What Happens When Your Teenager Goes to the Grocery Store...

...or in this case, the Wal Mart.

Last night my 17 year old needed to go to Wal Mart and asked me if I needed anything.  COOL- saves me a trip to the grocery store as I was hoping to make several batches of chocolate cookie dough tonight/tomorrow for one of my oldest son's Christmas gifts.  I had everything but the Crisco (don't hate... I've tried butter- flat like a pancake!) The best cookies I've ever made had good ole' Crisco in them and I have no remorse.  Stop on by anytime and I'll hook you up!

However... In order to get said Crisco purchased, you must first explain the CONCEPT of Crisco! 

Me:  "It comes in a tub... not sticks like butter.  Kinda' like a bucket.. only not.  Like "lard" but not(only, no one in my family knows what LARD is... so that was a mistake) and it shouldn't be more than about $4 dollars for the large container (remember those words.... they come back to haunt!)

Me: "Do you want me to write it down so you know what to get?"

Him: "No Mom, I'm sure I can figure it out"

A short time later...my cell phone rings.... Me: "hmmm. Can't find it?"

Him: "The all-vegetable kind?"

Me: " It's not the already packed sticks right?  No?  Then bring it home!"

Which he did.

This is not the moral to the story.  The story is this:  I passed up buying a container the day before at the grocery store because a) the small container was like $3 or more, b) those oh-so-easy-to-measure sticks were over $4.50 (has anyone else noticed they now come in package of THREE not FOUR like they used to for the same price?  Kinda' like a pound of coffee that now weighs 12 oz.- but I digress) .

I figured I'd go to Wal Mart where most baking items are cheaper and come out ahead.  Instead I sent my son.

This is what I was given...

 

 

Nothing abnormal... until you look at it in scale..

 

 

 

That's right... a 50 gallon vat of Crisco (I exaggerate... but not by much!). And that whole "shouldn't cost more that $4 or so"?   Out of the $20 I gave him, I received a ten dollar bill and 2 pennies.

 

The moral is this.... when it's their money, they're tight as a tick.  When it's yours.... anything goes.

 

Shop yourself and save!!

 

And if you need any Crisco, let me know.  I'm selling it out of the back of my truck real cheap!

 

 

 





Ode to Patti LaBelle...

also entitled... "I've got a new attitude" (here's hopin' you'll be humming that song in your head all day long now!)

Design aficionados consider the 1950's as "mid century modern"... the literal explanation being the "mid point" of the 20th century.

After a 10 year marriage that ended poorly and a subsequent 10 year relationship with  "my best friend and the man of my dreams" (that also ended poorly)  I now find myself at the "mid-century" mark of my life.

I've started and stopped this blog several times over the past few years.... but I think I've finally found my niche.

It's not a "how to" or "what to" or even "I'm over 50 and lonely" blog. 

What I hope it becomes is a record of the second half of my life.  What my goals are, what I hope to accomplish, who inspires me.... and maybe I'll connect with women that face the same challenges along the way. 

I don't regret anything or anyone that has brought me to this point... rather I'm looking up and over to try and visualize what I can become on my own.  I hope you'll join me on my way. 

 Circa 2001.  My Mother, Sister & myself on my oldest son's 18th Birthday.
Some pretty awesome women! 

"the Birthday bush"...

Just something to brighten your day (and we need it around here.... 2 weeks of rain, flooding, etc and I'm startin' to mold!).

Gardenias have always been one of my favorite flowers.  When I was younger, my parents planted a bush at the side of the house outside my bedroom window.  It's funny, too, 'cause neither one of my parents particularly LIKE gardenias.... but they planted it for me.

When my middle son was born, I was given a small gardenia bush as a gift from a co-worker.  We planted it in the back yard (sixteen years ago) and it has gotten huge.  My youngest son's bush was accidentally mowed down years ago, so when I planted a new bed in my front yard several years back I made sure he had a "birthday bush" planted as well.

The blooms only last a couple of days, but they smell wonderful and I'm happy to have them even for a short time.

Hope you all enjoy your weekend!

 



On Being 50...

Several months ago I posted on "Turning Fifty" (read here).   That milestone has come and gone as of 2 days ago, and what I wrote then still holds true today.....

