wish list wednesday

What am I wishing for this Wednesday?

* That the SATC movie producers could have come up with a better title than Sex and the City 2 for the sequel.

* Some advice on how to decorate the console table in my foyer. Ideas, anyone?

* To stock up on Anthro Christmas ornaments. So adorable and earthy...

* A storage bench for my living room. Do you like this one? I have to put my blankets somewhere!

* That each of you would have a safe and happy New Year. Goodbye ’09!

What’s your wish?

happy birthday, Jesus!

"And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men."

Luke 2:8-14

God bless us, everyone! Merry Christmas!

wish list wednesday - christmas edition

What am I wishing for this Wednesday before Christmas?

* That our tree would hang in there just a few more days...

* That I could personally wish our troops overseas "Merry Christmas."

* That everyone understood the value and aesthetic beauty of a Christmas gift wrap theme.

* Safe travels for my friends and family.

* That everyone would remember the real meaning of Christmas.

What's your Christmas wish?

an apple a day

I'm off this week for Christmas, but thanks to the wonder of the internet, I do not have to neglect my blog. Great, right? And when I'm at home, I want to eat, and this week, I want to eat these...

Apples + brown sugar + butter + cinnamon? How could you go wrong?

Best Baked Apples Ever (recipe from The Fresh Market)

4 Honeycrisp Apples (or whatever sweet apples you can find)
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/4 cup dried cranberries
1/4 cup walnuts, chopped
4 tablespoons butter

Preheat oven to 400°F. Slice off top of apples and scoop out cores, leaving a well in the center. In a bowl mix brown sugar, cinnamon, cranberries and walnut until blended. Stuff each apple with 1/4 of the brown sugar mixture. Place apples in a deep baking dish, topping each with 1 tablespoon of butter and a sprinkle of cinnamon. Fill bottom of pan with water and bake for 50 to 60 minutes, until apples are tender.

a delicious christmas-y dish

I made scads of this delectable Cinnamon-Honey Butter last week for happies around the office and elsewhere. It is SO easy and SO delicious - just be sure you have lots of carbs around to aid in your consumption (or you could just stick your finger in the jar like Kell did). And many thanks to MK for turning me on to this adorable blog.

Have a loverly weekend, my friends.

wish list wednesday

What am I wishing for this Wednesday?

* That I could wiggle my nose and have 150 bacon tomato cups already made for Christmas parties this week.

* To be just a little bit closer to a Forever 21.

* That double names weren’t so hard for some people to comprehend.

* To be in 2 places at once.

* That Christmas weren’t coming so fast. Slow down, Santa!

What’s your wish?

feeling crafty?

This wreath is so wintry and lovely, it could totally stay out way past Christmas, don't you think?

tis the season to be busy as a bee

(photo courtesy of Birds of a Feather)

I’m off work today! Hooray! Though I wish I were lying around under a down comforter with a mug of marshmallows and a dash of hot chocolate, I have some elf-ing to do. Not to mention put away the clean laundry Kell has been bugging me about for days (ok, maybe weeks.)

Should you be looking for a little blog browsing break (after you read mine, of course) from whatever it is you’re doing, check out Birds of a Feather – they’re a sweet couple that take a photo every day and post it. Makes me really want to be a shutterbug…

Have a great weekend!

wish list wednesday

What am I wishing for this Wednesday?

* That I didn’t love mac and cheese as much as I do.

* A great outfit idea for a tacky Christmas party next weekend. Help me out, people!

* That it would snow again here, preferably during the hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on a week day so I can leave work early.

* Some more Crock Pot recipes – send them my way!

* That I could remember to put my red lipstick in my purse so I could wear it. It’s that time again, don’t ya think? If only it would turn me into Kimmy…

What’s your wish?

read my lips

Is it week 2 of December already? How can it be?

Well, I finished Nineteen Minutes, and let me tell you: it took something out of me. Like all of Jodi Picoult’s novels, it is strung together by a thread of an ethical issue. Maybe it’s the same part of my brain that loves Law and Order, but I love that she presents all facets of the story in such a realistic, empathetic way. And this book was no different.

Peter is a high school student who has been bullied all his life. He was tortured by other kids each day since getting on the bus the very first day of kindergarten. Feeling completely isolated and invisible to his parents, Peter arrives at his high school one morning and kills a number of his fellow students and wounds many more, both physically and emotionally. The book takes you through the years of his life, giving accounts from his family, attorney and one former friend, Josie, who is keeping a secret that changes everything. Nineteen Minutes is not for the faint of heart – I had a hard time reading all the instances of bullying and loneliness Peter encountered. That said, it was a great book, and another A from me for Ms. Picoult.

