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PARTY TIME

This month The Blended Blog Asks about Party Time.

 

Favorite Birthday Party as a Child?

There is but one memorable childhood party, and I only recall bits and pieces.  I believe it was the year of my 12thbirthday, and it was near the end of the Disco era.  WHAT?

Some of the things I remember about that party are:

  • It was set up in the garage
  • Boys were invited
  • Disco Dynamite was one of the awesome records that were played.

The event must have turned out well, because the vague memory always brings a smile to my face.

 

 

Do you like to Entertain? Yes or No?

I like to have people over and feed them.

 

 

What kind of Parties are your favorite?

Dress up parties are amusing!

One year our family dressed as Batman characters to celebrate Richard’s birthday.  Dressing up for Laurie’s Halloween party every year is a lot of fun too.It is good to have a specific event to plan around, like the Super Bowl Party we had this past January. There will typically be something on the TV like a football game (obviously) or my YouTube party playlist to help provide musical entertainment.

If I host a party with family in mind, it will usually involve the pool.

Big or Small Parties?

Both.

Favorite thing to do at Parties?

Eat.

Party Food Favorites?

Finger foods are good!  Dips are great!  Anything that you can dip a cracker or chip into is usually a big hit!

Favorite Flavor Birthday Cake?

I like a cake with buttercream frosting and ‘Happy Birthday Kim’ decorations from a local grocery store bakery.Yes I’ll do it!

Balloons? Yes or No?

Yes, love balloons!  Especially when they come special delivery in a balloon bouquet!

Best Party Song?

Good Question!  There are so many!  Uptown Funk.  Love Shack.  Anything from the 80’s!

As I mentioned before, I have a YouTube Party Playlist.  Accessing the website on the TV delivers party music as well as video.  A fun song like The Cupid Shuffle will provide dance instruction as well!

Do you like to Dance? Yes or No?

Yes, I do like to dance.

No, I do not dance well.

Luckily my partner helps me look like I know what I’m doing.

 

 

 

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

Sisters

Sister (as defined by Merriam-Webster)

1 : a female who has one or both parents in common with another
2  a : a member of a women’s religious order (as of nuns or deaconesses); especially one of a Roman Catholic congregation under simple vows.  b : a girl or woman who is a member of a Christian church
3 a : a girl or woman regarded as a comrade. b : a girl or woman who shares with another a common national or racial origin
4 : a member of a sorority

Today is

 

In My world, sisters look like this:

 

National Sisters Day is observed annually on the first Sunday in August.  Like many other special days, it is a day of opportunity  to show appreciation for that unique bond only sisters can understand.

All sisters may have the odd argument here and there, but deep down there’s little way to break the strong bond shared by female siblings.  The natural connection between sisters is like no other.

  Sisters are forever.

HOW TO OBSERVE

Cherish the memories and make plans to create new ones.  Reconnect or patch up any misunderstandings.  Make this day a special celebration of your sister.

If you don’t have a sister, you can still celebrate the friendships of sisterhood by having a girls’ night out!

Post on social media using #NationalSistersDay to encourage others to do the same.

(source)

 

 

 

Miss Celie’s Blues (Sister)
Sister,
You’ve been on my mind
Sister, we’re two of a kind
So sister,
I’m keepin’ my eyes on you
I betcha think
I don’t know nothin’
But singin’ the blues
Oh sister, have I got news for you
I’m somethin’
I hope you think
That you’re somethin’ too
Oh, Scufflin’,
I been up that lonesome road
And I seen a lot of suns goin’ down
Oh, but trust me
No low life’s gonna run me around
So let me tell you somethin’ sister
Remember your name
No twister,
Gonna steal your stuff away
My sister
Sho’ ain’t got a whole lot of time
So shake your shimmy,
Sister
‘Cause honey this ‘shug
Is feelin’ fine
Songwriters: Quincy Jones / Rod Temperton / Lionel B. / Jr. Richie
Miss Celie’s Blues (Live) lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc, Universal Music Publishing Group
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National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day!

National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day is observed annually on August 4th.

According to National Day Calendar, this is a day to enjoy those tasty bits of chocolate in your favorite cookies.

I don’t need a special reason to bake cookies, but I’ll take it!

Because chocolate chip cookies are a US favorite, we thank Ruth Graves Wakefield for her creation of chocolate chips, and also celebrate her name on National Chocolate Chip Day in May.  For if it weren’t for her curiosity and invention, there wouldn’t be any lingering in the kitchen waiting for the oven timer to ding.  If Ruth had never wondered what chunks of chocolate would taste like mixed into a sugar cookie dough, we would not know the joy of chocolate chip cookie dough.  Nor would we know the ecstasy that is to taste a freshly baked chocolate chip cookie.  If it weren’t for Ruth Graves Wakefield, entire generations would have been denied the bliss that is a chocolate chip cookie.

Thank you Ruth!

It may be that she is equally responsible for all those other nuggets of goodness.  Morsels of butterscotch, peanut butter and white chocolate enjoyed in much the same way we enjoy our chocolate delights.  Nothing, though, rates quite as high as the chocolate chip cookie that Ruth Grave Wakefield brought to us in 1937.

