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Free samples and Floor models

Everyone appreciates something free!  One of the perks of shopping at Costco is the free samples.

Occasionally LB and I will go to

Costco

 and, by the time we leave, there is no reason to have dinner.

At least for me.

Since we are planning to cookout on July 4th, last Sunday LB decided we would go to Costco to pick up some of their sirloin burgers.  I agreed with his good idea, so off we went.

While LB was looking at some Levis, I noticed a lady handing out samples.

“I wonder what she’s giving away”, I said.

To which he replied, “let’s go find out”.

Although very odd in appearance, the chicken burger was okay.  Nevertheless, LB and I decided to purchase the sirloin burgers instead.

Then there was potato salad raspberry jalapeño dip with crackers salsa with tortilla chips a popsicle (aka a piece of a popsicle) Madeline’sNathan’s hotdogs and more.

After all of that, I was done.

But the shopping continued.

LB and I have been looking to purchase patio furniture.

We saw a very nice set floor model at Costco which was marked down $600 less than the online price.  I liked it.

He liked it.

But there was still some uncertainty.

After some discussion, by the time we arrived back home, the decision was made.  Later that day, LB called Costco. He learned that there were 3 sets available and he would be able to pick up a set that was still packaged the next day.  LB checked with Wayne to see if he would be available to help, and on Monday morning, LB and Wayne collected and delivered 3 large boxes to our backyard.

The Barcalounger 6 piece Theater Seating Set

It was quite an undertaking to unbox and setup the collection, but LB was a champ, and I helped a little.

We enjoyed the remainder of the evening relaxing in our new Barcalounger recliners!

~

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

Friday Favorites

What a whirlwind of a week this has been, and the activity began six days ago.

Last Saturday morning LB and I left for Georgia to attend the wedding of his youngest nephew.  After lunch at the Thomasville Garden Club we headed back to Florida to attend the birthday party of one of his closest friends.

Heading up my Friday Favorites is LB’s Friend!

Favorite # ONE

Wayne

Also known as “The Count”

I like him too.

And his sweet wife Laurie.

LB and Wayne worked together for many years and have been there for each other through good times and not-so-good times.

I would venture to say that Wayne is his best friend.

Happy Birthday Wayne!

🎂

Sunday was a bit more laid back as we attempted to recharge after a busy Saturday.

A private pool party was the prescription for rejuvenation!

Favorite # TWO

This Pool

And this photo is dedicated to my co-worker Kathy, who (though she follows me on social media), had no idea that there was a pool in my back yard.

🦢

It has been a HOT week and, as such, a great time to have a pool.  LB and I are not the only ones who have enjoyed it. On Tuesday evening, Richard, Emily, Lydia, and Rory came by.  Lydia wanted Glammy to go swimming, but Glammy needs a swimsuit that will stay in place and is appropriate for community swim time.

It arrived Wednesday.

Favorite # THREE

My New Swimsuit

Mine is RED!

Although I didn’t have it in time for this first weeknight pool party of the summer, I’ll have it next time.

Luckily Lydia’s Mama and Daddy enjoyed swimming and playing in the pool with her.  Rory, however, did not want to participate.  She “told” me that she wanted to go back inside and play in the bath tub.  Lydia would eventually come in for her bath too, and where there is Lydia, there is creativity and imagination.

🛀

Favorite # FOUR

Bath Time

with all its particulars!

🦆

And last but not least, there is a new recipe in my life

Favorite # FIVE

Low Carb Chocolate Cupcakes

Read about my Low Carb Chocolate Cupcakes HERE!

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

Low Carb Chocolate Cupcakes

Wendy has been sticking to her KETO diet lately, and I’m proud of her for being so disciplined.  Although she hasn’t cheated (as far as I know), she has talked so much about chocolate cake that it won’t be long before she does.  She has one specific cake on her mind.  The cake she is longing for is one that was brought into work several months ago by one of the managers at our office.

That cake had a special ingredient…

Zucchini

When Wendy admitted to not knowing that there was a difference between liquid and dry measurements, I knew I would need to step in to help.

I told her I would try to duplicate the recipe.

On Tuesday she handed over 5 small zucchini,a zip top bag filled with cocoa powder, and a bottle of Stevia concentrate.  Seeing that she was serious, I committed to create this cake for her.

My low carb chocolate cupcake recipe was adapted from Lisa’s Low Carb Yum Best Low Carb Chocolate Cake Recipe.

This recipe makes 24 cupcakes, contains 96 calories, and 2.5 net carbs.  It requires planning ahead because unless you bake low carb/sugar-free regularly, you probably won’t have all the necessary ingredients on hand.

Ingredients:

1 cup coconut flour

1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1 1/2 cup low carb sweetener (1:1 sugar replacement)

1/4 teaspoon Stevia concentrated powder

1 teaspoon cinnamon

2 teaspoons baking soda

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon sea salt

1/2 cup coconut oil (melted)

8 large eggs (beaten)

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

4 cups zucchini (shredded)

Using my food processor I shredded 4 small zucchini which is apparently the secret to making this low carb cake recipe so moist.

