"All of us are watchers of television, of time clocks, of traffic on the freeway, but few are observers.
Everyone is looking not many are seeing." Peter Leschak

Friday, June 29, 2012

Ke Ke Beach Key Lime Liqueur

 
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If you're looking for a refreshing summer cocktail that will leave you dreaming of Key West then this is the beverage for you.  It's a little on the sweet side and tastes like your eating lime sherbet or a slice of key lime pie.  A friend of mine told me about this little gem of a liqueur and shared the following mixture.  She didn't give me the name of it so I'm going to call it the Hemingway after Ernest.

The Hemingway

Pour ke ke beach key lime liqueur into an glass filled with ice (I filled mine about half full) and top it off with sprite and a squeeze of lime. Enjoy preferably with a little Jimmy Buffet music. 

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

New Orleans



My husband and I had the best time in New Orleans.  It was our first time in the city and I had heard mixed reviews from people.  We stayed close to the French Quarter off of Canal St so everything was within walking distance.  We hit the usual tourist spots:
  •  Pat O'Briens for a hurricane (they are good, but can be dangerous)
  •  Central Grocery for a muffuletta (delicious)
  •  Cafe Du Monde for beignets and coffee (beignets taste like a funnel cake to me)
  •  Acme Oyster House for char broiled oysters (I was pleasantly surprised that I liked them)
  •  Mr. B's Bistro where we had our favorite meal, shrimp and grits.  If you ever go to New Orleans you have to order it.  My husband and I both concurred it was one of our top favorite meals of all time.  I don't even really like grits, but these aren't the grits I remember.
We tried most of the local delicacies such as gumbo, turtle soup and bread pudding.  We came back with tighter waistbands, but good memories.  We were both reminded of the genuine hospitality and politeness of the people in the South.  I was a born a Yankee and lived in the south for 3 years as a teenager.  At the time I didn't appreciate the yes ma' am and no sirs.  As an adult, I feel as though the rest of the U.S. could use a crash course on customer service from the South.  I didn't matter if I was in a clothing store, restaurant or public bathroom the workers were very friendly and made me feel important.   
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Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Gratitude Monday



I'm not a very consistent person and I've had a hard time getting into a routine with my blog.  The one thing I've tried to be consistent about is blogging things I'm grateful for on Mondays.  I actually wrote this post yesterday, but the day got away from me and I forgot to post it.  So here it goes gratitude Monday posted on Tuesday.

I love a fresh pedicure.  My feet are the neutral ones and my friend has the bling sandals with the bright polish.  I prefer reds or neutral colors.  In the Fall I step out of my box a little with a black or brownish polish.  I think the yellow, blues and greens are fun, but they just aren't me.  I'm grateful to have the opportunity to get an occasional spa pedicure.  It's one of those little treats in life I immensely enjoy.  The first time I had one I was in my early 20's.  It was a gift from my husband.  I thought it would be weird to have someone work on my feet, but I quickly got over the awkwardness.

I'm grateful for time spent with friends.  We had a lot of friend time this past weekend at a Royals baseball game, dinner and cocktails and shopping.  Paul Rudd, Eric Stonestreet and several other celebrities were in town for a charity event.  They came out on the Royals baseball field during the 7th inning stretch to sing "Take Me Out To the Ballgame." I didn't realize Jon Hamm was part of the crew so that was a pleasant surprise (even thought it was short lived).   What is it about getting the glimpse of a celebrity that can make a heart sing?

I'm also grateful for all of the ripe, juicy peaches I've been getting off my peach tree.  Happy summer!  
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Friday, June 22, 2012

Morning Walk






I decided to take a break from my normal routine of going to the gym this morning.  I usually walk my dog in the evening because it gets pretty hot here in the summer.  This morning was a pleasant 70 before we reach the 90 degree mark.  On my walk I came across these positive messages some neighbor girls wrote on the sidewalk. I assume it was girls because boys don't typically write this fancy.  It was a nice surprise, and I thought I'd share them.  What a great start to the weekend.  If we'd only get more rain, I'd happily dance in the rain.
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Thursday, June 21, 2012

