Friday Things
1. Joseph has survived his second cold and is all better. He’s pretty much walking everywhere now – no more crawling! He’s also off of all bottles and just having his meals, snacks, and sippy cups of milk and water. I feel like he’s grown up so much in the last three weeks!
2. My husband finished Joseph’s book shelf and we got it set up in his room this week! I still have other things I want to add to it (piggy bank, some figurines, etc.) and finalize how it’s organized, but it has already made his room so much cozier. I love it!
EDIT: Due to the large number of comments below, I wanted to confirm that the bookcase IS anchored to the wall :)
3. I’m about halfway through The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying-Up and cannot wait to tackle my clothes. When I think about all the pieces of clothing that I routinely gloss past because I know I won’t wear them, it’s crazy that they’re still even in my closet! Not to mention all of the pants in a plastic bin that haven’t fit me since TWO YEARS before I even got pregnant. The likelihood of me wearing those anytime in the remotely near future? Nearly zero. (Side note: There is now a follow-book, Spark Joy, that includes tons of diagrams on the best ways to fold your clothes and organize all of the spaces. I got it but passed it on to my mom so I haven’t taken a look at it yet!)
4. I can’t believe that Easter is so early this year and that Ash Wednesday was already this week! Do you give anything up for Lent? I haven’t in a few years, but I really enjoyed reading Pope Francis’ guide to Lent and the true meaning of fasting and sacrifice.
5. Do you have a spiralizer? Do you love it? My mom and my sister each have one and they love it. I’m still trying to LOVE vegetables and am wondering if a spiralizer would give me another vehicle to do something new and different with them? I really wasn’t even thinking about getting one until I saw Jessica’s curly sweet potato fries and, oh my gosh, I LOVE curly fries.
6. How do you clean your makeup brushes? I’ve read so many different tips about using shampoo, about using dish soap, specialty cleaners (ugh), and I have an awful habit of not cleaning them as often as I should. What do you use and how often do you clean them?
7. Thank you so much to everyone who took the time to respond to the reader survey that I posted yesterday. It’s incredibly helpful to know what you like and don’t like so I can help to make this site the best it can be for all of you!
8. I thoroughly enjoyed watching the Super Bowl on Sunday since I wasn’t actively rooting for or against either team… it made it super enjoyable! I’m happy that Peyton Manning won since it’s likely that he’s going to retire.
9. What are you watching nowadays? We started watching the OJ Simpson story on FX last week (talk about star-studded cast!) and really enjoyed it. Other than that, I’m anxiously awaiting the return of The Americans and House of Cards, and of course the Netflix release of Fuller House!
10. TGIF! These buddies wish you a wonderful weekend!
Joseph and Einstein – bosom buddies :)
I love how everyone is very concerned about Joseph’s bookshelf falling over and anchoring it to the wall. But did anyone else think, “Glad she got a picture of the ‘before’ because it won’t be that organized for long”? Maybe it’s just my mind (or my kid)! :)
Haha! He’s already pulled every single book off multiple times and now I’m just throwing them back on any which way!
A spiralizer will help you love veggies a little bit more! I have a handheld one that was around $10 while I save up for the one that fits on the stand mixer. Zucchini, cucumbers, carrots are all more interesting in noodle or ribbon form!
What I’d really like to know is how you keep your floors so clean?! With two dogs and a baby….
Hi Theresa, We have a Roomba! We run it every night downstairs when we go to bed, and I steam mop the floors umm not as much as I should, ha! But honestly, we wouldn’t be able to handle it without the Roomba, it’s a lifesaver!
I figured you did! One day I hope to get one. We live in a “dirt bowl” and have 2 kids, 2 dogs and 2 cats….You can imagine the mess. I would spend all day cleaning the floor if I cleaned it as often as I should! ha ha I am just using the excuse of “germs are good for kids” (and part time work and full time school) to get out of deep cleaning all the time!
btw…I love your posts and enjoy watching Joseph grow! He is certainly adorable!! You are a wonderful Mommy! :)
I love that picture of Joseph and Einstein! So very precious!
Your husband is very talented! What a beautiful job on that bookcase and each time I see a more recent photo of Joseph, I’m amazed at how fast he’s growing.
