Three Rights and a Left

Ten on Tuesday

2010-06-08T12:44:00.004-04:00

I learned about Ten on Tuesday from Lisa over at Knitting Yarns, and I think it's such a fun way to learn more about everyone in the blogging world! I thought this set of questions was particularly fun!

1. What was your high school superlative (if you didn’t have one- what would it have been)? Hmmm. We actually didn't have superlatives, but I was one of three nominees for Most Talented. There was a tie, and I wasn't one of the winners - OUCH! It turned out to be pretty funny as one of my friends made me a sash that said "Miss-ed Talent."

2. What sports did you play in high school? I played indoor ball, a form of fast pitch softball played in New Orleans, every summer. I wasn't athletic enough to play sports at the high school level which turns out to be a good thing because I'm highly competitive and a really terrible sport!

3. What was the best part about your wedding (if you’re not married yet, what are you looking forward to)? Oh gosh, I don't know how to narrow that night down to one thing! It was all so much more than I could have dreamed of! Today, one part that sticks out in my mind was leaving the reception escorted by the New Orleans motorcylce police. I had seen a million New Orleans brides being escorted to their wedding reception, but on that day it was me! I felt so lucky and special!

4. It’s your last meal– what Appetizer, Soup, Salad, Entree and Dessert would you choose? The crabmeat cheesecake from Palace Cafe, the Gumbo Yaya from Mr. B's, I'd hold out on salad for two desserts, my dad's veal picatta with fettucini alfredo, a Mille-feuille from Le Relais Plaza as talked about HERE, and my sister's strawberry shortcakes!

5. What song is your guilty pleasure? Candy by Mandy Moore. It was a really terrible song, but in college my friend Charli and I spent an entire evening driving around New Orleans with the top of her convertible down signing this song from the top of our lungs. It was one of my favorite college nights, and on the rare occassion that I hear that song, I think of how much fun we had!

6. What is your favorite professional sports team, and why do you like them? Really? Without a doubt, your 2009 World Champion New Orleans Saints! I have never NOT loved the Saints. Even when we had two quarterbacks named Billy Joe and neither could complete a pass. Just thinking of this year's magical season will make me tear up!

7. What is your favorite reality show and why do you like it? Project Runway for sure! I love seeing how different people are inspired in so many different ways by the same basic idea.

8. How would you classify your home decorating style (modern, classic, french country)? I love very streamlined and contemporary interiors. If I could move into Design Within Reach, I would.

9. Pizza- deep dish or thin crust? White sauce or red sauce? What toppings? I LOVE pizza! The best pizza in the world is in NYC! I once had a slice that knocked my socks off. It was a wide piece of cheese pizza that was so thin the cheese was melting through the bottom. It was a knife and fork required kind of slice! Just the best!

10. Favorite weekend getaway within a two hour driving radius? Hmmm, there's too many to choose one. Ours usually include a beach, a great restaurant, and cute boutiques!

XOXO,
Lola

Election Time!

2010-06-02T22:22:00.002-04:00

The horse says it all...who can't support this guy?

Wanna Get Away?

2010-05-12T19:53:00.017-04:00

Do you ever feel like packing your bags and getting out of town? I know I do. I don't know if it's the post-tax season letdown or the warmer sunny days but there's something about this time of year that has me ready for a vacation!

Photo Credit

Doc and I are headed to Paris in less than two weeks (you can read all about our Paris plans HERE!!), and I cannot wait. I'm more of a big city, lots to see and do, great food, and vibrant nightlife vacation kind of girl. But when you travel like me, sometimes you need a vacation from your vacation!

Photo Credit

Which begs the question, if you were able to pack your bags and go on a dream relaxation vacation, where would you go?

Enter my version of paradise - the Las Ventanas Resort in Los Cabos, Mexico

I'd spend my day lounging here on the Las Ventanas' infinity pool

Or maybe if I wanted a change of scenery I'd lounge here by our villa's private lounge pool

And if I felt like a facial or a message, I'd head here to the spa

And after such a hard day, I'd head here for an afternoon nap

And to celebrate the end to this dream vacation, Doc and I would have a candlelit picnic

So that's where I'd go, how about you??

XoXo,

LOLA

For real??

2010-04-30T12:32:00.002-04:00

Y'all, this thing is for real--it's an actual product that somebody came up with and people can seriously purchase. You must watch this!!!! :)

Love, Muffie

Currently Loving...

2010-03-17T22:41:00.003-04:00

Hi, it's Trixie!

Remember me?

No?

I know, I know...I haven't been here in quite a while. So, I thought I'd stop in to tell you about 2 quick things that I am currently loving...you know, so you don't totally forget me...

Anywho...

1. Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion:

I was complaining to Lola and Muffie the other day about the state of my eyelids. Every day I put on my eyeshadow and eyeliner, and everyday I end up with eyeliner making a sort-of circle on my eyelid. It just does not stay put. I have tried several things to keep the darn eyeliner in place to no avail. Lola suggested that I try eye primer, and she told me that MAC had a good version.

I set out to get the MAC primer, but before I did, I was on Sephora and found the Urban Decay one. Since I also like their eyeshadows (below) and the Eyeshadow Primer Potion got great reviews, I decided to give theirs a try.

I love it!

It makes a huge difference. I will still sometimes get a faint line from the eyeliner on my eyelid, but it is much more bearable than before. I highly recommend this product (and, no, no one paid me to say that...)!

2. Pandora

Maybe I am the last person on earth to learn about this, but I love Pandora! I don't have iTunes on my work computer, so when my sister isn't there to play her iTunes (or when I get tired of listening to her music selection...) I would get bored of listening to silence all day. I read about Pandora on another blog recently and decided to see what it is all about.

And it is great!

You just put in an artist that you really like -- for instance, my boyfriend, Michael Buble -- and it creates a station for you of that artist's music and other similar musicians. So, on my MB channel, not only do I get MB, but I also get Nora Jones, Frank Sinatra, Harry Connick Jr, and John Mayer. And, if they ever play something I don't like, I can give the song or artist a thumbs down (like, for instance, John Mayer...ugh, that guy...), and they won't play it anymore.

I have also created a station around Taylor Swift and another around The David Crowder Band. All three stations are so, so good.

It is Trixie favorites all the time -- I can't get enough!

Okay, peace out...hopefully I won't stay gone so long this time!

It goes by in a blink

2010-03-15T23:19:00.004-04:00

I realize this post may seem a little ridiculous coming from a thirty-something, but life truly goes by in a blink. This past weekend I took the duck to a daffodil farm with Trixie and her kids. We had a picnic and I took an obnoxious amount of pictures, but when I was looking back through them tonight I found this one:

I'm 99.9% sure that this will end up on her wedding slide show one day and it just struck me that these moments are fast. To me this moment was perfect. I want to catch every perfect one of them but like a crisp breeze in Spring it is simply here one minute and gone the next. Do you ever feel this way?

Sentimental Honeybun signing off...

A picture worth a thousand words

2010-03-07T00:57:00.004-05:00

Here is "us" New Joisey style

We threw a Jersey Shore party for Muffie's birthday and it was an evening to remember: Pizza Hut lasagna, Jersey Mikes subs, Dairy Queen ice cream cake, wild hair, tons of crazy accessories and great friends...what more could a girl ask for on a Friday night? I hope other rights/left will weigh in with more details because it is 1 a.m. and this lady is tired. I just couldn't resist posting this pic immediately.

Happy birthday, Muffie! We love you. -HB

Oh, paper towels, you are a hard habit to break!

2010-03-04T20:35:00.003-05:00

I have a confession. Actually, an addiction. To paper towels. I'm addicted to paper towels....I love them, I can't live without them, I get seriously stressed out when we are running low or heaven forbid...run out.

The thing is, I am a pretty "green" person. I recycle like it's nobody's business---I have even been known to take bottles and cans home from a party if I know the hosts don't recycle and always pick up recyclable trash when I'm out on walks. I use only non-toxic, dye and fragrance-free cleaners on our laundry, children, and around our home. I clean mostly with vinegar and water. I'm a stickler for turning lights off in rooms that aren't occupied. I buy organic whenever possible. I've made the transition to mostly high efficiency light bulbs. Etc, etc, etc....

I've considered switching to cloth towels, but I just cannot take the plunge! I use paper towels for everything---wiping down counters, tables, messy faces and hands, noses, floors, walls, windows. I know I could do all of those things with a cloth towel, but I love the fact that I can clean up a mess, throw it in the trash and never have to deal with it again. I hate, hate, hate doing laundry--and with five members of my family our laundry is never ending--so I know that switching to cloth towels would only increase that never-ending laundry.

I'm definitely interested in making the switch, as I love our Earth and want to do everything I can to preserve it....but I sure do love my paper towels, too. :) Have any of you stopped using paper towels? How did you do it? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Love, Muffie :)

I heart it

2010-03-03T21:12:00.011-05:00

One of my favorite bloggers, Julie from Brown Eyed Belle, always posts the most lovely pictures on her blog. She recently told me she finds them at www.weheartit.com. And I heart that! So I thought I'd share some things I heart.

I heart New Orleans, especially in the snow.

I heart imagining that I will one day own a bakery that little girls peak into.

I heart planning for our trip to Paris.

I heart cup cakes!!!!!

I heart anything with a nautical influence. It must be

the Delta Gamma in me!

I heart bows. Especially on pumps, but I'd put a bow on everything if I could.

I heart polka dots. They just make me smile!

What do you heart??

Lola

A little Tuesday dress

2010-03-02T00:10:00.002-05:00

I almost forgot! I found the perfect Tuesday dress for Duck at momiBoutique:

A dress for Tuesday

2010-03-01T23:24:00.008-05:00

HoneyBun here. Hello again! As a working mother I am never prepared for Tuesday. Everything basically falls apart so the last thing I want to think about is looking presentable. Typically I wear a "Tuesday dress."

Tuesday dresses must have all of these qualities:
1) No ironing. That's a layup. What we are looking for here is a silk jersey type fabric. Or, lets face it, poly/spandex will also do the trick. A dress that you could literally pull out of your closet, or off your chair, or out of your suitcase and wear.

2) Cute. When life is spinning wildly you at least want to look adorable, right?

3) Washable. If only the dry cleaner could come to my house! This would be where poly/spandex comes back into play.

Here are a few of my favorites:
This is Donna Karan: A little dressy but great if you had an evening function after work.

Diane von Furstenberg, we KNOW you can do a wrap dress...but how do you always do it so irritatingly well? I'm obsessed with this one.

Emilio...even at 60% off you are still too expensive for my closet. However, if I lose 20 pounds and win the lottery, I will be knocking on your door.

So, at the end of the day, or every Tuesday, you'll find me in a good old Target dress like this one above!

