Pretty is

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Friday Favorites

It is time for my Friday Favorites!

Favorite # ONE

The seasons have changed and once again…

SPRING BEGINS!

“And here in the Northern Hemisphere happy are we this day has arrived!  Get ready for longer days and increased sunshine.  Tune up the lawn mower.  More sunshine means the grass will be growing.”

(National Calendar Day)

Favorite # TWO

It was supposed to take four weeks, but after only ten days we have growth!

Reminds me of GROOT!

It’s so cute!  I can’t wait to see the parsley!

 

 

Favorite # THREE

It is adorable when Elvis sits at the bar and watches me in the kitchen.

I love how he sets his little chin on the counter.

LB captured this adorable moment…

I love that cat!

Favorite # FOUR

My new dogwood tree

We’ll be looking for a perfect spot to plant it this weekend!

 

 

Favorite # FIVE

Lydia and Rory

It may be that this is a regular occurrence.

These baby girls are adorable and they have my heart!

Here they are in their new spring-themed matching dresses handmade by Aunt Mamie.

Adorable!

 

 

 

 

 

 

I’m not the only one who loves Friday!  There is a lot of excitement in my office on Friday mornings.  Typically Ms. G will be dancing as she comes in and will escalate from there.  This morning she didn’t feel much like dancing.  This didn’t seem to matter to the other ladies as they pressed her.  She wasn’t going to comply which prompted a log onto YouTube for an appropriately titled tune.

Thus was my introduction to Bishop Bullwinkle and his song was stuck in my head all day.

 

 

Hopefully you will be as entertained by this as I am!

 

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

Kim

XO

May Your Blessings Outnumber the Shamrocks that Grow

…And may trouble avoid you wherever you go.

That is an Irish Blessing that I can appreciate!

For several years LB and I have been “dressing up” in observance of

St. Patrick’s Day

I’m not sure what started this practice, but it has become a tradition for us.

With the closing of O ’Brothers Irish Pub, the Margaret Street/Five Points St. Patrick’s Day street party is no longer happening (sad face).  The annual St. Patrick’s Day party became a major event, filling not just the restaurant, but Margaret Street with thousands of people.  We’ve been hoping to find a similar event.

This year, I thought I may have found a suitable replacement when this ad appeared:

Hyperion Brewing Company and Crispy’s Springfield Gallery are presenting Historic Springfield’s inaugural St. Patrick’s Day Block Party.

From 3pm – 9pm: Main Street, between 7th and 8th, would be closed and filled with live music, food, beer, vendors and other fun activities (i.e. Mario Cart).  This event was FREE to attend!  Woo Hoo!

In addition to the live music and food vendors, there were sites (historic buildings) to be seen.

LB and I walked up and down the street checking everything out, while everyone was checking us out.  Once it became apparent that LB and I had been voted King and Queen of the Green, it was time to go.

Next stop

Culhane’s Irish Pub

I [typically] love Culhane’s, but for the St. Patrick’s Day BASH, it was much like a zoo.  And I promise I won’t say another negative thing after this…. there was a long line, a long wait, and a cover charge.

The Tent:

The positives:  although there were way too many crazy people for my taste, the DJ Vito was good, the band Briteside was good, and the Reuben Sandwich was good.

You can check out some other photos from the Culhane’s BASH here.

I’m not completely positive if it will be next March 17th, but we will definitely be dining at Culhane’s again.

 

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

Kim

XO

Friday Favorites

Its Friday!

 I’m headed out of the office and

Friday Weekend GIF by Red Bull

This weekend is going to be a good one starting with my

Friday Favorites

 

 

Favorite # ONE

I have FINALLY started my herb garden… slowly but surely as it will take 4 weeks for the seeds to germinate.

Patience is a virtue.

 

The Healthy Kitchen Herb Trio Kit… its easy to Grow Basil, Parsley and Chives Seeds In Your Own Kitchen!

That remains to be seen.

Stay tuned.

 

Favorite # TWO

I can’t stop shopping loft.com.

Right now I’m obsessed with these Floral Embroidered Riviera Pants

(in Marisa Fit… very important)

these are currently sitting in my shopping bag.

Because they are $69.50, I will wait for a sale and make up a reason to treat myself.

