Friday Things
1. I have been siiiiick this week. I actually can’t remember the last time I felt this miserable, which I guess is a good thing. I’ve been loading up on juice, water, mint ginger ale, and any and all comfort food that gives me instant satisfaction. Luckily, I don’t have a stomach bug. That would be a serious disaster!
2. On a related note, some folks on Twitter asked if mint ginger ale is something I buy or make myself. It’s definitely something I buy, but I have actually never seen it outside of Pittsburgh. In the grocery stores here, they sell Tom Tucker mint ginger ale. Most Pittsburgh kids (myself included) were given mint ginger ale when they were sick, and now I crave it when I’m feeling under the weather as an adult. One of the best inventions, ever!
3. Are any other areas of the country as infested with stink bugs as western Pennsylvania? Ugh, they are EVERYWHERE!
4. Did you all watch the Oscars on Sunday night? I only caught bits and pieces but was excited to see Daniel Day Lewis win for Best Actor and Argo for Best Motion Picture. While I didn’t see all of the movies nominated, I did see those two and thought they were easily two of the best movies that I had seen in years.
5. I snagged a new bottle of Essie nail polish yesterday, in anticipation of spring weather – Madison Ave-Hue. Such a pretty pink (it’s part of the Spring 2013 colors)!
6. Have you seen the beautiful new kitchen that Sara from Our Best Bites gets to play in? It’s a dream! I’m totally swooning over all of her new appliances, too!
7. Today is March 1st, which means there’s a lot of new photo challenges starting up for the month. If you’re interested, here is a good one from I Heart Faces:
8. I’m currently Pinning both winter outfits and spring/summer outfits. Ahh, between seasons. That horrible time of year when you could really use a new pair of boots, but the stores only have flip flops and bathing suits on display.
9. This “gifts on the hour” idea is so much fun for any occasion or family member! I’m definitely saving that for future use!
10. TGIF! Play time! (Well, for you, that is. I intend to be firmly planted on the couch all weekend!)
I hope you’re feeling better!
Sorry to hear that you are under the weather. I’m in North Carolina and the stink bugs are terrible here also. You would think that cold weather would kill them out, but, it doesn’t. They are even hard to kill with bug spray.
Hope you feel better soon. Keep the good recipes coming!!!
I truly hope you’re feeling better!!!! I love your recipes! I’ve been following your blog for years. I have never posted a question/comment before. But on this page, “Friday Things”, I was wondering, did you make that soup or did you buy it? I’m assuming you made it & I would LOVE to have the recipe.
Thank you! I bought that soup, but I do a have a recipe for chicken noodle soup here on the site: https://www.browneyedbaker.com/2012/01/05/chicken-noodle-soup-recipe/
Essies new spring colors are super fun! I picked up their candy apple mint this week. Love all things mint :)
I sure hope you are feeling better! Oranges and garlic – either roasted or in chicken soup – will surely have you back to normal in no time :)
Yes- the bugs are awful this year! I work in a school and am so over runny/ stuffy noses, coughs, chest colds, etc. It stinks! My hope is to get some rest his weekend. I hope you get some too. We have state testing next week. We need some healthy vibes around here! I don’t think the weather helps either. I helped my daughter build a snowman last weekend and was sweaty! Snow and sweat- those don’t go together!
Stink bugs are taking over north central Kentucky too. At the end of the fall, we vacuumed about 30 off the back of our curtains. We hadn’t realized they were crawling in the windows through the AC window units. Since then we have been vacuuming up about 1 per day except on extremely cold days.
Hello Michelle. Thanks for the quick repsonse on locating the mint ginger ale in Pittsburgh. I will try Market District as well. I have to tell you how much I enjoy your postings and have tried many recipes which have been great. The Jalapeno Popper Dip and the mixed beans with the ground meat have been a hit at family functions and I think everyone in the South Hills has your recipes for them as well as many desserts! Hope you feel better over the weekend… this week here has been so cold and gloomy… we sure need some sun! I’ll bet Einstein helps, just by being there. My Airedale, Sidney (named after you know who) would have a blast playing with him! Take care!
Sorry I just noticed you did mention it was Tom Tucker – too funny!!
Sorry you have been sick, but I had to laugh when you mentioned mint ginger ale. My husband is from Pittsburgh and always talks about how his mom would give him Tom Tucker Mint Ginger Ale whenever he was sick. I’m from VA and have never heard of Tom Tucker – is that what you have been drinking? Hope you feel better soon!!!
Hope you feel better soon my friend – being sick is the pits :( Also, *love* that nail polish! I’m so in need of new spring-y colors!
Someone really wants to play!
I meant HE not HER! Ugh.
OMG – your pup is the cutest! I can tell her really wants you to throw him a ball!
Feel better soon! In commiseration, from underneath a pile of blankets on my couch – I’m sick too. (sniffle)
Feel better soon!!!! I am getting over (or trying to!) pneumonia, it sucks!! Cuddle with that beautiful puppy of yours and rest up!
