Friday Things

1. Since we chatted last Friday, something very important and very exciting happened… I got engaged (with that gorgeous Pittsburgh skyline as the backdrop)!! Needless to say, I could not be any happier and have been floating on cloud nine
2. I had dinner for the first time at Hyde Park last weekend, and it was an incredible meal. I know they have restaurants in a number of cities, so if you ever have the opportunity to eat there, I highly recommend it! I had the French onion soup, the “Hines Ward” (filet mignon coated in garlic and cracked black pepper with roasted shallot Cabernet butter) and roasted garlic whipped potatoes. I got the colossal carrot cake to take home for dessert, and two of us ended up eating it every night for FOUR nights. They’re not joking when they say “colossal”… that thing is enormous! But oh so, so delicious.
3. You may remember me mentioning that my Chief Culinary Consultant and I were looking for a new TV show to watch together. We finally settled on… old episodes of American Chopper. I only started watching it in the last few years, so we’ve gone back to the very beginning so I can catch up on everything I missed. I never thought I’d like a show about building motorcycles, but I’m totally addicted to it!
4. When you find picture-perfect avocados, you make guacamole.

You eat a lot of it, and you have zero regrets.
5. For those of you that are bloggers and/or do a lot of photography, how do you utilize Flickr? Do you use it to host photos, showcase photos… do you use it at all?
6. Have you heard of PrintablePaper.net? It’s a website with over 1,000 different paper templates that you can download for free. It has everything from regular lined paper to financial sheets, music, game scorecards and everything in between. I’m about to print out some 500 and Dominoes score sheets!
7. The combination of these two photos sums up Einstein pretty much perfectly:

8. Have you heard about the service that will take a hand-written recipe and wood-burn it onto a wooden cutting board? I love this! What a fantastic way to showcase a treasured family recipe in your kitchen. I am definitely going to look into doing this with one of my grandma’s recipes.
9. I am dying to get my hands on one of those Kate Spade “Eat Cake for Breakfast” t-shirts, but everywhere I look they’re sold out. I’m admittedly not very “hip” to the fashion world, so if there are any little-known sites where I might be able to find one, I’d love to know!
10. TGIF! This guy has the right idea!







Congrats on getting engaged! I have been following your site for the last three years and all of your recipes always turn out perfectly! Thank you for all the great memories your treats have allowed me to have!
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Awesome links …
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Congratulations! Wishing y out lifetime of happiness!
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Congratulations!!! How exciting! And what a beautiful place for a beautiful memory!!!
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Sorry, meant a lifetime of happiness!
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Congratulations, Michelle! So, so happy for you!
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I’ve been following your blog since finding a recipe of yours on pinterest a year ago! Congratulations on the engagement
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Wow, congratulations!!
Such a neat, exciting time for you now
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Congratulations!
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How wonderful!! Congratulations and Best Wishes to you and your CCC. XO
PS LOVE the snippet re:Einstein. Our 3 kitties seem to have that same outlook!
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Congratulations on your engagement – methinks CCC is a very lucky guy. Love your blog – so entertaining and informative. Your recipes are super – only one disappointment in all those that I have made (probably my fault!)
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CONGRATULATIONS!! So exciting…i wish much much happiness!
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Congratulations! I really couldn’t be happier !! (unless of course it was ME and my sig.other but that’s another email)
Wishing you all the joy and happiness that comes with being chosen by your guy and electing to choose him. I couldn’t start my days without your emails, Thank you for being part of my inbox and sharing your world with me.
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Congratulations on your engagement. And, beautiful shot of downtown Pittsburgh; what a romantic spot to propose.
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Congratulations!!!
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That is wonderful news! Congratulations to you both!
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Congratulations!
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Mazel Tov!!! Many Happy Blessings:-)
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Congratulations!
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Congratulations!!!
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Congratulations on your engagement! Pittsburgh at night is so romantic!
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congratulations on your engagement!
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Congratulations on your engagement!
I enjoy watching American Choppers but I don’t know how much delayed we are over here. I’d love to know what’s happened to Cody and Rick…
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Congratulations on your engagement! How exciting.
My hubby proposed on Mt. Washington, too. We will be celebrating our 18th anniversary in July.
