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Show and Tell Tuesday

August 22, 2017

It has become one of my favorite posts…

This Tuesday’s

Show and Tell

features a piece of furniture that contains more history than I can share in one post.

To begin, this lovely Lane cedar chest (aka hope chest) was a gift from my parents when I turned eighteen and/or graduated from high school.  I’m not sure if it was a birthday gift or a graduation gift, but I still have this beautiful piece of furniture that I cherish.  Inside I have memories of my high school years, my three babies, and my twelve years with First Guaranty Bank.  There are Beanie Babies, a baton, a tiara, and cards that were given to me by loved ones.Recently I opened my cedar chest because I was looking for a giraffe that I seem to have misplaced.

(So I have a thing about giraffes.  Don’t judge.)

A few of the items I came across are worth sharing.

These are Church DirectoriesI began attending Faith Memorial Baptist church with my parents, before I was born.  I attended this church until 1997.  These directories contain pictures and information of the members of the church.  It is interesting to flip through and look at the people who were at one time a part of my life.

This poem

was written by my Mama while she dealt with the grief of losing her father.

This is what it says:

At set of sun in times long past, I see him coming home at last
We’d run to meet him one by one, happy that the day was done
A special word, a hug, a kiss, would let him know how he’d been missed
A crowded table with sumptuous fare, he never tired of being there.
(Did we realize what we had? That special place, a loving Dad.)
He’d settle back in his old chair, content to rest, to just be there.
We’d find a place upon his lap, maybe he would take a nap.
We learned of Jesus at his knee, of how he died upon a tree.
He told us of a home on high, how we could go there by and by.
Of our Father’s gracious love, bestowed on us from up above.

And now the sun has set once more, reflected on that golden shore.
The fluttering of angels wings, bear him heavenward as they sing.
His home awaits, the table set; joy replaces all regret.
Loved ones who’ve been waiting there, bid him welcome as they share
Hugs and kisses, special words,
And then his eyes behold the Lord.
Son, welcome home, the day is through. I’ve been waiting here for you.
…He’s settled now in heaven’s care, content to rest, to just be there…

 

It is a beautiful tribute and now has a place in my family scrapbook.

 

This is a big flower

from my baby boy.

He made this flower for his mama and placed his cute little picture in the center.  Obviously I love it as it has been with me for 20+ years.

This is a big message

from a little girl.

My firstborn DaughterShe is quite an imaginative little artist.  I especially appreciate the Jasmine inspired floating head.

Even today, Stephanie still has a fascination with all things Disney.

This Comic Book

was written by that same little boy in the above mentioned flower… Richard Starling.

It is a first volume publication by Marble Comics and is titled “The Nother World”

One day I will create a post dedicated to this comic book.

Both of my Memas

are gone now.

Mema Reid left us in 2007.  Mema Duck left us in 2010.

How lucky am I to have had a relationship with both of my grandmothers.  They loved me and I love them.

And I miss them both.

There is so much more… I may have to open that chest again next week.and I found that giraffe!


Filed Under: family first, Lifestyle

Friday Favorites

August 18, 2017

It’s Happy Time People:  Friday Favorites!

Favorite # ONE

Halo Top

Every day is a reason for Halo Top. #ScoopItUp #ThePerfectPint

sweetened with organic Stevia, Halo Top ICE CREAM is low in calories and high in protein, and my new favorite dessert!

Last Sunday night, LB and I enjoyed a pint of vanilla bean.

This morning on my way to work, I stopped by Winn-Dixie and picked up four pints of Halo Top to celebrate Wendy reaching her first weight loss goal. I chose Pistachio, Black Cherry, Birthday Cake, and Mocha Chocolate Chip.

When I asked Wendy if she had reached the goal she responded with “I didn’t check, I’m going to wait until Tuesday”

So we celebrated anyway…

Like this:

Saturday Night Live snl saturday night live nbc cake GIF

JK

Black Cherry was my favorite

Favorite # TWO

these jeans

Embroidered jeans are a Fall trend and these hit the top of the list of jeans I’ve shopped.  Vera Wang is an awesome designer and I love her work.  Although the pants/jeans in her collections are a bit curvier than I’m accustomed to, these were snug enough to convince me to take with.  I have lopped off the hem and have worn them once.  Yes, they do stretch, and I will wash and dry them to see if they shrink appropriately.  But the jeans are most assuredly cute and I will continue to enjoy them, I’m sure!

