Friday Things
1. I am in total love with this picture of Joseph walking through my father-in-law’s garden. It reminds me of pictures I’ve seen of myself as a toddler “helping” my grandpap in his own garden. Also, we’ve made the transition from high chair to booster seat and he looks like such a big boy sitting at the table :)
2. So, super discouraging news on the glucose screening I had last week… I failed :(  Which means I have to do the three-hour test next week. Just crossing my fingers that I fall into the two-thirds of people that fail the screening with a false positive but pass the actual diagnostic test. Ugh!
3. My blog redesign is officially underway, woo! Don’t worry – nothing crazy different, but a much-needed facelift along with some tech upgrades to make it work that much better for you. That being said, I’d love to know your thoughts on the mix of content here on BEB – I share a pretty wide assortment of recipes – are you yay or nay on this? Any other types of content aside from recipes you’d appreciate seeing? Thanks in advance for your input!
4. Talk to me about Jeni’s ice cream… I’m a huge, huge fan of Graeter’s and haven’t ever given Jeni’s a try, but I know it’s super popular. How do they compare? I saw on Facebook that they are now selling “street treats“, which are single serve containers. Totally takes me back to grade school with that little wooden spoon, and I kind of want to buy all the flavors! (I’ll need to disregard this if I end up failing my three-house test mentioned above, bleh.)
5. I’ve done a total 180 over the last ten years when it comes to texting vs calling. When texting first became a “thing”, I haaaaaated it. HATED it. I couldn’t understand why someone would text me something instead of just calling. Now, I shudder if I hear my phone ring; I hate talking on the phone if I can help it. Text and email forever, please.
6. Do you have an eye makeup remover that you love? I’ve been using Lancome Bi-facil, which has always worked great for me, but lately there’s still been a ton of mascara landing on my towel after I’ve washed my face. Maybe I’m not using enough, or having enough patience getting it all off?
7. We had a great time at the Billy Joel concert last Friday night – he put on a fabulous show! My husband snagged an awesome photo once the sun went down:
8. Interesting graphic about the discrepancy between the foods that nutritionists and “regular” people classify as healthy and unhealthy >> Where Americans and Nutritionists Disagree
9. We’re pretty much done with all of the shows we had been watching… finally finished all of the seasons of 24/7 (that was a marathon!), but still have the “Live Another Day” installment to watch. In the meantime, impatiently waiting on Netflix to release the latest season of Blacklist, and about to start back up on Tyrant. We watched a great movie last weekend – The Imitation Game – highly recommend! What are you watching?
10. TGIF! Hope you’re enjoying these dog days of summer!
Still loving Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt on Netflix! Lots of fun. :)
Gestational diabetes is basically a made up thing. I can’t believe that doctors/Midwives are still screening and making women take the 3 hour test (btw, isn’t it really 4 before you can eat again?) Starving your baby for 4 hours is not healthy. I did the screening with my first baby because I didn’t know any better, and I got good advice to do it first thing in the morning on an empty stomach – that way your sugars would already be low. For the 2nd baby, I tried to get out of it, but I had a little protein in my urine at the appointment that day, so I did the screening and of course I failed because I had eaten M&C or some other high carb lunch. So, off they send me for the 3 hour – I missed one number by the difference of 1! They had me see a nutritionist and take blood sugars 2 x a day, but I didn’t change my diet, and I had a 7.5lb baby. I have a friend who’s sugars where so high during her pregnancies that she ended up taking insulin, and she had these peanut babies. They say that the risk of GD is large babies, and they scare you with things like death, but it rarely does if ever. The fact is that insulin sensitivity is a normal side effect of pregnancy.
I love everything about your website: great recipes, Weekend Dish, pictures of your cute little boy and of course, Einstein and Duke. Good luck on the glucose test!
Haven’t tried either of those ice cream brands, but I’ve located them near me so they are on my list to pick up and try. As for eye make-up remover, I’m a huge fan of The Body Shop’s CAMOMILE GENTLE EYE MAKEUP REMOVER. I’m prety sure it’s available at Ulta, but you can also buy it from their online store since they no longer do Direct Sales. And I’m with you on the texting and email. HATE to actually talk on the phone to anyone other than my mom or dad or the occasional late night bestie phone call. ;-)
LOVE Graeter’s – Jeni’s is not worth paying twice the price. Yes, the flavors are unique but they aren’t worth $10 a pint or shop scoop prices. Graeters does a great job keeping flavors seasonal.