I Pray For You

2010-02-26T15:14:00.001-05:00

This is a new favorite song of mine--so inspiring! Hee hee!! :)

Love, Muffie :)

Love it

2010-02-26T14:54:00.003-05:00

The picture doesn't do it justice, but this John Wind charm bracelet is my current obsession. Honey Bun has one and I love, love, love it. I'm not a huge fan of a lot of his other jewelry, but this bracelet is too cute not to love. What's on your wish list right now?

Love, Muffie :)

Lazy girl pancakes

2010-02-24T09:27:00.005-05:00

Has anybody else heard of this? A friend in my bible study was talking about Batter Blaster pancake mix and I happened to see it in Publix the other day and ended up buying a can. Let me tell you, if you like pancakes but don't like the hassle of making the batter, cleaning the bowls, etc, then this is for you! This morning I was craving pancakes and it literally took me THREE MINUTES to make two pancakes! You just heat up a pan and squirt the batter into the pan. So easy and cool! The pancakes really are good, and are organic, which makes them even better! I do think that this world keeps coming up with ideas that make us lazier and lazier, but this is one invention I'm happy about! :)

Love, Muffie

Help Wanted

2010-02-22T22:10:00.004-05:00

Sorry for the long absence. It has been one crazy winter. First, the Saints won the Superbowl!!!!!!!!!!!! We travelled to the playoff games, and I can honestly say it was the most amazing experience to be in the Superdome to see the kick that sent us to the big game sail through the uprights! Then we headed home for Mardi Gras. The parade I rode in was delayed by one night due to weather, but it was an amazing success. Somewhere in between all of the madness, I managed to squeeze in our book club book, The Help by Kathryn Stockett.

Has anyone else read The Help? It is truly one of the most wonderful books I have ever read. I could not believe that Ms. Stockett was a first time writer. She developed characters so perfectly rich, inspiring, flawed, and lovable that I wanted them to be real. I find myself opening the book and re-reading its passages just to hear the voices of these characters again in my head. There were the women whose courage and spirit you admired and respected, and there were the women so unfortunately shaped by their surroundings in the 1960s South that you wanted to close the book and hide in shame. In the end Stockett makes you question the lines that existed in the 1960s, and she makes you question whether or not they are still present.

I have not looked forward to book club this much in a long time. I am wondering if anyone out there who has read the book has any suggestions for discussion points we could use tomorrow. I would love to hear them. Also, do any of you have a favorite book club suggestion that you think we should consider for our next selection?

Lola

Am I the only one...

2010-02-19T17:05:00.004-05:00

who really wants a pair of these?? I am loving the Winter Olympics, and I so wish we lived in a climate where mittens were an accessory that could be worn more than a few times a year. I would totally buy the official Olympic mittens if I lived anywhere else! :)

Love, Muffie

Happy Birthday, HB!

2010-02-09T22:27:00.002-05:00

Last Friday, the 3 Rs headed to Raleigh to meet up with a bunch of Honeybun's girlfriends to celebrate her 30th birthday! We had a fabulous girls' weekend of eating lots of yummy food, drinking lots of wine, visiting the spa, and chatting the night away. It was great for Muffie and me to get to meet all of HB's closest girlfriends from all of the phases of her life. They were all so sweet and fun, and we had a blast.

Lola couldn't make it for the girls' weekend, and she was definitely missed!

Lola, maybe you can give us an excuse for another girls' weekend soon!?!?!

Trix

Shout out to our latest follower

2010-01-27T22:59:00.004-05:00

I love that we have 26 friends on this blog. I'm pretty sure in real life you would not follow me around but hey, online, I'll take it!

Today I was looking at our list of friends and I found one of our friends has an amazing jewelry/handbag line. This is the piece I like the best from shopbop.com, the Bronson Hammered Necklace:
I also thought our favorite Saints fan might need this for the game:
Thanks, Gorjana for following us!

HoneyBun

I want, I want, I want!!

2010-01-25T14:33:00.004-05:00

Since somebody thinks this is the theme of our blog, I thought I'd use it as a topic for a post. There are lots of things I want right now---I'm human, and who doesn't want things? Here's a list of my top 5 "wants":

1. To lose the 10 pounds I put on after I lost my pregnancy weight and then some. This is purely my fault--I lost the pregnancy weight plus a few extra pounds fairly quickly after having my sweet boy six months ago, but then I decided I could continue to eat whatever I wanted like I did when I was pregnant....um, bad idea. Slowly but surely, the pounds crept back and here I am not fitting properly into my clothes and wanting to live in my stretchy black exercise pants. I joined My Food Diary and have lost 3 pounds so far....now I just want to keep it up so I can feel comfy in my body again!

2. To sleep all night in my own bed with only my husband. This doesn't sound like much to want, but when you have a 4 year old, a 2 year old, and a 6 month old, one of whom just recently started sleeping through the night and two of whom would rather get up in the middle of the night and either scream at the top of the stairs for their mommy or sneak into bed with their parents than sleep all night, it's a big deal. 2010 has yet to give us an entire night where both my hubby and I get to sleep in the same bed together for an entire night. I really, really, really want this to happen.

3. For two of my best friends not to move away. It's going to happen whether I want it to or not, but I'm not happy about it. :(

4. This dress from Lilly Pulitzer for my 2 year old. I want it so badly I can't even stand it, but I do not want to spend that much money on it, so I'm just going to keep drooling over it until it goes on sale or I figure out a way to come up with the money by selling old clothes on Ebay! :)

5. Finally, I want this amazing steam mop. I even went so far as to put it in my cart at Target and drive it around the store having an internal debate with myself about why I should/shouldn't buy it, but I ended up putting it back. We have a tile floor in our kitchen that gets so dirty every day, and I spend more time on my hands and knees scrubbing crap off the floor than I do anything else in that kitchen, and I know this would make my life SO much easier. However, I got the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser mop only a few months ago and thought the same thing about it. It is wonderful and it works great, I just think this steam mop would be even better. I'm sure something even better will come out in a few months....a self-cleaning kitchen floor would be nice! In the meantime, I want this mop. I really, really want it. Maybe an idea for my birthday gift, girlies? :)

Love,

Muffie :)

Couldn't put it down!

2010-01-25T14:31:00.001-05:00

If you are looking for some new reading material, I highly recommend Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah. I started reading it Saturday, and 500+ pages and less than 48 hours later I'm finished and wishing it wasn't over. It's a story that follows two best friends through more than three decades of their lives, and is definitely one of the best books I've read in awhile. Now go read it and let me know what you think! :)

Love, Muffie

Letter to God

2010-01-18T11:40:00.004-05:00

I don't usually read forwards and I especially don't forward forwards, but I thought this story was just the sweetest and most wonderful thing I had read in a long time. I hope you find that it gets your week off on the right foot...

Here it begins...

Our 14 year old dog, Abbey, died last month. The day after she died, my 4 year old daughter Meredith was crying and talking about how much she missed Abbey.. She asked if we could write a letter to God so that when Abbey got to heaven, God would recognize her. I told her that I thought we could so she dictated these words:

Dear God,
Will you please take care of my dog? She died yesterday and is with you in heaven. I miss her very much. I am happy that you let me have her as my dog even though she got sick.
I hope you will play with her.. She likes to play with balls and to swim. I am sending a picture of her so when you see her You will know that she is my dog. I really miss her.
Love, Meredith

We put the letter in an envelope with a picture of Abbey and Meredith and addressed it to God/Heaven. We put our return address on it.. Then Meredith pasted several stamps on the front of the envelope because she said it would take lots of stamps to get the letter all the way to heaven. That afternoon she dropped it into the letter box at the post office. A few days later, she asked if God had gotten the letter yet. I told her that I thought He had.

Yesterday, there was a package wrapped in gold paper on our front porch addressed, 'To Meredith' in an unfamiliar hand. Meredith opened it. Inside was a book by Mr. Rogers called, 'When a Pet Dies..' Taped to the inside front cover was the letter we had written to God in its opened envelope. On the opposite page was the picture of Abbey &Meredith and this note:

Dear Meredith,
Abbey arrived safely in heaven.
Having the picture was a big help. I recognized Abbey right away.
Abbey isn't sick anymore. Her spirit is here with me just like it stays in your heart. Abbey loved being your dog. Since we don't need our bodies in heaven, I don't have any pockets to keep your picture in, so I am sending it back to you in this little book for you to keep and have something to remember Abbey by..
Thank you for the beautiful letter and thank your mother for helping you write it and sending it to me. What a wonderful mother you have. I picked her especially for you.
I send my blessings every day and remember that I love you very much.
By the way, I'm easy to find, I am wherever there is love.

Love,
God

Is that not the sweetest and most thoughtful thing? What an amazing act of kindness! It inspires me to see these kinds of opportunities in my life.

LOLA

The race(s)

2010-01-15T22:39:00.003-05:00

I'm kayaking tomorrow. Six miles. And before my kayaking excursion I'm running in a "fun run." How are "fun" and "run" ever in the same sentence? I used to know the answer to that question but now I am perplexed. Trixie is dieting, Lola has a personal trainer, Muffie was blessed with great genes and I know I should be doing something too...so biathalons are my choice. I got the short end of this stick I'm afraid.

Wish me luck!

HoneyBun

Happy Anniversary to Me!

2010-01-12T22:14:00.003-05:00

I've posted it on every other blog I have and Facebook, so why not here, too, right?!?!

Today The Farmer and I are celebrating 8 years of marriage! Well, actually, he is sleeping and I am blogging so we aren't doing much celebrating, but today is our anniversary. We are going to celebrate this weekend with a lovely dinner date. The Farmer did bring me home some beautiful flowers tonight, though.

Here are some pictures from our day (they are scanned, so they aren't of the highest quality...my apologies for not getting married when everything was digital...):

Oh to be young, cute, and skinny again...

Trixie

When it's cold, I like...

2010-01-10T19:10:00.013-05:00

To cuddle up on the couch with a cozy blanket. Doesn't this cable knit throw from Pottery Barn look perfect for a cold day?

To drink hot cocoa out of a big mug. May I suggest the best hot cocoa I have ever tasted from Mariebelle in NYC. The choices of cocoas include chocolate and bananas, spicy chocolate, and milk chocolate, and each is so rich that a regular size cocoa is about the size of a shot glass.

To watch NFL playoff football. We are currently watching the Arizona Cardinals battle it out with the Green Bay Packers. We (the Saints) will play the winner of this game next Saturday at 3:30 in the Superdome. I will be in that number and cannot wait until the game. I hope it warms up so that I don't freeze my bottom off tailgating.

To cook a warm and hearty meal. Tonight we're having chicken curry which I am adapting from a cooking light recipe for turkey curry. I thought the nice spicy curry would warm us up tonight. Mmmm...

To daydream about a beach vacation (we're hoping to be taki

ng one in a few weeks to Miami to see the Saints play in the Superbowl). Fingers crossed!!!!

