The last Friday of the decade....

Hey hey hey y'all!!! It is crazy to me that this is the last Friday of not just the year but the decade!! In just a few short days we are entering into a whole new decade!! As Linnea would say what in the world!!??  I always love the tons of reflecting that goes on at the end of a year.  Lots of time for introspection.  I also cannot believe I have done a whole year of Friday favorites.... as I was thinking back on some of my favorites this year I thought I would use this last Friday of 2019 to highlight those.  Now be sure there are far more than three favorite things from this whole year but these have left their mark in some way or another.  So without further ado here are this weeks Friday faves representing 2019 a little later in the day than usual 😉

🌟 My 40th Birthday Surprise ~ oh my land!! January 2019 really should be the headline.  My 40th birthday month was one for the books!! Soo soo many surprises!  A party, a visit from my sister who lives in Cali!, a getaway with my dear dear adoptive mama friend to the mountains, kind words from many and a book of sweet notes from friends like you that I will treasure as long as I am here on earth.  I recently told DP I just want to turn 40 all over again!! This really has been such a sweet sweet year.

🌟 Away Luggage ~ I actually got this luggage for my 40th bday in the carry on size and for Christmas I got the checked bag size.  I have actually done a good bit of traveling this year and it looks like I will be doing the same in 2020 so I felt like this really was a true favorite of mine.  It really is the best luggage I've had like ever.  If you travel more than once or twice a year you should totally look into what I call the bestest suitcase ever.   You can check out all the goodness of this luggage here at away.com 

🌟Palmers ~ this local to me restaurant has been my go to all year long!! I am not sure if I have ever featured it on a Friday faves but if I have not - that is totally my bad!! Their website states this "We are a group of people who are passionate about creating good food and good vibes.  When you walk through our doors, we want you to feel like you belong here.  Come to relax, to laugh, and enjoy the people you are with."  This is SPOT ON!! I love this little local quaint spot!!! I go here with my man, with my friends, we've taken our kids.  I just love it and it really is my go to place to eat out.  BONUS they are closed on Sundays which is a rare find these days.  Oh and also now that I have moved it is super close to my house!! So if you find yourself in my neck of the woods and have never eaten here then you must give it a try!  You can see their menu here and I like all of it!

Well friends that's all for Friday Favorites of 2019!! I hope you all have enjoyed time with one another during this holiday season.  I can't believe its almost over!  May the end of your 2019 be fabulous and your 2020 be grandiose!!  Happy New Year peeps!

❤️
~ LA

Friday Faves from the city that never sleeps ~ NYC

Happy Friday friends!!! 

EEEK - its the Friday before Christmas!!! What in the world??!! Have you finished all your Christmas shopping?  I have a few things left to pick up.  This has been quite the week including a house closing and a super quick 36 hour trip to the big apple.  SO in honor of my visit to my favorite city on the planet todays Friday faves are all NYC related. It's like so super hard to narrow down my favorites from the city that never sleeps but here are a few ... 

🎄🍎 The Tina Turner Broadway musical ~ hands down in my top three musicals I’ve ever seen and thats saying something!! This musical is obviously based on the life of Tina Turner and the adversities she overcame to become the star that she was and is today.  Did y'all know she is 80 years old now and she has suffered a stroke and cancer.  Y'all if you look her up she does NOT look 80 years old.  I told DP the girl who portrays Tina needs to win a Tony  - y'all her voice was simply amazing.  I would see this again and again - the music was fantastic.  It was just really really good.  We may or may not have some video of the encore .. It just opened up in November so it was super exciting to see what will be come the "original" broadway cast.  As Tina sings - it was "simply the best" 

🎄🍎 The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree ~ I mean is there any other … y'all that tree just gives me ALL THE FEELS.  DP says my face smiles so wide like grinning from ear to ear.  This years tree was one of the most beautiful ones I have seen over there at 30 Rock.  I am not the biggest fan of colored lights but on this tree its just simply magical.  I have no words.  You just must go see it yourself!! 

