Having a bad day? Get cooking!

Have you seen the cookware from Le Creuset? It's pretty, isn't it? Not only is it attractive but it's affordable!

Whenever I'm having a not so fabulous day, I turn to my kitchen. My kitchen is a place where endless creations come to fruition. My kids and husband visit me while I'm cooking and it becomes one big family gathering.

I'm beginning to crave some of the foods that comfort me during the chilly months. This heat is beginning to wear me out. I have a great recipe for French Onion Soup that I will share after I review these fabulous bowls I'm planning on serving it in:

Many recipes call for red wine, which doesn't appeal to me at all. This recipe uses white wine, which I love. The end result is a fulfilling soup with a crisp bite. Have I teased you enough yet? Good.

I've been on the hunt since last Fall for the perfect bowls to serve this soup in. French Onion Soup crocks are pricey and while these are small in size (10 ounces) I think they'll do just fine!

To be continued...

Do you love my new look?

I'm in love with my new blog design! I have been wanting a professional look for quite some time. Who is the designer, you ask?

Brianne from Busy. B {Custom} Designs!

Brianne and I have become rather close bloggy buddies over the past few months. I heart her.

She revamped my blog from my header right down to my signature! All I did was fill out a short questionnaire that consisted of colors that I love/hate, whether or not I wanted to use real photos or graphics, did I want a 2 column or a 3.... You get the picture. I cannot believe that Brianne took that bit of information and transformed my blog into something as spectacular as this! I am so thankful and now I want to return the favor by spreading the word.

Want to see other examples of Brianne's work? Well look no further!

Victoria Lee Photography

Doodlebugs~The Unique Boutique~

Brianne is also a fellow blogger. She really listens to what you want and runs with it. I don't think I've mentioned the many talents she possesses! Web design, print design, photography. The girl's got it going on... Check out her personal blogs!









You are bound to quickly heart her as much as I do. There's plenty to go around though, don't go trying to steal her away!

Contact Brianne today to discuss the future of your blog's look. You know you've been wanting to do it for a long time so get on it now! Tell her the chick with the sperm sent ya!

Wordless {Wordful} Wednesday - - Beer {Adult Beverage} of the Week

Brain Surgery Without Anesthesia

Doesn't the name of this punch knock your socks off? Well, it does mine so I give you....The recipe:

3 Lemons

3 Limes

1/2 Gallon Orange Juice

1 Gallon White Wine

2 Liters Ginger Ale

2 Liters 7-Up

2/5 Liters Vodka

Ice

Pour all these ingredients into a 5 gallon bucket, cooler, something to serve it in! Cut the lemons and limes in half, squeeze their juices into the mixture and drop them in after. Mix. Serve.

I'll admit, the name drew me in but after reading the recipe and the list of ingredients, I was hooked. How refreshing does this sound? With the dead heat of summer's end about to hit, it's perfect!

* 5 Minutes for Mom * Seven Clown Circus *

* Live and Love...Outloud *

Post-It Note Tuesday - - Mornings Rule

Is Love Assumed?

I have been on a major chick flick binge lately. Twilight, New Moon, Remember Me, Julia & Julia, Confessions of a Shopaholic. These were all really good. When one watches so many back to back films such as these, the wheels turn. Obviously the story lines here are completely out of reach but it's the "during" that melts me.

Twilight and New Moon were a little far fetched from the books but having a visual settled my "Edward" cravings. Remember Me added in a little more Robert Pattinson with a LOST character on the side (and the ending blew me away, so unexpected!). Julie & Julia made me hungry among fits of laughter. Confessions of a Shopaholic... I just wanted to reach out and put Isla Fisher in my pocket. She's just so adorable!

The point here is that I've been completely satisfied lately with my choices. It made me think back to the movie Divine Secrets of the Ya Ya Sisterhood. Sandra Bullock's character turns to her movie father and asks him if he was loved enough. Loved enough.

It made me wonder if I'm showing the love I have for my family in obvious ways. I often times will turn to a fantastic home cooked dinner to show such affection. But is that enough? Do you have to say it for people to remember how much you care for them? Yes, we like to hear it from time to time but is there too much of a good thing?

I'll answer this in the most open way I know how. Every time (and I mean every time) my son Isaac exits the table after dinner he says, "Thank you. I love you guys!" and my husband and I will mechanically answer him back, "You're welcome. I love you too!" One time, we addressed it with him. You don't have to say it every day! His answer? Something along the lines of, "What if something happened to me while I was in the shower? Would want to remember me by leaving the table, silently?" (Yes, our son will talk like this, he's quite amusing) But he had a valid point.

Apparently the way to anyone's heart isn't just a good meal. You have to say it once in a while too!

Now go hug a loved one.... They need to feel it as well as hear it!

There ARE stupid questions!

You know how people always say there aren't any stupid questions? I beg to differ. The people who say that are probably the askers of said stupid questions.

Here's the conversation that took place between my husband and I yesterday evening after I did a load of laundry and prior to going out for pizza:

Hubs: Did you already put the clothes from the washer into the dryer?

Me: Yes!

Hubs: Did you put it all into the dryer?

Me: No. I thought it would be more fun to only put half of them into the dryer. When we get home I plan on taking the other half and blowing on them to see how long it takes to dry them. We could totally make it into the Guinness Book of World Records!

Hubs: .....

I think he might hate me.

Wordless {Wordful} Wednesday - - Beer {Adult Beverage} of the Week

I'll admit it, I'm running out of drinks! I did a little searching and came up with one that's sure to please the sweet tooth.

Oh yes, there is a drink called Fruity Pebbles!

1/2 Ounce Orange Vodka

1/2 Ounce Rasberry Vodka

1/2 Ounce Strawberry Vodka

1/2 Ounce Cranberry Juice

Mix all your ingredients in a shaker with ice and serve in your cutest glass. 

