Friday Favorites

July 26, 2019

The mad dash to leave the place that I call “work” is similar to this gif

It is especially accelerated on Friday, but has been known to happen on weekdays as well.

When I landed in the office parking lot on Tuesday afternoon to head home, I noticed that I had a long text message and what sounded like an urgent voicemail from Mama. Rather than listen to the entire message, I called her back and learned that Lydia was at her house and needed me to come get her. The urgency was due to a commitment that Mama had to keep. She was committed to attend a Wacky Tacky Sunday School Party.

This brings me to my

Favorite # ONE

My Wacky Tacky Mama

Could I focus an entire blog about my Mama?

Yes I could.

All turned out well because I got to spend a few hours with Lydia!

~

Favorite # TWO

Swim Time

with little Lydia.

Lydia had the excellent idea that Glammy should insert herself into to the ring at the end of a float…

And play the part of the horse in the Princess Lydia’s carriage ride.

So that is what we didback and forth

for a long time.anything for Lydia.

~

Favorite # THREE

Proof

that although my Mama isn’t tacky, she can be pretty wacky.

During another visit she went into the pool…

Yep…

dress and all!

~

Favorite # FOUR

Amaryllis

My white amaryllis bloomed again!

I wasn’t expecting that to happen until late fall.

What a surprise!

~

Favorite # FIVE

Apple Crescent Roll Dessert

LB bought too many apples and I’ve been trying to find creative ways to get rid of them. Since LB thinks he needs to have a piece of dessert every night, I decided wrap a few apples in crescent roll dough and bake it until it was nice and overdone… just the way he likes.

A roll of crescent dough, 3 apples, brown sugar, butter, and cinnamon.

~

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

Friday Favorites

July 19, 2019

It has been a BUSY week

and I’ve enjoyed most of it!

Here are the HIGHLIGHTS courtesy of my

Friday Favorites!

Favorite # ONE

The Right Stuff

Thirty years later, this “boy band” has still got it!

New Kids On The Block may not be New (formed in 1984), but they are undoubtedly better than ever!

After their split in 1994, NKOTB reconnected in 2007 and have been going strong since!

On Friday night LB and I had the opportunity to see them in concert.

You can read all about that adventure HERE.

~

Favorite # TWO

Saturday Afternoon

Spending the day with the birthday girl!

Before we launched Barbie and a new boat,

I learned all sorts of things from Lydia.

She explained that there are others meant to be a part of this particular boating adventure. With Lydia looking on, I checked into this on my iPhone and found

this review.

Both Lydia and I were equally mesmerized.

Lydia was convinced that I could buy them all right from my phone.

Immediately.

Instead we decided to explore further.

We moved our investigation upstairs to watch on the big screen and found more!

Although it had escaped my attention, I learned that Barbie and her family are featured in a variety of programs to view on internet/television.

There is

Barbie Dreamhouse Adventures

and

Barbie Dreamtopia

and the pièce de résistance

Barbie meets Isla:

and so…

Favorite # THREE

Isla

The Transforming Mermaid

which I ordered on Amazon Prime Day. This surprise will be presented to Miss Lydia on a day when a surprise is deemed necessary.

~

Favorite # FOUR

Bread

The low carb kind.

This week, for the second time, I made a low carb, gluten free bread:

this recipe from Castle in the Mountains is very good!

Although it will never replace Sunbeam or Wonder Bread, it will satisfy a carb craving for the carb starved Paleo, Keto, and gluten free folks.

~

Favorite # FIVE

A Mid-Week Date Night Surprise to see a

Movie

The Lion King

remake of Disney’s 1994 animation has been a much anticipated film.

LB and I got to see it before opening night!

The Lion King

was awesome!

From the very first scene, I was captivated, much the same way I was when I saw the original. The animals were amazing. The hyenas were SCARY! Timon and Pumbaa were hilarious! If I didn’t find myself tearing up, I had a smile on my face.

I highly recommend!

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

Friday Favorites

July 12, 2019

Because today is a very special Friday

I’m sharing a special edition of Friday Favorites dedicated to a very special little girl.

On July 12th, four years ago, Lydia was born!

Favorite # ONE

My Favorite 4-year-old

Lydia!

Beautiful Smart Creative Talented Lydia!

She is a perfect blend of Richard and Emily!

She loves all things Disney and enjoyed seeing Toy Story 4 recently, which brings me to my

Favorite # TWO

This Picture

I borrowed it from Stephanie’s FB post because it is adorable!

