Not Moi

So we’ve come to the end of our Month O’ Yummies and Yeehaws. Hope you’ve found something you’ve wanted to try!

While talking about a possible “theme” for August, TLC suggested we have a Month O’ Recipes. Wwhhhaaaatttt? Uh, no. Not moi.

I’m unsure if I’ve ever actually gone into adequate details about my lack of interest in anything cooking/food related (other than eating—now that I am QUITE interested in!), but here’s the scoop:

I don’t enjoy cooking. I don’t really enjoy reading recipes (I do LOVE to look at the pretty pictures!). I don’t like planning meals. I hate going to the grocery store. I will do all of those things. If I must. I don’t mind watching The Food Network. For a maximum of two hours per day. Did I say two? Let’s make that one. That’s even kind of pushing my patience.

Then there’s My Sweet Hubby (MSH). His love of cooking began with grilling. Naturally. Then it progressed to planning YUMMY meals. Often with food I didn’t even know we had in our fridge or pantry. Then he and TLC discovered The Food Network about 13 years ago. A whole new “hobby” became my great LUCK.

TLC is an EXCELLENT Meal Planner and Chefette. She doesn’t mind going to the grocery store (she also doesn’t have to drive twenty miles—one-way—she has at least six different options within a five-mile radius of her casa). She loves, loves, LOVES watching The Food Network. Marathons? Bring ‘em on. She’s in heaven watching Giada or The Pioneer Woman all day and night long. She loves to browse and collect cookbooks. When she’s not tending to Little Leighton, she’s looking at recipes on-line and especially on Pinterest and Facebook.

Here’s what I said to her when she came up with her August Recipe Idea:

ELC: Have at it, TLC. When it’s your turn, recipe away! I’ll do random thoughts, observations, opinions. Okie-Dokie?

TLC: Sure. Whatever. (Insert a semi-defeated sigh here.)

Who knows what August shall hold? Not moi. Probably not TLC. I will share this with you as a “for sure:”

At the end of August, we’re going to reveal a little “secret.” Something we’ve been doing since the first of the year. Hopefully, if you haven’t noticed, you’ll be impressed and, possibly, intrigued. Because September is going to be FUN.

Chow (Get it? Chow? Ha. I crack myself up.) for Now, Sillies…

 

A Bunch of Yummies!

Y'all know I couldn't let an entire month go by without a post containing one of my beloved lists.

This is truly a random conglomeration of some of my current favourite things.

Let's begin, shall we?

1. Favourite yummiest television show(s):
Duck Dynasty (no shame)
The Mindy Project

2. Favourite yummiest breakfast cereal:
Lucky Charms

3. Favourite yummiest time-waster:
Candy Crush (oh, the frustration and agony -- I need rehab -- and so does ELC)

4. Favourite yummiest iPhone photography app:
A Beautiful Mess

5. Favourite yummiest "summer" nail polish color(s):
Essie's Turquoise and Caicos
OPI's Cajun Shrimp

6. Favourite yummiest "summer" candle:
Watermelon Lemonade from Bath & Body Works

7. Favourite yummiest drinking glass/vase/decorative accent/and so forth:
Ball Mason Jars (mildly obsessed)

8. Favourite yummiest recent purchase:
Ceramic Turquoise Pumpkin from Hobby Lobby (I'll have it on display starting September 2nd -- that's when fall officially starts for moi)

9. Favourite yummiest ONE year old:
Princess Little Leighton

Night-night, Dear Readers!

A Yeehaw Update...

If y'all have been with us for a while, you might remember a post called "Scattered Pictures" where we shared our love of Granbury, Texas. Alas, many things have changed in the sweet Central Texas town. In some sad (see "and yet, again" where we talk about the devastating tornado that hit Granbury), but also, good, ways. There's been some major changes on The Square. Yep. It happens.

Hank's? Gone. Almost Heaven? Also no longer around. Sigh. The Coffee Grinder moved from The Square out to the semi-new HEB grocery store/strip shopping center east of town. (Locating The Coffee Grinder took TLC and I several weeks. While we were trying, we were literally sick with worry. That's just how much we adore those Mocha Granitas.)

