Sunday Brunch

I want to go to Sunday brunch. Not just an ordinary place. Some place special - with class and charm of the Holy City. I'd like to have something traditional like a Bloody Mary, wear a cute outfit and sit out on the waterway. Maybe some place that looks like this:

Stop. Look. And Listen.

That is what I have managed to do with my life in the last year. Life's been difficult. A total adjustment in so many shapes and sizes until is unfathomable at how people live their life without totally jumping from the highest point of any bridge. The funny thing is, it's all right.

I've been gone for so long and I miss the blog life. Not sure how much time I can spend on here, but I'd like to be welcomed back with open arms.

Here is a bullet of the last months:

* I'm going to be a GiGi. - That is a young person's version of a grandmother.
* Chef Ed's parents are still kickin' but his dad is not well which is very concerning to all of us.
* My office had a major move and I survived coordinating it all.
* We have not been back to Mexico this year. SAD, SAD, face!!
* Fall Foliage is the best vacation we can do in a few weeks.
* My best friend's marriage is circling the drain.

Enough, eh? The beauty of it all is that I have managed to live through it. God's plan is so much bigger and it has taken me this long to figure it out.

See ya in a couple of days!

Holy Nutella!

I have been on the biggest Nutella kick!

A little dab smeared over a Nature's Valley Granola Bar is the ultimate breakfast! I need to Google some recipe ideas on this stuff!

I sure wish I had a cup of Starbuck's coffee to go with this!

So Busy!

Time has not permitted me to post much since we've been back from our holiday. We are so much in the vacation mode until we are trying to figure out where we are going next. I honestly think that we are addicted to travel - or perhaps - addicted to just having time away.

Softball is back in full swing and with practice 3 nights a week, piano, church, one teenager turning into a high school senior next year, my world is crazy busy.

Soon, I hope to post a few more pictures of our trip but I need to get them all downloaded first. I would like to make a keepsake photo book of all our vacations individually so we can have those forever. Even if it means placing them on a shelf with all of the cookbooks (and dust) and glancing through them every once in a while.

At least the weather is warming up and we are expected to reach 77 this weekend! This is one of my favorite times of the year. Not too hot; not too cold. I am feeling the urge to plant our garden soon!!

Back To Life...

I'm back at work and my mind is definitely elsewhere. What I would really like to be doing is taking a nap on the beach. Is that too much to ask for?

Welcome To Holbox - I have an El Norte to give you!

You heard it straight from the mouth of Mother Nature! She presented us with the most amazing El Norte today/tonight.

We awoke to mostly cloudy skies this morning and after walking into town the rain became torrential. Lucky for us, THAT episode was short lived. We were able to visit most of the places that we held close to our hearts from our visit one year ago only to find that many changes have taken place in such a short period of time.

They don't track the weather here; you're better off asking a local fisherman for any direction on that. There was some talk amongst the rumor mill that a norte would be blowing through today and my, oh my, were we able to see the mighty hand of God at His finest. The wind picked up and shortly after, we were able to be a part of one of the strongest storms this tiny island has seen in years! The wind here tonight is blowing like mad, the ocean has enveloped itself into one of the pools at one of the local beachfront hotels and most of the first story rooms are flooded.

Fisherman were dragging in nets and moving boats inland and it reminded me of how us folks in the lowcountry prepare for a hurricane. I appreciate the fact that we normally travel to facilities that have small kitchenettes so cooking is an option for us because tonight, town was shut down completely. We are in hopes that things will resume to normal tomorrow along with locals assessing their damage.

Anyway, I'll close for now only to say that I am thankful that we were able to witness such an amazing sight today! Night, all!

Just A Little Piece Of Paradise

Well, we're finally here. Holbox has seen the face of us once again and we are just as much in awe as we were the first time we laid eyes on this place. It's been a long day of travel - the absolute ONLY downfall of traveling here - but we are calling it an early night so we can be all refreshed in the morning.

Right now, the town is quiet and all we hear is the sound of the ocean in the background. We are literally a stone's throw away from the water. The ocean is sounding kinda angry tonight because rumor has it; the tail end of a el norte is blowing in. It's so peaceful and almost lullaby like.

I'm able to get a wireless signal in our room this time so I'll try to blog as much as possible. When I'm online, I'm going to be blogging and emailing the girls only. There will be no Facebooking it, etc.. This trip is going to be one of reflection and reconnection. My contact with all of the other stuff that seems to clog my life artery will have to take a back seat for a week.

I think everyone will be okay with that.

So Much To Do - So Little Time!

