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There’s No One Like A Sister

There IS NO ONE like a Sister

and that is why when my baby sister reached the age of 50, I traveled nearly 3 hours to be with her on her birthday.

I believe it was Clay’s idea.  He texted me one evening to tell me about the plan to surprise her while she was away on her Disney birthday adventure and asked if LB and I would be able to get away to join in the fun.

My response was “We can make it happen”.

My first thought was that we would leave work early on Monday, August 17th, then make our way to Orlando’s Disney Springs where we would meet up with family, and surprise Gina.  That was a pretty good plan, but LB had other plans.  He decided we should head to Orlando on Sunday, spend the night, and enjoy Monday away from work/home.

So we did.

We went to Universal CityWalk on Sunday and spent the day sight-seeing, but making sure to follow all the rules. Then later had dinner at Antojitos.Before making our way to the Residence Inn, we made a stop at Target… just because I like to

SHOP~

On Monday LB and I took our time getting ready, but eventually we were out door and headed to Disney Springs.  For the next 5 hours we would…

SHOP SHOPSHOP

You cannot tell by my expression, but I was having a good time.

 

To wrap up the Orlando event, we followed my sister and her crew to Sprinkles.

We walked up behind her and SURPRISE!

And she was surprised!  It brought tears to her eyes.We each ordered cupcakes at Sprinkles and found a place to sit and have a little visit.  It was a nice time together with family.We ate cupcakes and Gina opened her birthday gifts…I’m very lucky to have Gina in my life.There is no one else like her!

~

There’s no one like a sister…

’cause she’s known you all along.She gets your jokes, shares your folks, and likes the same old songs.There’s no one like a sister…

’cause she’s there no matter what –To talk, check in, see how you’ve been, and sometimes save your butt.There’s no one like a sister…

she’s a friend your whole life through.And none could be as good to me or loved as much as you!

~

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

Happy Friday!

Today is the day I typically post my

FRIDAY FAVORITES

but alas, nothing has happened this week except rain and weight gain.  I try to find the good in every week and highlight those favorite things on Friday.

Since I can find little good in the rain that has caused a flood in the yard and the leak in the roof and NO good in the pounds that I’ve accumulated, I’m taking a different approach.

Today I will highlight the

National Day Calendar

for this first week of August 2020.

Sunday, August 2

National Sister’s Day

How could I have missed this?

It has typically been one of my favorites that I’ve mentioned here and here.

I have one sister She is my favorite.

I’ve shared pics of some other special sisters in the past and here they are again…

~

Monday, August 3

National Grab Some Nuts Day

How to observe?

Grab a handful of nuts to snack on today! Or better yet, get baking.  Share your celebration of nuts by posting a pic on social media using #NationalGrabSomeNutsDay.

~

Tuesday, August 4

National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day also National Night Out Day

I love to do BOTH.

But today we won’t be doing either!

~

Wednesday, August 5

National Underwear Day

How do you observe National Underwear Day?  Why you embrace your body image and post on social media using #NationalUnderwearDay.  I’m not going to celebrate National Underwear Day.

~

Thursday, August 6

National Wiggle Your Toes Day

#NationalWiggleYourToesDay

~

Friday, August 7

National Raspberries N’ Cream Day

Raspberries are in season and were also mentioned on Sunday in observance of National Raspberry Cream Pie Day.  One of my favorite recipes that include raspberries is Raspberry Almond Shortbread Cookies.  I made them for our Mother’s Day lunch and as always, they were a hit.

Celebrate Every Day!

~

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

Room for Tuesday

I have Always Loved Barbie!

Not too long ago I was lamenting over the innumerable Barbie dolls that have become a permanent part of my home.  My daughters left them, most of them are 90’s Barbies.  At some point I decided to embrace the situation and make the most of my Barbie world.

This is Barbie World

Barbie world involves the dolls that were left at my house by the 2 little girls who once loved them.  Those little girls are all grown up now, but their mom is too sentimental to part with their Barbie dolls.

  In addition to these dolls, it now involves all of the other paraphernalia I’ve added to entertain 2 other little girls.  When Lydia and Rory are at Glammy’s house, we spend most of our time together playing here.

