The Horton Family

Homecoming 1990

2021-09-17T14:10:00.001-05:00

Warning: Flashback post.

A few nights ago, I was upstairs in the attic with a glass of wine going through all my old high school stuff. I kept everything, y'all. Every sports article, every football ticket stub, yada, yada. So our 30th class reunion got canceled because of Covid, but some of my closer friends and I have a private group and after a zoom meet up, all the memories we shared had me up in the attic digging through all my high school memorabilia.

I came across TONS of pictures (I was always taking pictures), but this one grabbed me because this was me at 17, a senior in high school, at my last semi-formal dance. Close enough to Alise's age right now. I couldn't wait to show her the picture, especially since she will be attending my ala mater's 2021 Homecoming this very weekend!

Here are a few details about this picture:

1. I borrowed this dress from my best friend, Amanda. Her mother actually made it. She sewed so she made several of Amanda's semi-formal dresses in high school. Our group borrowed one another's dresses all the time so it blows this mama's mind that Alise and her friend group doesn't do the same. It looks teal or blue in the picture, but it was actually green. When I posted this picture on my IG story, I said I looked like I was wrapped in Easter foil wrapping paper. Ha! My daddy nearly had a heart attack over the spaghetti straps, but I loved the ruching, ruffles, and dropped waist. Alise was not impressed. She said, "You wore THAT?!"

2. Notice the matching podiswa heels. I have no memory of having these heels dyed to match, but I'm pretty sure they were mine because we may have borrowed dresses, but not shoes. And, yes! I am wearing panty hose.

3. I am assuming this picture was taken in my date's home because the fireplace isn't my parents'. My date was a year older than me and we doubled dated that night with my best friend who was dating my cousin at the time. Carrie's dress was black and white. My date is now a cop in Dallas.

4. My tan is from a bottle of self tanner from Avon. All my friends were laying in sunbeds and my mother wouldn't let me (now I own one! I showed her! Ha!). I was in the throes of an eating disorder during this time. Although my senior year was one of the best times in my life, I struggled inwardly. It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, but best won out!

5. My hair was ombred before ombre was a thing! Actually, it wasn't. That was/is my natural color, although I don't remember it being quite so dark (in the actual picture, it's not). That was probably the longest my hair has ever been and probably ever will be again. The perm is real. It brings me joy that Alise gets her hair color from me.

OPHS

Class of '91

Crazy Thoughts At 2AM

2021-09-16T08:58:00.003-05:00

Even though the humidity has made a comeback, I'm beginning to see little glimpses that fall is on the way! 🙌 Something happens every September and things just look and feel different. The sky is more bluer and less hazy. There's a slight breeze ever so often and the mosquitoes get fiesty.

And so do I. Especially when I can't sleep due to throwing back too many Diet Cokes with friends on a Taco Tuesday night. I'm still buzzing on caffeine overload.

Here are some crazy thoughts I've got going on...

I seriously don't even know what the Met Gala is, I mean, I've been to the Met - well, actually rode PAST it on a double decker BUS, but who's judging? - ANYWHOO!! WHAT IS THE DEAL WITH THESE OUTFITS!! DOES ANYONE WEAR CLOTHES ANYMORE?? Good grief!! Y'all's Mama needs to shame y'all! It just baffles me that everyone feels the need to out do the other! Why? What happened to classy and elegant?

Speaking of which, the first go around with Beniffer was fun and exciting, but this time? Snooze. Put some clothes on! You have kids.

Welp, I never in my wildest dreams thought my daughter would be going to my old high school's homecoming. And what's even CRAZIER is the fact that I was suppose to be having my 30th High School Reunion this weekend!! I'm still trying to let that sink in. So since the school technically cannot have a dance because of Covid, the parents are doing one for the kids at a local place in town. And, of course, because of Covid, our reunion was canceled. At least one of us will have a fun time ringing in homecoming at my old high school.

Wayne is in Colorado this week with his best friend on a hunting trip. He won a tag to kill a bear. A FREAKIN' BEAR, y'all!! He managed to figure out Marco Polo on his own and told me that he had a 350 pound bear walk out in front of him, but he/she/it went behind a bush and he couldn't get a shot. A 350 pound bear went behind a BUSH and he couldn't get a shot?? He's bow hunting btw. A little harder to get a "shot," I guess. Anyway, I told him a 350 pound bear was not going to fit in his expensive ice chest to bring home to Louisiana. He might need to re-think that one.

My mom is still ill and just got out of the hospital again. I've come to the conclusion that I may need to begin taking over my mother's care and I am so thankful for the connections that I have in order to do this. I had a come-to-Jesus meeting with my parents on Sunday. It wasn't pretty. However, I will say that they have begun handling appointments better and we are now only waiting on one important test to come back as of today. Our new endocrinologist has been instrumental in my mother's care and I truly believe that God sent him to our area at just the appropriate time to help in diagnosing my mom. I am still hopeful and trusting God in these circumstances.

Sweet dreams.

Two Shades I'm Loving This Fall

2021-09-08T04:00:00.001-05:00

Have you checked out Pantone's fall and winter palette? I personally do not let New York Fashion Week dictate the colors of my wardrobe, but it is nice to see what the trends are.

I'm very surprised to see all the bright colors in the collection. They have more of a "spring" feel to me and I have yet to see these trends in the stores so far this season.

However, two colors that I am IN LOVE with this season are navy and rust. And not necessarily together. My obsession with navy began a few weeks ago when I went to visit a friend and see her new home. She had decorated in shades of navy and gray throughout and I just absolutely loved it! As for rust, I loved the pieces that Cyndi Spivey and Jo-lynne Shane wore in this post and it has motivated me to add more of this color to my fall closet. For me, as a blonde, this color can be very tricky since I am not a warm toned person, but I ordered a sweater in this shade just a few minutes ago.

What are your favorite colors to wear in Fall?

The Wind and Waves Know His Name

2021-08-30T14:50:00.000-05:00

Thank you so much for your encouragement from my last post. It meant so much to know that I wasn't alone in my feelings and thoughts. The good news is that today begins a new week with new opportunities.

Kathie Lee Gifford posted this on her IG grid this morning and it reminded me of how worshiping truly helps with worry and anxiety. It certainly changed my heart last week! While I was listening to worship music, I heard the lyrics, "Even the wind and waves know His name." Little did I know just how much those words would mean a few days later with Hurricane Ida.

I woke up this morning, feeling very blessed that a rotten tree had not fallen through the middle of our house. We've had an appointment to get it cut for several weeks, but lo and behold, it still stands. Ida shifted more toward the east, so we only got some rain and a little wind. However, the lower half of our state was not as fortunate. We tracked the hurricane on our phones throughout the day yesterday, and when I was woken up at 1AM, and checked the path again, I was reminded of those lyrics. Everyone who lives in the coastal states knows how unpredictable hurricanes can be and they don't always follow the path of science. I think that's because the wind and the waves know His name. They certainly know His voice (Matt 8:26). I had such a peace this weekend with the anticipation of what was to come.

Please continue to pray for the southern part of our state.

