Happy Birthday Lydia!

July 17, 2017

The invitations were in the mail

and arrangements were made for Lydia’s birthday party to take place at my Mama’s house. As a matter of fact, when I arrived home from work on Friday night, the kids were at her house decorating for the next day.

Everyone was preparing for the big party… anticipating having a great time!

Then a discovery was made. Mama had a broken water pipe in her front yard. LB turned off the water at the street and began investigating the trouble. Soon after the discovery, a conversation with the water company revealed the pipe may have been leaking for 10 days. It turned out to be a tree root that had caused the damage.Luckily LB and a good friend were able to repair the pipe and restore Mama’s water, although that didn’t happen until the next day.

The plan would have to be adjusted.

Since I live right next door, the obvious and logical conclusion is to move the party over to my house. It didn’t seem possible at the time, but I was able to get the place organized. The kids brought the decorations over and plan B ensued.

The big T-W-O birthday party went on as scheduled.

There was a plenitude of people…Goodies Galore…A plethora of presents…

LOTS of presents!

Little Lydia received so many presents, her Mama and Daddy had to have help transporting them to their house.

She loved all of her gifts, and had a great time with her Mama opening each one.

But there was one gift that Glammy was able to present to the Birthday Girl… the pink princess piano

Lydia wanted me to play first, so she took hold of my fingers and pressed the keys… then we experimented with the microphoneAnd Glammy showed Lydia how to play “Itsy Bitsy Spider”It turned out to be a lovely day for a pretty little girlHappy Birthday Lydia!

Glammy loves You!

NumNell Knox

July 16, 2017

When my daddy was just a little guy, learning to talk, he heard his Mama being called Irma Nell Knox by her parents. She was a teenage mother raising a baby and living with her parents (circa 1947). Hearing the name Irma Nell Knox, my Daddy (as a toddler) translated her name to be

NumNell Knox

While you may think this is totally bizarre, I think it is adorable. Apparently she responded when she heard the full name call and he thought he would achieve like results by demanding “NumNell Knox! Get up! Breakfast!”

My Daddy and his mother, My Mema have gone to be with Jesus. But not a day goes by that I don’t give a thought to both of them. Two people who greatly influenced my life.

Irma Reid

(aka Irma Nell Knox) died October 17, 2007 at the age of 78.

She was born July 16, 1929 in Valdosta, Georgia to Alton Knox and Grace Bennett Knox. She married my Grandpa, Harold Reid when my Daddy was just a little fella. He adopted my Daddy and has loved him as his own… even to this day.Mema was an old fashioned, Southern girl. If you ever heard her speak, you would immediately recognize the southern dialect. I talk to people from around the country every day and once in a while I’m asked, “where are you from?” In every instance I will admit, I’m from North Florida… Jacksonville, but most of my people are from Georgia. They will reply, “Yes, that’s it!” If you know me, and you recognize that I have a southern accent, it’s likely due to the fact that I’m a direct descendant of Irma Nell Knox.

I’ve gone to church all of my life, (since before I was born) and my first church was a church that my Mema and Grandpa Reid helped to start.

Faith Memorial Baptist Church

…a place that was a second home to me for 30+ years.

While I was growing up, my Mema was there with me every Sunday. She sat on the second row, left (piano) side. I would typically sit with her and she always had Juicy Fruit Gum. One Sunday I commented on a ring that she was wearing. It was (is) pretty! It was a beautiful silver ring (she always wore silver jewelry). She took it off of her hand and placed it on mine. She would do that again before I graduated High School. I still have both of those rings and wear one of them EVERY day.

What I remember most is that she loved me unconditionally.

The stories I could tell would keep me typing all night.

My Mema Reid

Thank you for the pictures Mama

Friday Favorites

July 14, 2017

TGIF!

Let’s begin my list of Friday favorites with these fancy felines:

These fun loving party cats are brought to you courtesy of my daughter Amanda (although I picked up the link at giphy.com). Amanda called my attention to this threesome when she sent it to me in a happy birthday text. So Cute!

Friday is ALWAYS a reason to party and even more so because I am off work early today!

Favorite # TWO

The Chik-Fil-A Diet Lemonade Occasionally we will make a stop by Chik-fil-A to have a Diet Lemonade. Since swearing off aspartame I’ve consumed less and less diet drinks. That being said, I have no idea whether this diet lemonade contains aspartame or not. The only information I can find regarding the ingredients is the calories it contains which ranges between 20 – 30 depending on the website.