He’s a fine looking young gentleman and will turn into a handsome man when grown. Love your blog it’s great!
I’m glad to hear your son is feeling better. It’s so hard when your kids are sick. That bookshelf is beautiful!
I love your Friday posts! I remember being prego when you were and happy someone else was going thru it also! Your boy is so handsome! I know its old fash but any chance you might make a souffle soon???? I would love a step by step.
Joseph and Einstein…love!!!
I use the Makeup Forever spray brush cleaner, usually once a week though I should do it more often. There’s no scent and it does a really good job.
Your husband is on a roll w/ the woodworking! The bookcase looks great!
And I just can’t get over it every time you post a pic of Joseph – SO STINKIN’ CUTE!
WGN America – THE OUTSIDERS – filmed in Monroeville!
I thought Einstein was a huge stuffed teddy bear keeping Joseph company. They are so cute together! I bought a spiralizer last summer & used it almost frequently for zucchini & sweet potatoes mostly. I cooked the sweet potatoes in a skillet with just a little oil. The fried ones look good, but I don’t deep fat fry. Unfortunately, I haven’t used the spiralizer for a few months. Need to get it out again.
To clean my brushes I use half dish soap and half olive oil. I put both on a plate in equal amounts, dip my wet brush in, and then wash in my hands before rinsing with water. This works well because it cleans off everything but also conditions the hairs of the brush. Plus I don’t have to buy any extra items to clean my brushes–I always have dish soap and olive oil on hand.
I use baby shampoo. Just rinse them in warm soapy water, squish them out in your hand, and lay them down balanced on a rolled up facecloth, bristles down without touching the counter, to dry.
Yepp I do the exact same thing-and I keep putting shampoo on and rinsing (I usually use a small bowl or glass) until the water is clear.
I love love my spirulizer. I use it mostly for zucchini as i eat Paleo i either have zucchini, squash or cabbage as a pasta replacement.
I wash my makeup brushes with my makeup remover and i use Poofy Organics products. As i make sure all my cosmetics are Ewg.org 2 or less.
Have you watched Banshee yet? That is a must watch, you need to start with the pilot version so get the fully story.
I use Johnson & Johnson baby shampoo with warm to clean my makeup brushes. It works like a charm!
I saw a post on FB with a Lenten project to give up one piece of unworn clothing a day and at the end of Lent donate the 40 pieces to a charity. I am going to try that along with my usual no sweets. Joseph is getting so big – love the weekly photos of him and the dogs.
Hi!! Happy Friday!! I just wanted to share my makeup brush cleaning tip that I found a few years ago. I had tried expensive cleaners to baby shampoo and never felt they were clean. I saw this idea once and it has been wonderful! One tablespoon of a natural dish soap (I use Dawn…if it’s good to clean oil off animals, then it’s good for my brushes every couple of weeks) and one tablespoon white vinegar. Mix with warm water in a deep bowl or a mason jar. Swish around and let sit for five minutes or so. Don’t crowd with lots of brushes. Rinse and watch all the makeup run down the drain! Let dry on a washcloth. The washcloth serves double duty…it’s already out for the night!! ? Hope this helps! This has
been the best cleaning hack ever for me!
Hi Michelle! I didn’t watch the Superbowl, not really a football fan but my brother sent me a link on Facebook of Lady Gaga singing the National Anthem. OH MY GOSH! She sung that so well! Her performance actually gave me goosebumps. It was so good! Joseph is so cute! It’ going to be super cold this weekend, I think I will be staying in. Have a wonderful weekend!
Love the picture of Joseph…he has grown so much in the last couple of weeks. .it’s really amazing how quickly kids can change overnight. Your husband did a great job with the bookshelf…it’s great. I use regular anti-bacterial hand soap to clean my makeup brushes and I clean them every 5-6 days depending on how heavily they’ve been used.
http://www.bankrate.com/finance/money-guides/tax-guide-for-donated-goods.aspx There are many if these out there to use and you may already have one, but as you are cleaning out your closets and if you are going to donate to Goodwill etc. use one of these tax guides. You will be thankful at the end of the year. Make sure you get a slip for the donation and print out the tax guide that you filled out and attache it to the slip every time you donate and file it under taxes.
