Friday Things
I feel like it’s been so long since we’ve chatted on a Friday! Between the holiday last week and our power outage the week before, we have so much to catch up on! But first, some recent photos, of course :)
1. So, the power outage was crazy! We were without power for about 30 hours, which I realize for people who have lived through hurricanes and natural disasters, that it sounds like nothing. But, it’s the longest I’ve ever been without power and with three little kids in a cold house, it wasn’t ideal! Luckily we only had to stay away from home one night, but boy did it make me grateful for what we DO have and that we never even have to think about. There were others who were without power for nearly a week. The amount of trees that were down just to due to ice was astounding. We heard crashing in the woods behind our house multiple times, and when all was said and done, there were trees basically littering the roads.
2. When I got back home and started the dreadful process of getting rid of all the food that had spoiled in our refrigerator, I realized that, even though the power had been back on for about 8 hours, the refrigerator wasn’t cold at all. It took GE service until the day before Thanksgiving at 4pm to get here, but we found out the circuit board blew when the power came back on. The guy had another one on his truck and was able to make the quick switch and we could start loading the fridge back up on Thanksgiving morning. Again, felt so grateful that we have a spare refrigerator in our garage that we were able to use, and that we didn’t need to buy a whole new refrigerator!
3. Which leads me to… how was your Thanksgiving??! I want to hear all about your favorite foods! We had a wonderfully fun day with all of our family. I do have this nagging feeling though… I’m starting to think there needs to be some type of chocolate dessert option on Thanksgiving. Is this blasphemy? What do you serve for dessert? It’s always pumpkin pie (which I don’t like), pecan pie (which I do like), and walnut cookies. For some reason this year I was left totally craving chocolate!
4. Do you remember last year when I told you that a picture I had posted years ago of me with my sister and cousins at the kids’ table on Thanksgiving got found somehow and made into a meme that was all over Facebook? Well… it happened again lol!
5. Fun news! I recorded a podcast with Elaine from Dishing with Delicious, and you can listen to it HERE. I chat a lot about how I started blogging, how it has evolved since I began, and a few “rapid fire” questions at the end with some fun facts about me. I hope you’ll give it a listen!
6. Let’s talk holiday gift guides! I’ve posted a few so far (for foodies, for the home, for him and for her) and have a few more to post through December, but I’m curious – do you like them spread out like this with one or two per week, or would you rather have them all at once before shopping season starts (like leading up to Black Friday)? I’ll make a note for next year :)
7. I’m planning to make some photo books and would love to have some recommendations! I’m currently looking at Shutterfly and Artifact Uprising. Have you used either, both, or another service you loved? Please share!
8. I was surfing through the stations on Sirius in the car one day a couple of weeks ago when “Hey Jealousy” by the Gin Blossoms came on the 90’s station. I forgot how much I LOVED that song back in the day… totally underrated.
9. We are all decorated for Christmas here! The Thanksgiving leftovers were barely cold and I was whisking down the pumpkins on the mantle and throwing up lit garland and our stockings. Speaking of! We have been using a mashup of initial stocking for the last handful of years, but since we needed to add new ones for Isabelle and Judith this year, we sprung for personalized stockings from Pottery Barn Kids and they are GORGEOUS. A splurge, but on the order of “things we’ll keep forever”.
10. TGIF! I hope you have a cozy weekend!
OH MY GOODNESS I just love you and your photos of your beautiful family and those pups get me every ….single…..week.
My vote is for Shutterfly. I’ve used them hundreds of times and they never disappoint.
Hoping to see some awesome Christmas recipes. Dinners, elegant desserts, appetizers, cookies – the sky is the limit!
Thanks for all you do for all of us! Happy Holidays!
If you like the Gin Blossoms and have SiriusXM, checkout PopRocks on Channel 17. It plays great music from the 90’s.
Counting Crows, Coldplay, Goo Goo Dolls, Blind Melon…
I’m with you on Pumpkin Pie (don’t like) and Pecan Pie (love). I used to have a recipe for Tollhouse brownie pie which was like a combination of pecan pie and brownies…maybe try that. Chocolate is always good. I also like the Gin Blossoms, my favourite song was Follow You Down. It did feel like a long time since the last Friday Things…which shows how much we enjoy your blog! Glad you got your power back, it is a wake up call to realize how lucky we are with water, heat and power usually when so many others don’t have all the mod cons.
