Friday Things #444
1. We had pumpkin pie last weekend and when I was getting the kids’ pieces, I asked if they wanted me to cut it up for them. Dominic said no. I thought he was going to cut it himself with the fork… I was wrong 😂
2. The boys have played dek hockey this fall and I love that they fell into the same age bracket and could do it together!
3. The kids love when I was sheets because they jump into the cozy pile of blankets and pillows over and over and over and over again 😂
4. Who has a good system/method for cleaning a shower with ceramic tile? It is quite possibly the thing I dread cleaning the most in our entire house. I would rather scrub 10 toilets, hands down. Give me your solutions!
5. These massive coloring sheets look like so much fun! I might get one for the kids so I can color along, too :)
6. The kids are so excited to trick or treat this year! It will be Isabelle’s first time and she is READY!
7. This is a very Pittsburgh-specific recommendation, but if you live in the area, I have to rave about the Soergel Orchards’ Essential Box. They started doing these last spring during lockdown when people were avoiding grocery stores and products were scarce, and they still do them twice a week (Tuesdays and Fridays). They put together a box with ingredients and instructions needed for 3 to 4 dinners, along with staples like milk, eggs, butter, apple cider (of course), a bag of apples, some other fruit and 1 or 2 veggies, and a dessert item. You can then add on other items they have available from their market and it’s a drive-through pickup during a 2-hour time window. I got a box last Friday and the meals have been so fresh and delicious. I love having exactly what I need for a well-rounded meal and not having to think about it! I receive their emails and not every box includes things that I think we would eat, but the one we got last week was a home run; we had BBQ pulled pork nachos with peppers and tomatoes, chicken marsala with pasta and broccoli, pork tenderloin medallions with butternut squash and applesauce, and balls of pizza dough from a local bakery and all the fixings for homemade pizza. We were huge fans this week!
8. Will you start listening to Christmas music when it hits the airwaves on Monday, or do you hold out? I love to make the season last as long as possible; the last couple of years we’ve put up our Christmas tree before Thanskgiving 🎄
9. One week from Sunday is the Yellowstone premiere!!! In the meantime, we’ve been watching Murdoch Mysteries and the second season of Manhunt.
10. TGIF! We put the fireplace on for the first time (this fall) last weekend and Judith was INTO IT 🤣
I bought a steam cleaner with a brush attachment to clean my shower grout. I haven’t actually used it myself because my tile is new and I lent it to my daughter to clean her shower, but I guess it works really well. Hope this helps.
I LOVE Dominic. I HAD to bake my first pumpkin pie of the season today because of your post. When I served it to my mom and my husband, I showed them your post. We laughed and laughed. Thank you to sweet Dominic for inspiring tonight’s dessert.
I’ve started using Better Life cleaning products after the smell of most everything else started making my throat sore. Their shower/tile cleaner works better than my old smelly stuff – bonus benefit! I use the Tub and Tile cleaner and the Kitchen and Bath scrubber to clean the shower.
I love Xmas music but two months of it is too much for me. Don’t you wish you knew what Judith was thinking as she watches the flames in your fireplace? Have a Happy Halloween with your three darling goblins!
One of the wonderful things about my kids being teenagers is making them clean the bathrooms. It’s awesome. My kids take care of all the scrubbing in the house and I LOVE it! I bake them lots of treats and wash the dishes, so I think we’re even.
I follow Go Clean Go on Instagram for all cleaning related inquiries.
Dominic just could not be any sweeter. Just adore his sweet little ways about him.
Love the pic of Judith in front of fireplace. Beautiful.
Christmas music only in December for me, and in small doses. Keep it special.
Oh my gosh I am soooo with you about cleaning the shower. I absolutely dread it more than anything. And I always say I’d rather scrub the toilet with a toothbrush than clean the shower. I would love some solutions as well!
I definitely second the Wet & Forget Weekly Shower Spray. My husband and I are in our 70’s and always looking for ways to make cleaning easier :) Clean your shower walls well one time and then spray once each week after showering. Your walls will stay clean. We buy it at Lowe’s – it comes in a gallon spray container.
