The BEST Chocolate Chip Cookies

I had a recipe shower the week of my wedding where my friends & family showered me with their yummy family recipes. It was one of my favorite showers, because it was so personal & it involved food. By and large, the one recipe that I have used the most is Brown Eyed Blogg's Mom's recipe for Chocolate Chip Cookies. I've tweaked it a little bit, because I like my chocolate chip cookies a little less sweet & a little less chocolate. I mean I like the chocolate, but I think semi-sweet chocolate is too bitter for cookies. Weird? You are welcome to think what you like of me.

I made them on Sunday night for a cookout we had at our house on Sunday evening for our employees and I thought OMG ~ I HAVE to share this with my blog friends! If it was possible for all of you to come over and taste them fresh out of my oven, that would be just great, but unfortunately, that's not so possible.

Ingredients

Cream together

1 Cup of butter flavored Crisco (the secret weapon)

1/2 Cup of White Sugar

3/4 Cup of Brown Sugar

2 Eggs (add one at a time)

1 teaspoon Vanilla

In another bowl mix together

2 Cups of Flour

1 teaspoon of baking soda (OOPS -i didn't have baking soda, so I used a touch of baking powder & it was fine.)

1/8 teaspoon of Salt

After the dry ingredients are stirred, begin mixing them into your batter. Then stir in...

1/3 Cup of Oats (quick or regular)

1 Cup of Pecans

1 Cup of Milk Chocolate Chips

Bake at 350 until desired done~ness of your cookies. Then lock your husband in another room and enjoy those cookies like you know how to!

I like to pull my cookies out a little before they're done, because I like them super chewy to the point of being dough~ey. Can anyone count how many words I made up in the post?

Now that we've sufficiently dipped into our weight watchers flex points, head over to http://www.fourfatchicks.blogspot.com/ & check out a MUCH healthier recipe for your Wednesday!

The Sony Cyber-Shot

Are any of you in the market for a great little point and shoot camera? Justin got me the pink Sony Cyber-Shot for Christmas last year, and I'm still learning things about how to use, but I've loved it from day one! Of course I love it because it's pink, and this is cute...Justin thinks I will automatically like anything that's pink, so I'm just waiting for the holiday that I unwrap a Pink GPS or worse a Pink XBox controller! Besides being pink, I think it takes really good pictures for being a little old point and shoot. Here are some of my favorite captures in Vegas!

sipping tea

If any of you were keeping up with me back in November, you'll remember that I lived in Austin and suffered a nasty cold for oh what felt like an ENTIRE month! I wrote about Mint & Honey Sweet Leaf Tea being my throat savior.


Someone over at Sweet Leaf Tea stumbled upon those praises and kindly offered to mail me coupons for FREE TEA! Merry Christmas, right? I work for a company that believes that a true raving fan of your product will be more than happy to pay full price for the product and I believe that about this tea. I also think that the best way to advertise a product is by word of mouth and actually getting the product in your mouth. That is of course unless it is NOT a food or beverage product, in which case I wouldn't go putting things in my mouth from pushy marketers.


With that thought in mind, it would be my pleasure to share my coupons with those of you who maybe have never tried Sweet Leaf Tea and would like to! Please visit their website and then comment here about which flavor you would try if given the chance to try for FREE! Of course, leave me your email address so I can correspond with you about where I should send them!


Cheers!

Old Timey Note Card Box Ornaments

I've been trying really hard to wait until after Christmas to buy any Christmas decorations, but I keep running into things at the stores that beg me to take them home. Since the blessed holiday is in a couple of days, I thought in lieu of playing non stop Christmas music I'd just share with you the decorations that have taken up residence in our home.

For today I'd like for you to see the darling old timey note card box ornaments that I found!

The Seasons Greetings at Christmas

I found this first one in Austin and loved it immediately. I think it's a perfect ornament for me, because it looks 100 years old, has lots of glitter and it's an old box of note cards. There were two at the store, but I only got this one because I'm frugal and because it didn't look particularly Christmas~y.





I threw my frugality out the door when I got back to Kentucky and stumbled upon two more ornament treasures.

