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It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas

November 27, 2023

Just three days after Thanksgiving, LB and I started our annual Christmas festivities.  This year the festivities began with date night at the Alhambra for dinner and the show

Miracle on 34th Street

As usual an evening at the Alhambra always begins with soup and salad.  LB has the soup and I have the salad.  Then for the entree I will typically have salmon and he will have the traditional holiday feast.

The stage was beautiful and the performance was great 

LB says he has never seen the movie Miracle on 34th Street, but I just can’t imagine having never seen such a classic.  I will make a point to have him watch both versions with me this Christmas season.

While the movie isn’t a musical, you can’t have an Alhambra production without music.  One of the songs that was incorporated into the production was

Pine Cones and Holly Berries

and it carried me right back to childhood.

LB had never heard the song.

He was amazed that I was singing along…

Pine cones and Holly Berries
Popcorn for you, apples for me
Red strip-ed candy, nut cracker handy
Kettle a-bubbling hot as can be.
snow clouds hang low and threatening
Maybe in won’t, praying it may
the brightest fireplace glows in every face
Waiting for Christmas day.

There’ll be walk-a-round songs and
talk-a-round songs
Songs of the inn and stable.
There’ll be morning time songs and
evening time songs
And grace at every table.
And Jingle bells will jingle all the way all day.

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas
Everywhere you go;
There’s a tree in the Grand Hotel,
One in the park as well
The sturdy kind that doesn’t mind the snow.
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas
soon the bells will start
And the thing that will make them ring
is the carol that you sing
Right within your heart.

I knew this song as a little girl from Mama and Daddy’s 1965 record

This morning I found it on YouTube and listened to the whole thing.  LB and I plan to visit a vintage record shop soon and this will be one that we’re looking for.

~

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


Filed Under: Dining, Entertainment, Holiday

Friday Favorites

April 22, 2022

I think it has been a week since I published a blog post!  The last time I posted even a photo on social media was April 10th when LB and I went to see Rock Of Ages at Alhambra Theater and Dining.  I’m not sure what is going on with me.  It isn’t like I have too much to do!

Anyway, something has prompted me to create a Friday Favorites post today, so here it is:

Favorite # ONE

Spring is in full bloom and so are my

Amaryllis

Wendy (my friend from the office) gave me the bulbs from her Nana’s garden several years ago.  She told me that there were some red and some white, but I’ve only seen the white ones.  They have a faint pink stripe on each petal.  I’ve been lucky enough to see them bloom every year.  I’m not always this lucky with plants so I’m enjoying seeing these beauties every day.

Favorite # TWO

Coloring Easter Eggs

These 2 little peeps came by to help.

After they left I got busy setting up for

Favorite # THREE

Easter Sunday surprises

Rory let me know right away that she owned the same Barbie Puppy Party that she found in her Easter basket.  She knew that it was very expensive… “at least 30 or 45” (LOL!) but she already had one just like it.  Apparently I’m not the only one buying Barbies for the Glambabies.  The Barbie Puppy Party will be exchanged asap.

Favorite # FOUR

Seven Layer Salad

We made short work of this salad.  I think it was the 2 cups of mayonnaise on top that made it a hit.

The recipe that I used can be found here.

Favorite # FIVE

Easter Sunday with Family

Happy Easter 2022!

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


Filed Under: Barbie, family first, Friday Favorites, Holiday

Oh HAPPY Day!

January 7, 2022

Since September 2021 I have been struggling to manage anger.  My anger management trouble was triggered on August 30th when the rules changed at work.  My 4-person team was awarded the opportunity to handle a new category of complaint for the entire center.  This gave us ownership of the type of issue that is un-resolvable and leaves a customer frustrated and proficient in their ability to express rage.

I understand why the company made the decision to change process and that is because we are the best of the best 😊  but that doesn’t make it any easier.  It has been an exhausting effort.

Due to fried brain syndrome, after I log off in the afternoon, typically I will have a seat on the sofa and fall asleep.

But today management announced another change.  It went something like this:

After data review and much consideration we have decided to pause the *** cases starting close of business today. I will be sending out the notification to others shortly. This means that starting tomorrow we will not accept *** submissions at this time until further review and possible revamp.  The reason… process as it stands is not the initial intention and has slightly morphed leaving you all overwhelmed.

I couldn’t have described “the process as it stands” more beautifully if I tried.