LOLA

Style Inquiry: Duck boots

2010-01-07T23:33:00.007-05:00

Are duck boots cool? My cousin who is in college wanted some for Christmas and she is adorable. I started thinking to myself that unlike skinny jeans I may be able to pull off this trend.

Duck boots really aren't a trend. They are more of a classic as they have been around forever. However, I don't have a pair so I started doing some research.

In my queries I found mostly ugly ducklings.

But then I found that Tory BURCH has a pair of duck boots out right now. Amazing!

The pair I like the best is this pair by Sperry's.

What do you think? Tory, Sperry, or none?

Honey Bun

Bring it 2010

2010-01-07T22:48:00.003-05:00

This is Honey Bun. Can I start out by saying that I am THRILLED it is 2010 for so many reasons.

1) I'm turning 30! Age is just a number...an AWESOME number. For those of you who don't know me...my voice sounds like I am an eight year old. I convinced myself at 25 (my last benchmark age) that 30 is when my voice would change for good. 30 is when people start taking you seriously. 30 is when you have enough life experience to have an opinion or be an expert on something. Sure, it comes with a few challenges (aka wrinkles and pounds), but overall it is arguably the perfect age.

2) 2010: 20+10=30. Get it?

3) This year I have not one but TWO trips planned. One international (the Holy Land) and a lazy domestic beach vaca.

4) 2008 was terrible. 2009 was a mixture of great things and terrible things. Great things of 2009 are Lily and my job. Terrible things of 2009 are my grandmother dying and being 29. Oh age 29, you carry all the responsibilities of a "real" adult but none of the respect.

5) Alabama is winning the national championship game. My grandfather is very sick with Leukemia. I've never seen anyone as passionate about a sports team as my grandfather is about the Crimson Tide. Lola might argue that she is the most passionate fan...I will grant Lola the most competitive and well versed sports (specifically SAINTS) fan in the nation but my grandfather has been a fan for many more years...a passion that can only come with time. This is clearly an early call with 1 minute left in the third quarter and a Texas TD, but Alabama is well positioned for the win.

6) Surprises. I typically hate surprises but there is something so exciting about the wonder of a new year. What will happen? What does the future hold? I hope for all great things for you and your families.

Global Warming

2010-01-07T22:00:00.002-05:00

I don't know about y'all, but I am really enjoying this global warming.

I mean, here we are on January 7th, and there are record high temperatures. I mean, I have spent a lot of my time lately laying out and getting a suntan! It is just beautiful and so warm!

Oh, wait...that's not quite right...

No, instead there are record low temperatures everywhere. I saw a weather map this morning, and it was showing temperatures in the low 50s in Miami. The poor farmers in Florida have ice on their strawberries, oranges, and tomatoes. We are supposed to have that dreaded "wintry mix" of rain, sleet, and snow tonight and into the morning. Our high tomorrow is 40 degrees.

40 degrees!

My poor children aren't going to know what hit them!

I know that there are plenty of places where that is just another winter day, but not here in the South. I, for one, hate cold weather. In fact, as soon as Christmas is over I am ready for the temperatures to spring back up to at least 70. I keep thinking that I would love to be in the Keys to escape this mess, but even that isn't far enough south!

I don't know about you, but I sure could use some global warming right about now...

Trixie

Tex Mex burgers--YUM!!

2010-01-05T20:26:00.003-05:00

I read about these in Real Simple and adapted the recipe a bit more to my liking. Made them tonight and they were fabulous (and super-easy to make)!

Tex Mex Hamburgers

Ingredients:

ground beef

sour cream

bread crumbs

sliced avocado

salsa

shredded Monterrey Jack or 4 cheese Mexican blend (I used the 4 cheese Mexican)

Mix ground beef, some sour cream, and some bread crumbs together and form patties. I don't like to use measurements when I cook, so just use enough that your hamburgers don't crumble when you grill them. Grill burgers (I grilled them inside on the stove but I also like to use the grill outside). Broil/grill buns to your liking. Put hamburger on bottom bun and immediately top with cheese so it melts. Top with two or three spoonfuls of salsa, and then top with sliced avocado. Put top bun on, take a huge bite and enjoy! Delish!!!

Love, Muffie :)

It's the most wonderful time of the year

2010-01-03T21:51:00.007-05:00

No, silly, not Christmas - Mardi Gras! For most people, the end of December brings a sadness that comes with the close of another holiday season. But for those of us from New Orleans, the grandest season of them all is set to begin this Wednesday, January 6th on the Feast of the Epiphany. It is the official start to the 2010 carnival season, and it means that the parade I ride in is only five weeks away!!! This will be my fifth ride in the Krewe of Muses, and it will be the tenth anniversary of our amazing Krewe of more than 1,500 dedicated women, with more than 750 of them riding in this year's parade. The theme of our parade, which changes annually, will remain a secret until the day of our ride. It is kept closely guarded by all of us in the krewe because mystery is a part of what makes Mardi Gras so special. Each float will bare a politically and socially relevant and satirical title that will relate to the theme of the parade, and each rider on the float will wear a headdress that represents her float's title. The headdress (which is designed and put together by the members of each float) is of utmost importance because the winner of the headdress contest gets to ride in the "Title Float" (the first float of the parade) in the next year's parade - a HUGE honor. Fingers crossed it will be the women of Float 18 taking home this prize!! We have come so close in the past, and I just have a feeling this is OUR YEAR! I am so excited that the season is almost here, that I just had to share this little look into the life of a Muse. Here's some pictures from the parade last year...

Here is a picture of our headdress from last year. You can't see it here, but the whole thing lit up! It was beautiful.

This is my riding buddy, Sarah, and me at our float's luncheon at Galatoire's Restaurant on Bourbon St. Lunch at Galatoire's is a true Mardi Gras tradition.

This is Sarah and me at our parade's pre-party right before we heard the sirens of the motorcycle unit of NOPD announcing that it was time to board the floats and head down Tchoupitoulas St. for our big ride!

This is a picture of Float 13 and all of the wonderful women I ride with.

LOLA

Checking In

2009-12-30T15:59:00.002-05:00

I hope y'all all had a wonderful Christmas and are enjoying your time between Christmas and the New Year. I am back at work, but I had a lot of great time off with my husband and kids. Aside from HB, I have hardly seen the other Three Rights and a Left Girls over the holiday, so I am looking forward to catching up with them sometime soon.

Our Christmas was great! One highlight -- my girls got guitars from Santa. Neither one knows how to play, but that doesn't stop them from strumming them constantly while singing whatever Taylor Swift song comes to mind at the moment. It is really cute but really loud and not necessarily pleasant-sounding.

I am hoping that they will soon learn to actually play something that sounds nice. And then maybe they will turn into little Taylor Swifts and become rich and famous and take good care of me.

Or something like that.

And The Farmer isn't any better. He seems to think that he is some great guitar hero, but he also knows not a lick of guitar. He just holds it and strums really fast like he is Charlie Daniels on the fiddle.

It isn't quite as cute as when the girls do it.

I hope y'all are having a much quieter time than I am! How were your Christmases?

Trixie

Etsy is my new obsession!

2009-12-23T12:26:00.001-05:00

Well hello friends!

I hope the start to your Christmas week has been going well. Mine has been lovely. We drove home to New Orleans and arrived on Saturday, and we have been enjoying spending time in the city with my family and our friends. Not being at work has given me some time to think about my Etsy post! I have to admit, that I am an Etsy newbie, so please forgive me for not having more Etsy knowledge than the other girls.

I too absolutely LOVE LiliBugBoutique. This shop has the cutest bows I have ever seen. What will I do if we don't have a little girl!?!?!?! I could look through the selection of bows at this shop for hours! They are just too cute for words. So here's a picture of one of my favorites!

I found this cute little seller, Ninu, who makes handbags and other apparel. I really love the Piccola Ninfea Pouch in Toasted Brown. I think this bag would add such a cute little something special to any outfit, and the craftsmanship is amazing!!

One of my favorite shops has to be Single Stone Studios. They sell vinyl wall graphics in absolutely AMAZING patterns and colors. I love the sleek, contemporary styling of their work. We will likely be renting a condo when we move home, and I am almost certain that the landlord will not want us painting the walls there. They are currently fourteen feet of white space, and I think these graphics would be the perfect way to add life, color, and character into the space. This one featured with the cherry blossoms and birds is my favorite!

Finally, the shop I am most excited about introducing to you is Lauren Alsop Custom Papers. Lauren is a good friend of my sister's who graciously donated her time and amazing talent to creating a logo for a new business venture my sister is taking on (more about that soon. I can't wait to tell you about it!!!). Lauren has recently opened her shop which features beautifully designed custom papers. From wedding invitations, save the dates, baby announcements, and personal stationery, she can create absolutely anything. Having spent one evening with Lauren working on Sissy's logo, I was so incredibly impressed with the knowledge, creativity, and care she puts into her work. While I loved everything in her shop, I thought these thank you notes were especially fabulous!! And what I really can't wait to do is show you the stationery, logos, business cards, and menus she has created for Sissy. You have never seen anything quite so cute, I promise!!!

I still do find Etsy a little overwhelming! We'd love to hear about your favorite must stop shops!! Please share...

LOLA

MIA

2009-12-22T23:03:00.005-05:00

some Christmas cuties (don't know why Sassy

had to pull out the crazy eyes...)

Hello! It's Trixie...

I am sorry to say that I don't have an Etsy post in store for you yet. I am just getting into all of the wonderfulness that is Etsy, so I will have a post for you later...

I just wanted to drop in for a minute to wish y'all a very Merry Christmas. I hope you are all getting to sit back and enjoy this wonderful season a little more than I am. I am running around like a crazy person trying to get all sorts of last minute things done, going from one child's performance/celebration to another, and redecorating my tree every 10 minutes because Bubba likes to undecorate the tree. And there has been plenty of eating and celebrating in between.

I have enough done, though, that I get to spend most of tomorrow baking, watching movies, and snuggling with my chillens. And that will be the best day, if you ask me!

I am going to go ahead and guess that we will pretty much be MIA around here for the next several days -- as I am sure y'all will be, too. So, if I don't check back in before, have a wonderful Christmas!

I heart Etsy!

2009-12-20T21:44:00.004-05:00

I'm so glad that Angela requested a post about Etsy, because Etsy is one of my specialties---shopping specialties, that is! I love Etsy so much, and can honestly say that almost everything I buy online is from either Etsy or Ebay. I was showing a friend my baby's nursery today and didn't realize how much had come from Etsy or Ebay until I started looking around---the bedding, three pictures, the fabric for the pillows, the changing pad cover, the wall letters, and even the sound machine all came from Etsy or Ebay. I love finding a good bargain, and love when I can buy handmade even more.