With Every Good Wish

Since we don't have a Christmas tree, I think these make perfect additions to our bookshelves. Looks like Christmas art to me!



Now if I could just find 50 more of these on sale the day after Christmas I could have an entire tree of these little jewels next year.

digging deep

I get asked questions about being married a lot. If I like it? How's it been? But the other night the question was posed, "I know what Justin's favorite part of being married is, because it's the same for every man, but what's yours?"

This is an interesting question to me, because I'm big on picking favorites for everything... favorite food, favorite show, favorite products, but had never stopped long enough to consider what my favorite thing about being married is.

I took a minute to consider my answer and was struck with the convicting thought that I could quickly make a list of my least favorite things about being married. I was suddenly embarrassed and ashamed and wanted to hide my face. I love my husband and on a whole consider us to have a deeply happy marriage, so what is so hard about putting into words my favorite part but yet easy to quickly be a negative nancy?

I think if most people got real honest about their marriage they'd admit that there would be a different answer to this question depending on what day you ask. I can be real honest with you, my answer would change every day. I can easily wake up on any given morning having slept with no covers on the edge of my bed and think THIS, THIS is my LEAST favorite part about being married!

I took the time to dig deep into my feelings and push aside my selfish thoughts and truly considered all aspect of our life together to pin point a favorite. You know, nothing has been more humbling in my life than marriage. It's easy to ignore your flaws when there's no one to reflect them back to you.

So, all things considered, my favorite part about being married to Justin is that I have a true protector. He is there by my side when I'm right, when I'm wrong, when I'm not being fair to myself or to others, when I'm beautiful, when I'm hideous. I never have to wonder and the sheer confidence in knowing that truth is enough to make me want to work harder every day at being a better wife and having a better attitude so I can love him like he fully deserves.

this is all that's left

n

-i just spent 30 mintues composing a heartfelt and thoughtful post that i wanted to share and right as i was about to publish my crazy ass dog hit a key and deleted the entire thing. well except for that "n." i'm sure it was an accident. i have to keep thinking that or I might break her paw.

new post to come later... i hope.

xoxo

Command Decision

Over 10 years ago I made a command decision to never wear perfume again. I have stuck to my guns, and for this long I've only worn body spray. My current favorites are Bath & Body Works, White Tea & Ginger and Magnolia Blossom. Until recently, I've never been even tempted to wear perfume. That is until I smelled Sarah Jessica Parker's Covet. I smelled it about a year ago, and I still haven't bought it, because what if I broke the pact with myself? i am so weird.


The other day another command decision started to break ground inside my brain. What if I decided to wear only black from now on? My mom used to get mad at me for only buying black shirts and dresses, but I think I was on to something. If it makes you look thinner than you are, why aren't we all wearing black?


I can always jazz black up with my gaudy jewelry and cute shoes, and like Allie said yesterday, "You are never to fat to fit into your jewelry or your shoes!" The only draw back I'm having is that purple and that mustard yellow are so hot right now. Must remember that they are from the devil and want me to look fat. Anyway... i bought a huge purple bag yesterday so i can wear that color any old time!


for my first all black purchase....



the short sleeved turtle neck! slims my body and hides my ugly neck!

Christmas came early!

I researched all the sales papers on Sunday to find the best deal for my Tuesday purchase!  As you probably well know, Sex and The City The Movie came out yesterday and based on my research I hurried to Target as soon as I could yesterday to purchase my Crock Box version!  Basically the Crock Box version is the movie, a digital copy (which means i can upload to my iPhone) and the special feature extended cut.  Would you believe that I was in Target before noon and got the LAST Crock Box?

If you can remember back to May, Allison and I planned an entire weekend around the viewing of this movie, and we were there for the 10am showing!  So, it is only fitting that we purchase this as a Christmas gift for each other to enjoy forever.  We've been doing the long distance friendship for a couple of years now, so we're used to not celebrating Christmas close to the time, but I think September is an all time record! 

