Happy Friday!  It has been quite the week over here. It has been an exhausting but fulfilling week.  Work kept me challenged in the best way this week but things on the home front left me exhausted.  Katie has a pretty bad cold that has kept both of us up for at least two hours each night. We saw her pediatrician yesterday for her 15 month check-up and he confirmed that it is a bad cold. Unfortunately, at this age there aren’t many things you can give infants to help with the cough and post nasal drip so all we can do is comfort and continue to push fluids and give Ibuprofen or Tylenol in addition to the natural chest rub and cough syrup we are using.  Luckily, we don’t have any plans this weekend other than a casual date night in Brooklyn tonight. Since cooler weather has finally arrived, I think we’ll get into the fall spirit by buying some pumpkins, baking and spending a lot of time outside. Hopefully the fresh air will help Katie feel better!

Now, let’s dive into this week’s edition of Friday Favorites, including recipes, articles, posts and other things that caught my eye this week.

• I picked up the ingredients for this healthy white chicken chili at the grocery store yesterday. Filled with mushrooms, beans and ground chicken, this healthy white chicken chili recipe has a ton of flavor and is always a favorite in our household.
• Did you know that baking is one of my favorite ways to relax? I’m hoping to find time to bake pumpkin bread and these soft pumpkin cookies. I mean how can you go wrong when a recipe promises chewy pumpkin cookies with salted maple frosting?
• Since I left my favorite Fresh lip balm on the airplane last week, I took that as a sign to order two new tints for the season – spice and petal.
• I’m focused on improving my mental game in advance of next week’s half marathon. Therefore, I’m spending my spare time reading Deena Kastor’s memoir, Let Your Mind Run and reading multiple race recaps from inspirational running friends like Charlie and Janae.
• Just when I needed something to make me smile earlier this week, my friend Leslie shared this homecoming video on Facebook. Holy heck this dance team is incredible! I love the theme and the fact that everyone was cheering and clearly in awe.
• Last week during my brother’s wedding weekend, I received multiple compliments on not only the dress but also my eyelashes aka mascara. As many of you know, I have very short, stubby lashes and have rarely found a mascara that will both lengthen and provide ooomph without making me look like a crazy lady. This L’Oreal mascara goes on easily, without clumps, and miraculously comes off when I wash my face. I’ve tried many mascaras that are double and triple the cost but this one is my favorite since it adds length and volume with a perfect consistency.

I’m hoping to hop back on here later this weekend to share a few of my favorite wardrobe items for fall as well as tips for traveling with a 15-month old. But now, it’s time to shutdown my computer and say hello to the weekend! Have a wonderful weekend friends!