octobers...

From October 4, 2017:

ELC actually just ordered this quote on a t-shirt for me and I. Am. Excited. (Thanky, Mama!) I think it might possibly be my most favourite quote ever (despite having never read Anne of Green Gables). The final three months of the year are my jam. I'm in my element. October, November, December? They make my spirit bright!

I hope my girls love this time of year as much as I do. Little Leighton seems to and Baby Elle will soon learn! I snapped this picture of them (and Buddy!) when we were visiting ELC and My Sweet Dad two weeks ago. The light lends so much warmth to the photo. It just says, "FALL," to moi. (The cute "cat ears" LL is wearing probably helps, too. Winky. Wink.)

May your upcoming weekend be filled with pumpkins, pumpkin pancakes, candy corn and coziness.

TTFN.

lots o’...

From October 21, 2016:

...excuses as to why I can't seem to type any coherent sentences lately.

Number One:

Obviously. But aren't they just so darn smoochable?

Then:

Two weekends ago, ELC and My Sweet Dad graciously offered to board Buddy Boo Bear and come "babysit" Little Leighton (LL), Baby Elle and Henry. God bless them! My Hubby and I wanted to see a concert at WinStar Casino in Oklahoma on a Friday night. We were going to spend the night and have all day Saturday to do as we pleased! It was going to be my first night away in MONTHS--long before Baby Elle's arrival. Of course:  Murphy's Law. I get SICK. It started with a scratchy throat the Sunday before. Mid-week, I thought I had turned the corner and was on the mend. Then I woke up Friday feeling just miserable. At this point, I didn't want to cancel. I stuffed my purse full of cough drops, Tylenol and Ibuprofen and powered through. Despite my general malaise, the concert was AWESOME. (Gary Clark, Jr. Blues-y. Rock-y. Country-y. From Austin!) I even won $100 at the slots that night, too! (My Hubby won $1 playing blackjack. LOL!) I hoped to wake up the next morning feeling magically healed, but I think the hours of second-hand smoke made it so. much. worse. We cut our day super short and came home Saturday afternoon. I ended up at the local CareNow clinic first thing Sunday morn and quickly had a prescription. UGH. I clearly should have gone to the doctor beforethe trip. C'est la vie. Lesson learned.

Finally:

It's been too dadgum hot in Texas! Maybe that's not an excuse. At least a good one. However, it's making me very bitter. It's October. I want scarves around my neck, boots on my feet and soup in my Crock-Pot. Last weekend, we took LL to a little pumpkin patch, and I was sweating. That is simply WRONG. A cold-front blew through yesterday and things have cooled down significantly! In fact, we should be in the 40s tomorrow morning. Hallelujah.

I hope all of you sweet, sweet readers have a wonderful weekend! I will try much harder to come back SOON.

TTFN.

Witch...

From October 24, 2015:

HAZEL!

(I felt this would be a very appropriate Halloween-themed "yummy.")

So, I follow Brooke White (of American Idol fame) on Instagram. She is LOVELY. She happens to have a doll of a daughter about two months older than Little Leighton. Brooke is funny and sweet and entertaining! A couple of weeks ago, she posted a picture of this exact Witch Hazel on her IG feed. She said she has tricky skin and her Mom had just discovered this at her local Sprouts. She had been using it for a bit and had fallen in love. I knew I had to give it a whirl, as my skin is a hot mess because of pregnancy hormones.

On Tuesday, LL and I ran into the Sprouts right down the road from our house. We needed a few necessities--Katz Donuts and a pumpkin. Priorities, right? I also picked up this Witch Hazel and promptly used it that night. I have used it every day and night (after I wash my face) since. I personally think it rocks! And, now, I have ELC hooked, too! She just purchased a bottle! It's not drying. It's soothing. I genuinely think it's already making a difference in my complexion.

Give it a try! I don't think you'll be disappointed.

BOO to YOU!

ELC’s TOP TEN Favourite Things About 10-10

From October 12, 2014:

Last Thursday, TLC and Little Leighton (LL) came to the country for a 2-night visit. My Sweet Hubby (MSH) and I cleaned, shopped and got all of LL’s toys out the day before. We waited, anxiously, all morning long, for them to come up the hill!

Friday (10-10) morn, MSH had to leave for Ft. Worth for errands and a lunch meeting. TLC had a hair cut and color in town and also had to leave early. That left LL and I free to play and play and PLAY! Which we did.

