Friday Favorites: Veggie Burgers + Planting Flowers

There’s something about these Friday Favorites posts that feels extra cozy to me. I love getting to sit down at the end of the week and chat about the random little things that made life feel good lately. Some weeks it’s a recipe or snack I can’t stop eating, other weeks it’s a TV show, a book, or even just something small that made everyday life feel a little brighter.

This week has felt like a nice mix of summer routines, cozy evenings, and finding little things to enjoy throughout the day. From a new-to-me Costco favorite to planting flowers on the deck and getting hooked on a new TV show, here are a few things I’ve been loving lately.

Dr. Praeger’s Crispy California Style Veggie Burgers

I’ve found these a few times now at Costco and I’m officially obsessed. This week I actually braved Costco just for these and one other thing, which honestly says a lot because I try to avoid Costco unless I really need something. They were also on sale, which definitely helped justify the trip.

I’m generally not a fan of breaded veggie burgers, so I originally didn’t think I would like these. My boyfriend encouraged me to give them a try though, and I’m so glad he did because they’re completely different from the breaded veggie burgers I’ve tried in the past.

What I love most is that you can actually see the vegetables in them. There are noticeable pieces of carrots, peas, broccoli, and other veggies throughout, which makes them feel less processed than a lot of other frozen veggie burgers. They taste fresh and flavorful instead of mushy or overly fake tasting.

Another thing I appreciate is that they actually stay together when you cook them. I’ve had so many veggie burgers over the years that completely fall apart halfway through eating them, which is so frustrating. Unless I’m purposely breaking them up over a salad, I want my veggie burger to stay in one piece. Thankfully, these ones hold together really well.

Flowers on the Deck

This week I spent some time planting flowers for the deck, and it honestly made the space feel so much more summery and cozy already. I think it’s been years since we last had flowers out there, so I decided it was finally time to make it happen again this summer.

Last Friday morning I went to a local garden centre and picked out a bunch of plants, and then on Monday afternoon I spent some time potting up five planters for the deck. Gardening is one of those things that always feels so relaxing once I actually start doing it. I forget how much I enjoy it every year until I’m outside with dirt everywhere and flowers spread across the patio.

I knew right away that I wanted marigolds because they’ve always been one of my favorite summer flowers. I also picked up a couple white geraniums, which I think look so classic and pretty in planters. Snapdragons are another favorite of mine, so I made sure to include a few of those too.

Right now the planters still look a little small while everything settles in, but I know in a few weeks they’ll fill out and look so lush. That’s honestly one of my favorite parts about summer gardening: watching everything slowly grow and change week by week.

During the summer I spend a lot of time reading out on the deck, especially in the evenings, and I already know the flowers are going to make it feel even more cozy out there. We only get a few months of really nice weather here in Calgary, so I always feel this urge to make the most of it while it lasts. Adding flowers to the deck feels like such a simple thing, but it really does make everyday life feel a little more special.

Fire Country

I recently started watching Fire Country and it has completely pulled me in. It’s a drama series set around two fire stations in California. One is a more traditional fire station run by a husband and wife, while the other includes incarcerated firefighters working alongside them. One of those firefighters also happens to be the son of the husband and wife, which obviously creates a lot of tension and drama right from the beginning.

The show definitely has some cheesy moments, and some of the fire special effects aren’t always the most realistic, but honestly? It’s still really entertaining. The characters have grown on me a lot, and now I find myself wanting to watch “just one more episode” almost every night.

I’m currently about three quarters of the way through the first season, and I’ve already been flying through episodes pretty quickly. I usually end up watching three or four episodes each week.

One thing I’m especially excited about is that there are already four seasons available, and a fifth season is supposed to start this fall. I love finding a new-to-me show that already has multiple seasons because there’s nothing worse than getting attached to a show only for it to end after two or three seasons.

It’s been the perfect evening show lately, especially on nights when I just want to relax on the couch and watch something entertaining without thinking too hard.

Closing Thoughts

Those are a few of the things I’ve been loving lately. Nothing overly exciting or life changing, just simple things that made this week feel good.

I feel like this season of life has really been about appreciating small everyday moments more — cozy evenings on the deck, finding a new favorite food, or getting unexpectedly hooked on a TV show. Those little things add up and make life feel fuller somehow.

I’d love to know what you’ve been loving lately too. Whether it’s a snack, TV show, book, workout, or random everyday favorite, let me know in the comments because I’m always looking for new things to try.