Pretty is

...My Life and Style

You are here: Home / Archives for Friday Favorites

Friday Favorites

Today is Friday… the FIRST FRIDAY of APRIL 2020!

And as always [whether I share them or not] I have Favorites!

Favorite # ONE

The Original Coffee Mate

I’m not so concerned about the recent run on toilet paper, I’m more concerned about the shortage of these

We finally found some.

You don’t realize how nice little things [like your favorite coffee creamer] are until you can’t find them!

Favorite # TWO

Keto Frosty

I made this recipe earlier this week, and divided it into four parts.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup heavy whipping cream
  • 2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 8 drops liquid stevia (or sweetener of your choice)

Instructions

  1. Use a hand mixer to beat the heavy cream.
  2. Add the remaining ingredients, and blend together until the mixture becomes the consistency of frosting.
  3. Freeze for about 30 minutes.

 

It is a nice treat when following a keto diet, but it is not low calorie, and tastes NOTHING LIKE A WENDY’S FROSTY!

~

Favorite # THREE

My Office Assistant

Elvis has been keeping me straight.

If I forget to open a closet door, he’s there to remind me.  Multiple times.

On Sunday I commissioned a piece of artwork featuring my furry office assistant.

Lydia was taking requests.  I asked that she create a work of art featuring Elvis.  Because I frequently find him there, I suggested he be looking out the window at the little birds stopping to have breakfast at the bird feeder.  I mentioned that she might want to include a squirrel, since they typically scurry about in the same area.

Favorite # FOUR

Lydia’s Masterpiece

Emily said that Lydia took some artistic liberties.

She painted her cat O’Malley and Elvis playing together.

I’m looking forward to hanging it on my wall.

Favorite # FIVE

Story Time

On Friday Richard Face timed me then handed the phone over to the baby girls.

First Rory, who reminded me that her favorite word is “no”, and tired of Glammy fairly quickly.

Then Lydia, who ran away to the playroom and commenced to read five books to Glammy.

It was the best story time ever!

~

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

Friday Favorites

I was about to give up hope, but FINALLY it is

FRIDAY!and

Spring Has Arrived!

By tradition, we welcome the first day of spring on March 21, but this year the spring season starts much earlier, March 19th, the earliest arrival in more than a century.  It is also interesting to note that spring will begin on March 19th every leap year for the rest of this century.

Favorite # ONE

Spring

These are my daylillies and weeds.

I hope you had a happy first day of spring!

For those of us who have become weary of the winter’s darkness, the new season brings the promise of longer days, increasing warmth, a burst of flowers and more time outdoors.

With all our attention on the novel coronavirus, the new season seems to have arrived completely unnoticed.

Another event that was nearly disregarded has always been a favorite

Favorite # TWO

St. Patrick’s Day

With restaurants closing and social distancing being the new normal, LB and I stayed home to observe the day…

just the two of us

We made an Irish-American dinner, danced in the kitchen, and planned to watch the movie Leap Year.  Instead we watched Peppermint, which is replete with action and violence, has absolutely nothing to do with being Irish, and is not a Friday favorite.

However I DO recommend

Favorite # THREE

Leap Year

with Amy Adams and Matthew Goode

Yes, Amy Adams, you ARE going to Dublin!

We’ve watched it three times this year y’all!

Adorable and Highly recommended!

~

Favorite # FOUR

Let’s talk about what is really important.

The people we love.

All of my favorite people are currently healthy.  Mama is next door and doing fine.  My sister Gina and her family are close by and, at this time, all healthy.  Richard and his family are healthy in Charleston.  My girls are healthy and stopped by tonight for an arms-length delivery (of course) of a homemade blueberry pie.

Favorite # FIVE

Blueberry Pie

Thank you Stephanie & Amanda

~

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

Friday Favorites

It’s FRIDAY!

According to superstition, Friday the 13th is an unlucky day.

However, Friday is MY FAVORITE DAY, whether it is the 13th or not!

And my Friday Favorites will go on!

Favorite # ONE

The beginning of

Daylight Saving

It happened last Sunday! 

When Daylight Saving Time starts just before spring, we set our clocks forward by 1 hour.

Yes, an hour is “lost” [yawn] and on the clock, the day of the DST transition has only 23 hours.  For those of you who work a night shift, you will get away with working 1 hour less that ‘day’. 

Because I work a day shift, and do not appreciate the loss of an hour, I took the following day OFF.

Favorite # TWO

A Random Day Off

Where’s Kim?

Yes, that’s right.

I took Monday off and I’m not going to apologize.

~

Favorite # THREE

Another Keto Recipe

These are Low Carb Keto Biscuits and I found the recipe here.

I baked these in my muffin top pan.

The recipe yields 9 biscuits, but I was able to get 12 biscuits.  If I still have math skills, there are approximately 173 calories and 4 carbs in 1/12th of this recipe.