Of course we could have wrapped them up and mailed them to each other, but then we would have ruined the Crock Box look and we all know that Allison would be waiting until this time next year to get hers.  She's the queen of mailing things and I've lived in lexington for a year now and I have no idea where to post office is even located!

So, we both got to enjoy Christmas coming early yesterday and to get me in the mood I bought my first Santa along with my gift!

wedgie free

i'm sure that somewhere deep down justin dreams of a time when his wife will be the type of woman who always has sexy unmentionables on underneath it all, and let's face it - part of me wishes i was as sexy and steamy as the victoria secret ads.  but let's face it... i'll never be that tall and sometimes comfort calls.  and i'd rather be comfortable than walking around work or anywhere picking out a britney spears size wedgie from my hiney! 

enter the no ride up wedgie free underwear ads by hanes.  have you seen them?   i saw them a couple of times on tv and thought there is NO way those actually work.  the last time i wore big cotton granny panties, without fail, they ended up in a big crumpled cotton clump up my crack.  nice.

however, i needed a solution, because thongs were not cutting it with my work pants, well they were cutting it, but you know what i mean.  i fell for the marketing scheme and figured what the hell - i'll give the no ride up panties a try.  i started with a three pack, and after 3 days of wear i rushed back to the store to purchase SIX more pairs!  the definitely cover your booty, but don't give you the bad panty lines.  i love them and could NOT recommend them more.

with that said, they are great, and i can assure you that you're man probably won't love them and you have my permission to blame your wedgie free granny panties on me, but don't you think he would love it a lot less if you were digging around there in public. 

archer farms

i am admittedly won over by two things. pretty packaging and store brands. the fact that targets store brand is archer farms AND it looks cool too means that i am a big ole sucker the moment i walk in the door. i'm thinking archer farms is to normal people what trader joe's is to lucky people!

not only is the packaging fantastic, the descriptions reel me in every time! pecan sticky bun granola cereal...chocolate chunk hazelnut biscotti granola cereal... blue corn jalapeno corn bread mix... those are just the ones i can think of off the top of my head that made me shut my eyes and think deeply happy food thoughts.

while at target i was looking for pita chips, because i don't know if y'all have checked lately, but a little old bag of stacy's pita chips is expensive! i was thinking archer farms had a pita chip line and luckily for me they were having a "two-fer" deal. oh, add that to the list... another thing i'm a total sucker for... 2 for $5 or anything of the said equation.

at the end of the aisle i found them. the old stand by, regular baked no flavoring and then the new treat, Cinnamon Sugar. If you're thinking taco bell's cinnamon twist, then think again. These had just enough cinnamon and sugar to dust your finger tips, but not enough to dry your throat and choke you. delish.

and exactly one day after i got home with the bag i began plotting my next trip to super target, because this is evidence of how i spent my evenings at home.

Salsa Margarita Fest!

So, Briana posed the question in the last comments about salsa. The fact that you referred to me as the salsa queen means that you know exactly the way to my heart. if the shoe fits...i mean I did make salsa yesterday from tomatoes straight from Allie's garden and then helped her make salsa on saturday. by help i mean i tasted and suggested add ons.

Back to topic... Briana's throwing a party and she wants to have a smashing night. Might i suggest a salsa bar? Allie and i threw a memorial day party and had a vision of a salsa bar. Of course we had the normal Salsa, but also had a very delicious Tomatilla Salsa that had a fresh tangy summer taste. know what i mean? and while i'm suggesting i'll go ahead and remind you that it's a-ok to be creative! for fun i sometimes throw in lemon pepper seasoning... or chili lime seasoning... or sugar (restaurant salsa secret)...or crushed red pepper flakes (especially during the jalapeno scare...it adds a nice smokey flavor.)

Now to the chips. I'm glad you asked, because i can share a little secret that we LOVE around our house. Tostitos Flour Tortilla chips. HELLO! These chips are on my grocery list every time i go to the grocery store, and sometimes i have to make a special trip just to get them, because they do not stay around very long once the bag is opened. In my opinion they are much better than regular tostitos.

