faces of freedom

Please take a moment to visit Faces of Freedom and learn a bit about some of our fallen American heroes. Each made the ultimate sacrifice in order to guard, protect, and keep us safe.

God bless and protect all of our veterans, as well as the millions of brave servicemen and women who are keeping us safe around the world.

tableau tuesday

In honor and memory.


Lt. Col. Juanita L. Warman

Maj. Libardo Caraveo

Capt. John P. Gaffaney

Capt. Russell Seager

Staff Sgt. Justin Decrow

Sgt. Amy Krueger

Spc. Jason Hunt, 22

Spc. Frederick Greene

Pfc. Aaron Nemelka

Pfc. Michael Pearson

Spc. Kham Xiong, 23

Pvt. Francheska Velez

Chief Warrant Officer retired Michael Cahill

breaking dawn

Robert Pattinson officially let it leak that Breaking Dawn is in the works.

Q: Have you been told a tentative time that you might film Breaking
Dawn?

Rob: I think the tentative for Breaking Dawn is Fall of next year. I
think. They may well change that.

Here's a [fan-made] picture of the Cullen Family, post-Bella transformation.

So fun!

a family tradition

One of my favorite memories as a child was opening up the days on our family's Advent calendar every December, although waiting until the 25th was always such torture (it was the fanciest door, of course!).

I've been on a quest for the past couple of years to find one for my family, now that Aidan is getting old enough to remember and make his own memories. But good quality Advent calendars appear to be few and far between these days. Sure there's a plethora of crappy cardboard ones, but I want something we can keep from year-to-year.

Ideally, I'd love to find a Nativity-themed calendar, but so far, no dice.

But here's a mix of some of the better ones I've seen.

Next project ... finding an Advent wreath with taper candles to light -- another beloved memory from my childhood.

horrific sadness

U.S. Army soldiers from the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, Fort Hood, Texas.



God bless and hold close the families of the wounded and lost soldiers from Fort Hood today.

My heart is unspeakably heavy.

tableau tuesday

Harper's Bazaar, December 2009

'tis the season

It's November! Yippee! Now I can bask in the glory of wonderful music, laughter, glory and good cheer for the next 60 days or so.

I officially started playing festive music in my classroom today (... gotta love Live 365) while the kids were working -- just some gluing of fossil diagrams onto layers of rock . It's amazing how much of a good mood it put them in -- everyone left chatty, and with a smile on their sweet faces. So great. I know most people get irritated if they even hear the jingle of a single bell before Thanksgiving, but if it were up to me, I'd start playing it in June. ;)

And before anyone freaks out and goes all nuts on me for violating any separation of church and state laws, I spoke with all my kids ahead of time and let them know that they could [privately] let me know if they prefer I not play Christmas music, and I would absolutely respect their wishes. I usually choose instrumental stations anyway (how sad that I even have to make this disclaimer). Thank goodness that kids are just kids and don't get too crazy about such things.

November and December. Love, love, LOVE it! It's the most wonderful time of the year!

more yummy goodness from the vanity fair shoot

No. Words. Necessary.

lord, have mercy

Robert Pattinson, Vanity Fair, 2009. Talk about an early Christmas present. I mean, the expression on his face -- he knows he's killing us.

Cant ... stop ... looking.

CNN last in TV news on cable

From yesterday's New York Times.

CNN, which created the all-news cable network almost 30 years ago, hit a new competitive low with its prime-time programs in October, with three of its four programs between 7 and 11 p.m. finishing fourth and last among the cable news networks.

It was the first time that the programs had ever performed that poorly against their news network competitors. October was also the third month in the last year that CNN as a network finished fourth behind the three other cable news networks in prime time with the audience that the networks rely on for advertising sales.

For the month, CNN averaged 202,000 viewers, ages 25 to 54. That was far behind the dominant leader, Fox, which averaged 689,000. But it also trailed MSNBC which had 250,000 viewers in that group and HLN, which had 221,000 viewers.

I've been forced to watch CNN in the mornings and sometimes in the afternoon over the past few months (that's the only cable news network I can get at work ... blech), and it's shocking how horribly bad that network has become. I've always enjoyed Kiran Chetry, but her move from FOXNews to CNN was a major mistake (Come back, Kiran! Come back!). And the likes of Rick Sanchez are beyond putrid. I've literally had to mute that guy on more than one occasion. It's almost painful.