Low Carb Keto Cheese Biscuits

  • Servings: 12
  • Difficulty: easy
  • Print

Ingredients

  •  1 ½ cups superfine almond flour
  •  ¼ tsp salt
  •  1 tbsp baking powder
  •  ½ tsp garlic powder
  •  ½ tsp onion powder
  •  2 large eggs
  •  1/2 cup sour cream
  •  4 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
  •  1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • No stick cooking spray

Directions

Preheat oven to 450°F. Lightly spray muffin tin with no stick cooking spray.

In a mixing bowl, whisk together almond flour, salt, baking powder, garlic powder and onion powder.

In a separate bowl, combine eggs, sour cream, butter. Whisk until smooth. Pour into bowl with dry ingredients.

Mix together until batter is combined. Stir in cheese.  Batter will be thick and sticky.

Scoop batter into lightly sprayed muffin tin.

Bake biscuits about 8 minutes or until tops are golden and toothpick inserted comes out clean. Let cool slightly before serving.

Yummy!

~

Favorite # FOUR

New Outfits for spring

Wide Leg Crop Jeans & Ruffle Top // Peplum Top // Flare Crop Jeans

I really tried to NOT shop, but it’s no use.  I’m a hopeless shopaholic and a sucker for 50% off.

~

Favorite # FIVE

New Glasses

One of my weekend errands was a visit to the eye specialists at Target.  I’ve gotten away with NOT updating my glasses for a long time.

It has been 3 years but now my prescription has changed enough to justify new lenses.

I’m getting old y’all.

~

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

Friday Favorites

This has been a long week, but now…

All this week I have been trying to follow a keto diet plan.  It isn’t as easy as you think.  There is more to keto than low carb.  Also, it does matter how much protein (chicken, tuna, etc.) you consume.  To guide me on this fat fueled journey, I’ve found a couple of websites that have been helpful.

Favorite # ONE

Learning about Keto

Wendy told me about

 Diet Doctor

which provides a lot of information about low carb and keto.

And

Keto Diet Yum

where I learned about the Chaffle

which I made last Saturday.

 

At this point, I’ve lost the same three pounds twice, but at least I’m no worse for the wear.  On the bright side, I’ve discovered a couple of recipes that I love.  The first is one I mentioned previously.  Today I’m sharing the recipe and naming it as my

Favorite # TWO

Keto Reuben in a Skillet

As I mentioned in my Instagram post last week, I found it [here] as Reuben in a Bowl.  I reworked it a tiny bit and renamed it because it is made in a skillet.

Here is the recipe:

Reuben in a Skillet

  • Servings: 6-8
  • Difficulty: easy
  • Print

Ingredients

  • One bag coleslaw mix
  • 1 pound corned beef cut into bite size pieces
  • 2-3 tbsp butter
  • 1 cup Swiss cheese

Dressing

  • 1 cup mayonnaise
  • 1/4 cup sugar free ketchup
  • 4 tsp horseradish mustard
  • 1 tsp hot sauce
  • 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • pinch of pepper

Instructions

  1. Melt butter in skillet.

  2. Add corned beef and saute for 5 minutes.

  3. Add coleslaw, cover and cook for 5 minutes.

  4. Stir together coleslaw and corned beef then top with cheese. Cover skillet and allow the cheese to melt about 5 minutes

  5. Drizzle with dressing.

~

Favorite # THREE

This Story

Recently during a phone conversation with a customer, I heard a doorbell ring.  She asked if I could hold for one moment while she answered the door.

While I waited, I could hear that she opened the door, and unmistakably hear the following

MOOOOOO

(Surely a cow did not ring the doorbell)

When she returned to the phone, she explained that she lives on a farm.  Her daughter-in-law had found a newborn calf that had been abandoned.  The calf was hungry and she was looking for the bottle.  Apparently this is a common thing.  We ended our call so this emergency could be handled with the promise I would follow up with her.

When I opened my email the following day, I found that she sent me a picture

which is my

Favorite # FOUR

I appreciate that she let me know the little calf was okay.

~

If that isn’t enough to bring a smile to your face, this week my nephew Clay and his wife Chynna blessed us with a new addition to our family

Welcome to

I love her name!

And I love the photo of Clay showing this new baby to her siblings Levi, Thea, and Adrian.

Favorite # FIVE

~

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

Friday Favorites

its friday GIFand time for my

Friday Favorites!

Last Saturday the family gathered to celebrate my favorite two year old

Favorite # ONE

Rory

As I mentioned last week, she was born on Valentine’s Day.

Rory loves “Toy Stoy”

toy story 4 teaser trailer GIF

and as soon as she laid eyes on her birthday cupcakes she exclaimed

“FORKY!”

