The Sweater

I have this sweater hanging in my closet.

My best guess is that it is around 35 years old.  It has a 70s vibe to it.

It's not ugly.

It's very warm.

It was my dad's sweater.  I know there is a picture of him wearing it. . .I wish I could find it.  At some point it shrunk and he wasn't able to wear it anymore so it landed in my closet..  Somewhat amazing to think that I have held on to it for at least the last 20-something years.

It looks very much like this one that I found at allthingsprettyandlittle.blogspot.com

I wore it to work the other day.  All day long people kept complimenting the sweater.  I guess I had a strange expression on my face each time because "I love your sweater" was often followed by "I'm serious--I'm not being sarcastic"  (which, by the way, is usually my line).

Now I realize that the photo I shared above has been all over pinterest.  But still, I couldn't help but giggle that a sweater from my dad's closet from some 30 yrs ago would be a compliment magnet for a whole day.

Pretty awesome.  Even if "ugly retro sweaters are really in right now Mom." 

I love bread. Really. And when it's fast, cheap and easy?

Just get to it.  Make the bread!

I found this recipe over on another blog and decided to share it with all of you today. 

Deliciousness!

French Bread (makes 3 small loaves, 2 large or up to 10 hoagie size buns)
2 1/2 c. warm water
2 Tbls. yeast
3 Tbls. sugar
2 Tbls. white vinegar
Add the above ingredients together and let sit until bubbly (about 3-5 minutes).

Then add:
1 Tbls. salt
1/3 c. oil
6-7 c. flour

Knead dough for a couple of minutes then let rest to rise.  She recommends putting it in the oven with a small pan of boiling water to keep the dough moist.  When the dough reaches the top of the mixing bowl, punch it down (do this 2-5 times) 

Then remove dough from the oven and divide into 2 large loaves or 3 small.  (Or cut in half then divide each half into 5 hoagie shaped rolls)

Spray a cookie sheet with cooking spray and sprinkle a thin layer of cornmeal on the bottom of the sheet. Roll the dough balls into rectangle/long French bread shapes.

If you are making French bread, slash the tops of the bread diagonally 3-5 times

Let rise 30 minutes (or until doubled) on the counter, or put them in your oven at 170 and wait until they are the size you want to cook them at. Once they are to the right size, turn up your stove to 375 (without opening the door!) and let them bake until done.

Original recipe found here here

The Bandaid

There is this Bandaid on the ground outside my work.  I walk past it daily.

And I have walked past it daily since at least October 2012, possibly even September 2012. 

It's been stuck to the concrete that long. . .in a high traffic area.

It has rained.

It has snowed.

It has sleeted.

The sidewalk has been salted after the sleet.

And yet there it is.

Today it was there when I first walked into work and again when I walked out for a midday errand.  It was still there when I got back from my errand.  But I also noticed a new bandaid, smaller than the first, just a couple of feet from the first.

And when I left work today, I pointed out the new one to my girls. 

Then we saw it.

The horror of it all.

The original bandaid had been ripped!  One tape side was still stuck to the ground.  We thought the rest of it was a goner.

But no.  It has been ripped apart and now it is stuck in 2 different places of the sidewalk. 

It's like the bandaid that won't give up.

It is stuck like glue.

Reminds me of the old commercial: 

Oscars 2013 Recap

It's all about the dresses, right?

I was extremely picky this year.

I could find just a few looks that really made me happy.

So here they are, in no particular order.

Jennifer Garner

Helen Hunt

Reese Witherspoon

Alicia Vikander

Norah Jones











Thoughts?

Puttin on the Ritz

Gotta Dance!

I distinctly remember hearing this song playing on the juke box at this little restaurant down in "the bottoms" that my dad took us to when I was in high school.  The waitress even joked with my sister and I about bringing our dates (hahaha--dates?  what are those?) there for dinner before Prom when we were juniors and seniors.

My littlest one and I were playing around on youtube one night and this song came up as a suggestion.  She thought the guy in the video was a little scary but she keeps singing the song over an over.  Can't be helped.  It's a good song

Indiscreet. . .a classic!

Forgive me but I just adore Cary Grant.  I can't help it.

