Friday Things
1. This sweet boy is going to be FOUR years old tomorrow! I seriously cannot believe how fast these years have flown by. I just registered him for Pre-K last weekโฆ as in, his last year of preschool. HOW?! My husband and I were watching videos the other night from when he was around 18 months oldโฆ what a happy, giggly baby he was. We did have his party planned for tomorrow, but due to the big snowstorm that weโre supposed to get, we postponed it to next weekend. So heโll get a fun snow day at home with us, PLUS a party next weekend. Iโm sure he wonโt complain :)
2. And speaking of time flying, not only is Joseph registered for Pre-K, but Dominic is registered for his first year of preschool โ itโs the same 2.5-year old program Joseph did last year and since Dominic will turn three in early October, I think heโll be more than ready for it (I actually think heโs ready for something like that now!).
3. And this girl has been flying around like crazy! Sheโs totally taken off crawling and she is NOT looking back.
4. As an update to my Le Creuset vs Staub inquiry, I ended up ordering a Staub. It was just delivered yesterday and I canโt wait to break it in. I got the 9-quart because Iโve tried doubling up some recipes in my 7.25 Le Creuset and it was REALLY tight. Iโm thinking a big pot of chili might be in order given the weather this weekend!
Save This Recipe
Enter your email address, and we'll send it straight to your inbox!
5. Has anyone made Ina Gartenโs weeknight bolognese? I just saw her post it on Instagram and now Iโm dying to try it!
6. Cookie Monster is apparently promoting self-care on Twitter by telling people to eat cookies. I love this so much. (Mental note: make chocolate chip cookies with the boys this weekend.)
7. I have ordered and returned approximately umpteen winter jackets; I cannot, for the life of me, find one that I love. Give me your best recommendations! I want it to be warm but not too heavy, and ideally a bit flattering :)
8. I keep seeing chatter about Marie Kondoโs new show on Netflix, but I havenโt watched it yet! Have you? Thoughts? I read her books a couple of years ago when I first started my master purge. The house is still a work in progress, but not much feels better than bagging or boxing up a ton of stuff you KNOW you donโt use or donโt like, but has been taking up space for so long.
9. On a related note, Iโve raved about the The Home Edit Instagram account before (itโs a Type A organizerโs dream!), and I just found out theyโre coming out with a book! I pre-ordered! I want everything thatโs left after I purge to look pretty and organized :)
10. TGIF! I hope you have a great weekend!
Marie Kondo on Netflix is very good to watch! Simple and easy suggestions she offers for Decluttering! Each family she visits she helps them out. She makes unannounced visits to see the progress that is going on. For a winter coat, I really like the Columbia Sportswear Jackets. Talk about warmth, this coat keeps you toasty! A few years ago, I was able to get a Columbia Sportswear long winter coat with a hood. The jacket has side pockets and also a zippered pouch pocket inside the coat. This jacket has Ohni-heat: thermal reflective and insulated. I purchased my Columbia jacket at an Outlet up in Maine. Great sale $99 vs $250. Mega Savings! :) This jacket https://go.magik.ly/ml/lge0/ is on sale (cheaper) than what I paid!
I have this coat https://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/78460?csp=a&lvl=1&moe=INIT&num=48&productId=1306487&LLB_NVP_CATEGORYIDLIST=78460&itemId=284399&feat=qs&isItemId=true and it is GLOOOOORIOUS, and super cute. Itโs hands down the coziest thing Iโve ever owned. I live in L.A. so itโs really overkill for us most of the time, but it holds up great in actual cold weather when traveling. I have it in a purple color that has sadly been discontinued but the other colors are nice, too. Good luck!
I love that gray rug in the picture with your little girl. ย Would you share where you found it please?
Hi Cheryl, Itโs from Wayfair! Itโs a little more beige than it looks in the picture, but very neutral! We love it, super soft.
I bought a North Face Metropolis II parka last year when they started to get marked down. ย I use it for walks all winter. ย I love the longer length but with a double zipper you can still zip up from the bottom if youโre taking longer strides ;-) ย I also love the attached hood so if I donโt have a hat with me I can still keep my head and neck warm. ย Itโs tapered so itโs still a bit fitted. ย I size up for layers underneath. ย If you want slightly shorter the Gotham is similar.
Ina Gartenโs weeknight Bolognese is great! I prefer letting it simmer for an additional 30 minutes to let the flavors meld a little better.
