Friday Favorites: Week 9

Happy Friday, everyone!

Favorite pooch:  beach pup
I want to hug that little guy or girl SO MUCH!!



Favorite feast:  baked spaghetti pie
I made this for dinner on Wednesday, and it was a huge hit.  Easy and delicious.



Favorite summer casual outfit from Marshall's

I'd totally wear this if the shorts were longer.  :-)  Don't want my thunder thighs to scare small children and animals...

Favorite funny:  Pants on the Ground!

I can't stand it when I see young guys having to walk down the street holding their belt buckles with one hand and their cell phone in the other.  Why???



Favorite sweet:  strawberry lemonade poke cake
I'm extremely tempted to try this with raspberries!  Bet it would be equally good.



Favorite summer decor:  Citrus Centerpiece
This would be beautiful *anywhere* in the house.  Look at those gorgeous colors!



Favorite DIY Project:  Make your own beach glass with Elmer's glue and food coloring.



Favorite summer drink: Ginger Tea Lemonade with Basil

Giada De Laurentiis has given me yet *another* lemonade recipe to try.  I'll use herbal tea.



Favorite front porch
Look at those gorgeous hydrangeas!  And the inviting wicker seating!  I love everything about this place.



Favorite gutsy hairdo:  purple and fuschia!
I could never do this (because I have short, short hair, obvs), but it's kinda cool!



I'm off to visit my mom in the hospital tomorrow.  She fell and fractured her hip last weekend.  She's being moved to a rehab facility today.  Prayers and good wishes are apprciated.  :-)

Hope you have a fabulous weekend!
Chris

Friday Favorites: Week 8

Happy Friday, everyone!  Hope you've had a great week. :-)

Favorite pic:  beach bike
I want to be riding this along a boardwalk by the sea.  The sooner, the better.



Favorite sip:  Watermelon lime frosty
Maybe I could stop for one of these along said boardwalk?



Favorite arm candy:  Juicy Couture bracelet
Elephants!  Fabulous Colors too!

Favorite sweet moment:  mama and pup
Love.




Favorite funny: 



It would thin them out. Just sayin'.

Favorite bookends:  Mermaid
I've always loved the idea of mermaids.  And something tells me they'd be awesome at holding my books together.  ;-)



Favorite bite:  peach oatmeal muffins



Favorite footwear:  polka dots by Loeffler Randall
At $295, they're a little steep for me, but I can still admire from afar.




Favorite reason to have a party:  caramel grapes



Favorite thing to look forward to:  Halloween
LOVE that scary tree on the door! 



Hope you have a wonderful, fantastic, stupendous weekend!!!

Chris

Meal Plan: June 4-8

Look at all the yummy meals I've got lined up for you this week!

Monday: California Grilled Chicken Avocado and Mango Salad
Don't you think this salad looks scrumptious?!



Tuesday:  Spicy Bean Burritos
I really like having one meatless meal a week.  Here is my choice this time around.



Wednesday:  Jamaican Jerk Chicken & the Best Rice Ever
Yes, I made this a few weeks ago.  Yes, I'm gonna make it again this week.  It is that good!



Thursday:  Turkey Spinach Avocado Burgers
I shied away from ground turkey for the longest time, but it's really quite good.  This recipe combines the ground turkey with spinach for an extra-healthy and flavorful burger.  Can't wait to try it!



Friday:  Honey Rosemary Pork Chops
Oh, my!  This looks like heaven on a plate.



BONUS:  Rosemary Lemonade
A dear friend made this for me last week, and I fell in love!  Do yourself a favor and make up a pitcher TODAY.  :-)

Rosemary-Lemon Syrup
1 small lemon
2 cups water
1 cup granulated sugar
1 spring fresh rosemary (about 5 inches long)

Lemonade
7 small lemons
3 cups cold water
3 cups ice cubes plus additional for serving

1.  Prepare syrup:  Into 2-quart saucepan, grate peel from lemon; reserve lemon.  Add water and sugar and heat to boiling over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally until sugar dissolves.  Remove saucepan from heat; stir in rosemary sprig.  Cover and let stand at room temperature for 1 hour.  Refrigerate syrup for 1 hour or until chilled.

