Friday Things #511
1. Earlier this week, Isabelle announced that there would be an “art club” in the playroom after dinner. She made a sign for the wall and everything! She loooooves art and keeps saying she wants to be a teacher, and was so excited about it… the boys were so sweet and enthusiastic. We all sat at art club drawing and coloring, and it was just the sweetest thing ❤️
2. I’m not sure if any of you remember, but Dominic had one of his front teeth pulled when he was three after he fell, and it split. Then, about a year and a half ago, Isabelle had the same tooth pulled because she had chipped it when she was just one, but it had recently started hurting her. We wondered when Dominic had his pulled how many years it would be before the adult tooth came in… well, it just recently came through, AND Isabelle’s did at the same time! They both lost their middle two bottom teeth last summer, as well. Their teeth are on the same schedule!
3. I love this open request for “what’s saving you now” or “what’s keeping your head above water”… everyone shares in the comments. Let’s do it here! For me right now, I’m finding little pockets of time to read a little bit or work on a jigsaw puzzle!
4. My kids have been using the 14-ounce Owala Kids Flip water bottles; I’m wondering if anyone has kids that use the 16-ounce free sip version. How old are your kids, and which bottle do you prefer?
5. A great tidbit from a James Clear newsletter:
“Stop paying so much attention to what everyone else is doing and run your own race. How much time is spent reading other people’s posts on social media, watching other people’s exploits in the news, listening to other people’s ideas on podcasts? Go have coffee with a friend. Go make something. Go outside. All those hours spent looking at someone else’s life on a screen could be used to take action in your own life.”
6. And along those lines >> 30 Areas of Life Where Subtracting Can Add More
7. Over the last week, I’ve updated and published two recipe roundups (The Ultimate List of Super Bowl Food Ideas and 44+ Valentine’s Day Dessert Recipes); I changed the format after receiving feedback following my Christmas Baking Ideas in December. A number of readers said that they would appreciate seeing photos of each recipe that was featured. I switched it from a long list of recipes to featured photos and a little recipe description. I’d love to know what you think!
8. Did you watch the Super Bowl? I had no rooting interest, but boy what a great game! Did you have any favorite commercials? I loved the Kia commercial with the little girl figure skating for her grandpa, as well as the Dunkin’ commercial with JLo, Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, etc. So funny!
9. We finished Safe (Netflix) and LOVED it… every single one of Harlan Coben’s series has a plot twist that I never quite see coming. We’re currently watching Mrs. Sidhu Investigates (Acorn TV)… it gives me Father Brown vibes (but a bit darker).
10. TGIF! Tennis ball hoarder…
Love that your kids are such good friends and are so kind to each other. We are sending your family prayers and keeping our fingers crossed that Dominic’s bone marrow biopsy comes back clean.
I agree with those who have said they prefer photos in the recipe roundups!
Oh my – Isabelle officially looks like a ‘’big’ girl in the photo today! My keeping my head above water Includes walking the dog and reading. Also really enjoy doing the daily Wordle and other word puzzles. trying to bake a little less as looking to cook more and can’t seem to do both.
9. Agree! Love all of those shoes and a lot more on Acorn. My favourite channel but I wish they had more shows. I only go to Prime and Netflix when I’ve run out of things to watch on Acorn. Love all Harlan Coben’s stuff too. Currently watching Bad Sisters on AppleTV…loving it.
Looked at What’s Saving You Now…and subscribed. Some good stuff there. I don’t feel this winter has left me feeling I need to be saved as we’ve only had a few grey days, a week and a bit of subnormal temperatures and not a lot snow. This will become worrying in summer (wildfire time).
Isabelle’s art club sounds fun!
Your James Clear quote got me thinking. I spend time every week (for years)looking at my screen and reading about YOUR family’s lives. Surely you aren’t suggesting we unsubscribe?
I am not suggesting that at all :) My takeaway from it was that so many of us spend hours of mindless scrolling on Instagram and Facebook watching life happen to others, make sure you spend some intentional time crafting what you want out of life, too! I certainly read and follow other people who I enjoy and inspire me :)
When it comes to recipe roundups, I gotta say I LOVE a roundup that includes the recipe photo so I’m glad you made the change! If recipe or craft roundups don’t have photos then I generally don’t really read them. Something about having the photo included just makes the post easier to read and “digest” (no pun intended haha) and makes it more believable that the posts that are included are actually good ones. And roundup posts with too many links are also a bit exhausting, TBH. Also, my favorite Super Bowl commercial (so glad you asked) over here was “Mayo Cat” for Hellmann’s mayonnaise. It was hilarious and just too cute! The Christopher Walken one for BMW was also really funny.
My girls have the free sip bottles, and it’s great. Even though they’re 8 & 5, they sometimes like to pour the water instead of use the straw. They’re great!
Thanks for the feedback! What size do they use?
Regarding water bottles, we are fans of the Takeya brand here. They can be found on Target and their own website with a smallest size of 14 oz. They even have some went bands that glow in the dark which is loved by my little person here.
What’s keeping me going right now?
A mix of two things:
1. Code 8 Part II premiere in Toronto on 2/26
2. After just over 18 months of having no desire to bake or craft which is highly unusual for me, my neighbors invited me to a Super Bowl party and for the first time in ages I felt like baking, I went over board and made so many things but it felt so good to enjoy baking again, it has renewed my joy! I even used my cricut for a little project, slowly getting back to myself
I really like your new format, having the photos. Great recipes to start with and your photos make them very inviting.
My twins are 9 and love the larger sip Owalas. My son actually has a 32 ounce but 16 or 24 is right for my daughter. They got larger water bottles in 2nd grade.
Saving my life: TikTok sharing with work besties. Jan/Feb is a hard time in schools (I’m an elementary principal) and couldn’t do it without my awesome leaders & friends.
This past Saturday evening we had some friends over for drinks and among other appetizers I made ”your” Buffalo Chicken Dip. WOW! my dear what a success… It was gone in the first 20 min. if not less…
THANK YOU MICHELLE!!!! Now they want me to do just that and nothing else next time.
Do have a blessed weekend!
I have the free sip Owala and it is great! I like that you can drink out of it like a straw and there is the push button lid. I only drink from the straw part. It is probably easier to keep clean than the kids version. My daughter used it sometimes too, she is 11. Highly recommend!