Friday, October 15, 2010

A Little Fall Shopping is Called For, I Do Believe!

It was 43 degrees when I left for work this morning.  There was a bit of frost-ish stuff on my car. 

Ahhhh....Fall.

I'm ready for fires in the fireplace, and lots of heavy, warm supper in my belly :)  Like yummy pasta meals


and chili




and pot roast!



I'm also ready for cute little cotton or wool dresses, with leggings and boots.  I've already started wearing a few, but I need more.  I've found a few online at Target and Forever 21.  For under $30 I'm thinking they may fit the bill?












And pat the brakes, because Walmart is trying to get involved too....






Granted, they are a bit plain.  BUT...with leggings and fun boots or ballet flats and sparkly jewels they would work.  Wouldn't they?   I've also not seen them in person...but I plan to this weekend.  I plan to buy as much as possible for as little as possible :)  This will be a very different experience for me.  But...it could be fun!

And then, I will save so much money that I can purchase some fun jewels...such as these...













































I adore cheap jewels from Forever 21.  Don't you?  The only problem is if you REALLY love them, and wear them bunches, they don't last very long :(  Oh well.

I hope you all have a lovely weekend.  I'm excited about my dinner plans this evening, and then my shopping trip tomorrow.  Louis will be spending much of the weekend in bed, I believe.  He is recovering from a bit of a hangover.  Turns out he likes wine.  Bad, bad pups....


T

Thursday, October 14, 2010

I'm a Guest Blogger!

Well, don't you just know that because I'm so BEHIND in my blog reading this week I missed it!!!  I was honored to be asked to be a guest blogger for Kassie from Raindrops on Roses while she is away traveling.  AND.....guess what????

My post went up yesterday.  Oops!

Go read it HERE.  It's funny.  I promise.  Its about Surrogate Boyfriends. 

Every single girl needs one.

Tata,

T

Cooking Class #1 = Paella!

Last night was our very first cooking class!  Daisy hosted, and taught us to make paella.  It was absolutely delish, and so easy :) 

Marilyn Monroe's boyfriend is always encouraging her to cook more.  Like me, Marilyn cooks a few entrees, but doesn't have the confidence to do too much experimenting on her own.  So, she asked Daisy to teach us how to cook!  Daisy is and excellent cook.  She actually attended a "REAL" cooking class in Las Vegas, and this where she learned to make paella. 

Paella (Spanish pronunciation: [paˈeʎa]) is a Valencian rice dish that originated in its modern form in the mid-19th century near lake Albufera, a lagoon in Valencia, on the east coast of Spain.[1]

Since paella is from Spain, Marilyn Monroe and I brought wines from Spain to enjoy while cooking and during dinner.  I also brought a tasty little Virginia wine that I picked up on a wine trek this summer.  Since the pups were joining us for cooking class, I felt it was appropriate:



(don't you just love these wine glasses Daisy has? you write your name on them with a piece of chalk!)

We were sure to bring our aprons to wear so that we all looked the part:


Our paella had Chorizo sausage, shrimp, chicken, snow peas and jasmine rice.  Daisy added bunches of yummy spices as well....


I'm excited to host next week's cooking class.  Ridiculous, I know....  But, I do know how to make a few things, and I will be teaching the girls how to make cavatini from Italy.  Yummmmm!

In other news, I won a $35 gift certificate from CSN Stores!!!  Laurnie from From Orange County....To Country Road (formerly Some Wine With Cheese) hosted a giveaway, and I won!  I was so very excited because I've heard so much about this CSN Stores situation, and I wanted to shop there too :)  I've browsed the site, but decided to wait to see if I won before placing an order.  And when I did I knew JUST what I wanted.

Welcome to my life Virginia Tech cooler that I have been coveting for quite some time:


I have seriously seen people with these at games (and just out and about), and I have wanted one desperately.  I have a plain red one that I tote around, and I kept telling myself that it worked just fine.  I didn't NEED a new Virginia Tech one.  And then...Laurnie's giveaway came into my life.  So there.  That's my excuse :)

Too bad I won't have it to tote it over to Barbie's house tonight.  She is having a few of us over for supper to celebrate her pup's birthday.  Julep is a Tea Cup Pomeranian, and she weighs in at a total of 3.1lbs.  Louis adores her, and she adores Louis.  She actually taunts Louis, if the truth be told, and he loves every minute of it!  He can't ever catch her, but he surely does enjoy trying :) 

Hope you all are having a lovely Thursday!

T

Westie Wednesday - On Thursday. Again.

Bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz (that is the sound of a busy bee!)

I'm not complaining.  Because I'm making $$.  BUT...I sure would welcome a break to catch up on some of my blog loves, and what is going on in their lives.  I feel so left behind :(

Let's see here.....

Saturday Daisy and I took the pups to the farm to pick out our pumpkins!!!  They were very excited on the drive there:



(someone needs a haircut ASAP!)

I told you that Louis picked out our pumpkins, which he did.  BUT...what I did not tell you was about this pointer of sorts that mounted and attempted to BREED, or whatever, with Louis.  Ummm, hello!!  Louis is a B-O-Y.  Clearly that pointer was not paying attention to that rather important fact.  The owner of the farm said "Jack does not get off of the farm very often, I'm not sure he cares if Louis is a boy or a girl."  I was so overwhelmed after that, that Daisy had to prop me up on a bail of hay.