No… Nothing.

(source)

HOW TO OBSERVE

Make your favorite chocolate chip cookies and throw some extra chocolate chips into the mix! Give this recipe a try. Post on social media using #ChocolateChipCookieDay.

 

LB and I endured Hurricane Irma in 2017 with these Chocolate Chip Cookies.

 

Today I used a recently discovered Pinterest recipe for Soft Batch Cream Cheese Chocolate Chip Cookies. 

It is posted on my Pinterest COOKIES! board and also on the site from which it was found: Averie Cooks.  If you are looking for a quick chocolate chip cookie fix, it is important to note that these cookies require refrigeration for at least 2 hours before baking.

 

 

 

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

Friday Favorites Workplace Edition

I haven’t had the energy or the creativity to post this week because we have been under an overtime mandate at work due to excessive call volume.  Happily, one of our production agents sits in a cubicle on the other side of mine and I get to listen to her all day long.

It’s Mary Ann

and she hopes “to ensure to provide you an excellent customer experience” if she happens to take your call.

With very clear and precise annunciation, Mary Ann adds cheerfulness to her calls and provides a bit of entertainment to those of us nearby.

This morning I heard her exclaim to a customer:

“I’m great, IT’S FRIDAY!  Who could not be great on a Friday?”

She is an exceptional agent and at times will say things that make me drop my jaw, but given the subject matter, that is understandable.

She will not hesitate to declare her competence by informing her customer that she has “been with the company for eleven years”.

Of course there is no one who can better help the customer because [as she puts it] “we are the last… call center left in the United States”

Mary Ann will even provide her customers with her contact email sweetly advising “if you don’t use it, it’s your own fault”… “Darlin’.”

Today she is my

Favorite # ONE

She brightened my day today!

For my Friday favorites I have decided to make proverbial lemonade out of our workplace lemons and accentuate the positive!

 

Here goes:

 

 

Favorite # TWO

Dunkin’ Donuts

from Derek.

The new guy on the block decided to treat the team this morning.

What a nice gesture!

 

According to MyFitnessPal this Boston Kreme Donut contains 445 calories and 67 grams of carbs.I don’t want to talk about it.

 

Favorite # THREE

As I mentioned in this post Wendy has lost a lot of weight.

Today marked

 A Pivotal Moment

as she walked into the office wearing a dress.

For the first time since 2002, Wendy donned a dress and ventured into the great outdoors… or at least to work.

Her dress is very cute and at $17.99 what a great deal!

AELSON Womens Summer Casual Sleeveless Mini Printed Vest Dresses

 

 

Favorite # FOUR

Wendy’s Electric Kettle

I use Wendy’s kettle most mornings to brew several (4) cups of green tea.

Green tea is loaded with antioxidants and nutrients that have powerful effects on the body. These include improved brain function, fat loss, a lower risk of cancer and many other impressive benefits (source).

It keeps me out of the junk food!

Thanks Wendy!

 

 

Favorite # FIVE

Currently the company is encouraging that we participate in supporting

I couldn’t agree more!

Click on the picture to access the website for more information!

It is a precious story!

 

 

 

In addition to what I have mentioned, there are other workplace positives:

  • The BENEFITS.  I won’t divulge the name of the company I work for, but I can’t complain about the benefits.
  • The OPPORTUNITY to be part of a specialty team working Presidential Escalations and hard to resolve cases.
  • The BLESSING that several of my college courses have been paid in full.  And they haven’t seen the last of me.

 

 

 

 

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

Friday Favorites

It is incredible that this is the

Last Friday in July!

Happy No Problem GIF by Jonas Mosesson

We are prancing along through the summer and it will be autumn in no time!

 

 

And now:

Friday Favorites!

Favorite # ONE

Have you tried the Pasta alternative veggie products?

This one is my favoriteThere are several varieties by Birdseye and Green Giant.

I’ve wanted to try the new marinara sauce (that I mentioned in this post) so I made Rigatoni for LB.

Sadly, there are 220 calories in 1 cup of cooked Rigatoni.

Calorie breakdown: 5% fat, 80% carbs, 15% protein.

Since I’m not about to eat real pasta, I sampled my marinara sauce atop these carrot spirals.

Calorie breakdown: 0% fat, 3% carbs, 1 gram protein.

Not bad at all!

 

 

Favorite # TWO

Surprises on Back Order!

LB checked the mail this week and told me that I had a package.  My response: I didn’t order anything!

Apparently I had an item on back-order from a Venus order that I placed in JANUARY!

 Mini Jean Skirt in Indigo Blue

At least THEY remembered!

 

 

 

Favorite # THREE

Natalie Tuman

Health and Fitness Coach

This is a real life Wonder Woman and I follow her on Instagram.

This week I attempted to complete a workout she shared on Instagram.

 

 

Nope.

I couldn’t do it!

Her websites can be found here and here.

 

 

Favorite # FOUR

Good News!

