
Today marks one year, or 52 weeks, I’ve been doing This Week at the Brennan’s!
Here’s what happened this week:
I think the biggest thing I absolutely need to mention first is Brooke, my sweet and only daughter, had her birthday this week! She turned nine and we had a small little family party for her. She asked for “squishies and LOL dolls” so after some googling, I discovered what they were and Brooke gave me plenty of reasons as to why it was important that she get as many as possible for her birthday. So, I ordered some from china and they still aren’t here!! Haha! But I was able to find some other LOL dolls and she got some other gifts from her grandparents. Raise your hand if you’ve never heard of squishies orLOL dolls before!!
I made a cookies and cream ice cream cake (except really it was pie) which was to die for and it went over really well! I had to apologize to her because she wanted a specific ice cream cake from the store and I decided to make it from scratch (with store bought ice cream and hot fudge…haha!) because IT’S JUST WHO I AM. It turned out to be the better option because she LOVED it and thought it looked amazing and tasted even better. But of course it did! It’s hard to go wrong with store bought cookies and cream ice cream, covered with hot fudge, Oreos and whipped cream all served together in a graham cracker shell, right? Took about 20 minutes to make, start to finish.
I’ve been having the hardest time this past week finding time to get to the very last few things on my to do list done. They are the things that totally get neglected week in and week out because I just don’t have the time. Well, this week I discovered that there’s a reason they are the last things on my list: because I hate them and they take me forever. It was a lot of website stuff I couldn’t for the life of me figure out, and after this week of working 6 hours straight on it, ugh! Still couldn’t figure it out. Frustrating for sure.
By Friday this past week, I was in a funk and just had to get out of the city. Sometimes I feel like I’m an extrovert and the city helps me thrive, but lately, I’ve been wanting to be more of an introvert. The city has felt a bit…suffocating. So, I took the train north, past city limits and found some quiet spots with no honking or sirens. It was actually great! I was gone all day and I came back refreshed.

Eddie is slowly starting to get a cold with a low-grade fever to go with and every so often will cuddle with me, which is so so sweet! But one day this past week, he didn’t want to cuddle with me at all! He just wanted to lay across my lap so I couldn’t do anything. It was the weirdest and funniest thing. He knew he was being such a ham, but refused to move regardless. What a stinker!
Here’s what’s Coming up this week:
I’m starting a workout routine with my friend Anne! I went tonight to meet her at the gym. We hardly did anything and I’m already sore. #toomanysquats
I am finally going to fold the four loads of laundry that have been sitting in the basket for a few days. Dishes I’m forced to keep up with, Laundry not so much. So I will hopefully stay on top of that laundry game this week.
Tomorrow, I’m doing an instagram live about how to make perfect chocolate dipped strawberries at 9pm Eastern. Yes, its a pretty simple thing to do, but I’m going to give you all my tips and tricks that all add up to make unforgettable and easy-as-pie chocolate dipped strawberries.
And, of course Valentine’s Day! I didn’t realize it was so soon! It just snuck up on me, so we’ll see what I can come up with for my kiddos. Always a little candy with a small toy or something random I find at the Target dollar spot. (Love that place)
That’s it 🙂 Have a wonderful day!
And don’t forget to find me on Instagram Stories for more NYC fun in real time.







547 Comments
Amy H.
February 15, 2018 at 6:34 amI commented on the crock pot chicken tacos recipe! Love that one for a busy night.
Abby
February 15, 2018 at 7:44 amI commented on your Super Greens Southwest Kale Salad. All of your recipes look and sound delicious! I love seeing what your life is like in New York as I am a small town gal and have never been anywhere close to New York. Thanks for sharing your story!
Jen
February 15, 2018 at 8:31 amI left a comment on the Caprese Salad. Yum!
Maui
February 15, 2018 at 9:20 amI commented on you pressure cooker mac and cheese!!
Jodi
February 15, 2018 at 10:10 amCommented on the PB choc chip bars..so yummy!
Daniela C
February 15, 2018 at 10:26 amI commented on your 10 Years of Marriage post.
Casey B.
February 15, 2018 at 10:29 amI commented on the burger sliders recipe.
Hillary
February 15, 2018 at 12:11 pmComments on your Tostada Bites post. YUM! This gift card would be a huge blessing in anticipation of our first little one 🙂 Thanks for sharing!
Lauren
February 15, 2018 at 1:09 pmLeft a comment on that delicious looking pressure cooker mac and cheese! can’t wait to try 🙂
Erin
February 15, 2018 at 2:09 pmCommented on the Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Bars post. Keep em coming! 🙂
Cheryl Newton
February 15, 2018 at 2:49 pmI commented on your Pressure Cooker Macaroni and Cheese recipe! Wish I had a big bowl of it right now. Because it’s cold outside, and my new vacuum has stopped working, so I had to crawl around the floor on my knees with the shop vac. Ugh.
Kimberly
February 15, 2018 at 3:13 pmI commented on Pressure Cooker Baked Ziti – can’t wait to give it a go!