I just started Pillars of the Earth, which came highly recommended to me by my friends, Kate and Liz. They are so enthusiastic about the book, I just had to get it. It’s a big, fat book, so the next review might be a while. Hold on to your hats, kids.

I’ve also got a Delicious Dish for you Crock Pot-lovers (I got my very first one a few weeks ago!). Who knew how great this invention is? And how is it that I got married in Mississippi and didn’t get one as a wedding gift?

Crock Pot Chicken

Package of 3 chicken breasts, cut in half with fat trimmed (or you could actually use chicken tenderloins – whatever you have on hand)
8 oz block of cream cheese, sliced into small chunks (I used fat free)
1 package dry Italian dressing mix
1 can of cream of mushroom soup (again, I used fat free)
1 can of water or ½ cup of white wine
1 package button mushrooms, halved (optional)

Dump everything into the Crock Pot and give it a good stir to mix the water/wine with soup and dressing mix. Cook on low for 8 hours or so. Serve over rice. So good and even better the next day!

Have a great Tuesday, my friends. Stay warm and dry out there!

rustic and lovely

Check out these cool holiday uses for pinecones on you are my fave! They remind me of the jillions of sticky little guys that cover my parents' neighborhood this time of year.

Today I'm heading north to Oxford to see my friend MK and meet up with my family tomorrow for some good eating and good shopping (don't tell Kell).

Wonderful weekend wishes to you all!

wish list wednesday

What am I wishing for this Wednesday?

* That I could speak Japanese. Konichiwa!

* A decorator fairy to come to my house and get my house ready for Christmas.

* An herb garden so I’d have a use for these darling markers.

* That I had not bought 13 boxes of lights with WHITE wire.

* A good excuse to wear a toboggan. Keep the cold weather coming!

What’s your wish?

a good time was had by all

So, readers, how was your turkey day? Kell and I spent Thanksgiving day with his family and headed to Starkville to see my family and to go to the Egg Bowl game. And what a wonderful game it was. The Bullies were on fire – the stadium (literally) rocked, Anthony Dixon was unstoppable, and tears of joy were shed. In fact, I’m still a little hoarse from all the squealing. And the “From Dixon with Love” reference? I want to shake the man’s (or woman’s) hand who came up with that beauty. Truly poetic.

It seems to me that once Thanksgiving has come and gone, Christmas is on me like a lightning bolt. I have something going on every weekend until Christmas, and I’m grateful it’s fun stuff – family visits, a wedding and general merriment. If you have parties to attend, this Delicious Dish is totally excellent party food.

Bacon Tomato Cups

8 slices bacon
1 tomato, chopped
1/2 onion, chopped
3 ounces shredded Swiss cheese (I couldn’t find shredded Swiss, so I used Mozz, and it was great)
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 (16 ounce) can refrigerated buttermilk biscuit dough


Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Lightly grease a mini muffin pan.
In a skillet over medium heat, cook bacon until evenly brown. Drain on paper towels. Crumble bacon into a medium mixing bowl, and mix with tomato, onion, Swiss cheese, mayonnaise and basil.
Separate biscuits into halves horizontally. Place each half into cups of the prepared mini muffin pan. Fill each biscuit half with the bacon mixture.
Bake for 10 to 12 minutes in the preheated oven , or until golden brown.


Enjoy!

thankful thursday

(photo courtesy of you are my fave)

I spend so much time on this blog on things that I want and wish for, I would hate for the blog community to think I was completely self-absorbed. So, I felt it only appropriate to celebrate my favorite holiday with a Thankful Thursday A to Z. Here goes…