All of your babies look so beautiful..doggie too. Love them all looking out the window at the snow. I live in ca. I have not worn a jacket in years lol..it is rarely cold enough to really need one..u just walk fast from car to house if we do have a cold snap..which we have lately. Going to try to make homemade split pea soup for the first time this weekend..hope it comes outโฆhappy birthday to you Joseph. Iโm realizing how long Iโve read your blog..I remember when he was born.
I have lost all respect I ever had for Ina Garten with that bolognese recipe. She suggests putting olive oil in the pasta water?! That was debunked years ago; it does nothing except make it harder for the sauce to stick. I am horrified and depressed now.
Yes, Iโve made Ina Gartenโs weeknight bolognese. Itโs delicious and easy, like all of Inaโs recipes. Try it!
I saw Inaโs post also and decided to make it tomorrow. Iโm going to double the recipe and use a 50/50 blend of ground bison and turkey sausage. Other than that, keeping it the same.
As for a winter coat, I cannot stand anything too bulky. I bought an Eddie Bauer thin down coat at Costco (in Cranberry), of all places, and itโs turned into my favorite jacket. It balls up into a little attached pouch, but itโs really warm and easy to layer. Iโve worn it to the bus stop every morning and several other moms went back and bought them also.
I live in a small city in western Canada where our temperatures are regularly in the single digits (closer to 0 than 9). ย I got a gorgeous DKNY puffer coat last year at Winners. ย It has a down-filled body and polyester fill in the sleeves. ย Itโs very comfortable. ย Re: Ina Gartenโs Bolgnese sauceโฆI havenโt checked it out but Iโd be interested to hear how you think it compares to your father-in-lawโs sauce.
Inaโs Bolognese is the absolute best! I have been making it for years and itโs always perfect. Sometimes we even swap out the beef for turkey and itโs still good.
I picked up a down parka from Eddie Bauer on an after-Christmas sale. Itโs been handling this weird (so far) Minnesota winter beautifully. I love that itโs long, feminine, flexible, and warm (despite feeling so light). I did need to go up a size or two to get a good fit though (thank you swimmer shoulders). I have a jacket from Cabelaโs that got me through last yearโs super-cold MN winter quite nicely, but itโs heavier, stiffer, and doesnโt cover as much as this parka does.
coat recommendation! Iโve had really good luck with lands end down coats. I donโt find them super bulky, but iโm not tiny like you! But, they are super warm for the northeast winters. They always seem to have them for 50% off
https://www.landsend.com/products/womens-winter-long-down-coat-with-faux-fur-hood/id_333042?sku_0=::VUO
Sorry I canโt help you with suggestions for a winter coat. I live in south Florida, and we donโt know what a winter coat is.๐
About winter jackets โ Iโm in Colorado at ย >8,000ft. I do have a couple of heavy jackets if itโs actually snowing, but most of the time I just wear my Irish pullover on cold days, and itโs so warm that I have to take it off when I go indoors. Has to be a real Irish pullover, made with real Irish wool (preferably knitted by a real Irish person, but anyway someone skilled in proper cable knit to keep the wind out). Itโs wonderful, and always in fashion. Expensive, but well worth it.
Another tip. If you are prone to cold feet, get some alpaca socks. No more cold feet. Also expensive, but well worth paying ย more for good quality.
Good luck finding a jacket. I got a pea coat from Landโs End several years ago and Iโve loved it!
I watched several episodes of Marie Kondoโs show and Iโm baffled. Iโm type A and I love things being organized and not cluttered. Thereโs a lot of good to some of her stuff โ make sure you can see it, keep it organized, make sure it has a home. But thatโs all basic keeping things organized and tidy โ pretty standard advice when decluttering and organizing. I donโt get the appeal of โsparking joyโ does my thermapen or hammer spark joy in me? No, am I going to keep it โ yes it is useful. Plus, sheโs telling me only to keep books that spark joy? Some books make me cry, but its a good cry โ should those go or stay? But if it gets folks who wouldnโt declutter and stop being ruled by their stuff a way to move forward thatโs great, just not for me.
I always buy Columbia 3 in 1 coats, I live in the Midwest.
Hi Michelle!
The Weeknight Bolognese recipe is fantasticโฆ..at least a once a month staple in our home. My only suggestion is to decrease the salt from 1 Tablespoon (which is what the recipe calls for) to 1 Teaspoon. ย Also, we do a combination of 1/2 sirloin and 1/2 Italian sausage. ย The sauce tastes as though it simmered on the stove for hoursโฆ..
