Happy Day

7 June 2010 by

We had such a blast today. The oil stayed away, the waves were huge, and two kids and two mamas ’bout near wore themselves out playing at the beach.

Not to mention that, thanks to the all the sand, I feel more exfoliated than I have in ages.

We were up bright and early this morning, and if you’re doubting the “bright” part, just look at the sunlight streaming in through the window.

And I tried – REALLY, I TRIED – to take some pictures, but it was a just a wee bit humid and hazy outside.

JUST A BIT.

Anyway, we finished off our day with some pool time and some fried shrimp (never a bad thing), and now the children are sleeping and the grown-ups are watching “The Next Food Network Star.”

And also occasionally eating scoops of cookie dough during commercial breaks.

Happy Monday, y’all!

Filed Under: Family Fun

You May Notice A Bit Of A Theme

4 June 2010 by

When it comes to planning for a trip, I could win some sort of list-making award. It’s part of the fun for me, the getting-ready-to-go, and I like to categorize and prioritize and memorize everything that needs to be done.

I like to think that it’s one of my spiritual gifts. But mostly it’s probably just annoying to anyone who has the misfortune of traveling with me.

Tomorrow Melanie and I are going to take our kidlets on a little getaway, and we’ve already decided that the grown-ups are going to have appetizers for supper every night. My sister-in-law Janie and I did something similar last year when we were at the beach with our boys, and we enjoyed it so much that Mel and I have decided to continue the tradition. It’s the right thing to do.

Since M and C will have to fly here before we hit the road to my brother- and sister-in-law’s place at the beach, I have made it my personal mission to gather as many of our trip supplies as possible. The gathering of supplies serves two purposes: 1) it brings me UNTOLD VOLUMES OF JOY and 2) it eliminates the need for stopping at the grocery store as soon as we get down there because, well, who wants to get to the beach and then have to run errands?

See? It’s all very logical.

Well.

One night last week I made our initial grocery list, and then I typed it all into a Word document because THIS, THIS IS WHO I AM: A PERSON WHO ENJOYS TYPING GROCERY LISTS, IT’S VERY NICE TO MEET YOU. After I typed the list, I emailed it to Mel so she could take a look at it (THIS IS WHO I AM, TAKE TWO: A PERSON WHO ASKS FRIENDS TO DOUBLE CHECK GROCERY LISTS), and once I made some final changes, I moved everything around so that the list would follow the order of the aisles at the grocery store (THIS IS WHO I AM, TAKE THREE: THE PERSON WHO MAKES HER GROCERY LISTS BY AISLE, JUST AS THE GOOD LORD INTENDED).

All that to say: one particular section of the grocery list made me so happy.

Clearly the chocolate chips have a very important purpose, because obviously we’ll need something sweet to balance out all that dairy.

Good times.

Anyway, I actually have a very important (non-cream cheese-related) question to ask y’all, and I do hope you’ll give it some prayerful consideration.

Later today I’m going to run by the Blockbuster to pick up some movies for Mel and me to watch after the young’uns are in bed at night. I’m thinking that this is our golden opportunity to watch stuff that our husbands wouldn’t be able to watch for more than five minutes without rolling their eyes and making a comment about how totally unrealistic someone’s relationship is.

Because as we all know, it’s much more realistic when a rogue CIA agent flips a car that catches on fire but manages to shimmy out of a back window just in time to walk in a drugstore and buy some hair dye so that he can then transform his appearance in the Walgreens restroom and walk back out into the streets completely unnoticed.

So. Movies for the beach. Do you have any suggestions?

Please keep in mind that I don’t watch movies very often. So if you think “Oh, she’s probably seen that,” odds are that I haven’t. And if you have a suggestion for an entire season of a TV show, throw that into the mix as well. Mel and I have never been ones to back down from a TV-related challenge. As I often say, it is good to have TV-watching goals.

Mainly because TV-watching goals often pair quite beautifully with excessive amounts of cream cheese.

Thanks in advance for your help – hope y’all have a wonderful weekend!

Filed Under: Rambling

When Life Gives You Oil, Add A Little Vinegar And Make A Lovely Vinaigrette

2 June 2010 by

I’ve been trying really hard to remain upbeat about the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

I keep thinking that something – SURELY, SOMETHING – will be able to stop the leak.

I keep thinking that maybe the winds will shift and the oil will move out in the middle of nowhere for a little while – at least until somebody comes up with a solution.

But if you’ve been paying attention to the news, you know that things aren’t looking so great for the Gulf Coast right now. The oil is about 9 miles off of the Florida Panhandle. And that oil has a mind to move.

