Friday Thoughts: Favorite Things + Follow Up
Hey, hey! It’s April already. WOW.
I won’t go into why that’s hard to wrap my brain around (like, school’s out for the summer in less than seven weeks, wut), but…here we are. Time marches on and all that.
I wanted to check in today to share a few favorite things with you and blab about some random life notes. I also have a microblading update, but this post got long in a hurry, so I’ll save that for next time!
Here we go!
Some Favorite Things
I shared a few random, favorite things on Instagram the other week, and didn’t want those of you not on Instagram (good for you) to miss out! So, here they are plus a few more! (None of these are sponsored, just stuff I’m l.o.v.i.n.g.)
- Yasso bars. My goodness. Amazing. My friend, Deb, dropped these frozen yogurt bars off to me last week and I ate two, immediately became obsessed, and the next day drove around to find them (thank you, Albertsons – several of you alerted me they are at Target and Walmart, too). I bought every flavor I could find. All delicious; the sea salt caramel chocolate crunch are my fave.
- S’mores maker. I got this fun little s’mores maker for the kids for Valentine’s day, and it’s been a hit. The premise is super simple, and we love it. You could argue that you don’t really need another small appliance to make a s’mores, but we’d have to agree to disagree on this one. 😉
- My new favorite jeans. Listen, I’m no fashion blogger, but I’m in love with these jeans and thought you should know. This is saying a lot, since I generally avoid wearing hard pants at all costs. #joggersforlife These jeans are flattering and comfy (and I don’t look like I’m a 40+ mom trying to fit into a 19-year old’s fashion closet). I bought them from one of my favorite online clothing boutiques, Piper and Scoot – the jeans are a top seller and I think there are only a few sizes left. But good news, I did a quick google search and found the exact same ones here. They run a bit big. I’d size down one waist size (I’m normally a 27-28-ish and I wear a size 26). And yes, that is a carpenter loop, and yes, it does beg the question of why I didn’t hang on to the pair I had in high school. K, bye.
- Queen Bee Chocolates. This family-owned company is in Wyoming, a few hours from where my parents live in Montana. My dad makes the drive to this small town just for these amazing chocolates. And after every trip, he usually sends me a small box stuffed with my favorites (thanks, dad!). I love the story behind this small copmany: honey farmers turned simultaneous candy makers. All the chocolate/candy is made with honey, and it is incredibly delicious. My favorites: the dark chocolate haystacks, the Bee Energy Bars, and the honey caramels.
- Crazy amazing granola. My sister gave me a few flavors of this Safe + Fair granola for my birthday, and I became an instant fan. So much so that I ended up buying one (ahem, ok, two) of every flavor from their website. The birthday cake granola is unparalleled. But I just dipped into the honeycrisp apple and ohmygoodness.
- Sassy bites. Random grocery store find, and now I can’t eat lunch without them. I’m a pickle fanatic, and these sweet + spicy pickles might be in the land of best pickles I’ve ever had (yes, I’ve had Famous Daves, and I think they’re even better, please don’t hate me). Word has it that the pickled carrots from this company are UNREAL.
- White balsamic vinegar. The same friend who blessed my life with the fro-yo bars also gave me some of this white balsamic vinegar from Baker + Olive, and I have never had anything like it in my life. I went through a bottle of the mango white balsamic in no time (best vinegar ever), so I decided to order more flavors of vinegar than one human should ever need. JUSTIFICATION: I’m planning to keep them in my pantry for gifts. Buuuuut I’m worried I’m going to end up dipping into every flavor just so I can sample. I have personally tried the mango, cranberry pear, and jalapeno – all of them outrageously delicious. I also have bought and used the olive oil from this same company and a few of the spice blends.
As for what I do with the vinegar: I use it in recipes that call for vinegar (salad dressings, marinades), but it’s also so flavorful and tasty on it’s own that I regularly whisk equal parts vinegar and olive oil and toss it with a simple salad. Divine.
How Did This Happen?
Unbelievably, I started this blog just a few weeks after this picture was taken, almost 15 years ago.
Even more unbelievable is that some of you have been around for almost that entire time. 💗
Earlier this week that cute little boy in the blue PJ’s up there turned 18.
Me: WHO AM I AND HOW DID I GET HERE?