I’ve heard of this tollhouse pie, but I’ve never had it. Now I’m going to need to do some research ;-) Follow You Down is also a great song; I like most of their stuff!
Those are beautiful pictures of your kids by the tree!
We always have some form of Derby pie at Thanksgiving. Either more traditional Walnut Chocolate Bourbon version or a nut free/ alcohol free version (kid approved) made with Chocolate chips and Butterscotch chips. Both are.delicious and satisfy the chocolate dessert need!😆
I always make a chocolate pecan pie, and in my opinion, it is soooo much better than the regular. My mom also used to make pilgrim hat cookies from keebler cookies and a chocolate-diooed marshmallow. You set the marshmallow on top of the upside-down cookie so it looks like a hat and pipe yellow icing to look like A little buckle. Cute and chocolatey!
Those cookies sound so cute, and yessssss to chocolate pecan pie!
So…did you, your sister, and your cousins recreate the Kids’ Table photo this year? I hope so. As for chocolate at Thanksgiving, chocolate fudge will do the trick. Easy to make ahead; easy to balance on the edge of your dessert plate loaded with pie!
We actually have a photo of the four of us toasting at my cousin’s wedding this spring; we intentionally tried to recreate the photo ;-) I’ll have to find it and share it!
I have been reading your blog for a while but normally don’t comment. I wanted to tell you how much I enjoy it. Anyway, I couldn’t stand pumpkin pie until I tried Jessica Collins ‘ recipe and I actually like it now. I always make a chocolate peanut butter mousse pie too.
Chocolate peanut butter mousse pie sounds amaaaaaaaazing!
I’d never thought about chocolate at Thanksgiving until I read Jenny Rosenstrach’s How To Celebrate Everything. Every year her mom made two chocolate pies using Keebler Graham Cracker pie crusts and two boxes of Jello pudding mix. One year Jenny made a chocolate pie from scratch, and while it was eaten, it was only after the other two were gone. Lesson: don’t mess with tradition.
My family has added the chocolate bourbon pecan pie, but haven’t made it to the chocolate cream pie — yet.
My family has always had chocolate cream pie for dessert at Thanksgiving (along with apple and pumpkin and more recently pecan), it’s easy and if you’re already making up crust, it’s a single crust pie. We also always have a box of assorted chocolates (usually from Sees which are hard to find on the east coast sadly, but are in some department stores) which we pass around between the main meal and dessert. This helps with the chocolate need.
My favorite Thanksgiving food is probably the French meat stuffing. So tasty and it’s the only time of year we make it, plus we put it into pies and have those after Thanksgiving. I just love it. I also have a super simple, very yummy bourbon cranberry sauce recipe that I love.
I think it would be great to have all the gift guides earlier so we can get our shopping done. I love your suggestions every year!
I heard Hey Jealousy on Sirius the other day too and thought the same thing!! Man, I love that song. Now it’s running through my head, happily.
We were away during the power outage so we had to wait until we got home (a few days later) to clean out the refrigerator. What a task (I really should do it more often though).
My mom always buys a chocolate silk pie for every holiday…it’s become a staple right alongside pecan, pumpkin and apple.
Shutterfly is awesome for creating books. I first made one after a trip to DisneyWorld. I often get discounts and/or free books through the company my son’s school uses for school pictures too.
I lived in Naples Italy in the early 1980’s (yes I’m a seenager). Our power would go off regularly and many times I lost the contents of the frig. Ugh! So I empathize with you Michele. And yes we are fortunate in this country for the most part except when there are tragic catastrophes. Like the California fires, flooding, hurricanes. Etc
I made your No Bake Rose Cheesecake to take to Thanksgiving dinner. I look forward to occasions befitting it. I’m now famous in the family for it. Thank you very much. I think you’re right about a chocolate dessert and I think Chocolate Chess Pie would be a good addition.
Thanks for your blog.
I’m so glad you and your family enjoy the cheesecake!!
I use Shutterfly for calendars every year for my kids….they love seeing pictures of them throughout the year each month.
I’m curious….we just got a puppy in September. He now has his own stocking, but I’m not sure if there’s anything exciting to go in it. (I’ve never had a dog before). Was going to put some treats and a toy…any other suggestions?
Thanks!
Congratulations on the puppy! And that’s what we put in stockings – some treats and maybe a rawhide, toys when they were younger :)
Wow, does Joseph look like your brother! I’ve only used Blurb to make photo books but I really like it.
