FLASHBACK valentine's day 2012

REPEAT: originally posted to provide christmas gift options, but valentine's day is only 10 days away. if you're too lazy to make this super easy gift, you can always buy one of the gifts i've linked...extra bonus: a hilarious video of ideas!!
"there's the strangest excitement today...if you're awake then you're welcome to hear...i got a gift and it blew me away" 
the bk and i don't really do valentine's gifts...#1~i hate roses. i HATE roses. not knocking you girls that love them, they just aren't for me...and #2~what do you get someone that feels like they have everything?...besides. st valentine's day is about celebrating love. so we do just that. this year we get up before the sun and go to valentine's day breakfast. we are the only people in cracker barrel at 6am, when it opens. we sit by a crackling fire...sip on bottomless cups of hot coffee...and i get to hear about how beautiful i am with no make~up, a messy bun and my glasses on...
but, the bk is unaware of something. i have tucked a small gift in his work bag. something i know he doesn't have. and something i'm sure he will think is stupid, but i do it anyway. i found it on pinterest...a book made of playing cards entitled "52 reasons i heart jamie"...
all you need:

• a full deck of cards (preferably worn and tattered, but you can rough new ones up with sand paper)
• a black sharpie marker (or a computer and printer labels if you're too lazy to write)
• labels
• a hole punch
• binder rings
• your brain

make a cover for your book with the jokers and simply write the title on one with your marker. use your brain (and heart) to come up with 52 reasons why you love him/her. write them on the labels and attach one label to each card (fronts only). punch two holes in each card (make sure they are aligned). and clip together with binder rings. voila!!!

FLASH FORWARD today

we are only 23 days away from christmas...every year it gets harder and harder for me to find the PERFECT gift for my bk. and i know it's gets harder for him. our answer every time one of us asks "what would you like for christmas?"? i have everything i need. which is completely true. this year got a little easier for him...my day job has turned me into a bit of a handbag queen. truth is...i always have been, but i've always been able to find the trendy bags for very cheap (let's not talk about how) so i refuse to pay full price for a designer bag. so, when macy's had their friend's and family sale, this week, i got a michael kors bedford bowling satchel. eek!! merry christmas to cardinal!! but, now...NOW!!...i have to find the bk the PERFECT gift. and he is still saying "i have everything i need/want". DILEMMA!! i m sure many of you are in the same boat so, i googled ideas and found these great gift ideas for under $100:

PARA ÉL:

j. crew classic spread collar shirt: $68 (reg $88); because every guy needs a classic white button up in his closet...

sunspel boxers: $39: come on...your guy needs to get out of the tighty whities...and you don't want to get him hanes at christmas!!

kenneth cole new york watch: $95; help him keep track of the time this christmas so he's not late for the schmancy fancy holiday party!!

art of shaving chrome futura safety razor: $95; because it's no longer NoShavember!!

coach bleeker bull usb keyring: $98; it's a keyring AND a 4GB usb flash drive...cool

                 

                           

         

PARA ELLA:

coach madison op art sateen large wristlet: $98; because sometimes all we need is a lip gloss, a credit card, and our cell phone.

michael kors holiday watch key fob: $48; because, if you aren't gonna have a jag in the driveway on christmas morning, at least make our keys look fancy!

guess multichain bracelet watch: $85; cause it's a watch AND a bracelet!

victoria's secret pillow talk tank pajama: $49.50; because we like to be cute when we lounge around...bonus! free slippers with every pair!

lady gaga fame perfume gift set: $84; because every girl should smell like a rock star...(actually, i wear this and it smells delicious..)

                   

 

                          

happy shopping!!!

not so MANIC MONDAY

"if i knew you were coming i'd have baked a cake..." or a cobbler!
FLASHBACK summer of 2012
we pass it every sunday, on our way to the lake. a farm fresh veggie stand. we stop every sunday, on our way home from the lake. zucchini, yellow squash, ears of corn, beefsteak tomatoes, watermelons, cantaloupes, and plums. 

