Monthly Archives: May 2018

National Doughnut Day {2018}

Posted in Buffalo!, Exploring Seattle, Food, Holidays by

This week we’ll celebrate National Doughnut Day on Friday, June 1.

It seems like there is a new National ____ Day every day, but this is a holiday we can really get behind as doughnuts are some of our favorite foods.

In Seattle, we had our favorite shops and doughnuts: Top Pot (maple old-fashioned, apple fritter) and Daily Dozen Doughnuts (assorted dozen or a dozen sprinkled).

We love Daily Dozen Doughnuts so much they made an appearance in our wedding photos! {Photo by Mike Fiechtner Photography}

We were sad to leave them, but pleased to find that Buffalo is a doughnut city too! Buffalo also fancies itself an expert in wings (duh), pizza (the greasier, the better), and ice cream (it’s so good! That’s for another post!), among others.

We’ve sampled most of the doughnut-eries in Buffalo and Donut Kraze is hands-down our favorite shop. Brandon doesn’t have a favorite doughnut yet and always tries the classic or seasonal favorites. Michael always gets the white cake doughnut with frosting and sprinkles. I opt for the blueberry old-fashioned (it’s like eating just the crispy parts of a blueberry muffin) and a bagel egg sandwich that I share with Michael.

Weekend breakfast goals.

Michael and his favorite breakfast

As you get ready to celebrate National Doughnut Day the best way you know how, let me offer some ideas and recipes I found on the internet that are sure to be your new favorites:

Travel the Ohio Donut Trail with us? We’re legitimately looking into a trip…

S’more doughnuts

Triple dipped chocolate peanut butter doughnuts: Two of Brandon’s favorite flavors!

Catnip doughnut with pink frosting: I met the owner of this Etsy shop at Craft Camp last year and fell in love with her catnip toys, especially this doughnut!

If you still haven’t had your fill of doughnuts yet, keep reading some of my favorite doughnut posts:

{2017/2018} Fall TV updates: What I’m still watching and going to miss

Posted in Around the house by

Every September I write about my hopes and dreams for the upcoming fall TV season. Read last year’s post here.

And then around this time every year, as the shows are wrapping up for the season, I take some time to reflect on what I thought of the shows, and how I feel about their fate to return for next season. Read last year’s RIP fall TV post here.

What am I watching now? As I write this, I’m catching up on For the People. I’ve also been engrossed in Riverdale, Westworld, and Last Week Tonight with John Oliver.

Some of my favorites that left or likely will be leaving after this season: 

  • Vice Principals
    • It was only meant to be two seasons and got weird here and there, but I still miss it.
  • Scandal
    • It was time. I was surprisingly unfilled by the finale.
  • Designated Survivor
    • I figured it was nearing the end when they killed off Alex last season, but I still enjoy it!
  • Great News
    • I was fond of this show but never made it a priority. I guess I wasn’t the only one.
  • Quantico
    • I’m catching up on the current season and it’s weird. It’s time.
  • Timeless
    • This show is cute! I hope it stays on!!
  • Shades of Blue
    • I watched the first season sort of. No loss here.

And those who newbies that couldn’t make it work:

  • The Crossing
    • We’re catching up on this show and it’s good, but I’m definitely not hooked.
  • Law & Order: True Crime
    • The Mendez Brothers series was interesting. I’d like to see more stories.
  • 9JKL
    • This show was sort of cute, but ridiculous. It was time.
  • Alex, Inc.
    • I intended to watch this show but then didn’t. I guess I wasn’t the only one!
  • For the People
    • It is good but it does seem like it’s missing the mark. Maybe they’ll come back and turn it around?
  • Ghosted
    • Such potential. Such a disappointment.
  • Life Sentence
    • I thought the show was cute, and I’ll miss it. Lucy Hale’s duck lips though? Not right.
  • The Mayor
    • I gave up on this show less than one episode in. It was bad.

So, what’s on-tap for the summer TV viewing?

  • Nashville returns June 7
  • The Bold Type returns June 12
  • Young & Hungry returns June 20
  • Take Two premieres June 21
  • Westworld wraps up June 24
  • Making It premieres July 31 (I’ll still watch, even though I’m not on it. Jerks.)
  • Ballers returns August 12

Above renewal assumptions informed by Zimbio.

Tell me what else I should be watching!

Mother’s day “flowers” {last-minute gift idea}

Posted in Baby Michael, Crafts, DIY, Holidays, Homemade by

Still looking for the perfect gift or card for your Mom this Mother’s day? Look no further!

Presenting a special bouquet of flowers:

Mother's day bouquet of hand print flowers

My Mother’s day bouquet

These are really easy to make:

  1. Squirt out your paint – we used Michael’s Crayola washable tempera paints
  2. Take subject’s hand
  3. Paint subject’s hand. Work quickly depending on age and patience level of subject.
  4. Press subject’s hand onto paper.
  5. Let dry.
  6. Add some foliage (stems and leaves) and cut out or back with additional paper.

And if you’re a visual learner:

Handprint flowers | Mother's Day

Prep your materials.

Handprint flowers | Mother's Day

Painting your subject.

Handprint flowers | Mother's Day

Stamp, stamp, stamp.

Handprint flowers | Mother's Day

Hand prints: complete!

Handprint flowers | Mother's Day

And then when the hand prints turn into painting…

Happy Mother’s day!