I Hope There Is Chocolate in Heaven

2021-08-27T16:20:00.000-05:00

My emotions have been all over the place since I heard about the bombings in Afghanistan. I have shed many tears. Truly what is breaking the Lord's heart is breaking mine, too.

My mom is ill again. There was some "chaos" with her yesterday, so I took dinner to my parents and we began talking about all the world events that are going on. I told mama and daddy that I am just ready for the Lord to come back. Truly there is groaning in my spirit for a better place. A place where there is no evil, no viruses, no bombings, no hurricanes, and certainly no thoughts of your daughter being a senior in like 365 days! This world is not my home. And then I feel guilty for wanting the Lord to come back because I know that there are still people in this world who have never heard his name.

I just feel this sense of darkness that I've never felt before. I saw the "evilness" (if that's even a word) and hatred last summer through all the rioting and election process, but this is something more sinister. It's like watching the dark overcome the light. It's like a moving reel of the day where the night swiftly takes over the day. Where a fog of doom and darkness begins to roll ever so silently into creation. I do believe this may be called 'spiritual warfare.' The jubilation we felt as a nation after the days of 9/11 have been replaced with sorrow and grief.

I cried this morning and for just a few hours, I lost hope. And losing hope is not a good mental place to be in. I also ate a bag of M&Ms. Because sometimes, M&Ms and tears just go together. I hope there is chocolate in Heaven. As my tears fell, I felt God say to me, "Worship me," so I turned on Pandora to one of my favorite worship stations. I read scripture. And my soul was strengthened. I'm still sad, but my focus isn't where it was. There was a time when I didn't understand how worship could help in my time of sorrow, but it does, because it takes my focus off my feelings, off my circumstances, and puts them on the one person who is truly in control.

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Take heart, friends. Take heart.

Two Years Left

2021-08-19T19:58:00.003-05:00

I'd be lying if I said I wasn't sad this morning when Alise left for her first day of her junior year. Every. single. day. I have taken Baby Girl to school. She started a wee school when she was one. She went to a private Catholic school when she was three and we started the school she now attends at age four. Some of our best mother/daughter moments were in the car on the way to school. And some of our not-so-great mother/daughter moments. When she was a baby, we would look for ducks or horses on the way to school. We would pass the manger scene at a local church and talk about baby Jesus. And during all those early years, and probably not until eighth grade, I never thought about the day when she would finally be old enough to drive herself to school. I was oblivious.

I'd be lying if I said I didn't video her leaving and then shoot the video to Wayne, who said she was driving too fast. Spoken like a true dad.

I'd be lying if I said I didn't give her my credit card to buy school supplies on her own. One chore that I did NOT mind giving up! There's just not anything fun about buying binders and loose-leaf paper. Alise could stand in front of a wall of binders all day!

When Alise was younger, I would go to her school's peprallys with her and on Friday nights, we would go as a family to watch the home football games and she was just so mesmerized by the "older" kids. All the cheerleaders, the drumline, etc. and when they would speak to her, she would just melt. I reminded her earlier this week that now, SHE'S the big kid. And again, it's a scenario that I never thought about her being in. A friend of mine told me that her daughter was very nervous about making the transition to middle school so I told Alise to make a point to say hi and keep a check on her. Middle school memories are not as kind.

Two years. We have two years left with Baby Girl and I feel like I have SO much to cram into this short time. But then, there's a part of me that doesn't want to cram, doesn't want to even think about it. I just want to enjoy my front row seat.

Kindergarten, August 2010

Things I Have Been Loving This Summer - Part 1

2021-08-11T12:00:00.001-05:00

Like I said in my last post, we've a great summer! And it's gone by so quickly! Today I'm sharing round one of some of the things that I loved this summer.

{We're having make-your-own pizza night with one of Alise's friends and I just burned the bacon because I was writing this post. 😠 Ugh!! The family isn't going to let me live this down! I'll hear about it all weekend. Now I need to wonder why the smoke alarm didn't go off?}

We discovered a new frozen pizza that we really, really like and I found it at a non-chain grocery store, but I think Walmart may have them, too. It's the California Pizza Kitchen brand and it's the Sicilian Recipe pizza. It kinda reminds me of a meat lovers, but the flavor is just fantastic.

I found out about Tom Brown's Body podcast by listening to the Big Boo podcast with Melanie Shankle and Sophie Hudson. I especially love crime/who dun it podcasts and this one was a FIVE star. I even told Wayne about it and he ended up finishing it before me.

Speaking of media, we watched Cruel Summer as a family in July and we enjoyed it. It had been a long time since we've watched a series together. Alise normally likes the young adult shows, but they normally don't hold my attention and I give up. Needless to say, this one did and although I really didn't care for the ending - for reasons that I won't give away - it is definitely a series worth watching.

Unfortunately we were very late getting our pool up and going this summer. Everything started out well and then we discovered water behind our liner so we knew we had a leak. Two weeks of waiting for the new liner to ship turned into nearly a month, and once we DID finally have it installed, then it decided to rain every weekend for about three weeks in a row! But I'm loving the new darker look of the pool.

Absolutely LOVED bringing out all the red, white, and blue this summer and flags just make me so happy!

Lastly, I have been loving my Vitamin D. What, you say? Well, this spring I had my annual visit with my doctor and I told her how tired I was all the time and how I didn't have any energy. She did some blood work and prescribed me a weekly dose of 50,000 grams of Vitamin D. And I also take a daily Vitamin D and - because I'm a doctor, too! - I decided to take a B-12 vitamin. Y'all, I can't begin to tell you how much better I feel! I go back in a few weeks to have my lab work done again and I can't wait to see just how low I really was and what the improvement numbers are. I haven't felt this good in a really, really long time.

Have a great week, Friends! Hoping to resume a more regular schedule after school starts next week!

I'm Still Alive!

2021-08-02T04:00:00.001-05:00

I feel like I should give myself a great big hug and say, "Welcome Back, Sista!"

Not so fast, though. I'm certainly not going to make any promises that I can't keep.

Truth is, it's been a hot minute since I've been here in my little space on the internet. WHEN I thought about blogging, I sometimes felt guilty for not and other times, I had a peace about it. Peace that I was living life and enjoying my time with family and friends and not feeling like I had to write about every. single. thing. And guilty because I didn't. How could I go from blogging for nearly sixteen years and not even mention Baby Girl's Sweet Sixteen birthday?

It's coming. Later.

We've had a wonderful summer, but the truth is, I kinda lost my mojo for writing. And when I DID feel like writing, I had nothing to say and didn't have the heart for a recap post. I filled that time with awful books - except the Bible, of course! - podcasts, Life 360, and pool time. I have thoroughly enjoyed my summer.

It's hot now - very! - and I'm over summer. Bring on fall and sweaters and boots! Soups and Christmas! Pumpkins and candles!

I'll be back soon.

