Friday Favorites

I do have a couple posts lined up from this past weekend but I haven't uploaded the pictures yet. This is easier than finding my camera, getting them on the computer...well, you get it.

Inspired by Lauren Conrad (of Laguna Beach and The Hills fame), I thought I'd do a Friday Favorites post and hopefully make it a regular thing. This week it officially became Fall in Los Angeles when it rained allllll day on Wednesday so I'm going to do a Fall edition.

Favorite Meal

source.

I need a little help on this one. Chili is my favorite Fall/Winter food. Every November my mom and step-dad throw a "chili cook off." It may have started as a real competition - I probably wasn't even alive when it started - but these days it's just a friendly gathering. Tons of family friends come over with their best pot of chili (or side dish, bread, or dessert) and beer or wine to hang out for an afternoon of amazing food. Now that I'm in LA it's my goal to make it back for the chili party to get my fix but I'd love it if I had a simple recipe that I could make when I'm missing home. If anyone can recommend one I'd really appreciate it!

Favorite Dessert

source.

Martha Stewart's Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Squares, hands down the best pumpkin dessert you'll have. I'd even choose these over pumpkin pie! I started making them three or four years ago and look forward to making them every year. Two years ago, when I was still living in San Luis, Tessa and I encountered a big problem when we tried to make these - a pumpkin shortage. Who knew that was even possible?? When we finally found cans of pumpkin I stocked up and just opened my last can a couple weeks ago. Yes, I've already made them once but I plan to make them at least one more time and when I do I'll take pictures and post the recipe here.

Favorite Fashion Trend

source.

Now, I'm not exactly a fashionista. Ok who am I kidding? I'm not one at all. Right now I'm in Jon's pajama pants and a tank top. I'll probably wear leggings and an oversized sweater today, assuming summer doesn't come back for an encore. The one fashion trend I do follow in the colder months is boots. I love boots. If I had my way I'd wear boots and big thick socks/leg warmers all year round. Doesn't it just look so comfy?

Favorite Nail Polish

source.

If you know me you probably know that I have a little bit of a nail polish addiction but strangely enough my favorite in this category isn't even a color I own. It's butter London polish in the color "Wallis." I borrowed this from a friend and fell in love. It looks totally different depending on the lighting you're in. When you're inside it's a much more muted shimmery olive and when you step into the sun it becomes a gorgeous reflective bronzy gold with olive and blackish brown undertones. When I'm in a position to buy nail polish again this will be my very first purchase.

Favorite Movie

source.

If you told me that you were a kid in the late 80's or early 90's and never saw Hocus Pocus I'd call you a liar. I can understand if you didn't love it but everyone has seen Hocus Pocus at least once. I don't know if I wasn't allowed to watch it at home but for some reason all my memories of watching it as a little kid are at Tessa's house. To be fair probably 40% of my childhood memories are at her house because she was my second family growing up. I don't remember watching this movie anywhere but her house until maybe 6th grade or junior high when I would watch it on Disney Channel. For some reason I still don't own it. I'm hoping it's on Netflix Instant, if not I'll have to look at the library because I want to make the foods mentioned above and watch this on Halloween this year.

That concludes my first installment of Friday Favorites. Hopefully I'll come up with categories and keep it going next week. Check back for posts on Jon's birthday dinner and my first attempt at baking a cake from scratch! Those should be up this weekend or early next week. :)