Trick or Treat?

Today?  At my mailbox?  It most definitely was a treat!!

I received a treat from the folks at Sony Music and guess what?  They threw in a treat for you, as well!  I have a nice surprise for one lucky reader as soon as I can put my post together.  Sony has invited me to participate in a project to commemorate 40 years of Billy Joel's career as a solo recording artist.

..... more to come!

Happy Halloween: May Your Costume Be Better Than Mine

Happy Halloween... Errrr... Fall Festival!

 Tom and I are not dressing up this year, so if you see us, don't comment on our scary look.

We were The Lone Ranger and Tonto on the last Halloween in which we costumized.  I think we went out on a bang.

I'm too frugal to purchase or rent costumes, much to the chagrin of my children when they were young.  We always had to make a costume from crap stuff treasures we had around the house.

Like this lovely ensemble:

Don't they look thrilled?
But it was better than the year....

Freeze Milk and Cut Cost, Thaw it Properly

Guest Writer: Ruth Morse

The cheapest way to buy milk is by the gallon. Why is a gallon of milk $2.59 and a half gallon is $1.87? So I buy the gallon, but there is no way we can use up a whole gallon of milk before it starts to get that quirky chunky consistency. Bleecccchhhh!

However, you can freeze milk! Didn’t know that, did ya? I bought several of these super sturdy Rubbermaid containers to do just that. 

These bottles are very thick and won’t get brittle in the freezer. Coming from these, the thawed milk tastes great. There’s the catch however: thawing the milk......

A Most Spectacular Moment in Parenting

My son Tommy was born a Mack Truck.  Stocky, thick, solid, a Bulldog.  He seemed to "plow through" rather than crawl.

As soon as he could walk good, he would run through a room and have everyone on the outskirts of the room throw pillows at him to try to knock him down.  He loved this.  As he got older, he lost the Mack Truck look and became one of the smaller guys in the class, a serious drawback to his football dreams.

One thing he hated, as you might expect of someone built like this and boyish is so many ways, was church clothes......

Not Once Did I Fold

 I hear the train all night, sound of its wind blowing through
A subtle lapse… and I have a job to do

Walking these cars walking all to sleep, to get to you
But I don’t feel you stir beside me, and you’re not in my morning hours

Some ties are made to break; some stocks grow high and green to rot away and feel the weight
And these lines tell the truth, these city veins answer all they do
So, could you keep in the poses, could you keep me in the sound
I got wise and I got old
Not once, not once did I fold
So don’t you now
Maybe you bet on me, while we were still young enough to know, to believe

But for every year you took, for every soft breath of love and learn, believe me
And don’t keep me like you have me, and don’t kiss me like you don’t
I got wise and I got old
Not once, not once did I fold
So don’t you now
Some land holds a home; some of my years only hold, me to roam
But I tell myself its true, you see a home you see a man, you see it too

And I say don’t you know you have her? Go on kiss her now you boy
I got wise and I got old
Not once, not once did I fold
So don’t you now......

Blind Pilot

GiGi's Cupcakes, Tampa FL, Cupcake Review

The Place:  Gigi's Cupcakes, 3810 Neptune St, B-2

The Flavors:  Amaretto Amore, Banana Cream Pie, Champagne, Carrot Cake, Miss Princess and White Midnight Magic Choc. Chip.

The Conclusion:  This place has mountains of icing and beautiful, crazy-flavored cupcakes.  Try the Amaretto Amore.  Buy the Banana Cream Pie ones in bulk.

The Drawback:  Gigi's is a chain, a franchise.  I prefer to support mom and pop shops like Frostings, just a couple miles over.

You might go to Gigi's Cupcakes if you are on a Girls Day Out.  Or if you're running with a pack of bridesmaids.  Or if you're a princess.  Definitely if you're a princess.  Gigi's is very girly.

On a recent trip to Tampa, two girlfriends and I came right up to the edge of a sugar coma and teetered there for a minute.  One step further was the point of no return; one more cupcake test, we'd be in shock.

Leaving St. Pete on 275-N, bound for the midlands of SC, we exited on Kennedy and flew down Dale Mabry , hitting the brakes for a hard right on Neptune.  And there she was – Gigi's Cupcakes.  In all her Girly Girl splendor.  Cute mugs, cute T's, cute necklaces.  Sparkly cupcakes, pink ruffly icing, a pearly white cupcake with the word “wedding” in the title.  The stuff that ends with "and they lived happily ever after."

I plopped my debit card down and ordered a round for the house a Princess cupcake with pink sparkles and a crown to carry home to my 6 year old granddaughter and her princessy self.  I got her a cupcake necklace to match and got myself a white Midnight Magic cupcake with frothy white icing scattered with tiny little chocolate chips.  The cake was very moist, the icing, creamy.  Creamy and dreamy.  The whole thing was rich enough to curl my teeth and cause me to leave some of it uneaten, even after my friends each had a bite.