Favorite # THREE

Used on the 4th or July to fry chicken, my Le Creuset French oven rates an A+ in form and function! Although that is a phrase associated with architecture, I though it appropriate to describe the way this enamel cast iron pot works and also how PRETTY it is! My French oven was a perfect vehicle for frying chicken on the 4th of July. Although I likely will not fry chicken ever again, I know I’ll use this pretty kitchen work horse again.There are other Le Creuset items that are on my wish list, but they typically go on the back burner (pun intended) due to my obsession with new shoes! Speaking of shoes…

Favorite # FOUR

It would be really nice to have these shoes:and these:that’s all. I won’t ask for anything else. I promise.

Favorite # FIVE

TimeWise Repair® Volu-Firm® Set

If nothing else, it certainly is packaged pretty.

This week I graduated from the TimeWise® Miracle Set® to the TimeWise Repair® Volu-Firm® Set. I have been using the the TimeWise® Miracle Set® for several years and absolutely love it, however I wanted to experience first hand what the TimeWise Repair® Volu-Firm® Set can do. Right away I noticed the consistency of the product is extremely different. As the product promises to do, I am hoping to notice that it will “lift away the years” as I continue to put this new it to use. Regardless, I will always be a fan of Mary Kay products.

I hope Everyone has a wonderful weekend!

Mine will involve celebrating my favorite 2 year old’s birthday!

Enjoy!

Wonderful Wednesday

July 12, 2017

This Wonderful Wednesday morning when I asked Alexa “how’s the traffic?” she informed me that the fastest route to work would take me fifteen minutes longer than usual. With that, I grabbed my things and headed out the door. There was an accident on the bridge that had one lane closed and the traffic backed up. That said, I started my day in a feverous frenzy that only accelerated as the day wore on. It is amazing how the start of your day seems to set the tone for it’s entirety.

I won’t go on and on about how stressful my Wednesday has been, but the fact that I have managed to keep it together and make it home by 7:15 PM is just short of miraculous.

Now I am expecting my children and grandchild to visit shortly.

Although Lydia’s 2nd birthday party has been scheduled for Saturday morning, it would not be appropriate to let the actual birth-DAY pass without proper acknowledgment…

The doorbell rings… I go to the door, open the door. There they are. FIVE of the most important people in my life.

My firstborn

Stephanie

and dearly special daughter bringing style and enthusiasm wherever she goes (Aunt Feffy)My second-born, second daughter, and Brilliant Middle Child

Amanda

(don’t sell your position short Dear)My only son (and father of my only grandchild)

Richard and Emily

my daughter-in-law (who is just like a daughter to me)and the crème de la crème of two year old Glam-babies,

LYDIA

… the Birthday Girl!With a bag full of ponies in hand, she is ready to come in and show me all of the My Little Ponies and Peppa Pig Paraphernalia she has acquired during the day Her Big T-W-O party is Saturday and I will be well rested and ready. And to her parent’s dismay, I have a large present and another Rainbow Dash to add to the collection (if they read my blog they would know, but as it stands, it will be a surprise).

It has been a long day.

Good Night to all!

Hope Your Thursday is as WONDERFUL as mine is going to be!

Daytona Beach Tanger Outlets

July 11, 2017

Daytona Beach Weekend Day 3 was ALL ABOUT our visit to the new

Daytona Beach Tanger Outlets

We arrived around noon and wasted no time visiting the shops

First stop was Kirkland’s

Daytona Beach Tanger Outlets Gallery 14 — ALL THINGS “K”

Daytona Beach Tanger Outlets Gallery 11 — WE’LL BE FRIENDS TILL WE’RE OLD AND SENILE. THEN WE’LL BE NEW FRIENDS.

Daytona Beach Tanger Outlets Gallery 13 — DREAM BIG

Daytona Beach Tanger Outlets Gallery 10 — I DON’T LIKE MORNING PEOPLE. OR MORNINGS. OR PEOPLE

Daytona Beach Tanger Outlets Gallery 8 — FLAMINGOS. WISH I HAD A PLACE FOR THIS PIC

Daytona Beach Tanger Outlets Gallery 9 — SOME DAYS THE BEST THING ABOUT MY JOB IS THE CHAIR SPINS

Obviously we had a good time at Kirkland’s.

Next stop was a shop that I haven’t experienced called Dress Barn. The name isn’t all that pretty, but the prices are. And the staff was very helpful and courteous. I was especially impressed with the young lady that assisted me.

Now there is something about the word CLEARANCE that screams to me and I am immediately drawn to the back of the store.

