food blog and it's delicious!

Spaghetti.

Have you been wanting to make your own sauce?

This recipe looks promising. But all her recipes do. Her stories are fun, the photographs of her food are lovely.

Smitten Kitchen...go visit. You'll be smitten.

day for fish'n!

There's a new kid in town and you had better watch out!

 I'm referring to "Bus'in Your Chops..."

I've heard this meals-on-wheels has quite a fan-base.

I was "encouraged" to order this...

 The ever-delicious Fish'n Chips.

I've been hearing about how exquisite this item is.

From these two...


Mutt and Jeff

Abbott and Costello

Sonny and Cher

Irene and Ivy, the identical duo from England. Aka my mother-in-law and her partner in crime, identical Irene.

Irene & Ivy...or is it Ivy & Irene?

I do believe they're the unofficial Fan Club Presidents of Bus'in Your Chops.

If you'd like to meet the funny ladies, head on down to the bus on Tuesdays AND Thursdays.

Have a bite to eat (they'll insist you order the Fish'n Chips which, by the way, are excellent). Oh, and put some vinegar on 'em...the fish, not the ladies.

Because that's how fish'n chips are eaten in merry ol' England.

At least, that's what I'm told.

If you're interested in following the bus, click here.

And tell the brothers the "sisters" sent you.

Then wave to the fan club presidents...they'll be watching you.

feeling lethargic? Wear these and get some action!

Wow. 

Action Pants.  Kind of sounds like a Super-Hero clothing accessory.

I found this pattern over at Sew Mama, Sew!  It's an actual pattern for "Action Pants!"

Do you need a little extra "action" in your life?

**Housewives throughout the land are screaming "NO!  Are you mad?!**

If you're young and cute and are a flat-bellied Sneetch (Dr. Seuss reference), I think these pants would be adorable! 




Here's the description for the super-duper Action Pants:

Women's Action Pants Sizes US4 to US16 ~ Bettsy Kingston PDF Sewing Pattern

Cute and sexy for women who want some fun too. A design of ruffle underwear created for woven cottons. We love fabric, all the way to the inside! A Bettsy Kingston pattern by Benita McGovern.

Once you've made your purchase, you will be sent an email which contains instructions for downloading this pdf pattern.


So, do you think I should order the pattern, make and sell these Action Pants? 

Hello?  Is anyone still here?

My blog just flat-lined.......

3rd time's a charm!

Mom and Dad called yesterday, inviting me to the movies. 

I was kind of busy, but a movie date was rather tempting...

Especially when the movie is Toy Story 3!

Woody was his responsible self. 

When you're Sheriff, you pretty much have to be!

It's a good thing he has his irresponsible and emotional friends, or else Woody wouldn't have any exciting adventures.

Here's sweet Bullseye.  He reminded me of our sweet little mutt, B.B.

I love Bullseye!

Meet Big Baby. 

I loved Big Baby.

Maybe it's because I had a big baby of my very own!

10 lbs. 

That's big!

I loved, loved, loved the movie. 

And if you yourself have a young man ready to tackle college, you might even just shed a tear or two...

Visit the Toy Story 3 website for games...I couldn't successfully play any of them...get a kindergartner to help you.

art of living NAKED! (Don't read this, Mom & Dad!).

This adorable graphic caught my eye one day, as I was reading another blog (can you believe there are others out there besides this one?!) and I was intrigued.  So I clicked it.  And darn it, I am now immersed in this woman's life!  She's funny, smart, practical.  And who could possibly resist a book and a blog, entitled, Looks Great Naked?

How To Look Good Naked:

You look great naked when you have nothing to hide, when you accept yourself exactly the way you are--right here, right now, flaws, wrinkles, knots, bumps, lumps, bad attitude and all.  It's not a pass for slacking on the maintenance; it's not about obsessing over perceived imperfections.  Be yourself.  Who you are is gorgeous; trying to be what you're not isn't. 

That's really great advice.  It's often difficult to be real.  Sometimes it's easier to be who others expect you to be, rather than just being you.  Me.  Us.  Whoever I am.  Just when I think I know me, I realize that I'm wrong and need to keep searching from within and pull whoever I really am, up and out.  It's about self-discovery, balance, a quest for knowledge and faith. Because standing in one spot is boring and if I'm not moving forward, I'm definitely going to fall behind.  Falling hurts.  Momentum is thrilling!

Last night I read all about Grace Adams' dating antics on Match.com.  Funny stuff.  Grace lives in St. Augustine, Florida, a lovely town full of history, pretty beaches and some pretty nifty nightspots (not that I frequent them...any more!).  Always witty, Grace has a lovely knack of ending her post with a little pearl of wisdom, a humorous outcome, or a reflection to consider. 

