Friday Favorites #98: Week of 7/17
Happy Friday! This week has been a doozy, but I say that in the best way possible and with love.
I really can’t believe that I am typing up the 98th edition of Friday Favorites. You guys. I feel like we need something epic to celebrate the 100 mark in just a couple of weeks… any ideas?
In a true end of the week fashion, I’d love to hear about what has gotten you through the past few days and what has made you smile. I started this link up to share things I have been loving lately, but I really enjoy seeing what makes your weeks, too!
Feel free to party along by commenting with your faves, and if you’re a blogger, be sure to link up your #FFavorites with the blue Inlinkz button below!
Friday Favorites #98: Week of 7/17
• Starbucks refreshers
Starbucks has been my saving grace this week. I usually don’t veer off too much from my normal coffee and tea orders, but I have been all about the refreshers lately.
Have you tried the new Strawberry Acai flavor?
Um, delicious. It took me all of two minutes to finish this bad boy while catching up on some emails yesterday! Whoops.
• bonfires
One of my favorite part about Michigan summers is the gatherings around bonfires at night. It’s (usually) warm enough for tank tops or even swimsuits during the day, but normal summer nights in The Mitten often call for a sweatshirt.
We had a great little bonfire going Up North, and then spent a good few hours around another one at a friend’s house the very next day. A group of us literally just sat around the fire and chatted. For hours.
Scott and I lucked out by sharing the hammock seat, so we really didn’t move the majority time we were outside. I am truly in love with this time of year. #sun #boats #bonfires #happygirl
• lunch with new blogging buddies
As most of you know, I arrived in L.A. late yesterday morning! It didn’t take much time for me to connect with fellow bloggers, and I was looking forward to meeting a couple of new friends for lunch at Ford’s Filling Station.
My body was in need of some greens, so I ordered the chicken chopped salad and an unsweetened iced tea. I didn’t realize mine was served without cheese, though, until I practically licked the plate clean. (Y’all know I love my cheese!)
The best part about the meal was chatting blog shop with two new blogging buds!
Before traveling over to the west coast, I received an email from Beth to meet up, and I thought she was incredibly sweet. I instantly recognized her face as well as Susie’s when I met them in the hotel lobby, and off we went. By the way, both of these lovelies frequent the Friday Favorites link up. (Thanks, gals!)
As soon as we wrapped up lunch, we walked over to the Convention Center together to grab our registration packets and then stumbled upon a mass of activity on the way back! (See below…)
• ESPYS at our hotel
The ESPYS were this week! Did you watch them? I didn’t, but I did, however, see all of the hoorah up close and personal.
I could tell there was something going on outside of our hotel shortly after I arrived on Wednesday. There were a ton of people walking about, all looking towards one main attraction… the ESPYS Experience Court!
By 3 p.m., the dress around the hotel changed from casual to black tie. Many trendy outfits passed through the hotel lobby, and it was a straight up pre-ESPY event by 4 p.m. There were so many people, all dressed to the nines. It was pretty neat to see!
I subtly kept my spot in the lobby while working on the computer, but it got too loud to even hear myself think. Everyone was having a great time! I kept peeking around to see if anyone famous walked by, but no luck. It was cool to be a part of all the madness, even if it wasn’t intentional.
• hotel beds
I don’t know what it is about hotel beds… but I always get the best sleep when I travel.
Maybe it’s because they’re smaller and softer than mine, or maybe it’s the combination of a bed to myself with blackout curtains, but whatever it is about hotel beds… I’m in love. Scott and I had this conversation not too long ago, and it makes me want to go by a hotel collection bed set and put up blackout blinds in our bedroom. Weird? Maybe. Whatever makes you happy, right?
• dinner with old (and new) blogging buddies
After a full day of travel, working on the computer in the hotel lobby, and chatting with fellow conference goers, I was pretty hungry for dinner. I was looking forward to catching up with some dear blogging friends and hanging out with a few new ones!
My roommate, Ashley, arrived just in time to drop her stuff off before joining a group of friends for dinner at The Farm of Beverly Hills. It was a cute little spot within walking distance of the hotel with what looked like to be a fantastic menu online.
While it wasn’t completely the same, it was goooood. It was a challenge to find just one thing to order, so I started with a cup of their corn chowder that was incredibly tasty.
There wasn’t any way I was getting past the sweet potatoes, so I ordered them on the side of a delicious veggie and quinoa burger with avocados, tomatoes, and cucumbers.
I skipped the bun since I knew the soup and fries would fill me up. That veggie quinoa burger though… yum.
Other notable items from the menu that my co-hearts ordered included the Macaroni and Cheese, Ahi Three Ways Salad and Salmon Salad. It was so great to relax after a long day and catch up with a great group of women I don’t get to see very often.
Ashley, Katy, Gina, Jessica, Sandra, Giselle, Me
We’ve had a blast kicking things off at IDEA with BlogFest so far, and I’ll be sure to share more details next week!
• favorite LIL posts
Also, don’t forget to enter to win a $150 gift card from Lorna Jane!
• Friday funnies
We’ve all been here.
Have a great weekend!
Disclaimer: Friday Favorites is a series of posts that features items I genuinely want to share with you. While #FFavorites isn’t sponsored, affiliate links may appear from time to time. As always, any support is much appreciated! <3
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