Next we sampled Connie's Amaretto Amore (Pictured below with most of the cake cut off). Creamy amaretto cream cheese icing littered with slivered almonds.   I don't like crunchy and creamy together, so I wasn't fond, but the girls loved this cupcake.  Connie took two bites, slammed her hands down with a long moan and went back to order 4 more to take home, three of which survived the drive.

Jennifer let us sample her champagne cupcake.  White champagne cake with cream cheese icing, edible pearls (insert girly squeal here), and white chocolate.  Moist and creamy, but still... not our favorite.  She returned to buy a Banana Cream Pie cupcake to take home.  Home, by the way, was an 8.5 hour drive away.  We kept the car chilled to a nipper 62 degrees and covered up with wraps, scarves and blankets.  Anything to preserve the cupcakes.  Below?  Yeah, our "to-go" order.

Around hour #5 of driving, we dipped our fingers in the Banana Cream Pie cupcake icing (a buttercream frosting) and nearly fainted.  “Why the heck didn't I get that one?” I screamed.  That icing tasted exactly like banana pudding.  Note to self:  Get the Banana Cream Pie cupcake no matter how stuffed you are.

Also around hour 5 of driving, we decided to eat Connie's Carrot Cake cupcake.  I gagged.  Lumps and chunks throughout, ugh.  Strings of coconut hanging out, stings of carrot and chunks of pecan.  I let the girls finish it.  Connie said it's OK, but the icing was the best part.  Jenn shook her head, “No, the cake is better than the icing.”  Neither one would order it again.


We managed to get home without touching the Princess' cupcake.  Miss Princess is a white cake with strawberries baked in, cream cheese frosting with pink sparkly sugar on top and a fondant crown. My Princess said it was wonderful, she loved it and I did not get a sample, not even a crumb.

I wish I had tried the Strawberry Shortcake and I wish they had served their Raspberries & Cream cupcake – white cake with a raspberry filling, raspberry buttercream frosting sprinkled with white nonperils and topped with a white chocolate heart.  That's scheduled for Wednesdays, I was there on a Monday.  Road trip, anyone?

Click here to see Gigi's full flavor menu.
Click here to find a Gigi's near you.
Www.GigisCupcakesUSA.com
You can find a location near you on Facebook, as well.

You Can Call Me Alice

I just love mushrooms.  Growing out in the wild, that is, not... say... on my pizza or in my soup or anything like that. I don't eat them, I just think they are beautiful. (Remember the orange mushroom I found in Alaska?!)  So the other day when I spotted some growing recklessly in town, I had to pull over and get some photos.

 

It was like my own little piece of Wonderland.

". . . In a minute or two the Caterpillar took the hookah out of its mouth and yawned once or twice, and shook itself. Then it got down off the mushroom, and crawled away in the grass, merely remarking as it went, 'One side will make you grow taller, and the other side will make you grow shorter.'

'One side of what? The other side of what?' thought Alice to herself.

'Of the mushroom,' said the Caterpillar, just as if she had asked it aloud; and in another moment it was out of sight.
Alice remained looking thoughtfully at the mushroom for a minute, trying to make out which were the two sides of it; and as it was perfectly round, she found this a very difficult question. However, at last she stretched her arms round it as far as they would go, and broke off a bit of the edge with each hand.
'And now which is which?' she said to herself, and nibbled a little of the right-hand bit to try the effect . . ."

Women of Faith Imagine 2011

The magnificent Luci Swindoll summarized the Women of Faith Imagine conference this way:

the Women of Faith Imagine conference is intended for connection and encouragement of women of faith.

That is precisely what I got out of it.

It's a great place to go when your spirit is starting to droop and you need refreshment, encouragement.... sustenance.  It's a great place to go when you feel lonely, all alone in your walk of faith or outnumbered in the secular world.

The Women of Faith conference is the place to go when you're going through a really difficult time and can't imagine how you're going to get through it.  Coincidence that the conference title this year is "Imagine?"  I think not.  You'll hear testimonies of hope, endurance, grace, mercy, forgiveness, healing, restoration... You'll find empathy, direction, advice and community.....

No Fear: The Valley of the Shadow of Death

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.Psalm 23:4

One year ago, right about now, Nana took that walk.

I was just awakened -- nearly 3 a.m. --  looked at the clock.  My heart sunk as I thought of Nana in her bed at this hour one year ago.  Then the words of David in Psalm 23 washed over me like a warm incoming tide.

Nana wasn't alone that dark night.  As lonely as we may imagine it, she wasn't alone.  Jesus didn't leave her comfortless her whole life, I know He wouldn't have left her comfortless that final night. 

Tasty Tuesday Isn't Just for Humans

For today's Tasty Tuesday, I'm gonna share Connie's very special recipe for feeding the seagulls.
Enjoy!