Any leftovers freeze well too.ย
Enjoy the snow headed your way. Be safe and have a wonderful weekend.ย
I live in North Dakota and walk our dog every night in this long Patagonia puffer that I bought last year โ much warmer than the North Face version and lighter than traditional parkas. Itโs not the sexiest coat but Iโve never felt more comfortable in the winter.
https://bit.ly/2SX5o7n
Love your friday posts!!!!!!ย
Ina Gartens weeknight Bolognese is my favorite red sauce. The amount of wine gives it such an amazing richness, and the cream and 1/2 cup of parm at the end make it SO good. Definitely worth trying.ย
My favorite jackets are from Eddie Bauer. Nothing beats their warmth. And cute styles. Iโd tried soo many jackets and now have my Eddie Bauer one I got on sale at this time last year and I love it!!
7. In regards to a jacket, my daughter is attending University of Oklahoma in Norman. Since they rarely get snow but have ice storms we got her a Eddie Bauer jacket. Its long with a hood, and is designed for weather in teens. Its light and not bulky and is weatherproofed. She loves it. Hope info helps. Jessica
I love Eddie Bauer winter coats. They are very warm and do not look bulky. When you click on a coat on the website, it will show you the temperature rating for low and moderate activity to aid in selecting the coat that is best for your needs. They can be slim fitting so Iโve found I needed to order up a size to accommodate for wearing sweaters, etc. Bonus, they are also on sale!
I did watch the Marie Kondo Netflix series and after watching, promptly pulled out every piece of clothing I owned and threw it on the bed! ย The funny thing was, I started to read her book last year and it didnโt cause any reaction, but watching her on the show mesmerized me! Sheโs like the pied piper of cleaning out your house! ๐ Stay warm this weekend and happy birthday to Joseph!
love this pic, like everyone wants to come out and play in snow.
Hi Michelle, Joseph and I share the same birthday and our daughter will be 20 on Monday so a weekend of celebrating here as well. Enjoy the snow. I got this Kenneth Cole coat for Christmas and I love it. Mine was purchased at Nordstrom Rack but this is the same one at Amazon. Comfortable, warm, and stylish.ย
https://smile.amazon.com/Kenneth-Cole-Metro-Granite-Medium/dp/B07L21DRYP/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1544407762&sr=8-2&keywords=Kenneth+Cole+metro+coat
Happy Birthday to Joseph!
Happy Birthday to Joseph! ย My birthday is tomorrow, too. Because of the bad weather weโre expecting, weโre celebrating tonight. ย
For coats, the North Face Arctic Parka is the best winter jacket I have ever owned. Itโs comfortable, warm, and not too bulky! https://www.amazon.com/North-Face-Arctic-Winter-Jacket/dp/B00PTUWCZC?th=1
I second this recommendation! I have this one in the Grey Heather and I love it. It has a very feminine, flattering fit, itโs warm and blocks the wind well. I live in Minnesota and it keeps me toasty! I have received many compliments on it too!
I just ordered a new winter coat this year from Duluth and I am loving it! Very warm without the bulk and itโs a little longer than others which I find comfortable and flattering. And also, the Netflix show with Marie Kondo is amazing! You will get hooked if you watch it, I guarantee. Itโs a type-A persons dream but then also it makes me want to do all the things in my house too!ย
I have made Inaโs Weeknight Bolognese a couple of times. It is easy and delicious. My husband didnโt care for the crushed red peppers so I now leave them out and let people add them after the fact if they choose. Itโs a very simple recipe. I say give it a try and report back with your opinion. ๐
โฅ๏ธโฅ๏ธโฅ๏ธ this jacket
https://www.mountainhardwear.com/womens-hardwear-funnel-parka-1811801.html?cgid=womens-jackets-insulated&dwvar_1811801_variationColor=090#pgsize=23&start=6
I love this one by Mountain Hardware which I got a couple of years ago when they did a collab with Cole Han.
Though I am not sure if this is warm enough for the east coast as I am in Southern California but itโs a cute jacket and warm for how thin it is.
https://www.mountainhardwear.com/womens-hardwear-funnel-parka-1811801.html?cgid=womens-jackets-insulated&dwvar_1811801_variationColor=090#pgsize=23&start=6
I LOVE Inaโs Weeknight Bolognase! Itโs my go to for weeknight company because you can totally prepare it in advance and reheat which is perfect for working moms/people. Also doubles easily. Itโs also a great dish to take to a friend.ย