From the moment TLC and LL arrive until they leave, and except for meals, naps and bedtime, LL is One Busy Little Bee! It’s been three weeks since her last visit. She always acts like it’s been six months—running around in “her” room, checking out the toys in the master bedroom and my office, looking for Morty, The Cat, and talking to Buddy Bear, The Dog. MSH and I savor every single second she’s here.

Here're my favourite things about 10-10 (Because you’ve been waiting patiently, for days, for this, right?):

1. Once MSH and TLC were gone, LL and I finished up a good breakfast of oatmeal and strawberries. While I washed dishes, LL played in her/The Guest Room. It’s right by the kitchen, so it’s easy to keep an eye on her. Since she currently runs (or as she says, “Zooms!”) everywhere (“I zooming, Gwammy!”), we all have to be ready to stop what we’re doing and follow her. She came out of the bedroom with her stroller and (doll) diaper bag. She told me she was going to “Go see the ducks, Gwammy!” (This is what she and I do when I’m at her home—we do this A LOT!) I asked her if she wanted to take one of her “babies” in the stroller, as it was empty. She said, “Yes, Gwammy. I get Sweetie!” We decided the “pond” would be in Grammy and Pa-Pa’s room. When we got in there, I suggested that the rug, by our French doors, serve as the “pond.” We always take a Ziploc bag of bread when we visit LL’s ducks. I got a baggie and some of her “pretend” bread and then thought of the two ducks in our tub that she plays with during bathtime. We put them on the rug and VOILA. A duck pond extraordinnaire. She had such fun! I’m confident this will be a new “regular” thing we do at some point during a visit.

2. I tried to sneak off to put in a load of laundry. It took LL approximately 15 seconds to realize I wasn’t in our room. “Gwammy? GWAMMY? Where are you?” she loudly says as she “zooms” around trying to find me. Can you tell I adore the way she says “Gwammy.”

3. We read books in “her” room. She sat in my lap and listened to every single word I said. Of the five books we read, we read two twice. I’d read them ten times each if she wanted me to. Fifty. I would.

4. Once TLC got back home, we caught her up on our shenanigans and then started to think about lunch. I also needed to get our dinner prepared and in the fridge. I’d figured out how I could make my Hot Chicken Salad “gluten-free.” We sat LL up on the island and she watched, intently, as I cut up the grilled chicken and TLC cut up celery and red bell peppers. She asked for some of everything. I got her some Ranch dressing so she could dip the celery and bell peppers in it. Lunch on the island instead of in her high chair? Scandalous. She thought it was grand.

5. At breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks that occur while in a high chair at the kitchen/dining room table, LL reminds us “Buh-wessing?” (LL uses the letter “W” for her "L's" and “R’s." Sometimes, if I’m having a teensy bit of trouble understanding what she’s saying, I substitute the letter “W” in there somewhere and can figure it out 98% of the time!) We typically start her out on something like toast or a salad or some fruit while we’re getting everything together. As soon as we’re all seated, here comes LL's "Buh-wessing?": “God is great. God is good. Let us thank Him for our food. Amen.” We all say it loud and proud! She says every word with us. It makes me get tears in my eyes. If she has “seconds,” or when it’s time for her to have a cookie or some kind of dessert, she’ll say: “Buh-wessing, again?” Yep. We do it again. We figure we can never, ever thank God enough for everything we have. At Our 10-10 Special Island Lunch? We said our buh-wessing.

6. After a great nap, TLC and I surprised LL with a trip to The Pumpkin Patch at Lone Star Family Farm near Stephenville, Texas—about 16 miles from our home. It was hot—this is Texas—but it was FUN. We took lots of pictures at their cute little “photo spots” they’d set up. LL saw a charming cow (or it could have been a bull!)—in a pen. Eating hay. Two horses. Two corn mazes (We didn't have time to do either one.) We went on a hayride—a flatbed wagon of hay bales pulled by a big tractor. Although a tidbit dusty, it was worth every minute of the experience. We were actually the only three on the hayride. That made it quite special. Y’all know how we like to pretend we’re “Royal.” It's now a treasured memory!

7. After dinner, LL entertained TLC, MSH and me on the back porch. She sings the ABC song and misses not one letter. She dances. She twirls. She giggles. She makes silly noises. She laughs out loud and with gusto. She's a hoot.