Instructions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F.  Line a 12-cup muffin pan with cupcake liners.
  2. In a large mixing bowl, whisk coconut flour, sweetener, Stevia concentrate, cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder, and sea salt.
  3. In a separate container whisk eggs, coconut oil, and vanilla until smooth.
  4. Combine the wet and dry ingredients.
  5. Stir in the shredded zucchini.
  6. Spoon the batter into the cupcake liners, filling about halfway.
  7. Bake for 15 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of a cupcake comes out clean.
  8. Cool on wire rack.
  9. Once cool, frost with chocolate buttercream frosting, if desired.

I highly recommend frosting with chocolate buttercream frosting.  The recipe is from Lisa’s Low Carb Yum, is unbelievably tasty, and completely worth the extra calories!

 

 

Low Carb Chocolate Cupcakes

  • Servings: 24
  • Difficulty: easy
  • Print

Ingredients

1 cup coconut flour

1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1 1/2 cup low carb sweetener (1:1 sugar replacement)

1/4 teaspoon Stevia concentrated powder

1 teaspoon cinnamon

2 teaspoons baking soda

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon sea salt

1/2 cup coconut oil (melted)

8 large eggs (beaten)

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

4 cups zucchini (shredded)

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°F.  Line a 12-cup muffin pan with cupcake liners.

In large mixing bowl, whisk coconut flour, sweetener, stevia concentrate cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder, and sea salt.

In a separate bowl whisk eggs, coconut oil, and vanilla until smooth.

Combine wet and dry ingredients.

Stir in zucchini

Spoon the batter into the cupcake liners, filling only halfway.

Bake for 15 18 20 or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

Cool on wire rack. Once cool, frost with chocolate buttercream frosting, if desired.

prettyis.me

 

 

Wendy had a happy day!

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

Friday Favorites

On my way to work this morning I was listening to Mark Kaye and Meghan on 95.1 WAPE.

They were discussing their upcoming Hot Ones Challenge and welcomed James from 9 Ball Heaven Sports Grill & Billiards to the studio.

At 9 Ball Heaven, James offers a hot wing challenge to anyone who can eat 10 of his hot wings in 20 minutes.

If the challenge is met, there is a prize.

One of these: The hot wings are doused in James’ own chief sauce (made with ghost peppers).

Taking turns, Mark and Meghan each tried 3 wings from 9 Ball Heaven: 1 mild, 1 medium, 1 hot, while the other presented interview questions.

Mark went first.  He declared the mild wing to be delicious while Meghan asked him to name his last meal (food/drink) if he were on death row.  Mark said it would be those wings and a cold beer.

He then tried the medium wing which he described as appetizing and finally the hot wing while Meghan asked him to name 2 items he would want to have if he were stranded on a deserted island:

“AN AMBULANCE AND A DOCTOR”

was his immediate response.

He later changed his answer to ‘his inhaler and family’, but his first answer was indicative of the effect the hot wing had on him.

Meghan’s response was to this Hot Ones Challenge was hilarious.

She was so nervous that I was expecting she would back out.  I was laughing out loud to the point that I can’t even remember Mark’s interview questions for her, with the exception of the 3rd one:

With Meagan’s first taste of the hot “chief sauce” wing Mark asked her to sing Baby Shark.

This is what she said:

That wasn’t so bad…

WHOA… OH MY GOD… NO… Baby Shark Doo Doo Doo Doo… (sniff) Grandpa Shark…

I gotta GO

It was a great show and as I pulled into my dreaded office parking lot,  I think it may have been the first time I’ve ever arrived laughing!

Today my

Favorite # ONE

is

The Morning Mess with Mark Kaye and Meghan

By the way, I think this would be a good challenge for my nephew Kyle.

~

Favorite # TWO

Women’s Rosalynn Block Heeled Mule

(a birthday gift)

 

Thank you Richard and Emily!

~

Favorite # THREE

Earrings

(a birthday gift)(similar)

Thank you Stephanie and Amanda!

Also from my girls…

Favorite # FOUR

A Purrmaid Pool Float

and other pool time accessories:

Magical Unicorn Beverage Boats and Stretchy Fling FlamingosIt is about time for me to get in the pool.

Ordinarily, it would be considered past time to get in the pool.  But my pool doesn’t get warm until late June/early July

Now I have no excuse!

~

Favorite # FIVE

It’s Friday

and

I’m out of the office like

Happy Weekend!

 

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

 

Way Back Wednesday

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away…

(I might be exaggerating)

Actually it was the afternoon of June 6th in 1984 and I was about to enter a new season of life!

Last Wednesday marked 35 years since I graduated from high school.

Because I was busy posting highlights from my recent birthday and cruise, I neglected to take time to focus on memories of high school.

With the exception of occasional uneasiness brought about by thoughts of a possible Soviet invasion (special thanks to the movie Red Dawn), it was a great time to be a kid!

SO many things were happening during the early 80’s prior to my high school graduation.

