Friday Things
1. We took Joseph to the park this week and he had a blast running around the baseball field. Each day it seems like he grows up just a little bit more – he knows his head, nose, mouth, toes, tons of animal sounds and is basically a ball of fun every single day. We’ve tip-toed into the whole toddler-tantrum-when-life-doesn’t-go-his-way thing (i.e. LEAVING the park), but he seems to recover fairly quickly.
2. I am 21 weeks along this week, I can’t believe how fast this pregnancy is going! I’ve been feeling pretty good, with the hit or miss indigestion and heartburn, and I’m feeling tons of kicks!
A lot of you have asked for a bump pic, so here you go! This was 20 weeks last week :)
3. Can you believe that this year is the 30th anniversary of Top Gun?! I didn’t see it until a number of years after that, but SUCH a classic! I can watch it beginning to end anytime it’s on TV.
4. I loved this post about slowing down the summer… partly because I’m enthralled with the 1950’s and partly because these were the summers I had as a kid. Aside from a week of bible school, we had NO planned activities. None. We just played, and spent a ton of time at my grandma’s house. I remember my cousins, sister and I creating our own obstacle courses, riding bikes, rounding up neighborhood kids to play hide and seek, chasing down the ice cream truck… that’s what summers are all about, right?!
5. I finally finished completely cleaning out and organizing my closet. All that’s left is to take the last of the bags to the donation center! I LOVE walking into my closet and just staring at how clean, organized and clutter-free it is. I’ve since moved on to Konmari-ing my books, which has been yet another eye-opening exercise. Purging through books, especially cookbooks, that I’ve had forever and never opened, was astonishing. I haven’t finished yet, but my “discard” pile is incredibly large. Again, it already feels good to be surrounded just by the things that I actually use and enjoy!
6. Talk to me about Sonic… is it worth a fast food stop? I’ve never had it, which is crazy considering I’ve lived within 10 minutes of one for the last eight years. I always pass it when I go to the grocery store and wonder if it’s worth a try. Tell me if it is and what you like!
7. I’ve been craving a milkshake – what’s your favorite type of milkshake??
8. Touring Pittsburgh, One Pierogi at a Time << Love this round-up of must-eat pierogi stops around Pittsburgh. I need to start hitting up some of these places!
9. Have the hockey playoffs given you a coronary yet? Game 7 last night almost did me in, but Stanley Cup Finals, here we come!
10. TGIF! Duke and Einstein wish you a fabulous weekend!
I cannot believe you live that close to a Sonic and have never been! We had one in my college town (and lots all over the town that I go grocery shopping, etc. at now) and I loved late night runs. My favorites are their milkshakes (strawberry specifically!), strawberry lime-aides, and corn dogs!
xoxo, SS
The Southern Stylista
You look so cute with that little bump! Thanks for sharing this pic with us!
GIRL! You’ve never been to Sonic? WOW! We don’t eat there much anymore, but we do LOVE the drinks! Diet Vanilla Coke is my fav – and my hubby’s! When we did go there for the food, the cheeseburgers and footlong coneys with mustard and onions are to die for – and the BEST onion rings EVER!
The 1950’s summers – I remember when! Just like you said – nothing planned, outside all day – living it up being a kid!
I used to luv Sonic until I flew my niece down for a visit and we are there everyday for a week! Lol! So I only have a few favs which are tater tots with cheese and the new chicken sandwiches r pretty good. The sonic blasts are kind of pricey and I’d take a blizzard over one of them but if I’m craving ice cream and we are there I get one. The French toast sticks and the breakfast burritos are the hubs staples! we don’t eat much fast food but they are building a chickfila right by us that we are super excited about! sonic is utterly one of 3 choices so that’s probably why we mostly eat at home! Is it just us or has fast food gotten saltier???
ironically–Sonic’s milkshakes are AMAZING (insanely high calorie but still…so so good)
a) Every time I see a picture of Joseph in his CUTE outfits, I want to scoop him up and kiss him on his arms and legs!!! He is such a precious delight!
b) I love making my own milkshake: in blender put 2 bananas, good shots of vanilla and sugar to taste (if I told you what I use I’d get slammed!), 2 ice cubes, some cream if you have it, and regular milk. Froth it up and it is ready drink. I think it is so DELICIOUS!!!!!!. Try and see what you think—bananas are good for you if they won’t bother your tummy!!!!
