Happy #NationalPuppyDay to these two. I used to ca Happy #NationalPuppyDay to these two. I used to call Clifford an asshat, because he basically was. But there’s a new asshat in town… 🙄 Clifford is now a freaking rockstar. His tumor and age have slowed him down a LOT and he virtually never misbehaves, and we are seriously so proud of him. Lola, on the other hand, is still full blown PUPPY. Tonight I’m assembling a gate to replace the wooden one she ate through. 😂 Berners love wood and she is OBSESSED with being in the kitchen. So one new metal gate coming right up as soon as I can figure out how to put it together.
Last week when I met the owners of the new French Last week when I met the owners of the new French bakery in town, I told them how happy I was that they were opening … because now I had an endless source for gifts for my mom’s future birthdays and Christmases. She was born in Paris and we’ve grown up with a healthy appreciation for French things … starting with their pastries and baguettes, but so much more. My daughter took her first trip to Paris last year and thoroughly enjoyed the croissants there and she deemed the ones at @chocolatinenj just as perfect. No surprise there since the owner is a French pastry chef! If you’re local and haven’t been, do make a point to stop in and visit. They’re open Wednesday through Sunday and have a wide selection of sweet and savory items and a few French retail selections as well. We’ve tried the macarons, the Croque Monsieur, the croissants, the tomato tarts, the baguette … basically we’re working our way through their display case in due time. Don’t miss this one - enjoy!
People complain about how much time is spent on ph People complain about how much time is spent on phones sometimes, but if it wasn’t for phones. I wouldn’t have these awesome little snippets of them growing up. I only wish I had more. Appreciate and document the little mundane things, for they are the very fabric of your life.
happy Spring, friends! Y’all know how long I’v happy Spring, friends! Y’all know how long I’ve been waiting for the seasons to change and I’m so excited that Mother Nature was on board today! ☀️ There is nothing like the energy from the sun and it makes me happy. Hope you got some today!
Weekend photos in review, old school style. Contex Weekend photos in review, old school style. Context: 1) saying goodbye until Easter, 2) sending him back with good bagels, 3) sunlight charging station, 4) the sun was out all day yesterday and it was glorious, 5) hitting the farmers market for my favorite garlic butter, 6) make a wish, 7) sun patterns, and 8) my sous chef
I don’t eat French fries often, but when I do, I I don’t eat French fries often, but when I do, I’m going to make it count. Doo Wop Eats opened a few months ago in downtown Denville and their fries are LEGIT. They are hand cut and taste the way fries should … like potatoes! I add a sprinkle of salt and dunk them in a side of their special sauce and they are pure perfection. You can order a small bucket or a large one (better for sharing!), or as a side item with one of their other delicious menu items like their cheeseburgers, fried chicken sandwiches or cheesesteak. I do believe they’re the best fries in town. I said what I said. Doo Wop’s menu celebrates all your favorite Jersey shore boardwalk treats, including Fried Oreos, clam strips and milk shakes and has a fun vibe for kids and families. 😍
The Grinder Salad, a recipe I found on tiktok that The Grinder Salad, a recipe I found on tiktok that takes all of your favorite ingredients from a grinder (or sub) sandwich and makes it into a delicious chopped salad. It’s as easy as putting everything in a bowl and chopping it up. Perfect for busy days and lazy nights, light meals and warm weather choices. Ingredient list below. Enjoy!

One bag or arugula
One container of cherry tomatoes 
Quarter pound of hard salami
8 Oz of fresh mozzarella
One small red onion
1/3 cup banana peppers 
Handful of fresh basil
Half cup Italian salad dressing
3 T Kewpie mayo
2 T red wine vinegar 
Sea salt and black pepper

Chop it all up, add a half box of ditalini pasta, cooked. Mix to combine.

Recipe from GrilledCheeseSocial.
We had a fun little board party this week and the We had a fun little board party this week and the delicious whipped Brie I shared earlier was front and center. If you haven’t heard of board parties, it’s when every guest makes a different type of food board and brings it - so much fun noshing ensues! With toasted baguette slices, cornichons and local honey, this was mostly a French-inspired board. So simple to pull together and totally my kind of meal.
  • Home
  • About
  • Recipes
  • Press
  • Writing
  • Contact

Sweetnicks

Food and Life

Weekend Photos in Review

March 18, 2012 · Narrative

Shamrock shake
A generous boss gave out six packs of cupcakes from a local bakery, green bagels, and Shamrock shakes for St. Patrick’s Day. A fun start to the weekend.

