25 Before 26 Reflection

Four months before my 26th birthday, I wrote a birthday list. Late to the game, I worked on it right up until the clock struck twelve on my birthday. (One of my birthday presents form Mr. A was my passport. I can't wait to have that in my hot lil' hands next month!)

I crossed 14 things off my list! (#'s 1, 2, 3, 5, 9, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 20, 21, 22, 24) 
Watching "An Affair to Remember" with Mr. A holds high rank on my warm & fuzzy feeling hit list. The leave-something-to-the-imagination style of the classics are powerfully hypnotizing & sexy. It was all we could do to peel ourselves away to boil some water for pasta. 

Our coffee table is still begging to be re-stained. So what did we do? We added a pizza stone scorch mark to make it look really snazzy. My mama gets to town this weekend so she'll show us the refinishing ropes. Or we'll spend all of our time cooking & eating with her. It could go either way. 

Muffins At Midnight, Anyone?

I don't like to follow the rules when it comes to meal appropriateness. 

Take my high school days when I worked at a place called Paradise Bakery & Cafe. I would stroll into my Sunday shift around 7am with an M&M McFlurry in hand. I was surrounded by racks upon racks of warm-from-the-oven muffins & croissants with endless buttery layers of golden flakes. But I wanted ice cream. 


Who cares what order you eat in if by day's end you've covered all the bases? 

Back to my Paradise days! People always ask me if I ate there all the time. My answer is yes & no. The pricey menu held us back from eating there too much since we didn't eat for free. But true to most of life's little dilemmas, there was a loophole. It was called "breakage". 

Cruise With Me Baby

 

Mr. A & I cruised the island waterways here at the end of my birthday last weekend. With the breeze brushing our skin & the water lapping the boat, I suddenly remembered that I don't have sea legs of steel. Oops! Well, there was no going back at that point! Luckily, it was smooth sailing after I embraced the motion of the ocean. Instead of heaving in the head (the bathroom) I got to take in the sights of diving dolphins, grandiose houses (the square footage of which could fit 16 of our apartments) & private islands with Mr. A. 

We also learned that when you own your island, why not place a statue of liberty on your pier? No one's gonna stop you. We never stop marveling at the fact that we live here. 

 

The Ice Cream Coefficient

If you have a day that ushers in rainclouds atop your parade, get an ice cream cone STAT.

     

And keep pushing forward until you see the sun again!

Wait! Remember to have a great day on purpose!

International Geek Pride Day

Photo Credit

Thirty five years ago on this day 'Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope' hit theaters! It broke the movie mold & there was no going back. The anniversary of which is now used as International Geek Pride Day to celebrate all that is rad about Star Wars & any other interests that tickle a geek/nerd/dork's fancy.


Now, right below my baker name tag is a lil' button that pins me as a proud nerd. While watching Star Wars last week, I wondered aloud "How awesome would it be to talk like Yoda for a whole day?" Well, turns out that great geeks think alike because National Yoda Day indeed exists. Passed me by, unfortunately is has. (It was on March 21st. You best believe the calendar is marked for next year!)

In honor of today, I happily ignored my sleepy eyes & grumbling tummy to spend hours trolling the web for geeky goodness. When Mr. A left for a meeting at 7am he assumed I would head back to bed. At 10am he returned to find this basketcase with her face buried in John Hughes memorabilia sitting in the exact same spot that he left me in. (Care to join me aboard a mythical bus heading to Shermer, Illinois?)
   
After gathering the following pictures for you, I found the mecca of geeky snacks at the store. 
Behold my geeky findings...

   

Oh yeah. I totally shook the box with excitement. Cut to me in the car after loading the groceries in the trunk, grabbing a pouch to tear open. One look at their detail & one taste of that watermelon General Grievous & I went back into the store. I had to buy more. I'm not joking. I bought three more boxes. Mhmmm. And I'm not ashamed of it.

Happy Geek Pride Day! I totally geeked out.

Full Of Warmth

Words.