FLASH FORWARD spring 2013
the bk is thinking we should join a csa. a what? csa means "community supported agriculture". basically, farmers sell off shares of their crops. you buy in for the season and receive a box of seasonal fruits and veggies each week. the farmer does all the work and you reap all the benefits. also, you share in the risk. hail knocks out all your corn, you're disappointed along with the farmer and all the members of your csa...it's YOUR farm. 

how is this a benefit? why not buy veggies from the grocery? well, #1~this keeps your money local...most of the veggies at your big chain retailers are not locally grown. #2~it's money saving...our co~op breaks down to approximately $15 per week...i priced our same items, at the grocery, and we saved $10. #3~being introduced to veggies you would never buy at your grocery...i have never ever ever bought garlic scapes. the first week of the season, we got a ton of them...an internet search later, i was using them in everything from salads to pasta sauces!  interested in joining a csa? localharvest.org is a good place to locate your area csa's. just enter your zip and BOOM! you're provided a listing of farmers, near you, and their contact info...

FLASH FORWARD today
we get up every saturday and head to the local farmer's market to meet up with our csa and pick up our goodies...this week: corn, tomatoes, radishes, egg plant, watermelon, and blackberries. yummmmmmm....blackberries!!! a search of pinterest takes me to ree drummond's recipe for blackberry cobbler!!! PINTEREST SUCCESS!!!!!

PIONEER WOMAN'S BLACKBERRY COBBLER

ingredients:
½ cup butter (1 stick)
1 ¼ c sugar
1 c self~rising flour
1 c milk
2 c blackberries

pre~heat oven to 350°. melt butter. combine 1 cup of the sugar and flour. whisk in milk until smooth. whisk in melted butter until well combined. generously butter baking dish. pour batter into baking dish. rinse blackberries and lightly pat dry. add to baking dish making sure to spread them evenly. sprinkle ¼ cup of the sugar evenly over cobbler. bake for 1 hour.

**note: i didn't have self~rising flour and wasn't going to make a trip to the store just for that. to make your all~purpose flour "self~rising" simply add 1¼ teaspoons baking soda and ¼ teaspoons of salt to each cup of all~purpose flour.**

national farmer's market week is august 4~10. support your local farmers!!

A WEEK IN THE LIFE: INSTAGRAM EDITION

6. flashback: second first date

"i got a nikon camera...i love to take a photograph...mama don't take my kodachrome away..."

summer...time for chocolate, anniversaries, tequila shots, and fresh veggies. and taking pictures of it all on instagram...because what good is all of this if you can't share it...
happy instagramming :)

1. chocolate frog from honeydukes...................

2. again. so sad bk won't let me eat it..............

3. celebrating national ice cream day...yummo

4. it was national tequila day....no worm required

5. corn and maters....best lunch ever................

A WEEK IN THE LIFE: INSTAGRAM EDITION

   

^john mayer on vine"

"i read the news today oh boy...about a lucky man who made the grade...and though the news was rather sad...well i just had to laugh...i saw the photograph..."

i hope everyone has been enjoying their summer as much as i have...vacation and the "summer of music 2013" have been the highlight of the season, so far...check out what we've been up to thru the magic of instagram (and a little vine)!!

1. beating the heat with a napping kitty

2. when it's 45000 degrees at an outdoor concert, this is as good as it gets, john mayer don't care!

3. a tad cooler at concert number 2..dave matthews

4. clear skies and beautiful music

5. crash into me

6. lazy sunday because it's just too hot outside...jesus be a raindrop!!

7. delicious summer snack: cucumbers and hummus!!

and because instagram decided to add video: 

A WEEK IN THE LIFE: INSTAGRAM EDITION

"i've been looking so long at these pictures of you..."

it's been a crazy week...we are in florida, for a conference/vacation, so keeping up with the blog is nearly impossible. however, you can see what the week's been like thru my instagram photos!!

1. the gift of michael kors

2. pretty puppy

3. victorian bathing suits are all the rage

4. blog prep

5. jet set travel life

6. tattoos and good books

7. slumming it after living in luxury

see more of my week...and share some of yours...with the instagram app for iphone and droid!

happy shooting

FRIDAY I'M IN LOVE

"the dog days are over...the dog days are done..."
it's officially summer and time for everyone to be taking those long road trips to some beach, somewhere. and many of you will be taking spot, or fido, with you. and that's a fabulous idea, if your vacation will allow. but have you thought about your dog? have you thought about all the things bowzer will need to have a happy and safe trip?