Greetings from the Bay Area Michelle! I have been following your blog for a while (love it!) but don’t post often. Congrats on the 2nd baby!!! Joseph will be a great big brother. Once the new baby arrives he will seem so big to you. Enjoy these next months with just him before your lives get crazy lol. My husband and I have been Sharks fans for a long time. We were at the game on Wednesday when they won and it was amazing! We are so excited to get to the Cup (finally!!!) and to be playing the Penguins, it should be a great series I can’t wait! Just wanted to say hi from one hockey/foodie fan to another : )
My favorite item at Sonic is the cherry limeade slush. In Austin, they are half price after 2 p.m. Every now and then I will order the Jr. Deluxe hamburger when I have a hankering.
Sonic’s food doesn’t agree with me, but their diet cherry limeade is totally worth a special trip. Some people rave about their shakes, but if I’m going to risk the tummyache from the combination of liquid sugar and high fat content, it’s going to be a chocolate peanut butter malt from United Dairy Farmers (local ice cream chain).
We recently lost our only Sonic in the county I live in Virginia. So many of the locals are sooo sorry about this. There is a area down the road just a tad from where Sonic was, that is called “hamburger row” – the well known fast food place, eat it only when really hungry, nothing to make a quick sandwich either. Lots of times have to deal with surly employees. Not so at Sonic. Nice young people to take your order, will fix your order any way you want it, I love that hamburgers, hot dogs, etc. comes yo you in nice aluminum bags/pouches hot and very good for fast good. I agree with others about the crushed ice. Love the limeade! Love Sonic! Hope we get another one someplace nearby soon. A gas station went up where our Sonic was, as if we needed another of those. I would suggest you give your Sonic a try. I feel you would really as well as your precious little fella’, Joseph. Contrary to another poster, as speaking as an RN, I do not believe for one moment anything from Sonic would be harmful to you or baby during this pregnancy. Enjoy your summer with the bonus of having a Sonic for one if their delicious cooling drinks, if nothing else. A loving pat on the head to the beautiful Duke and Einstein from me.
I agree with some of the other comments, Sonic is overrated! I live in the Bay Area, and and a loyal In-N-Out fan, they have have great burgers and milkshakes. Obviously I’m a Sharks fan too, after 25 years it’s exciting to finally see them in the Stanley Cup:)
I have only been to sonics twice. the food was nothing special.
but the chocolate peanutbutter shake was out of this world good.
I love, love, love Sonic’s onion rings & cherry limeades. Their burgers are blah. The picture of Joseph & his shadow is precious.
congrats so happy for you glad your feeling well love the dogs
hey look so relaxed
My husband and I moved to FL from Ohio (NE Ohio by the way so we’re very familiar with Pittsburg) last year and it took us until then to finally try Sonic. I love it now ! My suggestions are the All-American dog, the tots, and a large cherry-limeade !
We’ve had Sonic forever here in Arizona. Nothing special food wise except until recently it was the only fast food place to serve hot dogs (the chili cheese coney is the bomb) and their shakes are up there with the best.
Re: #6 & 7 – Go to Sonic and get the Coconut Cream Pie Shake. OMG yum! They also have a chocolate cream pie shake, and 1-2 others. They have happy hour drinks from 2-5 and they have a gazillion combinations. Cherry limeade is a favorite of mine, which comes in regular or diet. I’ll have to check out all the pierogies next time am in the ‘Burgh. Live in CO now, but originally from Huntingdon, PA. Go Pens!
Let’s go Pens!
I miss Sonic!! There aren’t any nearby my home in central Wisconsin :( But when we lived in Dumas, Texas (panhandle north of Amarillo) the insurance office I worked in would send someone very day during happy hour to bring back drinks..most popular was cherry limeade and vanilla diet dr. pepper!
I have never been to a Sonic’s…but see advertisements for it on TV.
GO PENGRUINS! Bet that was an exciting game! As a Blackhawk’s fan,
I will be pulling for your team to win it all!!
Have a wonderful holiday weekend!
