Friday Things
1. This is what we call “For the Camera”:
2. This is what we call “Real Life”:
That’s what happens about 95% of the time when both Duke and Einstein are awake, complete with non-stop snarling noises. It’s… fun?
3. We inherited a serious drainage problem in our backyard that seems to have been exacerbated by large amounts of melting snow and multiple rainy days we’ve had over the last few weeks. Let me tell you, two dogs running through a soggy, muddy yard results in infinite messes that include paw wiping with beach towels, dragging out the hose, and doggie showers (sometimes at midnight). It also results in praying really hard for freezing temperatures so that our yard just solidifies.
We had someone come out and look at the problem, and they confirmed it is definitely a drainage problem that needs to be fixed (by digging up half of our yard). They’re going to start on it within the next week or so, but in the meantime to alleviate some of our problems, they came and spread straw down where the yard was soggy. We never thought of it and it has seriously been a sanity saver. We were losing our minds over the mess, and it has definitely helped.
4. On a related note, do you remember the show “Boiling Points” on MTV? Where they would put people in crazy situations and see how long it would take for them to flip out about something? I feel like this scenario would be perfect that show. Seriously, give two people two big Golden Retrievers that love to run (including one that wants to go outside every 3.2 seconds between the hours of 7pm and 11pm), a muddy backyard, one beach towel and one hose, and see how long it takes for one of them (or both) to go completely bananas. Thank God for straw!
5. Did you fill out a Billion Dollar Bracket for March Madness? I’m always so horrible at the bracket thing, but I continue to do them year after year, and of course my hopes for a perfect bracket were dashed by about 3pm yesterday. On the bright side, as of midnight, I was a stunning 11 out of 13 (with games still in progress). That might be my best start ever!
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6. Do any of you petite gals shop on ModCloth? They have some super cute clothes, but I’ve read some things about their sizes not really fitting shorter, petite-sized girls. If you have feedback, I’d love to hear it!
7. I saw this on Facebook and… HA!
7. Maria has me lusting over her Tieks flats. How adorable are they?! Does anyone have a pair? I hear they’re extremely comfortable, but pricey. Give me the details!
8. I made a completely ridiculous cake this week and had to invite all of our family over to help us eat it. Everyone declared it one of the best things that I have ever made. Ever. EVER. It’s coming to a computer near you next week, so stay tuned!
9. Surprisingly, I haven’t bought any new cookbooks in awhile. What are some of your new favorites?
10. TGIF! It appears as though we have Food Bandit 101 training going on in our house (we’re in double trouble!):
I just discovered your BEB not long ago and I love it! Your recipes are insanely good although I fear that I will gain a crazy amount of weight if I continue to try all the recipes. The cinnamon raisin bagels were a huge hit at my husbands office. The sweet and sour chicken was awsome and so easy, though I added chopped up sweet peppers, scallions, and jalepenos to give it a little heat ( next time I think I will add some brocalli and carrots for color).
I absolutly love that you blog about your dogs, and they are adorable. We had two irish setter siblings for 15 years ( lost one last march) and they were so fun to watch romp and wrestle with eachother all day and night. They crack me up because when they get tired , they are like children, and they just collapse right where they are ( even if we are on a walk) . Now, my remaining setter, Weenie, keeps me entertained by requiring all my love and attention 24/7! She better live forever.
Anyway, I look forward to following your blog. It is so entertaining as well as great information and recipes. Thanks, and good luck with your yard.
Re Modcloth: I have the “Classic Twist Dress”. I’m about 5 feet/98 lbs. It fits perfectly in terms of length. The ‘trunk’ of the dress is a bit large (my natural waist is ~25 inches) but doesn’t pose any aesthetic issues and the bust is a bit large on me (generally wear a 32 or 34 B). I’m very petite, the S is great.
We have a mucky back yard. We also have two large dogs – shepherds.
I went to a thrift shop and got two extra large t-shirts. I cut the arms off and then enlarged the armholes so they were still snug, but comfortable.
Their bellies still are wet but all the dirt goes on the shirt. Their feet are still muddy, but it cut cleaning time by a chunk.
Love your food.
The great thing about modcloth is that they ask reviewers to include their measurements and have a spot to include pictures. I am usually able to find a review from someone with similar measurements and can decide from their review what size I would need and whether or not to order. :)
That cake! Want a slice right now. Hope you post the recipe soon as I so want to make that now!
I have been missing the weekend post the last two weeks. Is it coming back? You are my favorite blog!!
