Cajun Style Super Bowl Party

Disclaimer: In honor of SUPERBOWL WEEKEND, I've decided to repost last year's post about hosting a Cajun themed party for the big day! I hope you enjoy it!

We're kicking it up "Cajun Style" for the Super Bowl this weekend at our house!!

Normally, when we have football parties at our house, I go all out with appetizers.  I mean, all. out.  I probably make about 15 different things and most of the time, guests bring things, too, so there is always plenty of food.

THIS YEAR, Wayne and some friends of ours have gotten on a shrimp kick so they've decided we're going to have SHRIMP for the Super Bowl on Sunday. Well, last Saturday night, I'm laying in bed because I can't sleep, and this awesome idea hits me!  Why not make it a "Cajun style" party?!  Making just a handful of dishes instead of 15 different things would be SO much easier!  And then!  In the words of Emerill, BAM!  An idea was born!

Here are my five favorite Cajun Dishes for a Super Bowl party!

{one.}  Gumbo.  With lots of rice.  Maybe you'd think being from Louisiana, I would have this AWESOME gumbo recipe.  And I do!  Except it comes out of a package and I won't apologize because it's the best darn gumbo this side of NOLA in my book!  I use Black Magic gumbo mix to feed my peeps and we are known to add a little Tabasco or Tony's from time to time to give it that extra kick!!  It's SO easy!  All you have to do is add chicken and sausage.  And you don't have all that okra and tomatoes floating around!  Bleh!  Just a nice brown, Cajun roux with your choice of meat.  Perfecto!  I must say that it makes alot and that's why I like to serve it for crowds.  The three of us can have leftovers for serveral days, but most of the time, I freeze it for another meal later.

{two.}  Natchitoches Meat Pies.  You don't know what you're missing if you've never tried one!  Natchitoches Meat Pies are a staple here in Louisiana!  My favorite ones are stuffed with hamburger and sausage and lots of spices, but they come in all kinds of varieties.  And even though I've made these several times on my own, I really prefer the store bought mini meat pies, due to the time saving.  You can find them in your local freezer section.  And I highly recommend Hidden Valley Ranch's Spicy Ranch Dressing as a dipping sauce!  

{three.}  We have a thing here we call, Low Country Boil.  It consists of setting a big ol' pot on a gas or butane burner outside, filling it with water and lots and lots of cajun - creole seasoning {we call it "crab mix" where I live because there is a picture of a crab on the box}, getting the water to a RAGIN CAJUN boil and then throwing in shrimp, corn, andouille sausage, and potatoes.  I have a sneaky feeling this is what Wayne has in mind to do this weekend for the game! In the Spring, we'll do the exact same thing, only we'll use crawfish instead of shrimp.  Or maybe even both!

{picture source HERE}

{four.}  Etouffee.  One of the first recipes I ever posted on my blog was for Etouffee.  You can check out the recipe HERE.  One of my mother's friends gave her this recipe and it was a treat when Moma made it when I was growing up because it meant that "company was coming!"  She would make this and invite our neighbors down the street over and the kids would play outside till dark while the grown ups played cards inside.  Fun times!

{five.}  Every party needs something sweet and with all this good food, there's only ONE Cajun dessert that will work, and that's KING CAKE!!  Love, love, love me some King Cake!!  I've even made it before, but it's just not the same as an original cake from South Louisiana!  If you're interested in trying a low-fat version of King Cake using cinnamon rolls in a can, click HERE!  The great thing about King Cakes is that you can actually order them from bakeries in South Louisiana, but the shipping can be preeettty pricey!!  Here are some of my favorite bakeries to purchase King Cakes:

Manny Randazzo King Cakes

Gambino's

The Ambrosia Bakery

{picture source HERE}

Watch out for that baby in the cake!  Tradition says that whoever gets the baby has to make the King Cake next year!!

Happy Super Bowl Weekend!  I hope your team wins!!

P.S. I'm taking blog questions and I will answer them next week in a post! Leave me a question in the comments!

Happy Friday!

I can't tell you how glad I am for this week to be over.  I've been a day ahead all week and we all know how disappointing it is to walk in your daughter's bedroom to wake her up for school thinking it's Thursday, when it's really only Wednesday! Ugh!

     


{one.}

Whatever happens, I am making THIS for the Bama v. Ole Miss game this weekend!  These things look so darn yummy!!

