A Few Favourites

So, I didn't make those gluten-free cinnamon rolls last weekend. LOL. I did, however, make the most delicious peanut butter cookies. Y'all. They are naturally GF and as easy as can be. You need to immediately click on THIS LINK and make these Salted Peanut Butter Cookies. I think during Christmas, I'll add Hershey's Kisses. These will be the new and improved Peanut Butter Blossoms. OMG.

Yesterday, I had lunch with ELC and My Sweet Dad. They make the best sandwiches and bowls of fruit. I swear, food just tastes better at their house. Afterwards, ELC and I headed to "her" Target. I had a return. Of course we ended up shopping. The Dollar Spot has the most precious Christmas goodies out. We scored adorable tea towels and jewelry organizers. The Universal Thread jeans were also on sale. They are my absolute favourite. I grabbed one pair with ELC and ended up ordering THIS PAIR in black when I got home. I picked up that pair today. FIFTEEN DOLLARS. They are yummy! ADD TO CART.

I have been devouring books lately. I've been on a big Colleen Hoover kick. (ELC, you will not like these books. Just skip this part.) Regretting You was the last one I read. I also loved November 9. I'm also a huge Taylor Jenkins Reid (Daisy Jones & The Six) and Elin Hilderbrand fan. I just finished the first two books from Elin's "Paradise" series and will download the last one ASAP. Earlier this year, I read 

The Happily Ever After Playlist. I absolutely adored it. Go ahead and add all of these to your cart, too, if you love to read! I did recommend The School of Essential Ingredients to ELC. It's delightful, and ELC has truly enjoyed it. It's a quick read and definitely one you should add to your "to be read" list for this fall/winter. It's just cozy.

THIS is my current favourite coffee creamer. It is creamy and not overly "nog-y." I am seriously considering ordering as much as I can to last me throughout the year. It's a "limited edition flavor" and won't last long. For those on the BLUE WW plan, it's one point for four tablespoons.

Tomorrow is Belle's "Costume Parade" at her preschool. She is so excited. I'll share pictures next week. Though Halloween will be a bit different this year, we are still equally jazzed about celebrating. There will be lots of candy and laughs with our friends. 2020 is virtually a dumpster fire, but I refuse to let it steal all of our joy,

It's been absolutely COLD here in our part of Texas this week. I LOVE LOVE LOVE it. I'm headed off to snuggle under my five blankets and catch up on Real Housewives. Happy Friday Eve Eve, friends!

Life...Lately...

It’s been a hot minute since I posted. Time for a quick update on this Friday Eve! We’re in the process of cutting cable and I just figured out how to watch my Bravo shows on our new streaming service. I’m ecstatic. I will have to bootleg ELC’s Hallmark channel, though. Which has been mildly devastating. I’m just very thankful they live so close. I mean, it’s Christmas movie season!

The weather here has been nuts. It’s been HOT this week. I’m completely over it. A cold-front pops in tomorrow. I cannot wait. I’m super tired of sweating. (Because, you know, once October hits, I’ll suffer in my long-sleeves, jeans and booties. Bring me all the fall fashion! STAT.)

Saturday I’m going to attempt a new gluten-free cinnamon roll recipe. I can’t wait to report back! There’s even homemade frosting! EEEKKK.

Last weekend, I went away for a night with two, sweet friends. We had grand intentions of napping and reading and going for a walk. We literally talked. The entire time. It was delightful and therapeutic. My only regret: We didn’t take one picture! The lake house we stayed in was beautiful. I could have stayed for a month! Weekends away with girlfriends should be mandatory—at least three times per year. Right?

Well, wow, this has been completely random. Sigh. I owe y’all a long post with a list of all of my favourite things lately—books, snacks, slippers! Can I pinkie promise to do that next week?

Have a wonderful weekend!

TLC

za...za...za...zoom!

So I’m that Little Baby Boomer who has fought every advancement in technology since I was 25. First I fought memory typewriters. Then I fought cell phones. (When you carried one in a bag and it was HEAVY. It was quite hilarious.) Then I fought satellite TV. (When the satellites were HUGE and ugly eyesores on your property.) Then I fought emailing. Then I fought the smaller cellphones. (I believed no one needed to be able to find me or talk to me 24/7. Still kinda think we are tooooooo obsessed with our cells.) Then I fought iPhones. Then I fought mouse-free laptop computers. Then I fought ZOOM. Boy, did I ever fight ZOOM.

My Sweet Hubby and I still don’t do Netflix. Or have any other “streaming” (Is that the right word?) services. We haven’t had HBO forever and ever. We don’t even have Amazon Prime. (Yes. It’s true. And, surprisingly, we’re still alive and sort of well. Winky. Wink.)