Currently ~ April 2021

2021-04-07T04:00:00.001-05:00

I'm joining Anne today for this month's Currently link up.

arranging// I have found the best flower wholesaler in our area and I think it's a secret hidden gem. Although their selection is sometimes limited, I've been very pleased with the purchases I've made so far this spring. Having said that, I've been doing some floral arrangements throughout our home as well as making small arrangements for friends and my desk at the office. One of my favorite arrangements is this one beside my bed. Years ago, my best friend gave me this unique vase and it's my favorite. These carnations are nearly four weeks old and STILL look beautiful and it brings a smile to my face everyday.

craving// March has been the month for PIE and yummy salads. What a combination, right? I picked up a delicious strawberry pie on PI Day (March 14th!). On weekends we like to entertain or grill and eat outside by our pool and I have been trying all the Pinterest salads! So far, we have enjoyed them all, except for the Green Jacket Salad. Wayne and Alise didn't like the dressing that went with that one. This one is still at the top of our favorite list and I even made it again on Easter when I cooked for us and my mom and dad.

discussing// I'm trying to determine if my prayers need to be more specific or if God just has a really crazy sense of humor. Our family is praying earnestly for direction and guidance in regards to a situation that we're facing. And Wayne and I both feel that we have discussed the topic to death. So much so that we've both said we're sick of talking about it, yet we KEEP talking about it! Not in the sense that we don't know what to do, just the everyday turn of events. We trust that God's will is always perfect, even when we don't understand.

enjoying// We visited the ranch in Texas mid-March. Such a fun and relaxing weekend for our family and plus one. Lots of fishing, ATV riding, reading, food, and March Madness. The weather was a little cool, but perfect! Wayne is actually taking his college group over there this weekend for a small retreat.

preparing// We visited the vineyards this past weekend and I had a fun time preparing our picnic basket. The friends that went with us - who had actually never been before and so they didn't quite know what to expect - were amazed at all the food I brought (which really, wasn't very much!). Let's just say that even my charcuterie board made an appearance! Anyhoo, it was a fun night being outside with friends and listening to the band. And the food was good, too!

Prime Purchases ~ April 2021

2021-04-06T04:00:00.042-05:00

I have to confess that March Madness and prime shopping do not mix well. Wayne enjoys watching the games, so I watch with him, but there were several games that sheer boredem sent me browsing and "adding to cart."

I got so many comments about the "coasters," aka exfoliating pads from last month's prime post. I hope you decided to try them because it has been one of my favorite prime purchases so far this year. They work great and leave my face feeling so smooth and soft.

Here are a few things I bought in March.

Shower Steamers// These are good y'all. The perfect aromatherapy pick-me-up that is not too strong or overpowering. Wayne even likes them. The key to them lasting even longer than just one shower, is not putting them directly in the shower spray. I've set the disk on the side of the tub and one lasted four showers!

Bangle Bracelet Key Holder// Have you seen these because they are quite popular in my area. I bought this for a friend's birthday last month and stuck a gift card in the holder. She loved it! I loved it so much that I ordered three more for friends that I knew would enjoy them, too. The key holders come in a variety of colors and they make the perfect little happy gift.

Letter Board Letters// I have a small letter board that my dear friend, Andrea, gifted me a few years ago and the letters I had were too big so I got these 3/4-inch size and they are perfect!

Kitsch Satin Pillowcase// We got new sheets for Christmas so I decided to chunk my old satin pillow case. I decided to replace it with this pillowcase because it kept showing up in my feeds and all the influencers were raving about it. It has a very luxurious feel and I love the leopard design, but my final verdict is still out because I'm not quite sure if it's worth the price point.

Lounge Pajama Set// Love, love these pajamas! I use them as a lounge set and wear them lots of days to "work." Unfortunately, I can't wear them to bed. The material just doesn't work with my weighted blanket and peri-menopause, but they are leopard and so comfy that I decided to keep them anyway.

I hope your April is off to a wonderful start! It's going to be a great month!

Happy Birthday, Andrea!

2021-04-02T04:00:00.001-05:00

Woo hoo!! Blow up the balloons and bust open the bubbly, baby, because TODAY is THIS BEAUTY'S BIRTHDAY!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANDREA!!

If you've been reading my blog for a while, then I don't have to tell you that this Girlie is one of my favorite friends EVAH! She is the kindest and most thoughtful person and did I mention that she has a FANTASTIC sense of style?! I sure hope you're reading her blog and following her on Instagram (Be sure to follow her on stories!)!

Andrea is such an AH-mazing friend! Let's just say that she has talked me off the ledge several times! She also enjoys cooking and taking care of all those handsome men in her life. She has the best tiered tray designs and loves to make someone's day brighter. And I have to say that she certainly does mine!

Love you, Andrea! Hope you have the happiest birthday ever!! Celebrate BIG!!

Life Lately ~ March 2021

2021-03-31T04:00:00.001-05:00

Here's a post for the scrapbook.

Starting out on a sad note, but a few weeks ago, we found out that Wayne's college roommate passed away. Now, if you've been keeping up here on the blog, this is NOT the roommate I was dating when Wayne and I met twenty-eight years ago. This is the roommate with an addiction that bailed out of our wedding at the last minute. Do I sound bitter? I'm not. Unfortunately, his addiction ended up costing him his life in an elective surgery. He and Wayne lost touch through the years, but had spoken as recently as Christmas. It made me realize that when a friend you haven't spoken to in years calls you out of the blue, answer the call. It could be the last time you speak to them.

We recently had a wonderful time in Texas at the lake house of one of our friend's. We took Alise out of school on Friday and she invited a friend. Other than being a little cool (my kid actually brought a bathing suit!) 🙄, our weekend was absolutely perfect!

High school basketball awards (and compliments!) are not handed out like candy with our Coach. As a matter of fact, there are only three awards. Three. But I am happy to say that Alise received The Most Improved Award and we are so proud of her (I wish Wayne could have been there!). Alise joked that it was because she only got ONE technical this year instead of two last year. Thus, improvement. Ha! But, seriously, she only missed one practice the entire summer and season and gave 110% because she loves the game so much. Coach was very complimentary toward Alise and mentioned her improved ball handling, scoring, and leadership on the court. She had the most assists for the season. It was so fun to see Alise and her teammates all dressed up and not sporting pony tails. Ha! I know I've said this 1,000 times, but I LOVE watching Baby Girl play. I had this dream for her; I wanted her to cheer. But just like God says in His Word, His plans our not ours and after living my own mother's dreams, I was determined to not do that to Alise. And letting go has been more rewarding than I could ever imagine. When she beats the press, when she makes the high pass to her tallest post player and she scores, when she drives the lane and makes the layup, my heart could nearly burst. Yes, the season is long. Yes, there is still alot of drama and tears. Yes, I could buy an island for what we've paid in basketball expenses, but I would. not. change a single thing. Wayne and I both are looking forward to the next two years.

In less than two months, we will have a new driver in da house! And after much ~~arguing~~ discussion, we made the decision to buy Alise a used vehicle (not terribly used, of course!) for her first pair of wheels. We purchased the car in Houston and with the help of Wayne's best friend that lives there, we were able to do the transaction seamlessly. We plan to surprise her in a few weeks. She is going to WIG. OUT!

