Friday Things
1. When this little devil isn’t causing trouble, he’s absurdly handsome :)
2. Did you see this video on the mathematically correct way to cut a cake? It would definitely keep it fresher if you have leftovers, but my Chief Culinary Consultant noted that the last pieces would have an extraordinarily high frosting-to-cake ratio. That’s fine by me, but I know a lot of people that scrape frosting off of cake (it’s like I don’t even know you!).
3. Do you remember the new crochet project that I mentioned a few weeks ago? Well, now that the cat is out of the bag, I can share it with you! I am making this rainbow baby blanket, which I saw on Pinterest well over a year ago and saved with the intention of attempting to make one day when I got pregnant. It seemed totally overwhelming when looked at it, but I’m just doing a square at a time and it’s not bad at all. I have the pattern mostly memorized and can finish one square in about 30-40 minutes. I’m so excited to see it turn into a blanket!
4. While we’re on the subject, I have some private pregnancy and baby-related Pinterest boards that I’ve been keeping for awhile. Yay or nay on making them public? I don’t want to inundate you all with baby stuff, but if you’d be interested in seeing that stuff pop up in your feed, let me know!
5. This BuzzFeed list of 18 Secrets People in a Long-Term Relationship Won’t Tell You is awesome… #7 is totally representative of our house… down to position on the couch and me on my laptop and my husband on his phone. I always get bummed when I tell him something he’s already seen ;-)
6. During my last trip to the grocery store, I bought fruit bars and Haagen Dazs ice cream bars. As soon as I did, the temperatures dropped dramatically and it’s feeling more like spring or fall outside. If that’s the trick to pleasant summer weather, I’ll stock up every single week. This weather has been fabulous!
7. In my newest issue of Real Simple magazine, there was a blurb about organizing photos. They recommended the website ScanMyPhotos.com; you can send up to 1,800 photos in one box and they scan them all and put them on DVD and send them back. I am seriously considering doing this for the umpteen photo albums I have from high school and college that are still sitting on the top shelf of my bedroom closet at my mom’s house.
8. So, I finallllllly finished all three seasons of Scandal. It ended up being so much better than I anticipated after the first couple of episodes! Now, I’m totally hooked and want the new season to start immediately, because I am most definitely not okay with the way the last season ended. I’m 100% on Team Fitz… can’t they just move to Vermont and make jam already?!
9. I definitely go in spurts when it comes to my photography, aside from recipe photography. I love this compilation of 14 Photography Project Ideas to get a jump-start on playing around with the camera more often!
10. TGIF! I hope your weekend is more comfortable than Einstein’s nap appears to be…
I am in love with the blanket! I am trying to make it but I am so confused on the pattern. Did you watch a video or just follow the pictures?
Hi Ryan, I had to google a lot of the individual stitches to refresh my memory, but then once I had them down, I was able to just go off of that pattern.
i’m probably the only one… but I hate when my favorite food blogs turn into baby blogs.. LOVE the dogs though!!!!
Congrats on the pregnancy! What an exciting time for you! Thanks so much for sharing the blanket link. I love it and plan on making it for my daughters. did you end up going with the recommended Koigu yarn or a different brand?
Hi Diana, Thank you so much! I am using the Koigu yarn for the blanket.
That cake video is ridiculous! First of all, in what universe does someone cut themselves one piece of cake each day and then put the rest in the fridge?!?! If I’m having cake, there are people over and most of it will be eaten right away. If there are leftovers, it’s a rare thing for it to make it to the third day and certainly NEVER to the fourth. Also, this method would only work for fondant covered cakes or you would get icing all over your hands when you pushed the pieces together.
That blanket is gorgeous! Can’t wait to see your finished product.
I watched the first episode of Scandal because so many people were talking about the show, and it irritated the crap out of me. Seemed like it was trying to mimic Aaron Sorkin in style and pace, and I hate his shows. I’ve heard from many people that it gets better throughout the first season, but I’m not sure if I will give it another try.
I love # 10 on that list: Even we don’t know the backstory to some of our inside jokes. So true! That makes me laugh. My husband and I have also forgotten so many of our inside jokes over the years. I’ll read an old card with one in it and say, “What did that MEAN? We don’t even say that one anymore!”