8. Bathtime has always been a favourite time of the day for LL. MSH and I have a big garden tub with lots o’ toys. LL gets into her own little world and needs no entertaining. She’ll occasionally ask me if I’d like a “latte?” (She can say that “L!”) I, of course, think her lattes are the best I’ve ever had. Could she think I’m really tasting the bubbles? Hmmm. I don't know.

9. It’s quite the process to get LL’s jammies on. She’s still in diapers. So there’s that. Then she needs a saline nose solution every night. For on-going congestion. TLC has done this almost since she was born, so there’s really no fussing from LL about it. TLC will let her hold that container when she’s done. Friday night LL said: “Gwammy, this is gwuten-fwee!” Oh. My. Bless her precious little heart. TLC is educating her about her medical situation. Which, of course, is an excellent idea. Jammies. Teeth-brushing. (In cold weather, the final step is getting her hair blow-dried. Right now, in Texas, it’s not cold. In fact, it's still darn hot. Sigh.) LL isn’t a huge fan of brushing her teeth. She has to be reminded that Daniel Tiger brushes his teeth. And Elmo. And Abby. And Sofia, Doc and all the Disney Princesses. Eventually, when The Bedtime Process is complete, it’s time for books. Three, to be exact. Two prayer books and a Ladybug Girl.

10. Saying good night to LL is THE BEST. She’s super-cuddly and loves a hug and a smooch. She says: “I wove you, Gwammy.” Sigh. My heart smiles bigger than Texas.

Hope Y’all have had a FABULOUS day…and that this week will be full of peace, joy, wisdom, magic and some sparkle here and there!

shut all the doors...

From October 12, 2013:

…not just the front one...

 Let me explain:

“My name is ELC. And I’m a sugarholic.”

Guess I’ve known this for about 49 of my 59 years. I’m not proud of this addiction. I’m grateful not to have some other addictions. Truly. But this is not a good one. Every morning I get up and tell myself I’m going to minimize my sugar intake. (Trying none at all really is my only hope. Haven't succeeded in that endeavor very often.) Five out of seven nights a week I go to bed mad at my weakness.

I got home from two days at TLC’s casa around noon yesterday. Unloaded my car and then had to run to town to pick up two flats of pansies (One of my most favourite bedding/potting plants because My Sweet Nana adored them.) I’d bought from a friend’s daughter. A fundraiser for her school. I also needed to run into a drug store to return/exchange a broken mascara (The wand was, as I told the cute little Assistant Manager fella, “wonky” and didn’t work right. Y'all know I can't have this problem. TLC and I spend way too much time and effort finding the best mascaras made for the best prices. Not working properly is not an option for moi.).

After taking care of both of these errands, I should have headed straight home. Instead, I decided I needed a large VCZ (Vanilla Coke Zero). From Sonic. Would you believe My Sweet Hubby’s truck veered, instead, into a McDonald's? Why? I don’t know. (Let me admit this: I also have a sort-of-controllable junk food addiction. More controllable than my sugar addiction. I’ve always liked McDonald’s. Yes, occasionally, I’ll stay away. For a few weeks or even a few months. Worried the news’ reports about their meat, etc., might be accurate. But Big Macs? Yes, please. Grilled Onion Cheeseburgers? Absolutely. I can’t make myself apologize for this.)

While waiting in the Drive-Thru line, I noticed a new McFlurryflavor. Well, new to me. Pralines and Cream. Wwwhhhhaaaaatttttt? Pralines and Cream? Since I’d had a chicken sandwich on the way home with NO FRIES or TOTS, I made the decision I could have six bites of what sounded like a heavenly treat. (The pretty picture ad by the order-speaker said a snack-sized Pralines and Cream had 500 calories. 500. Calories. Sheesh.)

I did it. Also ordered a large Diet Coke. Clearly, I had no shame. 

The first bite I took—as I drove away from the window—was amazing. I’m not exaggerating when I say it was one of the yummiest bites of an ice cream concoction I’ve had in a very, very, VERY long time. Especially one that didn't have any chocolate in it.

I decided I could eat a third of it. Then it became half. Did I manage half? Ha. Right. And then we all woke up. I practically licked the cup clean. Shut All the Doors!!! It was totally beyond exquisite.