We don’t have a Sonic very close, but whenever we do pass one, I have to get a Coke slush. I have only had their food a time or two and it was okay, but the slushes are awesome. Enjoy your weekend!
Used to live near a Sonic, but haven’t been to one since we moved to MN 13 years ago. They used to make a great raspberry milkshake that I loved!! I also like their limeade drinks. I don’t remember much about their other food.
Sonic has great milkshakes! Win win! I think they are half price after 8 in the summer as well. They are a staple here in Texas, but I don’t eat their food that often. Their happy hour is great though – lots and lots of drink/slush combinations to choose from for half price (3-5 pm). Stop in for a drink! My favorites are cranberry limeades and strawberry lemonades.
funny that you mention milkshakes right after sonic, because that’s one of my favorite things to get there! they have a lot of fun flavors and my husband loves the slushes too. the food is good and i like having tots as a side option :) worth a stop to check it out, for sure, especially since you have one close by. enjoy!
I’m a fan of a Sonic hamburger/fries about once a month, but I do drive through several times a week for my favorite drink: mango lemon water (ice water with lemon slices and mango flavoring)…..YUM! Also love their cherry limeades. Their ice is the best….most Sonics sell bags of it. Definitely try their shakes and drinks …endless combinations of flavors!!
TWO milkshakes: #1 An adult milkshake from Beer & Burger Joint in Sarasota, FL with vanilla ice cream, tres leches, & dark rum. #2 coconut & vanilla
YUM!
I love, love Sonic! But, as with any fast food, don’t get it much. I can and will shamelessly woof down an extra long chili cheese coney with a large tots smothered in chili and cheese about twice a year….don’t forget the cherry limeade to wash it down?. We will often pull in during the summer for just milkshakes as they have just about any combination you could think of, but my favorite flavor (chocolate made with chocolate ice cream, not vanilla, sadly is not one of them?). I can’t recommend eating there during pregnancy, but I would always send my husband out to get two large cups of ice from them when I was pregnant;lol!, they use those tiny little soft pellets like the ice chips you get in the hospital. He often got the side eye curious stare, but dutifully did it for me anytime I asked?
Drinks at Sonic are the best! I do love their tator tots and their onion rings have a sweet batter that is really good too. Their other food is okay for fast food – they are not gourmet burgers but they are much better than McDonalds and they are not as greasy as some others. Did you do the baby gender reveal? I will have to check…I might have missed it. Joseph looks adorable as usual and the boys (Einstein and Duke) look like they are just chillin….have a good Holiday Weekend!
Oh,…and congrats to the Pens and their fans….the Blues are now out so I’ll be rooting your team on!
Hi Maria, I did! https://www.browneyedbaker.com/gender-reveal-2016/
Sonic food is okay but too salty for my liking. Their drinks however are great!! Especially the peanut butter fudge shake. I could drink that a few times a week!
Sonic will address your milkshake craving. I would have to have Peanut Butter! Enjoy.
Cheryl
Love Sonic for their drinks. Love their Cherry Limeades and my girls love all their drinks and enjoy trying something new every time. Ours has happy hour prices during the week, half price drinks! Nothing special about their food.
I love the milkshakes at Sonic. My favorite is the peanut butter fudge one. I also like their chili cheese tots and coney dogs.
I’ll agree with the rest. Sonic’s food is ok (I like that the offer alternatives to fries), but the drinks and desserts are where it’s at! I love the lemon berry real fruit slush and the cream shakes! I used to order a chocolate shake with banana all the time. All the Sonics in our town closed down several years ago, but there are a couple in the next town over. If we are in the area we will sometimes stop for a treat :)
I have always kind of wanted to try Sonic, but honestly I don’t really eat fast food soon I have no idea why it appeals to me so much.
I definitely think kids today should slow down summer. I never had many plans. Though I hated school and was often unhappy as a child, I have been thinking lately about how great some of those summers were. Wish I could go back!
I’ve never actually eaten anything from Sonic aside from tots, but cherry limeades are my weakness whenever I’m nearby. Totally worth the stop!
Michelle, I couldn’t resist posting this pic of the most recent, and youngest, Penguins fan!
http://bigben7.com/
Cutest thing ever!