America. How fortunate to have been born in a country where people clamor to enter every single day?
Buddies. What would life be like without friends? I love you all – you make me who I am.
Church. I feel very fortunate to be able to worship wherever, whenever I want.
Dogs. No human will ever love you in the same way a dog does. I believe it!
Education. Thanks to my parents, I got a great, debt-free education at a university I love.
Family. The older I get, the more I appreciate my family. It’s hard to understand as a kid or a teenager, but being an adult has really opened my eyes.
Grandparents. I knew some better than others, but whether I saw them monthly or just a few times, I am so proud of who they are and were, what they stood for and what they taught me and my parents.
Health. I probably take this for granted most of the time, but especially now, I am so glad to be healthy.
In-laws. They feel like just an extended version of my own family. I could not have hand-picked better ones.
Job. Not only do I have a job, but I have one that I really like. It’s afforded me more opportunities than I could have ever hoped for.
Kell. I hope he knows how thankful I am for him – he gives me such balance.
Liberty. We have luxury of everyday freedoms many countries only dream of, and we owe it all to the courageous soldiers that keep it that way.
Music. I remember the first time I was in Japan alone, nothing made me feel as close to home as music. Truly portable therapy.
Naps – the take-your-contacts-out-and-get-back-in-pajamas kind.
Ore Ida Extra Crispy Tater Tots. The best frozen tot out there. Bar none.
Portico Jackson magazine. They gave me a chance to write for a real magazine! Check it out – it’s a really cool publication.
Quiet time. Sometimes nothing heals me more than a few hours by myself to decompress.
Renaissance. The shopping center, not the European cultural movement. Although I guess I’m thankful for that, too.
Sister. Like my parents, I had to “grow up” to realize how lucky I am to have a sister. Not to mention one as kind and thoughtful and fun as mine is.
Travel. I’ve said it a million times – there is no better education. Do it. Anywhere you go will be well worth the long plane trip. Trust me.
UPS. I saw the truck in my neighborhood last night and thought about how hard those guys work. Here’s to you and your cute brown socks!
Vehicle. Another blessing I take for granted – I have my own mode of transportation to take me wherever I need to go.
Work friends. Sometimes they are the only thing that gets you to 5:00 in one piece.
Xerox machines. (ya like that one?) I mean, how much to we take a copy machine for granted?
Years in Greenwood. I feel like I grew so much in the time I spent there. And the friends I made are still so special.
Zippers. Although I’m bad to accidentally leave mine undone for hours at a time, cheers to the man (or woman) that invented them. Without you, the world would be button-fly all the way.

Happy Thanksgiving, loyal readers!

“Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise;

give thanks to Him and praise His name.”

Psalm 100:4

wish list wednesday

What am I wishing for this Wednesday?

* That I was actually friends with all the celebs I follow on Twitter.

* That I had something new and cute to wear to Thanksgiving.

* To bring the Golden Egg back home on Saturday!

* That my appetizers are tasty tomorrow. Perhaps a potential Delicious Dish?

* A happy (early) 33rd anniversary to my dear mom and dad. Love you guys!

What’s your wish?

they say it's your birthday!

Happy Birthday, Olive and Charlie!

Here are a couple of pictures from the day you moved in with us...

Olive

Charlie

And what's a birthday without cupcakes? I made "pupcakes" for the twins last night, and thus this week's Delicious Dish. Here is the recipe for all you pet parents out there:

Peanut Butter Carrot Pupcakes


1 cup flour
1tsp baking soda
1/4 cup peanut butter
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 cup shredded carrots
1 tsp. vanilla
1/3 cup honey
1 egg

Mix flour and baking soda. Add remaining ingredients. Pour into greased 8" round cake pan* and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Let cool. Decorate with more peanut butter and carrots.


* I made these in mini muffin tins and baked them for 12 minutes at 350. Perfecto!

love is in the air

Happy wedding, Morgan and Matt!
Wish I could be there!

"And now these three remain: faith, hope and love.

But the greatest of these is love."

1 Corinthians 13:13

wish list wednesday

What am I wishing for this Wednesday?

* Another win for the Bulldogs.

* The new Harry Potter Spells app for my iPhone. Expecto Patronum!

* A good “pupcake” recipe for the twins’ birthday next week. Three years old – they grow up so fast (hehe).

* These lovely little Christmas gift labels.

* A snow day!

What’s your wish?

take a bow?

Ok, so the Prez bowed to the Emporer and Empress of Japan while visiting the country this week (look how cute she is in her traditional kimono!). And some people seem to think that's a big, hairy deal . I don't know a lot of things, and I'm certainly no expert on Japanese culture. But I have been there, and I bowed about a million times (I still do it sometimes accidentally). Like shaking hands in the West, it's just what you do there in much of the East. I've heard that the President of the United States bows to no one, but would you rather him have not bowed and made waves in the very tradition- and decorum-minded Japan? I happen to think there are a few more important things going on stateside than worrying about the President's body language. And let's keep as many friends overseas as we can. I hear there are a few countries out there that don't care for us very much.

What do you think?

dogs love america, too

I love America, I love mentalfloss, and I LOVE dogs. If you think pets aren't a member of the family, just check out these pups welcoming home their "dads" from tours of duty.

God bless America, and God bless our soldiers!

wish list wednesday

What am I wishing for this Wednesday?