Have a little look around her blog and enjoy Grace's charming writing.  You don't have to be naked to read it, just remember to be the real you and don't forget to LAUGH. 

non-typical movie review: Nine.

I put on my good bra this morning and met my mother at the movie theater to see the movie "Nine."



It was entertaining enough, not deep, just entertaining.

Right here is where my review might come in handy to you, my friends:

If you're planning on seeing "Nine" with a female, just put on a little makeup and wear a good bra, because the women in this flick are gorgeous and they really will make the average mom/wife/girlfriend look, shall we say, "pale."

If you're planning on dragging the man in your life with you, trowel that makeup all over your face, outline your eyes in lots of eyeliner and wear your corset, 'cause he's gonna want to continue this movie when ya'll get home.

I haven't seen that many boobs since the last time I watched C-Span!

Watch this, see what I'm talking about:



Mmmmmm-hmmmmmm, lots of cleavage.

So if you're interested in a little "action," don your pretty skivvies and drag your Neanderthal to see this movie with you.

If you're not in the mood (ha, ha, excuse me while I count all the hands up in the air wildly waving at me), take your mother or your sister or your girlfriend to see it.

Then promise yourself it's time to go on a diet and buy yourself a good push-up bra.

motivational ploy.

What will they come up with next?

A new, technologically-assisted, interactive way to get your kids to do their chores: My Job Chart.

When I was a kid, all it took was a glare or a threat from Dad or Mom and we became putty in their hands. Why, I remember scrubbing the basement steps...but that's another story entitled, "Cinderella." (Just kidding, Mom).

But times, apparently, are different.

Interesting...



Do you think I could get this system to work on myself?

Or would that be a total waste of time?

Yeah, I think I'll try it...

cooked-up review.

Today, Mom and I went to the movie "Julie & Julia." It was great! It made me want to come home and truss a chicken. Skewer a duck. Chop some onions. Write in my blog. (I'm only going to do ONE of those things!). I really enjoyed the movie, except for one rather disturbing scene: Julia and her husband are about to "cook" things up in the bedroom, if you get my drift. EEEEWWW! That's like having to think of your parents ever being intimate, one's mind just shouldn't go there! Other than that one spicy scene, this is a cute, cute movie.

blog Party...Woo-hoo!

It's a party! And as usual, I think I'm going to be a little late! Not matter, this is worth it! There's a beautiful, new book out called, Blogging for Bliss, by Tina Frey. Little Artsy Mama is hosting the cyber- party and she's made some delicious looking cupcakes...mmmm. In the book, Tina offers tips on how to create a blog, how to make it aesthetically pleasing and how to drive traffic to your little spot on the immense web. She's included over 50 bloggers, to inspire you and show you how her tips can help you create a fantastic blog. To join the party, click here. To visit Tina's beautiful blog, click here. And once I buy the book, we'll have a real-time blog renovation, right here! Down with the old, up with the new!

Gotta run and get ready for the party!

Sunday afternoon poetry.

Where My Clothes Are

Dirty clothes should be put in the hamper.

Clean clothes should be put in the drawer.

But it takes too much time and it takes too much work,

so I throw them all over the floor.

~poems by Bruce Lansky

illustrated by Stephen Carpenter

from the book: Poetry Party

day for celebrating!

i have to say...is having a birthday party for her baby, Fresh Squeezed Fabrics. FSF is one year-old...my, how fast they grow! Head on over to join in the celebration and enter to win a fabulous birthday present of fresh squeezed fabric! She's giving away three gifts, how lovely is that? Just click here and enter to win!

Congratulations, Randi! I love your shop.

little RAP!

Kathy and I just returned from the annual RAP Tour Of Homes, here in Jacksonville, FL. We toured 10 amazing homes, all of which were built in the early 1900's. It was a beautiful day for the tour and while I did not take nearly the amount of photos I had intended to, I did remember towards the end of the tour to snap away.

Here is where I call home. In my dreams. It's a lovely little homestead, don't you agree?

It was a perfect day for walking the hood in search of my dream home. The above house was a nice little place, had beautiful drapes and stunning chandeliers. The kitchen was amazing and the porch, which really is another room, was lovely.

Oh, my! What an amazing idea. Look at this bed's headboard, it looks like the back of a couch. It made me want to jump on the bed and cozy in to watch a little telly. But I didn't, Kathy wouldn't let me!