Here are some of my favorite Etsy sellers---all are kid/baby related, but since I'm a full time mama that's pretty much what my world revolves around!

1. The Polka Dot Tot Spot has the cutest stuff, but the cloth play blocks and jingle balls are my favorites. They make great baby gifts and the prices can't be beat! I like the fact that you can throw these into the washing machine and you know they aren't going to have any crazy chemicals/lead/toxic paint that so many of us worry about being in our children's toys.
2. The Sassy Stork makes the best car seat covers. When I ordered mine, she was making custom covers for only $50---I just had to send her two yards of coordinating fabric and she created the most adorable car seat cover for my little one (not the one pictured below, but it's just as cute). I don't see that she's doing custom orders right now, but you it couldn't hurt to ask if you're interested!
3. Bits for Baby is one of my all-time favorite Etsy sellers. I've bought pretty much every onesie that she has made for baby boys, and at only $8 each, they're a steal! She's on hiatus until after the holidays but this is one shop you must bookmark and check back after the new year. You won't be disappointed!
4. I had Little Cupcakes make the green outfit on the left for my 2 year old and it's one of my favorite outfits she has ever worn. Little Cupcakes also has a website that has a more extensive list of products. LOVE this!
5. My daughter was born with more hair than a lot of toddlers have, so she's been wearing hair bows since she was just a couple of weeks old. Through the years I've bought many a bow, but LiliBug Boutique might just have the cutest and biggest array of bows I've ever seen. This pumpkin bow is in our collection, along with many other LiliBug bows.

6. Itzhero is also on break until January 8th, but it's one of my favorite shops for toddler gifts. Every child loves a super hero cape, and these can be customized with the child's name and any assortment of colors you'd like. I've given this as a gift a few times and it's always a hit.

That's all for now, but I'll be back soon!

Love, Muffie :)

Etsy Weekly

2009-12-19T15:18:00.007-05:00

HoneyBun here. One of our readers asked us to feature some of our favorite Etsy finds on our blog. I'll start. I'm pretty sure I'm the only one around this weekend so I have some extra time on my hands.

1) Tiny Victorian Key Necklace: I love tiny silver necklaces and this one is even BETTER because it has a few little sparkles.
2) Quirky Animal Prints: I have always loved these prints by Sharon Montrose. She takes animals and puts them in a minimalist setting. They are odd and interesting. A modern twist on the animal print idea.

3) This Laura Gunn hoodie: This is a splurge but I am obsessed with all Laura Gunn fabrics...especially when used on this doll baby.

4) Last but not least, do you have something that you plan to use as an heirloom? CommonThreadCottage hand embroidered Duck's Christening gown. This seller was a breeze to work with and we'll definitely use her again.

Wedded Bliss

2009-12-17T08:32:00.003-05:00

Today Doc and I are celebrating our fifth wedding anniversary. I can hardly believe it has been that long! Seriously where does the time go?

Marriage is an amazing thing when you think about it, isn't it? Two people choose to walk the journey of their lives together not knowing where it might take them but knowing that together it will be better than it could ever be alone. I am thankful everyday that Doc chose me as the person he wanted to walk through life with. From the very day I met him, he has made me strive to be the best version of myself. Admittedly, I often fall short of this goal, but he never stops seeing me for my best self which make me want to continue to be better.

I have always been in love with weddings. When I was in 8th grade, I asked for a subscription to Bride's magazine for Christmas because I wanted to be a dress designer. I would spend hours reading the magazine and tracing all of the dresses in it. At the time, my fascination with weddings had less to do with marriage itself than it did with dresses, flowers, and dancing. And even as we were planning my wedding it was difficult to put this aspect of the wedding on hold to focus on the most important part of the celebration - the joining of two lives.

The moment of our wedding I will never forget was when they opened the door to the church. It was as though my whole life was sitting there in that room. My parents, my sister, my childhood friends, my college roommates, and the friends I had just made. It was like a map of my entire life up to this point with people marking all of my life experiences. They are the people who bandaged my first scraped knee, held my hand on the first day of school, giggled with me at my first sleepover, cried with me over my first heartbreak, helped me get ready for my first date with Doc. They are the people who have helped weave the fabric of who I am. As I walked in, pew by pew, I realized that they represented every stage of my past. And when I got to the alter and I really saw Doc for the first time, it was like seeing my future. Standing there holding his hand I saw all of the memories ahead us. And the people of my past were bearing witness to our future. That evening at 7:30 pm, if only just for a moment, all was right in the world.

LOLA

Desperately seeking...

2009-12-15T22:57:00.002-05:00

Hello again! This is HoneyBun. I may have mentioned in another post that I would really like the Barbour International Jacket for Christmas. Well there is a problem: there aren't ANY available in my size IN THIS COUNTRY! Sad. I mean, it is technically a biker jacket, and I can't imagine there are that many bikers (or in my case, biker wannabes) out there in desperate search of this jacket this season. I have underestimated the popularity of this find.

If you have friends in English places...let me know!

Let me elaborate...

2009-12-14T22:56:00.002-05:00

Tonight one of the rights received a threatening call from a reader saying all we write about are things like boots, Paris, etc. "Want want want" I believe was the quote. While that wasn't an entirely wrong synopsis, let's be honest, that's sketchy and a bold move for a blog with a mere 28 posts!

We don't live in New York City...in fact, the nearest mall is actually in another state. We live normal, busy lives like most women in their twenty and thirty somethings (and beyond). If we want to take a few minutes every few nights and write about something mindless, spoiled, ridiculous, silly or high maintenance with some of our friends, will you please placate us? This blog is all in good fun. We don't mean to hurt feelings or make anyone feel bad. Hey, and if there is an issue that you'd like for us to tackle, we'll give it our best!

Friendly reminder

2009-12-14T22:11:00.002-05:00

Just a friendly reminder that this is a blog of random thoughts by us. If you don't like what we have to say, please don't read it. There are millions of other things out there on the internet that you can find to read if anything we say offends you. Okay? Thanks!

Inspiration!

2009-12-13T21:54:00.002-05:00

Hello to our fifteen readers (well, okay...ten if you don't include us and my husband). This is HoneyBun. You may have noticed that I haven't posted since November. Truth be told, there is nothing that seemed compelling enough to write about until tonight. Have you seen the movie Julie & Julia? I know, cliche since it is a movie ABOUT blogging, and becoming famous via blogging (which who doesn't want to become famous if you have a blog, right?), but this movie is inspirational. If you haven't seen it, I won't give it away, but it is about someone who is basically unnoticed, inspired, and then finds the person she is supposed to be.

Some days, most days, it feels like I am barely staying afloat. Not specifically financially, though I might be hurting a little more in that department after my shopping trip with Trixie on Saturday. In general I am two parts complete disaster and one part normal functioning human being. For example, on any given day one of the following completed by the time I walk out the door: 1) my hair 2) an outfit on vs. something thrown together 3) makeup on face.

All this to say that my hope is that we all find that "moment." The moment where we are called to do something great and out of the ordinary and tough but wonderful at the same time. I'm not sure what mine is yet, but I spend a lot of time thinking about it. Actually, I may be closer than I let on because there is an idea in my head that one in every three women cannot live without but I need someone to help me actually MAKE my idea. I believe that is called a prototype so if you know of anyone who does that sort of thing please let me know!

Thank you, ten readers, for spending a little second of your day reading our thoughts.

Merry Christmas to me!

2009-12-13T18:38:00.002-05:00

Lola, our local fashion expert, along with Trixie and HB, helped me pick out these boots as a Christmas gift from my hubby. He had the greatest of intentions and wanted to pick out boots for me, but I picked the perfect time (after several drinks at a dinner party) to convince him that it would be better for my friends to find them instead. They are from Piperlime and I am so excited for them to get here so I can try them on before wrapping them and putting them under the tree! Now I'm on the hunt for a pair of skinny jeans that will go well with them but not accentuate this post-baby-belly that I'm still dealing with (okay, who am I kidding, I had a post-baby-belly before even having children, but it's a good excuse!).

Love, Muffie :)

Nu Joisey

2009-12-13T18:16:00.004-05:00

Oh, MTV, how I do love thee. Throughout the years, you have given me (in no particular order other than how they popped into my head) Real World, Road Rules, Laguna Beach, The Hills, Spring Break, 16 and Pregnant, Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica, True Life, and Engaged and Underage. I didn't think it could get any better until now. Jersey Shore is officially my newest reality addiction. I'll admit, I had to google the meaning of "guido": A guido is typically and Italian male who is damn proud of it. Normally has a fake tan and gelled up spikey hair, which is the opposite of his arms because he shaves those. He normally asks ya "How you doin" FOR REAL not for fake. They go to clubs with dance music and try and get as many girls as possible... as we say in NJ: "We don't pump our gas but we pump our fists", but I was hooked in the first five minutes of watching the show. It really doesn't get much better than fake tans, fist pumping, big muscles, provocative clothing, dancing, hot tubbing, screaming, drinking, and fighting. Love. It.

Not exactly appropriate to watch when the monkeys are awake, though. Thank goodness for DVR!

This review was brought to you by yours truly, Muffie. :)

Us

2009-12-13T13:37:00.003-05:00

Muffie, HoneyBun, Trixie, and Lola

Now you can put our names with our faces! Thanks for reading our blog!

Diamonds (and Other Jewels) Are A Girl's Best Friend

2009-12-11T14:55:00.006-05:00

Like most girly girls out there, I love jewelry. I don't always get jewelry when The Farmer gives me gifts, but I always have some on my list just in case he's feeling generous. Here are a couple of baubles that I have on my list this year:

Every girl needs some diamond earrings, and I think the bigger they are, the better! For now I am wearing my $15 fake ones from Target.

I think this ring is just gorgeous:

I love a big cuff bracelet, and this one is so pretty:

I have the ring to match these earrings, so I think I need these for my collection:

I do have some much less expensive things on my wish list, and those are the things that I will probably get. However, The Farmer can keep these in his file for a special occasion...

Do y'all have any big ticket items on your wish list this year?

Trixie

Three wolves and a moon

2009-12-09T16:40:00.007-05:00

So amazon.com sells this amazing t-shirt:

Beautiful, isn't it? Don't you just want to run order one right now? No???? Well, check out some of the 1,500+ reviews, and you just might change your mind:

Dual Function Design, November 10, 2008
By B. Govern "Bee-Dot-Govern" (New Jersey, USA) - See all my reviews

This item has wolves on it which makes it intrinsically sweet and worth 5 stars by itself, but once I tried it on, that's when the magic happened. After checking to ensure that the shirt would properly cover my girth, I walked from my trailer to Wal-mart with the shirt on and was immediately approached by women. The women knew from the wolves on my shirt that I, like a wolf, am a mysterious loner who knows how to 'howl at the moon' from time to time (if you catch my drift!). The women that approached me wanted to know if I would be their boyfriend and/or give them money for something they called mehth. I told them no, because they didn't have enough teeth, and frankly a man with a wolf-shirt shouldn't settle for the first thing that comes to him.