I love Barbie and other Fashion Dolls, like Darci.

Darci has been mine for many, many years.  She came with a pink one-piece swimsuit which I cannot find, but I do have her wrap-around skirt, flower, silver shoes, stand, and briefcase filled with fashion magazines.

Last week, when my family met at Mama’s house, my sister and I began a discussion that involved the many Barbie dolls and other fashion dolls that we’ve had over the years.

I insisted that I had a Tuesday Taylor dollbut I was actually thinking about Darci.  I know they look nothing alike… apparently I was mentally overwhelmed and I took leave of my senses.

But I’m happy to announce that I’ve have made

Room for Tuesday!

It must have been the brunette hair that confused me!

Tuesday Taylor

Tuesday Taylor is a fashion doll which was presented by Ideal Toy Company in 1975.  She was Ideal’s “answer” to Barbie.  Tuesday Taylor had a remarkable rotating scalp, which could be manually turned to switch her from a blonde to a brunette and back again.

“Tuesday’s world is full of magic”

I should probably leave her in her container.

~

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

Meet Maurice

A post by Mary

Today the Lord came to me in the form of the man collecting trash.

I had failed to put my little bag of trash out last night, so I put it in the car and was going to drop it at the curb when I left this morning.

About that time I heard, then saw, the garbage truck pass by.

Collection Companies

So I got out of the car and took the bag out and left it in the garage instead of taking it to work with me. As I turned around to get back in the car, this young man was standing there.

He told me that he always looks out for his customers.

I was overwhelmed with his kindness.

It literally brought tears to my eyes. I asked him his name.

Meet Maurice Jones.

I told him I was going to pray for him today. If you feel so inclined please pray for him, too…He is going the second mile. I reached out and hugged his neck, not seeing a man collecting trash.

I saw Jesus.

The Lord bless Maurice Jones!

Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it.
Hebrews 13:2 NASB

 

~

MDR

Friday Favorites

It is the last Friday in July, but still it is a

Favorite # ONE

This is Kathy.

Kathy works with me.

Kathy took this WHOLE week off from work.

Bad Kathy.

I’m just kidding.

Kathy celebrated her birthday on Monday and her anniversary on Wednesday and I hope her time off was wonderful!

She is our team lead and she is VITAL. When she is out of the office, the people who typically drive her crazy begin to panic.  They look for someone on her team to drive crazy.  Madness ensues.

She will be back from her much deserved week of multi-celebrations on Monday and

I AM SO GLAD!

~

Favorite # TWO

This is Darci.

She has been mine for many, many years.  She came with a pink one-piece swimsuit which I cannot find, but I do have her wrap-around skirt, flower, silver shoes, stand, and briefcase filled with fashion magazines.

My Darci is a brunette;  there is also a blonde and a redhead.

Last week, when my family met at Mama’s house, my sister and I began a discussion that involved the many Barbie dolls and other fashion dolls that we’ve had over the years.  I insisted that I had a Tuesday Taylor doll, but I was actually thinking about Darci.

I am sorry Gina and I look forward to making everything right.

~

Favorite # THREE

Tuesday Taylor

I’m not sure how I could have mistaken Darci for Tuesday Taylor.

~

Favorite # FOUR

Ann Taylor

It is no secret that I love to buy clothes from LOFT, but this week I ventured out and browsed another of Ann Taylor’s websites.  I found this cute little Ruffle Trim Shell in Apricot Zest that I had to have.

Right now it is on sale for $20.

Last week I purchased it for $8.

Ways to Wear It is a great feature of Ann Taylor websites.    

~

Favorite # FIVE

Star Trek

The original series first aired in 1966, just a few months after I was born.  When I was a little girl, back in the 1970s, I remember my Daddy loved to watch Star Trek.  It aired at 5PM each weekday and I can still picture Daddy sitting in his chair laughing at the banter between Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock.  And Bones.

This week LB and I watched the Movie Star Trek the Wrath of Khan.  Later when I was flipping channels I came across the 2009 Star Trek movie featuring Chris Pines as Kirk during the early days of the starship USS Enterprise.  I’ll always be a Star Trek fan.  I never followed the Next Generation, Voyager, or any of the others, but I never tire of the original Star Trek stories.