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Congratulations on your engagement! Wishing you peace, joy and happiness as you plan the wedding
. Thank you for sharing all your wonderful recipes.
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Congratulations! That’s wonderful news!
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Congratulations on the engagement. Wish you a long and happy marriage.
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cOnGraTuLaTiOnS!!!! Michelle…what exciting news. Let the planning begin!
The Kate Spade tee is going to be hard to find…I would do a advanced search on e-Bay though and when one is listed they will send you an e-mail to let you know…I have the bag and it is really cute, more summery though…there are many listed on e-Bay right now…
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Yay Michelle!!!!! Congratulations
Such wonderful news to hear !!!!!!!! <3
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Congratulations on your engagement!
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Wish you very happy!
With our dog, when pillows self-destructed in his presence, he’d just look at us like ‘what?’ I had nothing to do with it. Someone else came in while no one was looking and tore it to shreds.’ No regrets. No guilt. No acknowledgement of any involvement. And we were always too upset to take a picture because it was ALWAYS the brand new pillows that bit the dust.
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Congrats, how exciting!!
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Awwww, congrats on your engagement!!!! How exciting!!
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Happiest happy happy news!!!! Congrats!!!! That is great! I don’t use Flickr, but I have the same questions! I’ll be checking back here for answers. The cutting board service/project sounds awesome! And the t-shirt. Waaaaaaant. Have a super weekend!!!
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Congrats on your engagement! How exciting for you. Wishing you much happiness!
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Congratulations! so Happy for you and Einstein. Best Wishes!
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Betti on February 9th, 2013 at 3:40 pm
I don’t think she got engaged to Einstein…
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Congratulations! Love the Pittsburgh pic
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Congratulations on getting engaged! Hyde Park sounds awesome! And so does you avocado. You’ve had quite a banner week!
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Congratulations Michelle on your engagement, What a beautiful place to be proposed to, thanks for all your wonderful recipes, your the only blog I visit on a daily basis.
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Congrats Michelle! Enjoy this special time together!!
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CONGRATS! What a lucky guy! Love the picture of Einstein !
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CONGRATULATIONS! Welcome to the world of wedding planning. It’s a whirlwind.
I’m on blogger but I’ve used Flickr to create buttons and some other things.
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Michelle
Congrats on the engagement! Wishing both of you years of health, happiness and love. Did Einstein stamp a paw of approval as well? LOL
Suz
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Michelle on February 10th, 2013 at 2:32 pm
Thank you, Suz! And yes, Einstein stamped a paw of approval
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Just adding my congrats – being engaged is such an exciting time, enjoy every minute of it!!!
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Congratulations Michelle!!! Wishing you two much happiness in the years to come!
My husband would definitely approve of your choice of a show to watch together.
–I saw a golden retriever puppy in Panera yesterday (he was in training to become a companion dog). My heart just melted. He was soooo cute, and of course his tongue was glued to the floor the whole time he was in Panera:) –
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Congratulations! Thanks for sharing your news and your incredible blog with us.
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Congratulations to you and your CCC on your engagement. May you have many years of happiness together.
The cutting board idea is great – thanks for sharing.
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Terri on February 8th, 2013 at 8:56 am
Ooh forgot to ask did you start planning for the cookie table?? In Western PA that is as important as the wedding gown!!
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Wow! Congratulations on your big news! Wishing you and your Chief Culinary Consultant a lifetime of happiness!
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Wonderful news, plus “my husband” is so many less letters to type when commenting about him.
Sent your Cajun shrimp mac & cheese on to two of my favorite people to try and they both agree, they MUST sign on your blog to get these fantastic recipes themselves.
Have a wonderfully happy weekend!
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Congrats on your engagement! I got engaged in New York (because I was living there at the time) but got married in Pittsburgh. It’s a great city for romance!
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Congrats to you……I think ebay has your t-shirt
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Congrats on your engagement. As I scrolled drown from your first picture, I expected a picture of your ring finger but got Einstein instead! I wish you and your CCC all the best.
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CoNgRaTuLaTiOnS!!! How very exciting! I look forward to your updates as you prepare for your BIG day! Best Wishes to you Both!
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Can life get any better? Congratulations! I am very happy for the 3 of you (I’m including Einstein
)
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Congratulations, Michelle!!!