I arrived at Wal-mart, mounted my courtesy-scooter (walking is such a drag!) sitting side saddle so that my wolves would show. While I was browsing tube socks, I could hear aroused asthmatic breathing behind me. I turned around to see a slightly sweaty dream in sweatpants and flip-flops standing there. She told me she liked the wolves on my shirt, I told her I wanted to howl at her moon. She offered me a swig from her mountain dew, and I drove my scooter, with her shuffling along side out the door and into the rest of our lives. Thank you wolf shirt.

Pros: Fits my girthy frame, has wolves on it, attracts women
Cons: Only 3 wolves (could probably use a few more on the 'guns'), cannot see wolves when sitting with arms crossed, wolves would have been better if they glowed in the dark.

And another one:

Great compliment for my skin art, May 19, 2009
By overlook1977 (Raleigh, NC United States) - See all my reviews

Unfortunately I already had this exact picture tattooed on my chest, but this shirt is very useful in colder weather.

One more...

Three wolves is just two wolves plus another wolf, May 19, 2009
By Seth G. Macy "friendship alliance" (Maine) - See all my reviews

I had a two-wolf shirt for a while and I didn't think life could get any better. I was wrong. Life got 50% better, no lie.

Okay, now go get you a wolf shirt!! With this many good reviews, there's no reason not to!!! :)

Love,

Muffie

**I totally stole this idea from my friend Katie's blog, but it was too good not to post here!**

A Picture's Worth a Thousand Words

2009-12-07T08:48:00.004-05:00

I uploaded and posted our NYC photos on my blog. http://imanolagirl.blogspot.com/2009/12/nyc-recap-in-pictures.html

It's a quicker way to learn about our NYC trip than my ridiculously long post about it. And the pictures just make the whole thing come to life!

Speaking of pictures, I have asked my parents for a camera for Christmas, and I am so excited because I am pretty sure this wishlist item will be sitting under the tree come Christmas morning. I call it "the mom camera" but the real name is the Canon EOS Rebel XSi. All of our friends with little ones have them, and their pictures are always beautiful! I love that it captures moments as they happen. With the camera we have right now, you have to wait several seconds before the camera self-adjusts in order to take the shot. We miss a good deal of the real life moments waiting for our camera to "think."

For some reason, I think just by having this camera I will become a really artistic photographer who sees these magical things through the lens of my Rebel. I have a feeling there's a little more to it than that though. I would love to take photography lessons at some point so that I can understand angles and shadows and lighting, but until then I'll have to just cross my fingers and shoot from the hip.

Have you ever taken a photography class?? Or do you have any good photography tips that a novice might be able to use??

Aunt Trix

2009-12-03T21:45:00.003-05:00

Aunt Trixie and Baby C

My brother and his wife had their baby today! She was born four weeks early, but she weighed in at 6 pounds 6 ounces and 18 3/4 inches.

And she is just precious.

Don't you just love babies?!?!?!

I Heart N.Y.

2009-12-03T13:10:00.003-05:00

Ahhh... I'm daydreaming about our amazing trip to NYC and wondering how a week has passed since the Macy's Parade. I feel like we were just there standing in a sea of people on the corner of 68th and Central Park West squealing with excitement as Santa's sleigh turned the corner. I realized I haven't been back to post anything since then so I thought I'd do a quick little recap of our trip. For those who read my blog, you already know that I am a Type A trip planner whose itineraries are drawn up in excel and are usually focused around our meals. I wish I could say I was kidding about the excel thing, but it's no lie. I have a little spreadsheet that has columns for day, time, activity, location, address, cross street, and phone number. I swear I don't schedule nap times!!!

Anyway - here's a little daily recap that covers the highlights of our trip!

Tuesday night

We met two of Docs brother and our sis-in-laws for a 10:45 dinner reservation at Anthony Bourdain's old stomping ground Les Halles - amazing pommes frites and Bearnaise

Wednesday

Doc and sis-in-laws spent the morning walking through Bloomies, Prada, Gucci, Fendi, Chanel, LV. I am always reminded of Becky Bloomwood in the Shopaholic books when I walk down 5th Ave. when she recalls being a little girl watching the fancy ladies using their "magic cards." If only they didn't come with 20% APRs.
Doc, Liss, and I wondered through the Village looking for the perfect hot cocoa and happened in on the best grilled cheese of ALL time at Hundred Acres (recommended by Gweneth Paltrow on http://www.goop.com/). Seriously it was to die for.
Had our celeb spottings at Hundred Acres. We saw the unethical reporter from the 5th season of The Wire (best show ever on tv). And (said in the saddest voice ever) Doc, Liss, and Barn (BIL) saw the little blonde actress from 30 Rock. I was in the potty. Apparently she saw them too - they were high fiving each other over their celeb spotting and she caught them and laughed!!
More walking through the Village until we arrived at Mariebelle for the world's tiniest cup of hot cocoa. Seriously - it was the size of a shot glass. But it was so rich that was all you could ever want. Mmmmm....
Doc, me, Liss, and Barn walked over to my favorite bar in the entire world - McSorley's. it must be everybody's favorite b/c it was so crowded in there we thought we'd never get in, but we actually wound up with the best table in the place. They only serve their own brew and it comes in light and dark - your choice. You must order in sets of two, and you must keep drinking or they will boot you from your table. Needless to say, it is always a bit rowdy in there, but it is never fails to produce good times and great memories.
After a bit of a nap, the whole family met up for dinner at Eatery NYC and drinks - awesome!!!

Thursday

I have already mentioned that we went to the Macy's parade, but I had to again since it was the highlight of my trip!!!
We watched football, and of course Home Alone
The whole family met up for Thanksgiving Dinner at Atlantic Grill. It was wonderful.

Friday

At this point we had moved from the East Side to the Upper West Side to stay with my wonderful friend Marie in her AMAZING apartment. We spent the morning catching up and it was wonderful.
We started our day of at the David Yurman store on Madison where I picked out my birthday treasure. I got a ring that matched an earring and necklace set I have, and I haven't stopped staring at since we got it!!
Mark and I walked from the Midtown to Times Square where we had lunch at Daniel Boulud's Bistro Moderne. I felt so special and fancy dining at one of his restaurants. I had the lobster bisque and it was to die for. It was rich, but not overly creamy. Perfection.
After walking off a little of our lunch, Doc and I joined his parents and his aunt at Bye Bye Birdie!!!!! It was so good. I thought John Stamos was very charming as Albert, and it made me miss my community theatre days. I played Kim MacAfee the summer after my senior year, and seeing the show brought back such great memories.
Mark and I managed to squeeze in a quick carriage ride through Central Park - one of our NYC traditions.
Friday night we met back up with the whole gang at this adorable little Italian place in Nolita called Emilio's Ballato. It is Kelly Ripa's favorite date place. For good reason - they serve housemade pasta cooked to order!

Saturday

I am a big believer in walking food tours. I think they are a great way to see a city like a local would. My favorite tours are offered by http://www.foodsofny.com/. We chose to do the Central Village/Soho tour, which I did back in April on a girls trip, and it was spectacular yet again. It is a three and a half hour walking tour of the area where you learn about the culture and history of the area all while sampling the most delicious bites of food. Highly recommended!!!
After the tour, Liss and I did a little West Broadway shopping while the others got some rest in a cozy little SOHO bar. It was then that I discovered the wonders of Uni-Qlo. It is a Japanese clothing line that makes great casual pieces (many in cashmere) for very reasonable prices. I got a plaid tunic, cashmere scarf, beret, and black skirt for under $100. And it is amazing quality!!
Saturday was our designated NYC friends dinner. Marie was kind enough to organize a reservation for all of us at Salumeria Rossi, a very fancy meat market and cheese shop on one side and a tapas restaurant on the other. It was delish and the company was fantastic.
Saturday night family and friends all met up for some drinks before we wrapped up another version of the Doc family Thanksgiving!

Sunday

Doc and I took a long walk through Central Park and took in all that is New York. It is hard to ever really find peace in the city, but the park is like a huge oasis in the middle of it all.
We joined some family for a quick brunch at Citrus before we packed up, said good-bye to our UWS home away from home, and headed to Newark.

And so there you have it. All you ever wanted to know about out trip to NYC. After writing this, I am finding it hard to imagine how I will ever be able to put on my skinny jeans again!!!

Lola

A Must Have

2009-12-01T21:19:00.005-05:00

I mentioned in an earlier post that I have a love for all office supplies, and I also added that my planner is one of my top three office supplies. I was browsing through Blue Eyed Bride (great blog, btw, if you haven't read it...although I don't agree with her choice of football teams...) earlier this evening, and she mentioned my favorite planner as a great gift idea. I totally agree with her, so I thought I would post it on here for any of you who may be searching for the perfect planner.

It is the momAgenda!

I have been using a momAgenda for about four years now. I started out with the spiral bound refillable planner, but last year I bought this one:

It is the momAgenda Personal Portfolio. I had wondered why momAgenda didn't have a three-ring binder type agenda, and they finally came out with one. This agenda is great because you can buy refills for the different tabs -- calendar, notes, to do, etc. -- rather than buying one prepackaged refill for the entire year. It is rather expensive, so you may not want to buy it for someone else (unless it is someone that you really love..), but it is a great investment for your personal agenda -- or at least I think so!

Here are some pictures of the inside:

If you would like to get the momAgenda as a gift, I recommend this one (stupid Blogger...why are my words blue?!?!):

This is the momAgenda Desktop. It has plenty of room to keep all of your appointments plus all of the goings-on of up to 4 kids. If you don't have kids, you can get the myAgenda, which is just as good as the momAgenda. Seriously, this thing has kept me in line for about four years now, so it has to be awesome!

I know I sound like a total saleslady, which I am not. I just really have a love for my planner and think that you would love it, too!

And, yes, I know I'm a dork...

xoxoxo, Trix

Sad...

2009-11-30T22:22:00.003-05:00

They don't fit! It's a sad day for me, but a happy day for my pocket book...

Back to the drawing board...

Jet setting with Duck

2009-11-29T21:36:00.006-05:00

This is Honey Bun. We had a great Thanksgiving but it was bittersweet as my grandfather, who we usually celebrate with, was very ill and had to stay home this year. We live pretty far away from one another and I was down in the dumps about missing this opportunity to spend time with him. ACP is great and he bought me a ticket to go see him this upcoming weekend. What a great surprise! The only thing is that my parents are begging me to bring Duck. I'd like to bring her, but I am feeling a little nervous about plane travel with an infant. I did find these helpful tips:

First: Stick to a regular schedule Try to schedule the departure of your trip around your baby's regular naptime or bedtime. That way your baby will sleep for at least part of the trip. "I would recommend that a parent refrain from interrupting a baby's sleep schedule before a flight," says Daniel R Bronfin, MD, clinical pediatrics professor at Tulane School of Medicine in New Orleans and physician at New Orleans' Ochsner Foundation Hospital. "Trying to sleep deprive an infant, for example, in order to make him/her sleep on the plane, will often backfire."

