• if you like piña coladas…

    I am predictable. Every year around this time, I start daydreaming about the beach. In my mind, I am lounging here

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    I am wearing a cute bikini and sipping one of these. Ahhhh….

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    In reality, I am in hiding in my closet. I am not at the beach, it is cold, I am pale and there is no way I am putting on a bathing suit. If you need me, I’ll be eating my feelings in the form of Piña Colada Cake.

    I’ll take what I can get. If you need an escape you should try it too…

    Bake a butter or yellow cake mix according to package directions.

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    While the cake is baking, whisk together a can of cream of coconut and 3/4 can of fat free condensed milk.

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    When the cake is done, poke holes in it using a wooden skewer. Or any skewer. Mine just happens to be wooden.

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    Be careful not to poke the holes all the way to the bottom of the pan. Next, pour the coconut/condensed milk mixture over the cake. Let it soak up the oooey gooey goodness.

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    What? It is fat free condensed milk. Cover and place your “diet cake” in the fridge and let it cool. The longer it sits, the better it is. When you are ready to eat it alone serve it, ice it with fat free cool whip. Fat free cool whip equals fat free bikini. Right? RIGHT?

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    Right.

  • north and south

    Between Christmas and New Years, we took a little road trip to visit SK’s grandmother. On the way up, we stopped in Atlanta for the night. Atlanta is always a good time.

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    they wanted a dog for Christmas, so I got this sweater
    They wanted a dog for Christmas, so I got this sweater.

    The next morning, I convinced SK that I HAD to go to IKEA… on a Saturday… during the holidays. If you’ve been to IKEA, you know what I am talking about. It was a zoo, and I was terrified we were going to lose our children and/or sanity. Apparently, IKEA is the Swedish word for hell. I will not go back. Who am I kidding? I will.

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    After the detour, we headed out for North Carolina. It was great to visit with Cecilia. We all love her dearly and try to see her whenever we can make the trip.

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    We also got to visit with Aunt Toni and Uncle Bruce. Their house is just across the border in South Carolina in the most beautiful area. We stayed the night with them, and Wells and Graham had the best time. They particularly loved asking Uncle Bruce 1 million questions and playing with their dogs, Diva and Jilly.

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    Of course, G fell into the freezing water about five minutes after that last picture.

    walk of shame to change
    walk of shame
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    Later that evening, Wells got a splinter in his foot. It was pretty big, so we decided to try to get it out with tweezers. You would have thought we decided to cane him instead. He was screaming and acting crazy as an outhouse rat. Four grownups, two of whom are in the medical profession, had to hold him down so we could get it out. At one point, he screamed, “Y’all are trying to kill me!” If anyone would have heard it, they would have surely called DHS. Good thing Toni and Bruce live on the side of a mountain. During all the commotion and carrying on, Graham walked up and said, “let’s go to dinner… I’m starving to death.” Surprisingly, they both survived.

    The next day, we packed up and headed out. We all hated to leave, but Wells was especially sad. I think he would have brought the dogs with him if we (and Aunt Toni and Uncle Bruce) would have let him. The sweater might not cut it for much longer.

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    Wells was standing next to the slope and Diva decided she wanted to play.  Wells said,
    Wells was standing next to the slope and Diva decided she wanted to play. Wells said, “I think she just tried to kill me…”
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    Peace out.


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