It's FALL, it's FOOTBALL SEASON and this crazy mama is craving some ooey-goodness!!  Now, I know we're probably going to lose {Shh!  Don't tell our Ole Miss friends I said that!} and since the game is so late, I'll probably fall asleep and Wayne will be so mad at me, but at least my tummy will be happy! For all my local peeps, Neighborhood Walmart has the Honey Crisp apples in and they look really good.  That's what I plan to use for this recipe!

True story: Last year, we invited some Ole Miss friends over to watch the game in the theater room and we lost.  I had to hear about it all football season, of course from Mr. Horton.  So after Ole Miss beat their opponent 73 to something two weeks in a row already this season, Wayne texted Barry and said, "You are NOT invited over next weekend.  Not no, but hell no."  Of course, Barry says he's still coming over.  We'll see.

{two.}

Speaking of football, this story that came out Sunday just infuriated me!  I know some of you enjoy NFL and I use to, too, until the players started getting too cocky and all the money started going to their heads and they started beating their wives and killing their children and carrying guns and getting DWIs.  I may watch a Saints game every now and then {to support Mark Ingram, Alabama Boy #22} or turn on Monday Night Football for some "noise," but I don't watch NFL much anymore.  Having said that, did you see this?

I am a HUGE Amari Cooper fan because he played for Alabama last year.  He is one of the most humbled players you will ever meet and just wants to play the game.  So when Pac-Man Jones did this to him and was only slapped on the wrist for his actions, this Mama's blood began to boil!  HOT, y'all!!  A BIG FAT PINK MONSTER NAMED PINKY NEEDS TO COME EAT MR. PAC-MAN JONES!!!  He should be kicked out of the NFL in my opinion!

{three.}

I really hate that I can't give you the link to the post, but as I was reading this week, I came across this skirt and I am in LOVE!!  I mentioned a few Fridays ago that I want some faux leather leggings {still looking!} and I believe suede and leather skirts are making a comeback!  Can you say HELLO 80's & 90's?! Gosh, y'all, I can't TELL you how excited I am about this!  When I was a junior and senior in high school, I had a black leather mini skirt - faux, of course - and a purple suede mini skirt - because that's my favorite color - and let me just say that I could rock those skirts!  LOVED wearing those skirts with tights and boots! Of course, that was during my eating disorder days and I had gotten down to a size 3! My mom has a picture of me at Christmas opening presents with the purple skirt on and I was so thin.  Too thin. So anyway, a size 3 probabaly won't be happening again anytime soon, but I can't make any promises about a suede skirt!  I'm determined to find this one at Nordstrom when I'm in Dallas next month!

{four.}

One morning before work, I stopped at Walmart to get a good look at Pioneer Woman's new dish ware.  I knew it was "officially" out because I began seeing pictures all over FB and Twitter of people in Arkansas getting their picture made with Ree.  Whell.  There wasn't much left of it in the teeny tinest section for it in our store!!

Guess I'm not the only one in my town that loves Pioneer Woman!  I didn't buy anything.  I'm one of those people that like to see it all laid out before I decide. I already have red dishes, so I guess I'm leaning more toward the turquoise, but I'm not sure if I want to mix match the pieces or just have a solid collection.

{five.}

It's no secret that I'm a big reader.  And it's ALSO no secret that I'm totally crushed that my one and only offspring hates it as much as she does!  I digress. So anyway, I wanted to let you bookworms out there know that two new books are coming out by popular authors!

See Me by Nicholas Sparks

Rogue Lawyer by John Grisham

Both books come out next month and of course, I plan on reading both!

No Friday night footballs games means family night at home.  Tonight I'm making one of Alise's favorites, Pizza Cups, for supper - quick and easy - and one of Wayne's favorites for dessert, Peanut Butter Tassies.  I'm getting my favorite on Saturday with an appointment to the nail salon before the Auburn v. LSWho game.  For the Bama game, we're having sliders, corn dip, and a bunch of other munchy stuff and then on Sunday, I'll be helping Alise with a WONDERFUL little reading project made out of a freakin' PIZZA BOX!!  Would anyone like to come help a Sister out? And just before you decide, the subject is Anne freakin' Frank!!

Y'all enjoy your weekend!  If Bama loses Saturday night, y'all know it won't be a good day Sunday at our house with a pizza box and Anne Frank!

Friday Favorites For The Last Week Of August

Happy Friday, Peeps!