Also me: DON’T GET ATTACHED, THEY GROW UP AND LEAVE YOU.
Finally me: 😭💗😭💗😭💗😭💗😭💗😭💗😭💗😭💗😭💗
Millions of kids throughout history have grown up, graduated high school, and launched into the big, wide world. I’m certainly no pioneer. And yet, I feel like the first mom who has ever experienced the lump-in-my-throat, bittersweet emotions watching her oldest son go through this phase of life. My heart is full of love…and also ripping to shreds.
I just honestly don’t feel old enough for this. Can we pause life for about 10 years (but only if it can be done exactly when all the teenagers in my house are in a good mood)? Pretty please?
Sourdough (Don’t Roll Your Eyes)
I haven’t personally gotten into making rustic, gorgeous loaves of rustic sourdough bread. You know the ones: the bread with incredible sourdough flavor and also crust so sharp it bleeds the top of your mouth dry. Yeah, those ones.
But I have become mildly obsessed with sourdough discard recipes.
Now is just a gentle reminder and nudge to get your hands on a sourdough starter (or make your own so it has time to grow and get ready to use), because I’m posting an easy sourdough discard recipe next week that is going to knock your socks off.
And I’m also working on the softest, fluffiest sourdough sandwich bread and a perfected sourdough waffle recipe.
If you are cringing at the thought of the sourdough recipes to come, don’t worry. I promise my blog isn’t turning into Sourdough Central…there are just a few recipes I’m super excited to share before I lose interest. 🙂
My Brother’s Wedding
My favorite younger brother, Nate, got married last month, and I was very, very honored (and also very, very nervous) to take the photos and make the cake for his wedding.
Because I had to drive six hours to the wedding, I baked the cake layers ahead of time and then made the frosting and assembled and decorated the cake at the AirBnb in Portland, Oregon.
After perusing the Pinterest boards Nate and Tim sent me for inspiration, I went with a rustic/woodsy vibe. I used this chocolate cake recipe for two 9-inch layers topped with two 7-inch layers.
In between the layers I spread dark chocolate ganache sprinkled with dark chocolate crispy chocolate pearls aff. link (sidenote: those crispy pearls are the best thing to happen to life – I decorate cakes/cupcakes/cookies with them, but mostly, I eat them by the handful; so delightfully yummy)
Tim prefers less-sweet frosting (as do I!), so I made this buttery magical frosting to frost the outside of the cake layers.
(I bought the engraved cake knife and server from Etsy, as well as the cake topper. The acacia cake board is from Amazon aff. link)
The cake ended up tasting quite delicious…but mostly, I was just happy it didn’t collapse while driving an hour through Portland traffic to the venue. Special shoutout to my amazing mom who held the assembled cake on her lap the entire drive.
I love my brother, Nate, more than I can express in a blog post. He’s not just my brother, he is one of my closest friends.
His life story is not mine to tell, but I will say that if you’ve been blessed to know Nate in the 40 years he’s been on this earth, you’ll know how lucky you are. He’s warm and genuine. Authentic and kind. He’s a phenomenal father. He’s wickedly smart. And he is also very, very funny.
I am so incredibly grateful for the man he is, the life he is living, and the fact that he’s now blessed me with an amazing brother-in-law, Tim, who patiently listens to me talk about sourdough starters and pigs. (Bless you, Tim, bless you.)
This is me probably giving Nate the side eye at some joke he made. He and I are always arguing about who is funnier. I mean, Nate is SUPER funny, but is this still even a debate?? You guys, please believe me: I am older, wiser, and definitely funnier. 😉
Tummy Troubles
I have had increasing stomach issues for months. I know it’s a combination of stress/anxiety, family history of IBS, and some inflammatory foods on my particular tummy.
I recently did an elimination diet where most of my meals consisted of things like this:
Which looks yummy for half a second until you eat it every dang day for weeks on end and realize that there is no true joy without chocolate, cheese and carbs.
The upside is that I’ve been able to identify some foods that are causing me stomach issues. Along with that, I’ve also been taking these digestive enzymes + probiotics (aff. link) and have noticed a huge difference for the better when I take them.
Some News Resources I Like
I, like many of you, feel the heaviness of world events right now, particularly the war in Ukraine. If you are like me and want to stay informed without feeling overwhelmed by all the loud voices and huge amount of misinformation, here are the sites/resources I check.