And what's up with their endless series of "Being Black in America," or "Being Latino in America"? I mean, really.

Anyway, interesting numbers. My how the times have changed.

tableau tuesday

Beatin' the dirt monkeys in Lubbock is worthy of two pictures.

Gig'em Ags.

rite of passage

Aidan attended his first Texas high school football game last night with two of his besties -- Ashlyn and Allison. The three of them have been together in the same class since they were about 6-weeks old. I call them the "Triple As."

Anyway, there's a ginormous hill at Tully Stadium (our local football stadium) that all the kids love to roll down (not much opportunity for that in Houston).

I remember doing it as a kid, so I got a huge kick out of watching my little guy do the same last night.


He wasn't much into the game, although he periodically would scream, "Go, Aggies!" I had to keep reminding him that we weren't at an A&M game, but at least he's remaining loyal to his roots.

High school football -- one of the million reasons why I love fall. So great.

tableau tuesday (on thursday)

Crazy wicked weather blew through town this morning ... right as the morning commute was getting underway (of course).

It's currently 9:00 a.m., and we've already had over 5 inches of rain this morning.

Gotta love it. Especially when the rain has nowhere to go, so it sits on the road ... and rises ... and rises ... and rises ....

The silver lining is that its bringing cooler temps with it.

how texas lives within its means

During a time when I'm often left shaking my head after listening to a politician trying to explain away the reckless spending of my children and grandchildren's money, the Op-Ed column written by Texas Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst that I read this morning was a welcome (and rare) breath of fresh air.

Given recent comments about our state’s budget, I feel it is time to
separate fact from political fiction. The fact is, in stark contrast to the U.
S. Congress, the Texas Constitution requires the Legislature to balance the
state budget every two years, and that would have happened with or without any
federal stimulus dollars.

In 2007, I led the effort to save $7 billion to balance the revenue
shortfall we anticipated this year.

So it’s simply political fiction that stimulus dollars were necessary
to balance our budget.
Although we tried to use the federal stimulus dollars
on one-time expenditures, in some cases the federal government made us use the
money on recurring costs that actually add to the cost of state
government.

While other states struggle with overwhelming deficits, Texas has
created a model for the rest of the nation to follow that is based on living
within its available revenue. The state cut taxes a net $4 billion per year in
2007 while fostering a predictable regulatory environment that allows business
to thrive and continue to make Texas the No. 1 job creator in the U.S. over the
past two years.

These are the moral, fiscally conservative values with which I was raised, and with which I will try and impart to my children. In a nutshell, if you don't have the money, don't spend it.

Thank God not all politicians have lost their freakin' minds.

i may not agree with his politics

... but I'm proud of the warm reception President Obama received at my beloved Alma Mater, Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas. I'm sure it didn't hurt that he was flanked by Aggie favorite (and legend in his own time around our parts), former Texas A&M University President and now Secretary of Defense, Dr. Robert Gates.

According to student newspaper, The Battalion:

President Barack Obama received a hearty "Howdy" from more than 2,000 attendees at the Presidential Forum on community service on Friday afternoon in Rudder Auditorium at Texas A&M.

"Service isn't separate from our national priorities or second to our national priorities, it's integral to achieving our national priorities," Obama said. "It's how we will meet the challenges of our time."

Aggies are known for their dedication to service, so this non-political speech on a subject that we could all get behind made it easy to temporarily put aside ideological differences.

Mr. Obama was treated with respect, yet dissenting opinions were peacefully on display outside the George Bush Presidential Library and Museum where Obama was invited to speak as a guest of former President, George H. W. Bush.

The First Lady of Texas A&M, Reveille (our beautiful collie mascot) was there to greet the President as well. And one resourceful Aggie football fan even managed to get in a plug for our quarterback, Jerrod Johnson (and a pie-in-the-sky hope at a Heisman).

All in all, a great fall day in the Lone Star State.

tableau tuesday

... again a day late ... but hey, it was a short week, and internal my clock is off. ;)

Houston Chronicle writer Kathy Huber perfectly captures the crazy personality of the uniquely-Texas tradition ("bigger is definitely better") of homecoming mums:

"In a state where football is king, the hoecoming mum is queen. Not a shy bloom relegated to the sidelines, but an enormous concoction of grapefruit-size silk flowers; stuffed animals; a flowing skirt of ribbons."