As you can tell, Louis is out of breath from trying to escape the clutches of the pointer.  It was all quite traumatic.

Monday Louis and I  went to the dog park.  Louis started out with the little pups, and then he cried at the fence to the big dog side.  So I let him go in with the big dogs.  Like German Shepherds and Pit Bulls.  And he had a lovely time.  And they trampled over him.  But he was happy.  So happy, that he proceeded to "mark" my backpack.  What gives?  Apparently Louis is very jealous when other pups try to meet me and have a pet on the head.  I am only allowed to give any love to Louis I suppose?

Tuesday was a very boring day in the life of Louis Wellington.

Wednesday, however, was trés fun!  Day care all day long, where he was sent back to the tea cup section because he was apparently beaten up by a Jack Russell.  Clearly the Jack Russell should have been put in time out, rather than punishing my little muffin who was NOT at fault in any way.  But whatever.  Louis didn't care.  He told all of the pups that he was attending cooking class that evening, and they were all jealous.  As they should be.  Because Louis is the best pup at day care.  The best pup in the world, actually.  But I digress....

(cooking class began with the pups announcing their attendance)

(after supper, Grace wanted to try on her pumpkin Halloween costume)

(Louis whined and cried.  he wanted to try on a costume as well.  be careful what you ask for LW.  you are now.....a BAT!)

(a bat with a cute little tongue!)

(oooohhhh...what are you G?  a devil??  yes i think so!)

(WAIT!  Louis wants to be a devil as well, please!)

(ahhh...the favorite outfit of the night.  Louis is a hula girl.)

(at one point Louis got so excited that he wanted to dance.  he's quite the dancer when he's in the mood.  Fred Astaire who?)

(finally, sweet Louis limped over to me and declared that it was his bed time.)

This morning he refused to get out of the bed.  He was too sleepy.  He is probably still sleeping.  That's just fine, because he is going to need his rest tonight :)

Today is Julep's birthday!! 


Tonight we will be heading over to Julep's house for supper and prezzies.  Louis has purchased Julep some yummy treats, and a little toy.  They are boyfriend and girlfriend, you see.  It's quite important that Louis be present and accounted for....

T

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Pardon Me. Could You Hand Me That Spatula?

Goodbye long weekend.  I will miss you so....

I had Monday off for Columbus Day :)  Ever since I read A People's History of the United States I have NOT been a fan of Christopher Columbus.  However, if my company wants to give me a day off...I'll take it!

Friday night I saw The Social Network. 


I highly recommend that you see it, but I wouldn't say it has to be seen in the theater.  The first 1/2 to 3/4 of the movie were FANTASTIC.   In truth, I didn't know the story of how Facebook came to be.  I had heard rumors, of course, but I didn't KNOW know.  Now I do :)  I like to know things.  However, I was ready for it to be over before it was.  Never a good sign :(  BUT....it is definitely a must see....when it comes out on DVD.  Or, if you can't stand to wait to see it (as I couldn't), have at it.  I don't think you will be too disappointed.

We went to dinner at a local Mediterranean restaurant, where I had Chicken Souvlaki. 


Then, we walked over to a historic theater in town to see the movie.  Dinner was delish, and as I said...I did enjoy the movie.  Then it was off to a local dive bar for a few cocktails before heading home!

Saturday Daisy and I took our pups to a local farm to pick out our pumpkins! 


I got a regular sized pumpkin for me, and a mini pumpkin for Louis.  Louis was given the assignment of sniffing out the very best pumpkins for us to bring home:


He took his job very seriously, and in the end we were both very pleased with the pumpkins he chose!  More on our visit to the farm AND our day at the dog park tomorrow for Westie Wednesdsay....

Saturday night was The Voice of Reason and Mr. Swiss' wedding reception!!  As I mentioned before, they were married a few weeks ago in Barbados:



Lucky girl got to wear her wedding gown a SECOND time when she celebrated with all of us over the weekend :)


(Mr. Swiss and The Voice of Reason having their "second" First Dance)

(TVoR asked her besties to wear red shoes to the reception, to serve as non-bridesmaids.  I was so honored to be included!)


(we had a good time Saturday night.  i'm pretty sure this picture speaks for itself.)


(please don't ask why i have leaves sticking out of my dress.  but, here's an "up close" of the jewels and color of my dress.  it's photographs terribly!  )

Sunday I was feeling under the weather.  It had ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do with the fact that I had a few cocktails on Saturday night. Nothing I tell you!

BFF and her husband stayed the night at my house Saturday night.  They live out in the "country", so they cabbed it downtown and then back to my house with me.  We all slept in, and then they headed home and left me on the couch.  Saturday I watched 27 episodes of NCIS and 14 episodes of Criminal Minds.  Okay, okay...perhaps I'm exaggerating.  But it was close!  I also discovered Lifetime Movies free OnDemand.   Great.  I plan to see a lot of Tori Spelling in the near future.


Monday was laundry and dishes and Kroger and dog park and reading and more TV. 

I have zero excuse to not be 100% rested and ready for the week!  Which is a good thing.  Because I've got a VERY exciting and busy week ahead :)  My week may, or may not, even include a cooking class :-o 


More on that later.

Toodles!

T