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Weekend Wandering

LB and I have various venues that we frequent on the weekend.

This past weekend we decided to try something different…

attend an event in Jacksonville. There was an event at the Jacksonville Landing that involved two bands and fireworks. It seemed like a good idea to head downtown and check it out. We took a few minutes to take in the Jacksonville Landing experience …but ultimately decided it wasn’t how we wanted to spend the evening.

We headed back to the car admiring the artwork along the way.

I took an evening stroll around this particular column:

 As we were making our way to 95 South, we almost passed a Jacksonville landmark

The Treaty Oak

LB thought we should stop, so we did.This massive tree is approximately 250 years old.  and appears to be laying on the ground. It is defined as “octopus-like”You can’t climb it! But you can read about it here

Following the tree experience, we headed to Whisky Jax (Beaches location) for dinner and live music.

This was our second time having dinner at this location and the food was just as good as we remembered.  We were able to get a table up front so we could see the band and the amusing patrons occupying the dance floor.

Dinner was delicious.  And it was fried.

LB and I shared a seafood platter with 3 dipping sauces, along with tantalizing French fries, and Jim Beam applesauce (brown stuff pictured below).  Very tasty.The SunJammer Band was featured Saturday night. This was our first time seeing this band. They are an intriguing group and very entertaining. We had a good time and I recommend Whiskey Jax (Beach location) for a fabulous Saturday date night.

What started out as a perplexing date nightended as a pleasant date night

Breakfast Waffles Four Ways

A typical Saturday morning at my house involves an egg on pumpernickel toast with coffee while binge watching the Pioneer Woman on the Food Network.  This Saturday morning I was inspired by the declining buttermilk in my refrigerator to do something different.  There were a few options… pancakes, biscuits, waffles all taste yummy using a recipe that calls for buttermilk.

LB chose waffles

On my Pinterest Breakfast Board I’ve pinned a recipe for the Rich Buttermilk Waffles from food.com. This recipe called for a cup and a half of buttermilk which was exactly what I had left after my recent chicken frying experience.  I also used a teaspoon of Stevia instead of sugar.  Not sure what my thinking was there, it certainly didn’t do much to help with daily calorie consumption.

After I whipped up the waffle batter, whether it was ideal for the batter or not,  I decided to mix it up four different ways:

Elvis was especially excited

Four batches of waffles later… Ta-dahI kept the waffles warm in the oven and after finishing the last batch, asked LB which flavor he wanted to try.  He chose peanut butter, banana, and blueberry lemon.

Check out my presentation skills:

My approach was to cut the waffles in half and try each one.  My favorite was the blueberry lemon.  Banana took second place, peanut butter third.  LB agreed.  Later he sampled the chocolate chip pecan waffle and decided it was better than the peanut butter.  Apparently I didn’t add enough peanut butter.  If I ever make peanut butter waffles for breakfast again, I’ll use crunchy instead of creamy, and make sure that I have some grape jelly on hand to schmear on the top!Glass, Food, Purple, Grape, Breakfast

Friday Favorites

TGIF Y’all and it is a Good One!

Favorite # ONE

Lets begin by just being honest.  What do I REALLY love?

My diet orange Crush!

Just as good as diet Sunkist and waaay better than Fanta.

While it is true that I have Quit daily consumption of ASPARTAME… I haven’t completely quit.  I’ve cut down DRASTICALLY… but I allow myself to indulge in orange Crush on the weekend… and I DO indulge!

Thank you LB for stopping to pick up a carton tonight!

Favorite # TWO

Summer Nights

Not the

John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John kind of Summer Nights

(although there is certainly nothing wrong with that kind).

I love the summer nights when my LB lights the torches that surround the pool enclosure, and we sit by the pool, with the stars overhead and the flickering firelight all around; listening to the sound of the waterfall and music of the eighties; under the watchful eye of the swans and flamingos.

There is nothing quite like it

Favorite # THREE

She’ll never get to sample them if LB gets to them first… I found these My Little Pony shortbread cookies when LB and I were searching for those jeans my sister said she purchased at Ross.  The package was waiting for me at the checkout and it came home with me.  I hope my little Lydia gets to enjoy some soon!