 

Favorite # THREE

Date night on Thursday

because there was a one night only opportunity to see a good show.

AND

because Friday nights are reserved for collapsing in the recliner

(after a harrowing week at work) while enjoying Kim’s little pizzas and a good movie on the big TV.

 

Favorite # FOUR

There is nothing sweeter than a tiny baby girl.

Rory was one month old on 3/14/18 when her Mama posted this…

And later this…

Precious!

 

 

 

Favorite # FIVE

My Mama gets to keep Lydia typically once a week.

Lately if they take a walk, they will wander over to Glammy’s house.  Yesterday Mama sent me an account of their adventure with pictures:

Today Lydia and Mema took the pink princess car out for a ride.

 

Lydia wanted to visit Glammy’s house, but Glammy wasn’t home.

Lydia told Mema that all she had to do was push the buttons by the garage door so they could go inside.  She even offered to show Mema how to do it.

It was disappointing that they wouldn’t be able to come inside since no one was home.  Mema suggested that Lydia pick a flower and leave it at the door for Glammy. 

Before she left, Lydia decided to leave the flower on the garden fairy’s book instead.

 

“I hope she finds it”, said Lydia.

Glammy came home that afternoon and found that pink flower!

 

 

I love this story!

 

 

 

 

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

Kim

XO

The Million Dollar Quartet

In November 2016 LB and I enjoyed a trip to

Las Vegas

While we were there an advertisement for a show caught my eye:

We didn’t see The Million Dollar Quartet because LB had already purchased tickets to see

Human Nature Jukebox

at the Venetian

(which was a very good show).

A year and four months later there would be a one night only opportunity to see the Vegas show we had missed courtesy of the FSCJ Artist Series.

The Million Dollar Quartet

is a musical based on a happenstance quartet at Sun Records on December 4, 1956.

It was a day when Carl Perkins, Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Johnny Cash happened to be together at the Sun Record recording studio in Memphis, Tennessee.  More than 60 years later, the random Tuesday happening is being retold on stage in a very lively performance by talented musicians.

The show begins with the well-known performer Carl Perkins who is scheduled at the Sun Records recording studio to record what is hoped to be his comeback record.  Newcomer Jerry Lee Lewis (on piano), is also hoping for an opportunity to record.  While they are there, Johnny Cash stops by to talk to the record producer Sam Philips.  Next on the scene Elvis Presley drops in, accompanied by his girlfriend.   As the story goes, the four performers soon have a jam session going.

Several favorites were performed in the musical:

Blue Suede Shoes

was a topic of discussion as it was Carl Perkins’ first hit and handed off to Elvis Presley while Carl was recovering from an accident.

Folsom Prison Blues

is a favorite that assisted me in gaining a speeding ticket one morning while I was on my way to work.

Hound Dog

is one of the greatest songs of all time (according to Rolling Stone magazine) and had the audience on its feet.

Great Balls of Fire

is the final number as the Sun Record producer sees there is still hope for his small recording studio due to the sounds of newcomer/one of a kind Jerry Lee Lewis.

It was a goosebump moment when the cast attempted to recapture the moment the photo was taken:

 

 

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

Kim

XO

The More You Weigh

…the harder you are to kidnap.

Stay Safe.

Eat Cake.

Good Advice!

 

Sometimes I have a yearning to bake.

It makes me happy.

 

Luckily LB also has a yearning…

 

 A never ending yearning

 

for dessert.

Groundhog Day Eating GIF

Specifically CAKE!

 

 Pinterest provides me with a great deal of inspiration.

Recently I found a recipe on Pinterest that I knew I to had try.  As usual, I didn’t feel like going to the store for two of the ingredients that were missing from my stock: Meyer lemons and Greek yogurt.

Not a big deal, I used lemons in place of Meyer lemons (yes, they are a bit different) and buttermilk in place of Greek yogurt (yes, I actually had buttermilk on hand).