All Three Leightons ventured over to Granbury this morning. Girls' Day Out! (We so wanted to call Our Dearest Autumn, but Little Leighton (LL) is, unfortunately, at that "iffy" stage of life. We were quite unsure how an adventure with her in tow was going to work out. She'd had a super rough night of little sleep at Grammy and Pa-Dad's. We believed we could be turning our car right back around and driving the thirty minutes to my casa if the trip didn't go as planned.)

First Stop: A magical place called Witherspoon's Antique Mall (www.facebook.com/witherspoons). Located about three blocks from The Square, this is the place to go if you love "junkin'!" TLC bought a darling quilt for LL. $10. And some vintage-y alphabet letters that spell out her name.

Next Stop: Christina's (www.christinasboutique.com). (Formerly the cherished home of The Merry Heart Tearoom. Sniff.) It's tres cute! A combination boutique (that had been located, for a few years, in a building on another block of The Square) and lunchtime bistro. Little Leighton was an Angel who gobbled up a yummy grilled cheese sammich. TLC had a fabulous Quiche Florentine and I had a Chicken/Avocado Panini that would make you want to slap your Mama. (This, of course, is a figure of speech we use occasionally in The South. Please don't really ever do that.)

Ladies that lunch!

Perhaps we might have made some purchases in Christina's Boutique. Duh. In our defense, we sure didn't buy everything we wanted. Not even close.

Last stop: HEB. The awesome grocery store where The Coffee Grinder is now located. TLC needed to pick up several items of food for LL, so it apparently made sense that we drive a few miles out of the way so that she could also buy that Granita she constantly craves. (I decided, after sharing a piece of French Silk Coconut Cream Pie at Christina's with TLC, I should forego the Granita calories. Not that there are all that many. I, instead, gave LL her afternoon bottle in the don't-worry-it-was-plenty-cool car {since she turned ONE this week...WWWHHHHAAAAATTTTTT?...she's about to be "bottle-free." YIPPEE!})

If you live anywhere near Granbury, Texas, and you've never been a visitor there, I have one question: WHY THE HECK HAVEN'T YOU GONE? GO. Seriously. Go.

And Yet Another Yummy for Y'all!

Though we're quickly approaching Little Leighton's (LL) first birthday (I can barely talk about it without sobbing), I still consider myself a "new Mom." I probably will for at least another three to four years. I'm hoping by then I'll have more of this "raising children" thing figured out. LOL. I digress: As a new Mom, I'm plagued with dark under-eye circles. Until recently, I couldn't find a good, solid concealer.

We were home in the Country a few weeks ago for our dear, dear friend, Nelly's, STUNNING wedding. I was putting my face on in Mom's bathroom when I realized I'd left my (rather blah but worked in a pinch) under-eye concealer at home in the City Suburbs. I started digging around in her cabinets and drawers and discovered this:

Garnier Skin Renew Anti Dark-Circle Roller.

This stuff actually works! The coverage is nearly flawless. Of course, I promptly "borrowed" it from ELC. It now resides in MY makeup drawer. Thanks, Mom!

(P.S. Did y'all see the ever-radiant Duchess of Cambridge this afternoon? Introducing the new Prince to the world? She is simply gorgeous. Naturally, I was teary while watching it, because it made me think of LL's birth and coming home from the hospital. I cannot imagine being photographed virtually 20 hours after labor. At that point, I was still shuffling around in my hospital room, wearing the hospital-issued gown, sans makeup. I'm pretty sure I hadn't even brushed my teeth. I did require LL to watch the Prince's debut, seeing as how he will be her future husband someday. "Princess Little Leighton." It has a glorious ring to it, doesn't it? Yes. Yes, it so does.)

Another Friday Yeehaw for Y'all!

Okay. So TLC and I recommended, a while back, the Springmaid sheets at Target. We adored them. Excellent quality. Pretty colors. GOOD price. Well, as per usual, low and behold, OF COURSE we can't get them there any more. Haven't investigated if they're available at some other store or on-line.

BECAUSE...drumroll, please...

Target has a new line called Threshold. Wow. They ROCK. Bigtime. The price is pretty much the same. The quality is EVEN BETTER. (Wouldn't it be funny if we found out these are Springmaid--only under a different name? Hmmm...)

TLC got these particular sheets a few weeks ago for her master bedroom. I had to have my own set! (Listen, in my defense, I probably went fifteen years without ever buying a set of sheets or pillowcases. Pinky swear.) I decided I needed some standard pillowcases, too.