Hi Dawn, I don’t have a brother, that’s my cousin the photo above! :)
Well yes, of course, Thanksgiving needs a chocolate dessert! The one I make and our guests (and I) love is your very own Chunky Pecan Pie Bars. They are sooooo good and have a Thanksgiving vibe with a perfect hit of chocolate.
I love your blog, your pics, and how you balance beautifully recipes and personal sharing. Your family is beautiful!
I actually thought of those for this year, but with everything going on, I didn’t add anything extra to my to-do list, ha! And thank you for the very kind words :)
Our Thanksgiving was very nice. Just the immediate family this year as everyone else is scattered around the country. Due to some annoying health problems I decided I couldn’t do the whole cooking/baking thing. We didn’t want to go to a restaurant because we love Thanksgiving leftovers, so we had dinner catered by a local restaurant. There were 2 whole turkey breasts and all the sides. I did roast 2 turkey legs for my grandson who is the only one who likes the dark meat. Only disappointment was the dressing – here in the South it’s usually cornbread dressing which is not our preference so I doctored it up with sausage, some extra celery and onions, and some pecans.
For the Christmas gift lists, they are helpful for those hard to buy for folks, especially when you want something different. I would appreciate seeing all the lists before Black Friday. That way I can make some picks and then see if they turn up for sale on Friday. Love your posts, your beautiful kids and lovable dogs.
Totally on board with chocolate at Thanksgiving! I come from a family of chocoholics, so my mom would always make a peanut butter pie with Oreo crust. I started bringing it to my in-laws’ Thanksgiving and it’s now a tradition there too! That (along with the caramel apple cheesecake bars I also bring) goes way faster than the pumpkin and apple pies. ;-)
That sounds AMAZING!
Yes, we always have a chocolate dessert on Thanksgiving, this year brownies, sometimes some sort of chocolate cream pie. Not everyone loves the pumpkin/apple/spice flavors of traditional Thanksgiving desserts, so I like to have something chocolate-y on hand. Love your cute pictures with the Christmas tree!
Glad your power is back on, and Thanksgiving was saved! I understand the lack of chocolate for Thanksgiving being a problem, though. I solved that for my family this year. I made a recipe that I saw right before Thanksgiving. Make a 8×8″ or a 9×9″ pan of brownies, use homemade or boxed mix. Mix it as usual, and stir in 1 cup of fresh cranberries. Place in the pan and bake as always. They were great–sweet with a little touch of tangy cranberry. Everyone loved them. I bought a couple extra bags of fresh cranberries to freeze, just so I can make them throughout the year. Yes, I really like them that much!
If you want something chocolate for Thanksgiving, I highly recommend chocolate chip pecan pie or chocolate chess pie. Both delicious and somehow fitting of the holiday!
Michelle, try Blurb. it allows you to create a book with photos and text. Also want to thank you for all the great recipes that you have created/adapted. They are always a success (and I think it’s why my family thinks I am the best cook/baker in the world) ;)
Aww you are too sweet! I’m glad you and your family are enjoying the recipes.
Always have fudge! Made ahead and cut into small pieces. Usually we are so stuffed after dinner it is all most of us want.
I would love it if the guides were posted around Black Friday and in a closer range. Our family does lists and I haven’t sent mine out yet because I love reading your gift guides for ideas and wait for them to come out! Love your ideas!
Thanks for your feedback, much appreciated!
I thought the same thing about Thanksgiving this year (chocolate!) I made your Best Chocolate Cake and it was a huge hit! It IS the Best Chocolate Cake!!
I’m so glad you loved the chocolate cake, it’s my favorite!
Photo books- Shutterfly is a good one abs I like that they have an app that I can upload pics from my photo straight to my projects! They have cute templates for books, calendars, etc.
That said, blurb is amazing. My husband made both our wedding album as well as other books as gifts there. The quality is much better than Shutterfly in my experience. It really depends on what you’re looking for in the finished product.
P.S. chocolate at Thanksgiving…. YES!!
P.P.S. As a Pittsburgh girl… have you ever had/made Pine Tavern’s Raspberry Pie with vanilla sauce? Amazing. It was printed in the Pittsburgh Gazette eons ago which is where I got the recipe.
Hi Marne, I’ve been to Pine Tavern, but never had their raspberry pie, I’ll have to give it a try (or find the recipe!). Thanks for sharing your request!
