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friday five

1. Cadbury White Mini Eggs

I picked up a bag of these at Target “for the boys.” And then I ate most of them waiting in carpool line. By the time Graham got in the car, I looked like Tyrone Biggums. SHAZAM.

(I miss Chapelle’s Show but please don’t tell my mama I watched it.)

Am I comparing the Easter candy to crack? Yes. You should try it.

(The candy, not crack.)

2. Williams Sonoma Sale

Williams Sonoma soaps and candles are currently 20% off online (plus free shipping) and in stores. The candles make great hostess gifts so I stock up when they are on sale. I really like the fleur de sel candle… it smells clean and beachy. If we can’t live at the beach, at least we can pretend, right? I also like the rosemary mint scent (especially this time of year).

(That was just a really desperate attempt to get you to invite me to a party.)

(Let me know if it worked.)

3. Candor Zinfandel

Y’all. If you like red wine you should really try Candor Zinfandel. It is yummy… maybe a little too yummy. Like, “Where is that bottle of wine? What? I already drank it?” yummy.

Not that I have ever done that.

(If you invite me to your party I will bring the candle AND a bottle of Candor.)

(Seriously. Let me know.)

4. Clinique Chubby Stick

For as long as I can remember (which isn’t very long), I’ve been searching for the right red lipstick. I love how it looks on other people, but I always look like a clown. And I don’t like clowns.

This Clinique Chubby Stick in mightiest maraschino was a gift with purchase, and it the most wearable red I have ever tried. I still have to cut it 50% with a neutral lip gloss but PROGRESS. It doesn’t dry my lips out so I’m going to try some other colors too.

I know you are all as excited as I am about this discovery. Hashtag sarcasm.

5. DoTerra Balance

Not to get all Hippie Longstockings, but have y’all tried the Balance essential oil blend from doTerra? I ordered it on a whim after seeing this on Pinterest…

I have been known to be a little ADD and by a little I mean I should be medicated. And then I saw this and it really sold me…

If one of its primary uses is coma, it must be good, right? Right.

I had to read through a bunch of accounting literature this week and thought it would be a good time to test it out.

(Am I comparing reading accounting literature to being in a coma? Yes.)

I dabbed a little behind my ears and waited for the magic to happen. I must say, I did feel less hyper and more focused than usual. Last night, I put a little in an oil diffuser (from The Body Shop circa 1999) and my kids have never been as calm and cooperative.

Kidding. They were still crazytown.

(Don’t forget to check out all the Five on Friday posts here. Have a great weekend!)

wowie

March 28, 2014

friday 4, gift ideas, products, yum
MOM… the meatloaf?!?

I know what you are thinking. Meatloaf… ugh. Just hear me out. A few years ago, I made Giada’s turkey meatloaf after seeing it on her show. Since then, it has been on regular rotation. My meatloaf brings all the boys to the yard, and they’re like, “it’s better than I thought it would be.”

Side note. I love Food Network; specifically Giada, Ina and Pioneer Woman. And also Paula before she was canned. I DVR them, and Graham and I watch “cookin shows” together. At first, I did not trust Giada because she is so thin and takes such small bites. Seriously, how is she (aside from her boobs and hair) so small? Now, she is my go-to gal… she likes to skip all the unnecessary steps like stone grinding your own grits. Ain’t nobody got time for that.

So, the meatloaf is easy and oh so delicious. Here’s the recipe:

Turkey Meatloaf with Feta and Sun-Dried Tomatoes
Giada De Laurentiis

Vegetable cooking spray (aka Pam)
1/2 cup plain bread crumbs
1/3 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
1/4 cup chopped garlic and herb-marinated sun-dried tomatoes
2 cloves garlic, minced, optional
2 eggs, at room temperature, lightly beaten
2 tablespoons whole milk
1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 pound ground turkey, preferably dark meat

Place an oven rack in the center of the oven. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

Spray a 9 by 5-inch loaf pan with cooking spray.

In a large bowl, stir together the bread crumbs, parsley, sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, eggs, milk, feta, salt, and pepper. Add the turkey and gently stir to combine, being careful not to overwork the meat. (Please, please don’t overwork the meat.)

Carefully pack the meat mixture into the prepared pan, and bake until the internal temperature registers 165 degrees F on an instant-read thermometer, or about 45 minutes. Remove from the oven and let rest for 5 minutes.

Okay, here’s the part where I tell you what I do differently since I obviously know more than a woman who has her own show and has published countless cookbooks. I really don’t, but I cannot find garlic and herb sun-dried tomatoes. I use seasoned bread crumbs (Delallo), zero parsley and regular sundried tomatoes each time I make it, and it is fantastic. I also double up on the feta because mo’ feta, less problems.

If you have an easy, delicous recipe, please share. I am running low since Paulagate.

wowie

March 22, 2014

recipes
i take too many pictures

Last night I uploaded all my iPhone pics from February. I take an obscene amount of photos. (At least they aren’t obscene photos.) I also have a problem with deleting. It’s just so… final. Maybe one day I’ll work through all my issues but until then, here’s our overly-documented February.

There were some sports…

(Hey Daddy Coach, we might need to work on the excessive celebration.)

There were some Valentines…

And a quick trip to the beach…

On the way down, I needed a bathroom break and convinced SK that World Market had far superior facilities to those at the rest stop.

Fellas, this is not a good idea.

Ladies, this is an excellent idea.

This is how we do a “quick trip”…

Absurd.

The boy’s had their first trip to Redbox. Looking back, we probably should have Germ-X’d G’s mouth. Pretty sure that pose cost us the trip to the after-hours clinic.

Finger lights are also an excellent idea. Fresh Prince of Wells and DJ Jazzy G breaking it down on the balcony…

They almost didn’t recognize the sun. Sun equals summer to them so we could barely keep them out of the (freezing cold) water.

At some point, we gave up. Looking back, that might have cost us the trip to the after-hours clinic.

Photo I posted on Instagram…

Actual photo…

I used the shivs and shanks filter.

Every time we drive past the USS Alabama in Mobile, I tell them about the time I toured it as a child. I was sunburned and it was 108 degrees, but my mama insisted we stop. I kept telling her I didn’t feel good and about midway through I puked off the poop deck. It was all very traumatic. or Dramatic. I’m not sure.

Anyway, on the way home, the boys begged and pleaded to stop at the battleship. I needed the closure, so we gave in.

Graham thought it would help me heal if he reenacted the whole barf thing…

It did not.

There was a K4 play…

(Please note Graham’s “sup playa” face below.)

And a backyard “pretend it is warm” cookout…

And that’s that.

Happy Friday my friends. I hope you have a lovely after-hours clinic free weekend.

I’m off to try to make some room on my phone for March.

wowie

March 7, 2014

beach, family, florida, roadtrips, sports, travel, Weekends