Pretty is

...My Life and Style

You are here: Home / Home

Happiness

“…lies in the joy of achievement and the thrill of creative effort.” – Franklin Roosevelt

Today, March 10, 2020 is a day to celebrate as it marks three years since I began this creative effort.

Happy

BLOGIVERSARY!

  It seemed like a good idea at the time, although I no idea what I was doing. I supposed if other bloggers can do this, so can I.  My intention was to ease my way into fashion blogging because that’s what I like, so I registered with WordPress and came up with a name for my blog.

Prettyis.me was registered because pretty is dot net and pretty is dot com were already taken.

Also it sounds cute.

The title “Pretty is” came to me from a quote my Mama enjoyed repeating:

“Pretty is as Pretty does”

And apparently she heard it often from her mother, who would have celebrated a birthday today.

My first post was short and sweet and included nothing about women’s fashion.

After beginning my blog, and as the weeks passed, I realized that fashion blogging isn’t as easy as it looks.

Rather than posts about fashion, I found that I was posting more and more about what I do and the people in my life, which is perfectly fine.

That said, on this day in 1925, Bettelou Ellen McCarty was born.

Although my brother-in-law can tell the story much better, I believe little Bettelou started her journey in Buffalo, New York, eventually moving to Muncy, Pennsylvania, and much later to Florida where she met George S. Duckworth.

And she loved him.

And so she would become Bette Duckworth

My Memaa.k.a.

Mema Duck

~

Mema went to be with Jesus on January 14, 2010.This is another sweet face that I look forward to seeing again.

~

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

Friday Favorites

This has been a long week, but now…

All this week I have been trying to follow a keto diet plan.  It isn’t as easy as you think.  There is more to keto than low carb.  Also, it does matter how much protein (chicken, tuna, etc.) you consume.  To guide me on this fat fueled journey, I’ve found a couple of websites that have been helpful.

Favorite # ONE

Learning about Keto

Wendy told me about

 Diet Doctor

which provides a lot of information about low carb and keto.

And

Keto Diet Yum

where I learned about the Chaffle

which I made last Saturday.

 

At this point, I’ve lost the same three pounds twice, but at least I’m no worse for the wear.  On the bright side, I’ve discovered a couple of recipes that I love.  The first is one I mentioned previously.  Today I’m sharing the recipe and naming it as my

Favorite # TWO

Keto Reuben in a Skillet

As I mentioned in my Instagram post last week, I found it [here] as Reuben in a Bowl.  I reworked it a tiny bit and renamed it because it is made in a skillet.

Here is the recipe:

Reuben in a Skillet

  • Servings: 6-8
  • Difficulty: easy
  • Print

Ingredients

  • One bag coleslaw mix
  • 1 pound corned beef cut into bite size pieces
  • 2-3 tbsp butter
  • 1 cup Swiss cheese

Dressing

  • 1 cup mayonnaise
  • 1/4 cup sugar free ketchup
  • 4 tsp horseradish mustard
  • 1 tsp hot sauce
  • 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • pinch of pepper

Instructions

  1. Melt butter in skillet.

  2. Add corned beef and saute for 5 minutes.

  3. Add coleslaw, cover and cook for 5 minutes.

  4. Stir together coleslaw and corned beef then top with cheese. Cover skillet and allow the cheese to melt about 5 minutes

  5. Drizzle with dressing.

~

Favorite # THREE

This Story

Recently during a phone conversation with a customer, I heard a doorbell ring.  She asked if I could hold for one moment while she answered the door.

While I waited, I could hear that she opened the door, and unmistakably hear the following

MOOOOOO

(Surely a cow did not ring the doorbell)

When she returned to the phone, she explained that she lives on a farm.  Her daughter-in-law had found a newborn calf that had been abandoned.  The calf was hungry and she was looking for the bottle.  Apparently this is a common thing.  We ended our call so this emergency could be handled with the promise I would follow up with her.

When I opened my email the following day, I found that she sent me a picture

which is my

Favorite # FOUR

I appreciate that she let me know the little calf was okay.

~

If that isn’t enough to bring a smile to your face, this week my nephew Clay and his wife Chynna blessed us with a new addition to our family

Welcome to

I love her name!

And I love the photo of Clay showing this new baby to her siblings Levi, Thea, and Adrian.