 

Favorite # FOUR

Shopping during my lunch hour

I am lucky enough to have a Kohl’s just five minutes away and when they send me that 30% off coupon there is no keeping me away! I enjoyed myself while taking dressing room pics of three cute tops at Kohl’s today.  Not a #NSale… but I like Kohl’s better than any other Department Store.  I gotta be Me!

And speaking of lunch hour shopping…

Favorite # FIVE

My new shift at work

shifts GIF

After YEARS of working the late shift, I finally get to do the eight to five!

Is this the beginning of normal?  (Smile)

What I’m Wearing

On Thursdays We Wear…Although it is NOT Wednesday, like a song that won’t stop playing in my head

I keep visualizing this…

movies mean girls lindsay lohan amanda seyfried wednesday GIF

Yesterday I wore pink.

Today I’m wearing a version of pink.

Salmon is a range of pale pinkish-orange to light pink colors, named after the color of salmon flesh (source).

Since I was not the only person in my office wearing this version of pink today, it seemed only fitting that I should proclaim this day Salmon Day.  I wish I could proclaim it Salmon Saturday or something with a more catchy sound, but alas… I cannot think of a word that describes this color better than salmon.

Today I’m styling my blouse from White House Black Market, white ankle pants from Van Heusen, cognac shoes from Amazon, and a gold necklace that was a gift from my daughter Stephanie (thank you Dear).

I don’t typically post on a single outfit that I’m wearing, but since I made the comment today that I don’t post on a single outfit, I’ve decided to post on a single outfit.

In addition to today’s colorful office attire, Wendy pranced through the office with her dish of salmon for lunch which makes my proclaimed Salmon Day all the more fitting.

 

 

 

Show and Tell Tuesday

All day I’ve been asking myself (and a few others) “WHAT am I going to post on my blog today?”

LB says “Post about the Treadmill”.  Wendy just looks at me and goes back to work.  Elvis just looks at me.

So… I come home from work, do my treadmill ritual, and then come outside.  As I sit by the pool with my macbook, I start scouring the other blogs I frequent for ideas.  Currently I have a favorite and when I read her post, I had to replicate what I saw.  http://coasttocoast2.blogspot.com/ has linked up with momfessionals.com to share ideas in a post titled Show and Tell Tuesday.  Today the goal was to share what’s on your phone i.e. what you use your phone for most or what apps do you have that others may also enjoy.

That Said…

When I access my cell phone this is what I see:Let me clarify… when I access my cell phone on Tuesday, July 25 at 9:17, this is what I see.

Because I am extremely organized, my apps are alphabetized (with the exception of my Fitbit and My Fitness Pal).  Some apps have been placed in files according to category.  Here are the app screens on my cell phone:Alarmed is a reminder which I love.  Amazon Alexa allows for communitcation with the Echo.  QT is my home security system.   The Mail is overwhelming because of the AOL email account that I’ve had since the 1800’s.  Every Tom, Dick and Hautelook that I’ve ever subscribed to sends junk to this account.  My Gmail accounts are for important things from Family, Attorney, MaryKay, and, of course, LB and are checked more than once a week.  The 19 messages today are from a group text “The People I Love” formerly known as the FamDamily.

Let me check in and see what they conversed about today…

We have a picture of my nephew at summer camp: A giphy from my daughter Amanda: And a report from my Mama about her first night with the apparatus (more on that another day).  Along with  encouragement from my brother-in-law:

Yes Folks… this is normality.  And because I am not permitted to access my cell phone during working hours, I find all this, and more, at the end of the day.

 

My current app obsession is with my FitBit.

At this point today I’m viewing:

Obviously I’ve outdone myself and will need to hit the sack to regroup.

See you tomorrow.

Maybe.

 

Rainy Weekend

Saturday and Sunday are typically filled with opportunity to DO WHATEVER I WANT!  This past weekend had limited possibilities due to the rain.  Nevertheless, LB and I made the most of our rainy weekend.  Following our Friday night little pizzas, we watched a movie and stayed up too late.  Because of the late night, we slept in Saturday morning.

The day began beautifully with the sun shining bright and hardly a cloud in the sky.  After straightening the house and finishing the laundry, I went outside to work with my needy plants and pull the weeds out of my marigold flower bed. It needed work then and it still needs work.