Green bagels at work

cupcake delivery

Beauregard's finery

Cup runneth over
The kids were slightly horrified to see this car in a local parking lot. Then we discussed the reasons why someone’s car might look like this. I’ll turn anything into a teaching moment if I can. ;)

Big moment
I gave the kids $25 each on Friday and took them to the bank to open up their own passbook savings accounts. I wanted them to have an account that they could control, adding and subtracting to it as they want; this way they could see their money grow, and when Mom says “no” about buying something they deem a “must-have,” they can choose to spend their own money on it. We made a few rules (for example, when they get money, they have to put half of it in another account I have for them, and the other half goes in these new accounts), and they are more than a little excited to have this bit of extra control. Although it’s old-fashioned, I am super partial to the passbook savings account because it’s an easy way for them to see their balance grow (or not) as the case might be.

Cleats for two
Both kids start the spring soccer season in a few weeks. We took advantage of a local shoe store’s sale — a 20% discount if you bring them an old pair of shoes (that they will, in turn, donate). Love Mom & Pop’s!

Rear view sunset

Going, going,,,

J Crew display
The kids went to a movie with Mystic’s daughter on Friday night, and while they were there, I ran a few errands. I love J. Crew’s new window display. The pinwheels are made up of folded magazine pages.

Skinny Caramel Macchiato
First time having a Skinny Caramel Macchiato. I’m a few days shy of being a month of Diet Coke-free, and it hasn’t gotten any easier. I liked the Macchiato, but too much milk for me. I still prefer the iced coffees and frappuccinos.

Backseat photographers
The kids took over the the camera for Friday’s sunset. You know, ’cause I was driving.

Friday sunset

Parmesan Biscuit and Chicken Casserole

st. patrick's dinner prep
St. Patrick’s Day dinner prep. Corned Beef and Cabbage, Irish Dubliner and Guinness Fondue, Colcannon, Super-Sized Pigs in a Blanket (for the kids) and Triple Layer Fudgy Minty Oreo Brownies.

And while I cooked and cooked and cooked, this was going on…
chill time

quickly replaced

tired

Triple layer fudgy minty oreo brownies

happy face

Unfortunately this is how our Saturday evening ended.
poor monkey

She had been very out of it all day. By the time everyone left after our St. Patrick’s Day dinner, she wasn’t any better. And then started burning up. She had a super-high fever that wasn’t budging. I don’t take visits to the hospital lightly, but after a cool bath, extra fluids, cold washcloths, and medicine weren’t bringing it down (and, in fact, it was getting higher), we headed over to the ER. As we were checking in, her blood pressure was concerningly high.

monitoring
It hovered nearly the entire time around 150, but at its highest, it was 175. There is nothing more scary than being in the hospital with your children, feeling helpless. That moment when you have to be strong for them, but inside you’re breaking. I can’t imagine how my sister felt when Sophie shattered her elbow last year. Seeing the nurses and doctors in a flurry of activity over Madeline, but not wanting to alarm her wasn’t making me feel any better. They had her hooked up to the monitors for over two hours, but luckily all is ok. Today (Sunday), she is a completely different child and, thank goodness, back to her old self. That girl knows how to scare me like no other.

