Vacay Detox

Whewww!  How many posts can I start with the words 'Wheww'?

We are just back from vacation a trip with our kids.  It's vacation when we go by ourselves... it's a trip when we go with the kids.  Our "kids" our now 23 and 20 and it is much different to travel with them now that they are adults.  However, me and hubs, on more than one occasion, found ourselves saying, "it was much easier when they were little".  Now they eat more food than we do and stay up MUCH later, too!!!  On the flip-side, they can share in the driving responsibilities... OH, YEAH!!  A benefit of sharing this responsibility is we get to hear music at the volume of a night club.

I am officially on vacation detox.  Body AND mind!!!  My hubs and I (does it bother anyone else but me that I write in first and second person???  Sorry for that!  Not an English major) have traveled on six (6) trips in the last seven (7) months!!!!!!  *deep sigh*
Most of them have been for pleasure but a couple of them not.
When I travel I have every intention of exercising.  I take my workout clothes, dvd's and such to do just that.  I have failed to ever do this.
When I return home I find myself eager to get settled in, unpacked and back in workout mode.  However, I don't necessarily find it easy to adjust to the quiet.

Random:  Is anyone else roasting or dying of heat stroke??  It is HOT here and I am melting!  I like it though, I just need something to complain about.  If not the heat I will find something else.  I try to always have a back-up complaint just in case the original resolves.

Random:  I discovered a secret obsession while vacationing in the south.  Sweet Home Alabama!!!  WHAT!!!???  The Bachelorette with a southern twang!  Perfecto!!  I'm pullin' for the good ole' boys.  Maybe  the sentiment comes from the fact I married one.  Ok, well, not really.... he just sounds like it.

Thanks for letting me talk...

Turn the quiet up.... turn the noise down.

SHE's Here!!!

I'm SICK!!!  Spent 6 1/2 hours in the ER last night.  I have listened to patients and all of their contagious ailments that often-time included barfing.  (I know... you just signed off... can't say I blame you)  Word is, I'll be feeling as good as new in .... oh... say, a month!!!  SIX hours a CT and ultrasound later for THAT piece of info.?????

The good news on the homefront is my sister delivered a beautiful 6 lb 15 oz baby girl yesterday. Her sweet little self will answer to the name Addisyn Laree.   I'm an AUNT!!!  I couldn't be any more filled with joy.  We have not had a baby in our family in 18 years.  My mom is just beside herself not to mention the fact my sister is radiant.  She looks like someone who has waited her entire life for this moment to arrive.  I'm sure Addi will bring much joy to this family and we can't wait for all her preciousness to descend upon our crazy little family.

BLOG  WORLD..... I would like you to meet my niece  Addisyn Laree

Can I get an awwwww for baby feet.

She looks just like her Momma, which in turn kinda looks like Auntie Vonna.  Umm, yes I love her already.

"Children are a heritage from the Lord..."  Psalm 127:3

Brutal Honesty

I am having a little construction project done on the deck this week.  It was "someones" idea to have a "certain-family-member" complete this project.  I grossly underestimated the emotional stress that "Familymember" would put on me in the seemingly short period of time it would take to tear down and replace a deck.  In my estimation this process should take three full twelve hour days.  Because I have assembled many decks in my days I felt this was a fair amount of time.
"Familymember" has quite a different work ethic than hubs.  Hubs feels like every able-bodied man should give a good 11-12 hour work day if the job calls for it.
I write this on the eve of day 2.  Progress is not moving along to my liking, to say the least.  It could be because the first day of work amounted to a total of 3 hours.  The remainder of the 99 degree day was spent in the pool.  (I failed to mention that "Familymember" brought along "Helper".)  I also failed to mention that I am housing "Familymember" and "Helper" until the project is completed *deep sigh*.
 "Familymember" has my fathers genetic make-up and I HUGELY underestimated the impact THAT would have on my little girl self.  Why do I, when a certain tone is taken, feel small?  Why can I stand up to almost any personality but "Familymember" and my dad reduce me to a 10 year old little girl?  Why can't I find my voice to say, "don't speak to me in that manner"?????  Don't push me down and make me feel helpless and small!!!  RESPECT!!
This could be a long week........but, a new deck is in the somewhat near future.  Therapy is next on the "to-do" list.  *deep sigh*

I love Pretty Things!

I love beautiful architecture.  While traveling a couple of weeks ago the hubs and I went C-R-A-Z-Y with the camera.  Hubs also has a love for beautiful photography.  His subjects happen to be a little different than mine.  We definitely don't have a clue what we are doing when it comes to photography.  But, we have a nice, new camera so, we think we are pretty cool!! ;)  

I love old rusty things.... that's why I've been married to the same man for 24 years *wink, wink* babe.

This city has so much history.  But for the life of me I can't remember a single detail.  I could tell you the color of our bed linens, the surface of the hotel vanity, the details of the lighting in the hotel lobby and the name of my favorite dress boutique but.... history............ummm, probably not without googling it!!!!

Once in awhile I put down the lense to do what I do best....ok, kinda well, SHOP!

I want this on my patio!!!!  STAT!