I giggle with a bit of shame (mixed in with a big ol' chunk of fond memories) when I think about how giddy we used to be as we walked around Tully Stadium, tinkling with the bells hanging from our ginormous red and white mums. Oh, and of course our dates sported the obligatory mum-like matching garters on their jerseys that day at school. Gawd, we were crazy. Gotta love high school football in Texas.

Stomp 'em, MHS Mustangs!

four-day weekends and fall

Everything has pretty much come together perfectly this weekend.

I already had Monday off (Columbus Day), and since Ty is home for a few days, I figured I'd make it an even longer weekend and take Friday off as well. His visit is much-too short, but we're trying to make the most of our few days together.

In honor of the occasion, Mother Nature cooperated beautifully and ushered in our first good cold front of the season -- just in time for tailgating and football yesterday. Kick-off against the Cowboys from Oklahoma State was 11:30 a.m., so our tailgate crew did breakfast tacos, Bloody Marys, screwdrivers, and Paula Deen's gorilla bread (holy crap, that stuff is rockin' good).

We also took Aidan to his first football game. He's attended a few tailgates in the past, but he's always been too pooped (or hot) to head over to the stadium. But yesterday's temps, combined with the early kick-off time and Ty being home, was the perfect opportunity to give it a shot. He [unbelievably] slept through the first half, but woke up just in time to watch the Fightin' Texas Aggie Band take the field.

So here we are ... Sunday morning, sipping coffee and enjoying the temps and each other.

And the good news is, tomorrow is a work-less Monday. Woo hoo!

tableau tuesday

(so I'm a few hours late ...)

heroes

My cousin, Chris left home today in preparation for his second tour (previously Iraq, now Afghanistan) in the Middle East.

For the next year, Chris will be away from his two beautiful young children and his beautiful wife. Despite this, he remains one of the most positive guys I know. He never complains. He always smiles. He gives thanks to the Lord for his blessings, and freely shares this love with others.

“The bravest are surely those who have the clearest vision of what is before them, glory and danger alike, and yet notwithstanding, go out to meet it.” --Thucydides

Chris, we love you and are so very proud of you -- small words, I know. But the emotions behind them are monumental.

houston texans to wear pink

To show their support for breast cancer awareness, four players from my home town Texans — receiver Andre Johnson, defensive end Mario Williams, receiver David Anderson and running back Ryan Moats — will wear pink shoes and gloves during today's game against the Big Bad Oakland Raiders.

The players, along with other players and coaches across the league, will wear different shoes, gloves, towels, and pins, but all will be a shade of pink, in order to show support for the NFL's “Crucial Catch” campaign promoting breast cancer awareness.

Johnson received a pair of new hot pink-and-white cleats with shiny silver soles from Nike this week.

"I have never worn pink in my life that I can remember," he said. "Especially not pink gloves or pink cleats or anything like that. But it's a good cause, and I'll definitely have it on on Sunday."

Breast cancer is the second-most common cancer and second-highest cause of cancer death in women in the United States. Women stand about a one in eight chance (12 percent) of developing breast cancer at some point in their lives. Most doctors feel that early detection tests can save thousands of lives each year.

Well done, Men. Wear that pink loud and proud.

pumpkin schnapps? who knew?

One of my projects for today is to find a bottle of Harvest Grand Pumpkin Spice Cream Liqueur.

"...perfect blend of American pumpkin spice flavors and premium Irish cream. The Irish Cream has great mouth appeal due to the premium quality dairy used. The amount of all natural flavor blended is just enough, not to overpower the liqueur, but to create an even pumpkin spice or pumpkin pie experience. Harvest Grand like many of its competitors is 17% alcohol by volume or 34 proof. The creams color is reminiscent of a Thanksgiving pumpkin pies orange and brown tones. Suggested to be served chilled, Harvest Grand can be prepared on the rocks, strait or mixed with other liquors to make a personalized drink."

How lovely does that sound?

a good excuse to go to charming charlie

(as if you needed one!)

file this one under sad, but true

tableau tuesday

Sale pending ... damn! Someone's buying the house ($1,277,500 - 945 Heights Blvd.) that I was interested in purchasing in the Houston Heights. I shouldn't have held out so long ... debating the whole thing because I felt the kitchen was too small.

