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