Friday Things
1. I can’t believe that this boy is going to be TWO next week! Crazy! And funny story, the Steelers play a Sunday night game this weekend, which happened two years ago, as well. My husband and I were watching the game and I was feeling twinges but they weren’t consistent and felt like the Braxton Hicks I had been experiencing for some time. Well, we stayed up way later than usual to finish watching the game, then less than an hour later I woke up because my water broke. HA! Thirty hours later (!) we finally got to meet Dominic :)
2. And this girl is going to be SIX MONTHS next weekend! She’s so darn happy, thinks that her brothers are the best things ever, and can’t stop playing with her toes. Such a sweet, sweet baby :)
Earlier this week, Joseph found a mask that he forgot about and was obsessed with it for an entire afternoon lol.
3. Absolutely dying over these rock candy ornaments! There was a little variety/candy store in the town where I grew up and rock candy was my very favorite treat! What a blast from the past.
4. I have most of my holiday content planned out right now, but would love if you have any special Christmas baking requests? Or maybe something that just SCREAMS Christmas to you, that you always make, but isn’t on BEB yet? Request or share in the comments below!
5. Are you doing communities on Pinterest? I just heard about them this week and haven’t checked them out yet. How are you using them?
6. Trending on BEB this week >> Copycat Chipotle Chicken Recipe
7. I have been neglecting the BEB Facebook group, and one of my goals for the end of the year is to get it going on a regular basis. If you haven’t joined yet and are on Facebook, you can do so here. I’d love to hear the type of things you’d like to get out of the group – content you want, discussions, etc. Share in the comments below!
8. One of my favorite sporting events is happening this weekend – The Ryder Cup. It’s sort of like a mini golf olympics, love the passion and camaraderie! Do you watch?
9. We binged Jack Ryan this week and my gosh, it was fantastic! I’ve seen a lot of people compare it to the first season or two of Homeland, and it’s definitely up there. One of the best shows we’ve seen in a long, long time. Bummed there were only eight episodes! We also gave The Good Cop a try but we really weren’t feeling it… a little too hokey and corny.
10. TGIF! It’s always a party on the floor!
We have also watched Jack Ryan. Â Couldn’t believe that it ended after only 8 episodes. Â Really great new show! Â
I have wanted a good recipe for a kringle (Danish pastry). There is a place in Racine, Wisconsin that is famous for them, and they always have them in the stores around Christmas time, but we can’t get them due to my son’s peanut allergies.
I just googled and those sound AMAZING! Definitely feel your pain, as we have peanut and tree nut allergies to deal with too. Adding them to my list!
Can you please make a version of the Cranberry Bliss bars Starbucks sells around the holidays?
Adding to my list!
Hi, I’m a huge fan of your blog! I do have a Christmas recipe request and I scanned your website and I don’t believe you have made it yet or anything like it. Starbucks sells these amazing Cranberry Bliss bars around the holidays and they are to die for. I would love to know how to make them!
Oooh I will add those to my list, thanks for the suggestion!
Michelle, I don’t think The Good Cop was ever intended to be a gritty, realistic, action/adventure drama. I think it is intentionally meant to be fun, lighthearted, and tongue-in-cheek.  Yep, it’s a little corny and a little hokey, but we are enjoying it!Â
I definitely wasn’t expecting it to be gritty or dark, but it was just a bit too much on the other end… like it was maybe trying to be a comedy but wasn’t great at it? lol I don’t know what it was!
Hi– do you have a super easy recipe for stained glass cookies? My neighbors used to make them around Christmas when I was growing up.Thank you.
I’ve actually never seen or eaten a stained glass cookie! Must research!
My grown children insist on the buckeyes I’ve made every Christmas since they were little. I found the recipe in an old Texas Hill Country Cookbook. They have peanut butter and rice krispies in them and are dipped in chocolate. Last year, I realized when I started to roll them into balls that I had forgotten the rice krispies. I reasoned that the peanut butter was the most important thing and that no one would miss the cereal. Boy, was I wrong. Everyone noticed. Lesson learned. NEVER mess with traditions. :-)
It’s so funny how families like things a certain way. We live in Ohio, the Buckeye state, and our buckeyes never have Rice Krispies in them. Just smooth, creamy peanut butter filling dipped in chocolate. A few years ago, a friend dropped off some “buckeyes” for us at the holiday. My kids thought something was wrong with them because they were crispy inside. haha!
That’s so funny! We grew up with buckeyes but I’ve never had them with rice krispies in them!
My husband and I love watching Ryder Cup! Go Team USA!!  Some of the best golf played, and just fun to watch the best players in the world come together to play for a team score and not just individual.  Glad you got to binge watch Jack Ryan! 😀 Can’t wait for the next season! Â
Not only love your website, your babies, doggies, recipes–BUT you love watching professional golf too—-I don’t know too many others who enjoy watching golf—So enjoyed last weekend watching the tournament with my Dad..We just loved watching Tiger Woods win the Fed Ex cup–what a thrill and a joy to see him back. Golf has never been so exciting.
Our family always has mocha balls at Christmas. Little squares of pound cake dipped in a very thin icing and rolled in peanuts. Never sure why they were called mocha balls as their was no chocolate in them. Very time consuming to make but always a must at Christmas time. Of course my Mom had no recipe, and it took me a long time to sort it out, but now I make them for my family. Also homemade cake donuts dipped in cinnamon. Yum!
I’ve been a cookie lover my whole life. Those assorted Italian cookies were always a favorite in my house. However, the one cookie we fought over from the stack was the champagne cookie. I have been really wanting to make them but can’t find the right recipe. So if you have a recipe for Italian Champagne Cookies, I would be really happy! Your children are beautiful!Â
Your little girl is just the sweetest, cutest thing! I LOVE pictures of all of your kids, but she is a CUTIE!!
Aww thank you :)
Speaking of Christmas content and requests…you know those cookies in the blue tin that always come out during the Christmas season?  I think the tin says “Danish Butter Cookies “ and they are buttery and super tender. I’d love a homemade version of those.Â
Yesssssssss my gosh those are GOOD! I forgot about them, thanks for the reminder, they are going on my list!
I too binged Jack Ryan – was very impressed with the story and acting. Can’t believe how quickly time flies – seems like just yesterday when Dominic was born but at the same time it feels like he’s always been with you. Isabelle is a hoot! Joseph is such a handsome boy!
I’d like to see some of your family’s traditional Italian recipes. I want to make Baci di Dama cookies, ricotta cookies and other savory Italian recipes too.