Oh well. Easy come, easy go. Here are some pics (it's Tableau Tuesday, afterall) of the deal that just slipped through my hands ...

serious sunday baking

... well, minus the measuring, mixing, rolling and cookie-cutting part.

But still ... we DID have to put the cookies on a pan and stick 'em in the oven. So technically -- baking.

saturday morning breakfast tacos

One of the things I miss most when I'm away from home is breakfast tacos. No place in the world makes 'em like you can get 'em in Texas, where they're literally a dime a dozen. Whether you order barbacoa or cabrito, the result is always divine.

I'm a pretty good cook, and Ive tried to re-create them ... but it's just not the same. You don't get that perfect combination of the charred grill taste, soft gooey thick tortilla, fresh cilantro, crunchy onions, and spicy fresh salsa.

Texas cities and towns are full of taqueria trucks manned by folks who usually don't speak much English, but who can sure whip up amazing breakfast tacos. And fortunately I know just enough Spanish to be able to order my favorites. The tacos are made right there on site, fresh and delicious. It's wonderful -- the perfect way to kick off a weekend.

It's gotten to the point that, for me, weekends just aren't weekends without breakfast tacos. My tacos of choice are beef fajita on corn tortillas with cilantro and onion -- and a liberal squeeze of fresh lime juice on top. PERFECTION!

One of life's great treats -- hot coffee, breakfast tacos, and the weekend. You seriously can't beat it.

an apple a day

As a teacher, I've received countless trinkets and tidbits over the years related to my profession -- wooden school houses that hold post-it notes, Christmas ornaments that never get used, tacky "You're A+" stuff ... you get the drift. I don't mean to sound ungrateful or petty, its just rare when I come across something teacher-related that I'd ever really use.

It's odd, and I have no idea why its the case, but education seems to be one of the few professions where people feel the need to give a gift based on the job. I mean, I don't give my friends necklaces with calculators on them if they're CPAs ... but I digress.

So my rule of thumb regarding "teacher clothes" is that if it's not something I'd wear out to happy hour after work, it's not something I'd wear at all. Period. That's why I love what Jones New York has done for the past five years.

Founded in 2005, Jones New York in the classroom is a not-for-profit
organization dedicated to helping improve the quality of education for America's
children and inspiring others to do the same. Jones New York in the Classroom
benefits: TeachersCount, Fund for Teachers and Adopt-a-Classroom. The purchase of this tee, designed by Sujean Rim helps to support our cause.

Several teachers and friends at the school where I work have these shirts, and they're super cute ... yet fun and sassy! Way to go, Jones New York! Thanks for making the "perfect" teacher shirt! And best of all, it supports a good cause! Bravo!

tableau tuesday - "fall"ing rain

It's the first official day of fall.

If you're in H-Town, or anywhere near or along the Texas Gulf Coast, you'd better have your umbrellas handy.

Cats and dogs come to mind ....

cheering from afar

The nastiness that has affectionately come to be known as pig flu (H1N1 for all you semantics freaks) is keeping me at home this weekend, rather than in College Station cheering on my Fightin' Texas Aggies as they do battle with the Aggies (yes, Aggies) from Utah State.

My little guy needs his mama to cuddle him and give him lots of fluids and love. So its sofa city for us this weekend.

But in spirit, I proudly and vehemently will be sending a stern message to my beloved Texas A&M: beat the ever livin' hell outta Utah State.

I'll miss the cold beer, warm burgers, good friends and roar of the 12th Man. Give 'em hell, boys.

Gig 'em.

um ... yum!

PUMPKIN FRENCH TOAST W/ CRUNCHY CINNAMON CRUST
www.RecipeGirl.com

2 large eggs
1/4 cup canned pure pumpkin puree
1/4 cup whipping cream
1/4 cup milk
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
1 Tbs granulated sugar
4 cups Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal, crushed
Eight 3/4-inch thick slices of day-old French bread

1. In a low-lying, flat bowl, whisk together eggs, pumpkin, cream, milk, cinnamon, nutmeg and sugar.

2. In another low-lying flat bowl, place crushed cereal.

3. Heat skillet to medium-heat, brush with butter. Quickly dip bread on both sides into the egg mixture, then cover both sides of the bread with the crushed cereal. Place in hot skillet, reduce heat to low and cover with lid. Heat 2-3 minutes on each side, until lightly browned. Repeat with remaining bread.