We are now a four-eyed family. The day that I had hoped would never come arrived and now Alise has her own pair of glasses to keep up with. She blames her Spanish II class, but she only has to wear them in the classroom and to drive. Actually, she's pretty excited about them and this was a total daddy-daughter appointment because Wayne took her and she chose the frames that he liked (they were face-timing me from the eye doctor's office). Maybe she will let me post a picture wearing her new glasses a little later.

Alise is being inducted into the National Honor Society today. We are so proud of her and her academic achievements.

I am taking a break from social media this week for Holy Week, but I wanted to be sure to document our month.

Spring Favorites & Links With The Style Six

2021-03-10T04:00:00.001-06:00

It's official! Yours truly has Spring Fever!! Anyone else? Loved sitting out by our covered pool yesterday evening just listening to the wind chimes tingle in the March winds. I bet my Style Six sisters are ready for Spring, too! Thanks for joining us today for our weekly link up!

This wicker bunny from Nordstrom Rack kept popping up in my social media feeds and we all know how I feel about that! Imagine my surprise this past weekend when I found one hiding from me at Kirkland's! So of course, he came home with me. Now I just need to find some ribbon to replace the one he's currently wearing.

I shared this yummy salad earlier this week. It's so easy and is always a crowd pleaser.

I absolutely love white dresses in the summer and this new website that I discovered has a plethora of them and just about every other style you can imagine for warmer temperatures. This white tiered midi dress is stunning, but unfortunately I have to keep checking back for my size. I love this simple, feminine maxi, too. I think this would be perfect for the beach! Throw on a denim jacket for cool nights.

I tried this new mascara this week after I purchased the trial size for $15. The sales person hit me up as soon as I walked through the door and I got sucked in, but it's a happy sucked in if you can believe that. The key is - just like she said! - waiting to put a second coat on after about five minutes. But you have to be careful with that second coat or it will make your lashes stick together. What I love about this mascara is that it makes my lashes longer, whispy-er, and feather-like. Totally recommend.

You will probably see this a little later in an Amazon post, but it's too good not to share. I am so surprised by this lip mask and balm from Andes Nature. And the best thing is that it's less than $10 bucks. I've been using it for about a week, and I just love it. So so good! I'm going to a favorite things party in a few weeks and I'm seriously considering this as one of my gifts.

Have a wonderful Wednesday, Friends! I've actually been in the office working this week just because I've had so many deadlines and projects, and let me just say that wearing a bra and heels just aren't as fun anymore! Ha!

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An Oldie But Goodie Salad Recipe

2021-03-09T04:00:00.000-06:00

Do you like to look through old cookbooks?

A few weeks ago, I decided to dust off a few of my favorite cookbooks with my mission being to find some new family recipes. Do you feel like you get in a rut with family meals? Even the "new" recipes we've discovered in the past few years have become hum-drum.

Sometimes it's good to pull out old things, because GOOD things can fall right in your lap and that's EXACTLY what happened with the recipe I'm sharing today. Spring is in the air and I don't know about you, but I'm craving SALAD!

A little over twenty years ago, we had some best friends that we loved to cook and grill and entertain with on the weekends. We were newlyweds, they were newlyweds and their friendship just made those early years of marriage so much fun. We were constantly over at each other's house playing cards, watching a movie, grilling in the backyard, you name it. Misty and I hit it off so well and we became fast friends. She was from Mississippi, so we were kindred Southern girls at heart and SHE is the one that introduced me to this wonderful and super easy salad recipe. When my hand written version of the recipe literally fell out of one of my old cookbooks I was reading, it brought a HUGE smile to my face and I knew that I needed to make it very, very soon!

And so I did!

When someone in your tribe says that she wants to spend her birthday celebration at your house instead of a restaurant, it truly warms your heart - even if she insists on keeping it simple. This past weekend, some friends came over and I made this Crunch Romaine Salad for them. Everyone brought something, too, so we had a nice meal that MAY have included a mimosa bar, because the Birthday Girl loves them (I don't always go the simple route!). It was a small group, but I love how my first mimosa bar turned out! And the chocolate cake was to die for!

Here's my recipe for a great salad for family and friends!

Crunch Romaine Salad

1 package of Ramen noodles, uncooked and broken up

1 cup chopped walnuts

4 tablespoons of butter

Brown these ingredients in melted butter and allow to cool before putting on salad.

1 bag of Romaine lettuce

1 bunch of broccoli, cut of stems

Mix together in a large bowl.

Dressing (So good!):

1/2 cup of vegetable oil

1/2 cup of sugar

1/4 cup of red wine vinegar

salt and pepper to taste

Mix all the dressing ingredients together and refrigerate until ready to serve. I like to put mine in a container that I can shake off and on before putting the salad together. The longer the dressing has to refrigerate, the better it is. Pour to taste over lettuce and broccoli. Add crunchy ramen noodle and walnut topping. You may not need all of the dressing.

I love to serve this salad with steak and crawfish etouffee. My dad especially loves it! And every time I make it, I'm reminded of our friends that have since moved to Houston and the wonderful times we had together. Treasure your friendships. Love your friends. Serve them well.

February Favorites ~ 2021

2021-02-26T04:00:00.009-06:00

For such a short month, February was packed with lots of joy and happy times for our family. My heart was certainly full.

Remember the candy heart-shaped box that was as big as my head?! Well, pretend I just snapped my fingers and walla! THIS is what happened! I used the bottom portion of the box, lined it with wax paper, and created one of my favorite charcuterie boards yet! Everyone loved how it turned out! Especially me.

Mid-month, we got yet another winter storm that included more snow. If you remember, we also had one in January, but with this one came very, very cold temperatures in the teens. The northern part of our state was pretty much closed for a week. Wayne didn't go to work all five days, which has never happened. Alise was on winter break, so unfortunately, she didn't get to hang out with her friends as much as she had planned. Me? I cooked and baked all week and we all gained ten pounds!! I feel like all I did was eat, sleep, and binge Netflix. I got a little work done, too. But having said all that, the snow was really beautiful. This week the temps have been in the 70's and Alise and I have started back walking in the afternoons. Spring is definitely right around the corner!

Basketball season is officially over and I honestly don't know what to do with myself these days with all my "free" time. Alise has decided not to run track this year, which Wayne and I are disappointed about, but it's her decision. Right after BB season ended, an acquaintance of ours posted this on Facebook regarding Alise's team. Actually we were a little shocked. It is our impression that this person was referring to Alise since she plays the point guard position and we do not have a number 10 on our team. Her back up is a single number and we only have one team - a JV team (we have no seniors). Having said that, this was a proud parent moment for us. We love watching our Baby Girl play and do what she loves.

Having said that, the team played at Wayne's alma mater AND my parent's old high school in back-to-back weeks. I wish my parents could have been able to attend. The team's last game was their best game of the season and they put over 50 points on the scoreboard. They beat the other team by over 30 points, which is a spread they haven't made all season. It was definitely a happy moment and one to remember! Love seeing those happy faces!!