Holly T
February 15, 2018 at 3:32 pmI like and commented on the Key Lime Sheet Cake recipe post. Love that cake, especially the cream cheese layer. So so yummy!
Karen L.
February 15, 2018 at 4:13 pmI commented on the Sweet and Sour Meatballs post under the name “Karen.”
Kimberli
February 16, 2018 at 6:18 amI left a comment on your mac & cheese post, can’t wait to make it!!
Julie
February 16, 2018 at 6:24 amI commented on the Pressure Cooker Mac and Cheese recipe!
Stephanie
February 16, 2018 at 6:56 amI left a comment on your NYC Travel Guide post. So fun to hear all of your recommendations and I can’t want to try them/visit the places you mentioned the next time I am in the Big Apple! Have a great day!
Tyler Rogero
February 16, 2018 at 7:19 amI commented on the southwest kale salad post because I want to try it and I commented on the potato soup post because I LOVE it. You just can’t beat a delicious soup that comes together so quickly. Thanks so much! I love your blog:)
Trilby
February 16, 2018 at 7:41 amI commented on the loaded carnitas nachos post. (https://laurenandgordon.net/loaded-carnitas-nachos/) Man alive, I can’t say how much I enjoy your recipes. I probably make at least one thing a week from you! I love that your recipes are simple and have easy-to-find ingredients, but the resulting meal ends up full of flavor and nutrition. (Well, except for the peanut butter chocolate chip bars – I’m sure there’s not much nutritional value there, but darrrrrnnnn are they good.)
Ayanna
February 16, 2018 at 7:56 amI commented on the morning glory muffins. They are delicious!
Jennifer
February 16, 2018 at 9:28 amCommented on your Baked Ziti in a Pressure Cooker
Cathy J
February 16, 2018 at 9:31 amLeft a comment on how you grew your blog. Very interesting.
Andrea
February 16, 2018 at 10:17 amThe roasted red pepper dip! Yum!
Shannon
February 16, 2018 at 2:05 pmI commented on your skinny baked spaghetti post- made it and loved it!
Kelsey
February 16, 2018 at 6:22 pmI left a comment on the protein snack boxes, thanks for having a give away!
Lisa N
February 16, 2018 at 9:42 pmI left a comment on the Lowfat Lemon Poppyseed Loaf Post! Love following you on instagram and I’m excited to visit NYC in April!
Cori
February 17, 2018 at 6:13 amI commented on your chocolate chip peanut butter bars! Have a great 3 day weekend!
ANNA
February 17, 2018 at 6:37 amEddie is adorable! I left a post on the pressure cooker ziti.
Jill Hershey
February 17, 2018 at 9:51 amHi Lauren!
I commented on the hard-cooked eggs using a pressure cooker post!
Jean
February 17, 2018 at 9:58 amI commented on your travel post on Paris.
Whitney
February 17, 2018 at 10:41 amLeft a comment on cheesy chicken spaghetti!
Christy
February 17, 2018 at 11:39 amCommented on whole wheat dinner rolls
AnnGG
February 17, 2018 at 2:27 pmCommented on One Hour Cinnabon Cinnamon Rolls.
Love your blog. Thanks for sharing all the wonderful recipes.
Meredith L
February 17, 2018 at 5:32 pmCommented on the choc chip peanut butter bars! Yum!
Emily
February 17, 2018 at 5:34 pmI commented on the Double Chocolate Chip Fudge Cookies. Thanks for the chance at a great giveaway….and for the great recipes! 🙂
Casey
February 17, 2018 at 6:26 pmI left a comment on your NYC Travel guide post! Thanks for keeping it real and sharing great recipes! 😊
Linda
February 17, 2018 at 7:16 pmCommented on HOW BLOGGING BECAME MY CAREER
Jeanine
February 17, 2018 at 11:39 pmI commented on your bbq chicken pizza post. It looks so good!
Dana Hauck
February 18, 2018 at 6:18 amI commented on the Skinny White Chicken Chili 🙂
Debbie
February 18, 2018 at 8:48 amI commented on your Dec 22 post….quick meals. I love reading your blog!! Thank you so much!!
Jeanne Hill
February 18, 2018 at 12:31 pmI commented on the steak marinade recipe! Can’t wait to try it. Not one of your recipes have failed me yet!
Jordan
February 18, 2018 at 2:27 pmI commented on your “Fondue!” Post! I thought I had commented on this post too, but I’m not sure if it showed up! 🤞🏻
Jordan
February 18, 2018 at 2:29 pmI’m so sorry, I just found my previous comment!!
Wendy
February 18, 2018 at 4:00 pmI commented on your Feb 5 This week at the Brennans. My granddaughter asked for squishes and Lol dolls at Christmas. Thank God for the Internet, I had never heard of them. So happy I was able to find them. Happy Birthday to Brooke!
Cassie
February 19, 2018 at 7:40 amI commented on your Camping Mac & Cheese. Our family has enjoyed many of your recipes. Thankyouverymuch.
BTW – Eddie’s curls are DARLING.