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What’s Up Wednesday

Many bloggers are posting about New Year’s Resolutions like “Getting fit in 2018” or, better yet, “Goal Setting for Better Blogging”

however…

I am being random

Happy Wednesday GIF

 

And with that, I bring you another edition of

What’s Up Wednesday

Here goes…

 

What We’re Eating This Week

While LB can eat anything he wants, Kim has to watch what she eats or she will pay the price.

(I have fat genetic material in the mix)

While I haven’t made any resolutions, I have been following a diet inspired by Mary Vance.  My interpretation of her plan involves starting the day with a cup of warm lemon water (and a dash of cayenne).  Then green tea and a bowl of vegetables (leftovers) for breakfast.  Lunch is usually a salad with chicken or salmon (and a plethora of little tomatoes).  In addition to that, I snack on unsalted mixed nuts all day.

I downloaded her book 3 Weeks to Vitality last year and found that the “diet” works well for me.  It is a little stricter than Paleo, but the results are unquestionable.  Of course any plan that is adhered to will work, it’s just a matter of finding something you can live with.

 

 

What I’m Reminiscing About

Although we’ve set no new fitness goals, I’d like to share LB’s photo story (from 2014) to encourage New Year’s Fitness Resolutions:

When you’ve had too many cookies…And the scale begins to tip…It’s time to hit the treadmill…

It will SO be worth the trip…

 

What I’m Loving

This picture of Lydia and Thea taken on Christmas morningsitting together in Mema’s chair and enjoying their new tablets.

Priceless

 

What We’ve Been Up To

Taking care of holiday exchanges/returns.  LB’s shoes are too small, my sweater is too big, and believe it or not, I received two air fryers for Christmas.  After a discussion with LB about the necessity of air fryers (he’s not a fan) and thorough YouTube research, I made a decision to keep the smaller of the two, for the sake of kitchen real estate.

This weekend I’ll be trying it out by air frying chicken wings!

 

 

What I’m Dreading

Driving to work tomorrow.

It is expected to dip down to 27° tonight.  With the 100% chance of rain today, that will make for dangerous driving conditions on my 40 minute commute to work.

 

Also, I’m not handling the North Pole weather very well

Freeze Sticker

 

 

What I’m Working On

Cleaning out the clutter.

And if I do a little bit every day…

I’ll be finished by next year.

 

 

What I’m Excited About

Getting my hair done (because it has been more than three months)!  It seems like it takes an act of congress to set up an appointment time that works for everyone involved.

And while I don’t enjoy the actual process, I love the results.

Saying goodbye to my sad roots and silvery sparkles tomorrow night!

 

What I’m Watching/Reading

Anything in the newly furnished TV room!  After making an appearance at a local restaurant on New Year’s Eve, LB and I came home and finally watched a program on the new television.  We rang in the new year as the Times Square Ball dropped.

 

 

What I’m Listening To

Sometimes LB will send me a text that includes a song… just because.

He sent this one today:

Love Me Do

by The Beatles

 

 

 

What I’m Wearing

On New Year’s Eve I had the opportunity to wear my new WHBM blousewhile we were at Wild Wings Cafe to hear the Party Cartel band.

Today my ensemble included a sweater, vest, coat, gloves, boots, and a warm scarfnot nearly as much fun.

 

 

What I’m Doing This Weekend

Taking Elvis to the vet.

He is NOT going to be happy!

The event could have easily been labelled “What I’m Dreading”

 

 

What I’m Looking Forward to Next Month

Valentine’s Day happens next month.  LB has already made reservations to see “Little Shop of Horrors” at the Alhambra Dinner Theater.  What could be more fitting on Valentine’s day than a story of a floral shop associate and his much-loved, melodic plant?

I’m really looking forward to it!

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

Kim

 

The Year in Review: 2017

Fashion over Forty blogging is big business, and something I’ve followed and have always been interesting in doing.  Blogging for me began on a day that I had taken off from work to babysit for Lydia.  At the time I was hoping to gear  my blog toward fashion and style.  However, when Lydia left with her Mommy to go home that afternoon, I felt that I needed more than a Facebook or an Instagram post to remember that sweet day.  Rather than keep a traditional journal, I decided to incorporate the day into my new blog.

You can read about it here.

Since March 2017 I have been publishing a few posts per week.

“Pretty Is: My Life and Style”, is my blogging journey, i.e. What I see as Pretty.

Whether it be an experience, an event, a memory, or an outfit, my hope is to share something that will be interesting, useful, and/or make others smile.

On this first day of the new year, I’d like to share my ten most popular posts from 2017.

Here they are:

# 10

Mary Duckworth Reid

# 9

4th of July Fashion

# 8

How to Wear White Pants

# 7

 Shopping at Ross

# 6

Shopping at Target

# 5

Father’s Day

# 4

Happy Birthday Lydia

 

# 3

Happy Birthday to ME

# 2

Trunk Club Tuesday

 

# 1

Liberty Furniture

While it hasn’t been a full year yet, since I began my blogging expedition, I’ve gained a new perspective on life;  I’ve learned to focus on the positive;  I have begun to realize how blessed I am.

