in their costumes. I’m crossing my fingers that Chase will tolerate his costume for the whole event but my expectations are rather low. We’ll see!
As for the rest of our weekend plans, we’re hosting a cookout at our place tonight for our friend Ben and his family who are in town visiting from England. I’m excited to meet his crew and dig into some of our cookout favorites, including my cold quinoa salad and easy baked chicken. (We use the easy baked chicken marinade on chicken thighs before throwing them on the grill and it’s the BEST.) I’m also planning to whip up another batch of cornbread but I’m on the fence about what kind of a dessert to make. I’m leaning toward pumpkin bars of some sort but I’m planning to do a little Pinterest-perusing for inspiration.
Okay now that I’ve basically detailed our cookout menu for you, I should probably go to the grocery store and get crackin’ in the kitchen before the whole day slips away from me! Before I head out and Friday craziness sets in, I wanted to take a moment to share my weekly Things I’m Loving Friday blog post with you guys where I share a few things that are making me smile every week. As always, I’d love for you to comment below and let me know about something you’re loving this week as well. I hope you all have a fantastic weekend! And don’t forget to enter the awesome thredUP giveaway before next Friday!!
Things I’m Loving Friday
In my latest Thrive Market orders, I’ve been adding a couple of packages of Eating Evolved Coconut Butter Cups but for some reason hadn’t ordered the classic flavor until this week. Every single flavor is SO darn delicious. They’re all rich and chocolaty but not overly sweet (only 6 grams of sugar per cup) and I am a huge fan of the clean ingredient list.
Speaking of Thrive Market discoveries, I am loving Primal Kitchen’s Grass-Fed Collagen Bars so, so much. I will preface this to say that they probably wouldn’t appeal to everyone but if you’re in the market for a nutty bar that packs a protein punch (15 grams!) without a ton of sugar (3 grams!), I think they’re worth trying! I love that they’re not overly sweet from artificial sweeteners like many protein bars out there and love the chewy texture and nutty taste.
- Target Notepads
Ohhh Target, your Dollar Spot gets me every time! I have a minor addiction to Target’s $1 and $3 note pads. I use them for to-do list in my home office and grocery lists in our kitchen and I also love giving them as little “filler” gifts in care packages to friends. The designs are always so beautiful and happy and these little notepads are one of those silly little things that always make me smile.
I brought four face masks with me on my trip to Michigan last weekend and Carrie, Leah, Michaela and I pampered ourselves with pizza, a movie and face masks on Saturday night after a very busy day. It was such a great way to unwind and the masks we used were amazing! (They were also amazingly hilarious because we all looked ridiculous – and borderline scary – in them!) I wasn’t sure what to think but we all agreed that the masks were incredibly hydrating and my skin looked brighter and less splotchy almost immediately after I took the mask off. Perhaps I need to incorporate masks into my skincare routine with a little more regularity?
I made this casserole back in September when we had guests in town and it was such a hit! I dug the recipe out of my recipe folder earlier this week and made it again for a breakfast-for-dinner night and knew I had to include it in today’s blog post. It’s such a delicious recipe and the perfect way to serve a healthy breakfast to guests since it reheats well. (When we had company in town, I made it ahead of time and then covered it with foil and reheated it in the oven at 350 for 20-30 minutes.)
- Friday Flashbacks
Chicken Sausage Sweet Potato Bake (Some meal planning recipe inspiration for you! Such an easy dinner and a great way to use up any apples leftover from apple picking!)
Maple Cinnamon Roasted Acorn Squash (I originally shared this recipe in the summer because I’m a terrible food blogger and didn’t think about seasonality, but now that squash season is here, definitely give this one a try!)
Question of the Day
What is one thing that is making you smile this week?
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Oh my word, make THESE (https://www.browneyedbaker.com/apple-cheesecake-crumb-bars/) if you are looking for a dessert. I am never one to talk someone out of a pumpkin craving, but I spotted these last weekend and made them for a tailgate and people went nuts: like apple pie and cheesecake had a delicious (reasonably-portioned) baby 🙂 Happy weekend/Halloween!
okay those sound FANTASTIC! thank you for sharing!!
I made the chicken sausage sweet potato bake this week and it was so good! Loving the fact that I have minimal plans this weekend after a couple busy ones.
yay! so glad to hear it! thanks so much for taking the time to let me know!
I have a big acorn squash at home, so I know what im making! I MUST get my hands on those coconut cups!