However, you might be wanting something a tad healthier. I've tried the baked tostitos, and i've wanted to like them, but i just don't. Lately i've been really digging Sun Chips. Multigrain, but so nice and crunchy which is a lovely compliment to any fresh salsa.

I hate to admit it, because if it was possible i'd probably turn into a taco based on the amount of mexican food i consume, but i do not consume margaritas. i just don't really care for them and never had. I drank them in college to fit in at happy hour, but then one day realized that i didn't have to do that anymore.

I do LOVE sangria, and just saw this fabulous recipe for Sangria in southern living.

Ingredients
1/4 cup sugar 2 (750-milliliter) bottles dry red wine 1/2 cup orange juice 1/2 cup peach nectar* 1/4 cup orange liqueur 2 to 3 cups club soda, chilled 1 lemon, thinly sliced 1 lime, thinly sliced 1 orange, thinly sliced 1 Granny Smith apple, thinly sliced

Preparation
1. Bring sugar and 1 1/4 cups water to a boil in a saucepan over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat, and let stand 10 minutes.
2. Combine sugar mixture, red wine, and next 3 ingredients in a large container; cover and chill 4 hours. Stir in club soda and next 4 ingredients just before serving. Serve over ice, if desired.
*1/2 cup orange juice may be substituted.

Here's where all you margarita drinkers come in. I know you all know a recipe that you think is so good that you'd definitely change my margarita drinking ways. So, do share! Briana's throwing a party and she needs your recipe!

the best summer peach pie

the first time i ever tasted this pie was the first weekend i took justin home to meet my family. you know when good food lingers in your taste buds and you can't get it out of your brain? well, that's this pie.

so i got the recipe and convinced christina to make it with me one hot summer weeknight in chicago. this isn't a weeknight recipe, because you have to let it chill a while and be patient. we were neither of these things, so as soon as we thought it had "chilled" long enough we topped it and dug in. it was a delicious runny mess. then two days later, perfectly chilled, the pie found its way into my bed, and she and i finished it off while picking our favorite dancer on so you think you can dance. it has fruit on it, so really it must not be that bad for you, right?

my other half doesn't eat dessert, so his other half makes up for what he misses. because of that i try and make desserts when i know there's an opportunity to give them away. spending sunday with the in laws was a perfect excuse AND peaches were on sale!

i started peeling and dicing peaches first thing saturday morning. i diced on christina's suggestion, and it paid off, because when eaten there were no huge chunks of peach falling off of the creamy custard filling. and since i knew i was using wheat flour i went ahead and marinated them in brown sugar all day.

for fun or maybe because i often have a LOT of time on my hands i made my own whipped cream. one layer wasn't enough, so i whipped up a second batch for pie height!

no way can i give my in laws something to eat that i haven't tried? what if they hate it? that can't be good for a new daughter in law.

all set and ready to dig in with the perfect first piece. justin and i had gone to dinner and walked the shops while the pie was chilling, so i didn't have to sit in front of the fridge and stare.

and in exactly 3.4 seconds later this is what my plate looked like. aren't my new plates and silverware gorgeous? we finally got our wedding gifts in place and every meal makes me so happy, because it taste good and the plating is just divine.

The Best Summer Peach Pie

Crust
1 1/2 cups flour
1/2 cup oil
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 cup boiling water

mix first three and then add boiling water. roll between wax paper and pat in pie plate, if it doesn't work out roll it in a ball and start over. OR if you'd rather... just use a pie shell from the store. they taste delicious and if you won't tell i won't either.

Filling:
3/4 cup sugar
1/3 cup flour
1/4 tsp salt
2 cups milk
3 slightly beaten egg yolks
2 tbsp butter
1 1/2 tsp vanilla

Whipped Cream:
3 cups of whipping cream
3 tbsp of sugar
whip on high until soft peaks form

mix sugar, flour, and salt and transfer to a saucepan and add egg yolks and the milk. cook over medium heat stir constantly for 10-12 minutes. you have to keep stirring or your eggs will scramble! once it starts to bubble cook for 2 minutes. take off heat and add butter and vanilla. pour in pie shell place wax paper over top to keep from causing a film. (i didn't put was paper on top, because i didn't have any and there was no film that i could taste. once it's cooled cover pie in peaches and top with whipped cream and eat immediately, or you'll be sorry you didn't.