By the time some of you read this, I'll be in the doctor's office finding out if I'll be saying #byefelicia this week!  This could be the day! #fingerscrossed In the meantime, here's a few things that I'm loving on this last Friday in August!

{one.} flared jeans. I'm telling my age here, but when I was growing up, we called these jeans "bell bottoms." And every time I see someone wearing them, I think of John Travolta in "Saturday Night Fever." {You young girlies will have to look that one up! I must be having a "moment," because this is the second time that I've mentioned the '70s this week!} Last Spring at Jennifer's Cabi party, she showed me these "bell bottom" jeans that she was hoping to get through her party discount.  I remember thinking, "You're wanting bell bottoms?!" She told me they were coming back in style and I was like, "Yea, we'll see." Well, seeing is believing, Girlies, and whatever you call them, flared jeans are back in style and now I officially want a pair!  The thing is, Jennifer has got about four inches on me and she can pull them off!  I'm not sure I can, but I can try and here are just a few pairs that I'm liking!

                       
                          7 For All Mankind            7 For All Mankind                NYDJ

The pair on the right is my favorite because they resemble the Cabi pair that's no longer available. If I were to get a pair, my sweet Mama would probably have to cut off five yards and re-hem them for me!  And let me just go ahead and say that I have rather expensive tastes when it comes to bell bottoms!

{two.} I like to share posts that I've enjoyed during the week because it gives y'all the opportunity to meet a new blogger or read a post from someone that you've never read before.  Having said that, if you like to cook as much as I do, then you should follow Mandy over at South Your Mouth.  I can't tell you how many of her recipes I've pinned and tried!  They are all wonderful!  So when Mandy posted this amazing looking Chicken Lazone recipe earlier this week, I nearly started hyperventilating!  I can not WAIT to try this recipe to get my carb fix!!

{three.} Earlier this week, Caycee posted this leopard dress on her blog and being the Leopard Queen that I am, I fell in love with it and ordered it!  I'm not sure about the turtleneck, but I'll try it and see.  Can't wait for this to come in the mail!!  I can totally see this as a dress {if it's not too short, of course!} or with leggings and boots!

{four.} mental health days. Y'all.  For the sake of my family and my own state of mind, I decided to take a mental health day from work. And when I told my wonderful boss that I was taking a day off in the middle of the week, I felt like a new woman! Just the mere THOUGHT of having an entire day to myself boosted my mood tremendously!  So after I dropped Alise off at school, I grocery shopped and had supper in the crock pot by 10:30! In the  morning! I shopped, had lunch, took a nap and read. I never turned the TV on, the house was quiet and it was absolute bliss!  Alise had cheer practice after school, so I didn't have to fight the car pick up line or the road construction in front of the school, either! Bliss, I tell ya! A wonderful day all to myself!

That's all I've got this week, peeps! We have a rather quiet weekend planned with a football game tonight and a date night for Saturday.  Alise's Big Sis from last year is staying with her while we're out and she is so pumped about Annie coming to the house. I'm also happy to report that our Alabama cousins will be visiting us over Labor Day weekend! Nothing's better than watching Bama football with our family and I can't wait for all the college games to begin!

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Friday Favorites: Back To School Teacher Happies

I'm a little sad about school starting.  This is Alise's last year in elementary school and my last year to rack my brain to come up with a little happy for her new teacher. Not a single year has gone by that Alise hasn't carried her teacher a little something to put a smile on her face - even in the pre-Pinterest years! But like I said, it's the last year for such hoopla because it would be oh-so embarrassing for a sweet middle school girl to carry something to her teacher on the first day of school {insert grin and eye roll}!

So today for my Friday Favorites post, I thought I'd share some of the little happies Alise has blessed her teachers with over the past few years! And if you're in to such things, maybe it will spark an idea and your creativity, too!

In Pre-K4, we gave Ms. L this cute sticky note pad that I got off Etsy {that's when Etsy was all the rage!}. I loved it because of the acrylic backboard and the sticky notes could always be replaced.

For Kindergarten, I decided to get my craft mojo on and I made these simple sleeves to go over a standard Hershey's candy bar.  I found all the cherry bling on the dollar aisle of Michael's.  I've actually made candy bar sleeves several times for her teachers as little happies through out the year.

Ok.  First grade?  I went all out!  Now remember, this was still before Pinterest, but it never hurts to google "back to school teacher gifts" for ideas.  And that's what I did!  This was a "project"!

