Friday Things
1. I whipped up a White Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake for Driscoll’s Berries, which they’re featuring on their site this week. Be sure to check out my tips for making the perfect cheesecake, as well as the recipe. You’re going to love this very berry and summery cheesecake!
2. A couple of weeks ago, I asked for some opinions on e-readers. Thank you for all of the feedback! My friend leant me her Kindle Paperwhite and I’ve been using it for a few days now, flipping back and forth between that and the Kindle app on my iPad (reading the same book). So far I think the Paperwhite is definitely better for reading – much easier on the eyes and the look mimics that of a book. Plus, it’s smaller (can easily fit in my purse) and much lighter (I can hold it with one hand!). My only complaint is that it was a little sluggish when trying to browse for books, but realistically, I’d probably do all of my browsing/purchasing through Amazon.com on my desktop anyway. I didn’t think I would ever do it, but I just might jump on the e-reader train after all.
3. A couple of weeks ago, my Chief Culinary Consultant and I, along with his parents, drove over to West Virginia and toured the Homer Loughlin China Co., which is where Fiestaware is manufactured. We had finally decided to go with Fiestaware for our everyday dishes and since we only live a little over an hour away from the factory, we thought it would be fun to do a tour and then get our dishes. It was amazing to see how much is actually done by hand; such meticulous work!
Look at all those colors! I can see how people get a little addicted to buying all the different colors of Fiestaware. I already have my sights set on changing things up for each season, but for the time being we settled on a combination of plum and lemongrass, along with white serving pieces. Do you have any favorite Fiesta color combinations?!
4. Thank you to everyone who chimed in with recommendations for a dog bed for Einstein. I ended up ordering the Orvis Tempur-Pedic Deep Dish Dog Bed; Einstein has had it for a couple of weeks now and seems to love it.
We have a little sitting area in our bedroom, which has now become his little bedroom. He goes back and forth at night between his bed and the floor in the master bathroom. I woke up one morning to find him like this:
I thought the bed would take some coaxing, but all it took was sitting on it and inviting him over; he crawled in and curled up. From that point on, he got in all on his own!
5. Speaking of dogs, did you hear about Chase the Bat Dog? Chase was a Golden Retriever who acted as the “bat dog” (in lieu of a bat boy) for a minor league baseball team. He passed away earlier in the week and there were some articles about him. He looks so happy retrieving those bats! If the story itself wasn’t enough to get me severely choked up, I had to go ahead and browse the photos from his “retirement ceremony”… I then traveled further down the rabbit hole and watched the tribute video, which left me sobbing. So, yeah. Consider yourself warned.
6. Sorry, one more dog story. I also read about Dutchess the blind therapy dog this week. Totally melted my heart.
7. I’m doing some preliminary searching for a potential house to rent somewhere in the vicinity of Kiawah Island or maybe Hilton Head. Does anyone have any recommendations?
8. I am a few years past the big 3-0, but these 30 Signs You’re Almost 30 are all spot-on.
9. Thanks to Jessica, I am now following Candace Cameron on Twitter and Instagram. I so loved DJ Tanner when I was a tween. Don’t tell anyone, but sometimes I still catch Full House reruns on TV during the day!
10. TGIF! I hope you see sunnier skies this weekend than we had this week!
I love fiestaware…right now I only have the deep red(not sure of the actual name) pitcher and spoon rest. We might have to take a trip to West Virginia! I heard Candice Cameron speak in person at my daughter’s college, in VA, a year ago. She is awesome in person and has quite a life story! BTW your dog is adorable, and the cheesecake looks delicious ( Too bad I’m on a diet!!!)
Cindy~ would this have been at Liberty University?? 2 of my kids attend LU and my 3rd will be a freshman there this fall. We heard Candace speak there last year, and you’re right – she is awesome in person. So down to earth and honest and caring. My kids heard her brother, Kirk Cameron, speak there this past year.
Yes Michelle, it was at LU! Both of my kids went there, my daughter graduated last year and my son 3 years ago. I would have loved to hear Kirk speak as well.
We use almost all of the colors of the Fiestaware, though I can not eat off some of the blues and greens (bleh). The yellows and purples are my favorites. My husband’s parents started buying and mixing the colors — his mom has a ton — and now all the children have done the same. It’s great in case one of us needs a few more plates for a party! One thing I really like about all the colors is I buy mismatched cloth napkins and they always look good. I just keep a basket of folded napkins (we use them daily) and whichever color I choose looks good.
Love fiestaware! I have a 4 color combo, white, yellow, orange & turquoise with serving pieces in those colors as well! very cheery to eat off such colorful plates :)
Love Love Love Fiestaware!!!! We use Fiesta for everything!! I have marigold and lemongrass!!!
that cheesecake looks scrumptious! love the color of all those dishes!!
Unfortunately I cannot recommend a place to stay in Kiawah Island (my great aunt lived there so we were lucky to stay with her), but if you’re in decision I’d definitely go there! It is so relaxing and beautiful. Not to mention Charleston is so close!
Those dishes are amazing! I actually had not heard of them before! Plum would most definitely be my favorite since that is the color of the dishes I have now!!!!
lol, love Candace Cameron, she is one of the only teens didn’t seem to grow up all messed up. Growing up I was in love her brother Kirk Cameron! I had posters of him all over my bedroom. He ended up marrying the girl on Growing Pains, which was from Buffalo, which is where I lived at that time and I thought, why not me. lol
I love the plum & lemongrass combo! My brother & sis-in-law have peacock & tangerine.
Oh, those doggies! What great heart-warming stories to start my day with! Thanks for sharing!
make sure to sign up for a library card so you can download free books for your kindle. most public libraries have an Overdrive system to allow you to wirelessly transfer books after you check them out. I have a library card for each place I’ve lived so I can access several libraries. its great because when i travel internationaly i can sit at an airport or cafe and download new books for free. I’ve never had to purchase a kindle book!
Aww, Einstein! :) It looks like he’s loving his (OK, your) new place and his new bed.
Ha! I was just telling a coworker how I’ve been watching full house reruns lately
OMG I still watch Full House any chance I get! Love the fiestaware…
Fiestaware looks so festive and colorful! What a fun trip :)
Me, at Fiestaware, would have been a very dangerous$$ situation. I would have wanted one of everything, in most every color :) I love that pic you took – thanks for sharing!!
I love the fiesta ware! It is so fun and I wish I actually had some. Also Love the cute dog photos!
Have a great weekend!
I loved the fiesta ware pic!I have and use fiesta,(I mix up all the colors),the durability is amazing!One day I will make it to the factory!
That cheesecake looks to-die-for. But I can’t make it, I won’t. I’ve promised myself I would lay off the sweets for awhile.
I can never get enough of dinnerware factory outlet stores!