If Joseph is a climber I have seen kids try to climb bookshelves, entertainment centers, and pull out drawers on their dressers etc. You never know what they are going to get up to when your back is turned.
Your first and last pictures on Friday Things are always the best! I think Joseph has noticeably grown in the last few weeks. Isn’t it quite amazing when all of a sudden it hits you how much they have changed from a baby to a little boy or girl? I could sit here and appreciate that picture of Joseph and Einstein all day! I do have a spiralizer and love it. My favorite thing to make with it is zucchini. Zoodles are the best. I make my chicken for chicken parm, set it aside. Then in that same pan add my zoodles, sauté until barely softened. Add some tomato sauce, place the chicken back on top of the zoodles & sauce, cover and simmer until the zoodles fork-tender, top the chicken with mozzarella melting it. And serve. SO delicious. As for my loose powder foundation brushes, I clean them with my facial cleanser when I notice the bristles beginning to stick together a bit (from using them over my moisturizer). If I use a liquid foundation, then those brushes I wash more frequently. But both I clean with my facial cleanser ; figure if it works well on my face, it will work for my brushes that I use on my face ;) Have a great weekend!
When I read about the bookcase, I thought, I really need to write a comment about anchoring that bookcase to the wall, and I see, so many readers have already said the same. Not even one day’s delay…..so important. Little ones are so quick.
Love the bosom buddies pic. !!
Just a reminder. If you haven’t already, please attach that lovely bookcase to the wall. Little ones tend to pull on them and try to climb on them and they can tip over surprisingly easily with terrible results. I expect you’ve already taken care of it, but just in case.
Netflix has a six-part series, “The Heavy Water War”, a docudrama about Norway during WWII. Sub-titled, and extremely interesting.
I also use baby shampoo for brushes. Don’t have a set schedule for cleaning as I don’t use them everyday, but just try to when I think about it.
Love the bookshelves – you should try the the Leslie Patricelli and Duck & Goose board book series. Re: makeup brushes – I use The Masters brush cleaner – it is formulated to clean paint brushes and is fairly inexpensive for the amount of product you get. In between washings, I use a spray cleanser from Japonesque.
Can everyone suggest a brand they like best for the spiralizer? Thank you!
Go to inspiralized and check out her spiralizer. I had a Paderno and liked it but replaced it with the one she has developed and I love it. It secures to the surface it’s sitting on and is much easier and safer to clean. It’s also made so it can be used with a wide variety of vegetables She also has a cookbook out which is great and posts awesome recipes. I don’t know her so I’m not advertising for her but I really love this spiralizer. I gave it as Christmas gifts and have told all my friends about it. I use it all the time and it’s helped me get tons of veggies in our diet and even lose a few pounds. I hope this is helpful!
Nice blog and product rec. Her spiralizer/cookbook combo are tempting me.
Thank You!
Thanks! :)
I use brush cleaner from Sephora. Joseph is just too cute! My youngest niece is 10 months and it’s such a fun time to be an aunt. I’m also so, so excited about Fuller House coming up soon- and Gilmore Girls, too!!!
I actually use Johnson and Johnson baby shampoo to clean my brushes, it works the best. I try to clean every 7-10 days.
He’s such a cutie! Your husband is quite the handyman….very nice work!
Be sure you brace his bookshelf to the wall so he can’t accidentally pull it over on himself! :) Walking is a high game changer!
Ditto ;)
Ha! I just read this morning’s blog and I was going to suggest same.
I live in Austin, TX and we are enjoying beautiful weather…cool morn’s and it hit 83 yesterday..We’ve not had any harsh winter weather. Everyone, enjoy your weekend. Cheerio!
Ha! Me too! I never would have thought of it had it not happened to us with my daughter’s dresser when she was 2. She decided to pull the drawers out and start climbing up! Thankfully her brother was in the room with her to pull her off before it tumbled over!
Concerned as well, because of an accident that took a friend’s two year old’s life, years ago. Never will get over it. I’m a Gramma who will be able to sleep better when the bookcase is anchored.
After walking comes climbing.