1. start by feeding fido a light meal a few hours before the start of your trip. that way he's digested his food and gone potty before you ever leave.
2. make sure to pack food, bottled water, leash, bowls, poop bags, pet's medication, and vaccination record. also, his favorite toy and blanket.
3. make sure your puppy has all of his identification tags on...and consider having him microchipped.
4. don't let your baby ride with his head out the window. he could get hit with flying objects.
5. stop every hour or two and let fido get some exercise and use the bathroom. 
6. and...most importantly...never ever ever ever leave spot alone in a parked car. on a hot day, the car can turn into a furnace quickly, resulting in possible heat stroke and/or death. 

         

has bowzer never been on a car trip before? try taking him on some mini trips in the days and weeks leading to your vacation.

happy trails!!!

^poop bags with a cute little dispenser available at petsmart^

MANIC MONDAY

"holiday, oh a holiday, and the best one of the year..."
i post a lot of odd "holidays" here. "peanut butter cookie day". "barefoot day". "day of the zombie". so, i thought a day to celebrate the bk would be awesome. a day that everyone who knows and loves him can celebrate his existence. not the day of his birth...just the fact that he lives on this planet and is, as one friend put it, "da man". i thought it would take some work. it doesn't. i just have to declare it to be his day, and celebrate it. if i do this enough, it could catch on and be celebrated by people all over the country. 
you want to create your own holiday? here's how:

1. pick your date. try to avoid nationally recognized days. you don't want your holiday to be overshadowed by something like valentine's day, do you?
2. announce it publicly. i chose social media. twitter. facebook. those are your best options. you could even create a page on facebook totally dedicated to your holiday.
3. celebrate big! i am celebrating the bk with dinner at o'malley's in the alley followed by a cincinnati reds game. okay. the reds game was already planned, but still...
4. again, go public with the celebration. this is key if you want other people to begin celebrating your holiday.
5. repeat steps 2~4 year after year. eventually, it will catch on and others will join in the fun!

want to make it national? ugh. it literally takes an act of congress. you have to grab the attention of your local congress person. then, they have to make a proposal and get that on the congressional agenda and that can take years. literally years. boo. 

                                                

^reds taking bp^

  

        

if you would like to participate in "celebrate the bk day", head out to your local pub on the third monday of june (this year happens to fall on this very day) and raise a glass to your bk!! 

TASTY TUESDAY

"in heaven there is no beer (no beer!)...that’s why we drink it here...and when we are gone from here...our friends will be drinking all the beer"
FLASHBACK sometime in 1977 (ish) 
kat and i are being rebels. we sneak two rolling rocks from the fridge and head into the woods behind the house. we immediately regret that decision.
FLASH FORWARD 1980 something
we're kids. we have very little money. we pool our funds together and buy the very best our money can buy: old milwaukee. bleck!
FLASH FORWARD today
i've grown up. so have my taste buds. i've said good~bye to old milwaukee and coors light and hello to guiness and yuengling. and, when opportunity strikes, i try new craft beers. did you know they make beer that tastes like chocolate? CHOCOLATE!!!
this week (may 13~19) is american craft beer week. the perfect week to go out and try new and different beers. afraid to order a a full pint of a beer you've never tried? ask your bartender to give you a sample. (s)he will be glad to. think you don't like beer? there are beers for every pallet...and a good bartender can help you find your taste. i love the bartenders at the moerlein lager house in cincinnati...i can give them a description of what i like and they bring me EXACTLY what i'm looking for! if you're in the area, it's a must try.
are you a HUGE fan of craft beer, like me and my bk? there is a great app available, from untapped llc, for iphone and android. with this app you can track the different beers you've tried, and locate craft beers you want to try. it will tell you the nearest bar that carries it and suggest other beers you might like, based on the ones you've already tracked. and it's a social site...you can see what beers your friends are trying and share a toast!
happy tasting!!

                                

                                 

^brews at the moerlein lager house^

^new fave only available in the south...boo^