Friday Things
1. This sweet boy is going to be FOUR years old tomorrow! I seriously cannot believe how fast these years have flown by. I just registered him for Pre-K last week… as in, his last year of preschool. HOW?! My husband and I were watching videos the other night from when he was around 18 months old… what a happy, giggly baby he was. We did have his party planned for tomorrow, but due to the big snowstorm that we’re supposed to get, we postponed it to next weekend. So he’ll get a fun snow day at home with us, PLUS a party next weekend. I’m sure he won’t complain :)
2. And speaking of time flying, not only is Joseph registered for Pre-K, but Dominic is registered for his first year of preschool – it’s the same 2.5-year old program Joseph did last year and since Dominic will turn three in early October, I think he’ll be more than ready for it (I actually think he’s ready for something like that now!).
3. And this girl has been flying around like crazy! She’s totally taken off crawling and she is NOT looking back.
4. As an update to my Le Creuset vs Staub inquiry, I ended up ordering a Staub. It was just delivered yesterday and I can’t wait to break it in. I got the 9-quart because I’ve tried doubling up some recipes in my 7.25 Le Creuset and it was REALLY tight. I’m thinking a big pot of chili might be in order given the weather this weekend!
5. Has anyone made Ina Garten’s weeknight bolognese? I just saw her post it on Instagram and now I’m dying to try it!
6. Cookie Monster is apparently promoting self-care on Twitter by telling people to eat cookies. I love this so much. (Mental note: make chocolate chip cookies with the boys this weekend.)
7. I have ordered and returned approximately umpteen winter jackets; I cannot, for the life of me, find one that I love. Give me your best recommendations! I want it to be warm but not too heavy, and ideally a bit flattering :)
8. I keep seeing chatter about Marie Kondo’s new show on Netflix, but I haven’t watched it yet! Have you? Thoughts? I read her books a couple of years ago when I first started my master purge. The house is still a work in progress, but not much feels better than bagging or boxing up a ton of stuff you KNOW you don’t use or don’t like, but has been taking up space for so long.
9. On a related note, I’ve raved about the The Home Edit Instagram account before (it’s a Type A organizer’s dream!), and I just found out they’re coming out with a book! I pre-ordered! I want everything that’s left after I purge to look pretty and organized :)
10. TGIF! I hope you have a great weekend!
Marie Kondo on Netflix is very good to watch! Simple and easy suggestions she offers for Decluttering! Each family she visits she helps them out. She makes unannounced visits to see the progress that is going on. For a winter coat, I really like the Columbia Sportswear Jackets. Talk about warmth, this coat keeps you toasty! A few years ago, I was able to get a Columbia Sportswear long winter coat with a hood. The jacket has side pockets and also a zippered pouch pocket inside the coat. This jacket has Ohni-heat: thermal reflective and insulated. I purchased my Columbia jacket at an Outlet up in Maine. Great sale $99 vs $250. Mega Savings! :) This jacket https://go.magik.ly/ml/lge0/ is on sale (cheaper) than what I paid!
I have this coat https://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/78460?csp=a&lvl=1&moe=INIT&num=48&productId=1306487&LLB_NVP_CATEGORYIDLIST=78460&itemId=284399&feat=qs&isItemId=true and it is GLOOOOORIOUS, and super cute. It’s hands down the coziest thing I’ve ever owned. I live in L.A. so it’s really overkill for us most of the time, but it holds up great in actual cold weather when traveling. I have it in a purple color that has sadly been discontinued but the other colors are nice, too. Good luck!
I love that gray rug in the picture with your little girl. Would you share where you found it please?
Hi Cheryl, It’s from Wayfair! It’s a little more beige than it looks in the picture, but very neutral! We love it, super soft.
I bought a North Face Metropolis II parka last year when they started to get marked down. I use it for walks all winter. I love the longer length but with a double zipper you can still zip up from the bottom if you’re taking longer strides ;-) I also love the attached hood so if I don’t have a hat with me I can still keep my head and neck warm. It’s tapered so it’s still a bit fitted. I size up for layers underneath. If you want slightly shorter the Gotham is similar.
Ina Garten’s weeknight Bolognese is great! I prefer letting it simmer for an additional 30 minutes to let the flavors meld a little better.