* That you all could have seen Amy on stage at her wedding reception singing “Fancy.” Yes, the Reba “Fancy.”

* That I didn’t love delicious snacks so much.


* To get my glam on with Kim K!


* That Thanksgiving would hurry up and get here.

* That each and every service man and woman knew how much I appreciate their dedication to this country! Happy Veterans’ Day!

What’s your wish?

wedding weekend

Hooray for weddings!

This weekend, my dear friend Amy got married in her (and Kell’s) hometown of Greenville. We spent the entire weekend eating and hanging out with friends old and new (shout out to Melinda! Thanks for following the blog!). She was exactly the bride I expected her to be – cute, hilarious and running just a tad late. The happy couple are living it up in Negril on their honeymoon while I’m in Shawshank at work. Love you, Amy Lou!

OK, readers. It stops today. This eating-whatever-I-want-and-pretending-like-there-are-no-consequences business. Fistfuls of chips and Mexican corn dip? Of course. Chocolate cobbler? You bet. An enormous piece of wedding cake (the one with the most icing)? Bring it on. But you heard it here first. I’m back on the wagon, and I’m starting from the very beginning with what I know works. My trusty Moleskine notebook is now my WW journal, leading me back into the world of points Nazi-dom, and I need your support. I’ve got my (now chubbier) game face on.

Have a good week, friends! I'll be eating rabbit food!

nice day for a white wedding

(photo courtesy of super-cute website Green Wedding Shoes)

Happy Friday, friends!

I'm off to the Delta this weekend for my dear friend/former roommate/sorority sis/all-around fun gal Amy's wedding. I can't wait to see her in full wedding regalia and stand with her when she marries the love of her life. Ball and chain, here she comes!

Have a great weekend!

wish list wednesday

What am I wishing for this Wednesday?

* You all could see me running in my reflective vest. H. O. T.

* That Jen Lancaster’s new book, My Fair Lazy (love the title, Jen) was already in stores.

* Some cool wall sconces for my foyer.

* To have been in Japan yesterday for their National Culture Day. Konichiwa!

* That I had an “eye” for interior design, ala Jenny at Little Green Notebook.

What’s your wish?

tea for me

Hello, readers. How was Halloween? Even though we didn’t have any trick-or-treaters, we enjoyed the Bulldogs’ win and snuck a few treats from the candy bowl anyway.

I’ve started to drink hot tea (with a little honey) in the mornings, and it makes me feel so grown up to be drinking a hot beverage from a mug (maybe from a super cute one like this from Etsy!). I haven’t experimented with many flavors or blends or whatever, but I’m open to suggestions. What tea do you like? (PS – I hate chamomile and green tea…I think they taste like dirt).

Happy November!

thriller

Tomorrow is Halloween, Harris’s favorite holiday. I like it myself – the candy is great, I love to ponder a costume, and the decorations are marvelous. And since I grew up in Mississippi, I have memories of both shivering and sweating in my costume – it’s just how we roll down here.

Kell and I don’t have (human) kids, so we won’t be doing the trick-or-treating thing, but this is our first Halloween in our new house! In fact, we closed on Halloween a year ago, so it’s an extra special day for us. Anywho, aside from dressing up and handing out candy, I don’t know a whole lot about this spooky holiday. Here are 13 fun facts about Halloween so you can impress your friends.

1. The term Halloween, originally spelled Hallowe’en, is shortened from All Hallows' Eve. It is now known as "Eve of" All Saints' Day, which is November 1st, historically a time of pagan festivities.

2. On All Hallows’ eve, many Irish and Scottish people have traditionally placed a candle on their western window sill to honor the departed.

3. A traditional Irish and Scottish form of divining one's future spouse is to carve an apple in one long strip, then toss the peel over one's shoulder. The peel is believed to land in the shape of the first letter of the future spouse's name.

4. Haunted attractions in the United States bring in an estimate $300–500 million each year.

5. The ancient Celts thought that spirits and ghosts roamed the countryside on Halloween night. They began wearing masks and costumes to avoid being recognized as human.

6. If you see a spider on Halloween, it is the spirit of a loved one watching over you.

7. Halloween candy sales average about 2 billion dollars annually in the United States.

8. Chocolate candy bars top the list as the most popular candy for trick-or-treaters with Snickers #1.

9. Halloween is the 2nd most commercially successful holiday, with Christmas being the first.

10. Over $1.5 billion is spent on costumes each year and more than $2.5 billion on other Halloween paraphernalia.

11. Over 10% of pet owners dress their pets in Halloween costumes

12. More than 35 million pounds of candy corn will be produced this year. That equates to nearly 9 billion pieces – enough to circle the moon nearly 4 times if laid end-to-end.