This could potentially be the last post that I am able to make before leaving on our magical vacation. I am beginning the phase of butterflies in my stomach because I have so much to do before we leave. I have last minute shopping to do, pet sitter appointments, taking care of Mr. How Many Shorts Will I Need, polish change on fingers and toes (VERY important), and checking my list twice for all of those other things that fall in between.

I have no idea why I stress out before vacation. I have to convince myself that I truly do deserve this time away and I WILL be a much better mother, co-worker, etc. when I return, right?? As a side bar- I miss my girls so terribly much until I have an ache in my heart when we are away. Ahh, the joys of being a mother, spouse, organizer - and anything else you can think of...

I have a few good books packed and I plan on spending a little "me" time getting reconnected spiritually along with being hopeful that my mind will be open to hearing what needs to be said to me. I'm excited about it!

For now, I'll be praying for safe travels and warm weather.

It Was All Fun And Games....

...until we lost power! My friend, Kim, could not have put it more perfectly.


Yes, we were able to temporarily live in the Snowcountry for about 36 hours, which, I might add, was 36 hours too long for me!


Snow blanketed the the Lowcountry of South Carolina Friday night and dumped 6 inches at our house. We all glared out the windows and doors in awe of what Mother Nature treated us to. With our one log of firewood left, we burned that baby in celebration of the largest snowfall in over a decade. Then, at the drop of a hat, DARKNESS fell upon us. Power gone. Heat gone. Last piece of firewood GONE!


I was suddenly jolted back to reality of WHY I love the SOUTH so much; the warmth, the charm, sandy beaches, seaside dining. What planet was I on when I was wishing and begging for snow? This time, I was definitely caught with my pants down and totally unprepared for what happens when people like me don't plan for emergencies such as these. And this, my friend, was an emergency!


I'll give you a glimpse of what our southern winter wonderland looked like.

I have to admit, it was pretty while it lasted.

Has Hell Officially Frozen Over?

Snow in Charleston, South Carolina?

You have got to be freakin' kidding me! This has been the coldest winter in 25 years and most of us true Southerner's have been in a state of bitterness about it! Now, TODAY, we are finally going to get some snow WITH accumulation! An expected 4-6 inches beginning around 4pm today snowing steadily throughout the night.

Happy about it? I think so! Only because my theory on this whole thing is: If it HAS to be cold, at least, Mother Nature, throw us warm natured folks some crumbs and give us something pretty to look at. Besides, Chef Ed and I leave for vacation to a much warmer climate in a week.

Gawd, I'm looking forward to wearing open-toed shoes and tanned skin again. But until then, I'll throw a log in the fireplace, sip on some wine, and enjoy the scenery!

I'll post pictures soon.

Billy Graham Is One Smart Cookie

I'm not an argumentative person. I will debate; mind you - but only if it's on a subject that I feel strongly about. I'm not the type to always be right but I do demand the respect of you hearing my side. Quite truthfully, I would really rather things remain "status quo." On the flip side, again, I am not afraid to address things that needs to be addressed.

What does all of this mean? Well, I was thinking about some of the prominent figures of my lifetime and Billy Graham really stuck out. What an awesome man of wisdom. How often is it that he has told this world about peace and mercy and the grace that we are so unworthy of. How forgiveness is so important and how it's never too late to make right of something wrong. I have preached this while up on my own "soap box" many times.

I think about my children and all of the mistakes they have made. How it's better to try to love them out of it rather than turn my back. I have always encouraged them to come to me and apologize. That does not mean that the punishment will go away; it just means that there is growth in the admittance and I respect them as a person for that.

As Billy Graham says, "Hot heads and cold hearts never solve anything."

You Know You're Living In The 21st Century When..

I've been tying to dabble in a book that I have had on my desk at work for quite some time. It's called Sanity Secrets For Stressed Out Women. It's written by a motivational speaker, Sue Augustine, and she can relate! She says that she has founded and tested over 25 different ways to make life better, balanced and more fulfilling. We'll see...if I can EVER finish the book!

Any-who, while getting my 5 minute reading session in this morning (while sippinig Acai Green Tea with Pomegranate - mmm, mmm, good!), I ran across this little tid bit that she threw in. It really struck a cord with me in terms of how different our society has become.

Take a look and compare these yourself.

You know you're living in the 21st Century when:

1. You accidentally enter your password on the microwave.

2. You haven't played solitaire with real cards in years.

3. You have a list of 15 phone numbers to reach your family of 3.

4. You email the person who works at the desk next to you.

5. Your reason for not staying in touch with friends and family is that they don't have an email
address.

6. You pull up in your own driveway and use your cell phone to see if anyone is home to help
you carry in the groceries. ( I am SO guilty of this one!)