This cake was adapted from the recipe for meyer lemon iced raspberry yogurt cake

 

For the cake:

9 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
1 cup sugar
3 eggs, separated
2 cups all purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup buttermilk
1 cup raspberries, fresh or frozen

To make the cake:

  1. preheat the oven to 320F. grease and line two 8″ or 9″ cake pans with parchment paper and set aside.
  2. cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. add the egg yolks one at a time, mixing after each addition.
  3. add the flour, baking powder, salt, and baking soda and mix until mostly combined. add the buttermilk and mix until combined.
  4. in a separate bowl, beat the egg whites to medium peaks and fold into the cake batter.
  5. fold the raspberries into the cake batter.
  6. divide the batter evenly between the pans and bake 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
  7. let the cakes cool in the pan for about 10 minutes before turning them out onto a wire rack to cool completely before icing.

For the icing:

8 ounces cream cheese, softened
8 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
zest and juice of 2 lemons
pinch of salt
4 cups powdered sugar

To make the icing:

  1. cream the cream cheese and butter together until smooth.
  2. add the lemon zest, lemon juice and salt; mix until combined.
  3.  add the powdered sugar and mix (beginning on low speed) until combined.
  4. mix on medium speed for a couple minutes until light and fluffy.

 

if your buttercream is softer than you’d like, you can either add more sugar or chill it for 30 minutes before spreading.

Mine turned out perfect!

 

 

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

Kim

XO

TBB ASKS ~BEAUTY EDITION~

  Last Monday the Blended Blog (TBB) hosted a link up for bloggers to post answers to a beauty questionnaire.

TBB ASKS

~MARCH BEAUTY EDITION~

I wasn’t ready and therefore didn’t get to “link up”.  But I thought the questionnaire was fun.  And its nice to have someone provide a topic on occasion.

 

One of these days I’ll get it together so I can post mine on the same day!

 

1. Eyelash Curler Yes or No?

I gave up the eyelash curler when I noticed that it was collecting my eyelashes

2. Favorite Nail Shade?

I love Chinchilly by Essie

3. Favorite Lipstick Shade?

Although I am a Mary Kay rep, there are many other products that I love.

One of those products is

Spiced Latte

4. Blow Dry or Air Dry your hair?

Definitely blow dry… otherwise it ain’t pretty!

5. Artificial Nails: Yes or No?

No

see question #2

6. Foundation: Yes or No?

Absolutely Yes – and I use Mary Kay’s medium coverage foundation in beige

7. Hair Up or Hair Down?

Both

8. Bar Soap or Body Wash?

Because bar soap leaves a terrible film, I prefer body wash in a nice little pump dispenser

9. Bath or Shower?

Shower!

And an occasional Epsom salt and lavender bath for relaxation…

if the bathtub isn’t already occupied

 

10. Favorite Body Lotion?

Right now it is TimeWise Body™ Targeted-Action® Toning Lotion

11. Do you wear perfume?

Yes

Favorite scent?Sensuous by Estée Lauder

12. Do you shave your legs every day?

No

13. Favorite Lip Balm?

meh

14. How old were you when you first started wearing makeup?

I started wearing makeup sometime in Junior High.  Yes… I said Junior High.

Back in the early 1900’s when I attended school, 8th-9th grade was referred to as Junior High; 10th-12th was Senior High.  That is the way it was and we liked it just fine.

 

 

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

Kim

XO

It Has Been One Year

March 10, 2018 marks one year since I began this blog.

Today is my

FIRST

BLOGIVERSARY!

With no idea how to begin, I presumed if other bloggers I’ve followed 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.

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.

Prettyis.me

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

Also it sounds cute.

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

It was a Friday, and I took the day off to keep my GlamBaby Lydia.  She was 20 months old at the time.  You can see that post by clicking here.

Ironically, I spent the day with her today, as well…happily pushing a Little Tikes car.

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

Although I enjoy reading fashion blogs,  I spend a good deal of my time working an office job and commuting to and from that office [which happens to be located in another city and makes for a lot of travel time].

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 okay.

That said, today is a special day for another reason.

In Buffalo New York, on March 10, 1925, Bettelou Ellen McCarty was born.

Much later she met George S. Duckworth and she loved him.

And so she would become Bette Duckworth

My Mema

a.k.a. Mema Duck

Today we spent the day at my Mama’s house and I enjoyed taking some time going through her old pictures.

Mema left us on January 14, 2010That 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.

Kim

XO

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