~

Live long and Prosper!

 

Put the Lime in the Coconut

Occasionally LB will tell Alexa to play

Put the Lime in the Coconut

 

Me:

via GIPHY

It is a slightly irritating song.

But since LB likes “Put the Lime in the Coconut”, and he needs a cake today, I decided I would create a new recipe using lime and coconut.

Recently LB bought coconut thinking I added it to the grocery list (which I did not) and now I have 3 bags of coconut.  He has also made sure that we don’t run out of lemons and limes.  Some of the limes are starting to shrivel and need to be used for something good.

Now I have extra coconut, limes, and [I almost forgot] I have a can of coconut milk that was recently purchased just to support GOYA…So here we go!

 

Put the Lime in the Coconut Bundt Cake

is adapted from a recipe by Amber at Dessert Now, Dinner Later!  (Lime Bundt Cake) who may have adapted it from a recipe by Stephanie at Plain Chicken (Ritz Carlton Lemon Pound Cake).
I did my best to write the recipe in my own words, but alas, there are only so many ways you can list ingredients.

 

Lime in the Coconut Bundt Cake

  • Servings: 16
  • Difficulty: easy
  • Print

Yield 16 servings

Ingredients

Cake:

  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 Tbsp baking powder
  • 3/4 tsp salt
  • 1 1/2 cups sugar
  • 1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 1/2 cup coconut oil, room temperature
  • 5 large eggs
  • 1 cup canned coconut milk
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1/2 tsp coconut extract
  • 1 1/2 cup shredded coconut
  • zest of 1 lime

Glaze:

  • 3 to 4 Tbsp lime juice
  • zest of 1 lime
  • 1 cup powdered sugar

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350° F.  Spray or grease/flour a large bundt pan.
  2. Whisk together dry ingredients: flour, baking powder, and salt into medium bowl.
  3. In a stand mixer, cream together butter, coconut oil, and sugar. Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition.
  4. Shake the coconut milk then open and measure one cup.  Add extracts to milk.
  5. Alternate adding the dry ingredients and coconut milk to the butter mixture. Starting and ending with dry ingredients, mixing  just until combined.
  6. Mix in coconut and lime zest until just incorporated.
  7. Pour batter into prepared bundt pan.  Bake for 45 to 55 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the cake comes out clean. Cool cake in pan for 10 minutes, then out onto a plate and cool completely.
  8. Make the glaze by whisking the ingredients together to desired consistency, adding more lime juice to thin, or more powdered sugar to thicken. Pour over cooled cake. Slice and serve. Store cake in an air tight container up to 5 days.

Try it!

~

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

The Soundtrack of My Life

The idea for this post came to me shortly after LB and I went to see Donnie and Marie Osmond in concert.  I LOVED that concert and wrote about the experience which you can read here.

At the close of the concert LB bought one of Donnie’s CDs which was titled

The Soundtrack of My Life.  Donnie chose songs that gave him happy memories of different times in his life.  Inside the jacket was a little snippet about each song included in the CD.

Music has always been a big part of my life and there are many songs that take me back and bring a smile.

This is the soundtrack of MY life:

1. Downtown

Donnie’s first song was “My Cherie Amour” [by Stevie Wonder] because it was the first album he ever purchased as an 11 year old.  My first song came out of the 60’s and was sung by Petula Clark.  Apparently this was the first song I learned and I would sing it aloud.  As a little girl I remember the album that Daddy would play and hearing this song many times.

I still like to sing along.

 

2. The Bare Necessities

I have ALWAYS been a fan of Disney movies.  As a little girl one of my favorites was The Jungle Book.  It was one of the many that I saw in the movie theater…probably the Edgewood Theater.  I had this vinyl record that included songs and dialogue from the movie and a bonus read along book.

I LOVED it!

 

3. Girl

It happened in 1971.  The Brady Bunch episode was called “Getting Davy Jones”.  I wouldn’t know it until reruns became a thing, but I wanted to be Marcia Brady and I had a crush on Davy Jones just like Marcia.

Marcia Marcia Marcia.