- @sharonsaysso (she posts most of her information on her Instagram stories)
- @mosheh (he posts most of his info in Instagram stories as well, but he also has a very helpful email bulletin you can subscribe to)
- The Donut daily email (I love this quick synopsis of world events + other information + random tidbits)
- @smarthernews and @theamericanmoms and @ridethenews have also been great informational resources for me
- @wiserworldpodcast (here’s the website) is a new-to-me podcast (and a fairly new podcast altogether) that is incredibly helpful with short-ish episodes about countries and historical events (the four episodes on the last 100 years in Russia and Ukraine were so, so informative and interesting)
Additionally, I’ve been following the work of World Central Kitchen in Ukraine right now, and the amount of meals this organization makes to feed the hungry is absolutely mind-blowing. I’ve personally donated to World Central Kitchen and to Save The Children for their efforts in Ukraine right now. These are just two of many, many worthy and reputable organizations needing donations right now. 💗
Y’all. WHY DO I ALWAYS HAVE SO MUCH TO SAY.
Thanks for being here and for sticking with me and my randomness (for those of you that make it to the end every time). I love your guts. Just so much.
Let me know how you’re doing in the comments? Yes, please do.
All. The. Feels. about the kiddos growing up. My recently flew the coop as well, and it seemed to me that everyone around me was fine while I was ugly crying at every “last” event. But here is what I will tell you – it gets better. Having high school kids at home was an absolutely dream, but having college kids is EVEN BETTER! You get all the highs and lows without having that referred stress of every homework assignment, paper due date, etc. You just get the highlight reel and it is amazing. Your house rarely needs to be clean, you get FABULOUS time with your husband, and you get to absolutely shower them with attention when they are home. I promise, you are not alone – it is so super hard. But getting to watch your kids grow into adults and see what they do with everything you have taught them is truly one of God’s biggest blessings. And someday we will have grandbabies to spoil. 🙂
I enjoyed reading all your Friday thoughts Mel (yes, I always read to the end!)!! This is such a fun and positive thing to read on my lunch break! Thanks for sharing, and I’m going to be checking out several of your recommendations later today! Thanks for being a great person!!
Mel, I love your blog. I’ve made your recipes probably hundreds of times and I appreciate you so much.
I love that you honored your brother by baking a cake for him on his wedding day. I love that your mom held it carefully on her lap the whole way. Powerful image, powerful example.
Ohhh the blogspot days!! Lol! Can’t believe it’s been that long since the beginning of this awesome food adventure. Glad I stuck around because you’ve saved dinner for me more than once. Also, I like bragging that I’ve known you since before the blog haha!! Also, I hate to say it, but once the first one turns 18, it seems like the rest follow even quicker. You’ll be less teary until the last one turns, which I am only two years away from
Love reading your posts, watching your family grow up, all your randomness. Without the recipes you share, my family would like me a whole lot less. 😉 Thanks for YOU!!!!
Every time you’ve write a Friday post, I . . . love you more. 🙂 Congratulations to your brother & BIL. The cake looks awesome! (And I know it tasted awesome, because I’ve made your chocolate cake like, a billion times. It’s our most-requested cake and I’ll be making it for 3 birthdays in the span of a month this spring. Most recently I used your chocolate cake + Cake by Courtney’s fillings for her Salted Caramel Turtle Pie Pecan recipe. Yummy)
I have 3 boys and they are growing so fast, I can definitely relate to this sense of fleeting motherhood. You’ve got a lovely family, and I am blown away by your thoughtful and loving approach to parenting 5 kiddos! Thank you for always being yourself and sharing so much of your life with us, your lucky readers.
I’ve been around about 12 years. I love your recipes! I know I’m going to love them and always come back! Thanks for sharing yummy food and authenticity!
I don’t know exactly how long I have been following you but I know it is at least 12-13 years I believe. Maybe longer. My youngest is 18 and graduating high school and although part of me is happy to be done with our lives revolving around school schedules for the past 18 years, I also feel like you. After two that are married already, I was not ready for this stage of life to come so quickly. So as your teenagers are mouthing off to you and giving you a “tone” in their voice, just remember that it will be over soon and you will someday miss even the hard moments because it means that they are still around. Now I will go off and cry!
