Friday Things #534
1. Sweet little tennis lady 🩷
2. This has been A WEEK. Last Friday, after not feeling great on and off for a number of days, I took Dominic to get looked at, and it turned out he had strep. A few days ago, down went Isabelle. And now, I’m just waiting to see if Joseph will outrun it or if he’ll go down, too. There aren’t supposed to be germs in the summer!
3. Do you have a laundry routine that you stick to? I try to wash a load of clothes most days and everyone’s sheets once a week. For the longest time, I had been washing the mattress pads and the top blankets/duvet once a month, aiming to do the mattress pads at the beginning of the month, the blankets at the end. It just always seemed like TOO MUCH (especially the top blankets). A few weeks ago, I switched things up and decided that each week, one bed would get EVERYTHING washed (mattress pad, sheets, blankets, etc.) while the others would just get sheets washed. This seems so much more approachable, and I love it!
4. I started a new puzzle this week – the Blockbuster Era puzzle that I shared a while back. I thought it would take me forever, but I’ve made good progress!
5. I forgot to share the last puzzle that we did; as part of a school project, Dominic had to send a letter to a friend/relative in a different state and have them take a little cut-out person around to different places, then they send it back with photos.
Dominic chose an 18-year-old cousin from Chicago (who also happens to be a hockey goalie!); when he sent the project back, he included some souvenirs for Dominic, including this Chicago puzzle. We had so much doing it together (and the puzzle itself was probably the highest quality puzzle I’ve ever worked with; I loved it)! In the photo is also my beloved puzzle board (my husband got this for me a number of years ago for Christmas and I use it year-round for puzzles!).
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6. I have been incredibly loyal to the big red bag of Costco’s Kirkland semisweet chocolate chips for years now, but they seem to have been (at least temporarily) discontinued. Gah! What are your favorite chocolate chips?
7. Such truth to this statement! >> “The first minute of action is worth more than a year of perfect planning.”
8. Talk to me about stovetop popcorn (in a regular pot) vs. making it with a Whirley Pop… is there any difference at all? It seems that it would be quite a similar cooking method, but I’m curious because I know some people really love their Whirley Pop!
9. We are SO excited to start watching the Olympics! The boys watched a little bit of rugby the other day, but I can’t wait for the swimming, diving, gymnastics, etc.
10. TGIF! This girl loves attention and snuggles 🩷
I make banana chocolate chip muffins and always use the chocolate chips from Aldi (the dark chocolate are my favorite) and EVERY SINGLE TIME someone wants to know what chocolate chips I use! So I would highly recommend trying those!
So wonderful to see Dominic looking so healthy! Such a handsome boyo. I will continue to keep him in my prayers. I enjoy all your “family” updates and photos. Kids are growing up fast and so is your beautiful Golden Retriever.
Fondest regards, Kathleen
P.S. What is your secret for boundless energy? You are amazing!
Gosh, for me I am 100% in on the Nestle semisweet chocolate chips especially for when they are going whole into cookies/brownies/cakes. They have a great classic chocolatey taste! But for chocolate chips that are melted for a recipe, I would use a more expensive brand (probably like a Ghirardelli).
Re; chocolate chips, I love Ghirardelli chips in all flavors. Recently though, I’ve been buying the pound plus dark chocolate bars at TJ’s and chopping them up when I need chips for something like cookies. Re the Whirley Pop; i was given one for my birthday a few years ago and I’ve never looked back! I find it to be quicker than popping in a regular pot, and there are much fewer unpopped kernels. Give it a whirl, you’ll be glad you did!
I haven’t seen Kirkland chocolate chips at Costco recently either. And our granddaugyer had to come home from camp two days early because they closed the camp due to a breakout of strep
I hope you are all feeling better soon!!!
I like your idea of doing one bed completely. Sometimes it seems like the laundry never ends. I like the Ghirardelli chocolate chips.
Have a great weekend!
My daughters do the laundry they are twins and are in there mid 20 ,s and still can’t get doing the washing right .
Bed sheets once a week clothes every day .
Hopefully things will get better for your family soon
Ghiredelli chocolate chips and their bars that I chop up for cookies are my favorite!
I have a very old Crate & Barrel stovetop popper which is similar to a Whirly Pop. I love it and use it all the time. I usually buy popcorn online from Amish Country Popcorn and love the different varieties of kernels.
Have a great weekend!
Could have been user error, but I bought a whirly pop knockoff and it scratched the hell out of my glass stovetop AND burnt the popcorn to a crisp. I’d been making it on the stove for years with no problem. However, as several others have commented, since I bought a microwave popper, I haven’t made stovetop popcorn once: https://www.amazon.com/Cuisinart-CTG-00-MPM-Microwave-Popcorn-Maker/dp/B01FX3Q6G0/ref=asc_df_B01FX3Q6G0/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=693129827024&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=9953982031988282418&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1015146&hvtargid=pla-387161319273&psc=1&mcid=7a902be7a8733cdb868c183e1c5c7c52&gad_source=1. It’s SO easy!
Gittard chocolate chips are my favorite. They make them near where I live and sometimes the whole neighborhood smells like chocolate!
Oh my gosh, as I looked at Dominic’s smily face, I feel such a rush of gratitude for his continued good health. Medicine, prayers, positivity all have contributed to so many miracles.
I wish i could get into puzzling. IT looks like so much fun and is a great family activity.
Hope all your littles feel better soon.