Mmmm, we stopped in at this adorable catering shop, for some free yummies. WOW! If you live in the Jacksonville area, check it out. It's not a restaurant, rather, "A full service catering and gourmet takeaway shop." She had some amazing goodies, like fried cheese and bacon appetizers, fresh out of the oven. There were some little pork tenderloin sandwiches on tiny buns, a delicious sour cream pound cake and dare I mention the butterscotch brownies?

This is my new best friend, Allison, the brains of the operation, along with her cousin/helper in the kitchen. Tell her I sent you, we've known each other a long time...like 5 minutes. But I think I can learn to love her...you will too, after you taste her delicious food! Here's her address, if you live in the area and need fabulous food for one of your fabulous events:

SHEFF'S

2251 Oak Street

Jacksonville, FL

904-387-9036

Now I'm off to bartend at baby shower my friend Suzy is hosting...that really doesn't sound right. Maybe it's a bridal shower. I'm not sure which it is, but I get to hang out at the bar, so I don't really care!

stalking opportunity.

OK, my friends! Here is your chance to become an official stalker of Pepperberry & Company. There's very little work required...no standing outside in the rain, looking through windows. No sitting in a car, waiting and waiting for your target to come out of the building. No phone calls with tissue over the receiver, trying to disguise your voice...not that I've ever done any of those things. Maybe...or not. Head on over for a visit, learn how you can become her own personal stalker and possibly win this lovely notebook cover. AND make a new friend!

Riverside Arts Market, Jacksonville: Part I

You're acquainted with these two ladies...Ivy and Irene. Or is it Irene and Ivy? One is my mother-in-law, the other, her sister. I know who's who, but do you? I met them this morning, down at the Riverside Arts Market, a new "happening" here in Jacksonville. Today was the Grand Opening and boy, was it a huge success! Ivy is the unofficial mayor of this event. She knows every brick by name, every plant as it was planted. We checked on its progress at least twice a week and sometimes Ivy would sneak down there on her own, just to see what changes had occurred while she slept. It all takes place under the two bridges, complete with an open-air "theater."

Here is a lovely young woman, who's name escapes me. She makes extraordinary jewelery, tiny beads intricately woven into wonderful shapes and designs. She was very friendly and filled me in on the process of getting set up in the Market. She also has an Etsy store, lemongrove.etsy.com.

Here's another friend, I don't remember his name. Oh please, give me a break! I want to call him Clyde, I can't imagine why! He sells homemade cakes. What a smile! I couldn't resist him. He was as charming as his smile, I promise you that. Yummy cakes for sale, but all I could seem to focus on was his smile. Check out the sweet story of how this cake business came to be, right here.

OK. These are amazing soaps. And I did ask for a business card, but I don't think they had any. And the man was kind of grumpy, so I didn't take his picture. So there! That'll larn 'ya to be cranky with me! But the soaps were lovely.

So many, many people. So many, many dogs on leashes. Two twins. Two curious, lively & energetic twins. Need I even mention that we got separated? No, I didn't think there was a need for that...anyway, after searching high and low, I found the two darlings on a bench, eating some just-purchased English pasties and people-watching. I was tempted to sternly warn them about the dangers of walking away from my side, but they were so cute sitting there on the bench. So I sat with them and marveled at their treasures...

**Tomorrow, Part II of the Amazing Riverside Arts Market adventure.

obsession!

Oh, dear! I am totally, freakishly obsessed with making these little suckers! And soon! How adorable are they? Check it out...Bakerella is honest-to-goodness, unbelievably talented. These little chicks are just the tip of the iceberg...she has other goodies, too!

Melany, are you up for a day of creating? I'm thinking sewing machines and cake mix...until I find something else to add to the list.

intimate dining experience.

A few months back, I went to dinner with Kathy and Patti to the Row Restaraunt in the Riverdale Inn. I must say, we had a fantastic dinner. Located on Riverside Ave., it's a lovely old mansion converted into a cozy inn and restaraunt. Offering daily specials and appetizers, the food was delicious and the server never rushed us, letting us girls chat for hours. WARNING! This is NOT a place to take your unruly little bugars or surly teens. This is a dining experience, to be shared with either your honey or girlfriends, parents or siblings, any other adults in your life. After all, you don't want to spend your time and money hushing your restless little crumb-cruncher, or be shooting darts at your indifferent teen "person." Both of whom would probably rather be eating a cheap hamburger and fries. No, this dinner is to be enjoyed, savored, relished. The dining area is situated in the old parlor, nothing extremely fancy, but very polished and comfy. You can just imagine the lives that lived in the old mansion prior to it being converted to an inn. The sweeping porch, the lovely staircase, the old wooden floors are a testament to a bygone era. Call for a reservation and enjoy this restaraunt in this lovely old inn nestled in the historic district of Riverside. Yummy.