I thought the same thing about Scandal! My sister had been begging me to watch it, so I watched the first episode and didn’t really like it. Then, I watched the next two and still really wasn’t sure. She told me to just stick with it, it gets better towards the end of the first season and then really good in seasons 2 and 3. She was right!
Congratulations on your pregnancy! Definitely share your boards. Your dogs are so cute
Michelle,
Congratulations on the baby news!!!
I don’t get why our furry friends scrunch themselves up so much when they sleep. I would be crippled if I did that.
Annamaria
I’m a happy gramma of four lovely granddaughters! I would love you to share all the happy baby news you want! It’s nice to share in someone else’s joy.
Hi Michelle, I’m all for sharing in the joy of your pregnancy! How about instead of random blasts you dedicate Wednesday…over the hump day or in your case we’ll call it “over the bump day” and you can showcase your sharings
Kthat way?
I love this idea!
OH PS! Lemme know if you need a King Cake or two to help with any of those late night cravings ;) (we get them all year long here not just at Mardi Gras)
Hi Michelle, I would love to have updates on your pregnancy and see all your baby boards! Congrats from NOLA!
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Yay, on making your boards public on pinterest. My boys are almost grown now, but I have my 2nd niece or nephew on the way!
I love Scandal! Can’t wait until the new season starts.
Hi Michelle, I would love to have updates on your pregnancy and baby! I live in SW Florida and it’s 92 right now, but I love it!
I enjoyed this read…as I usually do! I’d LOVE to see your pregnancy board! PLEASE SHARE IT!!!
Love the blanket you are making!! And I am totally on Team Fitz. I can’t stand Melly and I just want he and Olivia to move to Vermont already and be happy. I guess there would be no show then… Happy Friday!
Haha, my sister said the same thing to me when I complained that they didn’t just run off to Vermont together – “Then the show would be over, silly!”. But STILL!
Your pups are adorable, and that blanket is perfect for a little one! I wish I’d been able to take the time to learn how to crochet or knit – now it seems intimidating :) I’m working on making quilts for my two girls (they’re 2 and 8 months). I’d love to see your baby boards on Pinterest! Congratulations again on your pregnancy :)
Duke is a handsome boy – I bet he looks angelic asleep, too! :-)
That baby blanket is really nice – are you going to make it big enough for an older child? I think that would be awesome for your youngin’ to use in years to come on his/her twin bed! While I’m at it – I would LOVE to see your baby things on Pinterest! I say GO FOR IT!
I love the “18 Secrets,” but after 38 years of marriage (we got married a month after I graduated from high school), been there, got the t-shirt. But, I have to honestly say that when he texts me, he always tells me he loves me and in every telephone conversation and whenever we leave for the day.
I’m going to check out scanmyphotos – that may just be an answer for me! Thanks for that!
Our oldest son and family is moving to Texas (we are in Arkansas) so our weekend will be spent at this house about 60 miles away. We won’t be seeing them as often now, so it is bittersweet. Hope you have a great weekend!
Hi Robin, I am making the big version, so I can use it for the baby just as a blanket to lay on, but then can be used for naps, on a bed, etc. as they get older.
I think #10 and #11 hit home the most with me of long time relationship won’t tell you list. #18 is something we try and do more often :) Love the dog pictures. Happy weekend!
That blanket is stunning. The squares themselves are gorgeous – I could see it being just as beautiful if they were all in a cream color, highlighting the swirl in the squares. Or, you could do all shades of blue (or red, etc.) making an ombre effect – so many options.
When I clicked on the link to the blanket I first saw a big picture of the large blanket. As soon as I saw it I knew it was from Purl Soho. Their things are so distinctive. I’d love to make a baby one for future grand babies and a full size one for me. But I think I’d have to change the yarn to something more affordable (and probably easier to care for).