4. Serve immediately with maple syrup.

Servings: 4
Yield: 2 slices per person

Cooking Tips:
*This recipe really is best with French bread that is a day or two old- if it’s too soft, it will absorb too much of the liquid and turn out soggy.
**Do a quick dip into the liquid. You don’t want to soak the bread in it.
***You may leave off the crumbled cereal if you don’t wish to add crunch. (It’s good though!)

45% Of Doctors Would Consider Quitting ...

... if Congress passes health care overhaul.


According to Investor's Business Daily, two of every three practicing physicians oppose the medical overhaul plan under consideration in Washington, and hundreds of thousands would think about shutting down their practices or retiring early if it were adopted.



Those are some staggering numbers.

Changes need to be made for sure, primarily in the insurance industry. But this Shermanesque "total warfare" mentality the current administration has adopted needs to be re-evaluated, to say the least.

tableau tuesday

My favorite Patrick Swayze role will always be Orry Maine from John Jakes' The North and The South -- literally, a staple in our house when I was growing up.

Godspeed to a great Houstonian. Rest in peace.

lolz

latest new moon trailer in HD

I'm loving this in so many ways. New director, Chris Weitz = brilliance.

The Twilight Saga: New Moon Trailer in HD

"Hell hath no fury like a taxpayer ignored...."

They came. They saw. They protested.

Tens of thousands of protesters marched to the U.S. Capitol in D.C. yesterday, expressing grievances against big government.

"Republicans, Democrats and independents are stepping up and demanding we put our fiscal house in order," said Rep. Mike Pence of Indiana.

"I think the overriding message after years of borrowing, spending and bailouts is enough is enough."

Well done, citizens. Well done.

I've blogged before about my love of rosé wines (no, NOT the same as a white zinfandels!) , so I'm always excited to try a new one. It seems that most of the good rosés I've had have been French, so I'm happy to be writing about one that's from a totally different part of the globe.

A trip to Leibman's (one of my favorite little staycation get-aways in Houston) yielded a whole new crop of fun wines in the rosé family. Tonight we started things off by opening a bottle of a Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon Rosé -- have you ever heard of such a thing?! I love it!

To be exact, the wine is called La Playa Cabernet Sauvignon Rosé. It's from the Colchagua Valley in Chile and is harvested by hand. It's so much drier than I would have expected. So if you shy away from rosés because they're too sweet for your palate, I'd definitely give this one a shot. It surprised me.

Here are the winemaker's notes:

"Vivid pink color with violet hues. On the nose it is very expressive, showing rich fruit aromas with distinctive notes of candied raspberry, strawberry and underlying touches of herbs. This is a well-balanced and attractive wine with structure, good persistence and a pleasant finish."

saturday in the cherry orchard

It's been a cloudy and rainy Saturday in good ol' H-Town, Texas. I love lazy days like this. The Ags have an off week, so we gloriously had absolutely nowhere to go and nobody to see -- perfection.

The main event of the day, complete with college football on the TV in the background of course, was teaching Aidan how to play a classic -- Hi-Ho-Cherry-O. As fun as its been and as hard as we've laughed, I have to admit that I've officially created a fruit-picking monster. We must have played it at least 20 times today. And Lord help me, but the night is still young. I have no doubt that we'll still manage to squeeze in at least five more rounds.

So here's to rainy Saturdays, Milton Bradley games, and spending the day in our jammies. It's a great way to do nothing, yet everything.

not forgotten

In honor and memory of the 2,974 who were killed on September 11, 2001.

And to those brave men and women who continue to protect us every day overseas and at home.

God bless America.

fall fashion trend: matte nails

Even if you're not a fashion diva (ahem ... me ... cough, cough), your fingers and toes can still play the part. And you don't have to break the bank.

This season's newest trend in nail polish has nothing to do with color and everything to do with finish: matte is where it's at.

Zoya ($6) seems to be leading the matte pack with their fall and winter lines. But OPI ($8) is hangin' with the crowd as well. So is KO (short for Knock Out), which actually only makes matte polishes.