I attended college at FCCJ (now FSCJ) off and on after high school and between babies.  Since achieving success earning an AA degree and an AS in Interior Design Technology several years ago, I have attempted to earn a Bachelor’s degree from Liberty University online.  This week I reached out to the admissions department for advice on wrapping this up!

I’m FINALLY seeing light at the end of the tunnel!  I’m so excited and looking forward to sharing news of a graduation sooner than later!

 

 

 

Favorite # FIVE

Kathy

She who took me under her wing and has looked out for me since I came to her team seven years ago!

Kathy is a dear friend and trusted colleague who is celebrating a milestone this week!

Happy Birthday Kathy!

 

 

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

Aclamaciones!

Aclamaciones is Spanish for

CHEERS!

It’s always nice to learn something new.

Aclamaciones to a controversial day in the bible belt, for it is

National Tequila Day!

 drunk fun GIF by Mauro Gatti I’m pretty sure these are happy beers as opposed to happy shots of tequila, but you get the idea!

Instead of celebrating National Tequila Day, LB and I decided to celebrate Taco Tuesday with dinner at

El Potro Mexican Restaurant

I am not even telling the truth.  We did go to El Potro, but not to celebrate Taco Tuesday.

Fajitas were on the menu and LB ate his like a taco.

Maybe that isn’t too far from the truth.  Wikipedia describes Taco Tuesday as  “a custom in many US cities of going out to eat tacos or in some cases select Mexican dishes typically served in a tortilla on Tuesday nights.  Restaurants will often offer special prices, for example, “$1 fish tacos every Tuesday night”.  It is popular in many big cities across the nation and especially popular in the beach cities of Southern California.  Legally, “Taco Tuesday” is a trademark of Taco John’s and other restaurants are prohibited from using that term.” (source).

Now you know.

 

It isn’t often that we go out to dinner during on a week night, but the day has been overwhelming and some mental repose and unwinding was necessary.  Also the fajitas were delish!

I thoroughly enjoyed it!

 

 

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

Friday Favorites

From the time I left work last Friday afternoon until Sunday night, last weekend blew by so fast that I had no time to post!  No Friday Favorites! From cupcake creation on Friday night, to Lydia’s mermaid birthday party on Saturday, to celebration of another birthday out with friends Sunday night, I found myself in need of another day off to recuperate!  But alas, Monday came and the workweek ensued.

Now it is Finally Friday again and I WILL share my weekly favorites!

Favorite # ONE

Mermaids of course…

I spent most of last week studying mermaid cupcakes and creating a cupcake design of my own for a birthday celebration.

I hope my first attempt was acceptable to my 3 year old customer!

Mermaid Tail Cupcakes by Kim

 

 

Favorite # TWO

Mermaid Birthday Girls

This one in particularTired and Soaking Wet from a Water Wonder World Birthday Celebration!  She is so pretty.

Happy Birthday Little Mermaid!

 

 

Favorite # THREE

Corn Nuggets

This tasty treat was recently introduced by a co-worker whom I’ve begun referring to as Corn Nugget.  Maria thinks they are the greatest thing since sliced bread.  Today the Triple J’s Seafood Truck came to our parking lot to provide the company with all the fried food our hearts desired.  And apparently they supplied the company with all the fried food aboard, as they sold out.  Juenic purchased a container of Corn Nuggets and offered one to me.These are delish.

One is all I needed to let me know that I love them and DO NOT NEED any more!

 

 

Favorite # FOUR

Super deals from LOFT

LOFT has a special of some sort every day.  Whether it be 50% off everything for card members or 30% off all dresses or 50% off Sale on Sale items… something is sure to be happening.  This week I used birthday $$$ from Mama to take advantage of a LOFT sale and found these deals:

Top // Shorts // Tee // Shell

Favorite # FIVE

Lunchbox Notes

LB leaves notes in my lunchbox every day.

Today he left a note that, when read, brought a song to my lips:When I showed my note to Wendy, she started singing it too…

My Girl

The Temptations

I’ve got sunshine on a cloudy day

When it’s cold outside I’ve got the month of May

Well I guess you’d say

What can make me feel this way?

My girl (my girl, my girl)

Talkin’ ’bout my girl (my girl)

I’ve got so much honey the bees envy me

I’ve got a sweeter song than the birds in the trees

Well I guess you’d say

What can make me feel this way?

My girl (my girl, my girl)

Talkin’ ’bout my girl (my girl ooh)

Hey hey hey

Hey hey hey

Ooh yeah

I don’t need no money, fortune, or fame (ooh hey hey hey)

I’ve got all the riches baby one man can claim (oh yes I do)

I guess you’d say

What can make me feel this way?

My girl (my girl, my girl)

Talkin’ ’bout my girl (my girl)

I’ve got sunshine on a cloudy day

With my girl (My girl)

(Talkin’ ’bout my girl my girl) I’ve even got the month of May

With my girl (My girl, woah)

She’s all I can think (my girl)

(Talkin’ ’bout my girl my girl)

Talkin’ ’bout, talkin’ ’bout my girl (my girl, woah)

 

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