Favorite # THREE

my Breakfast Smoothie, which I took notice of when I discovered the Cave Woman Diet last year.  It wasn’t until earlier this year that I started enjoying my own version of that smoothie.Mine contains ½ banana, ½ cup mixed berries, 1 T chia seed, 1 T Stevia, ½ t cinnamon, a handful of spinach, ice and water.  It amounts to about 120 calories.

I enjoy it Every Day!

Favorite # FOUR

Fajitas… because Today is

National Fajitas Day!

so we went out to enjoy Fajitas! This Amigo was there with UShe is MY BABY and going to be a Daddy for the second time.

I adore him.  Always have.

Family is important.  The Most important thing!

Favorite # FIVE

Life as we know it is about to change FOREVER… For ALL of us!  Trust me on this one.

My Glam-baby is going to be a BIG SISTER… just like her Glammy.  I knew we would have a lot in common!

This morning I got a text from LB telling me my Mama wanted to know when I would be home from work today, as she needed a few minutes of my time.  Obviously I was DISTURBED and sent her a message inquiring about her well being.  She’s fine, of course, and just wants me to “meet someone”.

Really?

Lord Have Mercy.

I KNOW she hasn’t adopted a pet or began a new romance.

She wants to be a buffer for the news to come:

GLAMMY, the SEQUEL.She’s excited.  She’s happy.  Her Glammy is too!

We just couldn’t seem to get her to sit still for a picture of the shirt

 

 

 


Filed Under: Beauty, Dining, Fashion, Friday Favorites, Health, Lifestyle

Show and Tell Tuesday

August 8, 2017

Show and Tell Tuesday

Because I had so much fun with my cell phone show and tell, I thought I would participate in another.  This is the Show and Tell Tuesday Dresser Drawer Edition

meaning, I am sharing the contents of one of my dresser drawers.
This is my dresser

It has been with me since I was 13 years old.  The style works well with my other bedroom furniture, which is part of the Accent’s Français collection by Drexel Heritage.

That’s another story for another day.  The middle drawer is the focus of my attention today.

This middle drawer is chock-full of memorabilia in the form of …

Tee Shirts!

You would be surprised at the memories associated with tee shirts.  Here are just a sample of mine:

This bright green Rethink Possible tee from AT&T is not a shirt I wear often… actually it is not a shirt I wear ever, but I like the color.  Also I have a propensity for Pack Rattery.  Yes, I made up that word.

My navy blue Boston Athletic Association tee is a reminder that I did go to Boston for the BIG Marathon and I did participate in one of the “little” races… the 5k.Thats me.  On the ground.  With the Hare.

From my first trip to Las Vegas:LB and I played the slot machines and the casino awarded us with this lovely never-worn-again Total Rewards tee.  It is kept for sentiment only. Did I mention the Pack Rat condition I suffer from?

Survivor Africa was one of the best Survivor seasons ever and boy was I a big fan! I have a buff too.  Probably in one of those other drawers.

One of my many Florida road race tees… this light blue one from Gate River Run 2008 is my favorite.

Two of my tee shirts

…and possibly three, were confiscated from two of my children.

One of those tees is this Nintendo Rehabilitation Clinic (the first step is admitting you have a problem) tee.At one point in my life I did have an obsession with Nintendo 2, specifically Super Mario World. This is a happy thought for me because it was a time I spent with my kids.  Richard was only 3 years old when I sat him in my lap on the floor, facing the television, and with our hands together on the controller, I taught him to play.  Eventually he was better than I… so I stole his shirt.

The Florida Virtual School shirt belonged to either Stephanie or Amanda. They were my homeschool graduates. When we began our homeschool adventure in 2000, chemistry was on the schedule.  We turned to FVS for assistance with this subject and somehow ended up with this shirt.  I like it, so I kept it.

