Friday Things
1. After quite possibly the longest and most exhausting week ever with Josephโs croup last week, heโs completely back to normal and both he and Dominic have gifted us with sleeping until nearly 7:30am the last two mornings (and Iโm sure I just jinxed it and at least one of them will wake up at 5:30 tomorrow!).
They are both completely enamored with our Christmas tree and spend ridiculous amounts of time over there looking at all of the ornaments. Joseph uncovered one of mine from when I was a kid โ you pull a string and it plays โJingle Bellsโ kind of like a music box. He pulls it over and over and sings and dances, ha!
2. We got our first snow storm on Wednesday night! I adore the snow and canโt get enough when it finally starts to fall, so bring it all on until March!
3. My entire email inbox right now is pretty much order and shipping confirmations. Online shopping is one of the best inventions, ever. Also, I donโt know how we ever survived without Amazon Prime.
4. Speaking of, I took the plunge and ordered an Instant Pot! Apparently half the world is getting one for Christmas because all thatโs left on Amazon are ones sold by third-party sellers, so I headed over to Williams Sonoma and finally selected the 9-in-1 8-quart model. Many of mentioned thinking about size and my aunt agreed that an 8-quart would be much better for larger meals and leftovers. I canโt wait to get it and start experimenting! Also, if youโre online shopping, Williams Sonoma currently has a promotion running through midnight tonight where you can get 20% off your entire order and free fast shipping with the code GIFTMORE. Happy shopping!
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5. Have you seen this video of a nurse singing to a dying patient? Just confirms what Iโve always saidโฆ nurses are true angels. And if you watch the video, be sure to have a box of Kleenex handy!
6. So many of you have been making reindeer chow this weekโฆ one of my favorites! My father-in-law brought over a big container last Friday and it did not last weekend. I am not the least bit sorryโฆ โtis the season!
7. I was reading one of Lindsayโs latest posts when she talked about these DeLallo cheeseboard gift and entertaining sets. Mind=blown. If youโve ever wanted to put together the most epic cheese board but donโt know where to start, or youโre looking for a gift for someone who loves to entertain, these would be perfect. They even include the slate board!! I totally want to order like 10 of these.
8. Love, love, love >> this vet treats dogs belonging to the homeless on the streets of London for free.
9. My husband stumbled upon this colorized Frank Sinatra and Bing Crosby Christmas special that originally aired in 1957. We watched it twice in one night earlier this week; nothing beats the classics!
10. TGIF! I had a dream about this sweet boy a couple of nights ago; still miss him like crazyโฆ
Hi Michelle,
Your boys are so cute. Can I ask what shoes Joseph is wearing in the picture? They look cute and comfortable and I am always looking for the right shoes for my son.
Hi Lina, Thank you so much! Those are Plae shoesโฆ Joseph just got two pair about six weeks ago and I cannot rave about them enough; by far the best shoes weโve ever bought for him! They go on so easily and fit so well, plus theyโre easy for him to get on and off on his own. These are the exact pair heโs wearing in the picture: https://www.plae.co/shop/kids/ty#272=546&968=216
Long time follower,love and appreciate all you do. Think your hubby and kids are soo cute. But Iโm a BIG animal lover, I literally cried my eyes out about precious Einstein, I lost my cat few years agoโฆ I know the feeling of missing something so close to your soul. I guess your mention of your dream touched a nerveโฆ and season makes me ๐ญ
Congratulations on your familyโs up coming new edition by the way. Godspeed to you and yours๐๐๐
Thank you so much, Tina, and my condolences on your loss as well.
Oh my โ what a way to spend an early Saturday morning โ crying my eyes out!
I know I was warned about the nurse video, but then I watched the one about the vet. Finally, seeing your precious Golden at the end of the post. Itโs been about five years since I lost my Ruby and I still miss her like crazy! I thought Iโd never be able to get another Golden, but am leaning that way for my next dog.
Even though I am teary, I do enjoy your blog!
Ahhh Iโm so sorry! And Iโm sorry about your Ruby; itโs hard not to just fall completely in love with Goldens!
The photo of Einstein is so gorgeous. Iโm glad he still visits you in your dreams. My cat Lulu did the same recently. I woke up with tears in my eyes but it was sweet to get to spend time with her again after 4 years.ย
Iโm so sorry for your loss Cynthia, Einstein was the first dog that was ever โmineโ and I had such a connection with him.
Thank you so much for the link about the nurse singing to the dying patient. That nurse is a beautiful, compassionate young woman. We need more people in the world like her.
Youโre welcome, I thought it was such a beautiful moment.
Thanks for the epic cheese board link. Iโm making my own and itโs what Iโm most excited about as Iโm having family over for Christmas. When you have to plan, shop, and cook the entire Christmas meal, I hate worrying about apps. So Iโm hoping my cheese board makes it easier for me this year. I guess weโll see.