13. Many people think the pumpkin is a vegetable but in actuality it is a squash fruit related to cucumbers, gherkins, and melons.

Have a safe and delicious Halloween!

wish list wednesday

What am I wishing for this Wednesday?

* A new Moleskine notebook for 2010. And I promise I won’t change any dates this time, MK!

* To make Joy the Baker’s Blood and Bones (dark red and delicious hot chocolate) for Halloween! Is she not the cutest?

* Pretty much everything in the new J.Crew catalog.

* A plateful of Chick-fil-A nuggets. Right here. Right now. YUM.

* That pay day would just come already! I’m dying here!

What’s your wish?

hello there...

Let’s start another week, shall we?

First thing first – Timmy T and the Gators prevailed. BUT, it was a great game, and I think every fan at the game and watching from home is proud of the Bullies (and furious with the refs). Oh well, it was the best team in the country, and there’s always next week. Look out, Wildcats!

Sunday I helped to host a shower with yaya and Ms. Melita for bride-to-be Alexa. It was so fun to see the girls and watch her open gifts. Don’t you wish people just went to lovely stores and bought you great presents every day? I do.

And what’s a shower without a few Delicious Dishes? This is the first recipe I’ve had on my blog that I didn’t personally like. I don’t like pumpkin, but if you do, these are delightful (or so I’m told) and certainly cute. And cuteness counts.

No-bake Pumpkin Tarts

1 (16 oz.) can pumpkin (2 c.)
1 (13 oz.) can evaporated milk (1 2/3 c.)
1 (4 1/2 oz.) pkg. no-bake custard mix (I used no-bake ready-made cheesecake filling, and it worked beautifully)
2 egg yolks (save the whites for a delicious and healthy egg white omelet!)
1/4 c. brown sugar
1 1/4 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
12 baked tart shells or mini tart shells (recipe below)
Pecan halves or Cool Whip (for topping)

In saucepan, combine pumpkin, evaporated milk, custard mix, egg yolks, brown sugar and spice. Mix together thoroughly. Cook, stirring constantly, until mixture boils. Remove from heat; cover surface with waxed paper or clear plastic wrap. Cool 1 hour. pile into tart shells. Chill until set. Garnish with pecan halves or Cool Whip.

* I put some Cool Whip in a Ziploc bag and snipped one end off to make a piping bag. Then I piped the Cool Whip on top in a cute little swirl – really cute and totally worth the extra effort. This recipe makes a ton of filling. there's no need to double it unless you're making tons of tarts. If you end up with too much, though, it freezes pretty well, or you could make a big pie!

And what’s a mini tart without a mini shell? If you can’t find tartlet shells in your grocery stores (I couldn’t), these are very quick and easy to make. I recommend not skimping on the crust – generic just doesn’t cut it as well as the good stuff.

Mini Tart Shells

1 crust = about 14-16 mini shells, depending on size of cutter

Preheat oven to 425°F. Unroll prepared pie crust and lay flat on a cutting board. Using a 3 inch diameter cookie cutter (I used a glass that wasn’t quite 3” because I couldn’t find one), cut circles from the pie crust. Each pie crust should yield 10 circles. Combine dough scraps, roll flat, and cut the remaining 4 circles. Spray mini cupcake pan with nonstick cooking spray. Place each pie crust circle into a mini cupcake mold. Press the crust along the sides and bottom of the mold to form tartlets. Bake for 9 minutes, until edges become golden brown. Remove from the oven and cool for 10 minutes. (* If they come out puffy on the sides or bottom, just press the shells down gently while still in the pan until they’re they shape you want. If you wait until they’ve cooled, the shells will fall apart.) Fill each shell with desired filling and allow to rest at room temperature at least one hour. That’s it. Easy peasy, right?

I hope everyone has a great week! TTFN!

happy friday

TGIF, readers! I don’t know about you, but I am itching for a weekend. Hooray!

The Bulldogs play the Gators on Saturday, and I smell an upset (it’s happened before, and it’s possible again, people!). If there’s anything I’ve learned from years of being a State fan, it’s that you shouldn't bet on or against us. I’m just saying...

In honor of this weekend’s game, I’m sharing a few of my favorite Tim Tebow-isms. Laugh, enjoy and get your game face on!!