Happy Friday Julie! If you’re still looking for a pumpkin bar recipe, these are aaamazing! https://tasty.co/recipe/pumpkin-cheesecake-bars
I made them last weekend for a potluck dinner and everyone loved them, and they were pretty easy to throw together.
Enjoy your weekend 🙂
YUM!!! Thank you for passing these along!
Make this pumpkin crunch cake and top with cinnamon whipped cream: http://www.cdkitchen.com/recipes/recs/174/Pumpkin_Crunch_Cake12679.shtml
I love those eating evolved cups, but they are kinda pricey. I try to make a similar dessert at home. And yes the Target dollar section gets me everytime! Enjoy your weekend. Definitly make some kind of Fall dessert like pumpkin or apple bars.
That sweet potato bake is right up my alley! And I need to check out those masks! You should try Clinique’s Moisture Surge mask for another hydrating one 🙂 Happy Friday!
Sheet masks are my favorite! I try to do one once a week and I think it makes a huge difference in how my skin looks, especially when I’m extra tired or stressed.
I want to try that sausage bake! I love apples in ANYTHING!
I’ve had a tough week teaching, but I’ve had so much fun volunteering and running with my school’s marathon running team!
Those coconut butter cups look too good….I need to get some ASAP!
I definitely consider this weekend Halloween weekend! (Why don’t we get Halloween off?? My students are going to be off their rocker next Tuesday :/)
Enjoy your weekend!
That breakfast casserole looks bomb. Looks like a great way to use that huge bag of Spinach I ambitiously bought from Costco….
If I had to bake an indulgent pumpkin dessert for a party I might choose this… https://www.pinterest.com/pin/140526450850586205/ *drool*
I can’t wait to see pictures from Chase’s trunk or treat event at his preschool!! That is going to be so fun! Actually, your whole weekend sounds like so much fun! Can’t wait to read all about it! I LOVE Target note pads also and always go crazy and buy so many! I guess you can say I have a minor addiction to them also 😉 hey, at least they are $1-$3!! Haha! I must say, one thing that is making me smile this week is being able to substitute teach in my nephew Gio’s preschool!! It has been so fun for me to be back in a school that I actually feel welcomed and like they are happy to have me, and it definitely is a bonus that I get to be with my nephew! 🙂 Xoxo
These are my go-to’s : https://www.marthastewart.com/336431/pumpkin-chocolate-chip-squares
So so so moist.
Martha never disappoints!!
Ooo, do I have the. dessert. for. you! http://paleomg.com/pumpkin-pie-cookie-crisp/ PUMPKIN PIE COOKIE CRISP!
oh my gosh i neeeed this!!!!!!
I love making a trifle if I’m not sure of what to bake. Layer some pumpkin cake with heath bars and cool whip then repeat the layers… simple and delicious! Love trifle recipes for most any season… jennie does a “cherries in the snow” dessert with cherry pie filling, angel food cake, and cool whip. Mmmmm! Have a fabulous weekend! <3
oh!!! this sounds like something that would also be fun to make for thanksgiving! thanks for sharing!!
I love eating evolved products! I want to try the pumpkin spice cups!
how have i STILL not tried eating evolved cups?! i’m honestly kind of afraid to buy them though because i know i’ll be obsessed and addicted…haha
your cookout sounds like it’s going to be SO much fun! have a great weekend 🙂
I make your Easy Baked Chicken recipe bi-weekly and I’ve recommended it to my mother-in-law as well. It’s the perfect way to bake chicken without it getting too dry and it’s super easy to put together while my 7 month old son is playing in his high chair! #momwin
Those coconut cups look INCREDIBLE. I’ve never even heard of them! One thing I’m loving this week is the change in temperatures! It’s getting cooler here in DC and I’m welcoming it with open arms!
Holy crap I saw these coconut cups on your insta story and have been thinking about them ever since! The target dollar spot always gets me too (well, the whole store gets me but anyway)….have a great Halloween weekend!
I love all the bars! I’ve got to try that casserole too. Cannot wait to see the halloween pictures!
You need to try the Butternut Squash, Sausage and Sage Egg Bake recipe from PaleOMG. It’s amazing and perfect for Fall!
The Target notepads are adorable! I’m a big fan of the $1-3 bins in the front of the store, as well. There always seems to be hidden treasures in those bins! One thing making me happy this week is the abundance of fresh produce I discovered at one of the local farms in my area! Yesterday, they were having great sales, so I loaded up on squash, cauliflower and apples!