2.  Prepare lemonade:  Squeeze juice from 7 lemons plus reserved lemon through strainer into large pitcher.  Strain rosemary mixture into pitcher; stir in cold water and ice.  Serve lemonade in tall glasses over ice.


Enjoy your week, my friends!

Chris

Friday Favorites: Week 7

Happy Friday, everyone!  Hope you've had a good one.  My husband and I have been off to paint our foyer, living room and dining room.  They look great!  Once we get everything back to normal, I'll share some pics.  In the meantime, enjoy some of the fun things I've found online this week:

Favorite breakfast:  Caprese Frittata

Oh my gosh does this look good!  Fresh tomatoes and basil lovingly engulfed by cheese and eggs.  Wow!

Favorite cute summer shoes:  Payless "Shania" Wedge

Yes.  Payless!  I tried these on last week and loved them.  They're on sale now for $19.99!

Favorite sip:  Blackberry Lemonade

I'm all about exotic lemonades this summer - basil lemonade, rosemary lemonade, blueberry lemonade.  Somebody stop me!

Favorite kitchen gadget:  Pizza saw

 How cool is this?!  I bet it's easier to gude than a traditional pizza cutter too. 

Favorite Awww!:  Baby Polar Bear

 Look at that cute little nose!  Precious.

Favorite tie-on:  Paper Bow

Click the link for the pattern *and* the chevron paper!  A great addition to any gift.

Favorite summer sweet:  Cherry Salad

Cool Whip, sweetened condensed milk, cherry pie filling, crushed pineapple, mini-marshmallows and nuts.  Yum!!!!

Favorite anytime sweet:  Peanut Butter Cup Cupcakes

Best flavor combo.  EVER.

Favorite DIY project:  Shopping Cart Chair

What the what?!?  Now that's a clever idea!

 

Favorite summer scene: The Saguaro - Palm Springs, CA 

I want to to lay on one of those lounges with a good book and a fancy lemonade.  :-)

Wishing you all a fun weekend!

Chris

Friday Favorites: Week 6

Favorite pillow:  3-D Glasses Pillow from freaky fleece on Etsy.
I can't say I'm completely on board with this new 3-D obsession, but I do love this pillow!

Favorite fruity bite:  Lemon-Lime Mousse with Fresh Strawberries

I've been on a huge lime kick lately, but it's mostly been in things like salads and chicken dishes.
This looks like a delicious dessert.  Can't wait to try it!

Favorite earrings:  Raw Brass Chain Earrings with Gold Fringe

I love the simplicity of this design.  It'll look beautiful with just about anything!

Favorite furniture makeover:  Chevron Dresser

How cute is this?!

 

Favorite welcome:

Bill just painted our entrance foyer in a turquoise that's just slightly darker than this door.  I love this cheerful color!

Favorite meal idea:  Cheesy Enchilada Casserole

All I can say is...yum!!

Favorite funny:  koalifications

LOL!

Favorite blue hue:  Hydrangea from Google images

I love, love, love hydrangeas!  They just make me happy.  :-)

Favorite organization inspiration:

From the dollar store!

Favorite DIY jewel:

I'd really like to try to make this bracelet.  I really love the combination of gold, silver and bling in this one!

Enjoy your weekend, friends!  And Happy Memorial Day on Monday!!

Chris

Wardrobe Wednesday: To the Max-i

You know what?  I've decided that it's time to interject an outfit post now and again, just for fun.  So here you go:

Last week I picked up this cute maxi dress at Kohl's.  It's made of a super soft knit and feels just as good as wearing the most comfortable sweats I own!  The upside?  It's much prettier than my sweats.

I prefer to keep things on the modest side, which is why I chose to wear a white tee underneath.  Well, that and the fact that it helps hide my flabby arms.  :-)

To accessorize, I kept it simple and sweet with two stretch bracelets



Turquoise: World Market / Teal:  Fashion Bug

After my "photo shoot" I got to spend some time out in the backyard with these cuties:



This is Lucky, our border collie/cocker spaniel mix



This is Zero, the beautiful girl next door.  :-)

They love to run together along the fenceline.

Happy Hump Day!

Chris

Now THAT'S a lot of cumin!

Look what I just scored at my local Marshall's...

One of my most favorite spices in the whole. wide. world! 

And the very best part?

That huge 7 ounce jar cost me...

 

$4.99!!!


MARSHALL'S RULES!