It’s great how you got the two dogs to show their teeth like that. The last pic of them is great as well, the one to the left is trying to put on the sad eyes – no doubt they’re smelling what you’re cooking in that one lol :)
I’ve shopped Modcloth many times and had to return every single item I have bought due to fit. The first time I thought I knew my size and was wrong. The second time I followed their sizing chart very specifically, even reading the comments to make sure I was headed in the correct direction. I had to send that back too. I’m tall and thin but their sizing is just WAY off. Plus the most often comment I saw was their dresses end up being so short…not what I’m looking for in vintage. Great clothes, super prices (for the most part) but not worth the headache in my humble opinion.
Can I ask who/what type of person you called for your drainage issue? We are having a problem too and I don’t know who to call!
Hi Anna, We called a landscaping company that also does excavating work.
Thanks for the tip!
The “in real life” photo is the story of my life. My two are constantly chewing on each other’s faces while one makes what I can only describe as chicken clucking sounds. It’s amazing that I haven’t been committed yet. But we continue on and love them nonetheless. Love your boys and all your recipes. You are my guaranteed go to for just about anything I want to make. Thanks for being awesome!
I’ve bought a few things off Mod Cloth before but they are always too big. I’m 4″11 and petite but even their smallest size doesn’t fit right. They have such cute designs though so I just take mine in :)
Anisa – The Macadames. xx
http://www.creamstop.com
Hey, Michelle! Just curious. Love Friday posts but don’t see the weekend dish anymore on Saturdays. May have missed posts referring to it. Have you stopped your weekly roundup? I’ve recently experienced problems with some emails. Anyway love your site! ( and dogs will be dogs! They’re awesome :-)
I am petite (5’1 and 117) and love Modcloth, have never had any problems with fit. Also, I just bought the brand new “Oh She Glows” cookbook and love it!
Your second doggy picture is hilarious!! I love it. :)
Alexis at Laugh. Eat. Learn. ♥
Where is the weekend dish? Michelle, you didn’t put it up for two weeks now.
So funny you ask about cookbooks because I just bought Cooking Light’s Global Kitchen. As I browsed thru it at the Costco book table I saw at least 5 recipes that I wanted to make right away! Tomorrow’s dinner was a toss up between Masaman Curry or Beef Bourguignon – the beef won out. I plan to cook my way around the world in the next few months.
I love all of the pictures of your dogs! They’re beautiful! The cookbook I’m enjoying right now is Giada’s Feel Good Food by Giada De Laurentiis. I highly recommend it! Good luck with the drainage issue! I hope it gets resolved soon!
Michelle,
I may have mentioned it once or twice but I love the puppy pics. Whether it’s play or camera ready.
Owning a house comes with it’s own set of angst. Sorry to hear about your troubles.
Annamaria
I love those doggy pics! My Goldens, Cali and Teddy, play like that daily! They softly growl, even howl a little, they crack me up! I have had 5 goldens in my life, and they all had fun like that. We also had a wet yard problem, as we live at the bottom of a hill.(Note to self-don’t buy a house at the bottom of a hill!) Our town’s street and sanitation dept. installed a couple drain tiles, it has helped tremendously. My dogs got so used to being wiped down, they would walk in, lay down, and put their legs in the air haha.
I hope you picked Kansas – winner, winner, chicken dinner! Rock Chalk Jayhawk.
Michelle- you always make my day with your pictures of your
Fur babies!
Xo
Love those doggy pictures!
I actually love the “Entertaining with the Sopranos” cookbook from several years back. Blatant marketing ploy? Absolutely. Hands-down the best cheesecake recipe EVER??? No doubt. I have made it more times than I can count and it’s amazing. The entire book is worth buying for that recipe alone.
Those flats are cute, but wow. “Pricey” doesn’t begin to describe that cost!!! Hard for me to stomach them being “worth it” no matter how comfortable they are and how much I’d wear them.
I LOVE ModCloth! I didn’t’ fill out the million-dollar bracket cus I know literally nothing about March Madness, but maybe do it anyways?
In no way would I qualify as petite, but I have bought from modcloth. The key is to check the measurements for the clothing. Only once did I have to return something because it didn’t fit. I went by the size instead of the measurements and it was way too big.
Oh, those dogs are awesome. I, too, am living in a world of mud these days. I can’t wait for summer.
I’m on a cookbook binge these days, and am especially loving A la Mere de Famille by Julien Merceron and First Prize Pies by Allison Kave. Amazing!
I LOVE your Friday posts and those amazing pictures of your adorable dogs!!! I want to hug them!!!
Feel so bad for you with the drainage problem.
Our back yard is a mess from so much snow, rain,
etc. I have towels etc ready after my Yorkie ventures out. I have not heard of that clothing line but will have to check it out as I am petite and have a hard time finding clothes I want to buy.
I also have a Golden Retriever. The Food bandit comment made me laugh as I recall one day I had put raw potatoes on the counter to cook for supper when I got home. When I returned I found a mangled potato on the couch with distinctive teeth marks in it. So funny!