Friday Things #395
1. Both of the boys’ teachers play Jack Hartmann videos periodically during class as a way to get the kids moving around while also learning. I had never heard of him, but he’s become a hit at our house! Even Isabelle has most of his “Count to 100” video memorized and sings it constantly. They like to put on a concert for us before bedtime 😍
2. Can we talk about how when Isabelle got her flu shot a couple of weeks ago did not make a single peep? Like, didn’t flinch, didn’t shed a tear, was completely and totally unphased. Got up from the table and boom, done. I was stunned, to put it mildly, because things certainly didn’t go as smoothly with her brothers 😬
3. Hot cocoa charcuterie boards are speaking my language!
4. What’s the best fiction book you read this year?
5. I need some dinner inspiration! What are some of your favorite recipes you’ve made lately?
6. The boys have upped the ante on pancake Saturdays by declaring Wednesdays to be “waffle Wednesdays”. I’m not complaining because truth be told, I find pancakes to be okay, but I love, love, LOVE waffles!!
7. Are you baking anything special for Halloween weekend? I might whip up something pumpkin-y!
8. I’ve been trying to get a few little organizational things from The Container Store forever and I swear everything is back-ordered!
9. What are you watching on TV? We started Treadstone (Hulu), which is a TV spin on The Bourne series of movies (a household favorite, for sure!)… it’s not as bad as the poor reviews it received, but not the best we’ve watched, either. I did see that Netflix released the second series of Unsolved Mysteries, so that may be on tap next!
10. TGIF! Judith’s couch game reminds me SO MUCH of Einstein ❤️️
I love your Friday things but have not been getting them lately. How do I get back on your list? Thank you!
Rosanne
A movie you might like on Netflix is Enola Holmes……very good, the young lady is a sister of Sherlock Holmes.
Seconding other comments here: I loved the Silent Patient, School of Essential Ingredients, The Nightingale and we are in the middle of The Queen’s Gambit on Netflix and LOVING it. We’ve been eating a lot of soups and risotto lately – I love making risotto in my IP – your Italian sausage versions is one of our favorites! (I adapted it to IP)
It’s not a new book but I just recently read Stephen King’s 11/22/63 and thought it was really great.
Favorite recent-ish novel: The School of Essential Ingredients by Erica Bauermeister
I also vote for The Silent Patient. There came a point when I just had to stay up and read until the end. So good!
Unfazed isn’t it?
I’m not sure what type of books you like to read but The Silent Patient was very good – it’s a thriller type book with a great twist at the end. If you like historical fiction I highly recommend The Nightingale: A Novel by Hannah, Kristin or The Great Alone which she also wrote – both really good. I just finished The Queen’s Gambit on Netflix and know nothing about chess but thought it was good. Your children are adorable – I used to make Halloween themed dinners every year for my three when they were little (before Pinterest) and as adults they have fond memories about them every October. Have fun!
Hi! This is not a new book but I really enjoyed The Sweetest Thing by Elizabeth Messer. Just started another of her books. Happy Saturday and Fall! Enjoy the beauty of the season.
You must watch The Queen’s Gambit on Netflix!!!
I haven’t read any fiction books all year…but my Dad who is an avid reader (can read a book a day sometimes). Well he just loved The Shack. It is not new, but wanted to mention it as he rarely raves about any particular book.
Cute pic of kids being together dancing/playing…so sweet. And what pretty fur Judith has on her tummy. Takes a lot of trust to lay like that, adorable.
Best fiction “Where the Crawdads Sing” so good!
I appreciate you giving me the recipe. Even though I saw it on the Smitten Kitchen website and liked it, the author made driving directions some changes, so I’m delighted to see the original version here. I really like reading your site. To you and your loved ones: Happy Holidays!
Thanks so much for the great links, your thoughts, and adorable photos! I especially enjoyed doing the “Count to 100′ – LOL!
Have you seen The Home Edit on Netflix? That’s probably why the Container Store has stock issues! Ha! The show really has great tips for getting organized though.