So, according to the fashion experts of the world, get shopping for your matte polish. Here are some of my favorites (in order L-R: Zoya Posh, Loredana, Harlow, Veruschka, Dovima, Savita; OPI Gargantuan Green Grape, Russian Navy, You Don't Know Jacques, Lincoln Park After Dark)

an alternative to the coffee monopoly

It might not be the sexy thing to admit, as far as supporting grass-roots mom-and-pop businesses, but I love Starbucks coffee. I love the smell. I love the strong, semi-burned taste. I love the atmosphere -- complete with big comfy chairs and hip, [usually] indie music. The whole package is a dream to my senses, and not much else even comes close.

Unfortunately, Starbucks has jacked up their prices ... again. So I'm pretty much finished with 'em. Unless I have a gift card (which as a teacher, I frequently do), or am absolutely jonesing for a pumpkin spice latte on a cold, Friday, December morning, I've decided that I just can't justify paying that much for a flippin' cup of coffee.

The problem is, I miss it. Friends and colleagues have encouraged me to try McDonald's coffee. I have, and I'm not a fan. Horrifically, I found a roach, an antennae and a bug leg in the coffee creamer container at work, so that's out. I try and organize myself enough to make my own pot once I get to school, but that just doesn't always happen. Damn! What's a java junkie to do?

Enter Sonic. Woo hoo! Their coffee ROCKS! I made this accidental discovery a few weeks ago when I made a quick stop on my way to work. I ordered my usual Route 44 Diet Cherry Limeade, but once I got to the window, I decided I wanted a cup of coffee first. Their hot mocha latte is divine. It's smooth, creamy, and delish! I almost cried.

I had it again this morning and still love it. So I'm not missing out anymore! Take that and stick it in your cash register, Starbucks.

Now ... here's hoping Sonic will provide pumpkin spice lattes around Thanksgiving and Christmas time. My fingers are firmly crossed.

tableau tuesday

One of my favorite [guiltless] pleasures in life is pictures. Even though I'm about as photographically talented as the rock I'm currently using as a doorstop, I feel somewhat empty-handed if I don't have my camera with me for a special occasion, or even just an every-day event.

I love the written word. No, scratch that. I'm captivated by the written word. But even more so, I adore the way a picture can trump even the most eloquent of poetry, as far as describing a moment in time.

So I thought I'd begin to dedicate a single blog day a week to one of life's great mediums: pictures.

Dictionary.com describes a tableau as "a vivid or graphic description" and "a ‘picture’ formed by living persons caught in static attitudes." Perfect!

happy labor day

football, family and friends

My beloved Fightin' Texas Aggies opened the season last night at home with a solid and convincing win against New Mexico.

We spent the day tailgating and catching up with family and friends -- and wading through the excitement of college football gameday.

My sister made some killer stuffed mushrooms that we cooked on the grill. Another friend brought the hottest, cheesiest, and yummiest jalapeno dip that I've ever tasted. Drinks were strong and cold, and rain threatened all day (but never materialized), adding the perfect amount of breeze and tolerable temperature levels.

No matter how crazy life can get, returning "home" to College Station amongst the friendliest people in the world, always helps to ground me and remind me how fun this whole ride can be.

So ... beat the hell outta Utah State, Ags!

it's that time of year ....

... the most glorious time of year -- COLLEGE FOOTBALL IS UPON US!

Although my beloved Aggies aren't predicted to do much [again] this season, it feels so damn good to know that the best chunk of the calendar has officially arrived!

I'm not, and never have been, a big people person. I don't like crowds. I hate malls. I have very little tolerance for ignorance. But put me in a stadium -- Kyle Field, to be exact -- with 83,000 of my maroon peeps, and life is just about as good as it can be for me.

We're kicking things off this year at home in College Station against New Mexico. The good guys are picked to win. But for some reason, it doesn't much matter to me. What matters is that fall is in the air, our tailgate crew is already planning the menu (and the tailgate drinks), and we're ready to get things started with Aggie friends and family (minus Ty ... sniff sniff).

So ... beat the ever livin' hell outta New Mexico, Ags!

the best three or so minutes I've spent in a while

Congressman Mike Rogers of Michigan.

I think I love him.

break out your jackets, boys and girls

Lost Maples Nature Area, Vanderpool, Texas

(OK, well, maybe not your jackets.)

The 10-day forecast for Houston has lows around 70 and highs around 90 heading our way ... just around the corner! Woo hoo! Maybe I won't break a sweat until 8am, rather than as soon as I walk out the door at 6:45am (ok ... I'm lying. I start sweating as soon as I begin putting on my make-up. It's a way of life for me).