I totally get chocolate at Thanksgiving. My husband has to make 2 chocolate bourbon pecan pies so that we have enough leftovers, it’s that good. 😁😍🥰
I may go that route next year!
Good to have you back…what beautiful pictures of the babies and doggies. Amazing what a trouper u are..still hosting Thanksgiving after all of that..I so admire your dedication and love for your family..they are so blessed to have such a loving hard worker. P.s so cute how Duke and judith like to be close by each other like einstein and Duke would
Such beautiful pictures. Your cousin looks so much like Joseph in the cousin’s photo.
A good friend of mine has a family that dislikes most of the traditional Thanksgiving pie flavors so years ago, she started making a chocolate pudding pie and that has become the tradition. Personally, I would make a rich chocolate tart of some kind…a ganache is a must!
I love the Pottery Barn stockings and it is so sweet that your two pups are included in Santa’s delivery.
As always, I so enjoy the pictures of your little family and your furry kids as well!
Shutterfly! They have a “make my book” service that is awesome – you just upload your pictures and tell them what you want and they will design your book for you. When it’s done, you get an email and you can order or edit (or not order if you don’t like it). It’s $9.99 but totally worth it, in my opinion because photobooks are a total time suck! But so nice to have!
Oooooh that sounds like an option I would totally go for! Thanks for sharing!
Really enjoyed the podcast. I never want to be nosy, but, that said, it was interesting to learn of your background and “hear” your voice as opposed to “reading” your voice. Your posts are an anticipated part of my day-thank you!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it Barbara, thank you for taking the time to listen! xo
A few years ago I hosted for my in laws. I’m a little picky so I made your French silk pie (in an Oreo crust- again I’m picky haha) and even though we had pumpkin, pecan. Apple, and Dutch apple pies the French silk was everybody’s first choice. Now it’s a tradition. (Plus the kids love it- my 5 year old told me “I love the chocolate part of thanksgiving!)
I love picaboo for photobooks. I make one every year for my daughters birthday. This way I have a recap of the year.
We installed a Generac generator last year and it is the best thing we’ve ever done. No more worrying about power outages. It comes on automatically as soon as the power goes out. Amazingly we’ve actually had it come on more in the non winter months due to high winds taking out the power. Insurance companies give a small credit on your bill because it saves them money for paying for spoiled food.
That sounds like it’s well worth the investment, may have to look into that! We lost power for a good 8 hours one day over the summer because of high winds.
A couple of years ago I had the same feeling about chocolate. So I bought some wishbone candy molds online
and made chocolate wishbones. They are so cute and bring big smiles! Plus they can be made well in advance.
I use Blurb and like it very much! Easy to use software and the quality is great. Prior I used MyPublisher which is now defunct.
Love the pictures of your kids & doggies this week, so adorable with the Xmas tree!
1. Thanksgiving Deserts: we do pumpkin pie, apple pie, & this year chocolate brownies, bc one of my kids doesn’t like pies.
2, I like having the guides spread out. Otherwise I feel like it would be a bit overwhelming to go through at one time.
3. Photo books: not sure if you’re a member of Costco, but they do a great job. I’ve also put together a 12-month calendar of the kids thru Costco & it turned out really great.
Have a great weekend!
Photobooks suggestion:
Have you heard of the FreePrints photo app? I’ve used it and it’s great. You can have pictures printed and only pay shipping for up to 85 regular 4×6 phots. Other sizes cost similar to any other place. Also they have lots of different things that you can have photos printed on. Well, they also have a photobooks app, I’ve never tried it, but I love the prints app and it is great quality.
Otherwise, I think most of the ones I’ve seen are from Shutterfly.
I have not heard of that, but I’ll check it out!
Gosh, great pictures of your kids! The dogs look happy and content. So glad you have your power back. Happy holidays!
I make gifts for family members on Shutterfly nearly every year and they always come out amazing! The calendars are especially fun. Great quality and sharp images.
Chocolate on Thanksgiving, yes!. We always have a fruit option, a spicy/pumpkin-y option, a nutty option, and a chocolate. The chocolate cream pie is supposedly “for the kids,” but everyone devours it.
Glad you are situated with power. That’s such a challenge to begin with, and especially during a holiday with three little ones!
Ahhhh I love this three-pronged approach to Thanksgiving dessert and may totally steal it next year!