Young Girl Dancing Sticker for iOS & Android | GIPHY

Happy Friday!

I do actually have some favorites for today.  They go back a few weeks, but thats because I have some catching up to do!

Favorite # ONE

Christmas 2021

5 days before Christmas and I am DONE!  [This is a positive not a negative].

I have the house decorated and gifts wrapped.

LB has erected his new GRINCH in the front yard.  I’ve engaged in some crafting of Christmas goodies: Almond Roca, Dark chocolate fudge, Magic cookie bars, and of course, Christmas cookies!  The girls will be over later this week to make divinity.

LB and I have celebrated the SEASON by attending a Christmas event at Promiseland Baptist Church, attending a showing of  Bruce Allen Scudder’s “Christmas Carol” at the Alhambraand spending an evening with the Family decorating Christmas cookies and gingerbread houses.

And that is as far as I got.

I began this Christmas 2021 blog post, but never got around to finishing…   one of 43 unfinished in my Prettyis drafts folder.

~

Favorite # TWO

A Clean Bill of Health

Which came with a $500+ medical bill.

It was just a tiny procedure, but I had never experienced it and did not like the sound of it, or the reason it was necessary.  I waited for the appointment from mid-November until a few days after Christmas.  It was a nerve-racking few weeks.

Fortunately all is well.  Good health is truly a blessing.

~

Favorite # THREE

New Year Mini Vacay

I was one of the lucky few who were able to be off New Years Eve.  LB and I left home and headed for Jekyll Island (one of LB’s favorite places).  We stayed in a new hotel and attended an event at the Jekyll Island Club Resort.  There was a band and many people took to the dance floor (not me).  There was A LOT of food and quite a few guests.  I didn’t make it to midnight; We went back to the hotel and watched Andy Cohen’s excellent rant to bring in the new year.  It was great.  I’d love to link it, but I can’t find a good recording.  Also I don’t want to promote liberals.

I do, however, want to promote conservatives.

This is what our favorite President said today on Telegram:

~

Favorite # FOUR

A Message from Donald J. Trump

What we witnessed yesterday was the last gasps of a corrupt and discredited left-wing political and media establishment that has, for decades, driven our country into the ground—shipping away our jobs, surrendering our strength, sacrificing our sovereignty, attacking our history and values, and trying to turn America into a country that our people can barely recognize.

These radical leftists in Washington care NOTHING for American Democracy. All they care about is control over you, and wealth and riches for themselves.

But they are failing. No one believes them anymore. And the day is quicky coming when they will be overwhelmingly voted out of power.

Joe Biden’s voice is now the voice of desperation and despair.

His handlers gave him that speech to read yesterday because they know the unprecedented failures of his presidency and the left-wing extremism of the Pelosi-Schumer Congress have destroyed the Democrat Party.

Part of their panic is motivated by the realization that, just like the Russia Collusion Hoax, they cannot sustain the preposterous fabrications about January 6 much longer. The truth is coming out.

But for them, the worst part of it all is the knowledge that the American People are seeing right through their phony media event—which despicably compared a Pelosi-led security failure at the Capitol to the darkest days in American history and the deaths of 3,000 Americans.

The people see right through that sham. They see a cynical politician who ran for office promising unity who is now doing the most divisive thing possible—slandering his political opponents as domestic terrorists, just like insecure dictators do in communist countries.

The American People also see that January 6 has become the Democrats’ excuse and pretext for the most chilling assault on the civil liberties of American citizens in generations. It is being used to justify outrageous attacks on free speech, widespread censorship, de-platforming, calls for increased domestic surveillance, appalling abuse of political prisoners, labeling opponents of COVID lockdowns and mandates as national security threats, and even ordering the FBI to target parents who object to the radical indoctrination of their children in school. And this week, January 6 is also the Democrats’ excuse for trying to pass a radical Federal takeover of state election law. They are trying to BAN voter ID and other basic measures that can ensure the sacred integrity of the vote.

The reason the Democrats are doing all of this is not because they believe they will win a fair and honest election. It’s because they know they will overwhelmingly LOSE one.

Remember, I am not the one trying to undermine American Democracy—I am the one trying to SAVE American Democracy.