Umm..never eat Jeni’s Ice Cream because you will never be able to eat any other kind of ice cream again. Seriously! It’s totally worth the trip/money to have it.
Neutrogena “makeup remover cleansing towelettes” (only get the kind in the light blue packaging because Neutrogena makes wipes in different scents but to me only this type removes makeup as advertised). They get all my makeup off with a couple easy wipes including waterproof mascara. There are many other wipes on the market but they don’t come close to cleaning like these. You can buy them through Amazon. They sell a plastic case to go with them but don’t bother with that; the refill pack is all you need since it can be resealed to keep moisture in.
I’m not one to buy more expensive beauty products but I have been using Estee Lauder Take It Away Lotion for as long as I can remember and I love it. It takes off waterproof mascara and all day lipstick easily. One bottle lasts me 6 months at least. I am guessing you could get a same at the counter.
I have fallen in love with Outlander on Starz. I now am on to the books. There are 8. I am on book 5. Both are really great.
Your blog content is great the way it is. Enjoy the recipes, bookmarks, Sunday dinners, Tuesday and Friday columns.
Hey! What booster seat did you get, if you don’t mind me asking? We are making the transition as well and would love any reccomondations!
Also, yes to Ray Donovan! And Homeland, also on Showtime. We also just got in to the Americans and are totally addicted.
The booster seat actually came with our high chair (it’s the Graco 4-in-1). LOVE Homeland and The Americans!!
I love, love, love your Friday Things posts and The Weekend Dish with your favorite bookmarks. I’m always curious to see what YOU think is new and interesting and fun!
I picked up some Jeni’s at Whole Foods (it was SO expensive — over $10! — but I’d wanted to try it) and was sadly very underwhelmed. I thought for the price it would be the Holy Grail of ice cream! Perhaps it’s better at one of the scoop shops? Graeter’s by the pint is far better in my opinion. That being said, Jeni’s recipes for homemade ice cream are fantastic (Gooey Butter Cake and Buckeye State in particular) and would be great for you to try for Joseph, since (as someone else mentioned above) they don’t have eggs!
Jeni’s is good but overrated. I love the funky flavors but they don’t hold a candle to Graeter’s. (Graeter’s black raspberry chip forever!) Also, on two separate occasions my husband and I had horrible food poisoning after eating Jeni’s. I didn’t think much of it until Jeni’s had the listeria scare last year but after reading about some of the conditions at their processing facility I’m definitely leery of going back! (But the worst offense is that Jeni’s 7 Layer Bar ice cream doesn’t even have butterscotch! That’s blasphemy in my book!)
Good luck on your 3 hour test. I failed the first one but passed the 3 hour on one of my pregnancies. Mary Kay eye makeup remover….it’s great.
I love Jeni’s. And I especially love MAKING her ice cream – she has a fantastic method NOT involving eggs that delivers the most creamy, delicious homemade ice cream. You should get her book and try it. (I have a few recipes on my blog as well.) I loved Imitation Game, too! How interesting to think that was the first computer… I like your content, too. No need to change a thing.
I found for makeup remover that micellar water was a game changer! For me I found using regular makeup remover or coconut oil a bit greasy but this stuff is amazing.
Also re: content I love the mix you have on here. I think it’s absolutely perfect and you’re the only food blogger I follow religiously because all your recipes are winners and I like the variety of things you post. Cheers :)
I agree with the people saying oil to take off make up. It can be baby oil, olive oil, coconut oil etc.
re: make-up remover – I had the same issue until I switched to one specifically for eye make-up which was how I solved the mascara trail. Clinique is my favorite because it’s not oily but I’ve also used Neutrogena and Almay.
re: tv shows – my favorite for the past three years has been Turn: Washington’s Spies. It’s not a documentary but a dramatization of actual historical events with a few artistic liberties or re-interpretation to move the story along. It’s aired on AMC. Seasons 1 & 2 are on Netflix and Season 3 is on demand until the end of August.
I second the recommendation for Turn; my husband and I have been hooked since the first episode. Extremely suspenseful!
We actually watch Turn, too! Great, great show! Bummed that this season is already over!
JENIS! just had to comment to say how delicious her ice creams and her buttermilk frozen yogurts are (real frozen yogurt not like the froyo toppings places) Lemon Blueberry and brambleberry crisp are divine. I am having Jeni’s ice cream truck at my wedding in a few months so I am a bit biased.