Hi Sally, I read a lot of comments on that thread for tips, and a number of people used different yarn – the girl who originally posted the blanket said just to make sure it is a fingering weight yarn.
ok… who doesn’t like frosting on a cake? I mean its the best part of the cake. To scrape if off of the cake..thats just plain wrong.
ok…who does that? why would anyone scrape frosting off a cake? its the best part of the cake. :D
Congrats on the pregnancy! As a mom of 12-year old triplet boys, the saying is true — the days seem long but the years go by so quickly! Enjoy.every.minute! Love your golden, too —- we got our first Golden two years ago. I thought I was a dog lover with my previous dogs — but I love our Golden (“Izzy”) more than it’s possibly even reasonable to love a dog! I brad about her like she’s one of my sons! LOL ;-)
I don’t know why, but that cake-cutting video was kind of irritating to me. My mother, and every mother in our neighborhood, used almost this exact same method. Plus, I imagine the mathematical “genius” who wrote in was only describing what his wife already did. Anyway, I think the wedge method is actually closer to mathematical perfection, as every piece is about the same size and has the same frosting-to-cake ratio. A bit of plastic wrap over the cut surface will keep the inside fresh.
OK, I’m being WAY too grumpy for a beautiful Friday morning. Congratulations on your pregnancy Michele and I hope everyone has a lovely week-end, with lots of time for cooking and baking.
I had the same thought re: cake cutting. That video drove me NUTS because I totally agree with you about the wedge. I put way too much thought into it too, so I’m glad I’m not alone! :)
My kids would be nuts over that blanket!! I say yes on making the baby pinterest boards public. This summers weather has been pretty fabulous! The fall like days this week were amazing!
Love seeing the pictures of Duke and Einstein… also would love to be updated on how your pregnancy is coming along.
I will not be cutting a cake the best way. Enjoy your pregnancy and feel free to share anything you want. Love your Labs.
<3 Einstein!! Absolutely make the pin boards public! DH and I are prepping to try to conceive very soon, and I love seeing those pins pop up on my feed! The photo scan thing is such a good idea…I'm way too lazy to do it myself lol. I can't wait til cooler weather here in FL…summer is awful!!!
Michelle, you should also check out http://www.scancafe.com too. I just did a massive project for my oldest’s graduation (a birth to grad 5-volume set of photo books using Mixbook) and the first 6 years of his life the photos were either not digitized or the digital quality was too low for today’s photo books. I used the domestic option and could not have been happier – you can approve the photos online before committing to them, and I had memory stick in my hands in a matter of a couple weeks (along with all the photos that I had to recatalog!). Also, belated congrats on the blessing along the way! You and the CC will be wonderful parents. And the pics of your four-legged boys are more proof that they were separated at birth from my two! Heatley sits on his hip like Duke and Crosby loves to nap smushed up against the wall like Einstein – go figure!
Hi Kristin, Thanks so much for the suggestion! I like the idea of being able to approve the photos first and getting a memory stick vs DVD. I swear our dogs are twins!!
I love that blanket! I totally want to make one like it when I get pregnant. There’s another one that I saw that I also love–it’s the same concept as that one, only the colorful “centers” of each square are circles instead of squares.
Did you buy the blanket kit from Purl Soho or did you buy the yarn from a craft store like Michaels or Joanne’s
Hi Linda, I bought the yarn separately; I had a hard time finding all of the colors in one place, so I got it from a few different places.
I bought the dolphin color kit from Purl Soho when I was pregnant. Ugh, it cost a small fortune. Are you prewashing the yarns? I have not started my blanket yet, but soon! Maybe for my son,’s 2nd birthday, haha. if you have good cheaper sources for your blanket, I’d love to know.
Congrats on the new baby! I’m excited for you. My little guy is 15 months. Time is flying by. Enjoy every moment.
*long time reader, never a poster*
Dog’s and even kid’s can be very cute in photograph’s but terrors at other times. We have two Weiner dogs and Emma 4 and Esther 2 when they all are taking naps there is peace but it usually doesn’t last long. Will definitely check out those boards!
Long past my baby bearing years, but I would love to follow your baby board posts ~ so exciting to share in your pregnancy! Really appreciate the ScanMyPhotos link. So many photos from my kids early years (before digital!) and I’ve puzzling over how to deal with them. I also have slides from my own childhood that I would love to have scanned and share with my siblings. Hope you enjoy a lovely weekend! I’m on the eastern side of Pennsylvania and we are also enjoying the break in the summer heat and humidity.
Love your pups! Congratulations on your pregnancy, that’s such wonderful news! :) Happy for you!
I immediately had to show this post to my bf, we are having a baby too, in February, and I started on the exact same babyblanket!
I am interested to see your Pinterest baby board, maybe I can get some inspiration.
I hope it will cool down here in Belgium als well, over thirty degrees Celsius is really not for me while pregnant :-)