They can warm you up like a freshly crafted cinnamon dolce latte. Like velvety whipped cream, they can smooth out the rough edges of your day.

You can savor them slowly or gulp them down & let their sweetness flood your senses.


My sister in spirit, Anne, picked a birthday card for me containing these gentle words that I just had to share with you...

"Here's to all the chats we've yet to have,
to all the rivers we've yet to cross,
and to all the smiles we've yet to know.

Here's to birthdays,
to perfect mornings,
to all the small but moving moments
our hearts will hold.

Here's to friendship,
to lasting bonds,
to experienced faces that tell beautiful stories.

Here's to meaningful yesterdays & bright tomorrows.

Here's to you, my friend!"


Cheers to that!!



One more thing...have a great day on purpose!

Mr. A Took Me To The Spa

Ever the frugal girl, I've been doing my own mani/pedi's since high school. The last time I treated myself to a sit back & relax nail session was about five years ago. The morning of my birthday, Mr. A surprised me with a manicure/pedicure. At a spa!

A few sips into my mimosa, with my thoughts whisper quiet, I proclaimed "I get it now. The spa experience."

In Honor Of My Birthday

Image Source: Shelbyisms Tumblr

Please make a wish with me!

Hold your warm fuzzy feelings in your heart. 

Now 

close your eyes, 

think it over 

& 

blow!

Mmmm, I love that birthday smell of blown out candles, don't you?

Now 

instead of telling me what you wished for

just tell me something good...

One more thing...have a great day on purpose! (Instead of looking for obstacles, look for magic.)

Being Thrifty Is Nifty

I am a card-carrying discount junkie. I might as well be allergic to paying full price for anything as it makes me twitch with irritation. I'm the person who gets complimented on some inanimate object & then proceeds to hold it up like a trophy & exclaim that I got it for a dollar at the thrift store.

Our local thrift store here is where I go for "play time". (The proceeds benefit our local Humane Society so I go there for good Samaritan time too!) 

I get lost in the piles of old records; can practically envision the living rooms that they filled with memories. I admire the gentle wear that hands have imparted on pieces of china. My breath catches as I turn them over to discover what land they were made in. (Feeling it's bone thin structure, I remark that at least I'm in a store that I can afford to pay for anything that I may happen to break.) I run my fingers over the contours of a cast iron skillet, feeling the warmth that its home cooked fare must have given forth. And then I suddenly crave a golden piece of cornbread with a pad of butter slowly melting into it. I laugh when I see every copy of Trivia Pursuit ever produced. It's comforting to know I'm not the only player who thought even Einstein would have to ask "How would I possibly know that answer?"  

Giving things a second (or fifth, or eighth) life gives me that warm fuzzy feeling. I enjoy being part of its history; wondering where it came from & being thankful that it made its way to me.

 

 

P.S.- After four trips to the thrift store, it didn't get any easier to walk out without that vintage juicer. On the fifth trip, I looked over to find it missing. I hope it found a loving owner who ogles at it as much as I know I would have.

Have a great day...on purpose!!

Good To The Last Layer

Between my b-day coming up this weekend & the lady handing out cake samples at the grocery store, I've got birthday cake on the brain.

My mama always custom ordered my birthday cake from that very same grocery store. Their recipe evidently hasn't changed because one bite of that sample took me back to all those moments when she unveiled the latest creation of her imagination! That darling three tier cake showered with pastel frosting polka dots for my 18th birthday, the decadent white chocolate raspberry cake for my 21st, the cream cheese frostings, the lemon strawberry fillings, calling dibs on the prettiest looking frosting flower & metaphorically putting my name on the slice of cake that literally had my name on it.

You name it, she asked for it! I enjoyed gobbling up these heavenly creations just as much as I loved seeing her proud face when she described what was waiting underneath those fluffy layers of frosting. 

