Pretty is

...My Life and Style

You are here: Home / Home

TBB Asks: Giving Thanks Edition

The first Monday of the month signifies TBB Asks time.

The Blended Blog is focusing on Giving Thanks and I’m linking up to take part in the Giving Thanks Q&A.  The linkup post was shared by Andrea and can be found here.

The “Thankful Food for Thought” that Andrea shared was especially noteworthy:

and I agree!

Thankful people are Happy people!

 

 

Have you ever kept a Gratitude Journal?

I’ve never kept a journal.  However, my blog serves as my journal of family, friends, and the wonderful life that I enjoy.

Hosting Thanksgiving at your house: Yes or No?

One of my newer traditions is hosting my Sunday before Thanksgiving Dinner.  My Mama and kids will meet at my house for a foretaste of the National holiday!

A new family member will be celebrating her first Thanksgiving with us this year!

Favorite food from The Thanksgiving Meal?

Dressing.  Not stuffing. Dressing.

It has been said that if it is stuffed inside the turkey, it should be labeled stuffing; if it is baked as a casserole, then the correct name for it is dressing.  Here in the south, we just call it dressing.

Unless it comes from a box

What one thing in Nature are you most grateful for?

Big Beautiful Colors

Tiny Little Creatures

Pumpkin Pie: Yes or No?

YES!

Traditional Cookbook: Yes or No?

Although I have a LOT of cookbooks, I rarely use them.  Most of my recipe experiments come from Pinterest.

Oven Baked or Deep Fried Turkey?

I love an oven roasted turkey!

Thanksgiving Leftovers: Yes or No?

Absolutely.  Thanksgiving dinner tastes even better the following day!

What is one Household Product you are most grateful for?

All of them!

Are you most grateful for home cooked meals or restaurant meals?

Home cooked meals are the best!Smothered in GRAVY!

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


Filed Under: TBB

Friday Favorites Halloween Edition

This week I returned to work from my wonderful fall vacation.  After a week back at work, Friday is once again my favorite day [to say the least]

and good reason to focus on my favorites.

My Friday Favorites

Tim Burton Halloween GIF

Featuring favorites from Halloween 2018.

Favorite # ONE

Apparently these are my most favorite item of the weekas I cannot seem to keep my hands off of them.

I purposely did not buy M&Ms to avoid temptation, but it seems that there is no prejudice when it comes to chocolate.

And there is a whole jar of them by the front door!

If only I had some Trick-or-Treaters to show up at my door! (Pictured: Amanda, Richard, Emily, Kyle, Dillon, Stephanie, Sydney, and Elizabeth)

 

Favorite # TWO

Dressing up with LB for Halloween…as a 1920’s Gangster Fella and Flapper Girl.

This year we ran out of time to work on a new Halloween costume, so we recycled an old one from 2012.

Some other costumes that were impressive:

My sister Gina who is apparently celebrating the Day of the Dead.

And my sister’s sweet grand-babies as the Three Little Pigs.

My precious Glam-baby Rory as Pascal the chameleon who lives with Rapunzel.Apparently she doesn’t appreciate being caged.

Favorite # THREE

Other costume favorites from the past:

Sandy and Danny

A Pirate Wench

Poison Ivy and the Riddler

Favorite # FOUR

Party Time at Wayne and Laurie’s

Every year we attend the Balasso Halloween Bash, which you can read more about here.

Even though Halloween was a mid-week event, we had a scary good time.

Favorite # FIVE

I’m not necessarily a fan of the song lyrics, but I do like this creepy Backstreet Boys video.  The dance is fun, and the characters are cute.

Disclaimer: This production by the Backstreet Boys is most likely PG-13.

 

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

Fall Vacation

Our vacation began innocently enough.  A stop in Dahlonega, Georgia a week after GOLD RUSH DAYS.

We stayed at the Dahlonega Square Hotel and Villaswhich was very nice.

We visited the Dahlonega Gold Museum…And various shops..And enjoyed brunch at Picnic Cafe.

Then afterward headed toward North Carolina for mountain roads and a search for waterfalls.

There is a self imposed challenge to find the most beautiful waterfall in the southeast.  Last year there was the creepy climb to see Rufus Morgan Trailhead.

This year we attempted to have a less creepy encounter.

 LB tried to keep things safe and purchased a waterfall brochure while we were in Georgia to study before venturing onward.

He decided that while on our way to Highlands we would look for the Trahlyta falls in Georgia.  We followed the GPS and took a turn down a road which promptly became a one-lane, unpaved road.I immediately [but silently] don’t like this.

After two miles of hoping no one would be coming in the opposite direction, and a bit of confusion, there was a sign:

A sign?

The road eventually led us to a small parking area where we saw that others had found the same location and were setting out to investigate.

Well if HE did, I probably will too.

I changed into my big girl boots, and we set out to find the falls.

We reached the bottom of the falls and LB felt adventurous, and he took off onto the rocks.He quickly discovered something that looked like it didn’t belong.  It was a walking stick.  My first thought was, “it probably belongs to the people that went down the trail ahead of us”.

