Friday Things
1. Duke is ELEVEN months old today! Gah! He still looks like a little puppy in this picture :)
2. I have been seeing so many blooming rhododendron bushes over the last week, I feel like they’re everywhere, and they’re gorgeous! I just love their color. I need a handful of potted plants to spruce up the front door and the back patio for summer. Any suggestions?
3. Have you tried the CND Vinylux long-lasting nail polish? I’m totally intrigued and wondering if it really lasts all that much longer than regular polish. Also, has anyone tried just the top coat with another brand of nail polish? I’m totally an Essie girl and love their colors!
4. My sister showed up at my house last Sunday with a bag of dark chocolate sea salt caramels from Mon Aimee Chocolat, which is located in the Strip District of Pittsburgh. OH.MY.GOD. Needless to say, they were polished off before the day was over, and yesterday, she brought me another bag. If you live in Pittsburgh, you HAVE to try them! I need to get to the store and check out everything else they have!
5. So, I finally got around to checking out Scandal; I watched the first three episodes this week. I’m not sure that it lives up to the intensity of shows like House of Cards and Homeland, but it was a decent watch. My sister said it gets better toward the end of the first season, so I’m holding out hope.
6. In the meantime, I’m pseudo-watching the Stanley Cup playoffs, half-heartedly watching a little baseball, and this week we started watching the miniseries on the History Channel, The World Wars. I get sucked into history stuff like that; I find it so interesting. We’ve watched one part, two more to go!
7. I finally saw Captain Phillips last weekend, and oh my, I just could not imagine being in that situation. I thought it was a great movie, plus I love Tom Hanks. We’re definitely due to check out some more movies!
8. I’m loving this post by Food in Jars about storing fresh produce without plastic bags, and I totally want all of the products she mentioned.
9. I’ve been hearing about cutting baked goods with dental floss for quite awhile now, but just recently tried it myself. It’s awesome. Such clean, non-messy slices! Just make sure to use unflavored floss and to cut on a flat surface. I realized when trying to do this on a cake plate with a lip around the edge that it was nearly impossible to maneuver the floss the whole way to the bottom. Check out this You Tube video for a demonstration on how to do it.
10. TGIF! Sunday is JUNE! Bring on the dog days of summer!
I live near Chicago, IL and am in Grove City, PA this week. My husband and I decided to take a day trip out to Pittsburgh yesterday to check out Mon Aimee Chocolat, and I have to say that I was not disappointed! So delish, and I picked up a few other goodies beyond the dark chocolate sea salt caramels, which are indeed to-die-for. We also checked out Grandpa Joe’s candy Shoppe across the street…so fun! Great for non-chocolate people such as my husband. Thanks for posting this, I would have never known about these places without your blog : )
Hi Lauren, That’s so awesome! I’m glad you enjoyed the strip and the different chocolate and candy shops :) I’m always thrilled when someone enjoys my hometown :)
The CND Vinylux line is AMAZING! I think the regular polishes are probably a bit better/longer lasting than Essie, but it’s really the CND top coat that does the trick. I would recommend if you do get this to take the time to really prep your nails because that makes a big difference. Using this with Essie does make a difference. I like to apply the top coat after a day or two and keep applying for a longer lasting mani. My spa uses this brand and it takes me about 10 minutes to scrub my nail polish off when the time comes – and the time comes when my nails grow out, not when they chip!
Happy almost birthday Duke. What a cutie!
These look soooo good. I love that they are little squares, makes it last longer .
So so so beautiful!!
Have a great weekend :)
I love the picture of Einstein! They both are so cute! Checking out the storage of fresh fruits/veggies! Great idea and eliminates all that plastic!
forgot to add Duke in the “I love goldens” part of my post! probably because my Chorkie, Roscoe, is begging for me to get off & play!
I haven’t tried the CND top coat, but I do the love the Gelous Nail Gel coat. It’s only like 5 or 6 bucks from Sally, and makes my polish last all week long. I layer it all the time with my Essie polish, I highly recommend it!