one girl's trash...

i'd like to come out and say right here and now that the lexington goodwill is a junk~tiquers paradise. it's also a paradise for people who love regular old junk too, but that's not why i go. as i said last week, i had to take a few loads for the move, and couldn't help but look through their furniture area to see if i could spy something i couldn't live without.

behind an old mattresses and set of snow skis i spotted this lovely turquoise frame and had my other half drag it out. it was love at first sight, but there was no price tag.


"Let's take it to the counter, and if it's $5 i'll get it, but anything more and i won't." the man charged me $5 exactly. whew!

since it weighs about 475 lbs i propped it up against the wall. i love that about old furniture... no skimping on quality. i'm sure i could find a nail strong enough for it, but for the time being i think it suits my eclectic pink table just fine. what is all this junk you ask? well let's see... from left to right - picture of me and allison in downtown austin in front of Zen on S. Congress, yellow pie plate from justin's grandmother's antique shop with floral coasters, the first flowers my other half ever gave me, and assorted books about audrey hepburn and sex and the city.

oh, and the cute "garden" sign? well that's my new married last name. isn't it just darling?

review & recommendation: Sex and the City Movie

i began thinking about this review on my plane ride home from my two week texas stay. the soundtrack of the movie playing in my earbuds and my head was consumed with thoughts of the characters, the story and the emotion.


the big day felt like i was going in for a scheduled delivery or something, because i got text messages and calls and emails wishing me fun and happiness. i can confirm that for 2.5, check that - 5 (i saw it twice in one day) hours i was NOT disappointed. i understand that there are some people who are disappointed, and i admit that it hurts my feelings, but let's not dwell.


to me the film was delightfully entertaining, raw with emotion and deeply moving. the tears started flowing when carrie walked out in the tutu and the only time i stopped crying before the end credits was when i was busting a gut laughing. "you shit your pants this year honey, you're done."


i loved this movie because while many "chick flicks" are cliche and predictable, this one was real. how about when carrie took those glasses off in mexico and then slept for days. raise your hand if you've done this before for smaller things than being left at the alter by mr. big. or how about miranda sitting on that couch on new years eve..."i thought having a family meant never having to be along on new years eve." or charlotte when asked if she was happy being married, "every day. not every second of every day, but every day." television and film have a way of making marriage an extreme - and extreme miserable hell or an extreme happy fairy tale. it's not always picture perfect, but from my experience, it can be happy every day.



and the thing that felt the most real to me... carrie walking in that closet in the end. a woman who always has the right words didn't say a word. she fell into the arms of the man she loved. i believe she was deeply hurt, but there is something about love and i can remember thinking this when i was falling in love. it's not about all the things movies tend to make you think love should be about, in my gut it boiled down to the fact that i knew i could NOT live without justin. like it or not, carrie can not live without big and now their world is just as it should be.



quickies from the movie...

*samantha and miranda looked great... the years have been kind

*smith and steve looked like they had aged the most

*louise from st. louis (jennifer hudson) was wonderful

*that black outfit carrie had on when they were halloween costume shopping... why choose? i LOVED everything carrie had on and i fully expect we'll all be wearing any number of the outfits in 2013

*that they didn’t dwell on steve’s other woman. It was a one time thing and she is not in the picture so they didn’t fill space worrying with her.

*that after the wedding we saw big alone. He didn’t just disappear into movie invisible~ness.

*carrie’s assistant got her that thoughtful DVD for christmas and she got her a $5,250 handbag… yeah, I saw it in a magazine!

*hey Stanford, where was marcus and why are you kissing anthony?

*did y’all see bitsy von muffling at the rehearsal dinner? Where was bobby? Home with baby?

*who bought carrie and big’s apartment? Did big buy it for them?