Many of you have encouraged me with your comments, on the blog, or in person.  Thank you Mama, Sylvia, Richard, Laurie, Amanda, Stephanie,Wendy, Debbie, Stuart, Gina, MaryAnn, Mariet,

and

[OF COURSE]

My LB

 

 

happy new year GIF

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

Kim

Friday Favorites

Is there anything better than FRIDAY?

Only one thing comes close…

CHRISTMAS!

For this edition of Friday Favorites I am combining the two and sharing a few of my Christmas Favorites!

Favorite #ONE

Watching this little girl open wrapped gifts.

Last year she was barely able to open a gift on her own.  This year she would accept a gift and look at it with anticipation.

Before she began to open the gift, she would declare, “I don’t know what it is.”  Then I would tell her “I don’t know what it is either, let’s open it and find out.”

After showing her where to start, she would begin by tearing a small piece of wrapping paper and, rather than throw it aside, she would offer it to me, and then begin again.  I could have participated in this process all day!

It will Never happen this same way again.  Next year, she will be 3 1/2 at Christmas, and she will have a baby sister that she will be concerned about.  She will be different… Life will be different… it is constantly changing.

I know I will remember what a blessing it was to open Christmas gifts with a little girl named Lydia, Glammy’s girl,  who was 2 1/2 years old on Christmas Day 2017.

 

Favorite # TWO

So glad that Mama is creative!

She has a new hobby…

decorating…When she asked me to pick the one I would like to keep, I chose the one with the most pink.

 

Favorite # THREE

BEAUTIFULLY DIVINE CUSTOM DESIGNS & MORE

Entry to DIY Wood Sign Painting workshop for Two People

Thank you Richard, Emily and Lydia for this sweet gift.

Mama…it expires on April 4, 2018 so we will need to make an appointment to exercise our creativity.

 

Favorite # FOUR

MAKEUP!

I believe all the girls got one of these.

Never again will I run out of eyeshadow!

Thank you Mama

 

Favorite # FIVE

…that my sister and I still think alike.

She gave me a pair of blue Kate Spade post earrings…and I gave her a pair of Kate Spade Peridot earrings (her birthday is in August)

She sent me a pic of herself styling those “Kate Spade earrings and Fancy Nancy lipgloss”.

Isn’t she lovely?

 

One more…

Favorite # SIX

Accessories by Betsey Johnson

on display in my garage…

as I was about to leave for work.

There was also a weekender travel bag…covered with kitties!

Thank you Stephanie and Amanda for finding those pretty things that you know your Mom will love.

 

 

 

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

Kim

The Best Christmas Eber

It was a Merry Christmas indeed.

Although there was an Elvis episode to undergo, LB and I were able to get back on track to enjoy our usual Christmas traditions together.

As if still a little girl, I typically wake up early on Christmas morning… excited about what Santa left under the tree.  He is always very generous, and much better to me than I deserve.

It was around 6AM that I woke up and headed to the kitchen.

Elvis [my all time favorite Christmas gift] came down from his “lookout” and met me in the kitchen.  He was feeling much better and was ready to eat, which was a wonderful start to my day.

After feeding him, I lit the trees and made coffee.

LB joined me shortly thereafter.

He and I presented Elvis with his kitty stocking

and then exchanged our gifts to each other.

LB is one smart cookie.

He will take me shopping when we are out and about and let me pick things that he can save for Christmas morning.

For example…

my jeans and tops that were discovered at White House Black Market  while visiting the Golden Isles

My Navy Blue Hobo we found at Classy Crossroads when we kicked off our Fall 2017 trip to the mountains

And a Clara Sun Woo dress and jewelry from Mariani’s purchased during a weekend trip to South Carolina…

which I never published a post about!

Although I have seen some of the items I unwrap, I am still surprised when I see them again.  In addition, I am blessed with the opportunity to reminisce about the time my gift was purchased.

The memory is a gift in itself.

And…My LB is too!

 

 

The Whole Family

was planning to meet at Mama’s house by 10AM.

Mama had a special surprise of her own.

Gina and I sat together on the sofa as she stood before us with two little boxes and said

“This is from my heart”

We took the boxes from her hands and opened them to find…

two items that were part of her story of love, loss, and ultimately joy.

She gave my sister a pair of gold and diamond earrings that my Daddy had given her for Christmas shortly before he died.  She gave me a bracelet that she purchased [at the urging of her sisters], for herself after my Daddy died. Reason being: “he would have bought it if he had been here”.  She wanted to share what had special significance to her with the daughters who are precious to her.

She then sat down between us and we remembered Daddy together, whispering sweet memories, being thankful for the life we shared, as Mama described how God has restored joy to her life.

It was a heartfelt presentation that I will always remember.

 

My Kids

came to visit that afternoon.

We exchanged gifts and drank egg nog.  It was a happy time to lavish gifts upon my children

Stephanie, Amanda, Richard, Emily

and my GlamBaby Lydia.

In Lydia’s words it was…

“The Best Christmas Eber!”

