Pretty is

...My Life and Style

You are here: Home / Archives for family first

Quarantine Week SEVEN

Has everyone in your house gone stir crazy yet?

via GIPHY

When a home body like myself is ready to get out of the house, I know everyone else must be!

With the exception of taking a couple of drives, LB and I have stayed in the house for six weeks, working from home, having groceries delivered, and enjoying evenings by the pool.

There has been a lot of shopping online, Pinterest pinning and baking.  Most recently I made banana bread.  Next on the calendar is cream of coconut cake.

We have watched a few movies and sort of started following the series Bosch on Amazon Prime.  I’m not a fan of homicide programs, but this one was recommended by Rush, so LB thought it was worth checking out.  We may have watched all of season one.

This past week we started venturing out, following social distancing guidelines and trying to be as safe as possible.  Mostly.

On Sunday I visited Mama’s house for a Mother’s Day Tea Party that I shared in this post.  It was a sweet time with the girls.

Stephanie and Amanda always make me feel special.  Later that day, Richard made me feel special too. He is a faithful face-timer and my most serious child.

And so my Mother’s Day was complete.

~

On Friday evening LB and I both went out to celebrate a milestone.

We met at Olive Garden with our friends Wayne, Laurie, Debbie and Ray in honor of

Laurie’s 60th birthday!

I’ve never seen anyone enjoy spaghetti as much as LB did that night!

Every last bite!

He saved the chicken parm for later.

We had such a good time, we’re planning another get-together real soon.  I’m looking forward to it!

Thank you for taking time out of your day to stop by my blog.

Mother’s Day

I had no idea that I would enjoy a tea party as much as I did!

My sister planned a Mother’s Day gathering for the ladies in our family.

 

On Sunday afternoon, we met at Mama’s house, for the first time in MANY weeks.

The table was beautifully decorated with a place for everyone.

Set at each place was a pair of Mickey Mouse ears to wear.

Each place was chosen (or chosen for us) based on matching headdress color (your mouse ears much match, or at least coordinate with your outfit).We donned our ears and posed for the group picture.

No doubt, we were meant to be together!

~

The MENU

was exceptional.

There was avocado toast…

charcuterie at its finest

on a dachshund cheese board, of course

a cheese laden salad

and

British scones with clotted cream and assorted preserves.  Prior to today I had never tasted British scones or clotted cream, but I am now a convert.

~

Dessert included an assortment of cookies

including a family favorite…

Raspberry Almond Shortbread.

Then the

pièce de ré·sis·tance

 

a strawberry lime cheesecake trifle…

which looked better than it tasted (I’m allowed to say that because I made it).

As I mentioned previously, I had no idea I would enjoy a tea party as much as I did.  I think it is because I love these people so much.

Picture time was a bit of a circus, but quite entertaining.

Chynna is a trooper, managing babies of every shape and size.

I’m impressed!

Happy Mother’s Day!

~

 

Thank you for taking time out of your day to stop by my blog.

Happiness

“…lies in the joy of achievement and the thrill of creative effort.” – Franklin Roosevelt

Today, March 10, 2020 is a day to celebrate as it marks three years since I began this creative effort.

Happy

BLOGIVERSARY!

  It seemed like a good idea at the time, although I no idea what I was doing. I supposed if other bloggers can do this, so can I.  My intention was to ease my way into fashion blogging because that’s what I like, so I registered with WordPress and came up with a name for my blog.

Prettyis.me was registered because pretty is dot net and pretty is dot com were already taken.

Also it sounds cute.

The title “Pretty is” came to me from a quote my Mama enjoyed repeating:

“Pretty is as Pretty does”

And apparently she heard it often from her mother, who would have celebrated a birthday today.

My first post was short and sweet and included nothing about women’s fashion.

After beginning my blog, and as the weeks passed, I realized that fashion blogging isn’t as easy as it looks.

Rather than posts about fashion, I found that I was posting more and more about what I do and the people in my life, which is perfectly fine.

That said, on this day in 1925, Bettelou Ellen McCarty was born.