Favorite # TWO

Forky Cupcakes

When Emily sent this photo from Pinterest with a request to make Rory’s birthday cake/cupcakes a few weeks ago, I knew I would HAVE TO TRY to recreate this presentation.Emily suggested chocolate would be best.  I used a chocolate cake mix (from a box) and homemade vanilla buttercream frosting.

Each Forky was lovingly brought to life by Glammy herself. Not bad for an amateur. 

Rory picked out her birthday presents about a month ago while she and Glammy surfed Amazon.

Favorite # THREE

Shopping with Rory

This is what she wanted.  This is what she got.

~

Three weeks ago, the six members of my team learned that there will be changes coming to our team.  Two members of our group would be leaving to take new positions.  Today would be our last day as a group of six.  With that, we began planning a potluck because that is what we do.  I can’t even explain it.

In this case it wasn’t a celebration potluck, but deliberate, indulgent, group stress eating.

The potluck has happened.  Today we enjoyed chicken wings, deviled eggs, tea sandwiches (ham/Swiss and chicken salad), a veggie tray, cookies and a new recipe

Favorite # FOUR

Cream Cheese Tuna Dip

That I found here.

Interestingly enough, it is very tasty and pairs nicely with Wheat Thins.

Everyone on my team loved it!

YaY!

Favorite # FIVE

My Team

Corey, ME, Kathy, Wendy, Keith, Troy

A miscellaneous assemblage of  geniuses.

(I really do appreciate you guys)

~

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

Friday Favorites

Happy Friday

and

HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY!

One of my coworkers made the comment that his wife asked him to give her flowers for Valentine’s Day.

She ASKED him.  And he didn’t send her flowers!

I told him I would blog about this and he shrugged.

One day there will be shaming!

After listening to two of these guys talk this morning about how they don’t observe this “Hallmark holiday” I am even more convinced that

I have the best Valentine in the world.

My Valentine is my

Favorite # ONE

LB

Not because he spoils me, but because he adores me.

And I adore him!

He gives and gives and is always trying to think of ways to outdo himself.  This morning I was greeted by hugs, kisses, balloons, chocolates, gifts, and flowers.

LB knows how much I love flowers.

Favorite # TWO

Tulips

LB bought these last week.  No flowers at first, but they started to show signs of budding within two days.

When the flowers finally opened, Elvis would have none of it.  He decided it was time for them to go.  As of this morning, he has bitten off two flowers and left them for me to find on the table.

At least he didn’t eat them and hopefully he won’t eat these

Favorite # THREE

A Special Delivery

with a note quoting a line from my favorite movie You’ve Got Mail. 

I’ve mentioned this in another Valentine’s Day Post here.

Yes, LB, I do think daisies are the friendliest flower!

[He is such a romantic]

Favorite # FOUR

All This

~

There is NO way I can post today without reminiscing about Valentine’s Day 2018 and mentioning

Favorite # FIVE

RORY

was born 2 years ago today and I was privileged to meet her only minutes after she arrived

She has changed so much in two years!

Happy Birthday Little Valentine!

Yippee Ki-Yay!

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

Friday Favorites

The first Friday in February is

National Wear Red Day

to raise awareness about heart disease in women and show support for saving women’s lives…

Red is one of my favorites!  And today is time for my

Friday Favorites!

Favorite # ONE

is that red sweater!

It came from Old Navy and I have it in 3 colors!

~

This week has been a long one, not only because I commute to work in another city. every. day.

But because of an experiment I am doing for my Behavior Modification class.  This experiment (and class) deserves a blog post of its own, but for now, let me say that I would not have been able to track the number of grams of sugar I have consumed each day without this smartphone app

Favorite # TWO

MyFitnessPal

It is amazing how many grams of sugar can be consumed in one day even when you aren’t indulging in sweets.

Even cauliflower has sugar!

This week my intake has been light.

Last week was an entirely different story because there is a huge amount of sugar in

Favorite # THREE

Birthday Cake

I LOVE CAKE!

LB’s January 26th birthday cakeBanana Split Cake

Wendy’s January 29th birthday cakeWhite sheet cake with BUTTERCREAM ICING (my favorite believe it or not)

And Mama’s January 31st birthday cake WHICH IS MY

Favorite # FOUR

from  Spicy Southern Kitchen

Amaretto Pound Cake

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees and spray a 10-inch Bundt or tube pan with baking spray.
  • Sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
  • Use an electric stand mixer to cream butter, shortening, and sugar until light and fluffy.
  • Add eggs one at a time. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and beat well after each addition.
  • Mix in amaretto and almond extract.
  • Add flour mixture, alternating with milk. beginning and ending with flour mixture.
  • Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake for 80 to 90 minutes.
  • Cool for 30 minutes before inverting onto a serving platter.

I’m saving this recipe so I can make it again.

This time I’ll leave it in the oven for the required baking time 🤣

~

Favorite # FIVE

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

Connect