*why is brady still so little acting… he was born in the 4th season and it’s been 4 years since the end of the sixth…what gives.

i'd give it more if i could, but 2 thumbs is all i got. what did you think?

practice what you preach, sister!

last wednesday night allie (you should check her blog for our week of culinary creations) and i along with two of our other friends who haven't really experienced the world of blogs ventured out to addison, texas to support SK at her book signing. this was one of our big nights out on the town and i had quite the time trying to pic a sufficient outfit from my 125lbs of luggage, shoes and accessories.

eventually, i settled on a dress that was comfy and cute and kept me cool~ish. i say cool~ish because the heat was turned up in texas and it was glorious! well until i was at a street fair and i was crampy and icky and gross and then it was the opposite of glorious. i digress...

so, wednesday afternoon i gave myself 2 whole hours to pick said outfit with coordinating jewelry and fabulous shoes, wash and fix my hair, make road snack for me and allie to tide us over until dinner. it doesn't matter how long i give myself to get ready i'm ALWAYS down to the wire, so i was rushing around when allie's mom arrived to deliver me to allie's office. we get everything in the car and get one block from allison's office and i look down, "CRAP! I had the cutest shoes to go with this outfit, and I wore my fitflops!" "Well, you said you forget you have them on..."

arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrgggggggggggg... those shoes are so cute. think - kelly green satin high as the sky wedges plus they go perfect with this one dress in my closet and they make me look taller. and... well - i like them.

so we're deep into dinner conversation about our lives, our loves, crazy people and the blogs when jamie (hi, jamie!) looks over and makes my day, "Are you wearing your fitflops, because when i walked in i saw you wearing them and thought it must be you!"

thanks jamie - you made me feel so special because you noticed. how fun that i was caught practicing what i preach, but those shoes are still dang cute and coming to a foot near me very soon!

"she really has class because she'll go anywhere" - andy warhol

i'm finally home safe and back in the company of my wonderful husband. i am a lucky woman who fully realizes my undeserving blessings in life. i get to go to texas and see family and dear friends that I love and then get to come home to my other half. happy sigh.

while on the plane last night i started my movie review, and realized that they were asking us to put away our electronics and i had written the entire time and not come close to what i was trying to say. let's just say - i loved it. love love loved it. there wasn't even one part i hated. it was movie bliss.

since i still need to hone it down to a manageable reading scope i am dying to share of my much saught after new find! here she is ~ such a beauty!

i found a couple of these andy warhol bags when i was in cleveland and talked myself out of spending the $20 that they cost. i'll just think about it, i justified. well think about it i did. for the two months since then i've looked in every store possible, searched online, searched message boards online seeing if other people had found them anywhere and then i walked into the Ross Dress for Less in Texarkana, TX! They had 5 different ones! this is where all the andy warhol bags in the world have been hiding out!

i love these bags, because they aren't the typical and very trendy go green bags you're seeing everywhere now. as you can see from the picture of me with my bag they are largely oversized and terribly gaudy. love that. the inside also has pockets for my phone and lip gloss and wallet and is big enough for everything else. yesterday i carried - a water bottle, the pictures for my wedding album, a magazine, camera, glasses, all of our mail when we got home... it's my catch all and i love it!

i keep wondering i should have my mom go back and buy more to perhaps surprise me with for christmas which means i probably should, because how much can one bag torment a person's thoughts for a whole year?

counting the hours

oh my gosh... the movie is HOURS away! less than 12. i'm afraid that i won't be able to sleep tonight because i'll be waiting on santa to deliver christmas. there's a small chance that i'm just like every one of those star wars fans you're embarassed to see at the midnight showing of a new episode because they're all dressed up with props. ok there's a large chance. the dress is chosen and props included are shoes, necklace, belt, earrings and purse. this is serious business.

i said that this weeks post would be dedicated to the wonder that is SATC and i had a book signing and not to be one of those people, but i got busy and i got tired. it was my friend's book signing and the eating and talking and laughing went well into the night.

so i'll keep my word and i'll of course show you pics of the outfits for both showings, but i will NOT post my thoughts until monday. i HATE delaying gratification like that, but i know many people like to see for themsevles.

a few of my favorite quotes to nibble on... enjoy.