During Covid, I resorted to cleaning our house myself (with the help of my husband). My newest method to clean the shower stall: Using a microfiber mop and hurricaine type bucket, (O-Cedar Easy Wring and Mop Spin Bucket), I make some fresh water and a fresh microfiber mophead, along with FABULOSO. I use the clean mop to mop the showerstall. Follow up with glass cleaner on window portion if necessary. Then I use the same mophead or switch it out to continue with the floors.
After each shower, I spray Method Shower (product), a clear spray.
This is a very easy way to clean the shower stalls. I bought an extra microfiber mophead to switch it out if the original gets funky. Hope you find this recommendation useful. The Spin Bucket is life changing. Also, I fill it in the tub so no more carrying water up basement steps and across the house life our ancestor did.
I don’t want to hear Christmas music until after Thanksgiving. Love Murdoch Mysteries.
There is nothing sweeter than the back of a beloved dogs head. I have a large canvas picture of the back of my two boys looking out the door at a rainy day. I so love your blog, but my favorite day is Friday Things. It’s like catching up with an old friend. Thanks for all you do.
In a medium sized spray bottle, mix 1/3 cup each of hydrogen peroxide and rubbing alcohol with a good squirt each of Dawn and dishwasher rinse (Jet Dry, for example), fill the rest of the spray bottle with water (I use distilled). Spray shower after every use. No need to rinse or scrub.
I will try your solution!
For cleaning ceramic tile in a shower try a steam cleaner or Mrs. Myers tub and tile spray 👍🏻
I have a steamer in my closet upstairs that doesn’t get used. I think I will try steaming the shower. Good for sanitizing. Maybe I will add some vinegar.
Thank you!
We use Wet & Forget on the shower tile. Spray it on once a week after showering and rinse it off later. Keeps tile shiny.
I discovered the Lemi-Shine line of cleaning products at my grocery store during the pandemic (they were about the only products in stock at times) and I love it! The products are non-toxic and way kinder to my hands. The Shower & Tile cleaner requires very little effort; spray it on, wipe off with a wet sponge or cloth. There’s no bleach or strong smells and it really cleans.
I get no $$ or love from the company, I just enjoy finding a way to keep the house clean more easily. https://lemishine.com/products/shower-tile-cleaner
Mix 1/3 water
1/3 vinegar
1/3 dish soap
In spray bottle add and shake, leave a bit of room for mixing.
Spray tiles, this cleans my shower so well. Shines.
Love your blog, your recipes and your family. Enjoy the fall weather.
Zep Shower, Tub and Tile 32-fl oz Shower and Bathtub Cleaner I don’t have Ceramic Tile but I use Zep Degreaser on my stovetop and it is hands down the best cleaner that I have found.
We are Zep-heads here as well. Nothing works as well.
Your children are so cute! My grandchildren are just a wee bit older (9 and 11), but looking at your pictures and reading your stories already make me see who much they’ve changed in the past few years and I miss those early years.
My granddaughter who is the oldest, was not going to get dressed up for Halloween but luckily, she changed her mind at the last minute and is going to be a 50’s girl with the poodle skirt and all. My grandson is still excited like he has been in years past.
About Christmas music, I have already started listening!!! :) And because I put up a tree in all of my bedrooms, I have already put one tree in my bedroom and it is so pretty!! The lights are so soothing at night and with all that is going on right now in our Country, it is nice to have a something that gives a little peace and joy. I put up my living room Christmas tree on Black Friday, that is when the whole first level gets decorated to the hilt! Enjoy your Halloween weekend with your littles!! I think I am going with gold, silver and red this year for a color scheme.
Love Friday things. But I have a question: why do the words get broken up in the comments? Seems to have started when you redid your blog. Hard to read sometimes.
I was just wondering this same thing! It IS hard to read! 😄
Same here.
Wish we had an “essentials box” in Omaha! Sounds wonderful!
And I agree with Dominic – especially the FIRST pumpkin pie of the season is too hard to resist eating with your hands!