Ahhh so awesome! I love a big cheese board :)
Love the pictures of Dominic and Einstein. ย Both so adorable. ย I am holding off on the Instant Pot. ย I got a slow cooker for the first time this year and wasnโt impressed with the first thing I made. ย I need to explore some of your slow cooker recipes! ย Awoke twice this week to snow, about 1.5 inches a few days ago, all melted and then this morning a few flakes of softly falling show in southern BC Canada. ย I have already made one batch of your delicious maple walnut fudge this year for a friend and am going to look for a chocolate fudge recipe for a friendโs son. ย Love that you appreciate us nursesโฆIโm a retired pediatric nurse and we love singing to our patients! ย This includes birthdays and many other occasions. ย I was once asked to sing the Canadian national anthem by one of the gorgeous adolescents on my ward so I gave him the first verse with passion! ย We loved to have fun with each other and the patients, so important. ย I once arrived to work to a message in my mailbox asking for me to repair a rip in a sweater for one of our repeat pts โbecause I know you like to sewโ! ย Of course I did. ย I also helped make icing for a cake for one of the girlโs momโs birthday. ย Such fun and all part of the job (if we choose to make it so). ย Both girls have since passed away (cystic fibrosis) but I still have many fond memories. ย Sorry, I could go on and on๐. ย Miss them.
Awww so much love and appreciation for what you do, Wendy. Iโve been blessed to have only ever been in the hospital to have my babies, and I canโt tell you how amazing the nurses wereโฆ they truly made all the difference. I know itโs a hard job but every single one was wonderful and helpful and kind.
I was SO excited to see the 20% off full site sale with free shipping at Williams-SonomaโฆIโve been coveting a few things from them recently. Wouldnโt you know it, everything I want is not included in the sale. ๐ฉ Hate when that happens! Also, about amazon prime, as the owner of a family-owned retail business, I can tell you that amazon is the scariest thing to happen to brick and mortar ย local businesses ever. Very sad.
Oh no such a bummer about the Williams Sonoma sale! Thatโs the worst!
Iโm so with you โ I did ALL of my holiday shopping online this year and it has been heavenly!!! Sooooo much less stress. And I canโt wait to get back home in NY to see snow, it just doesnโt feel like Christmas at all in LA when itโs 85 degrees. I miss magical snowfall!!!! Have a wonderful weekend :)
I just canโt take insanely crowded malls and stores; shopping from my couch is so much better :)
Thank you for the Bing/Frank video โ it was the first Christmas show Iโve watched this year โ I love Bing!! I am looking forward to making your Snickerdoodles. Merry Christmas!
Youโre welcome, Ellen! Merry Christmas! :)
What did we do before Amazon prime? ย For that matter โ what did we do before ordering on the internet? ย As of yesterday, all of my shopping is done and I didnโt have to leave home to do it. ย
I have absolutely no desire to have an Instant Pot. ย Not only do I not have room for one , Iโm trying to be an โunpluggedโ cook. ย Iโm not getting rid of anything I already have, but I donโt want to add anything, either. ย So I have a request. ย If you post recipes using the Instant Pot, could you please add stove-top instructions, too? ย
I agree with everything Sally said!
I havenโt purchased a single gift in a store yet! The only things will probably be stocking stuffers and Iโll go out next week to do that. And donโt worry, if/when I post Instant Pot recipes, there will for sure be alterations for traditional cooking.
You take the best pictures! The boys are adorable, and I love the one with Dominic and the tree. Iโm running out to get the ingredients for Reindeer Chow today โ Iโm sure everyone is going to love it. Merry Christmas to you and your family!
Merry Christmas to you, Carol! Enjoy the reindeer chow :)
We have plenty of snow here in Cleveland, if you want me to send some your way, ha, ha! Iโd be thrilled if it would snow on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day only, then melt and stay 70 and sunny for the rest of the winter! ๐
We got about 5 inches on Wednesday night, so I was thrilled! :) But I will for sure take any you want to send my way!
Amazon Prime has been life changing, in so many ways. How did we live before?!
SERIOUSLY!
Adorable pictures of the kids! I guess Santa is bring Joseph a bike this year? Michelle I have a question in the picture of Einstein, your baluster railings, is that the Brushed Bronze color or did you paint them yourself? I am having them done and I got the Matte Black but now that I see yours I like that color better!
psโฆI know it is never easy to lose one of our furbabiesโฆ
Hi Maria, Those railings were like that when we moved here and I donโt believe theyโve been painted; they are sort of a brushed bronze. I hope that helps!
Thank you for the reply Michelle, I am going to channel my artsy side and get some metallic paint and hopefully โburnishโ them myself!! This should be interesting! Its an acrylic paint so it will wash off if I mess up or it doesโt look right!
I enjoy the recipes but donโt appreciate the Trump add for reelection. ย Cannot this be politically free space and just enjoy good food. ย ย
And where did you see that Jack, I have been a follower of Michelleโs blog for a very long time and never saw her once get politicalโฆI see no ad on my end
Same, Maria. Jack, I think adverts tend to be based on your own browsing and stuff. As ever, Michelle, love the recipes, thank you!
Jack, I have never seen anything political on Michelleโs blog either. In fact, I remember someone posting awhile back how much they appreciated no expression of political views on this site. Perhaps it was a computer glitch.
Jack, I donโt individually select ads that appear on the siteโฆ the way Internet advertising works is that you usually see something based upon your previous browsing history, i.e. if you were researching cars (or socks, or golf clubs) a couple of hours ago and then came to my website, all of the ads might be for cars (or socks or golf clubs). Iโve never discussed politics here or endorsed any specific candidates.
I just see a bunch of Ester Lauder and oddly, Kentucky Fried Chicken ads. I believe the others are correct that the pop ups are based on what has been searched or visited on your own computer. Nothing to do with BEB. They are probably Google DoubleClick ads. I agree that they are a nuisance.ย
On darn, didnโt see the Trump ad, would have enjoyed it. MAGA!