Today, I am more confident than ever in the strength and common sense of the American People. They are counting the days until we will no longer have to be constantly lectured, lied to, and dictated to by corrupt politicians and their media partners. When we will no longer have to put up with this broken establishment’s hoaxes and its manufactured media narratives—And as Biden and his radical handlers know, that day is coming fast. Because in the months and years ahead, the American People are going to speak up, take action, and VOTE in massive numbers, and we are going to TAKE BACK OUR COUNTRY.

From the very beginning, all that Americans have wanted is great jobs, safe neighborhoods, strong borders, good schools, a proud nation, and a government that LISTENS to the American People. That is what our movement has always been about—and that is what we are focused on to this day.

Joe Biden and the Radical Democrats have failed on every front. But do not lose hope. America WILL be Great Again.

~

Favorite # FIVE

~

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


Filed Under: Friday Favorites, Holiday

Friday Favorites

July 9, 2021

Today in North Florida, the weather is MOSTLY Cloudy, which is relative to my mood.  It isn’t the happiest of Fridays.  This morning when I logged into my company pc I found an email waiting in my inbox.  The subject…

UPDATE: Preparing for a Return to the Office.

I’m going to try to have a good attitude, but, so far, that is the worst news I’ve had all year.

Nevertheless, I have

Friday Favorites

and I also received some good news recently.

Favorite # ONE

My son and his family will be moving back to Florida.

I’m sure that they enjoyed their stay in Charleston, but everyone in my family is happy about their return next month!

I “borrowed” this photo of a “Proud American Family” from Emily’s social media post.

On the subject of Proud American, this past week we celebrated our country’s independence

Favorite # TWO

Celebrating Independence Day

Hopefully everyone had a great day and enjoyed a long holiday weekend.  LB had to work on the 4th due to the possibility that hurricane Elsa would negatively impacting the southeast.  For that reason, we didn’t go out or meet with family and friends, but we did enjoy an American favorite

Favorite # THREE

The real beef kind… not plant based!

But as everyone knows, there is more to celebrating our July 4th Independence Day than eating hotdogs.  Much effort went into our country becoming independent.

Favorite # FOUR

Independence

It is a blessing!

Although we weren’t technically independent on the 4th of July in 1776, we DECLARED it.  On that day we were neither free of the British crown nor the American Revolutionary War.  That war would last until 1783.  During this time, Colonial America stood side by side with our Founding Fathers to fight.  Colonial America eventually won the Revolutionary War and freedom from the British government and their atrocities.  It shouldn’t be taken lightly that a great deal of blood was shed to bestow the the blessings of freedom on those of us who enjoy it today.  Anyone who alleges differently is ignorant.

 Independence is a blessing and if Americans don’t wake up, we’re likely to lose it.

Watch this short video to see how easily it can happen…

Stealing The Most Powerful Republic In The World

If you didn’t catch that, watch it again.  It was my

Favorite # FIVE

~

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

 


Filed Under: Friday Favorites, Holiday, Political

Friday Favorites

May 14, 2021

WHERE DID I GO?

You might think that since I’m working from home and finished with college courses I’d be blogging NON STOP.

But alas, I have been unmotivated.

I’m not sure if it will get better anytime soon.  We’ll see how it goes.

On the subject of college courses, I mentioned that mine have been completed.  Finally.

I got this in the mail

Favorite # ONE

A box of trinkets from Liberty University.

Now, one of those trinkets is special… it is a cord that is meant to be part of a graduate’s regalia.  This one is red.  It means I am a Cum Laude graduate.  Sadly, it is the wrong color.  It should be BLUE!

 

I’m so tired of dealing with them I’m not even going to protest.

I’ll hang it around my neck and pretend it is blue while I watch my virtual graduation this weekend.

~

Last weekend LB and I went to the St. John’s Town Center to return some items that I ordered from LOFT.

Favorite # TWO

I’ve said it many times… LOFT is my favorite.  LB is too.

I also like Express and we stopped in there as well.

Favorite # THREE

I really like this outfit.

Off The Shoulder Ruffle Top//Super High Waisted White Button Fly MOM Jeans

MOM jeans?

 NVM… I need another outfit like a need a hole in the head.

~

The Glambabies are in town this weekend and I’m looking forward to a visit.  They haven’t been to Florida since February.

Today they went to the Caddyshack with their Mema.

Afterward they rode along to pick up Levi and Thea from school.  Then they all went to Mema’s house for a fun time together.

I took some photos the last time they visited earlier this year, but never posted them.  I came across these photos recently and they are my

Favorite # FOUR

When Lydia and Rory came to Glammy’s house, they found the My Little Ponies that had magical color changing tails.

