Friday Finds on Mackinaw Road: Top 5 List

Hi and Happy Friday! Welcome to a place where we talk about all of the discoveries of the week. This week I’m sharing my Top 5 List. Sort of. A location that is in my Top 5 Places to Visit. Lighting that is in my Top 5 wish-list purchases for the house this year. A dish reminiscent of those childhood Spaghetti-O’s (but much better!) that is in our family’s Top 5 dinner rotations. A book that I read a few years ago but that remains on my Top 5 list. And, finally, the softest pants that are in my Top 5 rotation for winter and spring.

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This week I’m dreaming of Laguna Beach. A few years ago (maybe more) R and I went on our first trip without kids to Laguna Beach. It was magical. And not just because we had our first extended period of adult time and a good 8-hours of continuous sleep in 5 years. I don’t know if it is the sea mist, the sunshine, the surfer vibe or the sleepy art town (probably all of them!) but Laguna is definitely in my Top 5 places to visit again and again. If you’re looking for luxury, this hotel up the beach in Dana Point is top notch. Also in the luxury category, this hotel looks beautiful too! You can read about this and our other top beach vacation spots here.

While I was looking for sconces with a friend for her bathroom, I came across this beauty. The unglazed clay and matte finish give this a modern yet timeless look, with varying metal options including black, brass, graphite patina, and polished nickel as well as clay color choices including bone, coral, or midnight blue. I love that you can hang it vertically on either side of a mirror or horizontally above the mirror. Our kids’ bathroom has a sloped ceiling making it difficult to find lighting for that space that also goes with our house’s overall feel. I think that this may have been worth waiting six years to find! (I also like this and this for less expensive options.)

I know I’ve mentioned this book about a million times in the last month. But, it really is that good! The Grown Up Tomato Parmesan Pasta (Tieghan Gerard’s version of homemade Spaghetti O’s) has made an appearance close to a dozen times since purchasing the cookbook. Because I have fairly picky eaters, I leave out the rosemary and just do a light sprinkling of cayenne pepper in place of the crushed red pepper. Our daughter loves Spaghetti-O’s, a treat reserved for the Beach Cabin when we shop at the small, local grocery on our way out to the beach. Our son is not a fan of the store bought O’s. However, they both love this dish! I have to double the recipe when I make it, and even then, there are rarely leftovers. You should try it!

Rules of Civility is probably one of the most interesting books I’ve read. It was a page turner for me without the anxiety that results from someone-has-disappeared-mystery page turners. I read it a few summers ago, and it remains in my Top 5. It takes place in Manhattan during the 1930s and introduces a witty 20-something  woman as she becomes intertwined in a privileged and somewhat careless crowd. I found it intriguing and finished it in just a few days. Is anyone else fascinated with the 1920s and 1930s, especially in New York? Tell me I’m not alone in this- haha!

Okay, so I never thought I would own a pair of jeggings- the name sort of makes me laugh. But, this pair is one of the most comfortable pants that I have. I love the Corbett wash and got mine in a tall (I’m about 5’8” when I round up ;)). They hit perfectly at my ankle. They are also high rise which is perfect for when you are busy rearranging your house, putting up/taking down decorations, or lifting children. The jeggings also come in petite and regular.

That’s it! Happy traveling, eating, reading, and shopping!