I grew up in upstate NY, but my husband is a Texan. He grew up on Sonic’s grape slushes and tots. We have a Sonic up the street from us here in SW Ohio. My favorites are the cherry limeades, tots, and shakes, especially their chocolate cream pie shake. And, their pellet ice is awesome. I buy two bags every few weeks. The smaller pieces get your drinks cold FAST!
Sonic drinks are amazing! Especially the slushes and blasts.
I remember those long summers of just being a kid and playing for hours on end.
The neighborhood kids would organize any number of things to do…lots and lots of pretend play…one day we were adventurers stalking wild things through the back yard bushes, another day we might be playing “office ” or rehearsing and performing a play for our parents. We would stay out from morning to evening with the only break for lunch. Nothing was planned and hardly ever were parents involved. We were just kids hanging out and relying on our imaginations to direct each day. To say things are different in this day and age is an understatement!
Sonic is a must for their drinks–I crave their crushed ice! Their food–meh. Their peanut butter shakes are kind of amazing, too.
When I was pregnant with my first I would have a Sonic coke float every Sunday ?. I’ve since stopped drinking soda but they were sooo good! I don’t remember their food being that worth it and ours has since closed.
You didn’t ask but “Peaceful Parent, Happy Siblings” by Dr Laura Markham is great and she has wonderful advice when adding a new baby. I got it from the library and liked it so much I bought it. [End unsolicited advice]
Happy Friday Michelle! The Pens game was so stressful especially the third period. So excited we are going to the finals!
As for pierogies if you can’t get traditional ones from church ladies then my favorites are from Forgotten Taste (locations in Moon and Wexford).
Go to Sonic during Happy Hour (2-4pm) for half price drinks. The limeades are great and right now they are featuring frozen lemonade and limeades. Their shakes are good to and half priced after 8pm.
Have a great holiday weekend.
No, Sonic is NOT worth the stop…for food anyways. It’s just ok food, nothing special. What we DO like are their slushies & Happy Hour prices!!! ;)
I thought of you too last night while the hockey game was on. Fell asleep right at the end, and I’m not pregnant! Speaking of which, Michelle, you look adorable. Joseph is going to be a wonderful big brother.
I thought of you last night as I held the sheets up to my eyes….so many times that game was “over” only to get a reboot! That last 10.4 seconds, OMG! Nearly stopped breathing. Super excited they’re in the Finals, but, really, how late are we going to have to stay up with games in San Jose?????
I go to that Sonic on occasion before work if its open (the down side to working the night shift in our area where everything closes so early. Makes for unhappy hotel guests looking for food). Usually I’m just looking for snack foods, so I’ll usually order just a mozzarella stick and a jr burger. It’s not the greatest burger, but I feel it tastes better than McDonald’s. I also like their milk shakes (cheesecake is my favorite, but they had a limited time one called bourbon brown sugar creamery shake that was amazing, not sure if it’s still around), a blast (their version of a blizzard), slush, or cream slush (slush with soft serve mixed in. LOVE the orange creme slush). Once in a while I’ll just get a large coke or sprite if I’m just looking for bubbles (and possibly caffeine).
Probably about all, I go for the ice. Ours has the small pebble ice that I love, and I always ask for just a cup of ice to go with my order, and/or I’ll buy a bag of ice to take home. And, the one you are talking about near you, has employs some of the best workers in the fast food industry. I really don’t go often (maybe once every other month), but they do remember me (trying to figure out if that’s a good or bad thing lol), and they are always happy and friendly, and if an order is wrong, they are quick to get it right.
Have a great Memorial Day Weekend. Bring on the Sharks :)
There’s a Sonic near our house, and we do like it. I like their Caesar chicken sandwich best. Their hamburgers are what I would call bland, but sometimes that’s what I want! Also, if you want a chili dog or corn dog, that’s the place. They also have tater tots & onion rings, which not everyone has.
They’re known for their shakes and slushes & they do things like half price shakes after 8:00 pm during the summers. They also have soft-serve ice cream treats — A soft-serve cone is just the thing sometimes. I don’t know if this is the case everywhere, but around here, they use the old fashioned crushed ice for their drinks. Some people love that, and it’s hard to find. I understand you can even just buy a bag of ice from them!
Of course, it’s junk food, but now & then it’s a fun treat.