So today I share with you a little Cary Grant and Ingrid Bergman in Indiscreet.

Watch it.  You'll love it.  Unless you are a guy.  Or maybe a girl under the age of 15. 

Let me know. . . .

Apparently the only way to this one is to follow this link:

What did you think?

I heard this one the other day when I was running errands.  Took me right back to the days of Family Ties (1980s for my younger readers)

Such a great song by Billy Vera and the Beaters

How I finally lost weight. . .and got some great legs!

Here goes nothing.

About 18 months ago my doctor proclaimed me obese.

He was sneaky about it.

He didn't tell me to my face. 

He didn't tell me when I was at my top weight.

He told me by writing it on my paper that I had to turn in to the receptionist before I checked out of the office.

And he waited to proclaim me obese until I was actually down ten pounds from my highest weight.

It still smarts.

I had just gone through a tough time--had to have surgery and had a very difficult recovery.  I was  trying to get healthy again but it was hard.

Well, I was peeved.  For a number of reasons.

So what did I do?  I made changes.

I ate less meat.  I ate more beans for protein.  I ate more salads and more vegetables all around.  I tried to work out.  When my kids went to soccer practice I spent time on the recumbent bike.  But then I had a  round of bronchitis and asthma that wiped me out. 

So I started over.

I joined the gym.  (Actually my husband got the family membership so I was guilted into going). 

I lost some weight.  Slowly.  It definitely wasn't a huge transformation fast.

I am not going to the gym anymore.  I just can't find the time to go.  But I am careful about what I eat.  That is the key after all.  Fuel the body properly and good things will happen.

As I sit here today I am just 4 pounds away from where my doctor wants me to be.  I am 10 pounds away from where I think I want to be.  Funny.  Eighteen months ago I thought the doctor's goal for me was unrealistic.

And if I do say so myself, I look good.  My legs look better than ever.  I credit daily wear of heels with that one.  If you have good shoes with proper support, heels aren't uncomfortable at all.  They are my preferred shoes.  Flats just leave me so. . . flat.  Heels make me feel like I am ready to take on the world.  And the building I work in requires a lot of steps to get from here to there.  Heck, just getting in the building is a workout for the legs.  And working out wearing heels?  Well, it definitely adds to the benefits for your legs.

So there you go.  Good old common sense.

And no more "obese" label.

Letters, telephones, email, texts and Facebook are not enough

Twenty-five and a half years ago one of my three best friends in the world moved away from me.  She went off to college.  She came home the first summer but when she went back for her sophomore year she didn't come back home again except for visits.

We kept in touch with letters.  We called (ouch--the phone bills!)  Eventually we had email.  Then facebook and texts.

We were able watch each other's kids grow up from photos on facebook.

And it was good.

But not good enough.

Yesterday I got to spend a little over four hours with my friend and her family. 

Time melted away.

We were two kids in high school again.  Nevermind the husbands sitting in the next room. Or the flurry of kids running around the house.

We got to crowd eleven people around the table and share a meal. . .the first time we had done that in almost seventeen years.

Good food.  Good conversation.  Good times. 

She made me laugh.  I was still smiling hours after they left.

And best of all, we have a promise to not let ten years pass before we meet up again.

Because even though our modern forms of communication are great, nothing quite compares with being able to sit down at a table and share a meal with good friends.

That is priceless.

Presidents' Day--more than just a day off

Of course, I cannot tell a lie.  I love Presidents' Day.  February is a tough tough month.  It's cold.  It's grey.  It's just. . .February. 

So an extra day off is pure heaven. 

Why do we have it?  Well you might as well head over to History.com to learn all about it.

I hope you have a great day today!  I am excited because I don't have to get up to an alarm clock.  I don't have to hurry out of the house (or rush anyone else to do so).  But most of all I am excited because I will get to see a friend and her family--for the first time in 10 years!  Cannot wait!

Somewhere tonight.. .

Back when I started college, this was the song that re-kindled my love for country music.  I had grown up listening to country music with my dad.  But then I started listening to pop and rock and country was kind of forgotten.

Until I heard this song.

Then I turned country all over again.

Happy Saturday!

The Kettles!