I ADORE Jeni’s ice cream. I have her cookbook full of ice cream recipes, and her method is the only way that I’ll make ice cream. It’s creamy, rich, and egg-free. Truly some of the best I’ve ever had.
Graeter’s all the way for me! Double chocolate chip is my favorite. I’ve only tried Jeni’s once and I don’t remember what I had. I’m open to trying different types of food, but I’m kind of traditional when it comes to ice cream. Also, the Jeni’s store in my town is in the “downtown” area and finding parking is a pain. Graeter’s is on my way home from work, so it’s a lot more convenient. :-)
I love your blog. Love the mix of recipes, updates about Joseph and the dogs. I agree with someone earlier who would like pictures with your “Top Recipes for…” Personally, I would like more dinner recipes, but your site IS the BrownEyedBAKER, not the BrownEyedCook! I’m not a big fan of some other updated food blogs where it’s difficult to determine the newest recipes. Those are great if you’re stopping by the site for the first time, I suppose, but annoying when you check the site often.
You have a great blog, but I really have a hard time reading it on my iPad due to all the pop-up ads that cover your content. Pretty annoying.
I like the mix of recipes you share on your blog and love that you include your pups as well. I’d love to see more dog treat recipes here and there. :)
Hi Michelle! Just a random comment- I love the snapshot your hubby took at Billy Joel. I saw him when he came to Hershey a few summers ago and he puts on an AMAZING show. Glad you got to see him! Also, I just visited Pittsburgh for the first time last week and wow- what a great city! My boyfriend and I ate at Butcher and the Rye (have you been? I swear it was one of the greatest restaurants I’ve ever been to) and then hit up the beer garden at Emporio after dinner. And before we left town, I made it a necessity that we hit up Primanti. I had the spicy capicola and it was everything I hoped for and more. Y’all have some amazing restaurants and bars!!! As far as your blog goes, keep up the great work and I don’t think you should change a thing. I credit you for teaching me how to bake and cook, your FIL’s pasta sauce is still the star of the show every time I make it, and I just think you are fabulous :)
I swear by DHC’s Deep Cleansing Oil. One step cleaning! It takes off all of your makeup. No need for separate products. One squirt, gently massaged over your face – including the eyes – and then rinse. It’s made of olive oil but
doesn’t make your skin greasy, is very gentle, and it really cleans pores. (Not a paid spokesperson! ?)
I love your Friday Things posts the most :) Jeni’s is good- more unique flavors than Graeter’s. I like Mary Kay’s makeup remover, as well as the Almay eye makeup remover pads- super convenient :)
For eye makeup remover, I just have a can of grapeseed oil in my bathroom and dab some on a cotton pad. A little goes a long way, and the container lasts forever (and also cheaper than any cosmetic). I don’t have oily skin, so I don’t mind having a bit of oily sheen left under my eyes, but you could always use a cleanser afterward if that was a concern. Have a good week!!
I am getting my email with your post for the day much later than before, I still have not gotten it for today and before your update I always had it before 6. One suggestion I would like to make is that it would be helpful if you took a picture of all of the ingredients you will be using for your recipe. Thanks keep up the great work on your blog.
My daughter attends The Ohio State University and we have been enjoying Jeni’s ice cream for the past three years. It is amazing. All homemade, interesting flavors (fresh mint), different flavors every time and very high quality. Expensive, but worth it. It is a must for dessert after a dinner at Marcella’s on High Street. Excellent restaurant. Try the meatball!
Korres’ Greek Yoghurt Foaming Cream Cleanser. It changed my life. Takes off all stubborn makeup AND not drying at all. No more raccoon eyes for me. (especially because I’m too lazy to remove my eye makeup seperately) Joseph is too cute! He’s growing up so fast :)
I failed my 1 hour on both of my pregnancies and passed the 3 hour each time. Make sure your phone is charged or you bring plenty to read because it’s a long time to be at the lab. My doctor also advised me not to change my diet leading up to it in order to pass it (I have a crazy sweet tooth) and make sure you fast for 12 hours prior.
A good eye makeup remover is Neutrogena. It’s my go-to and even works really well with waterproof mascara (I’m an eye rubber so I don’t wear anything else).
I love Jeni’s ice cream. The milkiest chocolate in the world is INSANE! The reciep in her book is just as delicious as the shop version. Also, I’ve been using the Body Shop’s Camomile Gentle Eye Makeup Remover for years – you can get it at Ulta too. It’s super gentle but removes everything without the oily residue!