Those dogs get more adorable everyday.
That puppy is adorable! Love the tips of keeping produce fresh – thank you!
Yes! Get the CND Vinylux line! I only have a couple colors and then there is the top coat….which is the BEST top coat ever. I am an OPI and Essie girl myself and I use the CND top coat on everything! Makes them last a super long time! I get so many compliments on my nails!
1–love that face!
2–sun or shade?
4–I’m moving to PIttsburgh!
7–scary and awesome. I ‘m not sure I could have watched it all if I didn’t already know they survived. Yikes!
9–I have to try it!
10–Happy June!
Tom Hanks was so good in Captain Phillips. Such an intense movie and performances. We saw Chef this week – great foodie movie and just a fun, feel good movie! Looks like I’m in the minority, but I think Scandal jumped the shark this last season – got a little too far out there for me but I was hooked for the first 2 seasons. Love those pooches!
I love Scandal! Keep watching it definitely gets better with more twists and turns as it goes on.
As far as flowers for pots, if you don’t have a large deer population, I love Gerber Daisies, because of the many colors they come and and once they bloom, the blooms last for several days. Also Martha Washington geraniums, they are a little more delicate looking than a regular geranium, but just as hardy and again a good selection of colors.
Happy 11month Birthday to Duke!
Michelle, I love sun patiens if you get a lot of sun where you want to put your flowers. Beautiful flowers, many colors to choose from. There are many beautiful colors in geraniums too! If it’s shady, try impatiens.
Happy birthday, Duke! Hard to believe that time has flown so fast! I hope Einstein’s ears are doing a little better each day.
We use “Green Bags” and they really work! I like the idea of these containers, though and will definitely check into them. Again, thanks for your little tips!
I just bought a Rubbermaid container to keep veggies fresh, it totally works. I will try it your way!
How is Einstein’s ear?
Sheila
It’s getting a bit better! The hematoma is starting to reabsorb and turn into scar tissue. Thanks for asking :)
That’s good news! :)
Sheila
Taking my daughter to Pittsburgh on Monday to start a 10-week internship. I have been saving up your recommendations for some time and have added Mon Aimee Chocolat to the list after checking out their website – I hope it’s cool enough for hot chocolate! I’m old enough to be your mother and love your posts! Thank you for your stories, observations and delicious recipes!
Oh man! There’s nothing I love more, candy-wise, than salted caramels. Oh my gosh. I’m super tempted because I live in Troy Hill and the Strip is definitely within bike distance, heheh. Might have to make little trip today, since it’s my day off.
I’m the opposite of you when it comes to sports. I have no idea what’s going on with hockey, but I always have one eye on the Pirates, for sure! I AM really interested in the new World Wars Miniseries, though! I don’t have cable so I can’t wait to stream it, when possible!
My husband and I are hooked on Scandal. We watch them through Netflix and are all caught up! My husband is not much for TV shows like that, but even he is hooked!
Thanks for such a great blog and website!
Love your Friday posts and the puppy pics. It looks like Duke has finally grown into those huge paws he had as a little guy…such a handsome boy.
Those golden boys are to die for!
Love your Pooches!! So cute!!!!
Keep watching Scandal…trust me you’ll be hooked. It will get better. Wait until you get to season 2 and 3 …oh my! I watched seasons 1 and 2 on Netflix in about 1 weeks times and season 3 I watched with hubby. IM HOOKED!!!!
Have a wonderful weekend :D
Debbie
Yikes, how did summer come so fast. I am excited and in disbelief all at the same time.
About the CND top coat. I have used one of thiers with some small blue sparkles in it and layered it over some if my Essie polishes (my fave too). It looks beautiful and shiny and my nails last almost a full week with little chipping. (Which is is a miricle since I garden, cook, paint and lift weights, haha!) It’s really great stuff!
O. EM. GEE. I love goldens! Look at this fella’ – so handsome! I’m dying from cute overload.
Scandal is awesome! Keep watching. It only gets better!!!