Friday Five // 4.3.26
Happy Good Friday!
Has it really been (almost) a month since I was last in your inbox? Thanks to my Aunt Taryn for reminding me I’ve been slacking on my weekly emails. :) I do plan to get back into the swing of things because there’s always lots I love to share with y’all.
I have today off, which is such a treat! CGQ & I are running overdue errands, doing a little breakfast date, then we’ll have our church’s Good Friday service & hopefully just a chill afternoon.
My mom & I are in charge of Easter Sunday brunch — we’re thinking ham, spinach quiche, cheese grits, asparagus, MaMaw’s famous pasta salad, fruit & rolls. For dessert, possibly banana pudding or blueberry cobbler but definitely MaMaw’s bunny cake. It was always a tradition to make this special cake with MaMaw growing up & while it hasn’t tasted as good as it did when she was with us, we love keeping the tradition alive & I plan to pass it on to my kids (& God-willing, my one-day grandkids, too!).
Now onto FIVE things that matter (at least to me!)…
1. What I’m doing for healthy(ish) Easter candy…
YumEarth organic jelly beans. These are so good & made with better ingredients (dye-free)! I added them to this precious bunny bowl my sweet MIL gave us last Easter.
Other faves I’d add to the Easter basket:
2. What I’m not shutting up about…
The amazing afternoon tea we enjoyed last weekend! My mom, Madison & I have always loved doing tea together & with Madison having a friend in town, we decided it was a great time to check out a best-kept secret spot in Beaumont, Moyle Manor!
It now ranks in the top teas we’ve had. The food is amazing & I didn’t even know how pretty an egg salad sandwich could be until I saw all the food. Everything was homemade, delicious & edible (yes, even the flowers & butterflies). Our spread started off with a cinnamon scone, blueberry scone, the yummiest melt-in-your-mouth Devonshire cream & lemon curd. We followed that up with savory bites - the egg salad on a croissant (even that was homemade!), a dill cucumber sandwich on onion-garlic bread & a beef tenderloin open-face sandwich. I wish I could recall the names of all the desserts, but trust me, they didn’t disappoint. The tea was just as great, too! They had a lot of selections - I went with an organic ginger hibiscus tea (decaf). My mom actually requested hers iced (true Southerner!) & I loved hers, too.
Chef Kim & her husband are a dynamic duo, running Moyle Manor, & let me tell ya, they know what they’re doing. Below is their information if you want to book!
3. What I’m wearing for quite the fashion statement…
Compression socks. I finally got some at the insistence of Madison & pregnant or not, they are amazing! They improve blood circulation, reduce leg swelling & alleviate pain from varicose veins. I can’t believe I haven’t tried these socks before. The first time I wore them was on a work trip to Fort Worth in February & they’ve brought my legs so much relief since then. I have a few trips coming up, so these will be packed every time. The only issue is planning outfits around them, but function > fashion right now.
4. What I’m wanting to try in the kitchen…
Eggs Benedict. I used to hate english muffins but have since come to love them & even craved them lately. I also screenshot an at-home poached egg tutorial from one of my fave food follows & here’s what she advised:
Bring water to a low boil in pot. Add some vinegar.
Crack egg into a small bowl (not directly into pot).
Create a whirlpool and cook the egg for 3-4 minutes. Feel the yolk & remove when ready. You don’t want it to be firm but you also don’t want it to be soft/raw/gooey.
Hollandaise: Put 3 egg yolks, 1 stick butter, 1 tbsp. lemon juice & 1/4 - 1/2 tsp. Dijon in a blender.
5. What I’m using for the baby bump…
This non-toxic, affordable oil. Less than $10? Can’t beat that! I love a fancy lotion, but this is a great budget-friendly option. It’s honestly a great lotion for anyone — baby bump or not. You just scoop a little in your hand & it will melt when you rub it into your body.
Until next time,
Maret