🎄🍎 EATERIES ~ I’ve got your breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks covered. Some of these places include Ess-a-Bagel, Clinton Street Bakery, Los Tacos, Patzeria, Butter, and of course Molly’s cupcakes.  We LOVE to eat in the city!! From Bagels to Tacos, Pizza and cupcakes it's all good!!  These are just a few of my fave go to places and some new ones we tried for the first time.  I will elaborate a bit on each.  

• Ess-a-bagel ~ I go to this bagel shop every single time I am in NYC.  Its located between 51st and 3rd ave.  I get the same thing every time.  I told DP I need in the city so I can try some of the other deliciousness this place offers.  I always get the same thing a Bagel Sandwich - thats a whole wheat bagel with apple cinnamon cream cheese toasted.  There is just simply not anything else like it.  
• Clinton Street Bakery ~ this is another place we like to eat breakfast at.  Its located kind of on the Lower East Side of Manhattan and I always get the same thing from here too - the Blueberry Pancakes.  I can't believe I didn't take a picture of these - but I ate almost every single bite - poor David didn't stand a chance of getting some.  I told him he should have ordered them LOL 
• Los Tacos No. 1  ~ there are a few locations in the city but this time we ate at the one in Chelsea Market.  It never disappoints.  Probably some of the best street tacos I will ever eat in the US.  I like the Carne Asada (steak) and Pollo Asado (chicken) the best! 
• Patzeria ~ this pizza ... oh just thinking about it makes my mouth water... best sliced pizza ever.  The pepperoni and margherita were simply yummy.  This was such a fun place-no tables only a counter that was long enough for six people to stand at so DP and I actually ate outside on a bench outside of our hotel bc we were heading straight to a show.  It was just a super fun experience! 
• Butter ~ we have our friends Van and Christ to thank for this recommendation.  It was our first visit to this yumilicious place. This restaurant is owned by celebrity chef Alex Guarnachelli.  Y'all there was so much goodness.  There was some risotto special with truffle goodness.  It was soo good.  We also got this smoked pork chop and barbeque boneless beef short ribs with rosemary sea salt potatoes.  DP keeps saying that was the most flavorful meat he has ever tasted. It was soo good.  I mean even the bread was delicious.  Y'all it was just out of this world.  
• Molly's Cupcakes ~ y'all know I LOVE a good cupcake and these are out of this world.  A winner of cupcake wars these are seriously some of the BEST cupcakes I have ever eaten.  Located on Bleeker Street near West Village you might never know about this place if you a) don't look up good cupcakes or b) I didn't tell you about it.  This place is worth the cab ride if you are staying in the heart of Manhattan.  My absolute favorite is the Cream Brulee.  I sooo wished they shipped because I would seriously consider shipping some home.  This time I just brought a few home.  They may or may not be gone now.  Delicious - you'll just have to trust me or try them out yourself.  

Well y'all I could talk about this magical city for hours but this just a Friday Faves so I will stop for now ... LOL

Truly thankful for the time spent with that sweet man of man!! 

Friends ~ I wish you the Merriest Christmas as we celebrate the BEST NEWS in all of time ~ the birth of our long awaited KING.  

Much Love, 

❤️LA 

Happy Friday!!

Happy Friday friends!!!  Its Friday the 13th... ooooh 😂😂 just kidding.  In all seriousness we only have two Fridays left in this decade and one Friday before Christmas!!  Do you ever wonder what this decade will be called later on in the history books - I mean I'm not exactly hearing roaring teens LOL.  I digress its time to share my Friday faves with you for this week!