I hope your February was just as fun and fulfilling! Have an awesome weekend!

My Night Time Skin Care Routine

2021-02-24T04:00:00.070-06:00

I've mentioned that if Covid did anything for me during all these months of quarantine, it introduced me to the wonderful world of You Tube. I've never been much of a You Tuber (and truth be told, I'm still not!), but I did manage to stumble into a whole new world of make-up and skin care peeps. Who knew "GRWM" meant, "Get Ready With Me"? My favorite channel by far is Kimberly at Pretty Over Fifty. She has introduced me to so many new products and her channel is so, so good. I highly recommend her latest video here.

Today I thought I would share my own nighttime skin care routine because I've recently gotten questions from friends about what products I use. I've been fortunate enough to find drug store brands that work for me.

Step 1: Remove Make-up// I had never heard of the term, "double cleansing" until about a year ago when a popular instagrammer talked about it on her stories. But ya know what? It works! By removing my make-up first, my cleanser doesn't have to work so hard and my face feels extra clean. I searched a while before I finally found a winner in No 7 Melting Gel Cleanser. This is a soft gel that I rub on my face, without water, to remove my make-up. Then, I just rinse it off with warm water.

Step 2: Cleanse// I've been using this Cerave cleanser for years - ever since Melanie Shankle said that she did. After working it into a lather, I use my handy dandy exfoliating pad that I mentioned here to help alleviate any remaining dirt and make-up.

Step 3: Tone// I searched a while for a toner and finally decided on this one from Thayers. It comes in several fragrances at Target.

Step 4: Serums// Kimberly introduced me to The Ordinary skin products. I've mentioned here and on my IG stories that I use them and I've had so many questions about them. I absolutely love The Ordinary because you get such a bang for your buck. Every night after I tone, I use the Niacinamide serum. It's a little sticky, so I'm sure to let it dry completely on my face before applying my creams. I use the Peeling Solution twice a week. This is a chemical peel and there actually is no "peeling" like in a mask. I leave it on my face for about ten minutes and then rinse with warm water. Sometimes, there is a little stinging sensation, but it's nothing harsh and never lasts long, however, if you have sensitive skin, the Peeling Solution may not be the product for you.

Step 5: Creams// My favorite drug store product is Roc's Retinol Deep Wrinkle Cream because I've gotten the best results with my fine lines and wrinkles. The number "11" has nearly vanished from between my eyes! Ha! But seriously. 🙌 I've been using this product for about a year and it is one of the best drug store products in my opinion.

Step 6: Exfoliate// This is the one product that I'm struggling with finding, a good exfoliator. During the fall, I used a sample size of a pumpkin exfoliator and I loved it so much that I can't seem to find anything like it, so if you are using one that you love, please let me know in the comments below. Right now, I'm alternating the Cerave cleanser with Clean & Clear Exfoliating Scrub. I also use a sheet mask once a week.

Easy peasy!! And I don't beat myself up if I decide that my bed is more important than putting on serums or exfoliating. But I DO always remove my make-up each night. That's simply a must in my book.

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Valentine Sweater #2 With The Style Six

2021-02-10T04:00:00.054-06:00

My photographer was in a good mood on the day we took these pictures, so what can I say? You know this heart was pretty big if it covered my head and hair! Ha!

Happy Valentine's Day, Loves! The day of love is definitely one of my favorite holidays to celebrate. Give me all the pinks and reds and Valentine sweaters! In case you've been keeping count, this is heart sweater number two. It's from the Loft and I only bought it because it was 50% off. 😉 I love a great deal! Don't you? I wore this sweater recently to a galentine's lunch with some friends and two of them ordered it right there at the restaurant table! I'll take that as a compliment.

True story: I actually bought that heart shaped box of chocolates myself. I had plans for it that I'll show you in a later post. But the truth is, I don't care for chocolate that comes in boxes, even IF they're heart shaped boxes. Just give me a bag of Dove chocolates.

This sweater reminds me of the ones I use to wear in the 80's. It's thin and has a wide band at the bottom that I like to tuck under. I get that from my mom; she always did that with her sweaters. Needless to say, it makes this 80's lady happy.

I hope you're planning to link up with me and all my favorite valentines for our weekly linkup! Join us!

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Currently ~ February 2021

2021-02-03T04:00:00.014-06:00

Do you like Conversation heart candies? I don't. I feel like I'm eating chalk. But over the last few years, I've acquired a taste for dark chocolate and Dove chocolates are my favorite. I've learned, though, that I have to be careful with dark chocolate because sometimes it causes a migraine. Isn't that crazy? How could something that tastes so good cause such disruption?

I'm joining Anne today to share what I am "currently" doing these days. I'll leave out the part about being a chauffeur and basketball mom that is living on late night fast food and Diet Coke. So much Diet Coke that I spent the majority of this past weekend on a heating pad from a mild kidney infection. Not fun.

loving// "I drank the Bridgeton kool-aid." This was the text I sent my friend group the day I binged the Netflix series. Now, before I go any further, this is not for everyone; mature audiences only. I described it to someone as "Downton Abbey with an R-rating." Having said that, this series was all the buzz around Christmas and a friend suggested it recently at my birthday dinner. I was a little skeptical because I had read that so many people "couldn't get into it" but our group normally enjoys the same things, so I gave it a try and I absolutely LOVED it! And there will be a Season 2!!

reading// A friend suggested Susie Larson's new daily devotional, Prevail, back in the fall and Santa gave me one for Christmas. I normally read the it before I go to bed (I have another devotional for the mornings) just so I can meditate on God's word before I go to sleep.

remembering// A friend recently sent me a picture of us at the Celine Dion concert a year ago in New Orleans. At that time, Kobe Bryant had just died and I think there were two confirmed cases of Covid-19 in the States. My, how quickly things have changed in the last year.

sharing// For all you Dr. Death podcast fans, I'm sharing with you that there is a season two! As of this writing, I'm on episode five of six and although I don't think it's quite as good as the first season, it is a remarkable story about another physician that takes advantage of his patients. As a healthcare professional, stories like this just blow my mind! If you don't listen to a single episode, I believe everyone needs to listen to episode 5 and the interview with Jerry Summers. It is simply amazing. Jerry talks about love and forgiveness and it's a message this world desperately needs to hear.

wishlisting// I was in Ulta around my birthday and happened to see Tiffany's Sheer perfume. My head does not normally do well around perfume counters, but I got a wild hair to try some on my wrist and y'all! I went around smelling my wrist for the rest of the day...driving down the road, while I was cooking supper, while I was reading a book...I just loved the fragrance. And the best part was, I didn't get a migraine! Apparently Tiffany retired the fragrance fifteen years ago and has decided to bring the perfume back. I have an Ulta gift card that a friend gave me for my birthday, so I'm planning to use it soon on this lovely scent.

I hope your week is off to a great start! Thanks for stopping by today!

Prime Purchases ~ February 2021

2021-02-02T04:00:00.001-06:00

Well, so much for my shopping halt for January! Honestly, the month started out well and then....Amazon prime is just too darn easy. Today I'm joining my friend Tanya, for her monthly Prime Purchases link up. Here are some things I bought last month.