{When TLC reads this, she’ll be a tidbit shocked and majorly disappointed in me. I’d lost ten pounds (that I’d gained back from my original 20-pound loss two years ago) recently. However, I’ve been back up five for three-ish weeks. She’s had to listen to my constant whining and complaining about my lifetime of dieting. She’ll be a little hurt, on my behalf, for my lack of self-discipline. We both can be a little too judge-y of each other. After her initial reactions, she’ll remember she went to her favourite local ice cream shop yesterday afternoon and had a cup of Heath custard. Okay, yes, she's lost more than her baby weight gain, at this point. She weighs what she did in her early high school years. I'm hugely proud of her. Possibly a little jealous. But I think she’ll understand.}

Today I’m doing my best to recover from my unfortunate slip in strength and good sense. So far, so good. True. It's barely past noon here in North Central Texas. I can only hope and pray this confession will be good for my soul. And scales. That tonight I get in bed not angry at myself, but proud.

Y’all have a Sweet Saturday—full of happiness, joy, fun, laughter and, what the heck, maybe even a few sprinkles of sugar—Wherever in the World you are…

We’re Famous!

From October 4, 2012:

Look what ELC just discovered whilst browsing the "Winter 2012" Garnet Hill catalogue:

We're over pumpkins.  We've moved on to Christmas!

P.S. Just kiddin' about the pumpkins.  We LOVE 'em.

100

From October 16, 2011:

How much one or both of us weighs now? The total number of cupcakes the two of us would like to eat in a month? The number of Louboutins TLC owns? How many pints of non-fat greek yogurt the two of us have consumed in the past three months? (No. Yes. Ha—funny. Probably.)

This is our one-hundredth post. 100. Ciento. Honderd. Centum. Mia moja. Hundra. Cent. Hundert. Isang daang. Sto.

We don’t know about y’all, but we find this incredible. We thought sixty was a lot. Eighty = Really? With the speed of passing hours, days, weeks, and months, time has zoomed by, causing us to be amazed at where we find ourselves today. Now. At this moment. It sort of tickles us that we’re still attempting to keep up these shenanigans. That we continue loving to work together—as a team. Team Leighton. Tee Hee Hee. We’ve actually been quite surprised at the lack of conflict and crankiness between us. (We’d venture to guess our Hubbies are equally shocked.)

We want to thank everyone who has told us they’ve enjoyed our bantering/thoughts/observations/memories/cRaZiNeSs. We hand-counted—took us one hundred non-stop hours—and there are ONEHUNDRED ZILLION blogs/websites out there to entertain/educate/challenge us all. Exactly that many. Trust us. For those of you who have loyally stuck with us—week after week—from not only Texas and California and other equally fabulous places in the U. S. of A., but also from several countries around the World—we want you to know how much we deeply appreciate YOUR time and interest. Consider yourselves officially HUGGED.

We especially send out heartfelt gratitude—through cyber-space—to Autumn and Kacy. For their funny/sweet/clever comments/encouragement! Y’all ROCK. We hope you’ll always remember how much we adore you! 

Stay tuned… We’re pretty sure we have at least one hundred more posts in us! Maybe one thousand. (Oops, we can sense that really scared y’all. Sorry.) We’ve got some tricks up our sleeves we hope will give y’all a giggle or two. Or, at the very least, make y’all smile. As we keep skippin’ down our own paths, we think we need as many giggles as we each can find.

Cheers and Merci, doux amis! Grazie, amici Dolce. Obrigado, Amigos Doce. Diolch i chi, Sweet Ffrindian. Gracias, amigos Dulce. Dankie, Sweet Vriende. Hvala, slathke prijatelji. Tirima kasih, Teman Manis.

Cheers and Thank You, Sweet Friends!

p.s. We Heart The Texas Rangers! Wow!!! 
American League Champs! Next Stop: 
The World Series. YIPPEE!!!

...rewind...

So—it’s October. TLC’s second favourite month after December. July (Little Leighton’s birth month), March (Elle’s and Grammy’s birth month and TLC’s wedding month) and February (TLC’s birth month) would all be, I suspect, actually tied with December. But, Lawdy, TLC LOVES her some October, Y’all.

After almost nine years of blogging, I told her I thought it was time to recycle some past October posts. Because there seems to be little hope of writing anything new. Original. Fresh. In terms of all things Fall and, well, you know, pumpkin/pumpkins.

I’ll start Sunday—so stay tuned...

And have a WONDERFUL weekend!

ELC

October FIRST!

Y’all know we love the quotes we find on Pinterest.

Happy day!