All of your babies look so beautiful..doggie too. Love them all looking out the window at the snow. I live in ca. I have not worn a jacket in years lol..it is rarely cold enough to really need one..u just walk fast from car to house if we do have a cold snap..which we have lately. Going to try to make homemade split pea soup for the first time this weekend..hope it comes out…happy birthday to you Joseph. I’m realizing how long I’ve read your blog..I remember when he was born.
I have lost all respect I ever had for Ina Garten with that bolognese recipe. She suggests putting olive oil in the pasta water?! That was debunked years ago; it does nothing except make it harder for the sauce to stick. I am horrified and depressed now.
Yes, I’ve made Ina Garten’s weeknight bolognese. It’s delicious and easy, like all of Ina’s recipes. Try it!
I saw Ina’s post also and decided to make it tomorrow. I’m going to double the recipe and use a 50/50 blend of ground bison and turkey sausage. Other than that, keeping it the same.
As for a winter coat, I cannot stand anything too bulky. I bought an Eddie Bauer thin down coat at Costco (in Cranberry), of all places, and it’s turned into my favorite jacket. It balls up into a little attached pouch, but it’s really warm and easy to layer. I’ve worn it to the bus stop every morning and several other moms went back and bought them also.
I live in a small city in western Canada where our temperatures are regularly in the single digits (closer to 0 than 9). I got a gorgeous DKNY puffer coat last year at Winners. It has a down-filled body and polyester fill in the sleeves. It’s very comfortable. Re: Ina Garten’s Bolgnese sauce…I haven’t checked it out but I’d be interested to hear how you think it compares to your father-in-law’s sauce.
Ina’s Bolognese is the absolute best! I have been making it for years and it’s always perfect. Sometimes we even swap out the beef for turkey and it’s still good.
I picked up a down parka from Eddie Bauer on an after-Christmas sale. It’s been handling this weird (so far) Minnesota winter beautifully. I love that it’s long, feminine, flexible, and warm (despite feeling so light). I did need to go up a size or two to get a good fit though (thank you swimmer shoulders). I have a jacket from Cabela’s that got me through last year’s super-cold MN winter quite nicely, but it’s heavier, stiffer, and doesn’t cover as much as this parka does.
coat recommendation! I’ve had really good luck with lands end down coats. I don’t find them super bulky, but i’m not tiny like you! But, they are super warm for the northeast winters. They always seem to have them for 50% off
https://www.landsend.com/products/womens-winter-long-down-coat-with-faux-fur-hood/id_333042?sku_0=::VUO
Sorry I can’t help you with suggestions for a winter coat. I live in south Florida, and we don’t know what a winter coat is.😁
About winter jackets – I’m in Colorado at >8,000ft. I do have a couple of heavy jackets if it’s actually snowing, but most of the time I just wear my Irish pullover on cold days, and it’s so warm that I have to take it off when I go indoors. Has to be a real Irish pullover, made with real Irish wool (preferably knitted by a real Irish person, but anyway someone skilled in proper cable knit to keep the wind out). It’s wonderful, and always in fashion. Expensive, but well worth it.
Another tip. If you are prone to cold feet, get some alpaca socks. No more cold feet. Also expensive, but well worth paying more for good quality.
Good luck finding a jacket. I got a pea coat from Land’s End several years ago and I’ve loved it!
I watched several episodes of Marie Kondo’s show and I’m baffled. I’m type A and I love things being organized and not cluttered. There’s a lot of good to some of her stuff – make sure you can see it, keep it organized, make sure it has a home. But that’s all basic keeping things organized and tidy – pretty standard advice when decluttering and organizing. I don’t get the appeal of “sparking joy” does my thermapen or hammer spark joy in me? No, am I going to keep it – yes it is useful. Plus, she’s telling me only to keep books that spark joy? Some books make me cry, but its a good cry – should those go or stay? But if it gets folks who wouldn’t declutter and stop being ruled by their stuff a way to move forward that’s great, just not for me.
I always buy Columbia 3 in 1 coats, I live in the Midwest.
Hi Michelle!
The Weeknight Bolognese recipe is fantastic…..at least a once a month staple in our home. My only suggestion is to decrease the salt from 1 Tablespoon (which is what the recipe calls for) to 1 Teaspoon. Also, we do a combination of 1/2 sirloin and 1/2 Italian sausage. The sauce tastes as though it simmered on the stove for hours…..