As we were leaving, well past midnight, Mystic was telling her how brave she was and what a big girl she was. She shook her head and said, “No, I wasn’t, I cried,” breaking my heart all over again. Today we talked about that more. I wanted to make sure she knows it’s ok to cry. She tries so hard to be perfect, I explained that she could cry, and I would be strong for her. That she was a big girl, but it was ok to be scared.

maxwell

young love
Over the past few months, Maxwell has developed a little relationship with Rosie, the dog belonging to our back yard neighbors. As soon as either Max or Rosie is outside, they bark, looking for the other. Once they’re both out there, they bark back and forth, conversating and catching up. Although it might be mildly annoying to the neighbors, it doesn’t happen too often and is too cute to watch.

bonding
After our too-exciting Saturday evening, the kids and I did lots of chill time today. They both love Restaurant: Impossible, so we hung out and caught up on a few episodes.

sunday end

On tap for the rest of this week…
– winner announced tomorrow for the OXO giveaway. Did you enter? You still have time.
– recipe for Parmesan Biscuit and Chicken Casserole.
– recipe for Triple Layer Fudgy Mint Oreo Brownies
– a post about pride, sponsored by the folks at Electrolux
– and the fifth post? to be determined

Until then…

Print Friendly, PDF & EmailPRINT

Posted In: Narrative · Tagged: Caramel Macchiato, Diet Coke, J. Crew, passbook savings account, Restaurant: Impossible, Starbucks

Comments

  1. Claire says

    March 18, 2012 at 10:08 pm

    So sorry your sweet girl was sick! That is no fun…but glad she’s okay.

    Reply
  2. Kate says

    March 18, 2012 at 10:59 pm

    Wow! That must have been fun. Good for you! :)

    Reply
  3. Sarah Caron says

    March 18, 2012 at 11:11 pm

    What an up and down weekend. Hope everyone is on the mend and that you have an uneventful week.

    Reply
  4. Joanne says

    March 19, 2012 at 6:24 am

    Oh my god, poor Maddie! I’M going to cry just thinking about her in the hospital!! Give her many hugs for me.

    I can’t wait for that minty oreo full recipe. It’s going to make my life, I can feel it.

    Reply
  5. Kris #40 says

    March 19, 2012 at 8:16 am

    Super weekend – besides your ER trip. Glad your girlie is feeling better. My sister was in the er too Saturday – they kept her over until Sunday. If she had called to tell me she was there – would have probably bumped into you

    Reply
  6. Betsy says

    March 20, 2012 at 5:36 pm

    Love the pic of her at the bank. Great smile. You are teaching them such good lessons.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

CommentLuv badgeShow more posts

Storytelling…
Through photos.
Words. And recipes.

Archives

Categories

Instagram

Happy #NationalPuppyDay to these two. I used to ca Happy #NationalPuppyDay to these two. I used to call Clifford an asshat, because he basically was. But there’s a new asshat in town… 🙄 Clifford is now a freaking rockstar. His tumor and age have slowed him down a LOT and he virtually never misbehaves, and we are seriously so proud of him. Lola, on the other hand, is still full blown PUPPY. Tonight I’m assembling a gate to replace the wooden one she ate through. 😂 Berners love wood and she is OBSESSED with being in the kitchen. So one new metal gate coming right up as soon as I can figure out how to put it together.
Last week when I met the owners of the new French Last week when I met the owners of the new French bakery in town, I told them how happy I was that they were opening … because now I had an endless source for gifts for my mom’s future birthdays and Christmases. She was born in Paris and we’ve grown up with a healthy appreciation for French things … starting with their pastries and baguettes, but so much more. My daughter took her first trip to Paris last year and thoroughly enjoyed the croissants there and she deemed the ones at @chocolatinenj just as perfect. No surprise there since the owner is a French pastry chef! If you’re local and haven’t been, do make a point to stop in and visit. They’re open Wednesday through Sunday and have a wide selection of sweet and savory items and a few French retail selections as well. We’ve tried the macarons, the Croque Monsieur, the croissants, the tomato tarts, the baguette … basically we’re working our way through their display case in due time. Don’t miss this one - enjoy!
People complain about how much time is spent on ph People complain about how much time is spent on phones sometimes, but if it wasn’t for phones. I wouldn’t have these awesome little snippets of them growing up. I only wish I had more. Appreciate and document the little mundane things, for they are the very fabric of your life.
happy Spring, friends! Y’all know how long I’v happy Spring, friends! Y’all know how long I’ve been waiting for the seasons to change and I’m so excited that Mother Nature was on board today! ☀️ There is nothing like the energy from the sun and it makes me happy. Hope you got some today!