The bright orange Staff FBC Jax Camp 2008 is probably my favorite as it is the one I wear the most.  In fact, I’m wearing it right now.I may have confiscated this one from Amanda.  It tackles the treadmill with me on a regular basis and occasionally when I engage in work that involves getting messy.  It has been through the washer more than anything else that I own.  I fully expect to see it disintegrate someday.

Part of the reason I like to wear the orange Staff tee is because it doesn’t feel stiff and scratchy.  So I searched for a way to make my other tee shirts feel the same.  Here is what I found:

How to make your tee shirt soft

InStyle calls this “fresh-out-of-the store tees vintage-y soft” and you can find that article here.

Step 1: Create a mix.
To make your tee shirt soft, first create a mix of water and salt, or water and vinegar in a large bucket. For one quart of water, you will need about 1/2 cup of salt or vinegar.  The salt and/or vinegar is supposed to open up the fibers.

Step 2: Soak your tee shirt.
Soak your shirt in the mixture for about seven minutes, (according to the article)

Step 3: Wash and dry as normal.
Next wash your tee shirt as your normally would with detergent.  Then toss it in the dryer, but take it out before it fully dries.  Hang it or lay it flat to finish drying naturally.

Step 4: Try again.
Because hope springs eternal, repeat all the steps that you just completed, since it didn’t work the first time.

 


Filed Under: Lifestyle, Vacation

Jekyll Island

August 7, 2017

There are so many places to visit in the Southeast and what better way to enjoy the summer than with a weekend trip as near as your own backyard.  This past weekend LB and I had the opportunity to visit Jekyll Island, Georgia. LB and I headed north on Saturday afternoon and reached the island around 5:30. As per usual on the weekends, having skipped lunch, we were ready for dinner.

We enjoyed dinner at

Tortuga Jacks is the land of the beach taco and was our dinner destination of choice.

While enjoying the outdoor seating area, overlooking the ocean

LB and I savored our usual fajitas

and the music of Backbeat BlvdWith the exception of a few bothersome insects buzzing about, the evening was lovely and we had a nice time.“cheese”

Our adventure continued on Sunday afternoon when we visited the new shopping area on Main Street.

Jekyll Island Beach Village

One of the most unique shops we’ve ever come across was the Jekyll Market, a gourmet grocery store. We almost passed it by, thinking it was only a restaurant. The sign says “Eat Drink Shop” and that is exactly why you can spend a couple of hours exploring this store.  In the Jekyll Market, you can find an assortment of things including…

Loveshack BBQ
Feta Stuffed Olives
Stuffed Toys & Books
A Salad Bar
Farmhouse Peachshine
A Bakery
Jewelry
Long Necks

Especially relevant is not the Farmhouse Peachshine, but the Feta Stuffed Olives, .  We love these at my house!

Another shop that we spent time in was Tonya’s

  It is no secret that I love to discover new boutiques.  Tonya’s is part boutique and part gift shop.  In the front of the store there were so many pretty little chachkies and personal items.  Especially intriguing were the Kate Spade accessories

and this cute little plaque

I restrained myself and did Not purchase this for Gina, as I didn’t know if she would like pink.

Once again, we had a lovely weekendStay tuned for our next adventure!


Filed Under: Dining, Entertainment, Lifestyle, Shopping, Vacation, Weekend Fun

Weekend Wandering

July 31, 2017

LB and I have various venues that we frequent on the weekend.

This past weekend we decided to try something different…

attend an event in Jacksonville. There was an event at the Jacksonville Landing that involved two bands and fireworks. It seemed like a good idea to head downtown and check it out. We took a few minutes to take in the Jacksonville Landing experience …but ultimately decided it wasn’t how we wanted to spend the evening.

We headed back to the car admiring the artwork along the way.

I took an evening stroll around this particular column:

 As we were making our way to 95 South, we almost passed a Jacksonville landmark

The Treaty Oak

LB thought we should stop, so we did.This massive tree is approximately 250 years old.  and appears to be laying on the ground. It is defined as “octopus-like”You can’t climb it! But you can read about it here

Following the tree experience, we headed to Whisky Jax (Beaches location) for dinner and live music.

This was our second time having dinner at this location and the food was just as good as we remembered.  We were able to get a table up front so we could see the band and the amusing patrons occupying the dance floor.