Favorite # FIVE

~

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

Happy Birthday in Heaven

Although I obviously have no proof, my personal belief is that our earthly birthdays are not celebrated in Heaven.  I’m sure that there are Bible verses to support my theory.

That said, our loved ones who have gone to Heaven are still celebrated here on earth, by the ones they’ve left behind.

My Daddy

would have been

Seventy-Four

years old today.

He may have been walking crooked (bent to the right) as he occasionally did when his back gave him trouble.

Daddy may have still been telling elephant jokes (why do elephants paint their toenails red?) and playing practical jokes  – now on his grandchildren – since his children have long since figured out his antics.

He would have LOVED his growing family

and

meeting the ones who came along after he left:

Sydney, Chynna, Emily, Levi, Lydia, Thea, Rory, Adrian, and Eden.

He would have loved them all… and they would have loved him!

I’m sure he would have enjoyed events like dancing with my Mama at the Rockabilly Prom.

I imagine he may have walked next door to enjoy old movies with his oldest daughter in her TV room.

His hair would likely have been completely grey and I’m sure his green eyes would still have an “I love You” sparkle.  I’ve mentioned him again and again in my posts:

Num Nell Knox

August 1965

Father’s Day

and

Dear Daddy

Richard A. Reid was born in Palatka, Florida on March 1, 1946.

He lived to the age of 55 and enjoyed A Wonderful Life.

He has been gone since November 23, 2001.

I am not exaggerating when I say that not a day goes by that I don’t think about him.

Happy Birthday Daddy!

I’m looking forward to seeing you again!

We are ALL looking forward to seeing you again!

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

What’s Up Wednesday?

Happy Wednesday GIFAnd to tell you

What’s Up!

What’s Up Wednesday is a monthly compilation of What’s Up…

posted on a Wednesday.

~

What we’re eating

This month it is KETO.

On Saturday I posted a pic of my latest concoction on Instagram.

It is the Reuben in a Skillet… aka Reuben in a Bowl from Stylish Cravings.Mine was made in a skillet.

I’m planning on making this again next week.  I’m obsessed.

~

What I’m loving

I am loving the Pop Icon jeans from Old Navy.

Since receiving a pair as a Christmas gift, I’ve bought 4 more pairs in other shades.

I have Black Jack, Willow, Deep Indigo, and Fern.

Black Jack is tighter than the others; Deep Indigo is my favorite.

~

What we’ve been up to

Cleaning and sealing tile grout.

Very exciting.

~

What I’ve been working on

PSYC 320

and counting down.

As I mentioned a few weeks ago, this class deserves a blog post of its own.

After this one, there are only THREE to go!

Maybe I won’t wait until 2021 to take another.

~

What I’m excited about

Getting these Invisalign buttons OFF OF MY TEETH.

I’m hoping this will happen tomorrow!

~

What I’m dreading

Having my teeth worked on tomorrow.

~

What I’m watching/reading

Right now I’m sort-of watching Live from Daryl’s House.  I’m not paying close attention at the moment, but it sounds like they’re having a good time.

~

What I’m listening to

see previous

~

What I’m wearing

Pop Icon Jeans go with anything.

~

What I’m doing this weekend

Cleaning and sealing tile grout.

~

What I’m looking forward to next month

Daylight saving time begins next month… at 2:00 on Sunday, March 8th.  I’m looking forward to it because I took the following Monday OFF!  Have fun without me guys!

~

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

Friday Favorites

its friday GIFand time for my

Friday Favorites!

Last Saturday the family gathered to celebrate my favorite two year old

Favorite # ONE

Rory

As I mentioned last week, she was born on Valentine’s Day.

Rory loves “Toy Stoy”

toy story 4 teaser trailer GIF

and as soon as she laid eyes on her birthday cupcakes she exclaimed

“FORKY!”

Favorite # TWO

Forky Cupcakes

When Emily sent this photo from Pinterest with a request to make Rory’s birthday cake/cupcakes a few weeks ago, I knew I would HAVE TO TRY to recreate this presentation.Emily suggested chocolate would be best.  I used a chocolate cake mix (from a box) and homemade vanilla buttercream frosting.

Each Forky was lovingly brought to life by Glammy herself. Not bad for an amateur. 

Rory picked out her birthday presents about a month ago while she and Glammy surfed Amazon.

Favorite # THREE

Shopping with Rory

This is what she wanted.  This is what she got.