Made all the more special with a little insight from my 16 year old.

The card (complete with silver charm engraved with the word "DREAM") reads...

"Mom,

You've always put everyone else's dreams and passions ahead of your own.

And that's a beautiful part of who you are- how much you care about the people you love.

But your dreams are just as important.  And I really think that now is your time.

Your time to do some things for you.  Your time to explore whatever calls to you now.

And I hope this birthday is just the start of a year of discovery for you.

Because no one deserves it more than you, Mom." 

Happy Birthday Mom- Love Davis

The strange thing is, 2 months ago while I was looking for a birthday card for my mother, I came across this exact same card.  I loved the thought behind it, but it wasn't necessarily appropriate for my mother.  But I remember thinking what a cool card it was.....and low and behold it came back to me.  I consider that a gift in itself! 

More importantly, it's the perfect sentiment for my visions of my future.... and all I still hope to achieve (regardless of my advancing years!).  I hope you join me in the ride!  And the charm.... it will happily join the other love tokens given to me by my kids on my key ring!

Summer... It's Just Around the Corner...

We've decided to put our little beach cottage in a weekly rental program this year....

Much as it pains me to do it, the boys are getting older and our schedules during the summer months are getting crazier.  And with our 16 year old trying to get a "real" job this summer, getting all of us together at one time seems unlikely.

We gutted this house down to the studs and have put so much of ourselves into it that renting it out is going to be difficult.

I hope the families that visit enjoy it as much as we have...

And if there is an open week.... we'll be there!

I'll be working on some small projects to get the house ready and will share things along the way.

Hope you are having a good start to the week!

How We Do Shiny....

If you read this post ( We Don't Do Shiny... ) you'll know what I'm referring to.

But, short story, when my girlfriend asked me what my man gave me for Valentine's Day... "something shiny?", I responded that we don't "do" shiny (or bling) for V-Day.

But that's not entirely true....I did receive something shiny...

Two more pieces to add to my vintage Guardian Service collection (read here).

It may be a tad cumbersome wearing it on my finger or wrist.... but I'll figure something out!

Hope everyone is having a great start to the week!

We Don't Do Shiny...

My girlfriend asked me the other day what my man got me for Valentine's Day.... "something shiny?".  We don't do "shiny".... or bling on V-Day.

But I am loved extremely well, nonetheless.  And yes, he's spelled Valentine wrong not once but twice..... and even tells me so on the inside of the card.  Makes it all the more special to me... thanks Carson!  And the answer is "yes- any day of the week"...

His brother "disappeared" after he got home from school and later surprised me with these... Red roses and what looks like azaleas (but they're not.... can't remember the name now.... I know it starts with an "A"). Thanks Davis.... I love you, too!

And my favorite flower from my favorite man.... Oriental Lilies.  And they smell wonderful!

Fading white lilies and roses...

And a lovely surprise from the girlfriend...

As for shiny...well there was a little bit of that, too - just not of the type she was referring to.  I'll post about that on another day!

For me, nothing "shines" brighter than knowing you are loved!

Spicin' Things Up....

Sometimes my kids crack me up.  My two youngest are 14 & 15 (soon to be 15 & 16).  Up until the last year or so, my youngest has always had to be told to take a shower every day.... not sure why, but apparently hygiene was low on his list of priorities!

Thankfully that's changed (I think it has something to do with discovering girls...but I digress).  He loves him some Axe body products, but that stuff is not cheap!  A couple of years ago, my Uncle Merrill took both of the boys for a week over the summer holiday.  He hooked them each up with a "ditty bag" of their own.

*As an aside.... not sure why we call it a "ditty bag", but I always have.  It's the term my father uses and apparently my uncle as well.  Maybe it's a military thing... maybe we're just weird.

Anywho....my uncle hooked them up with a "toiletries bag" complete with electric razor, toothpaste, brushes & floss, and a bottle of his personal favorite.... Old Spice.  Carson now loves him some Old Spice! (my thanks to my uncle.... much easier on the wallet!).

When we were in Mass. over the holidays, my man brought this home for the boys.

It was his father's and he has many a fond memory of his dad using it when he was little.

And my sons?  They love it 'cause it was "Pep's".