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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:

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

Christmas Wish List

As I read through the various blogs that I follow, I found one that was particularly interesting and gave me an idea for a post of my own.  The Blended Blog is one that I read regularly and also enjoy linking up on their site.  This past Monday’s post was TBB Wish List written by the adorable Andrea Nine.
From what I’ve read, it seems that we all have a leopard print fixation this year.
I was motivated to include a few items from my own Pinterest Wish List and incorporate those items into the post today.
Sing along as you read the following “Christmas Wish List” post to the tune of a song made popular by Mariah Carey:

All I Want For Christmas is You

~
I don’t want a lot for Christmas
There is just one thing I need
I must have these Archway cookies
buy them for me this I plead
I don’t need to hang my stocking
There upon the fireplace
If you’ll give these glasses to me
I will put them on my face
I just want this for my own
More than you could ever know
Make my wish come true
What I want for Christmas
Is shoes
Oh, I won’t ask for much this Christmas
I won’t even wish for snow
And I’m just gonna keep on waiting
for a  jacket, this I know
I won’t make a list and send it
To the North Pole for Saint Nick
I won’t even stay awake to
Hear this little gold watch tick
‘Cause I just want all of this stuff
And I know that its enough
What more can I say?
it’s what I want Christmas day!
~
Yes that was goofy, but I had fun.
And I’m serious about the cookies.

Although it is Mariah Carey who made this song popular, I’ve included a clip from a favorite movie Love Actually featuring Olivia Olson.

Enjoy…

 

 

 

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

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…

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

Gratitude

I cannot believe that it is NOVEMBER already!
Once again we will celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday in just TEN days.  And there are so many things to be thankful for.
Growing up, I remember many hymns and songs that I learned in church.
One in particular was

Count Your Blessings

(by Johnson Oatman, Jr.)
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your blessings, see what God has done!
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your many blessings, see what God has done.

 

So that is what I’m going to do…

Count My Blessings!

 

Love – LB by my side, Elvis always at my feet, Mama right next door

Family – Those who will be with me during the coming holidays and those I’ll see again someday

Memories – I have so many happy ones

Home – My most favorite place to be

My bed – I thank God for it every time my head hits the pillow

Electricity, indoor plumbing, and modern appliances

Health – I am SO blessed to be healthy

My treadmill – I don’t have to go to a gym or hit the sidewalk

The Job – I don’t like it, but it helps to have a paycheck

Some of my coworkers – You know who you are

Weekends – What everybody’s working for

Time – it isn’t promised, but I’m thankful for the time I’ve been given – including the few minutes I have to write this gratitude post

 

Gratitude is the healthiest of all human emotions.
The more you express gratitude for what you have, the more likely you will have even more to express gratitude for.
~ Zig Ziglar

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

Labor Day Leisure

LB has been longing for a getaway day or two (or more) just to relax.  He’s a hard working man and loves to get in the car and go every chance he gets.  As I’ve mentioned before, I am perfectly content to stay at home.  However since he loves to go, and deserves an opportunity to do so, I’ll tag along.

Our FOUR DAY HOLIDAY WEEKEND began on the

Friday

before Labor Day.

LB decided we would give Daytona Beach another try, hoping for a little more fun and sun than we had on our last trip.

I took full advantage of my Friday off!!

As soon as we arrived in Daytona we were on the beach.

 

Later that evening I ventured off of my diet and joined LB for dinner at Jerry’s Italian Pizzeria and Tiki Bar.WINGS!I Love Wings!

 

Saturday

was Pool Party Time.

We spent six hours at the pool, listening to the sounds of DJ Drew and a few wanna-be singers entertaining us with their karaoke skills.

Saturday night presented an opportunity to attend a concert at the Daytona Beach Bandshell to enjoy the songs made famous by Elton John.

The sounds of The Rocket Man Show were loud and clear while we enjoyed dinner on the balcony of the Hyde Park Prime Steakhouse.

Although the view of the bandshell stage from our table wasn’t completely clear,the view of the fireworks after the concert was perfect! As we lingered at the restaurant watching the fireworks over the ocean I couldn’t think of anyplace else I’d rather be.

Early

Sunday

morning, we were up and on the beach in time to take advantage of the sunrise.What a wonderful way to start a beautiful day!

 

 

 

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

 

Friday Favorites

I’m not sure if having a holiday on Wednesday is wonderful because I have a midweek day off… or troubling because I get to deal with two Mondays.

Regardless, it has been a tiring workweek and I’m happy to say hello to

FRIDAY!

 

 

As I mentioned, this week included a holiday… one of my favorites!

Favorite # ONE

#IndependenceDay #July4th #4thOfJuly #FourthOfJuly

To celebrate the day, some of my family came over for a cookout and pool party.

 

 

LB did a great job overseeing the grillAnd finished up just before a brief rain shower.

After a few early showers, it turned out to be a beautiful, sunny day… perfect for a swim in the poolAmanda got the party started!

 

 

Favorite # TWO

Having My Hands Full

Although Lydia left her swimsuit and had to wear a Glammy shirt, she still had a good time in the pool.

Favorite #THREE

 

 Baking Skills

Last week in my Friday Favorites I mentioned that Stephanie requested this

Marbled 4th of July ‘Box’ Cake

…so I shifted into baking gear and delivered!There is a story.

 

 

Favorite # FOUR

Last Sunday, LB and I saw Donny and Marie Osmond in concert.  That post can be found here.

Before we left the venue, LB purchased Donny Osmond’s 60th album for me.

I have been enjoying it all week!It has traveled in my car with me this week and I’ve listened to one particular song over and over again…

 

 

Favorite # FIVE

Moon River

Moon river, wider than a mile
I’m crossing you in style some day.
Oh, dream maker, you heart breaker
Wherever you’re goin’, I’m goin’ your way.
Two drifters, off to see the world
There’s such a lot of world to see.
We’re after the same rainbow’s end, waitin’ ’round the bend
My huckleberry friend, moon river, and me.

 

 

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

happy 4th of july Sticker by Meowingtons

Marbled Cake Massacre

This may be the saddest cake story ever.

On June 27th my daughter Stephanie tagged me in a Tasty video Facebook post:

“This gorgeous 4th of July Marbled Cake will add a spark to your Independence Day! “

I loved it and shared the video as one of my Friday Favorites.  You can find the recipe here.

The following Sunday I baked the three marbled layers.  After they cooled, I wrapped them in clear plastic wrap to store until July 3rd when I would put the cake together and add the finishing touches.

On that fateful Tuesday evening [while I worked to complete my masterpiece] as I put the final layer in place, I noticed a rather larger crack.  Nevertheless I continued and began frosting the cake, hoping the frosting would help to hold it together.  It did not.  One third of my top layer fell off of my cake.  My first inclination was to throw it across the room in the trash.

At that point my brain disengaged and my insanity accelerated: I decided I would smash the broken layer together, invert the cake and frost the bottom.

So I did.

And I turned the entire cake over.

It wasn’t meant to be.

LB and I discussed it at length.  He suggested there may be a problem with the egg substitute that I used.  I thought it may be the way I stored the layers.  Or maybe because I used the wrong size cake pans.  I know better than to tamper with a recipe.  But alas, I did tamper.

Unable to bear the thought of disappointing Stephanie, LB and I headed to Winn Dixie for the ingredients necessary to begin again.

And I began again.

I imagined the Jolly Rancher fireworks would be the most difficult part of the cake creation.  Strangely enough it was the easiest part.

There was no do-over involved.

And because I did not plan on adding sparklers to the finished product [as is shown in the Tasty video], I made extra fireworks.

Not too shabby for a second attempt.

 

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

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