Friday Things #336
1. The boys had their first days of school this week! Joseph started pre-K (otherwise known as 4-year-old preschool, ha!) and Dominic had his first day of preschool ever. Joseph was happy to be back with lots of his friends and get back into his routine, although this year he goes to school Monday through Thursday and initially questioned why he has to go to school SOOOOO MANY DAYS (he still only goes in the morning). Oh dear, just wait!
I went with Dominic for the first day (it was just an hour and a parent stayed with the kids); he had fun playing, coloring, doing puzzles, etc. When I dropped him off yesterday, he was okay until the girl in front of him went into hysterics, and then he lost it a bit, but when I picked him up he was so happy and told me he had fun. Hopefully, he’s excited to go back next week :)
2. Meanwhile, this little spitfire keeps stealing her brothers’ hats and running around the house in them, squealing. Her new thing is hugs and it is just the best. She runs back and forth between Joseph and Dominic making kissing noises and hugging them, and they are so sweet with her; I can’t get enough watching it!
3. Does anyone have a dish soap dispenser they like? I buy a huge bottle of Dawn from Costco, so I don’t like to have it out on the counter, but we also have to keep taking it out at least a handful of times a day. I’d love a clean-looking solution for the counter… any suggestions?
4. It’s that time of year again! I would love for you to send me YOUR favorite fall and holiday recipes! You guys have some of the BEST recipes out there and I love making and featuring some of them every year. Hit me up via email (michelle@browneyedbaker.com) with your tried and true favorites!
5. Yes to all of this >> The Art of Letting Go
6. It is now officially football season, which means you totally need to make buffalo chicken dip.
7. Loving this post from Cassie on zero-waste lunches. The boys don’t get packed lunches yet (although last year Joseph had the option to stay for lunch and extra afternoon activities, which he LOVED), but I am LOVING all of the lunch ideas pictured in this post. We totally get stuck in a sandwich rut, and I love all of the variety shown here!
8. Do you have any fall bucket list items? I’d love to hear what you’re planning for this glorious season! There’s a local apple festival that we always enjoy hitting up; that’s all I’ve got so far!
9. Now that the mornings are chillier, I’m planning to make a batch of baked oatmeal for the kids for breakfast. What are some of your favorite add-ins? Mine love fresh berries, so I’ll probably stick with that while they’re still looking good.
10. TGIF! I hope you get some quality time with your favorite buddies this weekend :)
You have such cute children. They all look super amazing in their little uniforms and outfits. And how is your dog’s fur so smooth?
I love the Method dish soap dispensers – we buy one (like, a bottle of Method dish soap) and then just refill it from our gigantic bottle of Dawn once it’s empty. When it eventually (takes months) gives up the ghost, we go buy another bottle of Method and start over, LOL. We also usually dilute the Dawn when we put it in, since it’s almost concentrated it’s so thick.
I am SO excited for fall this year (between selling our old house and then buying/renovating our new one, the last holidays we actually spent in our own home were in 2015) – I really want to make a list of things I’m looking forward to for fall so I can make a point to be PRESENT and enjoy the season and not let it slip by. I’m all too prone to anticipating a season, getting caught up in the warm glow of all the things “I’m going to do/enjoy/feel” and then never doing/enjoying/feeling any of it because I’m caught up in the daily grind of life. I hope if I make a list and approach it purposefully – not like a chore or a burden but just a reminder of anticipated joy – I will actually remember to stop and be and do and feel.
Don’t know if it can be done after installation but I had a hole drilled in the granite to accommodate a soap dispenser. It’s great—no bottle or reaching under the sink.
Joseph’s comment made me remember my son’s first day of Kindergarten. He was very apprehensive about school in general but went right off to kindergarten that first day (to my surprise.) When he got home he said, “OK, I did it and I’m glad that’s over!” Poor thing he thought he was finished with school. He’s 26 now, but I remember the day like it was yesterday. Your children are adorable! Enjoy these years as they DO go by quickly.
https://www.target.com/p/double-soap-pump-oil-can-clear—threshold–153-/-/A-50306017
This is the one I bought and I love it. It’s like an oil can but way cuter. It’s a great size too.
You asked about dish soap dispensers…I have a very pretty champagne bottle that I put a pour sour on an put dish soap in that. My daughter used a Pink Polka Dot reisling bottle for hers.
P.s. I’m major old school no shop shopper. My dish soap dispenser is a smaller dish soap bottle lol. I buy a smaller version and just refill w the big Costco stuff. As much as I like the pretty glass dispensers my go to is that basic cheap refillable bottle. Boring but works😊
Me too!
Awhhhh, look at little Dominic. He looks so handsome and adorable. Of course joseph is always lovely as is baby isabelle..but for some reason little Dominic is a standout today with his grown up hairstyle😊 so sweet. And adorable pic of your son walking the doggie. Always the best blog here.
I have a simple Human dish dispenser that love. It dispenses automatically when you put your hand under it so when I have chicken fingers, I don’t have to contaminate everything. Some people complained that it ate through batteries quickly when I researched it before i bought it, but I have had it well over a year now and have not found that to be the case.
Fall bucket list includes a local garlic festival (YUM!), cooking with winter squashes again, lots more bread baking with cooler weather, and soups, of course!
