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Friday Favorites

Although it has been a long and arduous eight weeks, I am proud to announce that I have successfully completed a course in Social Psychology.

Once again I can focus on my

Friday Favorites

And OMG am I glad it is Friday!

Favorite # ONE

The END of Social Psychology!

Nuff Said Stan Lee GIF

Favorite # TWO

Birthday Selfies!

On December 9th we celebrated Amanda’s birthday.

A few of us squeezed in to photo bomb her birthday selfie, including this little cutie who was giving Glammy Eskimo Kisses.

It has always been a December practice to wait until Amanda’s birthday has been celebrated before decorating for Christmas.

On Monday of this week, the decorating began.

Favorite # THREE

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas…

Two of my trees are in place.

Most of my decorating is done.

A BIG thanks to LB for all that he does to help.

And thanks to Elvis for doing his part

Favorite # FOUR

Wendy’s Chocolate Éclair Cake

The holiday festivities at work have begun.  I know this because everyone is bringing goodies to work.

Last week Wendy brought her famous Chocolate Éclair Cake.  Reminiscent of an Éclair, it it made with graham crackers, pudding, cool whip, and [believe it or not] canned chocolate frosting. This is how she makes it:

 

Chocolate Éclair Cake

  • Servings: 20
  • Difficulty: easy
  • Print

Ingredients

  • 2 packages instant French vanilla pudding
  • 3 cups milk
  • 1 (8 ounce) container Cool Whip topping
  • 1 box graham crackers
  • 1 can dark chocolate frosting

Instructions

  1. In a medium bowl, whisk together pudding mix and milk until smooth. Fold in whipped topping.
  2. Line bottom of a 9-inch x 13-inch pan with a single layer of graham crackers. Pour half the pudding mixture over the crackers and spread evenly.
  3. Top with another layer of crackers. Pour the remaining pudding mixture over the second layer of crackers and top with a third layer of crackers.
  4. Microwave the frosting just a few seconds, then stir, pour, and spread the frosting over the top layer of graham crackers.
  5. Refrigerate at least 8 hours or overnight. Serve chilled and store covered in the refrigerator.

prettyis.me

Favorite # FIVE

Christmas Cards!

It always makes me feel special to receive Christmas cards and I’ve collected a few already.

This one is my favorite:

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Friday Favorites

Happy Friday!

 

united states turkey GIF by Thomas Kastrati

While next week my favorite day will be Thursday, it is a given that 99.9% of the time, Friday is my favorite.

And I love to share my Friday Favorites.

This week I began preparing for my Sunday before Thanksgiving dinner.  I’ve decorated, made pie crust, baked pecan pie bars, and picked up a few grocery items.

My favorites this week are centered on getting ready for our big dinner…

Favorite # ONE

Cheesecake-Pumpkin-Pecan Pie

aka

Chumpkan Pie

It’s a beautiful thing and I have made it only once before.  Three layers of deliciousness make up this three-in-one pie.  The cheese cake layer is first, followed by the pumpkin custard layer, and topped with gooey pecan pie filling.

I’m not even going to attempt to type up this recipe because it is long and involved. You can find the recipe here.

You REALLY need a 10″ dish for this recipe.

Favorite # TWO

Pâte brisée

Martha Stewart’s recipe for pie crust has never let me down.   Instead of using the pie crust in the Chumpkan pie recipe above, I’ve made Martha Stewart’s pâte brisée for my Thanksgiving Day pies.  I can make it in advance and store it for weeks.  In this case, I made it last Sunday.

Speaking of Martha Stewart, Snoop Dogg was honored with a star on the Hollywood walk of fame this week.

Ms. Stewart and Mr. Dogg are quite an interesting pair.  You can read about them here.

(I have no idea why I included that bit of information)

Favorite # THREE

Pecan Pie Bars

These are delicious.

If you’ve never tried a Pecan Pie Bar, you must.  I’ve posted the recipe here.

Favorite # FOUR

The Hallmark Channel

I tuned in last Tuesday and I haven’t been able to change the channel!

Favorite # FIVE

Fall Décor

To prepare for the festivities, I’ve pulled out some of my fall decorations!

Commercial Salt And Pepper GIFto be continued…

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Friday Favorites Halloween Edition

This week I returned to work from my wonderful fall vacation.  After a week back at work, Friday is once again my favorite day [to say the least]

and good reason to focus on my favorites.

My Friday Favorites

Tim Burton Halloween GIF

Featuring favorites from Halloween 2018.

Favorite # ONE

Apparently these are my most favorite item of the weekas I cannot seem to keep my hands off of them.

I purposely did not buy M&Ms to avoid temptation, but it seems that there is no prejudice when it comes to chocolate.

And there is a whole jar of them by the front door!

If only I had some Trick-or-Treaters to show up at my door! (Pictured: Amanda, Richard, Emily, Kyle, Dillon, Stephanie, Sydney, and Elizabeth)

 

Favorite # TWO

Dressing up with LB for Halloween…as a 1920’s Gangster Fella and Flapper Girl.