That is such wonderful news. Wishing you, your CCC and Einstein a lifetime of happiness! Speaking of happiness, let’s talk about that Kate Spade shirt. I’ve been looking for it as a gift for a friend and have had no luck. But, in case you’re interested in other items with that slogan, there is a small clutch and a large tote. I have the clutch (which, technically was listed as a cosmetic bag, but whatevs) and constantly receive compliments on it, even from dudes! I’ve found both on ebay.. just beware of fakes
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Best Wishes on your engagement!!!
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Congratulations, Michelle!!!
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Congrats on the engagement, that’s so exciting!
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Congratulations! So happy for you. Hope this doesn’t sound too weird, but my sisters and I have decided you are our “missing 4th sister!” We are Western PA transplants, huge Steelers fans, 500 players, and lovers of dips and sweets!
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SO SO SO happy for you!
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Yay congrats!!! I am actually venturing up to PA this weekend to visit the boyfriend.
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Congratulations! So happy for you!!
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Congrats! Have been following your blog for years and must admit I thought you were already married! Awesome news, can’t wait to hear about all the wedding planning details!
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Congratulations!
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Congratulatons to you and the Chief Cuilinary Consultant – many many happy years to you both! … and Einstein too
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I am so happy for you! Congrats on your engagement, that is the best news I have heard all week!! The dog text messages and picture cracked me up! TGIF, have a great weekend!
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Congratulations and best wishes!
Wish I could offer up a source for the T but I only know of places offering the tote or the print.
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Congratulations!!!!!!!!
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Congrats on the engagement!!
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Congrats – I’m so happy for you!
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Congratulations!!!! So exciting and such a gorgeous backdrop to get engaged with
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Yay!!! Enjoy every single second of your engagement!!!
Kate Spade shirts….try calling one of the outlets. I found one there (at the Cypress, TX) location and I heard from someone on Instagram that they ship!
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Congratulations and all the best to you!
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Congratulations!!
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Congratulations and prayers for years of happiness and blessings!
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Congrats on the engagement! I just got engaged in November and it’s been the most amazing three months of my life! Enjoy it!!
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Congratulations!!! What a beautiful skyline photo. Definitely going to check out a couple links – thanks for sharing
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Congratulations on your engagement! Let’s see the ring!!
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Congratualtions!!!!! What a lucky lucky guy
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Michelle, I was wondering when your CCC was going to pop the question. Congrats and best wishes to the happy couple.
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Congratulations!!!
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Congratulations! Have fun planning your wedding, as well as your marriage! <3
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Congratulations!! Getting married is so fun! Enjoy each moment and on your wedding day…. Don’t worry about a thing!!
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So very happy for you!!! Off to check out that paper site too. So cool!
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Congratulations!
Now, about the Kate Spade shirt – have you tried here:
http://favstyle.com/Kate-Spade/eat-Cake-For-Breakfast-Tee#.URUWiB19J7s
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Congratulations, Michelle!!
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CONGRATS ON THE ENGAGEMENT!! Best wishes to you and your chief culinary consultant!
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Congratulations on your engagement!
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Congratulations! Check amazon for your tshirt, when I checked they had them in stock, but were $35 plus shipping. Don’t know how badly you want one
http://www.amazon.com/Breakfast-Organic-Womens-T-Shirt-CafePress/dp/B00AMJSB1E/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1360337110&sr=8-1&keywords=eat+cake+for+breakfast+tshirt
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Janet on February 8th, 2013 at 10:29 am
oops, guess it’s not kate spade?
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Congratulations! How very exciting!
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Congratulations! What a wonderful meal at Hyde Park. It appears to be an east coast restaurant…I will have to wait until I am in PA visiting relatives…what an amazing meal!
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Congratulations!!!!! I am so happy for you!
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Congrats on your engagement!!!! Time for you to plan a wedding
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Congratulations on your engagement! That’s awesome
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Congrats and all the best for a bright and happy future!
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Congratulations!!!! You will have so much fun planning the wedding!!
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Congrats on your engagement!!
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Congratulations!
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Congratulations, Michelle!! What wonderful Friday news! Can’t wait to hear details about planning!
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Congratulations!! So exciting!
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