 

And now I’m going to walk next door and get them!

That will be my

Favorite # FIVE

~

By the way…

Happy Friday!

~

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


Filed Under: Express Jeans, family first, Friday Favorites, Holiday, Shopping

Friday Favorites

December 11, 2020

IT IS

YAY!

Favorite # ONE

Amanda

Wednesday was Amanda’s birthday but since she had to go out of town on business, we gathered Sunday night to celebrate.  Amanda requested a birthday cake that is reminiscent of one my Mema Reid used to make.  I have never been able to make mine look like hers.

It is a yellow layer cake with chocolate icing.  The icing is fudgy like candy

Favorite # TWO

Humility

There is nothing like presenting an ugly birthday cake to someone you love.

I don’t know why I can’t get this cake right!

~

Its beginning to look a lot like Christmas

now that the Christmas cards are coming and this one is my favorite…

Favorite # THREE

handcrafted by this little artistAfter sending this picture via text, I told Emily to tell Lydia that I love it.  Lydia’s reply was “I knew she would love it.”

~

Favorite # FOUR

Duck Duck Go

I’ve said goodbye to Google.

~

Favorite # FIVE

Texas

You can read about it here.

God Bless Texas!

~

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


Filed Under: Elvis, family first, Friday Favorites, Holiday

Epcot Adventure

December 2, 2020

At first it was going to be The 25th Annual 2020 Epcot International Food and Wine Festival that Stephanie and Amanda wanted us to attend.  So LB bought tickets to EPCOT for November 13th.

Then it was decided that we should instead attend the Taste of EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays on the Friday after Thanksgiving.  So LB changed our reservations and tickets.

On Friday morning, LB and I headed to Orlando to meet Stephanie and Amanda.

We met at the Pop Century Resort and took the new Skyliner to Epcot.  I am not a Disney park regular, like many in my family, so I left it up to my girls to show us the Disney ropes.  For starters, they suggested that I participate in the

Holiday Cookie Stroll

and then led us to the World Showplace where we enjoyed some Festival Favorites and picked up our first cookie.

Festival Favorites at the World Showplace

Gingerbread Cookie

It was at the world showplace where we began our day of eating tiny servings of International dishes.

It was great.

Our next stop was the Yukon Holiday Kitchen at the Canada Pavilion where we picked up our

Peppermint Pinwheel Cookie

For some reason the girls did not want this cookie and asked for permission to swap it for two of another.  I haven’t tasted it yet, but I think it is kinda cute.

Stop number three was the Bavaria Holiday Kitchen at the Germany Pavilion where we collected our

          Linzer Cookie

Cookie number four was at the American Holiday Table at the America Pavilion

Chocolate Crinkle Cookie

Later that day, after enjoying a few of EPCOT’s attractions, we stopped to purchase our fifth Cookie Stroll cookie at the L’Chaim Holiday Kitchen [between the Morocco and France Pavilions]; the

Black-and-White Cookie

LB doesn’t know it yet, but I’ve already eaten this cookie.  Yep… all by myself.

The L’Chaim Holiday Kitchen was the last cookie stroll stop and was also my favorite dining spot.  There was a tiny pastrami sandwich and potato latkes topped with smoked salmon. 

The prize cookie was the

Minnie Peppermint Cookie

at the Holiday Sweets and Treats, where Amanda got her favorite chocolate peppermint shake.TINY chocolate peppermint shake.

To house my expensive collectible cookies, I purchased this cutie collectible containerwith the help of Amanda’s season-ticket-holder-discount.

Our EPCOT Adventure was a fun day and I would definitely recommend the Taste of EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays event.

~

This post is proof that you can blog about anything.

~

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


Filed Under: family first, Holiday, Vacation, Weekend Fun Tagged: #EPCOT, #TasteofEPCOTInternationalFestivaloftheHolidays

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Welcome!


I’m Kim… and I love Pretty clothes, Pretty décor, Pretty days, and Pretty much anything that involves family and fun.  Growing up, My Mama told me more than once “Pretty is as Pretty does” …encouraging me to focus on the inner pretty girl, as she is the one that matters most.

Here on my blog, I’m sharing what I see as pretty.  Whether it be an outfit, an experience, an event, a memory or thought.  Hopefully I’ll share something that will be interesting, useful, or make you smile along the way.

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