Oh  my parents love Ma and Pa Kettle~~the whole Kettle family in fact.

Good wholesome stuff in their old movies.  My kids were introduced to them at a fairly young age because they were such safe old movies. 

Might as well settle in and get comfortable for this one. . .The Kettles in the Ozarks.

Ahhh Valentine's Day!

Really, I'm not much of a fan of this day.

After all, love is supposed to be expressed every day. . .in what you do and what you say.

Maybe that's why I like this song so much:

Happy Birthday (not so) little girl!

So there you go.

I got a little girl, 12 years ago on this day.

It was a longer than necessary day.

There were some hiccups in getting to the c-section. 

First of all, I had a tiny glass of skim milk the morning of and that was a huge no-no.

Second, my parents had our older daughter with them and they got held up on their way to the hospital.

But eventually we went in a got us a big baby girl.  She was supposed to arrive in the morning but we finally got her at 3:21 pm.  Dr didn't say what she was at first--just kept saying "Oh my.  Oh my this is a big baby.  Go weigh that baby!"  Then finally he said she was a girl.  Turns out that she was 10 lbs, 1 oz--eight days early!!

From day one she knew what she wanted and how to get it.  She is fiercely determined and a hard worker.

And today she is twelve.  Soooo hard to believe.

Happy Birthday baby!

Wow, 12 years. Has it really been that long?

Twelve years ago today I got up on a Monday morning and went to work.

I was driving my new red van and feeling pretty happy about things.

I was gigantically pregnant.

I know.  Everyone always claims that.

But I was.

Really.

Pictures?  Oh please no.  Your monitor might not be big enough for it.

I hardly remember the details of that day except for the fact that it was my last day at work for 10 weeks.  Because the next day I was going to have my baby.

I was unwillingly having a c-section, 8 days before  due date.

What did I get?  Oh dear, you will just have to stop by tomorrow for that one. . . .

A rare treat--Monday Movie!

In honor of the early report date for spring training for pitchers and catchers (some teams reported yesterday!) I just cannot wait until Friday to bring you this movie.

"Today (day day day day). . . .I consider myself (self self self). . .the luckiest man (man, man, man) on the face of the earth (earth, earth, earth)"

Ahhhh, yes, Gary Cooper starring as Lou Gehrig in "The Pride of the Yankees."

A true classic.

Do, take a break here on a cold grey February day and treat yourself to a fine movie.  You won't regret the time spent watching this one.  I promise.

Compliments of youtube once again.

Just When I Needed You Most

I absolutely adore Tim McGraw.  I think I would listen to that man sing just about anything.  This week I came across a youtube video of him singing "Just When I Needed You Most" which was a big song in the 1970s.  It's just one of those songs that gets into my soul and I listen to over and over and over.

Not going to lie. . .the song hit me when I was in a mood and I even cried.

And then I played it again.

And again.

And again. 

Even my husband said "wow--that song just takes me right back. . . ."

He didn't have to finish the sentence.  I knew exactly what he meant.

Listen for yourself.  Even if you are younger than we are, I bet this one hits.  You can just feel the emotion.

Sitting Pretty!

I happened across this one completely by chance and figured it was worth sharing.  They just don't make movies like they used to, you know?  Movies you could share even with the little ones in your family and not worry that they would see or hear something inappropriate.

(I just love when they get so engrossed in the movie they forget that it's in black and white!)

Sweet little pink treats!

I recently jumped right off the cliff into piterest.  It definitely turned into exactly the time suck I feared it would be but I have to say I have found some really great things there.

For example, the little sugar cookie bar treats that we made earlier this week.

A definite "hit" from pinterest.

Sugar Cookie Bars:

1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
1 egg
1 egg white
1 1/2 Tbsp sour cream (I just do 1 heaping Tbsp)
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 recipe vanilla frosting, recipe follows

Vanilla Frosting
1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
2 cups powdered sugar
2-3 Tbsp half and half
1/2 tsp vanilla
Pinch of salt

Directions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Butter a 13" x 9" baking dish, set aside. In a mixing bowl combine flour, baking powder and salt, set aside. In the bowl of an electric mixer, whip together butter and sugar until pale and fluffy about 3-4 minutes. Stir in egg and egg white. Add sour cream and vanilla and mix until blended. Slowly add dry mixture and stir until well combine. With buttered hands, gently press (so gently almost patting) mixture into buttered baking dish. Bake 17 - 20 minutes until toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean and edges are lightly golden. Cool completely, then frost and cut into squares.