That got me to thinking about other things that are also greater than the sum of its parts. Layers that come together to create something even greater...a mix of linens & blankets that take on my shape in a well made bed, the Kit Kat bars & sammiches that I eat half of in normal biting fashion then eat the remainder layer by layer, the medley of tighter to looser fitting clothes in the winter.

And last but not least...the layers of these nutty bars that make for a guilt free snack! My childhood love of Matzo crackers couple with my inability to pronounce some of the ingredients in those Little Debbie Nutty Bars meant I was thrilled to attempt this recipe! 



Homemade Nutty Bars, Recipe from The Kitchn, Makes 8 bars
Ingredients:
3 unsalted Matzo crackers
½ cup peanut butter (We use Skippy Natural. Shameless plug.)
A heaping ½ cup semisweet chocolate chips


1.Using a serrated knife, saw each cracker into 4 long rectangles. Then saw each in half crosswise to make 8 total. Each nutty bar will use a stack of 3 rectangles.
2. Heat the peanut butter for a few seconds to soften it slightly. Spread it on a cracker, add another cracker followed by more peanut butter & top with a third cracker. Assemble all 8 bars this way. 
3. Heat chocolate in microwave in 30 second increments, stirring until melted & shiny. Using a knife or pastry brush, smooth a layer of chocolate over the top & sides of the crackers. (I particularly enjoyed getting my hands a lil' chocolaty in this step.) 
4. Place completed nutty bar on cookie cooling rack or a parchment covered baking sheet.
5. If you want to really show Little Debbie what's up, draw a crisscross pattern using a toothpick.
6. Pop them into the fridge to harden & keep them chilled until you wish to eat them up!! 




One more thing...have a great day on purpose! (Now I must find a recipe for Homemade Oatmeal Creme Pie!!)

How You Accidentally Spend An Hour On The Computer

I have found a device.

It's called a time suck. Placed in the inner workings of a website, it can morph twenty minutes here on Earth into what seems like a blink of an eye. 

Maybe you can help me locate the device behind these sites so I can find some time to wash that growing pile of laundry? (or, even better, savor every minute of tonight's two hour episode of Glee!)

Pinterest (Ask me for an invite if you'd like to join!)

Wanelo

Craftgawker (Actually, the entire Gawkerverse.)

All Things Europe tumblr

Have a great day on purpose! I mean it.

Mother Of Mine

My mama...

has a beautiful signature.
-(Which was impossible to forge! Like when I told her about something she needed to sign then forgot to actually give it to her. "Just sign my name," she'd say. My response "Are you joking? They'll know it was me. Then they'll think I'm a sneaky kid when actually I'm just flighty!"

should receive a blue ribbon for her tuna macaroni salad. Seriously. Aces. Let it go on record that I ate it for five meals straight once. By choice.

crawled on her hands & knees with me to help rescue a baby bunny (we called him Peter) from a storm drain that was infested with fire ants & spiders. At midnight. Then went to the 24 hour Walmart to get him a cage & all the fixin's for his new digs.

knows not how much she means to me. Not because I don't tell her constantly but because I haven't yet found the words that exactly live up to what I feel.

& I got matching tattoos when I was 15, in memory of Charlotte.

taught me drive late at night in a Target parking lot.

is the one I chose. I was waiting out there, wherever you are before you're born, & said "I pick her!" And I have never regretted it. 

Happy Mother's Day, Mama! 

Love, Your Baby Girl

One more thing...have a great day on purpose! (You are here today because of your mom.)

Coconut Cream Pie Day

It just so happens that yesterday was National Coconut Creme Pie Day. (You may think I'm a little behind the eight-ball but let me explain.) This past weekend, I called my mama to ask for her famous coconut custard pie recipe. She then reminisced about where she found the original recipe, how she tried it & knew that she "could make it better". (I get that "Let's just add a lil' bitta that & see how it comes out" tactic from her!) 


With the ingredients laid out before me two days ago, I began the sometimes clumsy choreography that accompanies the first go at a recipe. 