Samantha: Ladies! Seamen, twelve o'clock!
Miranda: I pray when i turn around there are sailors, because with her, never know.
(Anchors Away - season 5)

Miranda to Carrie's machine: Your good friend Miranda has just taken a piece of cake out of the garbage and eaten it. You will probably need this information when you check me into the Betty Crocker Clinic.
(What's sex got to do with it? - season 4)

Carrie: Think about it. If you are single, after graduation there isn't one occasion where people celebrate you. ... Hallmark doesn't make a "congratulations, you didn't marry the wrong guy" card. And where's the flatware for going on vacation alone?
(A woman's right to shoes - season 6)

Carrie: MEN I may not know, but SHOES - SHOES I know!
(A vogue idea - season 5)

Carrie: How can you be engaged? You have a problem with commitment, remember? In fact, you told me you never wantedto get married again, ever.

Big: Things change.

Carrie: You just didn’t want to marry me.
Big: Natasha and I...
Carrie: Don’t say her name! Don’t you dare say her name to me!
(ex and the city - season 2)

Carrie: Nooooooo, I'M TAKING A WALK! You can stay here with your boxes of shit and your shoe eating dog and you can knock yourself out putting on the rogaine and the speed stick! THIS is why I need a second door.
(the good fight - season 4)

Carrie: I had often fantasized about running into my ex and his wife. But in those fantasies, I was running over them with a truck.
(easy come, easy go - season 3)

Bobby Fine: Bitsy Von Muffling, the first time I saw you, I fell in love. You walked in wearing that red vintage Dior.
Miranda: Pink elephant in the room.
Stanford: Do you mind? I am listening to the bride and bride.
Bitsy Von Muffling: My dear Bobby Fine…
Samantha: Something tells me Bitsy isn’t doing ”Fine.”
Harry: And that’s the little piece of information she’s been Von Muffling.
(i love a charade - season 5)

Carrie: You do this every time! EVERY time! What do you have some sort of radar? Carrie might be happy - it's time to sweep in and shit all over it?
Big: What? No, no, I came here to tell you something. I made a mistake. You and I...
Carrie: You and I - NOTHING! You can not do this to me again! You can not jerk me around!
Big: Carrie, listen to me. It is different this time...
Carrie: Oh, it's never different! It's six years of NEVER being different! This is it! I am done! Don't call me ever again! Forget you know my number! In fact, forget you know my name! And you can drive up this street all you want - because I don't live here any more!
(AN AMERICAN GIRL IN PARIS (PART UNE) - season 6)

great list of great things

the counter says there are only 2 days left... allison and i already have our outfits picked out for BOTH scheduled viewing. we also found these very handy wine versions of capri~sun.


i will be dedicating this weeks posts to my good friends of sex and the city and their wonderful show. and since everyone loves a good list i thought i'd do a top 10 list of why sex and the city is so great.


10. because their clothes are so fashion forward. i swear to you that Pat Field is 5 years ahead of the curve. just the other day i saw Hop, Skip and a Week - where Carrie has jury duty. To which she wore high waisted pants with suspenders - which you could easily find in any store last fall. and when berger came back with the carnations - a tunic with leggings. be care when you see the movie and think the clothes are so outrageous, because you could be wearing that very thing in 2013.





9. because it's written to apply to your own life, and the words they put to it are so much better than what you could have come up with. sex and the city quotes are so much apart of my lingo that i can hardly tell where i stop and they begin. how many of you have seen something you love and can't help but think or even voice out loud heeeeeeeelllo lover! or when someone asks if you like wine... my friends like ALL wine.


8. because they are the only actors in america that can make you believe that there are 4 gorgeous best friends with the best taste in clothes and perfectly design apartments with a plethora of guys just waiting at their doorsteps to take them on dates. they really make you believe that you can have it all... if nice clothes, chic houses and hot men are what you're looking for. but seriously... i was in a sorority of over 200 women, and i've NEVER known 4 women like this.


7. because in the first season they all talk to the camera, but if you start at season 1 you don't know any better and you love the girls all the same. i will say that the end of the second season was when i felt like they were my friends and i was emotionally invested in their lives.