When the boogeyman goes to sleep every night, he checks the closet for Tim Tebow.

The active ingredient in Red Bull is Tim Tebow's sweat.

Tim Tebow can get Chick-Fil-A on Sundays.

People with amnesia still remember Tim Tebow.

Tim Tebow hits blackjack with just one card.

The only reason you're still conscious is because Tim Tebow hasn't stiff-armed you in the face.

When Tim Tebow was a kid, he made his mom finish his vegetables.

Tim Tebow doesn't do pushups. Instead, he pushes the earth down.

Superman wears Tim Tebow pajamas.

Tim Tebow counted to infinity. Twice.

When life gives Tim Tebow lemons, he uses them to kill terrorists. Tim Tebow hates lemonade.

What color is Tim Tebow's blood? Trick question. Tim Tebow does not bleed.

Tim Tebow has been to Mars. That's why there's no life on Mars.

When Tim Tebow wants popcorn, he breathes on Nebraska.

You can lead a horse to water, but Tim Tebow can make him drink.

Tim Tebow can believe it's not butter.

Tim Tebow doesn't wear a watch, HE decides what time it is.

Tim Tebow can get breakfast at McDonald's after 10:30 A.M.

The recent earthquake off the coast of Florida measured 6.0 on the Richter scale, or .024 Tim Tebows.

Tim Tebow can touch MC Hammer.

Tim Tebow frequently donates blood to the Red Cross. Just never his own.

Tim Tebow sleeps with a night light. Not because Tim Tebow is afraid of the dark, but the dark is afraid of Tim Tebow.

Rome wasn’t built in a day because Tim Tebow wasn’t born yet.

A meteor didn’t kill the dinosaurs; Tim Tebow did in a pickup football game.

The quickest way to a man's heart is with Tim Tebow's forearm.

Time waits for no man. Unless that man is Tim Tebow.

Have a great weekend! GO DAWGS!!!

wish list wednesday

What am I wishing for this Wednesday?

* That these sniffles would just go away already!

* A new camera. Even though mine was super cool 4 years ago, now it’s practically an antique.

* That I could eat Halloween candy for every meal and not gain an ounce.

* For chilly weather at Saturday’s MSU vs. Florida football game. I want to wear boots!

* Snuggies for the twins!

What’s your wish?

a sweet tip

I’m still stuffy, so I bought some hot tea last night at The Fresh Market (aka Heaven on Earth). Being a novice tea drinker, I needed a little sweetener, and honey totally fit the bill – and I happened to have some at my house. I wanted to be sure I measured the honey out (for WW purposes), but I didn’t want it to stick to the measuring spoon. Hmmm…

Then it hit me: I saw the Neelys on Food Network spray their measuring spoon with cooking spray when they were adding molasses to a dish to be sure every last drop of the ingredient made it in. It works like a charm with honey, too! Give it a try!

welcome to a new week.

It’s Monday again, friends. I’m back at work after a few days on the road, and I’m having trouble getting back into my groove. And my sniffles and sore throat are not helping me (boo hoo).

I got to hang out with MK and Hayden this week at one of my favorite places in the state. We took a cooking class at the Viking Cooking School and spent the night at my former stomping grounds, The Alluvian. We ate like queens even though our pesto looked like mud.

Saturday some of my besties and I hosted a party for my bride-to-be buddy, Amy. It is always so great to see those girls (and the guys, too) and get a reminder of why I love them so much in the first place.

How was your weekend?

finally friday

It’s Friday! Hooray!

This is me today, by the way. Getting a mani with my friends, MK and Hayden after a fun Viking Cooking School class last night. Few things are more fun than total girl time.

This weekend, I’m helping give a party for my dear friend, Amy. I can’t wait to see her and all the other guests. Aren’t friends marvelous?

Here’s to a super weekend, readers! Cheers!

wish list wednesday

What am I wishing for this Wednesday?

* That the lawn care fairy would come and plant some monkey grass in my front yard while I’m asleep.

* This cute case for my iPhone. It’s a strawberry Pop Tart! Are you kidding me?

* That I could find popcorn balls year-round. Deelish.

* Some cute suede booties, but I’m worried I can’t pull them off.

* That I could bring my doggies to work with me!

What’s your wish?

harris the stylist

Ok, so if you've never heard of Red Carpet Fashion Awards, you totally should check it out. It's a fabulous London-based website (and who doesn't love the Brits?) that chronicles the red carpet fashions of stars all over the world. Well, we all know my sister Harris loves Posh and has great fashion sense herself, right?

Well, check this out...