Why can't we have moss-covered trees in the Midwest????

A plantation we visited.  

This was, indeed the highlight of the plantation tour. After the mile-long lane of moss covered trees... that was pretty much it for the "plantation"

This was our view every morning.  Is this just too, stinkin' cute??

I love the word "cottage"!!!

Our path to our cottage home.  *insert smiling*

Our place for the week.

Neighbors.

Hot Hubs!

Hot hubs taking in the view!

Ahhhhh....doesn't the words "beach cottage" just make you giddy?????

What's a Fluffer Nutter??? And Other Yummi-ness...It's What's For Dinner!

I found this recipe for Avocado Chicken Salad in one of Paula Deen's cookbooks.  I have been paying homage to Paula this week.  I feel a kinship since our little visit to Savannah last week.  So... this is what we had for dinner tonight.  A perfect summer meal.  And for my friends who eat gluten-free, like I try to do... this is a gluten-free meal.  It goes something like this:

I cut the avocado in half and used the shells to serve the chicken salad.

3 cups cooked, diced chicken.  (I crock-pot mine so I don't have to stand over a stove... not crazy 'bout doing that)

3 cups cooked white rice

2 avocados, peeled, diced, and tossed with 1 tablespoon lemon juice to prevent browning

3/4 cup chopped onion (I added to chicken in crock)

1 cup mayo

1-2 teaspoons pepper

1 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley (reality says, I didn't do this step)

Mix all ingredients and chill.  

Avocado Dressing:

1 large avocado, peeled and mashed w/2 tablespoons lemon juice

1 cup mayo

1/2 cup sour cream

1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

1/2 cup chopped onion

2 cloves garlic, minced (I used the garlic paste)

1 teaspoon salt

dash of cayenne pepper

Place all ingredients in a food processor and blend until smooth.  Chill and serve alongside chicken salad.

Take a look at this super-simple-summer-supper  ;) !!!!     Taaa-Daaaaa!!!

Really, I'm not all about being a recipe exchange but, sometimes I just gotta tell you when somethings GOOD, or EASY or... really sucks!

I HAVE to share with you a divine frosting recipe.   I wish you could just smell Fluffer Nutter Frosting, right now!!!

Use a little, like 7 ounces, of this:

And 1 1/2 cups of this:

Here is the complete recipe for Fluffernutter Frosting:
1 1/2 cups butter, softened... (I only use real, organic butter... but you do what you want here)
1 1/2 cups creamy peanut butter
1 jar (7 oz) marshmallow creme
3 cups powdered sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla
Ok, friends.... it is super-easy to over mix this luscious cupcake topping!  My first attempt ended in the garbage because it resembled something of the likes of oatmeal.
Beat 1 1/2 cups butter (3 friggin' sticks!!!! whoa!!!) with the peanut butter with an electric mixer until smooth. Beat in marshmallow creme.  On low speed, gradually add powdered sugar until blended.  Add 2 teaspoons vanilla; beat 3 minutes longer... on LOW.
I added frosting to a ziploc bag, cut the tip off the bag and piped it onto "home-made" cupcakes.
I gladly donated six of these "low-cal" snacks to the movers who were working next door.

Happy Wednesday Eve!

Mid Life Road Trip = SUCCESS!!

I'm back from the Mid-Life (Road Trip) Mania... and am happy to report.............I..............SURVIVED!!!!!  I have to give you an accurately-detailed play-by-play just so you can feel it with me.
Now that I am back home and my fear of someone ransacking my home while traveling is put to rest I can share the trip route.
Our wild and crazy ride began on Friday morning bright and early heading to Chicago for some appointments.  Our first night was to be spent on Michigan avenue.  It was a cold and rainy day in the Windy City so we decided to move on further south.  We settled in Indianapolis on Friday night to receive a good nights rest in order to tackle some serious driving on Saturday en route to Nashville, Tennessee.
At about 4 a.m. hubs woke me with the words, "something's wrong, I'm in a ton of pain... I think I have a kidney stone".  My guess was that this was not something that a little tylenol was going to solve.  My first hint of this was the fact he was crawling to the bathroom!!!  Within the hour we were headed to the hospital and would remain there for the next 9 hours!!!!!  Sad start to a carefree convertible road trip.  :'(

Early-on.... all smiles... so happy, carefree!

Wind blowin' through my hair... :)

We have had a lot of practice with vacation mishaps.  Almost every vacay!!!  Our friends joke about the fact we should write a book on all of our vacation disasters. I have been the last one standing on at least one occasion while the other three fainted.  Try asking for medical assistance and help for, not one, but THREE people with a staff who speaks no English.

It is now our policy to book our hotel within close proximity of a hospital.  Seriously!!

8 hrs later....Over It... Kinda!

Eighteen hours later hubs passed a large, 3mm kidney stone!!!! Relief was received!!
The trip continued... from Nashville to Savannah, Georgia  and our final destination was Seaside, Florida.  The rest was uneventful except for the fact that I rolled my own arm up in the car window.  Aside from that... the story would be pretty much a bore!!!  If you're not already nodding off at the sheer number of words on this page... I salute you!!!