 

 

 

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

Kim


 

 

Isn’t there ANYONE who knows

…what CHRISTMAS IS ALL ABOUT???

Some of us know!

Before the mic was dropped, Linus dropped the blanket.

As he speaks the words of the Angels who announced the birth of the Savior…

Fear Not

he lets go of that security blanket and explains the true meaning of Christmas

 

That little clip is one of LB’s favorites.

The full story can be read here.

 

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Josef, Joseph, Maria, Donkey, The Holy Family

 

 

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

Kim

 

 

Christmas Eve with Elvis

My expectation of the 2017 Christmas Eve was a far cry from what actually took place.

Saturday I noticed that Elvis wasn’t behaving as he normally does.  He sleeps at the foot of my bed and will almost always follow me when I get up in the morning.  Assuming he was just having a sleepy day, I left him in bed and went about my routine.

Looking back, I wish I had taken him to the vet right then.

By Sunday morning I was convinced he needed medical attention.  LB and I took him to the Clay-Duval Pet Emergency Clinic.

He was quickly assessed at the front desk and it was determined that he was not critical

so we waited

christmas eve waiting GIF

And waited

wait waiting GIF

And waited

hang out waiting GIF

 

The Clinic was very busy on Christmas Eve Sunday morning and afternoon.

 Boots the diabetic cat did not leave the premise with his person.  Many people who were visibly distressed were observed leaving without their furry family members.  And I found myself crying every time I saw another pet owner exit an examination room in tears.  Although it was a sad place to be, LB was making friends and making good use of the Kuerig.

Five hours later we were provided with paperwork  and everything was clear.

Sort of.

Assessment:

  • Mild cardiomegaly
  • No evidence of congestive heart failure.
  • Mild diffuse bronchial lung pattern.  Differentials include feline asthma (allergic bronchitis), chronic infectious bronchitis, antigenic stimulation due to parasitic infection.
  • Bronchial thickening and mineralization, right cranial lung lobe.

He was in an oxygen container when we were reunited.  At this point he had been medicated and there was no mistaking his displeasure.  The recommendation was to hospitalize Elvis, however the staff felt that leaving him would cause such stress that it would be counterproductive to his recovery.

I am happy to report that Elvis is back home  He did not go to any of his normal napping spots, but headed to the top of the stairs to keep watch from afar.  And although he is still not behaving normally, he is doing much better.

That event put us behind schedule and working to catch up for the rest of the afternoon.

  Given his remarkably improved condition, LB and I decided to attend Christmas Eve Service at Christ’s Church.

After the service, there was a kitty prescription to pick up.  Elvis was still doing well perched high up in his new lookout.

He would not be “taken” again.

LB and I had previously accepted an invitation to my Mama’s Christmas Eve party.  Since Elvis seemed to be stable, we decided to go.  With $10 gifts and hot pizza rolls in hand, we showed up fashionably late to the party next door.

Let the Christmas festivities begin!

 

Elvis the Christmas Kitty Cat

wishes you a very

Merry Christmas!

 

 

 

 

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

Kim

Divinity Day

My Mema Reid taught me how to make

Divinity

many years ago.

That time with her will forever be in my memory.

Mema’s Divinity recipe is similar to Paula Deen’s recipe.

Mema was of the mind that it is impossible to make divinity on a rainy day and/or without a helper.

For the past few years Amanda has been my helper.

Amanda is a bit of a Star Wars fanatic and apparently Darth Vader likes plaid.That’s a lot of information (and it’s a little weird), but I can deal with it.

Amanda recently asked when we were going to get together for divinity making.  Due to our schedules, this would be the last entry into the Christmas Treat Assortment… and just barely in time for Christmas.

Today we met in my kitchen to engage in the Christmas tradition of

DIVINITY MAKING!

Sadly, our first attempt failed (tears)25 minutes in my smokin’ mixer and STILL it wouldn’t set up!

We gave it our all… but that batch is in the trash.

The failure isn’t surprising with a Florida high of 79° and 83% humidity on Saturday, December 23, 2017.

LB set the thermostat to 60° and Amanda and I tried againSUCCESS!Perfect!

And Delicious!

That sugar high should last through the rest of the holiday season.

 

 

Ingredients:

4 cups sugar

1 cup white corn syrup

3/4 cup cold water

3 egg whites

1 teaspoon pure vanilla

1 cup chopped pecans

Directions:

In a heavy saucepan over medium heat, stir together the sugar, corn syrup, and water until sugar has dissolved. Cook syrup mixture until it reaches 255° F on a candy thermometer, bringing it to a hard ball stage.

While Amanda is cooking the syrup, beat the egg whites until stiff peaks form. Once the sugar mixture reaches 255° F, carefully pour a slow steady stream of syrup into the stiffly beaten egg whites, beating constantly at high speed. Add the vanilla and continue to beat until mixture holds its shape, approximately 7-9 minutes. Stir in pecans.

Using 2 spoons, drop the divinity onto waxed paper, using 1 spoon to push the candy off the other.  You will need to work fast when making this type of candy.  You’re done!  Store the divinity in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.

 

 

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

Kim

 

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