Harris submitted her "wish list" for Posh to RCFA, and they posted it! Such a fashionista, that Harris...

Congrats, sis! And check out RFCA daily for great celeb style!

fall has flung

Did this weekend feel like fall or what? Football and cool weather make me want to sing “This Time of Year” from the rooftops. Speaking of fall, check out my door! Do you like? Whitney and Kristen had to explain to me about mums, so it’s because of them I even knew what to shop for. My ferns are getting spindly, so they got moved from center stage.

I LOVE Jen Lancaster. Love her. She just makes me laugh out loud. So much so in fact, Kell makes me read to him the parts that make me giggle. I finished her latest book Pretty in Plaid (and since I follow her on Twitter, I know she just finished writing a FIFTH book! Hooray!), and it did not disappoint. Such a Pretty Fat was my fave of her books, but this one might be creeping up to take it’s spot. If you’ve never read any of Jen’s stuff (again, with our Twitter relationship, I feel as though we are on a first-name basis), you simply must. She’s not for the faint of heart, but that’s why I love her.

After such a funny book, I’ve moved back to the dark dramatic books that I truly love. I read My Sister’s Keeper many months ago, and I adored it. I even refused to see the movie because a) I don’t buy Cameron Diaz as a movie mom, and b) I heard they changed the ending. Well, I’m back on Jodi Picoult thanks to Liz’s recommendation, reading Nineteen Minutes. I’ve only read a few pages, but I can’t wait to get deeper into it.

So, that’s that. How was your weekend?

a wedding and the weekend

Howdy, readers. Who watched the wedding last night? (Let the record show that my hand is raised high.) I so desperately want Jim and Pam to be real people who are really in love and really got married on a boat at Niagara Falls (not to be confused with “Viagra” Falls, eh?).

Kell and I are looking forward to a weekend at home with no plans - a luxury we haven’t had since the dog days of August. It’s time to clean up (ew), work inside the house (ew again) and get in the yard (double ew) while Kell drowns in college football. What are your plans?

Need something to do this weekend? Give this Delicious Dish a try...

Easy Bruschetta (or as Giada says it, brushketteh)

2 tomatoes, cubed
1 teaspoon dried basil
4 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 clove garlic, crushed
seasoning salt to taste
ground black pepper to taste

In a medium bowl, mix tomatoes, dried basil, Parmesan cheese, olive oil, garlic, seasoning salt and ground black pepper. Cover and chill in the refrigerator 8 hours, or overnight, before serving.

Enjoy your weekend!

wish list wednesday

What am I wishing for this Wednesday?

* That I could attend Jim and Pam’s wedding!

* Some fall mums and an autumnal wreath for my front door (I always seem to gravitate towards a square one).

* That hallmark.com wasn’t charging for their e-cards now. Are you kidding me?

* Some funky patterned tights (not to mention the cool weather to wear them…).

* That I could have all my friends near me all the time.

What’s your wish?

eight days a week

As we enter the final quarter of 2009, I'm starting to think about my 2010 calendar. How cute is this one with the puppy dog?

Just a thought: do you get your calendar ahead of time or wait until they go on sale?

wish list wednesday

What am I wishing for this Wednesday?

* Fall weather! Think you might could stick around?

* New soft luggage. I love this Jon Hart line – so classic and durable!

* That I had money for new fall clothes.

* My town to get the MJ movie This Is It!

* That this wish list weren't so late! Sorry, friends.

What’s your wish?

who let the dawgs out?!

So what if we were just inches away from a top 10 upset? The Bulldogs came closer than anyone (except Coach Mullen and his team) thought they would, and for that I am very proud!

Congrats to you all – win or lose, it was a great game.

3 months and counting...

...until the most wonderful time of the year!

Hope you have fun and exciting weekend plans! Mine's already off to a great start.

wish list wednesday

What am I wishing for this Wednesday?

* That Comcast hadn’t screwed up my enjoyment of House Monday night. Now I have to watch it online on my dinosaur computer.

* A leather jacket. I think I love this one.

* A win for the Bulldogs Saturday!

* That I didn’t have expensive taste. It’s a curse my mother bestowed upon me that I feel I will pass on to my future children. Sigh.

* A cool new piece of furniture. Oh, wait, here’s one! (and please see the above wish…)

What’s your wish?

my dr. mcdreamy

Tonight is the season premier of House, and I am ecstatic! Welcome back, Hugh, my dear. I've missed you so.

happy friday and a book review

Raise your hand if you watched the season premier of The Office last night! (Let the record show that I raised mine.) Creed, Andy, Dwight, PB&J, Michael, Kelly, I missed you all. Welcome back to primetime TV, friends.