Wayne opened the package of facial sponges and asked, "You bought coasters?" Silly, silly man! I took the package away from him to go put them in my bathroom cabinet and said, "No, they're for my face. To clean my face with." But when I looked down, I thought they looked like coasters, too (but I didn't tell him that!). These sponges start out very thin, but once activated with water, they turn into a soft, nice size sponge to help with exfoliation. I use them in the morning and at a night with a gentle cleanser.

I'm back on the reading train and picked up a few books from our local library after the holidays. It's getting harder to read in the evenings with just a lamp, so I opted to buy a book light and it has really helped. This Energizer reading book light is less than $10 and totally worth it. I love to read in bed and since Wayne has to go to bed so early, I can now read with my new light, minus the lamp, while he snores away.

Okay so honestly, this purchase was not mine. Wayne bought this for himself as a work watch (I bought him a nice watch for Christmas). This Smart Watch has all the bells and whistles like an Apple watch, just maybe not as advanced. It shows incoming calls and messages, keeps up with his steps and heart rate, and even records his sleep patterns. He loves it and it's perfect for his busy days of driving a brown truck.

Y'all know how much I love The Ordinary products, but unfortunately, our Ulta does not carry the line in-store. So I ordered another bottle of niacinamide to replace my other one. I ordered it from Ulta because I've been told if you purchase products from the actual Ordinary website, they take longer to arrive. This purchase came within about five days of me placing the order. I use this at night after I remove my makeup and clean my face. Love it! It's less than $6!

I'm not one for keeping appointments and important dates on my phone calendar. I'm a pen and paper girl, so when it comes to a yearly planner, I prefer writing things down. Having said that, I ordered this Heather Stillufsen weekly planner from Amazon. It has both monthly and weekly at-a-glances and is perfect!

Brands know that I'm a sucker for things that show up in my social media feeds and this sweater from Loft is no exception. I'm not an impulse buyer - I do let things KEEP showing up in my feeds before I cave - but when I saw that it was half off, that's when I added it to my cart. I'll be sharing more about how I styled it soon, which is pretty much the same way this beautiful model did.

Have a lovely Tuesday, Friends!

On Wednesdays We Wear Pink (And Red!)

2021-01-27T04:00:00.030-06:00

Hi Friends and welcome to the Style Six Link Up! It's been a while for me, I know, but I hope you've been following along with my favorite five stylers these last few months. If not, you are truly missing out! You can follow them (and me! 😀 ) on our blogs and Instagram accounts which are listed below this post. I got the sweetest message last week from a new instagrammer that told me she had been following my blog for years. Made my day!

At the end of last year, I began sharing my favorites at the end of the month, but I have not one, but TWO posts coming up in February that's going to tell you all about what a hearted in January! Stay tuned!! And if you missed the post about my favorite Christmas present, you can read about it here.

Life is FULL right now with a social fifteen year old that plays basketball and is currently studying for the ACT exam (when she's not on her phone! Ahem!) AND keeping an all A status in her regular school work. She is our chauffeur these days, too, to get in some driving practice, as we've begun looking to add a new driver to our insurance (Wowser!). Life is fun right now and I wouldn't change it for anything. I am for sure soaking in the next two and a half years. Even IF her social calendar raises havoc with mine and Wayne's.

Today I'm wearing a cute and simple sweater that I picked up at Walmart (of all places!) around Christmas time. It was less than $16, but here's a little secret: I don't always wear pink on Wednesdays.😉 Ha! The heart patches on the elbows are what sold me. I wore this sweater this past weekend when we went out of town for my birthday and received so many compliments. Since Mardi Gras was canceled this year, I am a sucker for anything Valentines's Day right now. Even our home is dripping in reds, pinks, and whites. The love decor makes me oh-so happy!

I would love to know what is making YOU happy today! Share them in the comments. But in the mean time, join me and my fabulous friends for the link up below.

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Friday Favorites ~ January 15, 2021

2021-01-15T04:00:00.002-06:00

Happy Friday, Friends!

Today has been the first day that I've actually felt like blogging. Well, that and the fact that I actually have some fun things to share! It's been a busy week for us, but also a good week. Consider this a scrapbook post.

First and foremost, the Christmas tree is officially gone. This year was the longest I have ever left my tree up, but I just couldn't part with the lights, even if a new section of the tree seemed to be going out every day. There was just something about the holidays that I wanted to cling to this year. I have such a peace right now for 2021. I'm sure turning off the TV and taking a step back from social media have helped. In leiu of those things, I've been cleaning and organizing a few drawers and cabinets. I purged my Christmas decorations and one afternoon, the urge to clean out my closet resulted in bags and bags of clothes for Goodwill. It feels good to be productive. I decided to forego a word of the year, and ya know what? That's okay.

Winter Wonderland// We woke up Monday morning to a beautiful display of white. And I think for the first time in years here in Louisiana, it was pure snow and not mixed with sleet and ice. "Powder" as I like to call it, from our days of skiing in Tahoe and Colorado. Unfortunately, I needed to be in the office that day and Wayne had to go to work, too, so that left Baby Girl with a "sneaux day" to pal around with a friend. Our community needed a little joy and I think the beauty uplifted everyone's spirits. I know it did mine.

Alise had a little fun with her tri-pod while we were at work.

National Champs// Roll Tide! Our favorite team has once again claimed the title of National Champs! Honestly, I went to bed at the beginning of the 4th quarter. AND I totally let the game slip up on me and I didn't get to decorate and go all out like I normally do for things like that, but we had sliders with bacon and sweet potato fries at game time, so it was fine.

LuLu the Heron// Right before Christmas, we received news that Alise's art design was selected to be painted on a heron. Herons on the Bayou is a community art project that places six foot herons around our city at local businesses. Well, "LuLu" arrived this week, but unfortunately Alise's art class has ended for the semester and she is now in another elective. However, her art teacher is amazing and so is her marketing teacher, so they're going to try and work things out so that Alise can paint her design on LuLu. I am so thankful for this opportunity for her and our school.

More basketball// We are mid season and the games continue. Sometimes three a week! I don't see how Alise does it because this Mama is tired by the time the end of the week is here. Her team has had some better competition lately so there haven't been as many W's, but the team still continues to improve. Alise got a migraine right before game time this past Tuesday night and was on the side-lines throwing up in a garbage can. Definitely not her finest moment, but she managed to pull herself together at half time and went back out for the last two quarters and played so well. We have another game tonight. Oh, how I love to watch her play!!

This Week's Bust// I've tried for the last time to read the book, American Dirt. I got a little further along this time, but I just don't see what the fascination is with this best seller. Please enlighten me. I returned it to the library forever grateful that I did not buy the book.

Since Mardi Gras is canceled this year, I think I've decided to decorate for Valentine's Day instead so I'm gradually pulling out some red and pink things. Just a little hint: check out your Everything's A Dollar store for some great finds!

Have a great weekend!