Pinterest

Happy #NationalPuppyDay to these two. I used to ca Happy #NationalPuppyDay to these two. I used to call Clifford an asshat, because he basically was. But there’s a new asshat in town… 🙄 Clifford is now a freaking rockstar. His tumor and age have slowed him down a LOT and he virtually never misbehaves, and we are seriously so proud of him. Lola, on the other hand, is still full blown PUPPY. Tonight I’m assembling a gate to replace the wooden one she ate through. 😂 Berners love wood and she is OBSESSED with being in the kitchen. So one new metal gate coming right up as soon as I can figure out how to put it together.
Last week when I met the owners of the new French Last week when I met the owners of the new French bakery in town, I told them how happy I was that they were opening … because now I had an endless source for gifts for my mom’s future birthdays and Christmases. She was born in Paris and we’ve grown up with a healthy appreciation for French things … starting with their pastries and baguettes, but so much more. My daughter took her first trip to Paris last year and thoroughly enjoyed the croissants there and she deemed the ones at @chocolatinenj just as perfect. No surprise there since the owner is a French pastry chef! If you’re local and haven’t been, do make a point to stop in and visit. They’re open Wednesday through Sunday and have a wide selection of sweet and savory items and a few French retail selections as well. We’ve tried the macarons, the Croque Monsieur, the croissants, the tomato tarts, the baguette … basically we’re working our way through their display case in due time. Don’t miss this one - enjoy!
People complain about how much time is spent on ph People complain about how much time is spent on phones sometimes, but if it wasn’t for phones. I wouldn’t have these awesome little snippets of them growing up. I only wish I had more. Appreciate and document the little mundane things, for they are the very fabric of your life.
happy Spring, friends! Y’all know how long I’v happy Spring, friends! Y’all know how long I’ve been waiting for the seasons to change and I’m so excited that Mother Nature was on board today! ☀️ There is nothing like the energy from the sun and it makes me happy. Hope you got some today!
Weekend photos in review, old school style. Contex Weekend photos in review, old school style. Context: 1) saying goodbye until Easter, 2) sending him back with good bagels, 3) sunlight charging station, 4) the sun was out all day yesterday and it was glorious, 5) hitting the farmers market for my favorite garlic butter, 6) make a wish, 7) sun patterns, and 8) my sous chef
I don’t eat French fries often, but when I do, I I don’t eat French fries often, but when I do, I’m going to make it count. Doo Wop Eats opened a few months ago in downtown Denville and their fries are LEGIT. They are hand cut and taste the way fries should … like potatoes! I add a sprinkle of salt and dunk them in a side of their special sauce and they are pure perfection. You can order a small bucket or a large one (better for sharing!), or as a side item with one of their other delicious menu items like their cheeseburgers, fried chicken sandwiches or cheesesteak. I do believe they’re the best fries in town. I said what I said. Doo Wop’s menu celebrates all your favorite Jersey shore boardwalk treats, including Fried Oreos, clam strips and milk shakes and has a fun vibe for kids and families. 😍
The Grinder Salad, a recipe I found on tiktok that The Grinder Salad, a recipe I found on tiktok that takes all of your favorite ingredients from a grinder (or sub) sandwich and makes it into a delicious chopped salad. It’s as easy as putting everything in a bowl and chopping it up. Perfect for busy days and lazy nights, light meals and warm weather choices. Ingredient list below. Enjoy!

One bag or arugula
One container of cherry tomatoes 
Quarter pound of hard salami
8 Oz of fresh mozzarella
One small red onion
1/3 cup banana peppers 
Handful of fresh basil
Half cup Italian salad dressing
3 T Kewpie mayo
2 T red wine vinegar 
Sea salt and black pepper

Chop it all up, add a half box of ditalini pasta, cooked. Mix to combine.

Recipe from GrilledCheeseSocial.
We had a fun little board party this week and the We had a fun little board party this week and the delicious whipped Brie I shared earlier was front and center. If you haven’t heard of board parties, it’s when every guest makes a different type of food board and brings it - so much fun noshing ensues! With toasted baguette slices, cornichons and local honey, this was mostly a French-inspired board. So simple to pull together and totally my kind of meal.

Copyright © 2023 Sweetnicks · Theme by Vicki Harrison Design