That ended up sounding more dramatic than I wanted it to. 🙂 I typed in emojis but I always forget that they don’t translate into the comments. 🙂
I loved this blog post so much. I ordered both supplements from your affiliate link. Also, the cake that you made your brother and BIL is so beautiful and “cottage-core”, I love it. My own doctor ordered me to dramatically cut back on carbs to control blood sugar, so I must live vicariously through pics. Also, I love the brief commentary and beautiful photos of Nate & Tim – thank you for being one of the first openly religious figures who is also so purely kind (based on my personal experiences, the two are almost always seemingly mutually exclusive. Virtual hugs and best wishes to them!
I’m adding my voice of love and appreciation for the job, positivity, authenticity and humor these posts bring. Like for so many others, you are a one-name reference for countless things in our home (“Mel said we should make this cake,” or “Let’s see what Mel says about what bowls to get.”). Thank you, thank you, and congrats to your brother and his lovely husband!
I sure appreciate the laughs and yummy recipes you’ve provided for me and my family over the years. I’m totally feeling many of the same things as you right now. I’m also the mother of five, and my oldest is about to graduate and tears are often close to the surface when I think about it. It’s a weird combination of being so proud of her, and sadness that she won’t be living in our house next year. Good thing I’ve got four more kiddos to keep me busy so I don’t think too much about it. .
I am pretty sure I have been here the entire 15 years. Thanks for teaching me how to be a rockstar in the kitchen. My sister went to your beloved neighbors funeral and snuck a picture of you playing the organ since I consider you my virtual bestie. Ha.
Good luck as your kids start leaving the nest. When my oldest left for college I cried for 2 weeks straight. So many feels. Good luck!!
❤️ Congratulations to your Nate and the groom Tim! The cake and pics are …You are amazing Mel
I’m curious to hear what you’ve discovered with your food elimination run. I feel like so many are experiencing this right now, myself included. Is it pesticides in food, GMO? I have no idea but I like to hear what’s causing your stomach grief and how you’re coping. Thanks!
Was there another cake that you shared in your stories last week? I thought I saw a cookies and cream cake linked from another source that looked amazing. Our family loves on your recipes! Thanks for the hard work you put into bringing delicious meals to our home.
It is the cookies and cream cake from http://www.cakebycourtney.com, I believe Mel said she did her own chocolate cake recipe, and did Courtney’s filling. Either way, it’s such a yummy cake!
Thank you! I could not remember who she referenced but already made the mistake of say cookies and cream cake out loud to my family.
I love your Friday thoughts!! My jaw dropped when you featured Queen Bee! Say WHAT?!?! We moved to Northern Wyoming 3 years ago and have fallen in love with them… as in a big box of chocolates and caramels for Valentines and birthdays and any time we’re just needing a candy fix! They really are so great
I love your Friday thoughts! Thanks for taking the time to do them.
Always love these posts, random thoughts are my favorite kind of thoughts. And watching your kids leave home is the worst. And I love my adult girls so much, but parenting from far away is a new territory I don’t much enjoy either. This isn’t very encouraging, is it?! Sorry. It’s the truth.
And I gotta try all those yummy things! The pantry got a bit boring while we moved and I stopped making interesting food!
Congratulations to your bro! What great pics and a beautiful cake! I wish them nothing but good wishes! My oldest is also 18, graduating soon and going to college 15!!!! hours away. My heart hurts too. I will miss him so much, but it’s his turn to fly away from the nest. Great post as usual! Making your greek chicken salad today.
Wow! 15 years. I’ve been reading since Cam was a baby and I have wondered since then how you do it all! Congratulations!
The cake you made for your brother and brother-in-law is exceptional! Congratulations to them as well. It’s so nice to find someone to share your life with; everything is more fun; the sun seems to shine brighter and dark days aren’t as dark.
Please don’t ever stop, you are always my first “go to” when I need a recipe.
I tried the granola you mentioned and it is spectacular! I guess I will have to try the vinegar too! But I am dubious about the carpenter jeans-if I wore them as a teen can I wear them now?
I love Sharon Says So too.
Congratulations to your brother and his husband!
I need the details on the micro blading ASAP, my eyebrows are a little sparse.
One last thing, my oldest is almost 20 and it is just fun now that he is older, different too. It is great.
You made me laugh and cry. I don’t usually do that for recipe blogs!