I think the costco red bag is the nestle recipe. My costco sometimes has a Kirkland brand blue bag which I prefer over the red. I suggest nestle as closest replacement for same taste.
I grew up with a Stir Crazy popcorn maker, got my own for my dorm room also. Years later went to the Whirly Gig, but discovered if the stirrer got a little bent – it was done, non-usable. Now we make it stovetop, using a wok & Alton Brown’s recipe — it comes out so good! I am old-fashion with Nestle chocolate chips, may try some other these other suggestions though.
Hope the kids feel better soon!
Guittard are my go-to chocolate chip. I won’t buy anything else these days because they’re just so much better than anything else in the grocery store.
In terms of popcorn, I bought my teen a proper popper silicone bowl from amazon for Christmas two years ago, thinking kind of a gimmick. It’s now all I use. No oil, no watching a pot, and crisp, perfect popcorn in the microwave every single time. We went from an occasional treat to having all the time now! {We had a whirly pop at one point. I wasn’t a fan. But I really dislike hard, burnt popcorn and with that and stovetop, always a risk. Before the silicone bowl, I used an air popper).
I love the Ghirardelli chocolate chips, both the semi sweet and dark chocolate. I am a book lover like you and just finished Nora goes off script by Annabel Monaghan, and loved it, if your looking for a fun read I highly recommend it.I hope your littles get better soon.
Do hope that Dominic and Isabelle get over the strep quickly and that no one else comes down with it. My favourite chocolate chips are Nestles semi sweet just baked chocolate chip cookies and chocolate muffins which are delicious and taste even better the next day. My grandson went home a happy camper to share with his roommates.Just finished watching “Presumed Innocent” on Apple I never would have guessed who did it. Now they are going to come out with a new series. Have a great week end. God Bless😊
We love popcorn and I have always had a dedicated (2-quart?) pot w/lid that is only for popcorn. Sure, there is always a package of microwave popcorn sitting around for one of the kids who wants to make a quick snack, but generally, it’s old-fashioned on-the-stove popcorn for us! Melt some butter in the same pot, pour it over the popcorn in the bowl, and it’s a taste like no other. The best!
I don’t usually comment, even though I read and love every post. I love my Whirly Pop. I even upgraded a few years ago to a stainless steel version. For me it was the difference between popcorn and no popcorn. My mom was a huge popcorn lover. We made it for years on the stove. I hated it. The Whirly Pop takes all the stress and guesswork out of making it. Huge plus, when my kids were little they used to love to turn the little crank. It made popcorn day so special. I have so many sweet memories just from those days.
Ghirardellis for sure. We went from popcorn on the stovetop to an air popper, we love it
My favorite chocolate chips are Guittard. I used to only use Ghirardelli’s, but I like these better.
Hi! I like Ghirardelli’s semi-sweet chocolate chips. They are not too sweet and have a great chocolate taste.
I read that you have to change toothbrush after you had strep if you don’t want to get infected again.
Hope it helps!
I used a Whirly Pop for years and recently started using the stovetop method. I LOVE popping it on the stove now. Use a heavy bottom pot, add oil and 3 kernels of corn and heat until corn pops. Remove from heat and add popcorn, wait 30 seconds, return to heat and pop. It pops perfectly every time! My saucepan is easier to clean than popcorn popper and I don’t have to keep a uni-tasker in the cabinet.
If you have a BJ in your area, you can get a big bag of Ghirardelli chips in the baking dept. at prices comparable to Costco.
Hi, I have been following you since before you had Joseph. I love to see how they have grown. I can tell that you are an avid reader, as am I. Where do you get your book suggestions from? I also enjoy what you are watching on tv. God Bess you and your family! ❤️ Nancy
Grrrrr. I too, woke up this week with a sore throat…. Strep!! Why? At these 90 plus degrees temps should strep even survive?!?!😂.
I always use Ghirardelli chocolate chips!!
Love your stories.
Look forward to them every Friday!
Hi I am a long time reader and follower I just want to say I don’t miss a Fridays things and I love how Dominic is coming along his illness and journey reminds me of my father and his cancer battles he is such a strong little guy and your family dynamic is amazing.You will continue to be on my prayer list.
A chocolate chip recommendation they can be a touch pricey but in bulk not too bad at 3+ lbs are the Ghirardelli chips absolutely fabulous.Call me a chocolate chip snob.lol but I love baking and nibbling on great chocolate.
Michelle! Would you be able to tell me where you husband found your puzzle board? I would love to have one. I really enjoy building puzzles, but it’s hard to leave it out the whole time while building because we need our table. I could move the puzzle and not worry about it with a puzzle board. I’ve never seen nor heard of one before and I think it’s a brilliant idea.
Have a great weekend.
Hi! There’s a link in her article for the puzzle board. Amazon!
Hello! Yes, he got it on Amazon! Here is a link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CKTW4TTL?ref=t_ac_view_request_product_image&campaignId=amzn1.campaign.11YXMVSBVBZ7G&linkCode=tr1&tag=broeyebak-20&linkId=amzn1.campaign.11YXMVSBVBZ7G_1721958426500
Thanks so much! I was so excited when I saw your puzzle board that I didn’t even notice you had it linked.
We LOVE our Whirley Pop! That with Bob’s Redmill popcorn. Usually zero unpopped kernals. Delicious with a spray of olive oil and a dusting of extra fine salt from Whirley Pop. It’s a healthy and delicious snack. I bought it as a surprise for my husband a few years ago and he says it’s one of the best gifts I ever got him. The crank makes all the difference.