"Now, where did I put that spoon I just took out?"
"Oh, I should have opened that bag before I got egg on my hands."
"Drat! I was supposed to mix that in a second bowl."


You get to know the flow as you go. Sure, you trip up along the way (like discovering that you didn't empty the oven before preheating it) but when all is said & done you take a bow & smile proudly through the oven window at the piece of work you've just created.

Sometimes your work garners a standing ovation. Other times all you hear are crickets because you threw out the pie when it didn't measure up to your standards. (I also get that "Nope! Sucks! It's garbage!" M.O. from my mom.)


Whatever the result may be, it doesn't take away the silky feeling of flour on your fingertips. The beautiful strewn about mess of measuring cups put to use. The lush baking aroma that finds its way to your nose no matter where you are in the house. 


Now..are you ready to hear the results of my baking expedition? Because I can't wait to share this sheer ridiculousness with you. I'm so grateful that Mr. A witnessed these antics as it amplified the memory. (And I honestly think he falls in love with me all over again when I'm a quirky spaz. Win-Win!)

Seafood Fest

A food city had popped up in a park that, until that afternoon, Mr. A & I didn't know existed. Tickets (spoils from a third place finish at trivia night) in hand & the marsh to our left, we were ready to chow down on some delectably fresh seafood. 

Ironic as it sounds, this Florida girl wasn't too peachy keen on seafood...until this year. Putting "try a new food" on my birthday list has opened my mouth to all sorts of flavorful bites. How else would I have come to know that I love fried oysters? I also collected further evidence that the "bacon-wrapped anything is scrumptious" belief is still going strong. I didn't think I'd hear myself say "I just ate a sea turtle." Wait, what? It's a shell of creamy chocolate clinging to gooey caramel harnessing a cluster of pecans.  Um, yes please, I'd like another... Drat! I'm out of tickets.

Oh, The Lifetime Channel

Even if you're not a "watcher" of it, even if you couldn't guess what channel it's on if you're life depended on it... the chance that you'll have a random conversation with a girlfriend in a coffee shop & catch yourself saying "I totally saw that Lifetime movie/show too" are considerable.

That often-too-dramatic & not-Earth-speak-to-a-guy's-mind channel that I speak of has just satisfied a craving of mine. No, it doesn't serve up a bowl of green mint chocolate chip ice cream (with the chocolate shavings, not the chocolate chunks) along with its daily programming. If it did, you can bet your bottom I would have that channel number memorized!

The other craving I'm referring to is the need for some girl power.

In the recent TV absence of Jane & the Happy Endings gang, my latest treat is The Conversation with Amanda de Cadenet. (Have you seen it? You can enjoy a new episode tonight!)

Amanda invites woman, who you forget are famous, into her home & they fill the room with sincere dialogue. There is an honesty about it that washes the muck clean, leaving behind a sheen on the womanly flesh & spirit.

I am guilty of wanting to thrown on my favorite pair of jeans, whip up a batch of sweet somethings & join them for that wonderfully therapeutic phenomenon called "girl talk".




One more thing...have a great day on purpose! 

Pizza On The Floor

After two days on the road, in a car packed like the lovechild of Mary Poppin's bag & a game of Tetris, 

we turned the key.

A year ago today, after six months of laying our heads down thousands of miles apart from each other every night, we made a home together.

An accidental-turned-intentional tradition of mine is to make pizza on the floor the first meal in a new place. So that is just what we did. (Even though we had perfectly good furniture there.)


The floor on that day a year ago is the same floor now that...

goes un-vacuumed when we're too busy going to the beach,

we dance on while waiting for dinner to finish simmering,

supports a ginormous orange tent for indoor camping,

confetti & wishes fall upon with passing birthdays,

bounces our laughter back at us,

feels the trek of furniture being moved all about,

catches the ornaments that tumble off the Christmas tree,

we stand on when we hold each other after a long day.



We built this house into a home, from the ground up.





One more thing...have a great day on purpose! (Do you have any "moving" traditions? I'd love to hear about them!)