In second grade, I sorta had a inside "connection," and I knew just what kind of cookies her teacher liked!  That year, Alise's classroom was decorated in a jungle/monkey theme and so I put some mini no-bake oatmeal chocolate cookies in a jar and decorated with school colors.

This was the only picture I could find for third grade, but our little happy that year was similar to first grade except I decided to make a vase using colored pencils for fresh flowers.  Mrs. R loved it!

For fourth grade, I didn't take a picture of our happy, but this was the theme we used.  I bought one of the big cookies from McAllister's and stuck a similar card with it.  You have to be careful with food items, though, because that's the day that I found out Ms. O was a diabetic!  Ugh! #teacherfail But she assured me she could eat it.

So do you do happies for your teachers for the new school year?  It's more common with younger children, I think, but it's a tradition that I want to keep doing for at least one more year.  I haven't decided what I'm giving for fifth grade yet, but I've asked my friend Leigh to help.  She has one of those fancy-shmancy machines that does monograms and cutouts.  Of course, I'll let you know what I decide.

Enjoy the weekend!

Five Friday Favorites On Friday

I oh-so hope that this first Friday in July and Friday before Independence Day bring a smile to your face! I think some of you are getting to enjoy a long weekend and what better reason to celebrate?!

Today I'm linking up with these lovies to get the party started!


        

{one.} I PROMISE this will be the last time you hear me mention this three letter word for a long time. Dip.  Dip, dip, dip, dip, dip! I talked about it on my post last Friday and again on Monday, but it is what it is!  It's a NEW Friday, a NEW Friday Favorite post and IT'S WHAT I'M LOVING RIGHT NOW! You gotta make this Bacon Corn Dip! It's a new recipe that I found on Pinterest and let me just say that it ranks right up there with some Spinach Artichoke Dip in my book! Y'all know everything takes better with bacon!  Parents at our party last weekend devoured this stuff and it will defintely be making another appearance on our menu this weekend!!   I've just introduced you to your new go-to appetizer for football season as well! That's it. Dip rant ovah!

{two.} Crockpot liner bags. I love to use my crockpot, y'all!  And being a working mom, it comes in SO handy during the week for fast, home-cooked meals. But I admit, I use to be a crockpot snob when it came to liner bags. I really just thought they were a waste of money. Notice I said, "use to be." This past weekend, I made some cheese dip for Alise's softball team and I just didn't want that cheese funk in my crockpot!  You know what I'm talking about. That line of dried cheese that circles the pot?  So I went to two different stores and finally found some and what a difference they make!  You just pick up the bag at the end of the party or meal and that's it!  Voila'!! I will forever be investing in crockpot liner bags! You can get a box of four at Walmart for less than $2!

{three.} Crockpot Mexican Chicken. And speaking of new recipes and liner bags, I used BOTH on Sunday night for dinner. Another recipe that I've seen all over Pinterest is the one with the chicken, the beans, the corn, some seasoning and a block of cream cheese all cooked in the crockpot. I think everyone calls it something different and I've pinned several varieties, but I decided to go with Elizabeth's version at All Kinds of Things. OH MY GOODNESS! This one pot meal was SO good!  Of course, my bunch had issues: Alise didn't like the black beans {I only used half a can} and Wayne didn't think it was spicy enough {I used a can of mild rotel, but I guess I'll use the HOT version next time, because, oh, yes!  There WILL BE a next time!!}, but they ate theirs with tortillas like a burrito and I ate mine over Spanish Rice and it was delish!  I even took leftovers to work the next day! Totally moving this pin to our Horton Family Favorites board on Pinterest!!

Used with permission.  Click HERE.

{four.} Moving on to books, now.  I finished Elin Hilderbrand's new book, The Rumor, earlier this week and loved it! It was like reading the National Enquirer of Nantucket!  Ha! I actually could have finished it in a weekend, but alas, duty called, even with Felicia! But I loved this book and it's a perfect read for the beach, which is what Hilderbrand's known for.

