Happy Bridal Brunch!

 

Accentuate The Positive

For some reason, I've become a glass-half-empty kind of gal. I hate that! So, I am working on ways to turn it around. Case in point: my ongoing Love It list, documenting things I'm wild about. I'll add to this from time to time so I can keep my focus on the good stuff.


Love It #1

Strawberries - If there is anything better than eating just-picked strawberries still warm from the sun, I haven't found it.

Breweries - One or two beers is usually my limit, but Spouse and I love checking out the local breweries, wherever we might be.

Travel - Speaking of wherever, I always like to have something on the books. Planning a trip keeps me sane.

Tea - I'm not a coffee drinker, but a cup of tea can give me energy, warm me up, and soothe me. All at the same time.

Massage - Necessary. Especially after you hit 50.

Old Movies - My Mom got me into movies from the '40s and '50s when I was a little kid. I've got a craving for a little Double Indemnity as we speak.

Pinterest - It's startling to realize how easily I can be lured from topic to topic, but who cares?

The Pioneer Woman - The show. The recipes. The cookbooks.

Snow - I grew up in Michigan. Snow days still make me giddy.

A Good Book - I always read my book club's selection, but usually read a second book at the same time. My "To Read" list is a mile long.

Christmas Flashback

Ok, it's nearly March. So why am I writing about Christmas? Because today is another snow day here in North Carolina -- the seventh day of school closings over the past two weeks. I've been meaning to post about the gifts and treats I made for Christmas 2014, but my finger kept swiping the task on my calendar from one day to the next. Each glimpse of white on the trees is a reminder of my procrastination. No more excuses!

I gave everyone at least one edible gift and made some new goodies this year. There is a definite booze theme. Here's a sampling...

Jack Daniels Pecans 

I believe bourbon is the best remedy for a cold, and turns out it's also the perfect pecan partner (say that three times fast). Imagine pecans inviting brown sugar, vanilla and cinnamon for a drink, and this is what you get. Thanks for this deliciousness, Cookin' Cowgirl.


Flavored Salts 

These are simple to make and can take a dish from good to legend status. I followed the methods outlined by In Sock Monkey Slippers to make Chipotle-Tangerine, Lemon-Rosemary, Merlot, Stout, Bourbon and Espresso flavors. My daughter modified some labels created by Minimally Invasive and they turned out great.


Infused Liquors

Super easy and so pretty. We made all three of these recipes from HGTV for family and coworkers. They need to sit for a while, so be sure to start early.

Grand Marnier Truffles 

My mom is a chocolate fiend, so I knew these truffles from Baker By Nature would be a hit. I rolled some in cocoa, topped a few with salt and left the rest naked.


Peppermint Bark

I had never made this before, and my search turned up a ton of recipes out there. RadMegan's sounded good, and I wasn't disappointed. The secret's in the peppermint extract.


Chocolate Dipped Oreos

These are adorable! I found the molds on Amazon, and I think the reindeer transfer sheets as well. They were quick and easy thanks to detailed instructions from The Italian Dish.

Enormous House Cookies

I baked the cookies before driving up to Michigan for the holidays, and brought them along with all sorts of goodies to decorate with the family. The Pioneer Woman provided the inspiration, but the real necessity is the over-the-top gigantic cookie cutter.

The Month of Learning Dangerously

As the mother of a 17-year-old athlete, I've been incredibly lucky to have avoided sports injuries. A few days ago, my luck ran out.

Smiles from the E.R.

She blocked the shot. Yay! She broke her wrist. Ouch!

This has been a challenging month for Alex. Calculus is living up to its reputation as hell on earth. College applications and essays are taxing. Her golf game has been unpredictable. Missing the rest of her final season in both soccer and golf was unexpected and unwelcome news. She is deeply disappointed.

But she is handling it.

Actually, she's dealing with everything much better than I expected. Certainly better than I would have at her age. It's surprising to see how well the kid is managing this whirlwind senior year so far. While it's hard to watch my daughter face more stress, anxiety, sadness and hurdles, every experience adds new coping skills to her arsenal. I'm coming to the realization that she will indeed be ready for college next year.

Yay! Ouch!

Strange But True

The number of poppy seeds that lodge in my teeth after eating a bagel appears to be in direct proportion to my age.

Ragetoon from Poor, Sweet Baby

Senioritis

I'm sure you recognize it - the traditional
"first day of school" pic on the porch

Today is the first day of Alex's senior year. The summer whizzed right by for her, full of campus tours, babysitting, summer homework, volunteering and a little fun thrown in here and there.

Those summer weeks went by too fast for me, too. I miss the long, lazy days between graduating from one grade to the next. Truth is, they never really happened for my daughter. She was in year-round school and, let's face it, kids just don't have the downtime or freedom we had back-in-the-day.

.Monopoly marathons, running through the sprinkler, days at the lake.
..Riding bikes to get an ice cream cone or candy at the corner store.
...Tag, baseball, Hide and Seek and take-no-prisoners Crack the Whip.
....Playing outside until Mom calls your name from the front door.

They were simple, nothing special activities. But together, these memories spark a Norman Rockwell feeling deep down in my soul.

And I'm grateful.

Alex has had some great experiences, but a very different childhood. I hope, as she sends her firstborn off to his or her first day of senior year, she reflects back on her days as a kid and smiles. Realizing you have one calendar year left before they head off to college brings nostalgia front and center.

Testing. Testing. 1, 2, 3.

Obvious disclosure: I am not great with technology. But I'm giving this blog thing a shot!