I have my dish soap in a dispenser made from a Mason jar & a pump top that I bought at Michaels. The top gets kinda gunky, but I’ve had it several years. Maybe they have a better one now. Very convenient.
https://www.michaels.com/diy-mason-jar-soap-dispenser-lid-with-pump-and-locking-collar/D063478S.html
I did something similar, It works great! Here’s the link…
https://www.amazon.com/Jarware-82650-Regular-Mouth-Mason/dp/B07B2NJZ9L/ref=sr_1_10?keywords=MASON+JAR+SOAP+PLASTIC+PUMP&qid=1568313071&sr=8-10
Use an olive oil bottle for your dish detergent. Got the idea from Martha Stewart years ago and still love it!
I have dish soap in one of the soap dispensers which is attached to the sink. Foaming hand soap is in a refillable bottle next to the sink. I also buy it in the monster bottles and didn’t want it sitting on the counter.
Your kids are the cutest most adorable kids!!! I love reading all about them, Michelle. Keep it up!!!
I use one of those generic squirt bottles that you would use for ketchup or mustard except I get the clear one. It is great! Looks clean and simple, no complicated pump mechanism to break or clean and since it is plastic, it doesnt shatter when you drop it. And lets be real, it WILL get dropped. I cringe when I see glass ones thinking of the shards of glass everywhere. LOL.
My recommend for a dish soap dispenser that works great is just a simple plastic condiment bottle … it does the job, and no goopy after drips and no worries about heavy glass containers. You can also use a small plastic or ceramic dish to place your bottle in if you feel it necessary. I found mine at the Container Store…
https://www.containerstore.com/s/kitchen/food-storage/16-oz.-condiment-bottle/12d?productId=11003459
I don’t care about aesthetics enough to have a special dish soap dispenser. I keep the large jug under the sink and a small bottle next to the sink.
Not so elegant but I use see through plastic squeeze condiment bottles (you know, the kind for ketchup or mustard). I use Dawn for tough greasy cleaning and Mrs. Meyers for easier jobs. The plastic is easy to grip and never have to worry about slippery fingers.
My little boy loves overnight oats! I let the oats soak in almond milk then mix in a little greek yogurt and honey in the mornings before serving it to him. He seriously inhales this! Sometimes I will add some sliced bananas or blueberries. You really can’t go wrong with some kind of oatmeal.
SO MANY days of school!! Oh, Joseph! I think of how many days of school my 16-yo has finished. It’s a long haul, buddy! <3
This is what I use to hold my dish soap.
https://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/40227983/
Inexpensive and functional! You could always get a fancier bottle, too, if you preferred.
The boys look excited to go back to school. My grandchildren just went back this week also, my daughter drops them off at school and I pick them up, it seems like they just got out of school, I don’t know where the summer goes!!!
For a soap dispenser, I use Fleur De Sel line from Williams and Sonoma
. They have a pretty dish soap/ hand soap/cream all in a pretty silver dispenser, I have mine right by my sink. I love the aqua blue also as it is the accent color in my all white kitchen and the scent is so pretty. I love everything Williams and Sonoma! :)
https://www.williams-sonoma.com/products/essential-oils-collection-fleur-de-sel/?cm_re=ContentLink-_-PIP-_-FleurDeSel
Your children are adorable. Enjoy them because they grow up and before you know you say to yourself where did the time go. God Bless You All.
I use a decorative bottle with a liquor dispenser top for my dish soap. Looks pretty on the countertop. World Market had a nice selection. Likely find where olive oil dispensers are. Just moved and it hasn’t been unpacked yet, so I can’t share a photo. Min e is narrow and has vertical ridges which I felt would help with possible slippage from my hand. I use a funnel to fill it.
I have this glass dish soap dispenser from Grove: https://www.grove.co/catalog/product/glass-dish-soap-dispenser/?v=3125&attrsrc=22&attrpg=catalog&attrpos=10
I also have their hand soap dispensers. Love them!
For baked oatmeal, I have been using the recipes from Chocolate Covered Katie for years! My favorite is the chocolate peanut butter baked oatmeal (no refined sugar).
Happy first day of school for your boys!
For dish soap I use a decorative glass bottle (clear or color of your choice) and a bottle pourer spout. Looks pretty on the counter. I actually give these as home warming or hostess gifts with a pretty kitchen towel.
I use and old champagne bottle with a spout suck in top for my soap dispenser
I taught kindergarten in a school system that allowed 4.5 year olds in as Jr K’s. So, I had children ranging from 4.5 years to 5.5 each year as school started. The younger ones stayed for two years but all of the children participated in a full 6 hour day. For those younger ones who had never had any preschool experience, it was often a very difficult adjustment but for those who had attended some preschool, the adjustment was usually very painless and quick. All this is to say, I have no doubt Joseph will be just fine. Once a few weeks pass, he will look forward to four days a week and next year, his official kindergarten experience will be a piece of cake.
I went thru so many soap dispensers before settling on the Simple Human touchless dispenser. I love it! Put your palm under the nozzle and out comes the soap. I find my soap (also Dawn from Costco) lasts much longer. Clean, stylish and functional.
I love my IKEA Brogrund soap dispenser. It has a wide base so I’m not worried about it tipping over when I use it one-handed. The base is clear with a white top – looks very clean and simple.
I buy the Costco size soap as well. I use an olive oil dispenser for my dish soap…there are so many pretty ones, and i can “drizzle” soap into the sink or onto my sponge easily.
I ordered glass soap dispensers for my kitchen sink from grove collaborative and they are my favorite! I had a different one from target and it stopped pumping soap. Also the Mrs Meyers dish soap in apple cider is literally the best.