{five.} Gilmore Girls with Alise. I've been reading everyone's Netflex lists of shows to watch - and in some cases, RE-watch - and I came across Gilmore Girls. I actually think I meant to begin with Gossip Girls, but somehow it all got lost in translation.  Anyway, it's such a sweet show {so far. I noticed the first season is rated PG} and Alise came on the scene and started watching it with me at episode 3. She is addicted to the show! She knows the theme song by heart! And every afternoon when I pick her up from camp, she asks, "So? Can we go home and watch Gilmore Girls?" She has become the "Queen of Binge Watching"! I had no idea that Melissa McCarthy was in it, either. So, anyway, if you're looking for a great show to watch with your pre-teen daughter, then I recommend this one {at least the first season}!

HAVE A WONDERFUL 4TH OF JULY HOLIDAY, PEEPS!  We'll be entertaining by the pool and I know for sure the ONE thing {well, besides the Bacon Corn Dip, of course!} that will be on our menu and that's Homemade Butterfinger Ice Cream!  Yum! It's a Horton family recipe and I'll be sharing it next week! And if you're STILL looking for menu ideas, be sure to check out The Pioneer Woman's Menu For the 4th!  It looks so yummy that I just want to cook it all!! Or at least have a little taste test!  

Blessings for a safe and happy holiday to you all!

Other posts you may enjoy from this week are: Coffee Talk With Felicia & DIY: 4th of July Firecrackers.

Five on Friday: Favorite Dips

Earlier this week, Alise's softball coach sent a text that our end-of-the-year party will be this Saturday evening at a local pizzeria.  Now, I have to admit, I got a little sad.  Normally the party is at our house because of the pool and the cook shack and it turns into a great time for the kids and the parents.  I didn't say anything to Wayne about how disappointed I was that we couldn't host this year because of my accident.  Fast forward to Wednesday when Wayne calls me during the day and says, "Uh?  I think I'm gonna tell Clay that we can just have the party at our house!"  

{Insert smiley face}

We LOVE to entertain and have friends over so when Wayne told me that the party had been moved to our house, I knew I had to act fast.  Luckily, pizza was still on the menu and I called up a local bakery and ordered cupcakes to look like softballs.  Done.

Or so I thought.

My mind started racing for snack foods - mostly for the parents.  I mean, how many kids get out of the pool for dip and appetizers? I might be surprised.

I hadn't planned on posting a "Five on Friday/Favorites" post today until I started thinking about all the great dip recipes that we love and BAM!  A post was born!  Enjoy!

{And I would like to take this opportunity to apologize for not having any mouth-watering pics to go along with these wonderful recipes, but I didn't want to get arrested for copyright laws while I'm trying to plan a party, so just take my word for it and click on the links!}

{one.} Spinach Artichoke Dip.  If you do not have a Copeland's of New Orleans restaurant in your area, find one, run to it, and order the Spinach Artichoke Dip with Bowtie Pasta.  I promise you will NOT be disappointed!  Living 300 miles away from NOLA, Copeland's is one of the best restaurants in our area for cajun cuisine. We DEVOUR this stuff, y'all! Now.  About the recipe.  I've made this before and it turned out just like the dish at the restaurant.  But I will tell you this: it's a lot of work.  But to me, it's oh-so worth it!! You can leave out the bowtie pasta part if you want because it's excellent with chips or, another favorite of mine, bruschetta bread.

{two.} Laura's Fruit Dip.  Ha!  What a chef-worthy name, right?  Hey!  But you're going to LOVE this!  TWO ingredients!  I promise! Buy 8 ounces of cream cheese and let it get room temperature.  Mix it with 7 ounces of marshmellow cream and serve with fruit!  Easy, peasy!  And I WILL be serving it this Saturday night in a hulled out pineapple boat.  So cute!

{three.} Mississippi Sin Dip. In Louisiana, we call this, "Apache Bread," and I love, love, love this dip!  Especially with a glass of wine. However, in the wonderful world of Pinterest, it's called Mississippi Sin Dip.  Let's not draw lines in the sand, now girls! WHATEVER you call it, it's awesome and a perfect appetizer for entertaining!  Click HERE for my version or HERE for the version I found on Pinterest.

{four.} Buffalo Chicken Dip. Okay, I don't know about y'all, but I really don't care for meat in my dips.  Maybe in queso. But that's just me.  So when Angie told me she was bringing Buffalo Chicken Dip over one time for a party, I was like, "Hmmm...?!" {Insert confused face} But I tried it!  And discovered that I really, really like it!  It's more of a "man's dip" to me, but it's easy, it's got a nice flavor with a KICK!  And we like our food spicy!!  My favorite recipe is by Christy Jordan, also known for her phenomenal website, Southern Plate.  Click HERE for her Buffalo Chicken Dip recipe!  And if you're not following Christy on Facebook or Instagram, well, you should be!  I love her cookbook, Southern Plate, too. Check it out HERE.