Second: Plan ahead
Catharine Shaner, MD, FAAP, a pediatrician and advisor with the American Safety and Health Institute in Holiday, Florida, recommends parents try to schedule flights during non-peak times or days, so it is less crowded and less over stimulating for your baby, which can make for a very fussy baby. She also recommends parents call and confirm their travel itineraries with the airlines ahead of time. At that time, request any special seating requirements, such as asking for a bulkhead seat -- where there is no seat in front of you -- which should offer the most room.

"Some airlines do not make these available ahead of time and sometimes the bulkhead may be the emergency exit row," Dr Shaner says. The emergency exit rows are typically off limits for parents traveling with young children.

If you can't get a bulkhead seat, ask to be seated in a "noisy" area of the plane, recommends frequent flyer Phoebe Dey of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. "I think most airlines do this anyway, but if not, I would request it," she says. "Most of the babies were seated in the middle of the plane, right over the engines. Not only does it muffle some of the sound from crying babies, the vibration seems to knock the babies right out."

Third: What to bring
I plan to have a diaper bag handy and packed with the following:

Plenty of diapers, wipes and diaper rash cream for the trip. (Ask friends or relatives to have some diapers on hand for you at your final destination).

A bag to hold dirty diapers, especially if you use cloth (I don't but you might).

A bottle of hand sanitizer, like Purell, so you can "wash" your hands when you don't have access to water.

Bottles and extra pacifiers.

A baby blanket -- good for warmth as well as for privacy when breastfeeding.

A change of clothes -- or two -- for Baby. You may also want to dress her in layers, since airplanes can be rather cold or get very hot!

If you are new to nursing, an extra top for you.

A travel-size diaper changing pad or disposable diaper changing cloths

A bottle of water for mixing formula and for you to keep hydrated! Make sure to ask the flight attendant for a cup of warm water to put the bottle in to heat the formula or breastmilk.I'm planning to get a six pack of the formula that comes pre-mixed and packaged from Similac.

A bib, bowl, spoon and baby food if your baby is on solids, along with snacks for babies on solids.

A cloth to quickly wipe up spills or spit up.

A carrying case that can keep pumped breastmilk bottles cold.

Some toys to keep Duck entertained.

I'm also bringing BabyBjorn.

They also recommend bringing an umbrella stroller -- maybe even one that reclines -- or a front carrier to make getting around the airport a lot easier. Typically, travelers will be allowed to check strollers just before boarding the plane and it will be stored with the luggage. The airline workers will then bring it up for just after you get off the plane.
I was planning on bringing my stroller that can snap in Duck's infant car seat just in case there is an extra seat available and I can strap her in (rear facing) on the plane. What do you think? Rear facing car seat or umbrella stroller?

A Dream Come True

2009-11-25T18:50:00.002-05:00

Hello Honey Bun, Muffie, and Trixie, and Readers!!!

We are here in NYC!!! OMG - it is amazing as always, but especially so since there are twinkling lights everywhere!! this is my third Doc family Thanksgiving in the Big Apple, but this will be the first one where we are staying in the city for Thanksgiving Day. I have always for my whole life wanted to go to the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Every year on Thanksgiving my family would watch Miracle on 34th St. I loved watching that movie! And each year when we watched the parade on tv, I would imagine myself being there in person to see it. And finally it is happening. Tomorrow we will wake up on the Upper West Side, and walk three blocks to sit and wait for a Snoopy balloon to float on by. Can you just picture it!!! A lifetime worth waiting for! I would say look for us on tv, but there is no way this Southern girl is sitting outside in the cold to get a front row spot. So instead, just think of us!! We will be making the dreams of a little girl (who might be 29) come true.

Is there something you have always wanted to do? Is there a particular experience you have always imagined having??

It's An Addiction

2009-11-25T18:07:00.002-05:00

I love boots. Boots are so fun -- they can be dressed up; they can be dressed down. I am currently loving the look of boots over the top of skinny jeans or worn with a dress and tights. I love boots so much that I have way too many pairs to my name...

Exhibit A:

I bought these Naughty Monkey boots a couple of weeks ago. I had had a pair of brown boots from J.Crew for years. The Farmer got them for me the first Christmas that we were married -- almost 8 years ago now. I have loved those brown boots, but they have started to look a little dated so, I was in the market for some new brown boots. I found these on Nordstrom. They are comfortable and cute and a pretty shade of chocolate. The only problem is that, while I was packing to go out of town last weekend, I found another pair of brown suede boots that I had bought last year and had forgotten about! Luckily they are a lighter brown and flat, so I didn't totally double-buy but I felt really stupid! Just please don't tell The Farmer -- he would kill me! I like my Naughty Monkeys better than last year's pair anyway...

Then there is Exhibit B:

I just ordered these Frye cowboy (cowgirl?) boots last night. I had decided that I wanted some last year, and I even ordered a pair, but then they were backordered. And I bought a Dooney & Bourke bag with my Christmas money instead. I found the Fryes on Piperlime a couple of weeks ago and put them in the shopping cart but never pulled the trigger. Last night I got back on Piperlime and found that the size that I had in my shopping cart was sold out. I am between a 7.5 and 8, so I originally put the 8 in my cart; however, since the 8s were sold out, I decided to hurry up and buy the 7.5s. I am keeping my fingers crossed that they will fit!

I figure that these cowboy (cowgirl?) boots are less expensive that the ones that I bought last year, I have a rewards certificate from GAP to go towards my purchase, I have a bit of a credit on my GAPcard, and I will use some Christmas money to pay for them, so I am saving money, right?!?!

And, finally, Exhibit C:

I know that people have a love/hate relationship with Uggs: they either love them or they hate them. I don't have any, but I think they are cute. I know, I know -- people say that they are sweatpants for your feet, but I think they can look pretty cute over jeans. Really, people -- I have seen that look with my own eyes, and I think it can be cute! I would love a pair to wear around town when I don't feel like really dressing up with other boots. And, I have a pair of Danskos that I heard that I had to have because they are so comfortable and wonderful and blah, blah, blah...and I hate them. I only wear them every once in a while, and I always roll my ankle in them. And they are so ugly (sorry if I am offending anyone...)!

Anywho, Miss Priss has asked for real Uggs for Christmas. We have always gotten her the knockoffs from Target, and they have been fine in the past. However, she had a friend who had the real deal last year, and she has decided that she needs the real deal, too. ~~The Farmer and~~ I decided that, since it is from Santa Claus, Miss Priss can get the real things. Since there has been so much talk about Uggs around our house lately, The Farmer got the idea in his head to get me my very own, real Uggs for Christmas. He spilled the beans when we were getting ready to go to a football game in the cold a couple of weeks ago; he thought that maybe we could just swing by someplace and get some before the game. That didn't happen, but I am glad that I know what he is planning so that I can have some input into just which Uggs he gets -- The Farmer is a great guy, but ~~sometimes~~ he struggles in the gift-giving department.

So, there you have it: my boot obsession. I really could apply this obsession trend to pretty much anything that has to do with fashion -- clothes, makeup, shoes, bags, jewelry -- but we won't go there tonight. Suffice it to say that I need to do a better job of watching my pennies...but, like Scarlett, I will think of that tomorrow...

Happy Thanksgiving, y'all!

Trix

The Craze

2009-11-23T21:51:00.004-05:00

Let's see a show of hands for those of you who are crazy about The Twilight Saga!

My hand is definitely in the air.

I must admit that I didn't want to start the series when I read them about a year ago. It took some coaxing from Muffie to get me to start Twilight, but once I got into it, I got hooked. I walked around with my nose in a book for six days until I had read every last word of all four books. I think all of my little chillens forgot what my face looked like for those six days -- they had to talk to me through the cover of a book! I hate to admit it, but my life felt a little bit empty after finishing that last book -- I didn't want it to end.

Naturally I was beyond excited when Twilight came out as a movie.

And I have never been more disappointed by a movie in my life. (Really. I am not hard to please when it comes to movies. I love movies!)

It just did not live up to the book at all. I know that it is common for a movie to not live up to a book, but this one just stunk big time. I was so disappointed! As I watched the movie, I wondered to myself if I didn't like the movie because it just brought the whole vampire saga to life and made me realize that is was just so cheesy (I mean, really, vampires? How unbelievable can you get -- that is why I didn't want to read the books in the first place. I don't get into that stuff...) or if the movie was just that bad.

I am pretty sure that the movie was just that bad. It seems to be a general consensus among those I have talked to who loved the books.

So, although I have heard that New Moon is so much better than Twilight, I am approaching it with the realization that it is highly likely that this movie will also fail to be as good as the book.

That's right, I haven't seen it yet. And I am dying to!

Muffie and I are going to meet our friend, Hogie, in a couple of weeks at a city halfway between our homes where we will go to the spa, eat great meals, and watch New Moon. I cannot wait; I hope I can hold out that long! Muffie and I have talked about rereading all of the books (or at least the first two) to hold us over until we actually get to see the movie -- you know, because everyone else in America has already seen it.

Or, should I say, every other chick in America has seen it. The Farmer would not be caught dead at that movie.

How about you? Have you seen the movie? Did you love it? Will it be worth the wait?

Oh, and just FYI, I am totally on Team Edward.

Trixie

All I want for Christmas...

2009-11-23T00:06:00.003-05:00

Peace on Earth? No. College Savings fully funded for Duck? No (well, yes, but not this year). The Barbour International Jacket. For years ACP has been saying that I NEED a Barbour jacket. I don't know how much anyone actually NEEDS a Barbour jacket. We don't live in England, we do live where it is sweltering hot most of the time, and I haven't found one that I am in love with...until now.

Which brings me to my next point to all of you reading this blog. I hope you don't make the same mistake I do and set your sights on a big Christmas present early. This year I was in Charlotte with my mother in law and I happened to see that one of my favorite jewelry stores was going out of business and everything is at least 10% off. This was the perfect storm: A deal and something new and sparkly sitting behind a nice glass counter waiting for me. Well, of course, I found something that I could not breathe without that Roberto Coin made ESPECIALLY for me. I called ACP and asked if he didn't want to think about Christmas this year, he said to pull the trigger and now it has been staring at me on his dresser for the past month. Sigh. Now given the choice between the new something sparkly and the Barbour International jacket I would still pick the new something sparkly, of course. However today it was chilly and the International would have been perfect en route to see New Moon.