Dinner was delicious.  And it was fried.

LB and I shared a seafood platter with 3 dipping sauces, along with tantalizing French fries, and Jim Beam applesauce (brown stuff pictured below).  Very tasty.The SunJammer Band was featured Saturday night. This was our first time seeing this band. They are an intriguing group and very entertaining. We had a good time and I recommend Whiskey Jax (Beach location) for a fabulous Saturday date night.

What started out as a perplexing date nightended as a pleasant date night


Filed Under: Dining, Entertainment, Lifestyle, Weekend Fun

Breakfast Waffles Four Ways

July 30, 2017

A typical Saturday morning at my house involves an egg on pumpernickel toast with coffee while binge watching the Pioneer Woman on the Food Network.  This Saturday morning I was inspired by the declining buttermilk in my refrigerator to do something different.  There were a few options… pancakes, biscuits, waffles all taste yummy using a recipe that calls for buttermilk.

LB chose waffles

On my Pinterest Breakfast Board I’ve pinned a recipe for the Rich Buttermilk Waffles from food.com. This recipe called for a cup and a half of buttermilk which was exactly what I had left after my recent chicken frying experience.  I also used a teaspoon of Stevia instead of sugar.  Not sure what my thinking was there, it certainly didn’t do much to help with daily calorie consumption.

After I whipped up the waffle batter, whether it was ideal for the batter or not,  I decided to mix it up four different ways:

Peanut Butter
Banana
Blueberry Lemon
Chocolate Chip Pecan

Elvis was especially excited

Four batches of waffles later… Ta-dahI kept the waffles warm in the oven and after finishing the last batch, asked LB which flavor he wanted to try.  He chose peanut butter, banana, and blueberry lemon.

Check out my presentation skills:

My approach was to cut the waffles in half and try each one.  My favorite was the blueberry lemon.  Banana took second place, peanut butter third.  LB agreed.  Later he sampled the chocolate chip pecan waffle and decided it was better than the peanut butter.  Apparently I didn’t add enough peanut butter.  If I ever make peanut butter waffles for breakfast again, I’ll use crunchy instead of creamy, and make sure that I have some grape jelly on hand to schmear on the top!Glass, Food, Purple, Grape, Breakfast


Filed Under: Cooking, Lifestyle, Weekend Fun

Friday Favorites

July 28, 2017

TGIF Y’all and it is a Good One!

Favorite # ONE

Lets begin by just being honest.  What do I REALLY love?

My diet orange Crush!

Just as good as diet Sunkist and waaay better than Fanta.

While it is true that I have Quit daily consumption of ASPARTAME… I haven’t completely quit.  I’ve cut down DRASTICALLY… but I allow myself to indulge in orange Crush on the weekend… and I DO indulge!

Thank you LB for stopping to pick up a carton tonight!

Favorite # TWO

Summer Nights

Not the

John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John kind of Summer Nights

(although there is certainly nothing wrong with that kind).

I love the summer nights when my LB lights the torches that surround the pool enclosure, and we sit by the pool, with the stars overhead and the flickering firelight all around; listening to the sound of the waterfall and music of the eighties; under the watchful eye of the swans and flamingos.

There is nothing quite like it

Favorite # THREE

She’ll never get to sample them if LB gets to them first… I found these My Little Pony shortbread cookies when LB and I were searching for those jeans my sister said she purchased at Ross.  The package was waiting for me at the checkout and it came home with me.  I hope my little Lydia gets to enjoy some soon!

 

Favorite # FOUR

Shopping during my lunch hour

I am lucky enough to have a Kohl’s just five minutes away and when they send me that 30% off coupon there is no keeping me away! I enjoyed myself while taking dressing room pics of three cute tops at Kohl’s today.  Not a #NSale… but I like Kohl’s better than any other Department Store.  I gotta be Me!

And speaking of lunch hour shopping…

Favorite # FIVE

My new shift at work

 shifts GIF

After YEARS of working the late shift, I finally get to do the eight to five!

Is this the beginning of normal?  (Smile)


Filed Under: Fashion, Friday Favorites, Lifestyle, Shopping

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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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