Frostings, Etc. Tampa, FL Cupcake Review

The Place:  Frostings, Etc. 500 South Howard Ave. Ste. F, Tampa FL 33606

The Flavors:  Champagne Pear Bellini, Death By Chocolate, Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, Red Velvet

The Drawback:  Parking.  Almost impossible.

The Conclusion:  Buy the cookie dough icing in to-go containers and use at home.  Liberally.  Do the shots. Get the Champagne Pear Bellini, maybe 2.

I was given a couple tickets to a women's conference in Tampa FL and asked to review it on my blog.  So it was that I found myself wandering around Tampa with a couple girlfriends.  With you, my hungry reader, in mind, I decided to visit a few cupcake shops.  And my friends -- well, they were eager to help in any way they could.  Selfless friends that they are.....

Practical Household Hints From a Life Well Lived

Guest Writer:  Ruth Morse

I think you can safely say that I am not a glass-half-full type of person. I like to think of my mindset as REALISTIC or PRACTICAL. However, other people might label it NEGATIVE.

Be that as it may, I have a few negative tips to pass on today. Following these negative tips bring positive results. So that's practical. Right?

•DON’T store your eggs on the refrigerator door. In fact, DON'T take them out of the carton! Just put the carton on one of the inner shelves, where temps are lower. You don't want salmonella as a house guest!

•DON’T put a crayon in the dryer......

Flashback Friday: Old Sheldon Church

I mentioned the Old Sheldon Church previously this week, but today I want to use it for my Flashback Friday.  This is a great place for photos.  When I drove past with my mom and sister, I pulled over and introduced them to the ruins.  I set the auto timer on my camera and got some fun photos.

. . . And then I dug up some old photos from previous visits with which to amuse you.  Here's Tommy sitting on what I've always thought of as "the pulpit."  It's probably a tombstone.  BTW, Tommy is now 23.  And no longer sporting a bowl cut.

And here's Marj, looking extraordinarily like me when I was that age.

Joy for Beginners, Erica Bauermeister

Just listen to this:

"Daria oftened referred to her mother as the patron saint of perpetual disappointment.  Daria envisioned her, arms outspread, welcoming the hordes of the ticked-off, the judgmental, the depressed, into her all-encompassing embrace, where she would teach them essential life skills such as how to take the silver lining out of clouds, or conjure flaws out of thin air."

Or this (spoken after a character finds the perfect house with the perfect porch):

"She wondered who the architect was who had first understood that basic human need to have a place, a moment, to pause before entering, to shift from the person you were outside to the one you would become when you walked through the door.......  She hadn't gotten that, she thought, looking at the porch -- when Sean died, there had just been before the phone call and after.  No illness, no aging.  Just Sean and then no Sean.  No porch to stand on, to get ready to go inside."

Oh my stars.  Isn't that magnificent?  That's why I read Erica Bauermeister.....

Kid.... Dy-No-Mite!!

You'll never guess who I found:

Don't recognize him?

Let me try another photo:

Kid Dy-No-Mite!!!

Milk and Cookies by Tina Casaceli, a Very Tasty Tuesday Indeed

Tina Casaceli, owner of Milk and Cookies Bakery in NYC has just published 89 of her famously yummy recipes for cookies, brownies, shortbreads . . .

These aren't sissy, frilly pretty cookies, these are down home good eatin' cookies.  Casaceli has some specific instructions and precise measurements that she claims are the absolute key to the cookies.  Don't go trying to swap things out or change things up. 

Here's the recipe for a basic cookie dough.  She's very stern about this recipe.  But.... once you get this basic dough built..... she cuts you loose.  Go hog wild with what you mix in the dough to personalize it -- candy, choc. covered pretzels, peppermints, dried fruit, spices, citrus zest, coconut flakes...... she offers amazing suggestions, but you, my friend, are given liberty to put anything you want in that sucker.

Basic Oatmeal-Vanilla Cookie Dough: 

Easy Canvas Prints For Your Special Photos

The very efficient people over at Easy Canvas Prints offered me an 11x14 canvas print in exchange for my honest opinion of their product here on my blog.  They were 100% positive that I would love my print.  

They were right! Having just had a daughter get married, I knew exactly what photo to have done:  a bridal portrait in which she looks like she's running for her life with a mischievous, conciliatory grin on her face.

Of course, now I want to turn all my favorite photos into canvas prints.  The process was very simple:

• Go to EasyCanvasPrint.com
• Select your canvas size
• Upload your image
• Select border options
• Add image & color effects if desired

Turn your photo into a canvas print.....

Winner of Freschetta Pizza and Ear Buds Give Away

I have used the Random Number Generator to pick a winner from the comments left on my Freschetta Pizza Give Away and the winner is.....

 Comment #1 --

Heather!