Not to be depressing but the best part about Christmas presents is wondering what you are going to get and now I have sort of ruined it. Don't tell ACP because he would completely agree with me. Husbands do sometimes know best.

What do you want for Christmas just so I can get some new big ideas?

HoneyBun

Pack Rat

2009-11-20T11:21:00.003-05:00

Today I have been completely distracted with my upcoming trip to NYC for our Thanksgiving celebration with Doc's family. We leave on Tuesday after work, so I have been mentally packing for the last half hour. Doc and I travel quite a bit, so I have become quite accustomed to packing for a three day weekend, but I become completely unravelled when it comes to packing for an extended stay in NYC. I find that NYC poses some packing challenges unlike any other city we visit. First, you walk so much when you're there, that you have to have at least one pair of comfy shoes (for me some flat boots). On top of that, we will spend our days shopping, going to shows, and have nice lunches, so i need outfits that are comfy, warm, and wearable, but that are also fashionable. Then you have to pack for your evening costume change so that you look just right for dinner and drinks. So many outfits, so little space.

Doc and I have made a promise that we will make every attempt to avoid checking bags. We have dinner reservations at Les Halles very late Tuesday night (10:45), and by not checking bags, even if we run a minute behind, we should still be able to hop in a cab and head to dinner. Plus, I just heard on the radio that a couple in Phoenix has been charged with stealing over 1,000 pieces of luggage from the Phoenix baggage claim. That is my BIGGEST fear about checking. I would just die if my luggage was lost or stolen. As a result, all of my outfits must fit nice and snug in a tiny little carry-on!

I have a trick or two to make packing a little better. I roll small items (tights, tanks, socks) and stuff them in my shoes. You'd be amazed how much space this saves. I also pre-plan an outfit itinerary for every day so that I only pack what I need and nothing extra. I try to stick to outfits that can all be paired with the same accessories so that I'm not packing multiple purses/shoes/etc. And I always wear my bulkiest outfit on the plane on both travel days, including my coat, scarf, and heavy boots.

PS - We have found that if you have a rolling bag and a purse, the airlines have not ever said anything to us about also carrying on a hanging bag. So I try to make all of my dinner outfits dresses and I hang them on one hanger so that I have even more room in the roller!

I am wondering, do you have any good packing tips?

Lola

I guess it's my turn now!

2009-11-20T10:31:00.004-05:00

Muffie's Ten Things

1. What are some of your family traditions? When I was growing up, my favorite Christmas traditions included going to the candlelight Christmas Eve service at church, waking up at the crack of dawn, impatiently waiting until my parents and grandparents had bathrobes on and coffee brewing before we were allowed to peek in the living room at our presents, and eating breakfast casserole and stollen after all the gifts have been opened. Hubby and I are continuing these traditions with our own children and I hope they will do the same with their families one day. Another tradition that we started last year and plan to continue is having a birthday party for Jesus on Christmas Eve. We make a cake, have candles, and sing Happy Birthday to Jesus---it's a great way to talk about the true meaning of Christmas with young children who sometimes get too focused on the gift aspect of the holiday. :)

2. Do you know how to change a flat tire? I know how a person is supposed to change a tire---all of the steps and I've watched it be done---but I've never personally changed a tire. Isn't that what boys are for? :)

3. Do you subscribe to any magazines? What are your favorites? I love magazines, although I don't have nearly enough time to read them as I'd like. I subscribe to Parenting, Parents, Southern Living, and Real Simple. I don't subscribe to it, but I buy US Weekly pretty much every week. That would be a great Christmas present for me if anybody is trying to come up with ideas...hint, hint!! :) I guess I'd say that US Weekly is my favorite, but Real Simple comes in at a close second.

4. What are your top three favorite office supply items? Oh my gosh, I have no clue! I'm not a very organized person, nor do I have an office, so I can't even come up with an answer for this one. I do have a really cute planner from Mom Agenda but I'm not very good at actually writing in it.

5. Are you a good public speaker? I don't know if I'm necessarily good at public speaking, but I like to speak in public! Speech was one of my favorite classes in both high school and college, but as a full time mommy I don't have many opportunities for public speaking unless you count shouting across a parking lot for one of the monkeys to stop running.

6. How do you feel about acronyms? LMBO! IDK, I'd probably say a BF yes to this one! My DH and BFFs have made fun of me for years for my overuse of acronyms. BTW, this question made me LOL. :)

7. What’s the most creative things you’ve ever done? Not sure what the most creative thing is, but my creative side has been coming out more and more. I've started sewing and have made headbands, crayon rolls, burp cloths, my daughter's Halloween bag, and even a dress. I've made an art display for our playroom, tutus for my daughter and some friends, and most recently a fall wreath for our front door. Like Honeybun (still can't believe we're calling her that on this blog!), I've enjoyed creating my kiddos' nurseries as well. My newest baby's nursery might be my favorite, although it's still a work in progress.

8. I’d rather jam a pen in my eye than… have dental work done. For some odd reason, I have tremendous anxiety about going to the dentist even just to have my teeth cleaned. It's terrible. One of my best friends just happens to be my dentist, and she gave me the bad news earlier this week that I have a cavity and must get a filling next month. This will be my first filling in at least 15 years, and I feel sick even thinking about it. Luckily, she is such a good friend that she is going to prescribe me some nice drugs to help me get through it without having a panic attack!

9. What company has the best advertising? I'm a sap....I love the Publix commercials because they always make me cry!

10. When is your birthday? March 8th, greatest day of the year!

Muffie :)

Ten Things about Honey Bun

2009-11-19T23:22:00.002-05:00

My turn!
1. What are some of your family traditions? A few years ago my mom and her sisters found this Jingle Bell Rock Santa. He shakes his hips and plays Jingle Bell Rock and while this sounds very cheesy and red neck he is actually hilarious. After a few glasses of wine all the women in my family get up and dance with this Santa and all the men sit on the couch and roll their eyes. I love it! My favorite family tradition with ACP and Duck is getting up on Saturday mornings and having coffee.

2. Do you know how to change a flat tire? No. Actually this is a funny story. It was my third week in our town, I only knew one person besides my husband and he was already at church. I was running late (typical) and I ran this very yellowish red light, bumped the curb, and slashed my tire. I made it to the Applebees parking lot and had to walk about two miles by myself in the sweltering heat and wait for ACP to get home several hours later. I should really learn how to change a tire.

3. Do you subscribe to any magazines? What are your favorites? I love magazines. I am so sad that they are all going out of print. My favorites are House Beautiful and Nutrition Action. One of our friends recently introduced me to LonnyMag which is a great online publication.

4. What are your top three favorite office supply items? There is nothing like pretending to get organized. I love staplers and paper clips. Can I count a great coffee mug in office supplies? I think it should count.

5. Are you a good public speaker? I'm not sure. In my profession I do have speaking engagements but I don't know if I am good or not.

6. How do you feel about acronyms? Well, in this case you should ask Muffie. LMBO.

7. What’s the most creative things you’ve ever done? Duck's nursery.

8. I’d rather jam a pen in my eye than… call a customer service line and talk to someone in India who's name is Jennifer.

9. What company has the best advertising? The new Amex commercials with the smiles and frowns are clever. The e-trade baby ads are also very funny.

10. When is your birthday? February 4th!

Have a fabulous day,

Trixie's Ten Things

2009-11-19T15:08:00.002-05:00

1. What are some of your family traditions? Since it is getting close to Christmas (who else is already listening to Christmas music besides me?!?!), I will go with some Christmas traditions...Ever since I was little, we have gone to the family service at church on Christmas Eve. It is my favorite service of the year, aside from Easter. After church we always go to my aunt's house for dinner with the whole family, and on Christmas morning we always go to my grandmother's house for breakfast.

My parents used to torture us kids every Christmas morning by making us sit at the top of the stairs while they yelled out things like "Wow, it is a toyland down here!" or "Boy, Santa sure went all out this year!" We would be dying to get downstairs to tear into our gifts, but we weren't allowed down until Mama had her coffe, the tree was lit, and the Christmas music was playing. I am happy to say that The Farmer and I have kept that tradition with our kids!

2. Do you know how to change a flat tire? Um, no. Right after The Farmer and I got married, I got a flat tire on the way home from my parents' house. At the time, The Farmer and I were living an hour-and-a-half away from my parents, and the flat tire ocurred about halfway home. First I tried to fix the tire myself, but I couldn't get the darn bolts loosened even a tiny bit. I tried to call The Farmer but couldn't get in touch with him, so I finally called my dad. I had to wait in this gas station/Subway shop for 45 minutes until he could get there. It was no fun. Seems like I would have learned after that, but I still haven't...

3. Do you subscribe to any magazines? What are your favorites? I subscribe to Parents, Parenting, Southern Living, Coastal Living, and InStyle. I have also asked for subscriptions to a couple of home magazines for Christmas. My faves are InStyle (I have been subscribing to that one since college) and Southern Living.

4. What are your top three favorite office supply items? Oh, boy, do I love office supplies! My favorites have to be planners (do those count?), pens (I am always searching for the best ones -- I love the Sharpie pens), and highlighters in pretty colors.

5. Are you a good public speaker? Hell no. I am shy, shy, shy. And, I have the unfortunate ability to turn beet red if all eyes are fixed on me. Yuck.

6. How do you feel about acronyms? Just fine, FYI.

7. What’s the most creative things you’ve ever done? Creativity and I don't really belong in the same sentence. However, Muffie, my sister, and I hosted a baby shower for my sister-in-law a week ago, and I think we were pretty creative in that. And, I shamelessly copied Muffie and made myself a fall wreath like she did. But coming up with something creative on my own? Not gonna happen, folks.

8. I’d rather jam a pen in my eye than…speak in public, lose to my alma mater's rivals, change clothes in front of other girls (or boys, really)...I could go on.

9. What company has the best advertising? Like Lola, I like Bud Light commercials -- and, hey, I just like Bud Light. I also think Mac has some good ones. For the most part, I try to avoid advertisements.

10. When is your birthday? May 31. I used to really like this birthday until I met The Farmer, and he told me that I was born at a really inconvenient time of the year (he is really busy with harvest season then). I pretty much never see him on my birthday. Luckily I have good girlfriends who make up for The Farmer's absence!

Okay, Muffie and HoneyBun (I can't believe we are calling her that...), it is your turn!

Trixie

Ten Things on Thursday

2009-11-19T10:51:00.006-05:00

I love these little Q&A posts, and I thought it'd be fun for yall to comment with your answers!!
1. What are some of your family traditions? My family has a tradition for just about everything, but my favorite would have to be Christmas Eve. Every year after all of our family parties have ended, my family has dinner at The Steak Knife. And just before we go to bed, my dad reads The Polar Express to us. We have been doing this for as long as I can remember, even after Doc and I got married. I can't wait for the day when we all have kids and my dad is reading it to them. As for Doc and me, we stay at the Le Pavillon Hotel every year for one night around the weekend of our wedding anniversary to celebrate our special day and the special place where we had our reception. It was spectacular!