This year we ran out of time to work on a new Halloween costume, so we recycled an old one from 2012.

Some other costumes that were impressive:

My sister Gina who is apparently celebrating the Day of the Dead.

And my sister’s sweet grand-babies as the Three Little Pigs.

My precious Glam-baby Rory as Pascal the chameleon who lives with Rapunzel.Apparently she doesn’t appreciate being caged.

Favorite # THREE

Other costume favorites from the past:

Sandy and Danny

A Pirate Wench

Poison Ivy and the Riddler

Favorite # FOUR

Party Time at Wayne and Laurie’s

Every year we attend the Balasso Halloween Bash, which you can read more about here.

Even though Halloween was a mid-week event, we had a scary good time.

Favorite # FIVE

I’m not necessarily a fan of the song lyrics, but I do like this creepy Backstreet Boys video.  The dance is fun, and the characters are cute.

Disclaimer: This production by the Backstreet Boys is most likely PG-13.

 

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

Friday Favorites Feeling Like Fall

It is feeling like fall and my

Friday Favorites

are dedicated to this fall feeling!

During fall vacation week my favorites begin with the shopping trip the week before…

Favorite # ONE

Little Debbie Pumpkin Delights

Although I love to bake my own desserts, Little Debbie snack cakes are fun to have in the cookie jar for the occasional Little Debbie snack attack.

I was hoping to sneak these into our shopping cart.

But LB caught me!I guess I’ll have to go back to the store while he’s busy!

Favorite # TWO

Classy Crossroads Boutique

A trip to the mountains would not be complete without a stop at Classy Crossroads in Macclenny, FL while heading out of town.

I enjoyed our stop at Classy Crossroads and came away with a bag full of goodies!

Favorite # THREE

Another stop along the way is

Magnolia Plantation

Magnolia Plantation is a place where you can find homemade jellies, jams, pecan divinity, fudge, peanut brittle, pecan rolls, toasted macaroons, pecan pralines,

pork rinds (a low carb lovers’ crunchy dream)by Mutt & Jeffand

Old Fashioned Claxton Fruit Cakes It is WORLD FAMOUS!

and an LB favorite (which he will find in his Christmas stocking).

Favorite # FOUR

Fall Décor

I haven’t even purchased a pumpkin yet, but I love seeing the decorations of fall every where.

This lovely display is at the Hampton Inn hotel in Franklin, North Carolina.I’m slightly bothered that the coffee table isn’t centered with the fireplace, but that is just my OCD.

Lately I’m obsessed with antique trucks that transport pumpkins.  I caught sight of the back of one holding a candle on the mantle at the same hotel.and another in a window display in Highlands, NC.Love the pumpkin truck!

This display is just inside the front door of a shop in Dahlonega Square in Dahlonega, Georgia.Complete with pilgrims… very cute.

And there was this scary little spider plaque that reminded me of Wendy (she is scared of spiders).

Also found in Dahlonega Square at the General Store.

I’ll need to get my fall decorations down as soon as I get back home!

Favorite # FIVE

The Pumpkin Truck

I’ll be going back to get it!

 

 

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Friday Favorites: Princess Edition

“Behaving like a princess is work. It’s not just about looking beautiful or wearing a crown.
It’s more about how you are inside.”
~Julie Andrews~

 

 

This week in the news:  A well-known actress (not Julie Andrews) was interviewed on a talk show and explained that she does not allow her young daughter to watch such Disney movies as Cinderella and The Little Mermaid.  Her argument was these movies are not empowering to women.

Cinderella has been banned because

“she waits around for a rich guy to rescue her. Don’t! Rescue yourself, obviously.”

Regarding The Little Mermaid, she said, “I really like the film, but The Little Mermaid… I mean, the songs are great but do not give your voice up for a man. Hello?!”

My take on both are a little different.

The Little Mermaid

is my

FAVORITE

Disney Princess!

Ariel traded her voice for a pair of legs…

africant GIF

not for a man.

She defied her father, the KING of the sea and her guardian, the incomparable Sebastian and

DID WHAT SHE WANTED TO DO!

To add to her happy ending, she got her voice back!

   In honor of Disney Princesses, what they represent, and the memories they conjure, this is my

Friday Favorites Princess Edition

Favorite # TWO

Cinderella

cinderella GIF

Cinderella worked unceasingly in her own home;  She lived with and waited on an evil trio.  She wasn’t waiting to be rescued, nor was she waiting for a man.

All she wanted to do was GO TO A PARTY.  And with the help of a fairy godmother, she did.

She had a wonderful time at the ball and afterward secured a position for herself in the royal family.  What influence and responsibility she would have.

Her turn of events reminds me of Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, wife of Prince Harry, and member of the British royal family.

Favorite # THREE

Briar Rose

Briar Rose was the name that the three good fairies gave to Aurora, the princess who would become the Sleeping Beauty.