Congrats on 15 years and to your brother. Beautiful pictures and cake. Thanks for the info on the jeans.
I just LOVE your Friday posts! I haven’t been here from the very beginning, but pretty close. Kids growing up on us is so hard as a Mom. I mean, it IS what we’ve been working toward their whole life, but it is still hard when they launch out into the world. I’m happy to hear you’re finding some answers on stomach issues. We haven’t had much luck figuring out what is causing my daughter’s.
Way to go on that wedding cake and being the photographer too! You are a woman of many talents. Thanks for sharing your talents with us! Now excuse me while I go find that vinegar and granola and jeans…I’m not influenced by many “influencers” online, but if you say its good I’m trying it! 😉 Have a great day!
First, congratulations to your brother and his new husband! Thank you for sharing about them and their wedding. Second, I found wiser world through you and find it very helpful (as someone who learned and left it!). Third – I’m ordering those probiotics!!! Hopeful they’ll help me too.
I love these updates! It makes me feel like we’re real friends instead of me just stalk/ following you for years. I’ve been here for forever (the bourbon chicken was my first Mel recipe. How long ago was that?) And just can’t get enough.
Your brother’s wedding cake sounds delicious and looks great! So happy for them and love all the cute happy wedding pics.
I’m also feeling that teenager in the house, please-don’t-grow-up-so-fast anxiousness lately. Like I just want all the good memories with them before they get too old and leave forever. My oldest is a girl and that ABBA/ Mamma Mia song, Slipping through My Fingers, has been hitting close lately. It’s wonderful and amazing to see my little people become big people, but yes, a pause would be nice.
Anyway, thanks for all the great recs and the lift.
Hi, Mel! I’ve followed you from the beginning and through your cancer journey. And your beautiful children growing up!
Unfortunately, it’s time in my life for me to unsubscribe. Thank you for your recipes and for sharing your heart!
I just wanted to say Goodbye, and may God bless you and your family!
Jo, Your comment was very encouraging to me. I recently found AGtv which has uncompromising biblical content. I’m not an advertiser, just another Christian mom trying to exercise discernment. God bless.
Holly,
Your comment was encouraging to me, as was Jo’s.
I can’t believe how time flies; I think I’ve been following you almost for your whole time blogging. And I totally get all of the emotions with your oldest turning 18. When my oldest did, I seriously cried over every event. And milestone. A friend described it to me as mourning that the period of your life you’ve known and loved as a mom to kids at home is coming to an end. I think there is truth to that. The blessing is that I can tell you there is happiness and joy on the other side as well. As well as extra appreciation for the times your kids are all home visiting or for holidays. <3
On a different note, YAY for sourdough discard recipes! I love baking sourdough but haven't yet tried any discard recipes I like enough to retry. Granted, I have only tried a few but they were fails. So I've been dumping discard into my trash weekly only to refeed my starter to keep her happy.
Have you been tested for H. piLori?? It’s part of the stomach bacteria in the lining of your stomach but it can get between the layers and cause much stomach upset. I had it years ago and went through much the same.. elimination diet etc. finally decided to do a biopsy and scope to see what was happening and that’s how they found it. I had previously had a blood test for h. PiLori but it showed negative.
I’m starting some sourdough starter soon and so will definitely try your recipes!!
Try the vinegar over ice cream. I know, sounds crazy, but you will thank me, so good!!
Love you Mel….and I have been around your blog for almost the whole time!!! The kids are getting so big and it does go by fast…..How am I a mother of a college graduate already??? I don’t know either!!! But that lump in your throat will always be there, even though they “fly”, they will always be your babies!!
Have a most wonderful Easter!! And I’m ready for any sour dough recipe you want to throw out there……
As someone who comes from a very conservative background — I think it’s absolutely AMAZING to see the love and support you all have for your brother, while also knowing that you’ve posted religion-based posts before on your blog. It’s wonderful to see that LOVE is what truly matters.
I’m anxiously awaiting your update re: microblading. I’m super pale and have basically translucent eyebrows and eyelashes. Microblading was a GODSEND for me and it has saved me soooooooo much time from filling in my brows everyyyyyyy day. Now, with my brows on point DAILY , sometimes all I do is swipe on some mascara and a little eyeshadow and call it a day. It’s AMAZING what a good brow can do!