2. Do you know how to change a flat tire? Hmmm... Once at a slumber party in high school after we had stayed up all night I helped three girls change our friend Katie's flat tire. I've never done it since, so I don't know if I could.

3. Do you subscribe to any magazines? What are your favorites? I sure do! I love getting magazines in the mail!! I am a People, Everyday Food, Southern Living, and In Style subscriber. In Style is my fave!

4. What are your top three favorite office supply items? Oh my goodness, is there anything better in the whole world than the supply closet at work? I love how neat and organized everything is, and it reminds of going to work with my mom when I was little. She would let us play with colored white out - fun! My faves would be, Bic No. 5 clicky pencils, thin tipped Sharpies in every color, and colored 3M tabs.

5. Are you a good public speaker? I absolutely love public speaking. I always have. I find it exciting and exhilirating. I have always dreamed of being a speech writer, but let's be honest, I'd want to grab that speech right out of the reader's hand and say "Here, just let me give it."

6. How do you feel about acronyms? Considering I worked for KPMG for a while, and it in and of itself is an acronym, I got really attached to them. There was one for everything!! And now being married into the military, our use of acronyms has doubled. I think acronyms are great if you know what they mean, but when you don't, it makes you feel like an outsider.

7. What’s the most creative things you’ve ever done? Aside from making fabulously glittery shoes for the Mardi Gras parade I ride in, for our first engagement anniversary I created a puzzle for Doc and sent him around NOLA to find various gifts at different stops across town. At each location he found another puzzle piece attached to a wrapped gift with a rhyme that led him to his next gift. His last stop was a table at Commanders Palace where we had brunch for our anniversary.

8. I’d rather jam a pen in my eye than… be at an away game when the Saints lose. It is so painful to hear all of the smack talk that 65,000 fans will spout out to you.

9. What company has the best advertising? I like Bud Light's advertsising because it is clever and funny and doesn't exploit women (remember the Miller Lite "twins").

10. When is your birthday? November 2nd. It just passed and is on All Souls Day. Growing up, I always thought I special because it fell on a "holiday." I didn't realize that was just a Catholic thing until college! This year I have decided, I will be celebrating my birth year not my birth day. I plan to enjoy every last minute in my 20s.

Have a fabulous day,

Lola

A dilemma for Honeybun

2009-11-18T18:57:00.004-05:00

Hello! I am Honeybun. This is the name I aspire to use when I am a grandmother (in hopefully no less than 25 years). I have a seven month old daughter, Duck(a nickname that we stole from Lola & Doc), and she needs to have some brothers and sisters before we start thinking about all of that!

Here is my dilemma. My husband, ACP, loves to cook (praise the Lord), but is a little bit of a monster in the kitchen. We have very nice dishes but they are chipped and cracked. I'm completely type A and I can't look at cracked dishes anymore. My new vision is "french cafe" something hearty and white that won't break easily but still looks nice.

I found this set at Crate & Barrel and it received fabulous reviews. People said they had the set for 20 years without a break! I thought it was perfect. We bought the set, it arrived today, and I hate it. That is the downfall of online shopping but what do you do when the nearest C&B is hundreds of miles away? You take a chance. Well, I'm at a loss. If anyone out there has some good suggestions as an alternative please send them my way!

I found this other set at Target but it just isn't quite as substantial as I would like. Do you think I should sit with the current set I have and maybe it will grow on me or do you have better ideas?

Love,

Honeybun

Leftie's name change

2009-11-18T12:21:00.000-05:00

Hello again! I didn't actually introduce myself yesterday, so I will follow Trixie and take a minute to do that today. I am going to change my blogging name from Leftie to Lola! It was Trixie's idea, and I love it. Lola from Nola! As you might have figured out, I am of course the only leftie in our group, a position I take seriously, but hope not to be defined by. My hubby, we'll call him Doc, and I have been living in the same town as the three lefts for over three years now and we love it here. Doc is an OBGYN and loves delivering little ones. As Trixie mentioned, we don't actually have any of those yet, but we do have two dogs - Annie and Beignet. Annie is almost 16 and Beignet is newly adopted and we think 5 months. I am a fan of all things fashion, particularly shoes and purses because they always fit and never give you muffin top. I am an avid sports fan who will stay up until midnight to watch MNF or a Hornets game and who listens to NFL radio all day at work. I am a Saints season ticket holder who flies to at least half of our games (six this season) and already has flights booked for home playoff games - please football gods don't let this curse our magical season!! And most importantly, I am a New Orleanian. It defines how I live and how I love. It it not where I am from, it is who I am. I hope you enjoy our unique perspectives on things, and I hope you bare with my bleeding heart!!

Lola

A few of my favorite things....

2009-11-18T10:42:00.000-05:00

I thought I'd begin with a little post about a few of my current favorite things. Aside from these three monkeys who occupy pretty much every second of my life, of course...

...my new obsession is this amazing bathroom cleaner. Our countertops and shower walls are white tile and white (or previously white) grout, and are incredibly hard to keep clean. I love trying new products so I probably have been through at least ten different bathroom cleaners in the 18 months that we've lived in this house. A few days ago I finally found a cleaner that not only works, it works really well, AND there is no scrubbing involved. Seriously. I sprayed it on the walls in the shower, let it sit for 15 minutes, rinsed, and what was once pink/brown/black...hiding in shame admitting this (gross, I know, but keep in mind we live in a very humid climate and there's not much you can do to prevent the growth of mildew around here) is now WHITE. Love, love, love this stuff!

I found Glowology "The Balm" (by Noodle and Boo, if any of you are familiar with their baby products) a few weeks ago and it quickly became a favorite. I have a slight addiction to hand lotion and this is one of the best I've ever used. It smells divine---just like the beach---and does a great job at keeping my hands moisturized. I keep it in the drawer by my kitchen sink and use it about 4,000 times a day.

I read about the HoMedics SoundSpa Lullaby on one of my favorite blogs, Urban Grace Interiors, and ordered one that day because one of my monkeys' sound machines had quit working and we just happened to need a new one ASAP. We have three young children and hardwood floors throughout our house (very attractive but they don't do much to muffle the pitter patter of little feet and/or screams and other noises that my monkeys tend to make when siblings are napping), so we're huge fans of sound machines. I put the SoundSpa in my 4-month-old's nursery and can't say enough good things about it. It plays several different sounds ("rain" is our favorite) along with three lullabies, and also has a rotating projector that projects images onto the ceiling or wall for the baby to watch as he/she falls asleep. I really like the way the volume is much higher than other sound machines we've used. I do have to say that the rotator is a bit finicky and has to be messed with sometimes to start, but from the reviews I've read online, HoMedics is good about sending a replacement if you contact them regarding any issues. I'm considering doing this but I don't want to go even a day without it!

Now this has been a favorite of mine for years: Lancome Definicils mascara. Unfortunately, I was not blessed in the eyelashes department, but Definicils makes up for the lack of thickness and length. This stuff is AMAZING!!!! Absolutely worth the higher price tag, and I pray that they never stop making it because I have no clue what I would do without it!

Lastly, the Hot Apple Cider candle by Beanpod Candles is a big favorite of mine this time of year. It makes your house smell just like hot apple cider, even hours after you've blown it out. It burns for a really long time too, and is made from soy so it's not bad for the environment either! Love it.

Muffie :)

No Aha! Just Blah-blah...

2009-11-18T10:30:00.000-05:00

Hi!

I just wanted to take a minute to stop in and introduce myself. I'm going to be known around here as Trixie. No, that is not my real name; however, it is a nickname that I wound up with at a Christmas party a couple of years ago that seems to have stuck around. So, in an attempt at anonymity, Trixie it is!

I would also like to introduce you to my family. I am married to The Farmer (coincidentally, my father is also a farmer, as is The Farmer's father, my brother, and our brother-in-law; it is obviously in the genes.), and we have three beautiful, wonderful (most of the time) children: Miss Priss (6), Sassy (4), and Bubba (2 -- after all, we are from The South!). I can't wait to tell you more about all of us later on!

I am really excited about this new blog. As our profile states, the four of us are friends who all have our own personal blogs. But, we thought that it would be fun to all combine our blogging talents (and I use that term very loosely) to see what we come up with. After all, we are all good friends, but we do have our own different styles and tastes. For instance, our 1 left (who posted yesterday -- I am not 100% sure on all of our nicknames yet) and I are probably the farthest apart politically (I feel safe saying that I am the rightest of the rights), but we probably are the two who are the most into fashion. Leftie is also the only one of us who isn't a mommy yet; two of us moms work, while the third is a stay-at-home mom. As you can see, we are not all cookie-cutter copies of the same person, so it will be interesting to see what we get!

Anyway, I have a lot of work that I should be doing now, so I am going to sign off for today. Thanks for reading -- hopefully we will entertain you!

Trixie

Aha Moments!

2009-11-17T15:50:00.000-05:00

Well hello world! I am the "left" in our little foursome. I have been trying to think about a good topic for today, and while there are some doozies out there right now (Going Rogue, anyone??), I thought it be fun to open with something upbeat and hopeful.

I was getting my hair done recently, and the only magazine available at the chair where I was seated was O. I am not the biggest Oprah fan, but I thought I'd glance over a few articles. I came to one with Juliana Marguiles in which she described her "aha moment." She was writing about one night when her infant was crying inconsolably and she says "I worked myself into a complete state of anxiety about how I wasn't going to get enough sleep, how I was going to be late for work, how I'd be tired when I got there…all of which only made things worse. And just then, I heard my mother's voice in my head saying what she'd always told me: "Honey, this is only a moment; it's not the rest of your life."

I have been unable to get that phrase out of my head lately. It was as though in describing her "aha moment," I had mine. I have always found difficulty in challenging myself to start a task at which I think I will not succeed. I have always envied people who were able to jog and run at will. Recently, I start working out with a personal trainer and he challenged me to jog for 5 minute increments six times with two minute walking breaks in between. I had convinced myself that it was simply impossible for me to do this - I have bad knees, my toes fall asleep in my tennis shoes, I work late today and it gets dark before I can run. I would find any and every excuse not to even try to accomplish this goal. Until Sunday. On Sunday, hubby and I decided he would help me keep pace and at least make an attempt at my trainer's request. It was not easy, but each time I started to give up I repeated "this is only a moment; it's not the rest of my life." And what do you know, I did it! I feel like I can accomplish anything now. It was amazing and exhilarating and so rewarding to push myself beyond what I perceived were my capabilities. Aha!

So I am wondering - have you had an "Aha moment?" And does my new favorite mantra have any meaning to you? Do you think you'll find yourself thinking of it?

LEFTIE