My Favorite Christmas Present

2021-01-11T04:00:00.001-06:00

Happy New Year!

Our ringing in to 2021 was very low key. I actually had no plans of even being up at midnight, but Alise got invited to spend the evening with friends, and I cannot sleep until my Baby is safely home. While she was out, Wayne and I had a nice take out meal that I transferred to a NYE tablescape that I threw together at the last minute because even on the last day of a rotten year, I'm extra like that.

When I was younger, there was just something about crawling into bed at my grandmother's house in the winter time. There was something so comforting about all those warm quilts, snuggling up underneath them, and drifting off to blissful sleep.

Fast forward forty years when one of my favorite podcasters, Lisa Whittle, mentioned getting a weighted blanket for Christmas and how much she loved it. I had no idea what a weighted blanket was so I googled it and discovered that there are so many amazing benefits! And I'll be honest, I was a little skeptical, too. But I kept going back to that tucked-in feeling underneath Mamaw's quilts, so I thought about getting a weighted blanket pretty much off and on all year.

Right before Christmas Wayne and I happened to be in our awful mall when he suggested going into the Sleep Number store. We have a Sleep Number bed and it is absolutely the BEST bed I've ever slept on. Wayne wanted to stop in and see what was "new" in their technology. We left with Sleep Number's version of a weighted blanket. I opted for the twelve pound blanket.

Before you think I have lost my mind, y'all, I can not BEGIN to tell you how much I love this blanket! It has made SUCH the difference to my sleep life! I haven't had to take a sleeping pill a single night since I've been using it. My night sweats have stopped. If I happen to wake up during the night, I can easily go back to sleep. The effects are calming and soothing and remind me so much of all those quilts from years ago. If you have some of the symptoms I've mentioned or have anxiety or restless leg syndrome, do your research and consider investing in a weighted blanket. You don't have to spend a fortune; they're available on Amazon, but I really think this thing has changed my life! They are available in different weights and depending on how tall or heavy you are should determine the pounds you need. I've already gotten so use to mine that it doesn't even seem as "heavy" as it was when I first got it. Is that weird?

Thanks, Santa Baby, for my new blanket!

P.S. Wayne likes to call me Linus now because I carry my blanket from the bedroom to the living room while we're watching TV or if I'm reading a book. I cover it up with a soft chenille throw my friend gave me for Christmas and it feels so warm and cozy in front of the fire.

December 2020 Favorites

2020-12-30T04:00:00.065-06:00

I hope you and your family had a wonderful Christmas holiday! Ours was different this year, but what hasn't been different in 2020? Two days before Christmas, Wayne came down with a sinus infection and my parents thought it was best to not take any chances, so we spent Christmas day separately. My heart was broken. In all my forty-seven years, I've never not spent Christmas with my mom and dad. I did see them, though, for a few minutes that day to "trade food" and leave gifts. It was the worst feeling in the world.

A dear friend of mine texted me, "Maybe think that skipping this year is a guarantee of years to come. Trying to keep everyone safe." Of course she was right, but it was still so hard and depressing. Another friend of mine ended up having to do the same thing with her family because her parents actually had Covid. She texted me, "We're eating &$#@*? chili on Christmas Day! I told myself, at least I had ham, right? And it was the worst ham EVERRRR! I'm not lying. I need to stay in charge of the pecan pie and leave the ham buying to my mom!

Luckily, it was only a sinus infection and whoever said sinus infections aren't contagious is lying. Because just when Wayne finished his z-pak, I came down with it, but I'm high on Sudafed, so there's no telling if this post will make sense or not. Ha!

My last post for 2020. So many people feel differently about this year. Some of us think it has totally sucked and then there are others of us who have had children get married or had babies or lost loved ones. I don't think it matters how you look at this year, it will definitely be one that we all remember.

Here are a few of my December favorites!

The Queen's Gimlet// I began watching this series right after season 4 of The Crown and although it is on a total different end of the spectrum, I found it surprisingly fun and interesting. All the chess and "strategy" aside, I fell in love with the main character and her sense of style, even if she did try to self destruct a time or two. Great ending. A little slow in parts, but only seven episodes and worth the watch.

A Time For Mercy// If you're a fan of John Grisham or his number one best seller, A Time To Kill, then you will enjoy the third book in this series. I liked this one so much better than the second book and if you're a fan like me, then you can't read these books without picturing Matthew McConaughey as the main character (thanks to the 90's movie).

Rudolph Cheese Ball// Pinterest for the win! I made this cute cheese ball for a small dinner party earlier in the month and it was a huge hit! So cute and festive and very easy to make. No one wanted to eat Rudolph's face. Ha!

Alise Made The News// Baby Girl made a small town newspaper a few days after we played their small private school in basketball. Wayne happened to be in the town on his UPS route the day the paper came out and picked up some extra copies.

Nativity Bracelet// I love nativity scenes and have quite a few sets that I display at Christmas time, so of course when I saw this bracelet, I fell IN LOVE!! Unfortunately my new Kitchen Aide dishwasher took up most of my jewelry budget this year, so... needless to say, Santa didn't bring the bracelet. However, I AM enjoying my new dishwasher! It is ever so quiet, but I haven't taught myself how to load it like a pro yet since the setup and racks are different from my old one, but soon!

Amazon Sweater// I am such the fan of turtle necks and this sweater kept popping up in my social media feeds. Well, it popped up in a moment of weakness and I decided to order it and I am SO glad that I did because it has been on constant repeat with my faux leather leggings! It comes in a bagillion colors and is so soft and cozy. Totally love it!

Well, now the Sudafed must really be talking because I've decided to take a shopping freeze in January. No new clothes, shoes, or accessories in my near future. I simply don't need another thing. I've spent the last few days cleaning out my closet and giving clothes away and it is just ridiculous.

All the Christmas decorations are up and stored with the exception of my tree. Even though it is now only half lit (the bottom half of the tree decided to go out five days before Christmas!), it still brings me joy and so it's staying up for now. Along with some snowmen and other winter themed decor.

Happy New Year! See you in 2021!

November 2020 Favorites

2020-11-30T04:00:00.001-06:00

Guess what I'm getting for Christmas! Sheets and a new dishwasher!! A few weeks ago, the maid told me that we had a small hole in our sheets. Two weeks later, they were shredding. Literally. I'm a sheets snob, so high dollar sheets will do and as to the dishwasher? Well, we knew that it was on it's last leg for a while, but it seems to be eating our wire racks because each time we unload the dishwasher, another prong has fallen off and the dishes don't seem to be as clean as they use to be. What can I say? It's ten years old. I actually googled the average life of a dishwasher and it's 6-10 years. Just some appliance trivia for you.

Last month I shared with y'all that I was back in the office and enjoying the fact that I was back in a professional setting. Whelp! The fun only lasted about a month. My team and I are officially back home again due to rising Covid numbers. I still go in the office one or two times a week, but our meetings are virtual and I still have to wear a mask to the bathroom.

Here are some of my favorites this month!