* 5 Minutes For Mom * Seven Clown Circus *

* Live and Love...Out Loud*

Flawless?

You know those women who look so put together but didn't even try to look put together? How do they do it? I'm talking barely there make-up, scraggly jeans or sweatpants for that matter, hair pulled up on top of their head..... Yet oh so fucking beautiful?

Have you ever "tried" to have that thrown together look and it just looks like you tried too hard to get there?  OR have you ever put on an ensemble that looked so good lying on your bed but on your body, made you look like a bag lady?

What I'm wondering is this.... Say you're in like McDonald's and you see a woman such as this. Her mannerisms are graceful, her presence is like music and you grab your compact to make sure you don't have anything in your teeth. Not because you want to attract her but because you're sitting there endlessly comparing yourself to her.

Do you think these women know how beautiful they are?

Do you ever sit and wonder if you are an angelic creature in another woman's eyes?

I Googled "beautiful woman" and here are some examples of what I mean {not that you don't get it or anything but because I'm a visual gal}:

I hear men talk all day long. They constantly pick apart women who they see or just "know" and in the back of my mind I get angry. I want to shout, "Look at you!" Beer gut, fugly facial hair, chest hair popping out of the top of your shirt.....

Do you get me?

Post-It Note Tuesday - - My post-it notes feel blank this week!

I might be a LITTLE obsessed!

If you haven't already heard, I started reading the Twilight Saga. Don't judge if you're a hater. I say this as lightly as I possibly can because I was once a hater too. Like many people who judged the book before actually breaking it in (and breaking it in I did!), I thought, "Hmmmmm. A vampire book that lacks sex, eroticism and gore? No way!" This, all you haters, is a love story. A forbidden love story. One of the main characters just happens to be a vampire.

I am in awe of this book. The setting, the characters, Edward.... Oh, he's one of the characters I guess. Is this not every teenage girl's dream? (the love story part, not the vampire part) I'm so jealous that this book wasn't available when I was a teen. Whatever, I'm enjoying it right along with the rest of the adult women and if I pine for this imaginary vampire, Edward, {in case you didn't catch that before} along the way then so be it.

Yesterday I went so far as to write on my husband's Facebook wall. It read: I wonder what Edward is doing?

He didn't respond but a handful of us took over his wall and chatted for a bit.

Last night while cooking dinner, the hubs and I were chatting and somewhere along the road he said, "Yeah, but do you love me more than Edward?" I was stopped in my tracks and had to drink a little more wine before responding. I don't think I ever ended up giving him an answer.

So last night I was reading New Moon. I'm in the VERY early stages here. I'd like to point out that I'm still exhausted from late nights with Twilight. I got to the part where Edward decides he's leaving. I got choked up. I mean, I knew it was going to happen, but still. Then he actually left. I was furious. I cast the book aside and fought back tears. Seriously.

I'm very caught up in the drama! I fear this Jacob character is going to hear profanities he never thought possible once he reenters the scene. My God!

Today? I was reading a post on a blog I visit every day, Write Brained. Go ahead, I'll wait. As calmly as I possibly could, I lashed out that she didn't tell me Edward (not Robert Pattinson) sang. Like, he has songs available. To hear. With the ears. I downloaded those suckers so fast!

So yes. I might be just a tad bit obsessed at the moment but I'm loving every moment.....

I know the feeling of having to wait for books 2, 3, 4.... I'm also a huge Harry Potter fan. Aren't you jealous that the entire Twilight saga is available at my fingertips? No waiting? I bet you are!

And hello? (Please keep in mind that when I spill "news" here, it's news to me since I've been in the shadows all these years) What's this I hear about Stephenie Meyer writing the books from Edward's perspective? I'm all over it!

Excuse me now while Edward serenades me with his music..... More to come, I totally promise!

Stops on the way home and empty police cars -- Completely and utterly random!

I live in this little town. People leave this town to go to other towns to do stuff like work and play because there's not a whole lot going on. Then we all come back home. Together. Like, I see the same cars on the road when I leave and when I return.

Side Note. Well, more of a side question, really. This one car reads "Nice Pullllll" on the back window. What does that even mean? One of these days I'm going to run this little matchbox looking thing off the road just so I can ask him!

Back on track! The police department here isn't smart. They take a police car and plant it in various areas (the same police car every time). I guess it's supposed to slow down the traffic. Like, "Oh no, there's a cop... Go the speed limit!".

You would think the townsfolk would figure it out. I mean, I have.

Yesterday after work I had to swing by Walmart. I hate stopping on the way home, it slows me down. After hitting up Walmart (and buying New Moon while I was at it) I hopped on the road and headed home. I was approaching the planted police car when about five people in front of me jammed on their breaks.

I don't know where it came from but I was all, "It's BLANK!! Keep driving, it's BLANK!!!"

Am I the only townsfolk with any sense?

This picture makes no sense to me, at all, but I felt my post was a little naked without some kind of visual!

Wordless {Wordful} Wednesday - - Beer {Adult Beverage} of the Week

Malibu Bay Breeze

1 1/2 Ounces Malibu Coconut Rum

2 Ounces Cranberry Juice

2 Ounces Pineapple Juice

Mix it all together and serve over ice or blend with ice to make it a slushy treat. This sexy little number will keep you cool against the raging summer heat!

I'll be realistic with you right now, I'm over this heat. Hot is one thing but the sweltering Florida temperatures of today make me want to head to Maine for a bit. Maybe sit back and relax with Stephen King over lobster and beers. 

Who's game?

* 5 Minutes For Mom * Seven Clown Circus *

*Live and Love...Out Loud*

Post-It Note Tuesday - - I'm a virgin no longer