I love the mixed content! Great recipes, lovely little thoughts, stories and pictures about your family and I’m also a big fan of that little segment in Weekend Dish where you share your bookmarks. I’ve found so many other great blogs through this. I think what I like about it is the fact it’s not that big of a deal and that I know you’re sharing these recipes because you ACTUALLY think they sound great, and not because you have to.
Hope all goes well with your next glucose screening!
Best wishes from Germany :)
I second Jen from Germany- and I’m a Californian :-)
I use the MaryKay eye makeup remover too, splash some on a cotton ball, use, and the wash my face. I wear contacts but I take them out before I remove my makeup, I heard that was better eye care.
I use Philosophy’s Purity as my cleanser. It is very gentle & you can go to town rubbing it on your eyes to dissolve the makeup. It doesn’t burn my eyes & I wear contacts. That’s all I use for makeup removing/cleansing.
I love your blog and really look forward to the pictures of Joseph and Duke and Einstein on Fridays. I like the mix of recipes and enjoy Baking Basics. Your recipes are great, and I can trust they will turn out well. Thank you for the work you put into your blog.
I love your website! One suggestion would be to do step by step photographs of your recipes – those really help me!
As far as eye makeup remover – Mary Kay’s Makeup Remover is the bomb dot com! I’m not a big fan of Mary Kay in general, but this stuff is amazing!
I second the step-by-step instruction! Especially on more complicated recipes like bread and cakes!
We love Ray Donovan on Showtime!
Also, would love a search feature that lists most recent recipes first. Sometimes it is hard to find what I’m looking for. Thank you!
In general I’m not much of an ice cream fan, but I do appreciate it now and again. I prefer the plainer, more traditional flavors. Jeni’s Milkiest Chocolate is wonderful.
I’ve come to accept texting, but when I need information in a hurry, I still prefer a call.
My preferred make up remover is olive oil. I had used something that was olive oil based, but it was pricey and I ran out of it. It had done a better job of removing eye makeup than anything I’d used previously. So I tried extra virgin olive oil and it works like a charm. I pour a small amount, about the size of a nickel, into the palm of my hand, spread it on my face and remove with a tissue. Inexpensive, completely natural and does a great job.
I use coconut oil to remove my makeup. I have psoriasis so my skin is super sensitive and this worked the best.
I love your website and the variety of recipes you have. Please keep as much of the original as possible. I enjoy your baking recipes and wait for Fridays to hear about Joseph and Saturdays to learn of your weekend family meals. I appreciate ALL the time and creativity you put into this blog.
Best mascara/eye make-up remover…Clinique Rinse-off Eye Make-up Solvent…works superbly every time and goes a long way.
Have a good weekend!
So, I do have a couple of suggestions for the new website. I loved the Bakers Basic’s and I haven’t seen one in a few weeks. I wish you would continue those, and when you do lists or groups of recipes, like the ones you do for July 4th, I wish each recipe had a picture to go with it. I pick recipes with my eyes first. :-) Just my two cents. Thanks for having such a great blog! You rock!
Jessi
I love JENI’S. We have both JENI’S and Graeter’s in my area. Both are really good but JENI’S has more intense flavor somehow, and she has more modern, upbeat flavors without being odd. The salted caramel says it all. Many of flavors are made without eggs, checkout her website.
Now Graeter’s toppings can’t be beat, especially the black raspberry!
I failed the glucose too but did pass the long one. :) As for your blog, I love all the different recipes, love Friday things and love hearing about Joseph. So I’m hoping for no big change!
coming from someone who failed a glucose test it is quite possible to go on and pass the long one. the worst part was the boredom and not being allowed to leave during the blood draw. my best to you. thanks for continuingto post great recipes
Re: cleansers – do you double cleanse? I use an oil based cleaner (I think it’s Korean but it’s available on Amazon) to get most of the makeup off before using face wash. I find that does a better job with removing the waterproof (read: stubborn) makeup. Alternatively, you could try tubing mascara… L’Oreal makes a really good one that stays put and doesn’t give you raccoon eyes.
I was just about to say the same thing about double cleansing; I use Palmer’s facial cleansing oil with rosehip and it takes my waterproof mascara off with minimal agony.
Plus, it’s super inexpensive and as good as DHC’s Deep Cleansing Oil, which I love, but can’t afford at the moment.