But back to the subject at hand, the mornings have felt noticeably drier and yes, even cooler. It's been a beautiful weekend, as far as August on the Texas Gulf Coast goes -- could be so much worse.

I'm such a cold weather girl. I know, I know. Why in the hell do I live in Texas and not somewhere like Colorado? It can't be helped ... it's in my blood. I love my peeps, and I love my state.

But I sure do adore trips to cooler climates. And even better, cool weather in my own backyard. So, based on the current forecast, a little mini-happy dance is in order.

holy "team jacob" batman!

Taylor Lautner was born in 1992 ... a year AFTER I GRADUATED FROM HIGH SCHOOL!

How can that be?! When did this happen?!

I'm old. No, I'm old and pathetic ... no, wait. I'm an old, pathetic cougar. Because I find this picture (from Teen Vogue, no less ... oh the shame) so, so delicious. And he's just a BOY!

I mean, good grief. How embarrassing. But geez. If this isn't eye candy in a dirty shirt, I don't know what is.

Rawr.

how yummy do these look?!

For a quick sweet treat, these look awesome! Yoplait Delights! And at only 100 calories each, you can't beat it (visit the website for a $1.00 off coupon).

They come in Chocolate Raspberry, Crème Caramel, Triple Berry Crème, and Lemon Torte. DELISH!

Thanks, Yoplait. You've just sweetened my day.

one of my favorite after school treats

I've never been a chutney person. For some reason, it's always reminded me too much of fruit cake, and that's a major culinary negative in my food repertoire.

A few years ago however, I found a jar in my mother's refrigerator (which always has a random and various assortment of British-like stuff in it) that for some reason, appealed to my senses that day. To be exact, it was Patak's Hot Mango Chutney, and I fell instantly in love. You can pick it up at just about any grocery store (except for Thriftway in Forks, WA), and it's very reasonably priced. Nothing fancy -- just chutney.

So I put some on a cracker with a chunk of Parmigiano Reggiano (one of my favorite cheeses on the planet ... you can buy a big hunk of it at Costco for a great price ... but I digress ....), which I always have on hand in my fridge. The result was divine.

I'm not sure if I'd like most chutneys, because, to be honest, I haven't ventured out and tried too many. But this particular chutney has since become one of my very favorite afternoon/evening treats, paired with a glass (or 3) of chardonnay. It's an absolutely perfect combination.

Today's version: a Rosenblum Cellars Chardonnay, Vintner's Cuvee. So, so good.

Even if you're chutney-shy, like I've always been, or set in your snacking routines, I highly recommend giving this a try. The spiciness and sweetness of the chutney, paired with the saltiness of the parmesan and bite of the wine is such a great treat.

the world would be a better place

... if everyone had the manners of my three-year-old.

Sure he sometimes forgets to flush the potty, and yeah, he loves to hear himself burp (the louder the better). But he's also very into giving compliments and saying sugary sweet things these days. I think he gets a kick out of my reactions more than anything else. But I know it won't last, so I'm enjoying every minute of it.

I swear, when he unexpectedly pulls out one of his sweet doozies, I completely fall to pieces -- its so darn funny and always totally out of left field, which makes it that much more endearing.

His current favorites are, "Sure, Mommy! I'd be happy to!" Even if I'm just asking him to open the back door for the dogs, or to turn off the TV before we leave the house, his cheery "Sure, Mommy! I'd be happy to!" is so totally sincere, I'm forced to scoop him up and kiss him to pieces.

And one day this week when I was feeling particularly rushed and frazzled while trying to get ready and get us out the door, he looked at me with those big brown eyes and said, "You look like a princess, Mommy." Holy moly -- is someone paying him to say these things?! I don't care if he doesn't know the difference between a princess and the lady at the McDonald's drive-through window (she's way cool, by the way), I DO! And damn if it doesn't feel good to have someone call you one. :)

But the hands down best is the the totally out of the blue, "I love you, Mommy." -- I'm a goner every time. I've been sort of blue and missing things over the past few days, and hearing this grounds me like nothing else can.

Yep. I'm thinking that the Palestinians and Israelis could probably iron out their differences if they just mixed in an occasional, "Sure, I'd be happy to!"