This performance is Davy Jones’ at his cutest!

 

4. I Write the Songs

I was in love with Barry Manilow… as much as a nine year old can be.  It was 1975 when I heard Barry Manilow sing this on television while I was at Mema and Papa Duck’s house.  It was probably my Aunt Debbie’s influence, she was the aunt closest to my age and I always liked what she liked.  I remember listening to her Barry Manilow album.  I Write the Songs was written by Beach Boys member Bruce Johnston. and has been rumored to be about Brian Wilson, but Johnson explained that he actually wrote it about ‘where music comes from’.  God is the “I” in I Write the Songs (source).

Why was I in love with Barry Manilow?  Lord have mercy.

My Mama always said he looks like a lizard.

 

5. Sixteen Candles

Sweet Sixteen in 1982.  That morning of my 16th birthday, I walked into the kitchen/family room to the sounds of this song.  My daddy thought it would be a nice way to start my day.  He was right, and I’ve never forgotten.

Later in 1984 Sixteen Candles starring Molly Ringwald and Anthony Michael Hall would become one of my favorites movies.

 

6. Happy Happy Birthday Baby

The birthday morning tradition would continue when I decided that every birthday should include a serenade.  I began playing “Happy Happy Birthday Baby” by the Tune Weavers for my kids on the morning of their birthday.  When LB introduced me to Ronnie Milsap’s version of the song, I was hooked.

 

7. Maneater

Don’t jump to conclusions.  I’m not claiming to be a Maneater.

My taste improved.  Bye Bye Barry.  Tall, slim, blonde, and handsome Daryl Hall sings the lead in this song that was released in 1982.  I love to listen to Hall & Oates’ music and could’ve included any of their songs in my list.  But I included this one because I remember my sister singing it when we were on the bus while on choir tour.  I recall that she was scolded for vocalizing such a worldly tune.  Its true that it isn’t the kind of song to be singing while touring with a church youth choir, but its still a catchy tune.

 

8. The Doxology

Changing course… Hard RIGHT turn… Every Sunday morning following the offertory special (the music played during the collection of the church’s tithes and offerings), the congregation would stand together and sing “The Doxology”.  There were times that I was irritated with this tradition.  Today I can say with all honesty that I would LOVE to be a part of that church again.

 

9. Footloose

The year was 1984 and Kevin Bacon was a rising star.  I loved him in my favorite soap opera The Guiding Light and in the movie Footloose.  The movie and song were both popular in 1984, the year I graduated from high school.

 

10. Something To Talk About

At various times in my life, I’ve made one mess or another and given people something to talk about.  Fortunately God’s grace and mercy are greater than any of my messes.

 

11. Saved

A special hymn that can be heard at any traditional Baptist church service, a favorite of my Daddy’s, also sung at his funeral.  

This song was written in 1911 by J.P. (Jack) Scholfield after attending a revival meeting in Gonzales, Texas. Mordecai Ham was preaching on the subject, “Christ our Refuge.” In the congregation was a man that had killed 4 men.  The man listened to Ham explain that the Cities of Refuge in the Old Testament are a type of Christ, who is a refuge for sinners and offers eternal forgiveness for all who will flee to Him.  Sitting there in his seat, the sinner found Christ as his refuge.  He jumped up from his seat and shouted, “Saved! Saved! Saved!”

J.P. (“Jack”) was so inspired that he composed both the lyrics and music for this song (source).

I’ve found a Friend, who is all to me, His love is ever true;
I love to tell how He lifted me and what His grace can do for you.

Refrain

Saved by His power divine, saved to new life sublime!
Life now is sweet and my joy is complete, for I’m saved, saved, saved!

He saves me from every sin and harm, secures my soul each day;
I’m leaning strong on His mighty arm; I know He’ll guide me all the way. (Refrain)

When poor and needy and all alone, in love He said to me,
“Come unto Me and I’ll lead you home, to live with Me eternally.” (Refrain)

 

12. Thanks

My most recent addition, this is the song I like to hear before I go to bed on Sunday night.  It reminds me that I have every reason to be thankful.

 

What is the soundtrack of YOUR life?

~

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

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