Threshold has an "organic" line. We haven't tried a set of those yet. Not because we're not into "organic." We most certainly are, Sillies. Don't doubt that one itty-bitty-bit. But these sheets suit our needs (and fancy) perfectly.

Hope y'all are having a FABULOUS Friday...we'll be back again, soon.

hugs and smooches...

A Yummy for Y'all!

You know ELC and I couldn't spend an entire month writing about Yummies and Yeehaws and NOT share our "newest" (oldest?) favourite mascara: Estée Lauder's "More Than Mascara."

ELC has actually been using this for years and recently "rediscovered" it. She graciously "reintroduced" it to moi, too. I know I've tried many a sample of this mascara (I just love love love the tiny mascaras you get with their free gifts.) but can't remember the last time I had a "full-size" bottle.

This mascara thickens without clumping. I love mascaras that really "pump up the volume." My only word of advice is to make sure you (gently) remove all of it each night, or you might end up with a stained pillowcase that even the toughest Resolve pre-treat won't fix. This mascara stays put. It almost has a waterproof-like quality to it. It's that good.

While this mascara is pricier than our typical drug store go-tos, we think it's well-worth the extra moolah. Go ahead and splurge! You deserve it.

two YUMMIES/YEEHAWS for y'all...

If you like yogurt, specifically Greek yogurt, and you haven't tried these two DELIGHTFUL treats, you must.

TLC discovered the Chobani Key Lime Crumble Greek Yogurt (with graham cracker and white chocolate) about a month ago. She couldn't WAIT to share it with ELC. Who fell in absolute love with it. (Not going to lie at this point: ELC puts one packet of Splenda in the yogurt as she's mixing these up. No judging, please. It's just a tidbit too tart for her sweet tooth.)

Then TLC tried the Chobani Almond Coco Loco Greek Yogurt (with toasted almonds and dark chocolate chips). She prefers the Key Lime Crumble. (ELC prefers the Almond Coco Loco. In the event she's forced to choose a favourite.)

Believe us--they are BOTH divine. DIVINE. Smooth. Creamy. Crunchy. Be still our hearts.

The Key Lime Crumble has 180 calories. The Almond Coco Loco has 230. (ELC is here to testify those 50 extra calories are WORTH EVERY SINGLE BITE. Period. End of story.)

Can you tell we think these are simply MAGNIFICENT?

Hope everyone has a Wonderful Wednesday--Wherever in the World you are...

smooches...

The Fifth

We're not pleading it. We don't plan to drink one (at least not in the next hour). We've extended our 4th of July CELEBRATING to today!

Since this was Little Leighton's (LL) First Fourth, TLC has decided to dress her in red, white and blue the rest of the holiday weekend. (Also, LL will soon be turning ONE! We can't even believe it. Being a July Baby, we think red could become her signature color. Rubies are also her birthstone. This seems to be a no-brainer.)

HAPPY 5th of July, Dear Friends Everywhere!

A Yeehaw for Y'all!

So, at 59, I'm not wearing a bikini this summer. Not even a two-piece. In fact, I haven't worn my one-piece in 7 years. Yes. Yes, I'm serious. No interest. At all. (Believe me--I'm doing the world a HUGE favor.) I do own a few pair of shorts. Only wear them in the privacy of my own home or on walks to our gate with My Sweet Hubby and Teddy Buddy Boo Bear. (They don't seem to mind my pale, chubby, veiny, cottage-cheese legs.) Capris, however, are my summer wardrobe necessity. I wear them almost every day from May 1st until the end of October. Sooo...my legs have to be shaved at least 6 inches above my ankles. Teeheehee.

For more than half my life, I used bath soap to shave. I did decide, about 20 years ago, I deserved to buy myself a shave gel/lotion. I think back then a can might have cost $1.50. I quit buying the cans when a couple of them got rust on our tubs/showers. That really annoyed me.

About 6 months ago, I discovered Pure Silk. I have no idea why I got the urge to buy it or how long it's been around. It's not expensive (maybe $3?). Comes in at least 3 "flavors," maybe more. BEST OF ALL? It has a rust-proof bottom. Thank you, Pure Silk Peeps. Thank you very much.

Go ahead: If I think I'm worth the cost of special shaving gel for my old, unattractive legs, you are, too!