And there I go…Cute dress and handbag. I walked right past them both as the CLEARANCE sign screamed on and those yellow Capris I’ve been looking for… FOUND THEM!Next stop… UM…

Lee Wrangler Vanity Fair Outlet. I’m still having trouble grouping this trio, but we found some useful items in this shopa handy dandy Nautica Cap.

And… Rainbow Dash and Princess Peppa. I am a SUCKER for My Little Pony and anything else that Lydia likes!I have Always been an Express Fan. Every time I walk through the doors of this shop I begin to covet (tears)

After a quick stop to pose with this

Pink Sugar BearWe checked into Old NavyIt used to be that I could walk into an Old Navy store and find something that I thought I had to have right away. This time LB found something he had to have… Summer Shirts on Sale! Blue/White striped, Pink, White, and Multi-colored checked Oxford Men’s shirts. Although I did not go into the crowded dressing room with him, I did eventually see the shirts on him and love how they look. The deals at Old Navy were great.

And I eventually came across these pretty little shoes marked WAY down. The shoes at Old Navy are very cute, and even more cute when you find them on sale. (LB practicing with the camera features again)

We spent A LOT of time in Old Navy, then headed to another shop The items in this shop are just as pretty as can be.

Nearly all of the tops in this store are priced at $38 except this oneBy the look on my face you can see that I wasn’t sure about it because it is very poofy, but I bought it anyway because LB said I shouldI would have spent more time in Francesca’s because there were so many pretty things to see, but it was getting late and there was one more stop to makeThere’s that word again

We wound up our shopping adventure at the Daytona Beach Tanger Outlet around 3:30 PMIt was a shop till you drop kind of day! And I’d spend any day doing the same!

Daytona Beach Weekend

July 10, 2017

The weekend came early for LB and myself when I was happily able to take half a day off work Friday. We had originally planned to head to our Daytona Beach destination on Saturday morning, but a last minute decision to add an extra night to this mini-vacation resulted in a drive down on Friday afternoon. We packed, kissed Elvis goodbye, and headed south. After only one stop for a Chik-Fil-A diet lemonade, we arrived at the Hampton Inn and began making plans for the evening.

Eventually deciding to stop at Racing’s North Turn, we enjoyed hot wings, salad, and musical entertainment by a group calling themselves “Parallel”

Day 2

Saturday morning began with breakfast at the hotel then picking out a lounge chair by the pool. The weekly Saturday pool part at Hampton starts at 12:00 with D.J. Drew and his pool party playlist. The Hampton Inn Daytona Shores Oceanfront is a unique hotel. The general manager Sandy (shown above in the coral colored dress) has put together a weekly summer pool party including a cookout (all you can eat burgers, hotdogs, chips, and drinks). At a designated time during the pool party, she has the kitchen and cleaning staff out for introductions and an amusing dance to the song “Hot Hot Hot” by Buster Poindexter.LB and I enjoyed some pool time during our visit.

And he enjoyed trying out the picture taking features on his new phone.

Typically the summer will bring with it afternoon showers. This Saturday was no exception. When the wind blew my hat off of my head I decided it was time to pack up and go to the room.But the day was not over. The summer shower ended and it was time to get ready to go out for the evening. The Daytona Beach FL Bandshell Live Summer Concert Series hosts tribute bands every Saturday night. This weekend featured a band called Wholigans. I probably don’t need to elaborate at this point… just click the link and check out their website. We enjoyed the show and shared a Mahi-Mahi taco from Sloppy Joe’s, then left the venue to do the unthinkable… walk back to the hotel.

Let me say that again…

WALK back to the hotel

That’s me with my chair in tow, about to complete a 5.5 mile trek back to Hampton Inn. My take on this: I have logged MANY miles on the treadmill or through a mall, etc., but walking on the beach is a totally different experience. My calves are cursing me as I type this post.

The walk back was long, but I’m happy to say we made it.

Along the way we encountered a cookout on the beach (grill and all), a pair of glasses, a cover band, and this sea serpent: someone spent a lot of time on this fella… and I appreciate the effort. He was pretty cute.

The walk back was moonlit and I am happy to have enjoyed the beautiful night at the ocean shore and conversation with my LB.

He likes to arrange for adventure and fun… and that is typically exactly what we have.

Daytona Beach Weekend Day Three involves shopping and deserves a post all its own.

To Be Continued

Shopping at Target

July 6, 2017

Thanks to LB, I’ve picked up the habit of reading reviews.

Recently I came across one about Target. It read, “How can you not love target? It’s totally like the best store to ever exist ever in all of ever.” (source)

This is sad. Not the review itself, but the fact that I totally love it.

It never fails that the moment I walk through the doors of a