7. Every commercial on television has a website at the bottom of the screen.

8. Leaving the house without your cell phone, which you didn't have the first 20 or 30 (or 50)
years of your life, is now a cause for panic, and you turn around and get it.

10. You get up in the morning and go online before getting your cup of coffee.

11. You start tilting your head sideways to smile. :=)

12. You're reading this and nodding and laughing.

13. Even worse, you were too rushed to notice there was no #9 on this list.

14. You actually went back up to check that there wasn't a #9 on this list, and now you are
laughing at yourself !

It's not easy to slow down when we're immersed in all of the paraphernalia of modern technology. But, it's worth a try, don't ya think?

Have a great weekend!

It's Wine O'clock Somewhere

Some may not know it but I do have a tendency to be somewhat of a Wine Snob. It's not intentional, of course, but if you put 5 bottles of good red wine beside each other, you can bet your last paycheck that I will pick the most expensive one of the bunch. I have no earthly idea why it turns out that way. The same concept holds true when I go shopping - anywhere.

We cashed in on a gift certificate to a funky little wine shop in Mt. Pleasant yesterday and here are a few selections that Chef Ed chose to purchase. He's so good to not bring home the cheap Robert Mondovi!

Blessings to you, honey!

Rain, Rain, Go Away -or at least don't follow us to Mexico!

I won't bore you to tears with the gloomy details, but we have had more rain than we can stand here in the Lowcountry of South Cack-a-lack-y! And yes, I am down right SICK OF IT! (note the picture of the back of my office and the picnic table that has been unable to be glorified due to wet, soggy, weather!)

The only thing that keeps me from investing in some serious rain gear is the thought of my soon-to-be relief that will occur in 21 days!

Can you guess what that would be?? Right! Holbox bound, baby! I can't wait to have some precious sunshine beaming down on my face!

People of Walmart

I have to say that I am skeptical of the People of Walmart site. Do those people REALLY exist? Can someone walk out of the house looking like that unintentionally?

My conversation with Chef Ed:

me: "Honey, do you REALLY think that stuff is real on there?"

Ed: " Baby Girl, how many times have you been in Walmart and looked at the people around you. Of course, it's real!"

me: " hmmm...I dunno. I just wonder how legit it could really be."

Ed: "Well, I lived in West Virginia."

me: " When I was in West Virginia, I never saw anyone that looked like that."

Ed: "Just trust me on this. It's real."

How can you not be arrested for something so torturing on the eyes! It's simply insane!

Ya Know What I Like??

Well, I'll save the guess work for ya!

I had such an exciting weekend and there are several things that I'd like to share!

1. First and foremost - My oldest daughter made our church Youth Worship Team as a vocialist!

2. I sold my girls Little Tikes Princess Toy Box! Thank you, Craigslist.

3. I sold my 14 cu. ft. deep freezer! Thank you, again, Craigslist.

4. I made a successful pound cake! (recipe courtesy of my old friend, Eileen Reinard)

5. 4 weeks from today, I'll be leaving for vacation to Isla Holbox, Quintana Roo!

Almost too much for one to handle, eh?

Life Is Good....Really Good

(Please don't judge me by my absence)

Life has been crazy busy - but in a good way. God as truly blessed our lives beyond belief. Business has been great - BETTER THAN EVER and Chef Ed has changed jobs after being led in a different direction. It's all about feet being planted where they NEED to be instead of where you WANT them to be. Amazing, word, huh?

So.....moving back to me. My oldest daughter, Chelsea, is now back at home after taking some time to review her life. We are glad to have her back where she needs to be. She'll be a senior next year and I am ever-so-curious to see what her plans will be. I have my own personal thoughts about it but I'll keep that quiet for now. (I wouldn't want to spoil the surprise!)

We are headed back to our true paradise on February 22nd and we are more excited than ever! It's our one little corner of the world that seems to be so untouched by the hustle and bussle of every day life that serves as a distraction to us sometimes. Our days will consist of laying on the beach, reading and playing Farkle and/or Uno. We will awake when we want to and go to bed when we want to. We'll dine with the locals, watch sunrises and sunsets, drink wine, eat fresh avocado and tomatoes, go barefoot, shell hunt, walk on the beach and hold hands. Besides that, they have the best pork skins that we have ever tasted in our lives! YUMMO!

Life is good....really good!