Tell you what, that chicken noodle soup looks good! Hope you feel better soon. Isn’t it kind of nice to hole up and just relax sometimes? Getting sick gives us an excuse to do nothing, which we all need sometimes. It’s the catching up afterward that makes it difficult! I used to get ginger ale when I was sick as a kid. I’ve never heard of mint ginger ale…interesting!
Hi Michelle, I hope you are starting to feel better as the weekend begins. Einstein is seriously adorable. My dog, Sienna also shares his love of tennis balls! Happy weekend!
Feel better! Everytime I see your pic of your dog I miss mine and think…should I get another??? Have a warm weekend!
This is my FAVORITE website. You have inspired me so much and I have actually turned into a pretty good baker! (my bf has gained a few pounds..i must be making some good stuff)
and your dog is so adorable. my dog is my baby too, so i can appreciate how much you post about your baby!
I hope you’re feeling better soon! Being sick stinks. And seriously what gives with all of the stinkbugs?! I’ve never seen them before in my life and now they’re still randomly appearing in the house even after the long winter. I want them gone! Oh and I totally need to go on the hunt for new essie spring colors. Time to hide the reds and burgundy colors. :)
We have a lot of stink bugs here in Virginia. They are awful! I really like that nail color. I’m looking forward to warmer weather, pedicures and sandals!
Yep illness = mint ginger ale! Love that stuff. Hope you feel better soon.
Love that photo of your dog. It’s definitely a dog thing to want all the balls.
Get well soon, Michelle. :)
Love your website and your dog – sorry to hear you’re sick. Everyone is right now! When I’m sick I slather the Vicks vaporub on my neck and chest, wear a warm sweatshirt, and sweat it out! Good luck!
Hello,
I love your webpage. Thanks for sharing amazing & delicius things.
Your dog “Einstein” is so gorgeous & cute.
Kisses from Campinas/São Paulo/Brazil
Hope you feel better soon. Thank you for so often posting a picture of Einstein. I lost my Golden on Valentines Day and miss her dearly. Love seeing yours. Beautiful!
Aw Gwen, I’m so sorry to hear of your loss. Big hugs to you and wet kisses from Einstein.
I hope you get feeling better soon! And that the warm weather will come very soon for those flip flops you see in the stores! (It’s was 5 degrees this morning in Utah!) Get lots of rest. (:
I am a fellow Pittsburgher… where do you get the mint gingerale? My husband and I have been looking everywhere for it. It’s one of those things that you just have to have now and then. When I was little, we were never allowed to have pop in the house unless it was for a special occasion.. this is one of the things we were allowed to have. Sure hope you feel better soon. With the snow or cold rain we get every day… I think everyone here in the Burgh is super ready for Spring! I’m sure Einstein can’t wait as well!! Feel better soon.
Hi Andrea, Any local grocery store – I’ve bought it at both Giant Eagle and Shop n’ Save.
Ohio has more than its share of stink bugs (Columbus area) as well as a lightning bug-loking thing with orange stripes and long legs. And they seem to like crawling into my clean bath towels. Shudder.
I hope you feel better soon — get lots of vitamins C and D (make a good yogurt fruit smoothie)!
Those lightning-bug-looking things are called boxelder bugs. My first apartment had them terribly! We are battling stink bugs here too (Knoxville) and I hate the stupid things. More than once I’ve nearly had a heart attack at 6 am when one dive-bombs me in the bathroom. Ugh.
I thought the Oscars weren’t half bad. I loved the part where the cast of Les Miserables sang live (Eddie Redmayne is so adorable!). I live in Maryland, and I have never heard of mint ginger ale either. It sounds kind of weird, but you never know, sometimes the weirdest sounding products are often our favorites! I just got a new camera, so I might take on the picture challenge. Have a nice weekend, Michelle!
I love mint ginger ale! My mother works at a grocery story and when we were little we would call her and disguise our voices to ask “Do you have Tom Tucker in a bottle?” After we got the yes, we would yell ” He is drowning let him out!”
OMG, that is awesome! Hahahaha!
Feel better, relax and cuddle up to Einstein!!! Have a wonderful weekend!!
I love your website so glad I found you. Can’t wait to try some of your cakes and cupcakes. hope you feel better. Love my dogs and cats also.
Einstein is, without a doubt, one of the most beautiful dogs I have ever seen…such soulful eyes.
So very sorry to hear that you have been under the weather this week, Michelle. As a fellow Western Pennsylvanian, I, too, grew up with Tom Tucker mint ginger ale, and it’s something that I definitely crave whenever I’m not feeling too well. Here’s hoping that you feel much better soon!
Hope you feel better. Check us out at http://www.lifesabeachandthenyoudine.blogspot.com I would like to hear your thoughts on the tales of Seymour Recipe.
that pic of einstein is too cute! feel better soon :-)
Sorry you have been so sick! I know what its like to crave childhood meds when you are under the weather – I guess it reminds me of my mom having the responsibility to deal with me, instead of me having to claim it myself! I love that photo challenge!