Such happenings include:

Reaganomics

Family Ties

Lady Diana Spencer

Return of the Jedi

star wars episode 6 GIF

The cable debut of MTV

Sally Ride

EPCOT

Jump

music videos 80s GIF

The birth of the modern internet

Footloose

kevin bacon dancing GIF

The release of the first Apple Macintosh

Michael Jackson’s MoonwalkMichael Jackson Moonwalk GIF

The maiden voyage of the Space Shuttle Columbia

The Cosby Show

Ghost Busters

harold ramis ghostbusters GIF

Sixteen Candles

Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go

Retro Wake Me Up Before You Go Go GIF

and

WHAM!

(see what I did?)

I was a senior in high school!

(why didn’t someone help me with my eyebrows?)

During my teens, senior high began with 10th grade.

It was at this point in August 1981, that I began attending Edward H. White Senior High School (personal artwork in the yearbook)

It seemed like a huge place and a schedule led by “mods” instead of “periods” was a bit overwhelming for a newbie. Luckily I had some older friends who were already attending and were able to show me how to manage (thank you Kim and Vicki).

It was important to have identification at the time.

Mine looked like this:

Although there were so many activities to keep me busy…

when I think back, time seemed to move slowly.

But before I knew it

1984

had arrived.

I would be saying goodbye to high school.

Happy 35th Anniversary Ed White Class of 84!

GO COMMANDERS!

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

The Lizard

Critters seem to find their way into my house and usually I find them after they’ve gone to the great beyond – thank goodness!

But while cleaning the family room

–

A

Lizard!

 

We came upon each other suddenly…

as he was sunning himself on the back of the sofa.

While spiders and bugs get a swat or a spray, lizards get a pass.

I can pick it up by that long tail and take it to the door and gently let it go to a new lease on life.

I reached for him and his eyes grew large.  I could see the fear in his eyes or so it seemed.  I pulled and he held on for dear life, no kidding, and those little feet dug into the tapestry fabric.  I said, “come on little fella, let go; I’m not going to hurt you.   I’m going to set you free”.  I just wanted to put him back into his natural habitat, but all he saw was something bigger than life and he wasn’t about to let go.

It became quite funny, a battle of sorts. The more I pulled, the more he held on. I could almost hear him crying, “somebody help me”!

Finally, I was able to peel him away from the sofa.

As I made my way to the door I began to ponder, isn’t that what God has to do with us when we think we’re in a “safe place”, comfortably living our lives?

He knows it’s not the best plan for us.

Sometimes it hurts and we become afraid as He “pries us away” from what we thought was good only to find we can experience something far better. His aim is not to hurt us, even though at the time we can only think of our pain and fear.

If we could pause and remember that in all our ways to acknowledge Him, then He would direct our paths, and would do a better work in us that, even if we tried, we could never imagine. God, in His providence, has only our good in mind.

In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Proverbs 3:6 KJV

MDR

Friday Favorites

It may have been a short workweek, but since returning to work after vacation I have been longing for Friday…

Not only because I want to

NOT GO TO WORK

but because I enjoy sharing my

Friday Favorites

Animation Dancing GIF by LooseKeys

Favorite # ONE

It may seem that I have an obsession with donuts because I have mentioned them frequently on my blog in such posts as found here, here, here, here, here, and here.

And as a matter of fact, I’ve picked up donuts for work many times.

However I won’t be bringing in donuts on National Donut Day because donuts are a high carb food and Wendy and Kim are currently practicing a low carb lifestyle.  That said, instead of donuts, we will be enjoying these

Cocoa Roasted Almonds

for a special treat today.

9 net carbs per ¼ cup serving and 100% sweet tooth satiating

These are awesome!

~

Favorite # TWO

Little Visitors

The baby girls came by for a visit on Tuesday evening.

Oftentimes Lydia will ask to take a bath while she is at Glammy’s.  I agree that it is a good idea since she and Rory will likely fall asleep on the ride home, then their Mommy can put them right to bed.  Many times they don’t have a change of clothes, or pajamas with them.

On this occasion, Glammy offered the use of her tee shirts.

Rory was particularly amusing when she presented her ensemble.  Then she noticed that LB was holding a bag of Tostitos.Because she wanted to wear the garden gloves she had discovered, it was especially cute when she tried to feed herself a Tostito.

What a doll!

~

Favorite # THREE

Birthday Gifts

LB has such good taste!

My birthday post shared the adventures LB and I experienced on June 1st, however I didn’t reveal the birthday gifts LB gave me.

Here they are:

KATE SPADE White Rock Road Denim Sam in Dark Wave

KATE SPADE Emelyn Quilted Black

(similar)

STERLING SILVER TIKI FLOWER DROP EARRINGS

STERLING SILVER FLOWER TIKI BRACELET

~

My family celebrates other birthdays in June.  This week we were blessed with two others

Favorite # FOUR

Adrienne Dawn

is my sister’s youngest G-baby.

This week marks one year for the “rainbow baby”

Happy Birthday Adrienne!

~

Favorite # FIVE

Emily

is my daughter-in-law.

She is a lovely young lady and Mommy to the sweetest little Glam-babies in the world.

Happy Birthday Emily!

~

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

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