Heather, send your mailing address to me......

I Just Want To Take You Somewhere.... the latest song by Mirakolous

My son is getting married in 4 weeks.  His latest song reflects what he's been thinking about.

Women of Faith: Imagine

Just a few more days until I head south with two great friends to soak in the wisdom, humor and truth that will be poured out lavishly at the Women of Faith Imagine conference in Tampa, FL.   My soul feels it coming.  My parched spirit begs for nourishment, can sense the refreshing, living water approaching.


Click to read:  Why am I going?

In between two days of sessions and a little book shopping and eating, I hope to participate in a big Tweet Up and meet some of my great Tampa Twitter ladies, women of faith, you might call them.

If you will be in Tampa and want to join in a Tweet Up, let me know.  Join my #WOFImagine Twitter List so we can keep in touch.

Let me leave you with this amazing line-up and Sheila's recent blogpost which starts out:

"I have realized that it is not possible to stink at prayer. It might feel that way to us at times but I believe that from God’s perspective, he gladly receives our words and he sees our hearts. Any prayer is a gift to him, for it means we are talking to him. We just have to take that first step—and begin embracing prayer as part of our daily lives, as vital to us as breathing....." read more here

Yeah.... next weekend I'm gonna be lapping at their feet.

You know it.

Daddies Get Nostalgic, Too

It's not just Mamas that Get Nostalgic when their babies grow up, although I always thought it was.

Recently, as we proudly watched our son and his BFF work hard on the SC First Responder's Memorial, Tom (the daddy) admitted to me that

while we were watching the boys like this:

What he really saw was this:

Some things will never change.

I'm proud of you guys!

Pearl Fryar Topiary Garden, Bishopville, SC

Just off SC Interstate 20, just minutes, really, from the interstate, in the Bishopville area, lies the Pearl Fryar Topiary Garden.   The address?  Now... let me see... it looks like...

Yeah, 165.  165  Broad Acres Road.  I see it in the bushes... errr. topiaries.

With the fancy name and all the fame, I expected something different.  Something.... commercial.  Maybe a gift shop, museum, parking lot.  I don't know.  I was very surprised to find a regular house in a regular neighborhood with very little indication that this is the Pearl Fryar Topiary Garden.  Until I looked beyond the fancy hedges and found a garden of artistry.

Support Breast Cancer Research and Enter to Win Pink Earphones and a Free Freschetta Pizza to #SupportPink this October

Freschetta has set a goal of donating $50,000 to the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and they need your help.

• Purchase a Freschetta pizza in a pink trimmed box
• Submit the code from the box at ProudToSupportPink.com by October 31, 2011
• They'll donate $1 per box for breast cancer research, up to $50,000. 

ProudToSupportPink.com also has a place for you to share your breast cancer journey or the journey of a friend or family member.  These stories will be displayed on the site and on Facebook to inspire all those who read them.

Freschetta is going one step further.  They are giving away 50 pink iPod shuffle players each week in October, breast cancer awareness month.  To see how you can enter to win one, visit ProudToSupportPink.  Additionally, 50 pink iPod Shuffle players will be donated each week in October to four cancer centers around America to be enjoyed by breast cancer patients during treatments.

Let's go ahead and take this one step further.....

My Giveaway:

• A Coupon for a free Freschetta pizza, 12 oz or larger
• Two pairs of Freschetta Proud to Support Pink earphones  (one pair for you and one for a friend!)

That's What Friends are For: Cupcake Review

I've been doing cupcake reviews for a few years now, ever since that warm balmy night when I was touring Savannah on a horse carriage and we passed right by a Cupcake store.  I was entranced.  A real, live Cupcake store.  How cool is that?  I almost fell off the carriage leaning over the side.  Of course I went back, re-tracing our ride against approaching darkness and tried a few cupcakes.  I never knew such fancy flavors existed.

These days, cupcake shops are all over the place, quite the rage, and I try to review most of them.  All for you, my friend.

The other day, all my dreams were fulfilled when a fancy cupcake sampling came to me.  Home delivery.

That's true friendship when a friend knows the desires of your heart....

Old Sheldon Church Ruins, South Carolina

When I'm cutting across the state, headed to Beaufort or Hilton Head, I love to stop by the Old Sheldon Church ruins.  It's not worth a special trip, there's not much there, but if you're driving by, it's well worth the stop.  It's a great place for photos -- old patched-up brick, oak trees laden with Spanish Moss, very old cemetery.  Parking is right on the roadside or in a field across the road.  There are a few picnic tables provided along this deserted highway where you won't find any fast food restaurants.

Formerly Prince William Parish, the Old Sheldon Church was built between 1745 and 1755.....

Think Pink

Look what the mailman delivered!

Freschetta has some very special surprises in store for you guys during the month of October - Breast Cancer Awareness Month....