The little man and I are actually heading to that part of the Gulf this weekend with some friends. We’ve been looking forward to this trip for a couple of months, and whenever I’ve thought about it, I’ve pictured the kids playing in the water while the grown-ups sit on the beach and talk about Real Housewives and read magazines and relax.

It probably goes without saying that in my hypothetical mental picture, I’m also firmly ensconced underneath a beach umbrella. And coated in 220 SPF while wielding some sort of protective sun shield.

It’s strange, I know, but my complete inability to tan has never for one second diminished my love for the beach. It’s my happy place. And the beaches along the Alabama coast and the Florida Panhandle feel like home to me. They’re my favorite place on earth. There’s nowhere – NOWHERE – I’d rather go with my people. I imagine that many of y’all feel the same way about the beaches in Louisiana and Mississippi, too.

And honestly, I’m ticked – TIIIIIIIIICKED – that those beaches are going to be a big ole mess if somebody doesn’t figure out how to fix the problem.

I’m ticked that the marshlands off the Louisiana coast are already a big ole mess because nobody has figured out how to fix the problem.

I’m ticked that the Gulf is a big ole mess and the oil has spread over thousands of square miles because nobody has figured out how to fix the problem.

And when I get ticked? I get stubborn.

So. Whether the oil hits the Panhandle beaches or not, we’re going down there in a few days. And WE’RE GOING TO ENJOY OURSELVES, BY DIGGITY. We may not be able to hang out on the white sand or play in the Gulf, but we’ll still be able to relax by the pool. Heaven knows we’ll still be able to talk about Real Housewives. And we’ll still be able to grab a couple of meals from local restaurants that are far more affected by this whole BP fiasco than most of us will ever even begin to comprehend.

It’s a place that’s been very, very sweet to our little family.

And for better or worse, it has a piece of our hearts forever.

The end.

Filed Under: Family Fun, Travel

Two New Giveaways

1 June 2010 by

All righty, people. I posted two new giveaways a little bit ago, and there’s a bit of a gift card theme.

There’s a $50 Visa gift card up for grabs (courtesy of BlogHer) on this Tropicana Juicy Rewards giveaway.

And there’s a $100 Visa gift card up for grabs on The Ultimate Wedding Sunday giveaway.

So. I guess that’s all I have to share. Except that it’s raining here for the fourth day in a row and it’s sort of dark and drizzly outside and it makes me want to take a naaaaaaaaaaap. But the laundry beckons.

The laundry always beckons. Quite frankly I wish it would quit it with all that beckoning.

Hope y’all are having a great day!

Filed Under: Giveaways

The Ultimate Wedding Sunday Giveaway

1 June 2010 by

This is a sponsored review from BlogHer and WE tv.

I like to think that I wasn’t a high-maintenance bride-to-be. Oh, I had my moments – like when I couldn’t decide on an everyday china pattern and when I didn’t feel like anything in my closet was pretty enough to wear to our rehearsal dinner.

You know, major life problems. Earth-shattering events.

But in all seriousness, I loved being engaged. I loved addressing wedding invitations, writing thank-you notes – the whole deal. I tried on three wedding gowns, decided on one, and pretty much skipped out of the bridal salon. I let my friend Bubba pick out my flowers. I let Mama and her friends plan all the food. I did my own hair. And while I probably could’ve been more thorough with some of the details, I was just as married when I walked out of the church as I would’ve been if I had stressed out for the five months preceding the wedding.

I just think that I was so ready to be married that the wedding wasn’t nearly as important to me. And I have never for one second regretted that more laid-back approach.

However.

Because I was a fairly low-key bride, I am fascinated – FASCINATED – by shows like “Bridezillas.” It’s a show I’ve watched before, and it cracks me up. It’s part of WE tv’s Ultimate Wedding Sunday (along with “My Fair Wedding,” a really sweet show about making people’s wedding-related dreams come true), and I recently got to watch a preview of an upcoming “Bridezillas” episode that features two brides-to-be named Martina and Natalie.

Now here’s the thing. Martina and Natalie are both beautiful girls. And they’re both engaged to guys who seem really kind and understanding. But what Martina and Natalie have in common is a tendency to get a little, um, wound up about wedding details, and oh, is it ever entertaining to watch. We see Martina obsess over painting an aisle runner (I seriously didn’t know that it was possible to personalize such a thing) and whether or not people are going to adhere to her “strict no-child policy” at the ceremony (and if you watch, be sure to check out Martina’s mom’s reactions to her daughter’s demands – made me laugh out loud). Natalie can’t bear the thought of giving up her maiden name and is so worried that one of her bridesmaids hasn’t picked out the right dress that she makes her try it on in the middle of a pedicure.