Vanilla Frosting
In a mixing bowl, with an electric mixer, whip together butter and powdered sugar and half and half until fluffy. Stir in vanilla and salt. Add in food optional food coloring and mix until well blended.

Working to be Happy

Just because I need a little happy in my day. . .

Obviously, it's February.  That month of grey skies and the realization that spring break is a little too far away.

Lots of things for us to celebrate in February.  But it never hurts to have a little extra happy in your day, right?

So here's one that usually helps out with that :-)

Parents are so stupid. AKA I'm going to need a tutor or something

Parents are dumb.

Sooooooo dumb.

They have kids and they think they are adorable little babies. 

They put them on a quilt in the middle of a room and watch them for hours.

(No, we are not to the part yet where parents are dumb.  Stay with me though.)

We say "I can't wait until she can __________"  (fill in the blank).

Time passes and those babies start doing things.

They make eye contact. 

They roll over. 

They sit up. 

They discover hands and feet and noses and ears.

They discover their voices.

And the whole time, we parents, idiots that we are, say "I can't wait until she can ____________" (fill in the blank).

It is only after they master things like walking, talking, learning to read, putting themselves to sleep at night, riding a bicycle all by themselves, making friends, going to school and leaving us. . .then and only then do we realize what perfect little idiots we are.

I love my family.  Even when they make me insane with all their noise and procrastination.

And I know just how much I love them and all their craziness when I realize that my house is far too quiet.

My oldest is spending a lot of time away from us these days.  She has speech practice/competition and rehearsals for this really amazing music program that her school will do this week (5 performances in 4 days--and it is amazing every single time).

It seems like she has hardly even been home the last several days.  She'll be gone pretty much every night this week.

I'm not sure I'm ready for this.  I might need to hire someone to show me how to do this business of letting go. . .letting my kids do their own thing. 

Because it really was easier when we just put them on their little quilts and watched them, waiting for them to do something magnificent and celebrating them just being here.

St. Blaise, right when we need him most!

Yesterday was the feast of St. Blaise which meant my family had the chance to have our throats blessed before we left Mass yesterday.

Definitely a good thing.  We do need all the help we can get with this business of staying healthy.

You see, yesterday was the first time since at least January 13 (possibly before that, I'm not exactly certain) that my family was able to go to our own church for Mass all together.

We had some ball games that forced us to a different Mass time.  And we had some illnesses that wiped out a few Sundays.

So Mass yesterday was certainly something special for us.

I was especially touched when Father announced that they would be doing the Blessing of Throats after Mass.  It seemed that nearly everyone stayed for the blessing.

Maybe they all felt they needed the extra blessing as much as we did.

To learn more about St. Blaise and the Blessing of Throats, look here:

St Blaise

More about St. Blaise

A sick little one "Right By Your Side"

We have had a rough few weeks here.  Kids were sick last week with "not the flu" but then this week the youngest was hit by strep and two types of the flu.  It's been miserable.  When they are sick they just want mama next to them.  All the time.  Which isn't wrong or bad or anything. I just is. 

But when a friend asked how we were doing the other night I told her, she just wants me right by her side, which of course triggered my memory and I jumped into the Eurythmics tune.

Since I sang it, you might as well sing it too.

Hope you have a great Saturday!

PS--I could do without any Groundhog Day (the movie) repeats of the last few weeks.  I am happy to see February arrive and look forward to much health and happiness this month!)

A vacation sounds lovely, doesn't it?

I guess I have vacations on the brain.  A family member came to visit from overseas for about a week. She is soon to be on her way to Hawaii for a month long vacation.  Jealous much?  I am.

So with vacation and the beach in mind, it is fitting that today's movie is "Mr. Hobbs Takes a Vacation."

Sit back and enjoy a little Jimmy Stewart and Maureen O'Hara on vacation!