I have 4 kids. Two boys, then a girl and then another boy. My daughter did the same thing when she was a baby. We were at a well-check and she had to get 3 shots. Her older brothers were with me. They had their fingers in their ears anticipating her screaming. She gave the nurse a look as if to say, “Do that again and I will punch you in the eye.” And that was it. No tears. No crying. Her brothers stood there with their jaws dropped. I think she gained a little respect in that moment. LOL!
The Container Store? I had ordered stuff mid May and it took me until late September to get everything that I had ordered. The good thing about them, though, is that they don’t charge you until it has shipped. Good luck!
I had the exact same flu shot experience with my two kids! The two year old didn’t even react, and the four year old screamed and cried! What in the world?
I know these were not released this year, but I loved reading Where the Crawdads Sing and A Gentleman in Moscow this year. I have been listening to the Louise Penny’s Inspector Gamache series audio books. Love to listen to them while walking or hiking. I am currently on book 2.
I made a batch of pumpkin bread from the Artisan Bread in 5 Minutes a Day Holiday and Celebration Breads book. The first loaf I baked was just plain…delish toasted with butter. The second loaf I rolled out and added brown sugar, butter, cinnamon and pecans, rolled it back up, cut the roll lengthwise, twisted them together and baked in a loaf pan. Next level delicious!
The other pumpkin thing I baked this week was the Pumpkin Dump Cake. I made it for a friend’s birthday. Her and her family loved it! I might just make it instead of pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving :)
We watched Flesh and Blood on PBS last week…pretty good. Now we are watching World on Fire also on PBS…very good story about WWII.
I second A Gentleman in Moscow. I think it has become my ALL-TIME FAVORITE fiction story. It’s just wonderful!
My nephew is just like Isabella; he has a high tolerance of pain! He never cried when getting shots! When he got his first ear infection, my sister took him to the doctor the first day he complained that his ear hurt. She took him to a walk in clinic since she couldn’t get him into his pediatrician. The doctor chewed her out saying she should have brought him in much earlier! His eardrum was really inflamed! She explained to him that Jon had only complained that day! She didn’t think the doctor believed her!
American Dirt, hands down best book I have read this year.
I agree with the person who posted American Dirt. I concur that it’s the best novel I’ve read this year. Engaging from page 1, suspenseful, educational, and very well written.
How about French toast Fridays! I LOVE French toast!
I really enjoyed Adriana Trigiani’s Valentine trilogy.
The book I could not put down was uninvited by cat winters. I would get up after going to bed, because I wanted to know what happened I could not put it down. One of my friends read it an said the same thing.an the way it ends you will not believe. I hope you read it.
I love the Sensible Shoes series by Sharon Garlough Brown. There are four books in this series. I am procrastinating reading the last one, as I don’t want it to end. 😍
Bed, Bath, and Beyond sells a lot of storage-related items at lower prices, including a bunch of the Honey Can Do line of items. With their coupons, you can get a lot of great deals. You can also sometimes find iDesign clear storage trays cheaper yet on Amazon.
I really loved Domestic Violets by Matthew Norman. Hilarious and heartwarming!
If you don’t mind foreign language shows I really enjoyed High Seas on Netflix.
Gosh, how I wish I could relax just like Judith. It would be heaven!
As for Isabelle’s flu shot episode…I would say you have one tough cookie in that little girl. Be warned…she is going to be a pistol as she gets older. She will be in charge of the world!!
Have a great weekend.
I really enjoyed “When all is said” by Anne Griffin.
A beautiful story
I signed up for your recipes but you bring smiles and joy to me by sharing your family. I especially get giggles from your kids antics. :) Many blessings to you and your family.
Have you read “Where the Crawdads Sing” by Delia Owens? It was released in 2018.