6. because of the fabulous parties they go too. how many of you would turn down an invitation to a big navy party during fleet week? let me just say right now that i did my share of parties in waco, austin, chicago and even lexington and none of them compare to big bands and navy men in uniform. even that wedding at the naval academy which wasn't too bad. or how about the hampton hoe down or the magazine party on the boat...


5. because all the DVDs have commentary and it fantastic insight to what the writers were thinking and what was actually going on at the time of the show. did you know that when carrie was going to the Guggenheim and it started raining that the paparazzi got a shot of her tummy when her skirt flew up and the prego rumors began to spread.


4. because they put things on the map and with a mention you are the hottest fangled craze... hello manolo blahnik, magnolia bakery, sushi samba, hermes birkin bag, tasti d-lite. just to name a few.


3. because the women show you what it means to have friends and be friends. it doesn't mean you have to be catty or bitchy or competitive. you can be yourself with your friends and you can be honest and deeply loyal and know that these qualities are respected and given back to you, because a guy's lucky to come in 4th.




2. because the men were men. they weren't perfectly chiseled and prince charming~ish... they were real. who of us can say we've haven't been with a man like big who was indecisive yet so appealing. or aiden who was perfect, but you weren't ready. or steve who might not be the best on paper, but you can't shake him. or smith who was younger and so sexy. or harry who was smart and funny but nothing to look at and you couldn't help but think he was perfect for you.


1. and just like when Miranda asked Carrie why people think Manhattan is so great... "Because it is."

Update: The Fit Flop

a while back i asked y'all if you had any thoughts on the fit flop, and several of you have asked if i got them and what i think. i did get them and i'm here to tell you that i'm in love. real honest to goodness love with my fit flops.

christina got a pair to "test" with me and i'm happy to say that they have our overwhelming stamp of approval because they've passed the city and the country test. (turquoise toe nail polish, heeeeyyyyy!) i can't really tell if they give me a work out or not, but i do know that my feet and back don't hurt when i walk any distance in them and that's good enough for me.



you know when you wear something so much that you feel naked with out it... like your watch or your rings... that's me and my fit flops. i swear it put them on the minute i get out of my bed and don't take them off until i crawl into the covers at night. even when i dress up i find myself looking for a way to make them work. my sassy little sandals are sadly collecting dust this spring.

by wearing them 12 hours a day for the past month i feel like i've gotten my moneys worth out of my black ones so i put some of my wedding gift card money towards these brown ones below. for your information macy's carries more colors than bath and body works.



wish you could see them in person... the top is bronze with raspberry, tan and cream stripes. darling! just go get some... i promise your feet will be very happy.

what's up buttercup?

what do y'all think about outlet malls? i think they are mostly overrated, as the look like a shoppers paradise, but end up dissappointing more times than not. we saw a "nice" one on the way to cleveland, and talked about stopping on our way home if time permitted. really all i saw was the williams-sonoma outlet, and that was all i needed to make a detour.


we made it to the outlet around 8:54pm and they closed at 9. 6 minutes is plenty of time to make a quick run through, right?


on my rapid mission for a good deal, i happen to run into the kitchenaid artisan stand mixers with this sign above ~

KitchenAid Artisan Stand Mixer

$199

Buttercup

holy williams-sonoma i am no longer breathing.

buttercup is "my" color and i'm standing here with $300+ in WS gift certificates. what to do? of course i debated it. we've been eyeing that slow cooker and panini press for a while now and we'd most certainly use those more. BUT...

pro ~ $240 is the cheapest i've ever seen this mixer.

on the other hand $199 is still a LOT of money.

pro~ it's something i'll use for a lifetime.

but i won't use it everyday. it's still $199.

pro~ i'm standing here with $300+ of FREE MONEY in my hands.

it doesn't get much better than that.

so, i got the mixer! and a darling apron and a cast iron grill press with $75 to spare. how will i ever decide how to spend the rest?

guess i'll just kill time deciding by staring at the beautiful new kitchenaid mixer that is all mine!