LB rescued it anyway.

We continued up and met the couple that hiked up ahead of us.  Sure enough, the man had dropped his brand new walking stick and would likely not have been able to retrieve it alone.  LB happily handed it over to him and the couple gratefully used it to continue their descent.

Shortly thereafter LB and I began our trek down the trail.  As another gentleman came toward us, I had an uneasy feeling and thought “I wish I had a gun stuck in the back of my pants right now”.

We continued past him to the car.

As we were leaving, LB pointed out a sticker on a truck that had parked beside us.

MURDER RIDE?

Anyway… we made it safely to our next destination.

 

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

Can You Bake Some Pumpkin Muffins?

Yesterday as we drove back to Jacksonville to spend the final day of fall vacation at home, LB asked, “what can you make with pumpkin [for me] when we get back home?”

The pumpkin possibilities are endless!

Dey’s uh, pumpkin-kabobs, pumpkin creole, pumpkin gumbo. Pan fried, deep fried, stir-fried. Pineapple pumpkin, lemon pumpkin, coconut pumpkin, pepper pumpkin, pumpkin soup, pumpkin stew, pumpkin salad, pumpkin and potatoes, pumpkin burger, pumpkin sandwich…

(source)

er… can you [just] bake some pumpkin muffins?

Absolutely!

So I went on a Pinterest search for pumpkin muffins with an added bit of sump’n.

I found these Pumpkin Cream Cheese Swirl Muffins from The Novice Chef.

As the Novice Chef states, these spiced pumpkin muffins are moist and topped with sweet cream cheese that melts into them as they bake and only take 30 minutes!
And she is right!

For the muffins you will need all purpose flour, pumpkin spice, baking soda, salt, a can of pumpkin, granulated sugar, brown sugar, eggs, vegetable oil, and vanilla extract.

For the fancy cream cheese swirl you will need, cream cheese, granulated sugar, egg yolk, and vanilla extract.

Here is how it is done:

Preheat your oven to 375°F.

If your oven is like mine, it will take 30 minutes to get there.

Place paper baking cups into a muffin pan and set aside.  Then, in a medium bowl, whisk flour, pumpkin spice, baking soda and salt until well combined and set it aside.

In your standing mixer, mix together the canned pumpkin, sugar and brown sugar.  Beat in eggs, vegetable oil and vanilla extract. Then slowly add in the flour mixture, mixing until there are no lumps.  This mixture looks really good.  Stick your finger in it and give it a taste.

Good, huh?

Wash your hands and continue.

Fill the muffin cups about three quarters of the way full.

Nice.

Now, after LB (or your significant other) has licked the bowl clean, wash it so you can use if for the cream cheese swirl.

In that same mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese until smooth. Add in the sugar, egg yolk and vanilla extract and beat until well combined.  Top each muffin with about 1 tablespoon of the cream cheese mixture and use a toothpick to swirl it into the batter.

It will turn out better than you think.

Bake the muffins for 18-20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

And LB exclaims

“the holiday baking season has begun!”

 

 

Pumpkin Cream Swirl Muffins

  • Servings: 18
  • Difficulty: easy
  • Print

Ingredients

Muffin:

  • 1 3/4 cups all purpose flour
  • 1 tablespoon pumpkin spice
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 (15 oz) can pumpkin (pure pumpkin puree)
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract

Cream Cheese Swirl:

  • 8 oz cream cheese
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg yolk
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Directions

Preheat oven to 375°F.  Place paper baking cups into muffin pan.  Set aside.

In a medium bowl, whisk flour, pumpkin spice, baking soda and salt until well combined.  Set aside.

In a mixing bowl, beat together pumpkin, sugar and brown sugar.  Add eggs, vegetable oil and vanilla extract.

Slowly add the flour mixture, mixing until smooth.  Fill muffin tins 3/4 full.

In a mixing bowl, beat cream cheese until smooth.  Add sugar, egg yolk and vanilla extract and beat until well combined.

Top each muffin with about 1 tablespoon of cream cheese mixture and use a toothpick to swirl it into the batter.

Bake muffins for 18-20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

 

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

NATIONAL BLACK CAT DAY

Today is

Don’t be superstitious!

black cat GIF

October 27 is National Black Cat Day, and it is all about celebrating the beauty of these sleek creatures.

And the fluffy ones too!

“While this time of year black cats may decorate many thresholds for Halloween and windows for spooky decor, these felines deserve the love and attention just as much as their tabby counterparts.  Old notions have given these furry critters a bad reputation.  National Black Cat Day is about turning that reputation around” (source).

HOW TO OBSERVE

If you are a cat lover and considering adopting, don’t overlook the sweet little black cats looking for love.  There is no rational reason to be afraid of black cats, so open your home to the dark side!  Take a picture and post on social media using  #NationalBlackCatDay to share (source).

Stories about my black fur baby Elvis Cat Starling can be read here and here.

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

 

Friday Favorites Feeling Like Fall

It is feeling like fall and my

Friday Favorites

are dedicated to this fall feeling!