Favorite # THREE

Inspiration

for a BLOG.
A one-year-old Lydia was featured as the subject of my very first blog post.

You can read my first blog post HERE.

Thank you for inspiring me Little Lydia!

Favorite # FOUR

Birthday Parties

To date, we’ve had three of them for Lydia.

Her Glammy missed her first birthday party because she HAD TO WORK ! But Glammy left early that morning and stopped by Lydia’s house to wish her a happy day and deliver presents.

Lydia’s second birthday party was supposed to be at Mema Mary’s house, however there was an incident that caused the party to be moved next door to Glammy’s house. It all worked out great and everyone was happy! You can read about Lydia’s second birthday party HERE.

Last year Emily decided that the theme of Lydia’s 3rd birthday party would be Mermaids. It was the cutest idea for a birthday party! There were all kinds of activities and mermaid inspired food. I participated by creating Mermaid Tail Cupcakes for the party. The blog post I began writing wasn’t finished in a timely manner, so I haven’t published it.

Yet.

Birthday party #4 happens tomorrow!

Favorite # FIVE

Being Glammy

I love it!

Thank you Lydia for making me a GLAMMY!

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

Friday Favorites

July 5, 2019

I didn’t have to work today! Talk about a HAPPY FRIDAY!

It’s the first week of July and a significant time in America as we celebrate our nation’s independence!

Although it is JULY, June was a great month and in my family there were several Birthdays. We gathered last Saturday evening at Mama’s house to CELEBRATE

Favorite # ONE

JUNE Birthdays

Stuart became part of our family in 1988 when he married my sister. Chynna joined the family when she married my nephew Clay. Emily became my daughter-in-law when she married Richard in 2013. And the newest member of our family is Adrian who was born in 2018.

There was a time when I was the only person in my family to celebrate a birthday in June.

Now there are FIVE of us!

~

Favorite # TWO

A Short Work Week

This week I went to work on Monday and Tuesday then took off on Wednesday for a Beach Day in St. Augustine with LB!

and later that evening…

Favorite # THREE

Hanging out at the Pier

Each Wednesday night throughout the summer there is the Music by the Sea event at the St. Johns County Pier. This week the Ain’t Too Proud band entertained and motivated LB and I to sing along.

With Thursday being a holiday, we were able to stay for the entire event.

We had a GREAT time!

~

Favorite # FOUR

Independence

presented by individual style!

To celebrate Independence Day the family came by for food and festivities!

LB grilled hamburgers and hotdogs.

Some of us enjoyed the pool.

Emily brought sparklers, which we had a good time with later that evening.

~

Favorite # FIVE

Outdoor Décor

to show our patriotism.

We finally got around to displaying the American Flag.

🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

I am blessed and grateful to be an American!

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

Friday Favorites

June 28, 2019

What a whirlwind of a week this has been, and the activity began six days ago.

Last Saturday morning LB and I left for Georgia to attend the wedding of his youngest nephew. After lunch at the Thomasville Garden Club we headed back to Florida to attend the birthday party of one of his closest friends.

Heading up my Friday Favorites is LB’s Friend!

Favorite # ONE

Wayne

Also known as “The Count”

I like him too.

And his sweet wife Laurie.

LB and Wayne worked together for many years and have been there for each other through good times and not-so-good times.

I would venture to say that Wayne is his best friend.

Happy Birthday Wayne!

🎂

Sunday was a bit more laid back as we attempted to recharge after a busy Saturday.

A private pool party was the prescription for rejuvenation!

Favorite # TWO

This Pool

And this photo is dedicated to my co-worker Kathy, who (though she follows me on social media), had no idea that there was a pool in my back yard.

🦢

It has been a HOT week and, as such, a great time to have a pool. LB and I are not the only ones who have enjoyed it. On Tuesday evening, Richard, Emily, Lydia, and Rory came by. Lydia wanted Glammy to go swimming, but Glammy needs a swimsuit that will stay in place and is appropriate for community swim time.

It arrived Wednesday.

Favorite # THREE

My New Swimsuit

Mine is RED!

Although I didn’t have it in time for this first weeknight pool party of the summer, I’ll have it next time.

Luckily Lydia’s Mama and Daddy enjoyed swimming and playing in the pool with her. Rory, however, did not want to participate. She “told” me that she wanted to go back inside and play in the bath tub. Lydia would eventually come in for her bath too, and where there is Lydia, there is creativity and imagination.