You know what you call that, my friends? TV GOLD.

Now that I’m a little older and (hopefully) a little wiser than I was when I walked down the aisle thirteen years ago, I wish with everything in me that I could crawl into the TV and tell Martina and Natalie that, at the end of the day, being married is way more important than having a perfect wedding. The wedding, by comparison, is easy-breezy. Marriage is work. But oh, IT IS WORTH IT. I hope Martina and Natalie will feel the same way after they’ve been married for awhile.

To celebrate the season premiere of The Ultimate Wedding Sunday on Sunday, June 6th at 9 eastern / 8 central, BlogHer and WE tv are giving away a $100 Visa gift card. If you’d like to try to win, all you have to do is answer one question:

What was your favorite part of your wedding day? And if you’re not married, then answer this: What’s the best wedding you’ve ever attended?

My favorite part? So easy.

All the people who shared the day with us. I can’t even tell you how touched I was when I walked in the sanctuary doors and saw the pews filled with people who just meant the world to us. It still makes me teary-eyed when I think about it.

Make sure you leave an accurate email address in your comment (that’s how I’ll contact the winner), and if you’d like to take advantage of four more chances to win, check out the BlogHer.com special offers page.

And as always, there are official rules for your joy and perusal.

Good luck, everybody.

Or to use a little wedding lingo: best wishes!

This giveaway is now closed.

Filed Under: BlogHer Reviews

Tropicana Juicy Rewards – Post 5

1 June 2010 by

This is a compensated review by BlogHer and Tropicana.

When it comes to orange-flavored breakfast foods, I’m a decided fan.

Orange rolls with cream cheese icing? Sure.
Orange scones with cranberries? Yes, please.
Orange banana smoothie? Oh, I believe I will.

So when I saw a recipe for orange muffins on allrecipes.com, I knew that I had to try them. And I may or may not have baked them around 9:00 at night so that I could, um, sample them before I served them to my family for breakfast the next morning.

I am just that selfless, people.

Here’s the recipe:

Orange Muffins

2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup white sugar
1 tablespoon grated orange zest
2/3 cup orange juice (I used Tropicana, of course)
1/2 cup melted butter
2 eggs
1/2 cup ground walnuts (optional)
1 tablespoon melted butter
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, white sugar and grated orange peel. Stir in orange juice, 1/2 cup melted butter, eggs and chopped nuts.

Pour into 12 muffin cups.

Blend 1 tablespoon melted margarine, 1/4 cup brown sugar, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon and sprinkle on top of each muffin. Bake in a preheated 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) oven for 20-25 minutes. Serve hot.

You’ll be happy to know that I took a picture of all the assembled ingredients. It was a momentous occasion, the making of the new muffin recipe, and I felt that it should be preserved for posterity.

I left out the orange zest because, well, I didn’t have an orange on hand. I also added about a teaspoon of pure vanilla extract – just because I love it.

Anyway, I mixed everything together, poured the batter in the muffin cups, and 25 minutes later, here’s what was waiting for me.

And when I cut open the muffins, here’s what that delicious brown sugar / butter / cinnamon mixture had done.

YES MA’AM.

Then, to enhance the orange flavor just a smidge, I mixed together 1/4 cup of powdered sugar, 2 tablespoons of Tropicana orange juice and 1 tablespoon half and half. I heated the mixture over low heat until the powdered sugar was dissolved, then poured about a teaspoon on top of each muffin (I poked holes in the muffins with a fork beforehand).

Let me just tell you: that whole making-a-glaze thing was a very good decision indeed.

The muffins were very tasty – almost cupcake-like in their consistency – and they were so easy to make. I’ll definitely use this recipe again.

What about you? What’s your favorite breakfast food? Do you tend to err on the side of sweet or savory? Tell me about it in the comments, and you’ll be entered in a drawing to win a $50 gift card courtesy of BlogHer.

Be sure to visit the other participating bloggers’ reviews on the BlogHer.com special offers page (you have seven chances to win!).

If you haven’t signed up for Juicy Rewards yet, you can earn a free rewards point after you set up your account. Here’s how:

1. Go to http://www.tropicana.com/
2. Set-up your Tropicana Juicy Rewards account
3. Visit the “Enter Codes” page within the site and get started with:
BLOGG-HER11 *
*This one-time use code is valid for new accounts ONLY. Must be entered within 6 hours of creating your account.

You can find more information on the official site, and here’s a link to the official rules.

This giveaway is now closed.

Filed Under: BlogHer Reviews
« Previous Page
Next Page »