“Evil” on Netflix is great and best of all there will be another season. Also on Netflix is the Swedish show “Ragnarok”, a retelling of the Thor story from a modern angle. I loved it. I could eat pancakes everyday, all day. Waffles to me are just “funky toast” LOL. As always, love your blog, your kids, your dogs and are so grateful I have this to look forward to on Friday.
I see that The Last Flight was already mentioned, and I will second that. I love a good suspense/thriller and wasn’t disappointed. I also enjoyed The Liar’s Girlfriend and the Book of Lost Friends. Have read so many books this year it is hard to pick just one or two.
As for dinner, I love a good chicken pot pie, stew, sloppy joes, chicken and dumplings, lasagna…I have to stop, I’m getting hungry.
Love your buttermilk waffles! Just made a batch last night for dinner. My kids like to have them re-heated for breakfast.
Re shows- my husband has gotten in to this show on Netflix called “Evil.” I’ve seen bits & pieces of it, and from what I’ve seen, it’s pretty good.
Are the kids going trick-or-treating?
Have a good weekend!
I’m so glad you enjoy the buttermilk waffles! It’s my favorite recipe!
We decided against trick or treating this year… going to have our own little Halloween fun at home – pumpkin pancakes for breakfast, getting the kids dressed in costumes and letting them collect candy around the house, then staying up a little bit later and watching some kids Halloween specials on the projector in the basement :) They seem excited!
I love your blog!!
I get many recipes (and then rave reviews) from your site. The last few books I’ve read I have loved loved loved. Skipping a Beat by Sarah Pekkanen (I love many of her things!) and The Escape Room by Megan Goldin…. I didn’t want these to end. We just tried an amazing recipe that was pretty simple, from Recipe Tin Eats. Orecchiette Sausage Pasta in tomato cream sauce…. [https://www.recipetineats.com/orecchiette-sausage-pasta-in-creamy-tomato-sauce/] It was hearty and warm and made great leftovers. I don’t even like tomato! It is one of the only times I willingly put tomato in a dish that wasn’t indian’d. TV has been fun lately. I’ve been binge watching A Million Little Things on Hulu. That is very much like This is Us…. heartwrenching good. My husband and I both loved Cobra Kai on Netflix. It was a perfect current yet nostalgic series! We can’t wait for season 3.
It’s not been a good reading year (so hard to concentrate) for me, but here are my top 3 fiction reads: Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens, Normal People by Sally Rooney, and The Lido by Libby Page.
Favorite books so far: 28 Summers, Ordinary Grace and Just Mercy…all were fantastic!
We started watching Away and The Queens Gambit. I Think they are on Netflix. Both started out great! The Last Flight and The Exiles were both really good books. I enjoy so many of your recipe
Dinner – your Shepherd’s Pie! Also, craving Thanksgiving Dinner Leftover Casserole. Since I don’t think I’m having T-giving this year, I’m just going to make it now but I’ll likely use a rotisserie chicken, a package of Pepperidge Farm stuffing and some store made gravy. I can make a recipe of your mashed potatoes, bake a sweet potato and use some frozen veggies. Chicken pot pie, with biscuit topping, is also on my radar. I love when the season says make a casserole!
I just finished “Olivia Oliphant is completely fine” and really liked it.
Looking forwardor something different, we tried “steakhouse sloppy joes”. They weren’t a success as a sandwich, but we had leftovers over noodles and decided it was a keeper.
We have a Golden, Bennie, and she looks JUST like that on our couch!
The kids have a GREAT idea, Waffle Wednesdays!
Your family brings a smile to my face every week.
I really enjoyed reading Where the Crawdads Sing.
Since you enjoy Unsolved Mysteries have you watched Diagnosis on Netflix? A doctor used crowdsourcing to diagnose unsolved medical conditions. I found it interesting.
Have a good weekend!
Your children certainly have the dance moves – good exercise – way to go kids.
Fiction books: so far I really loved Happiness, by Aminatta Forna. Pre-pandemic, I was reading Louise Penny’s Chief Inspector Gamache series on the Metro during my commute. They really helped pass the time!