Although my brother-in-law can tell the story much better, I believe little Bettelou started her journey in Buffalo, New York, eventually moving to Muncy, Pennsylvania, and much later to Florida where she met George S. Duckworth.

And she loved him.

And so she would become Bette Duckworth

My Memaa.k.a.

Mema Duck

~

Mema went to be with Jesus on January 14, 2010.This is another sweet face that I look forward to seeing again.

~

Thank you for taking time out of your day to stop by my blog.

Happy Birthday in Heaven

Although I obviously have no proof, my personal belief is that our earthly birthdays are not celebrated in Heaven.  I’m sure that there are Bible verses to support my theory.

That said, our loved ones who have gone to Heaven are still celebrated here on earth, by the ones they’ve left behind.

My Daddy

would have been

Seventy-Four

years old today.

He may have been walking crooked (bent to the right) as he occasionally did when his back gave him trouble.

Daddy may have still been telling elephant jokes (why do elephants paint their toenails red?) and playing practical jokes  – now on his grandchildren – since his children have long since figured out his antics.

He would have LOVED his growing family

and

meeting the ones who came along after he left:

Sydney, Chynna, Emily, Levi, Lydia, Thea, Rory, Adrian, and Eden.

He would have loved them all… and they would have loved him!

I’m sure he would have enjoyed events like dancing with my Mama at the Rockabilly Prom.

I imagine he may have walked next door to enjoy old movies with his oldest daughter in her TV room.

His hair would likely have been completely grey and I’m sure his green eyes would still have an “I love You” sparkle.  I’ve mentioned him again and again in my posts:

Num Nell Knox

August 1965

Father’s Day

and

Dear Daddy

Richard A. Reid was born in Palatka, Florida on March 1, 1946.

He lived to the age of 55 and enjoyed A Wonderful Life.

He has been gone since November 23, 2001.

I am not exaggerating when I say that not a day goes by that I don’t think about him.

Happy Birthday Daddy!

I’m looking forward to seeing you again!

We are ALL looking forward to seeing you again!

Thank you for taking time out of your day to stop by my blog.

Friday Favorites

One of my coworkers came into the office today and exclaimed

“Kim, It’s FRIDAY”!

That’s all I needed to hear.

~

My Friday favorites this week start with last Saturday and a little birthday girl

 

Favorite # ONE

Little Thea

is four years old!

She wanted to celebrate her birthday by having a tea party and dressing up as a princess.

One of Thea’s best friends is Lydia, who came all the way from South Carolina just to surprise Thea on her birthday!

They had a wonderful time visiting together!

Later that evening we gathered at Mama’s house to celebrate again.

While we celebrated, I was able to enjoy

Favorite # TWO

Glammy Time

How many times has this been one of my favorites?

~

Then before I knew it, Monday had arrived and it was time to go back to work.

And if that isn’t bad enough, this week I imposed a no sugar rule on myself.  I swore off the white stuff and everything that contains it

until

I was presented with this

Favorite # THREE

A Jar of Candy

for perfect attendance in 2019.  It truly is a big deal.  There were only ten others who managed to accomplish this task.

Yes, for being at work at the expected time, every day in 2019, my company gave me a jar of candy.

Don’t be jealous.

😉

The jar is empty now.Wendy helped.

~

Last week I named five Christmas gifts that I love.  One in particular that I did not mention is my

Favorite # FOUR

This Fan

It stays close by when I’m at home and I don’t go anywhere without it!

Thank you Stephanie!

~

I’m finally on board, having watched all 8 episodes of The Mandalorian Season 1.

Favorite # FIVE

I find myself saying “awwwww” every time I see this little character.

~

Thank you for taking time out of your day to stop by my blog.

Friday Favorites

Happy New Year!

It is the FIRST week in the NEW YEAR, the FIRST Friday of the NEW YEAR, and my FIRST Friday Favorites of the NEW YEAR!

Here they are…

Favorite # ONE

Black Eyed Peas

It is essential to partake in a meal of black-eyed peas, greens, and ham/pork on New Year’s Day.