{I'm beginning to see a pattern.  I think we like cheese.  And alot of it!}

{five.} Cherry Cheesecake Dip.  I discovered this dip around the holidays last year.  I found the recipe on Pinterest and took it to a New Year's Eve party at Leigh's and it was a HIT!  Everyone loved it!  I think it would be absolutely PERFECT for your 4th of July parties!  I might even make it for ours next week, too!  Click HERE for the link!

If you decide to try one of these great dip appetizers over the next few weeks, leave me a comment and let me know how you liked it.

Be sure to stop by next week! Felicia will be taking over the reins of the blog one day for your reading pleasure. I may regret it.

I hope you have a fun summer weekend for the last one of June!  Just think! Christmas is in SIX months!!

                                           

   

My Top Five For Hawaii

If you're stopping by from the Friday link ups, THANK YOU and I would love to hear from you!  If you're one of my faithful readers {I love you!}, then I know you are sick to death of the H-word.  I promise, promise, promise, after this post, there will be no more mentions of Hawaii, a cruise, or anything else related to it.

Until I get back!  Ha!

    

                                                      

Today I thought I'd share five things that I'll be taking on the cruise with me. Let's do it!

{one.} A Bikini. Y'all.  I'm 42 years old, celebrating my twentieth wedding anniversary and I'm embarrassed to tell you that I bought a bikini to wear to Hawaii {and, no, the picture below is NOT the one I bought, although I think it's rather cute, but a little too skimpy for me}.  Why am I embarrassed?  I. don't. know.  But just don't expect to see any pictures of me in it.  The truth is, Wayne wanted me to buy one.  He asked me one night when we were talking about the trip, "If this was our honeymoon {which we're telling everyone it is because we didn't go anywhere that special twenty years ago}, would you have worn a bikini then?"  I had to stop and think.  Twenty years ago, I weighed this, I wore a size that, my boobs looked like this..."Yea, yea!  I think I might have worn one back then." To which he replied, "%$@#, yes you would have worn one back then!"  Y'all, there's something to be said for a man that still loves his woman's body.  He is my biggest cheerleader!  When I think I look my worst, he makes me feel like I look my best!  Love you, Babe {I just begged him please, please don't let me embarrass myself by wearing something I shouldn't! I'm just really self-conscious about it}!

{two.} Sunglasses. If Mr. Horton was all gushy about the bikini, he was NONE to happy to find out that I've misplaced my Costa Del Mar sunglasses.  He actually bought them for me for our anniversary a few years ago.  Now, I say, misplaced because I just KNOW they are in a purse somewhere in my closet - even though I went through all my purses this past weekend and only found the case they came in.  It's the EXACT reason I tried to persuade him NOT to buy them for me!  I can't keep up with sunglasses!  I'm so much better off just buying the cheap ones!  So this weekend, I'll be making another swipe through all my purses and looking in every nook and cranny for the Costa Del Mars. Wish me luck {I've already packed a few cheap pair in case I don't find them}!

{three.} Dancing Shoes.  I grew up Baptist and if you know anything about Baptists - MISSIONARY Baptists, to be exact - they don't dance.  Or, SAY they don't dance.  Remember the trip to Natchez with my girl friends?  Remember I told you how much '80's music the band played?  Yea, well!  WE DANCED {and we also woke up the next morning saying we were too old for it - ha!}! And I can assure you that I'll be donning the dancing shoes on the cruise! Wayne and I love to dance and it's a romantic way to spend the evening after dinner.  In my opinion. Maybe it's too cliche or seventy-ish to mention dinner and dancing. But I'm not talking about DWTS or any tangos or waltzes. The cruise has got several hot spots on board that we can make this happen!

{four.} A book. You may be thinking, a book?  On a cruise?  In Hawaii? I'm actually hoping to spend a few afternoons on the beach or around the pool doing absolutely nothing but sunning, enjoying a nice umbrella drink, and reading a juicy book. Does anyone have any suggestions for the perfect book? Besides, I need a great read for that 8 hour plane ride that I'm oh-so dreading.

