Friday Things #523
1. My kids bicker and argue like any siblings, and it can be downright exhausting, but the other night, my boys completely melted my heart. They had been trading baseball cards before bed, having fun, then Joseph snuck into Dominic’s room and put a card under his pillow, saying Dominic gave away too many good cards. Then Dominic snuck a note into Joseph’s room saying, “Joseph, Thank you for the card. Love, Dominic”. A little bit later, Dominic pushed another note under the door, this time it said, “Joseph, What would I do without you? I love you”. I was a puddle.
2. I love this sweet girl; I can’t believe she’s almost done with kindergarten!!
3. How often do you meal plan? Weekly? Monthly? I saw someone on Instagram mention they went from doing it weekly to doing it monthly and while I think it sounds great in theory, I feel like I would change my mind about what we actually want too many times to make it worth it. I would love to hear how you do it! Right now, I make a weekly meal plan and usually choose 3 to 4 recipes to make based on what our schedule is like during the week, knowing that we will eat leftovers at least one night and perhaps something easy/quick at least one night (grilled cheese, quesadillas, sandwich, breakfast food, etc.).
4. I am FLYING through Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez (the follow-up to Part of Your World) and love it so, so much!
5. Love this (from a James Clear newsletter) >> “Reputation is the echo of your actions.”
6. If you are on the hunt for some good recipes for Sunday, browse through my breakfast and brunch recipes; there’s something there for everyone!
7. The Great Felicity Reckoning >> The show is streaming on Hulu and my gosh, I loved it so so much when it originally aired! The show began my freshman year of college and we watched it every week in the dorm. So many great memories; I’m going to have to go back and rewatch!
8. An interesting perspective on journaling >> A Simple Habit That Brings Me Clarity and Peace
9. Are you watching anything good? After watching the John Wick movies, we watched the spinoff series on Peacock, The Continental. A little violent for me, but the storyline is good!
10. TGIF! Pup snuggles are the best!
Love to see your kids all growing and happy. So thrilled for your family.
love
I put together a meal plan and grocery list using the Paprika app on Sunday morning, covering Monday through Thursday. Then an aspirational, project meal for the weekend, and the rest of the meals we eat out at local restaurants. I get bored easily so could never do more than a week ahead! I love the app because it lets me easily categorize, and I can quickly add recipes I see from bloggers/ online sources and have added all my physical cookbook recipes as well. Makes it easy to pick from a variety of ingredients or food genres, and helps me to actually try the recipes that look good to me (I then go back and add a rating to the recipe at that point, which is another way to sort).
Thank you for sharing the beautiful story about your sons. It made me cry. Your wonderful parenting along with your husband is a blessing to see producing such tenderness (and strength) in your children❤🙏
I do a weekly meal plan via a Google calendar. When I start to plan for the next week, I look back at the same week from 2018 all the way through 2023 to see what we had. I also keep a freezer inventory list so I know what I can use from the freezer. I usually plan one “get your own dinner” night because it’s just two of us, and Friday nights are usually something fun and fast and easy because I am tired from the work week. I, too, think I would change the menu too much if I planned a month in advance. Regarding tv shows: Resident Alien on Hulu is so very fun and funny. :)
Have you read the newest Abby Jimenez? One of my favorite of hers!
I’m going to read it next! It was a pick from last month’s Book of the Month club and many people suggested I get it, but read Part of Your World and Yours Truly first!
Michelle,
Hi! I love all the pics of your beautiful family! You guys are a lovable and huggable bunch! Haha! ❤️❤️❤️
I also love all your recipes! Right now I’m researching spinach empanadas recipes! 😇 It’s fun experimenting!
Have a very Happy Mothers Day!!
Hugs to you guys and to Debbie and Joe! Xoxo Love, Nancy ❤️🦋🌷
Michelle,
Oh my, your sons are so sweet to each other, may that last love last their life. A very Happy Mother’s Day to you.
How precious to see the brothers interacting together like that. Dominic looks so well so happy to see that. Have a Blessed week end.😊🌻
I can’t believe how big Joseph is getting! He looks so grown up! Such a sweet spirit!
Oh my! Your little heart warming sons!! I’m sure those moments in time will stay in your heart and produce enough fuel to get you through anything, your children are so precious and fun to watch grow, loving each chapter and page! Happy Mothers Day! ✝️💜
We just watched the Pop Tarts movie (“Unfrosted”) on Netflix and it was a hoot! Definitely made us laugh.
I too loved Felicity (and Gilmore Girls and Dawson’s Creek as mentioned in the article) and I’m a generation older than you. I’m not sure I’d watch them over again but they were great.
After finishing The Morning Show I went back to Acorn for The latest episodes of Brokenwood and now rewatching Total Control which has a new season dropping episodes.
Your kids and doggies are adorable!
Happy Mother’s Day, Michelle!!
I know your sweet family has a special day planned for you so relax and enjoy every moment.
Would love it if you would share your weekly meal plans!
Oh, your sweet children! Love the boys relationship, and they write notes to each other!!!!
Good job raising these sweet, thoughtful children. Thanks for the brunch recipe reminders.
Happy early Mother’s Day to you!
Watching on Hulu “The Veil” with Elizabeth Moss. First episode was a little slow confusing but the 3rd was great; also on cbs Elsbeth is very good. She’s quirky but smart i loved her character on the good wife. Husband watches it took, like Columbo you get to see how the murder has been committed at the beginning. It’s great to have a show that’s not to heavy, great cast. Have you had the conversation yet while watching one of the streaming services, this is like watching one of the major networks with all the commercials- ugh. Abby Jimenez is terrific I’ve read many of her books, Yours truly might be my favorite I generally laugh out loud and might shed a tear or two when reading her books.
Have a wonderful Mother’s Day!
Love Elsbeth as well. It is fun trying to figure out the clues Elsbeth picks up on how they will lead to solving the crime. I hope CBS decides to renew it for the fall season.
Your “Friday Things” post is one of the first things I look forward to on Friday mornings. I love all of the sweet, cherished moments you share of your family.
Love the James Clear inspirations too! The brunch recipes look so yummy. Your recipes are always the absolute best. Happy Mother’s Day Michelle!
Hi Michelle, that is such a sweet story about Joseph and Dominic, thank you for sharing. I love the relationship they have. They will always have each other’s back.
I had forgotten Isabelle was in kindergarten, she looks much taller than a kindergartener!
Summer break is right around the corner! I know my grandchildren are looking forward to summer, they get lots of homework (a lot of time they get homework over the weekend), they complain a bit but they work hard and get good grades. I look forward to the summer break also because I get to spend more time with them. We will have a new puppy to train to boot! :)
Regarding meal planning, I tend to do that just for the work week ahead but would love to have some new recipes that are tasty and high in protein. I have been reading so much about the importance of protein in your diet, especially as you get older. So I am struggling there and would love ideas.
I hope everyone has a wonderful and blessed weekend!
This post brought smiles and warm fuzzies! The genuine love your children show and your incredible pup!
Regarding planning menus, I am like you— weekly is enough and it is only my husband and I now that the kids are grown. Even so, some weeks are just upside down as plans and late work nights happen.
I always enjoy the reflective quotes and book ideas.
HappyMother’s Day!
I’ve received some good show recommendations from you. We’re currently watching 2nd USA shows, Fringe and Psych👍🏻
Also love Gilded Age.