You are the best and funniest… sorry Nate.
Love the wedding cake you made for your brother! So beautiful! Looks like it was a wonderful day!
Fifteen years! Wow! Thanks so much for all of the delicious recipes, insightful thoughts, and and sage advice! So looking forward to many more years of the same! Hugs to you, Mel!
Congrats to your brother and his husband! They look so good and happy. I loved how the cake turned out, too! Good job. Thanks for your Friday thoughts ❤️
I love your posts like this. They’re my fave.
Yes, you’re older, wiser and funnier. And gosh darn, Jesus loves you. Buuuut, Jed is still king of hilarity. Sorry, gotta stay true. 😉 But “second is the best!” still reigns in my house, so it’s all good. I loved the photo of you with babies! Look at them now! Mind. Blown. I feel the same- “WHERE HAS THE TIME GONE?!!! No, don’t leave meeeeeee!”
LOVE the cake. It is so lovely. What a nice wedding. Great job. Might have to buy that cake board one day. You sound like the best sister. Now, I need to make a trip to see those Wyoming chocolates.
Thank you for your update today! I appreciate your ability to talk about all things, including the hard, with actions I can take. It is always good to remember we are a community and not alone. Your recipes are my go to; so many favorites with my family! I’m sorry I haven’t thanked you before.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Congratulations to Nate and Tim! You made a beautiful cake and I am sure it was delicious.
I also began having stomach issues and was sick for two years before I was diagnosed with a tick borne disease. Unfortunately, they are becoming more common with climate change. Just thought I would throw that out there because I know you like the outdoors:)
Thank you for continuing to share your life.
I’ll second this. Not me, but my friend suffered with lots of stomach and food issues, and then found out it was a tick borne disease.
I just fed my sourdough starter and am looking forward to your recipes. I have made 2 things using sourdough discard – a loaf of sandwich bread which is excellent and sourdough discard pancakes which called for baking powder and left a baking powder aftertaste. The pancakes were edible but I won’t make them again.
Thank you so much for the links! I am not on instagram, so this is great. Also, your cake is beautiful.
Congratulations to your brother! Wishing him a lifetime of happiness. Thank you for sharing the pictures of his day. The setting is amazing. Love the photo of them on the bridge. <3.
Hunting down granola and pickles now…
Your brother and his husband look too handsome in those suspenders. They look so happy, too!
Thanks for sharing all the things with us. That’s one reason we all love you so. You share YOU with us!
I have a senior boy, too. He will turn 18 in a few weeks. We went to an event last night that he was getting honored at. I cried the whole time. How am I going to get through the next few months? I am just so proud of him and when I look at him, I see the past 18 years flash by like a movie reel. Bittersweet!
Thank you for all of this!!!! Which enzyme supplement do you take? I see the Amazon link featured two. Both?
Can’t believe you’ve been blogging this long! Love your posts! Looking forward to the sourdough posts even though I have yet to be successful making one. My kitchen runs cold w/no good hotspots. I’m going to try again tho. Thanks for all you do Mel!
I gave up Instagram for lent so this is so wonderful! I love all the favorite things and seeing a snippet of your life. It’s like old school instastories.
I love your Friday thoughts entries. Congratulations to your handsome brother, and that was one pretty cake! Thank you for all the links to various sites, especially the World Central Kitchen and Save the Children. I’ve been wanting to safely donate to help Ukraine and now I know two good ways. Have a great weekend with your wonderful family. Family is everything.
That cakes looks amazing and sounds delicious! I want to make it and eat it myself, yum. Well done on the photos as well. What a beautiful wedding, congratulations to them and you!
Our local gourmet olive oil shop closed so thank you for providing the Baker and Olive link. And that cake is gorgeous and it makes the wedding even more special because you made it. You really are the best and bring so much love and positivity to this blog. I don’t know what stresses you have but I wish you calmness.
Mel
I love your recipes and blog. You are amazing! I made your small batch wheat bread and soft sugar cookies last weekend. Both are gone – my husband ate the majority of the cookies without sharing. I couldn’t find Saf instant yeast anywhere until I visited County Lane Market in Barron, WI. They have everything you could ever need for baking and everything is in bulk. I’m originally from Bemidji. Curious to know where in northern MN you lived at one time.
Thanks for the great recipes!