🌟 Orange Theory Fitness ~ so y'all I did a thing and tried an OTF class.  Orange Theory is like a mix of Cardio and Crossfit put together.  You wear a heart rate monitor and work to get these things called splat points and aim for a certain calorie burn.  This kind of workout is great for me because I am sort of competitive ... ok ok a lot competitive.  I think thats why these kind of workouts speak to me.  It's hard core and I have run out of gas a few times I have been there.  This compliments my spinning on the Peleton and running so for now its a great fit.  Thanks so much to my dear gal pals Colie and Ashy 😂 😂 for roping me into this. IF you are looking for something to change up your workout routine give it a try.  Your first class is free and there is no contract you have to commit to.

🌟 Candlefish Co. ~ so if you are looking for a fun experience for you and your friends or even a fun date night/day you have to try this out!  Candlefish is as you would expect a candle and gift shop with a library of over 100 fragrances AND they have candle making classes.  I did a class last Saturday with a group of my gal pals and we LOVED it.  It doesn't hurt that its located at Ponce City Market which is also another favorite of mine.  Seriously this was such a fun thing to do - we could bring drinks and snacks.  I really learned so much.  So check them out - even if you don't do a class they have great gifts!

🌟 Pampered Chef Deluxe Cooking Blender ~ y'all I have used this blender EVERY. DAY!! I even cooked soup in it last night.  I make my smoothie in it everyday and when I add my spinach you cannot taste it at all - it blends it up so nicely.  I had a NINJA and it just does not compare.  BUT you want to know the BEST thing about this blender - it cleans itself!! YEP you read that right - it has its own cleaning feature.  SOOO SUPER NICE.  Now I will admit the price tag on this is a whole lot to swallow which is why I had a PC party several months ago so I could earn this bad boy.  Bottom line if you are in the market for a new does it all blender - this is for you!  My friend Colie can help you figure out how to earn if you want.  Just let me know and I can put you in touch with her.

Well friends - that's all I got for this edition of Friday favorites.  Its cold and rainy where I am so if you're local to me I hope you are nice and warm and cosy overdosey ~ I am ... nestled right by my fire with some good ole Bing Crosby Christmas music playing the background.  AND if you're not local I still hope you are warm and cozy too!!! Y'all have a most terrific Friday and Merry Christmas!!

🎄❤️,
~LA

The Friday Faves lowdown

Hey hey hey friends! Y'all this has been a slap crazy busy week BUT...... it's FriYAY!!! You know what that means!  It's time for Friday favorites!! So without further ado ...

😍 Confessions of a Fit Foodie ~ y'all I don't really know how I stumbled across this blogsite but I have used it everyday this week!! I have not made one recipe of hers that I did not like.  I used her weekly meal plan and LOVED it.  I did a few substitutions on lunches but her dinner recipes were out of this world and they were all made in my quick cooker aka instant pot.  So if you are looking for some recipes or an already written out meal plan plus grocery list - BAM! Can I also add how I loved having the grocery list for Kroger click list :-) Here's the link to her site

😍 Vegetable Dicer ~ so friends I don't actually have a technical name for this kitchen gadget all I know is that I LOVE it.  My friend Saundra gave it to me when she was teaching me how to make homemade pico.  Ummmm this device is a game changer to dicing onions, tomatoes, squash, potatoes... all the things.  It has two different cube sizes.  It is just the best.  I am usually a hardcore pampered chef girl but this thing well its a keeper.  You can find it here.

😍 Peleton ~ I feel like the poor old Peleton has been getting some bad press due to a recent holiday commercial  (ha there is actually a commercial on right now LOL) which I think is absolutely ridiculous but that's another post for another time.  My sweet hubby gifted me this indoor spin bike and its truly one of my favorite things. Peleton is like taking a spin class right in your own home!! Maybe that is not your jam then just ride along to some scenery.  I love the class options - I just took one today with Christmas music.  It was totally my jam!! So if you are ever in the market for a spin bike I highly recommend this one!

Well friends that's all I've got for this Friday.  This month is blowing by!! EEK!! Y'all have a great weekend and GO Dawgs!!!

~  ❤️LeighAnn