During fall vacation week my favorites begin with the shopping trip the week before…

Favorite # ONE

Little Debbie Pumpkin Delights

Although I love to bake my own desserts, Little Debbie snack cakes are fun to have in the cookie jar for the occasional Little Debbie snack attack.

I was hoping to sneak these into our shopping cart.

But LB caught me!I guess I’ll have to go back to the store while he’s busy!

Favorite # TWO

Classy Crossroads Boutique

A trip to the mountains would not be complete without a stop at Classy Crossroads in Macclenny, FL while heading out of town.

I enjoyed our stop at Classy Crossroads and came away with a bag full of goodies!

Favorite # THREE

Another stop along the way is

Magnolia Plantation

Magnolia Plantation is a place where you can find homemade jellies, jams, pecan divinity, fudge, peanut brittle, pecan rolls, toasted macaroons, pecan pralines,

pork rinds (a low carb lovers’ crunchy dream)by Mutt & Jeffand

Old Fashioned Claxton Fruit Cakes It is WORLD FAMOUS!

and an LB favorite (which he will find in his Christmas stocking).

Favorite # FOUR

Fall Décor

I haven’t even purchased a pumpkin yet, but I love seeing the decorations of fall every where.

This lovely display is at the Hampton Inn hotel in Franklin, North Carolina.I’m slightly bothered that the coffee table isn’t centered with the fireplace, but that is just my OCD.

Lately I’m obsessed with antique trucks that transport pumpkins.  I caught sight of the back of one holding a candle on the mantle at the same hotel.and another in a window display in Highlands, NC.Love the pumpkin truck!

This display is just inside the front door of a shop in Dahlonega Square in Dahlonega, Georgia.Complete with pilgrims… very cute.

And there was this scary little spider plaque that reminded me of Wendy (she is scared of spiders).

Also found in Dahlonega Square at the General Store.

I’ll need to get my fall decorations down as soon as I get back home!

Favorite # FIVE

The Pumpkin Truck

I’ll be going back to get it!

 

 

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

Friday Favorites: Princess Edition

“Behaving like a princess is work. It’s not just about looking beautiful or wearing a crown.
It’s more about how you are inside.”
~Julie Andrews~

 

 

This week in the news:  A well-known actress (not Julie Andrews) was interviewed on a talk show and explained that she does not allow her young daughter to watch such Disney movies as Cinderella and The Little Mermaid.  Her argument was these movies are not empowering to women.

Cinderella has been banned because

“she waits around for a rich guy to rescue her. Don’t! Rescue yourself, obviously.”

Regarding The Little Mermaid, she said, “I really like the film, but The Little Mermaid… I mean, the songs are great but do not give your voice up for a man. Hello?!”

My take on both are a little different.

The Little Mermaid

is my

FAVORITE

Disney Princess!

Ariel traded her voice for a pair of legs…

africant GIF

not for a man.

She defied her father, the KING of the sea and her guardian, the incomparable Sebastian and

DID WHAT SHE WANTED TO DO!

To add to her happy ending, she got her voice back!

   In honor of Disney Princesses, what they represent, and the memories they conjure, this is my

Friday Favorites Princess Edition

Favorite # TWO

Cinderella

cinderella GIF

Cinderella worked unceasingly in her own home;  She lived with and waited on an evil trio.  She wasn’t waiting to be rescued, nor was she waiting for a man.

All she wanted to do was GO TO A PARTY.  And with the help of a fairy godmother, she did.

She had a wonderful time at the ball and afterward secured a position for herself in the royal family.  What influence and responsibility she would have.

Her turn of events reminds me of Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, wife of Prince Harry, and member of the British royal family.

Favorite # THREE

Briar Rose

Briar Rose was the name that the three good fairies gave to Aurora, the princess who would become the Sleeping Beauty.

 Merriweather initiated a battle with Flora for the ultimate color before Briar Rose was fitted with her birthday dress.

Make it BLUE!

sleeping beauty disney GIF

Throughout the movie, it seemed that Merriweather  had won with her selection of a blue princess dress.

My little Stephanie agreed that blue was the perfect princess color.

She would dress in blue while she danced in front of the television watching Disney’s Sleeping Beauty on VHS singing Once Upon A Dream…

while the battle for PINK or BLUE raged on.

Sleeping Beauty was the favorite Princess in our house in the late eighties and early nineties.

I still love the story.

Favorite # FOUR

Make it Pink!

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month.On October Fridays we wear pink.

Last Friday there was a call to wear pink.

This Friday there was a call to wear pink.  We did this last year too (read about it here).

I have no problem with this…

I love pink!Unfortunately I’m too tired in the morning to pose for a photo!

(Yes it is still nighttime when I leave for work.  Too early for a princess!)

Favorite # FIVE

On the subject of Princesses,

Princess Lydia

tells me that she plans to dress up as Rapunzel for Halloween.

Glammy cannot wait to see her little princess dressed up for Trunk or Treat!

 

 

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

Connect