But I can ZOOM! (I’ve not been a Zoom “host” and can’t see that happening anytime in the future.) In fairness to TLC, I ZOOM because of her and her technology expertise. Without her? I’d continue to be Zoom-impaired. I’d be that Little Old Grammy saying: No. Sorry. I don’t do that. Don’t know how. Thanks for askin’!

I’d sincerely appreciate it if we could all sit still for a while and not have to “update” or “upgrade” ANYTHING or have all new stuff dumped on us anytime soon. Let’s say five years.

‘K? Deal?

New week tomorrow! New opportunities. New goals. New challenges. New surprises! Let’s all embrace the excitement and BE HAPPY and KIND!

Airhugs,

ELC

Surprise!

 (I know I owe y'all at least one more "favorite finds" post. I promise I haven't forgotten. Yet.)

Today was "Dress Like A Farmer Day" at Belle's preschool. Yesterday, when I picked her up, the first thing she said to me was: "Mama! I have the best idea for my outfit. I'm going to be a farm animal! So, I'm going to need you to help me make a pig costume. Or a cow. Whatever is easiest." 

Well, first of all, neither is "easy" for moi. I told her she could ask her sister. Little Leighton is the "Craft Queen" of our casa. Silly me had just assumed maybe her sweet teachers had said that they could dress as a farmer or cowgirl OR their favorite farm animal. I should never assume anything with Belle.

When I discovered we didn't have any pink construction paper for a pig snout, I started shopping online. Target, of course, had the CUTEST goat costume under $13. I showed Belle, and she was instantly excited. I told her I would order it for pickup. Then I hear her whisper to herself, "I can't wait to surprise everyone."

"Whoa! Whoa! Whoa!" I said. "Did your teachers not say you could be a farm animal? Please tell me exactly how this came up."

"Well," she says, "when we were packing up our things to leave, they told us to not forget tomorrow we could dress like a farmer or a cowgirl. But, Mom, sometimes I just have really good ideas."

I couldn't argue with that. I loved her creativity and spunk and willingness to stand out from the crowd. I quickly messaged her teacher to get the "green light" for my little goat. Then we headed to Target.

Belle had such a fun day and rocked her little golden horns and sparkly, fuzzy dress! I'm not sure there's ever been a cuter goat.

Happy Friday Eve, friends!

...pig muffin...

It’s October! Wow. Just wow. We’re not going to lie. Getting through the nightmare that has been 2020 has been hard. For every person in this World. We can do it! I believe it. We can and will do it.

Life feels more hopeful. Little Leighton and Belle are going to school in person and that is simply GLORIOUS! All of us are THRILLED. Praying it continues to be safe. Enjoying their smiles and stories and HAPPINESS!

TLC has the cutest hairstyle EVER. It is so cute their pediatrician asked her yesterday who her stylist was and, if she asked for The TLC, would the stylist know what she meant? IT. IS. EPIC cute.

I continue to have a body that betrays me. Constant arthritic pain. I still walk like a penguin and no one at my doctor’s office or their physical therapist can fix me. Yet. I stay grateful I’m alive and able to do everything but walk normally and dance! 

Belle is the youngest comedienne in our family. She is hilarious. Most of the time she’s not meaning to be so dadgum funny. It simply comes naturally.

She loves to repeat everything Pa-Pa says. Even if we’ve ALL heard him say it. Last Friday, the four of us (Pa-Pa, TLC, Belle and I) were having lunch at our casa. Little Leighton was at school. Belle goes to school Monday through Thursday and takes Ballet and Tap on Friday morns.

Belle was listening to the three of us chat while we ate when she (sweetly...sort of) interrupted Grammy and said: Anyway, let’s talk about dessert! FYI: We ALWAYS have dessert after lunch. We rarely have it after dinner.

She and Pa-Pa went to the pantry so he could list all of her options.  “Would you like a Roll of Gold?” (That would be a Rolo. He usually calls them Rollie Pollies.) She ran over to me—I was literally sitting about 10 feet away and heard every word—and said: “Grammy! Pa-Pa asked me if I wanted a Roll of Gold!” We laughed and laughed. (We always do.)

This morning, as TLC was driving Belle to school, they called me. “Hello!” I said. Belle excitedly told me: “Grammy! It’s 30 days until Halloween!” (Yesterday we’d discussed the number of days until Halloween was 31.)

“It is?” I pretend ignorance quite often. Winky wink.

Then she said something I couldn’t understand. What did she say? I asked TLC.

TLC: “She said I’m eating an Egg PigMuffin. And she’s holding her nose. She hates how it smells.” 

Yesterday I’d told TLC I got an Egg McMuffin for the first time in almost seven months and it was FABULOUS. Of course, TLC had to copy her Mama. Duh.

Here’s hoping you have a FANTASTIC Friday! A WONDERFUL Weekend! Laugh! Sit down and have a meal with your loved ones. And have a few Rollie Pollies with an Egg PigMuffin!

Airhugs!

ELC