Then the thunder began.  It wasn’t long after that the rain started.

rain window rainy day GIF

So I went inside and got on the treadmill.

The day seemed to fly by and become date night time before we knew it!  There were three possibilities for the evening.  1.  Jerry’s Sports Grille is a restaurant near the beach that we enjoy going to for a steak dinner.  And if it isn’t football season, there will be a cover band playing.  2. The Cellar Upstairs is our favorite Saturday night place and one of our favorite bands “Ain’t too Proud” would be entertaining.  3.  Ragtime Tavern Seafood & Grill is a beach side restaurant with live music.  But it was rainy and we didn’t feel like going out.

Luckily LB had purchased a rack of lamb from Costco the week prior and was in the mood for some home cooking.  This was a first for me but after I figured out what to do with it, we ended the day with a very nice dinner.

And then we watched Deadpool.  No commentary… watch the trailer for yourself.

The sun didn’t tease us on Sunday morning.  It was overcast outside and the rain would be coming soon.  I made the usual Sunday morning Breakfast for a King which LB thoroughly enjoyed.  Afterward I began assembling breakfast wraps and lunches for the upcoming work week.

This is my breakfast wrap assembly line.   LB loves them!

After some treadmill time we decided to brave the weather and head to the store.  Obviously if you can’t hang by the pool, or go to the beach, shopping is the only logical option.

And we picked up some nice shorts for LB

We ended the day with dinner at our favorite Mexican Restaurant LaNopaleraA rainy weekend turned out to be a pretty good weekend!

 

 

Friday Favorites

Its that time again… my Friday Favorites

Favorite # ONE

This tee shirt from Ross

With a criss-cross design (in the back) and a $4.99 price tag, this item is my Friday Favorite # ONE

Favorite # TWO

Betsey Johnson Designs

This week I visited a Ross Dress for Less store in search of a pair of unique jeans.  My quest was fruitless, but in the process I discovered the designer handbags in the Accessories Department.  The Betsey Johnson handbags were very cute at unbelievable prices

Betsey Johnson designs the cutest handbags and jewelry.

I love this Betsey Johnson watch

and these shoes

Favorite # THREE

There was a birthday party for my two year old GLAM Daughter that was held at my house this past Saturday.  In this picture my son Richard is showing his friend a scrapbook/photo album that I put together highlighting his story from birth to age eighteen.  It made my heart happy to see that he appreciated my work about his life enough to share it with someone.

Tonight my sister Gina visited Richard at his Starbucks side job.  She video taped him as he constructed a coffee for her.  In the recording, I heard him tell Gina that his mother ‘had not even come to visit him’.  I’m glad to see that my family members keep up with each other.  Although I tend to let my full time job wear me out to the point that I don’t want to go out for coffee after I’m off work, I’m always aware that they are out and about and I’m always watching to see what they are up to.  I love each of them DEARLY!

Favorite # FOUR

Baking for my LB

This week I have hit the kitchen TWICE to prepare goodies.  Baking Event No. 1 was to ensure my Man had a dessert to partake in every night at 10:00 PM.  For this I embarked on a venture to create a Lemon Blueberry Cake.  I have a Board on PINTEREST dedicated to Desserts and I used this saved pin from Sally’s Baking Addiction to bake a delicious cake for him. He is currently enjoying a slice every night.  Event No. 2 was to participate in the ‘pot luck’ at work to wish Farewell to a long time co-worker ROB ROB Ross.  By request I took my Red Velvet Oreo Truffle Brownies to share.  Always a hit, and dubbed ‘Crack Brownies’… these are D-E-L-I-S-H-I-O-U-S!

 

Favorite # FIVE

This Car

The Ford Mustang 2015 Anniversary Limited EditionLB and I rented three of these automobiles and he had researched purchasing one before we stopped to look at a car for sale in South Florida.  While driving to a vacation stop in Tampa we decided to stop at the Mullinax dealership and take a look at the Race Red Beauty.  He never dreamed he would actually own one, but the fire in his eyes made me think he was destined to drive a Ford Mustang.  I was right.

He’s nearly obsessed…

It’s a beautiful car and LB deserves it!  And I get to enjoy it too!

 

It goes without saying that FRIDAY is my favorite day of the week!

TGIF!

and Party On!

cat friday GIF

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