~

Three weeks ago, the six members of my team learned that there will be changes coming to our team.  Two members of our group would be leaving to take new positions.  Today would be our last day as a group of six.  With that, we began planning a potluck because that is what we do.  I can’t even explain it.

In this case it wasn’t a celebration potluck, but deliberate, indulgent, group stress eating.

The potluck has happened.  Today we enjoyed chicken wings, deviled eggs, tea sandwiches (ham/Swiss and chicken salad), a veggie tray, cookies and a new recipe

Favorite # FOUR

Cream Cheese Tuna Dip

That I found here.

Interestingly enough, it is very tasty and pairs nicely with Wheat Thins.

Everyone on my team loved it!

YaY!

Favorite # FIVE

My Team

Corey, ME, Kathy, Wendy, Keith, Troy

A miscellaneous assemblage of  geniuses.

(I really do appreciate you guys)

~

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

Friday Favorites

Happy Friday

and

HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY!

One of my coworkers made the comment that his wife asked him to give her flowers for Valentine’s Day.

She ASKED him.  And he didn’t send her flowers!

I told him I would blog about this and he shrugged.

One day there will be shaming!

After listening to two of these guys talk this morning about how they don’t observe this “Hallmark holiday” I am even more convinced that

I have the best Valentine in the world.

My Valentine is my

Favorite # ONE

LB

Not because he spoils me, but because he adores me.

And I adore him!

He gives and gives and is always trying to think of ways to outdo himself.  This morning I was greeted by hugs, kisses, balloons, chocolates, gifts, and flowers.

LB knows how much I love flowers.

Favorite # TWO

Tulips

LB bought these last week.  No flowers at first, but they started to show signs of budding within two days.

When the flowers finally opened, Elvis would have none of it.  He decided it was time for them to go.  As of this morning, he has bitten off two flowers and left them for me to find on the table.

At least he didn’t eat them and hopefully he won’t eat these

Favorite # THREE

A Special Delivery

with a note quoting a line from my favorite movie You’ve Got Mail. 

I’ve mentioned this in another Valentine’s Day Post here.

Yes, LB, I do think daisies are the friendliest flower!

[He is such a romantic]

Favorite # FOUR

All This

~

There is NO way I can post today without reminiscing about Valentine’s Day 2018 and mentioning

Favorite # FIVE

RORY

was born 2 years ago today and I was privileged to meet her only minutes after she arrived

She has changed so much in two years!

Happy Birthday Little Valentine!

Yippee Ki-Yay!

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

Friday Favorites

The first Friday in February is

National Wear Red Day

to raise awareness about heart disease in women and show support for saving women’s lives…

Red is one of my favorites!  And today is time for my

Friday Favorites!

Favorite # ONE

is that red sweater!

It came from Old Navy and I have it in 3 colors!

~

This week has been a long one, not only because I commute to work in another city. every. day.

But because of an experiment I am doing for my Behavior Modification class.  This experiment (and class) deserves a blog post of its own, but for now, let me say that I would not have been able to track the number of grams of sugar I have consumed each day without this smartphone app

Favorite # TWO

MyFitnessPal

It is amazing how many grams of sugar can be consumed in one day even when you aren’t indulging in sweets.

Even cauliflower has sugar!

This week my intake has been light.

Last week was an entirely different story because there is a huge amount of sugar in

Favorite # THREE

Birthday Cake

I LOVE CAKE!

LB’s January 26th birthday cakeBanana Split Cake

Wendy’s January 29th birthday cakeWhite sheet cake with BUTTERCREAM ICING (my favorite believe it or not)

And Mama’s January 31st birthday cake WHICH IS MY

Favorite # FOUR

from  Spicy Southern Kitchen

Amaretto Pound Cake

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees and spray a 10-inch Bundt or tube pan with baking spray.
  • Sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
  • Use an electric stand mixer to cream butter, shortening, and sugar until light and fluffy.
  • Add eggs one at a time. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and beat well after each addition.
  • Mix in amaretto and almond extract.
  • Add flour mixture, alternating with milk. beginning and ending with flour mixture.
  • Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake for 80 to 90 minutes.
  • Cool for 30 minutes before inverting onto a serving platter.

I’m saving this recipe so I can make it again.

This time I’ll leave it in the oven for the required baking time 🤣

~

Favorite # FIVE

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

Connect