I learned today that one of my team members had no idea that Black-eyed peas were part of a traditional New Year’s Day meal.

In the Southern United States, the traditional New Years Day meal also includes collard, turnip, or mustard greens, and ham.

The black-eyed peas, since they swell when cooked, symbolize prosperity; the greens symbolize money; the pork, because pigs root forward when foraging, which represents positive motion. (source)

I made a pot of black-eyed peas on Wednesday, but put them away when I received a last minute invitation from Gina to come share a “New Year’s Feast” that Stuart had prepared.

Although pretty high carb, black-eyed peas are healthy and a good alternative to everything else that I’ve consumed in the past two weeks.

Favorite # TWO

GreensCollard Greens, Leafy Greens, Veg, Veggies, Nutrition

This isn’t a food blog, but I love turnip greens, mustard greens, collard greens, and all of them mixed.  I found out that my brother-in-law cooks them up as good as Papa or Mema could!

I HAD to include greens in my favorites today because this week my cousin Robbie told me that he would often take his Mama out to eat and she would want to know if “the greens were any good”.  Before ordering them she would ask the waitress.  I thought that was so cute!

Favorite # THREE

Yellow Roses

are associated with the sun and warmth; they are representative of warm feelings of friendship, cheerfulness and optimism.

This Yellow RoseCame home with me on Tuesday after attending a service for a family member; a special lady who also represented warm feelings of friendship, cheerfulness, and positivity.

Favorite # FOUR

This Hymn

How Deep the Father’s Love for Us

is such a beautiful hymn.

I heard it at the same service that I mentioned previously.  It was sung by my cousin Rosie in honor of her mother.  While she sang, I was silently cheering her on, worried that at any moment she may lose her composure.  She never did.

Her song was beautiful.

When I came home later that afternoon, I told LB about it then searched until I found this version to share with him:

 

Favorite # FIVE

Aunt Fran

She is the younger sister of my Mema Reid and she went to be with Jesus on the day after Christmas.  She is my Daddy’s precious aunt and my great aunt.

Aunt Fran was a bright, cheerful, very friendly lady who loved everyone who crossed her path.

I will cherish the memory of

Mary Frances [Fran] Spillane

and miss her dearly.

Thank you for taking time out of your day out of your day to stop by my blog.

 

The Year in Review: 2019

Since March 2017 I have been publishing a few blog posts each week in my WordPress blog.  “Pretty Is: My Life and Style”, is my blogging journal sharing What I see as Pretty.  Whether it is an experience, an event, a memory, a recipe, or an outfit, my hope is to keep a journal and hopefully share something that will be interesting or useful, and, of course, to make you smile.  Although I don’t always include my posts on social media, if you’d like to follow along I’ll send you an email alert.  Just enter your email address in the sidebar under “Follow by Email” and click subscribe.

On this first day of the new year, I’d like to share my ten most popular posts from 2019.

Here they are:

# 10

I Love It When We’re Crusin’ Together

# 9

Friday Favorites

Friday Favorites is a collection of my favorite happenings of the week.  If I don’t post anything else, I’ll typically post a weekly collection of my favorites like this and the next few most popular posts from 2019:

# 8

Friday Favorites

# 7

Friday Favorites

One of my most favorite photos is the header of this post:

# 6

Friday Favorites

# 5

A Bonus Mary Post

In my posts, I mention my Mama more than any other member of my family.  Before I began my blog, I used to tell her ALL THE TIME that she needed to start a blog.  She has so many funny and interesting stories.

Last year I asked her to give me an occasional story to publish on my blog.  I call her posts “Mary’s Musings“.  She isn’t cooperating much but I hope to convince her to do more this year.

I wrote “A Bonus Mary Post” in 2018, however it was still my #5 most read post in 2019:

# 4

Once Upon A Time There Was A Little Boy

# 3

Saturday Special

# 2

My Grandpa

# 1

Dear Daddy

This post may bring tears to your eyes.  It does mine!

 

Thank you for taking time out of your day to stop by my blog.

Connect