Before I disappear into the weekend, I’ve got a book review for you all. I just finished The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, recommended to me by my buddy, Laura Merrill. I mentioned in my initial post about this book that it’s written completely in epistolary style, the letters and telegrams from the characters traveling from London to the Guernsey Island and back again. I was skeptical about the development of the characters with this type of writing, but as with any well-written letter, you learn a lot about its composer. And with any good author (like these ladies), you begin to feel like you truly know the characters and perhaps you’ve stumbled upon these letters in an old attic.

That said, as much as I really liked learning about these people and their lives post-WWII, I did get a little weary of the format. The many interesting characters proved to be a blessing and a bit of a curse – hearing from so many viewpoints was wonderful, but I found myself getting confused between who was whom. Still, a really great book for anyone who loves Europe and is interested in all things WWII. Thanks, LMA, for the recommendation!

You just thought I was finished with Jen Lancaster. Well, my friends, you were wrong. I started reading her 4th memoir Pretty in Plaid last night, and if you liked her 3 previous books, you will love this one just as much. I appreciate anyone who can be hilarious, self-deprecating and a total egomaniac all in the same sentence. Book review to come soon, as I’m sure it won’t take me long to read this one.

One more note: Haley has re-entered the blogging world! Check her out for fashion, fun and general hilarity.

Have a great weekend, friends!

wish list wednesday

What am I wishing for this Wednesday?

* To be friends with Joy the Baker. Call me, you crazy cupcake/muffin/pie/tart/pancake-making dear!

* This Midsummer Night’s Wallpaper from Anthro. Dreamy, no?

* That BB Jeff would take Jordan to Hawaii.

* A Crock Pot for upcoming wintry soup recipes.

* A new bag. Perhaps this is the one?

What’s your wish?

party like it's 1999

I’m back after a fun weekend in my hometown for my 10-year class reunion! It was amazing how little (I thought) people had changed and how we were all able to pick up right where we left off many moons ago. Thanks to Kell who was a super trooper the entire evening.

Here are just a couple of pics that I stole from yaya’s facebook album. I’m terrible about taking pictures, so fortunately I have her to rely on.

our class

Alexa, Laura and me...Ashley, we missed you!

Today’s my mom’s birthday – she’s 35! And in her honor, Harris and I compiled…

Harriet A to Z

Antique hunter
Better living through chemistry
Cannot ride a bike
Didn’t want to learn how to pump gas
Ebay
Feltman Bros.
Gifts from celebrities
Hershey’s chocolate
“I’m having fun”
July 1987 – got her hair cut too short
Kisses and Fritos
Loves summer
MOM WOW
“Never leave a restaurant with a toothpick in your mouth”
Old linens
Peppers every Friday night
Queen
Ribbon
Shrimp soup
Tab
Untidy room is the sign of a creative mind
Vampire books
“Who was the cutest one there?”
Excellent teacher
“Young and fun"
Zzzzz...

Happy Birthday, MOM WOW!

never forget

I hope the day never comes when September 11 approaches and people don’t stop to recall the weight of that day. The world changed forever in a matter of a little less than 2 hours, and though I was thousands of miles away from the attacks, I wept and grieved with the rest of America, mourning the nearly 3,000 killed and missing and the loss of our innocence as a nation. Until that day, foreign terrorist attacks on our soil were unheard of – they were reserved for tumultuous countries many lands and waters away. We are a different world than on September 10, 2001.

The attacks on that day are one of the few “where were you when…?” moments that each of us likely remembers in excruciating detail. It is amazing to me how the people and places of those memories will stick with us years and years later. I was in the Chi O house getting ready for my Mississippi History class when Emily Jones (now Emily Hutton) came in my room to tell me about it. She said her dad called her as soon as he heard, and we tuned into CNN, our eyes glued to the TV, practically holding our breath while the day’s events unfolded. I will never forget that day, nor should I. Nor should anyone.

Eight years later, we as a people, as a country, as a world, still reel from the effects of September 11, 2001. We were all New Yorkers that day, no one a democrat or republican – there was only room for Americans, and we embraced each other like never before and haven’t since. I can’t help but think that today we are the antithesis of who we were that day and days after – now polarized, antagonistic, self-serving. Just for today, shouldn‘t we put aside heated debate and honor those fallen? Let us forget who we are now and remember who we were then.

Celebrate your great American spirit this weekend!