{five.} A big suitcase.  Ok.  I'm reaching here, but it's the truth.  Right now we're down to one HUGE suitcase and one carry-on each.  But I'm thinking another suitcase maybe needed.  I simply have too many dancing shoes and too many products!  What can I say?  Does anyone else have horrible thoughts of your plane exploding in the air and when they investigate why it exploded, it was because of YOUR can of hairspray? Of course, I'd be dead so it really wouldn't matter.  Needless to day, I'm packing a "trial size" can of hairspray. So if the plane DOES explode, maybe it won't be too bad and the pilot can land that sucker.  But, wait!  We'll be over the freakin' ocean!!!

So what does everyone have planned for the weekend?  Anything special?  We have a retirement party to go to and I've got to spend my Ulta coupon {20% off the name brands that I use.  They only do it a few times a year so I stock up} by Saturday.  And Alise really needs her bangs trimmed, but other than that, it looks to be another rainy and relaxing weekend!  I hope you enjoy yours, too!

Top Five On Friday

We made it, y'all!  The first five days of school after FOUR snow days and a week off for Spring Break!  Woohoo!  I have SUCH a feeling of accomplishment!! I'm linking up today with these blogs to celebrate the end of the week!

{one.} Last week, I read this awesome post by Andrea at Tabler Party of Two. I can't tell you how much I needed to read that after the feelings of guilt and failure I had due to taking Alise to the neurologist last week.  You can read my post HERE. Honestly, I don't dwell on what people think about me.  Either you like me or you don't.  Having said that, I certainly don't go around thinking about the legacy I'll leave or what people will say about me once I've left this earth.  But what DID get me about Andrea's post was when she said, "...I'm suppose to pass the love of the Lord my God to my children..."  What a reminder!  Of course, my first thoughts were, Welp!  I've failed again!  But ya know what?  I am so determined to do a better job of this!  My goal this upcoming week is to some how, some way, by the Grace of God alone, pass on something to Alise this week!  I will do this!

{two.} I mentioned last week that I really needed a date night or a girls night out with my friends.  Well, guess what?!  I GOT BOTH!! We had a triple date last Friday night at one of our favorite restaurants.  There were a few moments of panic when Wayne and I got to P & A's house to pick them up and their babysitter had not arrived. Unfortunately, the babysitter had gotten the nights confused, but luckily, Wayne was able to find another sitter for them and we only ended up being fifteen minutes late for our reservation.

I had such a good time visiting with my friends and getting out of the house for a while.  The food was great!  We had everything from fried green tomatoes, to oysters, to shrimp and steak.

{three.}  I got up early, early on Saturday morning and started preparing a brunch for my crazy friends that ran in a 5K in freezing temps!  If you want to read more about it, you can click HERE.

{four.} I listen to XM radio while I'm in the car.  My favorite stations are the 80's {of course!}, the 90's, and The Highway - which is country music {I listen to a few other stations, too, but these are the three that I listen to the most}. On my way to work Monday, the DJ was telling the story of an NFL player who got his laptop mixed up with a high school principal's laptop in the airport security line.  He ended up finding her by googling her name and when their schedules conflicted, hopped on a plane and FLEW TO HER SCHOOL!!  And then ended up staying and visiting with the kids! You may be thinking, what has this got to do with anything?  My point: there is still some goodness in the world. And let's face it, the NFL needs all the good publicity it can get these days!! Check out the story HERE.

{five.} I'm kinda late to the contouring party, but it's all the makeup buzz right now!  Do you contour?  I do - to some extent - but I use three different products.  I'll share those in another post, but if you're like me, you're thinking that having it all in one compact would be kinda nice to have.  I made a run to Sephora on my lunch break this week specifically for the Two Faced contouring kit, but they didn't have it.  I use several Two Faced products and I like the brand, so that was my reason for choosing that one.  But once I got in the store, I saw this similar contouring palette, but I had never heard of the brand. Does anyone use this contouring kit by Anastasia?  I liked the "pinkier" shades it has.

anastasia contour kit

Two faced contour kit

And speaking of makeup, remember my big MASCARA DEBATE post?  Well, my trial size of They're Real has run out and it's time for a new one.  While I was in Sephora, I saw this mascara and I think it's going to be the next one I try. Does anyone use this mascara?  If so, let me know if you liked it or not.

That's all I've got today, Peeps!  Have a great weekend!  I'll be back on Monday with my menu and some great info about how to make THIS RECIPE! Oh my, it was SO good!!