 Merriweather initiated a battle with Flora for the ultimate color before Briar Rose was fitted with her birthday dress.

Make it BLUE!

sleeping beauty disney GIF

Throughout the movie, it seemed that Merriweather  had won with her selection of a blue princess dress.

My little Stephanie agreed that blue was the perfect princess color.

She would dress in blue while she danced in front of the television watching Disney’s Sleeping Beauty on VHS singing Once Upon A Dream…

while the battle for PINK or BLUE raged on.

Sleeping Beauty was the favorite Princess in our house in the late eighties and early nineties.

I still love the story.

Favorite # FOUR

Make it Pink!

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month.On October Fridays we wear pink.

Last Friday there was a call to wear pink.

This Friday there was a call to wear pink.  We did this last year too (read about it here).

I have no problem with this…

I love pink!Unfortunately I’m too tired in the morning to pose for a photo!

(Yes it is still nighttime when I leave for work.  Too early for a princess!)

Favorite # FIVE

On the subject of Princesses,

Princess Lydia

tells me that she plans to dress up as Rapunzel for Halloween.

Glammy cannot wait to see her little princess dressed up for Trunk or Treat!

 

 

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Friday Favorites

What a ridiculous week it has been!

I always try to keep my posts positive, but let me take a moment to rant about

TRAFFIC

Twice this week I have barely made it to work on time due to traffic accidents!

On Wednesday the highway became a parking lot.

On Thursday my WAZE app rerouted me onto a 2nd choice route that included train tracks.

Yep, I was stopped by a train.

Mandatory overtime has resumed.  Along with my peers, I am working an additional hour every day.  Blogging has been pushed to the back burner as my brain has been focused on a synthesis paper that is due for submission by midnight on Monday.

Guess what I’ll be doing this weekend???

Also I need about 13 hours of  uninterrupted sleep.

 

This Is Awkward Alice In Wonderland GIF

It’s FRIDAY!

and I have a selection of things I am happy about to include in a Friday Favorites post!

Favorite # ONE

New Pants from LOFT

On sale, of course, and the Marisa Fit is perfect!

Favorite # TWO

New Jacket from LOFTso cute!

The grey one is cute too, but I love my new yellow jacket!

Favorite # THREE

New Kids on the Block
Mixtape Tour Hangin Tough GIF by New Kids On The Block

You can purchase tickets to see them in Jacksonville Florida next July along with some of their friends.

LB and I will be there.

Favorite # FOUR

National Sausage Pizza Day

I make little pizzas every Friday for LB, however because Thursday was National Sausage Pizza Day, I decided to surprise him with little sausage pizzas.

It was a good decision!

He’s still talking about it.

Favorite # FIVE

The best hairdo ever!
My Mama gets to keep the baby girls usually once a week.

She always shares fun photos and I LOVE THIS ONE!

 

 

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

Friday Favorites

Today is

FRIDAY

WOO HOO!

and it is also National Good Neighbor Day!

My definition of good neighbor is minding my own business but keeping an eye out for anything suspicious in the neighborhood.  I consider myself to be a good neighbor.

WHO is the BEST Neighbor you know?

Only one name comes to mind:

Fred Rogers!

Last week Google shared one of the cutest google doodles I have seen…

Favorite # ONE

The Mr. Rogers Google Doodle

To celebrate National Good Neighbor Day, do something nice for your neighbor today.

Use #GoodNeighborDay to post on social media.

(source)

Favorite # TWO

Bring the Salon Home KISS Revolutionary French Nails.

aka Fake Finger nails

Last Monday I glued these to my fingernailsThey may be permanent.

Luckily they look pretty good!

Favorite # THREE

Being awakened by my fur baby Elvis.He loves his Mama!

Favorite # FOUR

The last of the Limes

Now that pumpkin is the star of the show, it is necessary to use the bowl of limes.

It was a Lime Bundt Cake recipe that got me started. 

It took about eight limes to make this cake.

And I’m still looking forward to the LAST of the limes!

 

Favorite # FIVE

On Tuesday the company shared the glorious news that there is [once again] an overtime mandate for all employees.  Boy was I mad.  I appreciate the slightly inflated paycheck, but I do not appreciate leaving the office an hour later and spending an extra bit of time in rush hour traffic.

My attitude is in check.  I’ve decided to grit my teeth and bear it.

My resolve has reminded me of a story I once heard:

A mother was driving to school one day, and her youngest child was standing in the seat beside her. Realizing the danger, she said to him, “Sit down, dear, I may have to stop suddenly and you’ll be thrown against the windshield.”

“No!” the little boy refused.

“Please sit down, dear, I don’t want you to get hurt,” the mother insisted.

“No!” came the stubborn reply.

Finally, she reached over and pulled him down. He sat there sullenly for a moment, then said, “I may be sitting down on the outside, but I’m standing up on the inside.”

(source)

 

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