Any leftovers freeze well too.
Enjoy the snow headed your way. Be safe and have a wonderful weekend.
I live in North Dakota and walk our dog every night in this long Patagonia puffer that I bought last year – much warmer than the North Face version and lighter than traditional parkas. It’s not the sexiest coat but I’ve never felt more comfortable in the winter.
https://bit.ly/2SX5o7n
Love your friday posts!!!!!!
Ina Gartens weeknight Bolognese is my favorite red sauce. The amount of wine gives it such an amazing richness, and the cream and 1/2 cup of parm at the end make it SO good. Definitely worth trying.
My favorite jackets are from Eddie Bauer. Nothing beats their warmth. And cute styles. I’d tried soo many jackets and now have my Eddie Bauer one I got on sale at this time last year and I love it!!
7. In regards to a jacket, my daughter is attending University of Oklahoma in Norman. Since they rarely get snow but have ice storms we got her a Eddie Bauer jacket. Its long with a hood, and is designed for weather in teens. Its light and not bulky and is weatherproofed. She loves it. Hope info helps. Jessica
I love Eddie Bauer winter coats. They are very warm and do not look bulky. When you click on a coat on the website, it will show you the temperature rating for low and moderate activity to aid in selecting the coat that is best for your needs. They can be slim fitting so I’ve found I needed to order up a size to accommodate for wearing sweaters, etc. Bonus, they are also on sale!
I did watch the Marie Kondo Netflix series and after watching, promptly pulled out every piece of clothing I owned and threw it on the bed! The funny thing was, I started to read her book last year and it didn’t cause any reaction, but watching her on the show mesmerized me! She’s like the pied piper of cleaning out your house! 😂 Stay warm this weekend and happy birthday to Joseph!
love this pic, like everyone wants to come out and play in snow.
Hi Michelle, Joseph and I share the same birthday and our daughter will be 20 on Monday so a weekend of celebrating here as well. Enjoy the snow. I got this Kenneth Cole coat for Christmas and I love it. Mine was purchased at Nordstrom Rack but this is the same one at Amazon. Comfortable, warm, and stylish.
https://smile.amazon.com/Kenneth-Cole-Metro-Granite-Medium/dp/B07L21DRYP/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1544407762&sr=8-2&keywords=Kenneth+Cole+metro+coat
Happy Birthday to Joseph!
Happy Birthday to Joseph! My birthday is tomorrow, too. Because of the bad weather we’re expecting, we’re celebrating tonight.
For coats, the North Face Arctic Parka is the best winter jacket I have ever owned. It’s comfortable, warm, and not too bulky! https://www.amazon.com/North-Face-Arctic-Winter-Jacket/dp/B00PTUWCZC?th=1
I second this recommendation! I have this one in the Grey Heather and I love it. It has a very feminine, flattering fit, it’s warm and blocks the wind well. I live in Minnesota and it keeps me toasty! I have received many compliments on it too!
I just ordered a new winter coat this year from Duluth and I am loving it! Very warm without the bulk and it’s a little longer than others which I find comfortable and flattering. And also, the Netflix show with Marie Kondo is amazing! You will get hooked if you watch it, I guarantee. It’s a type-A persons dream but then also it makes me want to do all the things in my house too!
I have made Ina’s Weeknight Bolognese a couple of times. It is easy and delicious. My husband didn’t care for the crushed red peppers so I now leave them out and let people add them after the fact if they choose. It’s a very simple recipe. I say give it a try and report back with your opinion. 😊
♥️♥️♥️ this jacket
https://www.mountainhardwear.com/womens-hardwear-funnel-parka-1811801.html?cgid=womens-jackets-insulated&dwvar_1811801_variationColor=090#pgsize=23&start=6
I love this one by Mountain Hardware which I got a couple of years ago when they did a collab with Cole Han.
Though I am not sure if this is warm enough for the east coast as I am in Southern California but it’s a cute jacket and warm for how thin it is.
https://www.mountainhardwear.com/womens-hardwear-funnel-parka-1811801.html?cgid=womens-jackets-insulated&dwvar_1811801_variationColor=090#pgsize=23&start=6
I LOVE Ina’s Weeknight Bolognase! It’s my go to for weeknight company because you can totally prepare it in advance and reheat which is perfect for working moms/people. Also doubles easily. It’s also a great dish to take to a friend.