Food and Wine Festival// We celebrated the birthday of the baby of our group in St. Francisville one Sunday afternoon. The weather was absolutely AH-mazing for an outside soiree. There were tons of fancy-shmancy vendors serving tasting plates of everything from lamb and cheese grits to stuffed oysters to the most delightful bread pudding I've ever tasted, and I don't always like bread pudding. There were tables set up for wine tastings, a charcuterie style grazing table, and a Bloody Mary Bar. Just everything that you can think of actually. Country Living Magazine was there, too. The setting was a renown haunted plantation and one of us in the group is SUCH the scaredy cat and kept looking in the upstairs windows for ghosts! But I'll never tell!!

Lip Liner Pencils// LA Girl lip liner pencils are my favorite cosmetic this month and the only place I can find them is at CVS. I've recently began lining my lips again (even though no one sees them behind the mask!) and discovered these pencils, which really aren't even pencils. They glide on so easily and they would make a great stocking stuffer! The plumping lipglosses are perfect, too! Just a little tingle and my lips look fuller.

New Recipes//Alise loves alfredo, so I decided to try this new recipe from Pinterest and she and I loved it. Unfortunately, Wayne doesn't like to branch out to far away from the traditional red sauce, so he wouldn't try it. Chicken Broccoli Pasta with Bacon is the perfect comfort food. #carbqueen

Basketball Season// Love, love, LOVE watching Baby Girl play and it is especially bringing me much joy right now even though we are in the throws of a pandemic. Let's just say that there is not much social distancing when it comes to basketball and I don't think anyone sees us finishing our season. I can't get over the improvement Alise has made this year! Her own scoring is not where it needs to be right now, but her play calling, ball handling and passing skills have definitely improved. She is a team leader and controls the momentum of the game. She played the entire first game of the season without coming out once, and for the first time ever, we're 2-0 in a totally new district (better competition). So proud of our girl and all her teammates! I get so caught up in watching them play that I forget to video or take pictures.

The Crown// If you are not watching The Crown, you are missing out on a fabulous series on Netflix! Season 4 released around the middle of the month and I binged it one weekend while Alise and Wayne were in Texas hunting. It's my favorite season yet with the introduction of Diana and Margaret Thatcher. The acting and Diana's look-alike fashion style are top notch!

Mr. Edwards' Pecan Pie// So my mother was not as mad at me as I thought she would be when I shared in my stories that even though I was in charge of the pecan pie this year for Thanksgiving, I decided to go the frozen route. And let me just say, that I think it was better than my mom's recipe. Not sure she or Wayne would agree with that statement, but if you're looking for a quick dessert this holiday season, I always say you can never go wrong with Mr. Edwards!

Christmas tees// I found this cute tee at Target for $8 and I've worn it with jeans (see below), red ballet flats, and a long leopard cardi. It's my favorite on-the-go outfit this season so far. I also ordered this Covid tee when my best girl, Andrea, recently spotlighted them on her IG story. As soon as I saw it, I knew I had to have it!

Straight Leg Cropped Jeans// Do y'all know how long it's been since I've worn a pair of Levi's? I honestly don't wear jeans that much, but decided to try a pair of straight leg jeans from Target that just happened to be Levi's and I love them! I ordered them in the Lapis Sun wash and mine are more distressed at the bottom hem and not nearly as cropped on me as they are in the picture - more ankle length. It's the first pair of high waisted jeans I've worn in a while, so I feel like I'm re-living my 80's glory days! They are so soft and the stretch is nice. I'm seriously considering another pair!

I hope you are off to a wonderful Christmas season! All my decor is up and I am basking in all the lights. Just about all my gifts are wrapped. I have a few gift cards and the hubs to finish up! I feel like I am on a roll this year and it feels so nice to have something to feel joyful about! I hope you catch some joy soon, too!

Covid Homecoming 2020

2020-11-23T04:00:00.001-06:00

It has taken me a while to get this post up simply because I felt that HOCO20 was such a bust this year. But I certainly wanted to have these memories for our scrapbook, and that's why I've decided to share them after all.

As I mentioned before, Alise did not throw her name in the hat to be voted on for homecoming court. The "Covid Cloud" was hanging pretty low and dampening the usual HOCO excitement, so we agreed to buy Alise the new iphone 12 since she truly needed a new phone. She was happy and mom and dad were happy. No homecoming festivity hoops to jump. Or so this mom thought.

Alise and one of her besties had agreed to go to the dance as single ladies. They did not need or want a date. Two weeks before the dance, a friend that Alise has known since kindergarten decided to pop the question and after much consideration, she decided to go with him as friends. Oh, and her bestie decided to go with an upperclassman, too, so so much for being the single ladies!

Homecoming prep was a total disaster. Nothing I did could make my kid happy. Call it hormones, call it pure sassiness, call it being a spoiled %$*@!#, call it what you will, but by 3:00 that day, Mama was DONE! The nails, the hair, the pumpkin spiced coffee, NOTHING made her happy or even want to smile. However, I did have one saving grace when we picked up the boutineer and coursage (because she wanted them to match - white roses, baby's breath and blue and silver ribbon), she was actually very pleased with them. I used a new florist this year and thought they were beautiful.

This picture was taken a few days after the dance. The coursage stayed in our fridge for nearly a month. I was surprised that Alise wanted to keep it because she's not usually that sentimental.

Alise's coursage accidently fell off and D helped her put it back on. It was such a sweet moment.

Make that TWO saving graces. The fact that she could still fit in to the $36 sale rack dress was a miracle. Alise had been eating everything in sight (basketball practice) for two weeks and I was worried the dress would be snug, but of course, it was fine. I think I mentioned earlier that Alise had originally found a dress on the internet, but before ordering it, I convinced her to try our local Dillard's never imagining that she would choose a dress from the sale rack. When she tried it on in the store, ithe dress was just her and I absolutely loved the color and design on her.

Alise and her favorite post player and team mate. They've played basketball together since PeeWee ball. R may make most of the points, but Alise certainly has the most assists. When these two girls are "on," they're pretty unstoppable.

The weather ended up being rainy, gray, and cold. Alise was upset that I didn't have a nice wrap for her to wear with her dress (she didn't like my leather jacket or my favorite leopard coat. What can I say?). And for a mom that always seems to have the answers, I was left disappointed and also at my wits end. I've learned through the years that it's not a good mix for us when we're both stressed or anxious. Wayne knew I needed those two glasses of wine at dinner later that evening.

Alise with her best couple friends. I thought they looked fabulous.

One of my favorite pictures of the night. Someone noticed their dresses and they became known for the rest of the evening as the "Patriotic Girls."

Once Alise was around her friends, I think her nerves began to subside. She finally began to smile and act more like the fun loving daughter that I knew and love.

Such a sweet shot that D's mom got of the two. We had just finished taking some pictures when D surprised Alise by grabbing her hand. It was kinda an awkward moment for the two of them, but they both laughed and blew it off. This is the moment when I knew the night would be fine.

In her own special way as an apology at the end of the photo meet up, Alise called me over to the car where D's parents were whisking them to dinner, and said, "Bye, Mom! Love you! Thank you for everything!"

Day made.