🛀

Favorite # FOUR

Bath Time

with all its particulars!

🦆

And last but not least, there is a new recipe in my life

Favorite # FIVE

Low Carb Chocolate Cupcakes

Read about my Low Carb Chocolate Cupcakes HERE!

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

Friday Favorites

June 14, 2019

On my way to work this morning I was listening to Mark Kaye and Meghan on 95.1 WAPE.

They were discussing their upcoming Hot Ones Challenge and welcomed James from 9 Ball Heaven Sports Grill & Billiards to the studio.

At 9 Ball Heaven, James offers a hot wing challenge to anyone who can eat 10 of his hot wings in 20 minutes.

If the challenge is met, there is a prize.

One of these: The hot wings are doused in James’ own chief sauce (made with ghost peppers).

Taking turns, Mark and Meghan each tried 3 wings from 9 Ball Heaven: 1 mild, 1 medium, 1 hot, while the other presented interview questions.

Mark went first. He declared the mild wing to be delicious while Meghan asked him to name his last meal (food/drink) if he were on death row. Mark said it would be those wings and a cold beer.

He then tried the medium wing which he described as appetizing and finally the hot wing while Meghan asked him to name 2 items he would want to have if he were stranded on a deserted island:

“AN AMBULANCE AND A DOCTOR”

was his immediate response.

He later changed his answer to ‘his inhaler and family’, but his first answer was indicative of the effect the hot wing had on him.

Meghan’s response was to this Hot Ones Challenge was hilarious.

She was so nervous that I was expecting she would back out. I was laughing out loud to the point that I can’t even remember Mark’s interview questions for her, with the exception of the 3rd one:

With Meagan’s first taste of the hot “chief sauce” wing Mark asked her to sing Baby Shark.

This is what she said:

That wasn’t so bad…

WHOA… OH MY GOD… NO… Baby Shark Doo Doo Doo Doo… (sniff) Grandpa Shark…

I gotta GO

It was a great show and as I pulled into my dreaded office parking lot, I think it may have been the first time I’ve ever arrived laughing!

Today my

Favorite # ONE

The Morning Mess with Mark Kaye and Meghan

By the way, I think this would be a good challenge for my nephew Kyle.

~

Favorite # TWO

Women’s Rosalynn Block Heeled Mule

(a birthday gift)

Thank you Richard and Emily!

~

Favorite # THREE

Earrings

(a birthday gift)(similar)

Thank you Stephanie and Amanda!

Also from my girls…

Favorite # FOUR

A Purrmaid Pool Float

and other pool time accessories:

Magical Unicorn Beverage Boats and Stretchy Fling FlamingosIt is about time for me to get in the pool.

Ordinarily, it would be considered past time to get in the pool. But my pool doesn’t get warm until late June/early July

Now I have no excuse!

~

Favorite # FIVE

It’s Friday

and

I’m out of the office like

Happy Weekend!

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

Friday Favorites

June 7, 2019

It may have been a short workweek, but since returning to work after vacation I have been longing for Friday…

Not only because I want to

NOT GO TO WORK

but because I enjoy sharing my

Friday Favorites

Favorite # ONE

It may seem that I have an obsession with donuts because I have mentioned them frequently on my blog in such posts as found here, here, here, here, here, and here.

And as a matter of fact, I’ve picked up donuts for work many times.

However I won’t be bringing in donuts on National Donut Day because donuts are a high carb food and Wendy and Kim are currently practicing a low carb lifestyle. That said, instead of donuts, we will be enjoying these

Cocoa Roasted Almonds

for a special treat today.

9 net carbs per ¼ cup serving and 100% sweet tooth satiating

These are awesome!

~

Favorite # TWO

Little Visitors

The baby girls came by for a visit on Tuesday evening.

Oftentimes Lydia will ask to take a bath while she is at Glammy’s. I agree that it is a good idea since she and Rory will likely fall asleep on the ride home, then their Mommy can put them right to bed. Many times they don’t have a change of clothes, or pajamas with them.

On this occasion, Glammy offered the use of her tee shirts.

Rory was particularly amusing when she presented her ensemble. Then she noticed that LB was holding a bag of Tostitos.Because she wanted to wear the garden gloves she had discovered, it was especially cute when she tried to feed herself a Tostito.