Trader Joe's



I love to share what I call good things (I borrowed the term from Martha).  It could be a website, recipe, home decor item, book, etc.  That is one of my intentions for this blog, but I haven't been too consistent lately about posting them.  Trader Joe's is a grocery store chain which opened about a year ago where I live.  The West Coast has been enjoying their delightful food items for quite awhile now, but it is still somewhat of a novelty here in the Midwest. If you like lemon you will love these two items.  The Meyer Lemon Cookie Thins are crisp, light and melt in your mouth.  The lemon curd can be spread on toast or cake.  There are multiple uses for it.  I mixed it with some cool whip and served it with angel food cake and berries.  A friend of mine gave me the idea and it was a hit.  I like desserts that are simple.  Both the cookies and lemon curd make a nice light summer dessert.  Do you have any good things you recommend from Trader Joe's?
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Monday, June 18, 2012

Gratitude Monday






I'm grateful for the relaxing weekend we had at our friends lake house this past weekend.  We had beautiful weather, lots of laughs, a great time swimming off their dock and boating, great food and summer refreshments.  I'm grateful no one was injured other than a few scrapes, a bug bite, and sore necks and shoulders from tubing.  It was the perfect summer weekend.  I'm grateful I was able to wish my husband and father well on father's day.  Not everyone can say that. 

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

T-Shirts



I'm a graphic tee kind of gal.  I love a 100% cotton T-shirt.  They are reminiscent of a well loved blanket to me.  When my daughter was in 5th and 6th grade all she wanted to wear was graphic tees.   During one of my complain about my children tangents, I told a friend about my t-shirt dilemma with my daughter.  She commented, "the apple doesn't fall far from the tree does it?"  I didn't take offense, but had to laugh because she was right.  While visiting New Orleans with my husband, we wandered into a Retro T-Shirt store.  These were two of my favorites because I used to watch these shows as a kid.  I sent my son a text  to see if he'd wear the Sesame Street one, but his reply was a firm NO.  I guess he's not a big fan of Elmo anymore.  Do you have a favorite T-shirt?



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Monday, June 11, 2012

Gratitude Monday

I'm grateful my family and I are healthy and for the rain we had earlier this morning which means I didn't have to water my flowers today.  The summer heat has arrived, but I'm grateful there is a breeze in the air.
I'm grateful we made it home safe and sound from our trip to New Orleans and for all of the local delicacies we tasted.  I'll be sure to write more on that later this week.  I'm grateful for kind gestures from strangers and friends, summer BBQ's, casual summer skirts and a swimsuit I feel halfway comfortable in.  It's sort of a strange list of things, but it's important to remember the little things in life.   It's the little things that fill each day and are also sometimes the most memorable.  

Monday, June 4, 2012

Gratitude Monday

I'm grateful for the lazy days of summer.  Today was the first day where I felt like I could relax, do a little reading, and take a 10 min. nap.  Sometimes it's hard for me to transition from running around all day and having company to just relaxing.  I'm also grateful for the fact that I can enjoy the summer months and don't have to report to an office.

 I'm grateful for the opportunity to travel to New Orleans in a few days.  I haven't been there before, and I'm excited to experience the sights, sounds and tastes of the city.   I also welcome the opportunity to just sit by a roof top pool for a few hours with a mojito and a good book.

There is so much to be grateful for in life.  Some days it's easier to list things than others, especially when things are going well.  Even if life may not be presently ideal for you there is usually someone you can think of who is in worse circumstances.  Whenever my mind starts to focus on the negative, I try to switch it to something positive.  Taking the time to be grateful and thinking about the good in my life has been a great way to start the week.  I may not always make it through the whole week, but Monday always comes around again for me to start over.  

Friday, June 1, 2012

Succulents








I don't really have much to say about succulent plants other than the fact they are easy to maintain and I like them.  I like the fact you don't have to water them much and they look really nice grouped together.  Once the mid summer months hit in Kansas the idea of watering flowers becomes a chore I no longer enjoy.  I also like the fact that not many people I know plant them in containers so they are something different than the usual begonias and geraniums that many people plant.

 I love the quote "bloom where you're planted" which is actually derived from the Bible.  We sometimes don't have a choice as to where we live or call home.  When I start bemoaning the fact I don't live close to an ocean this summer,  I'll think of the succulent plant and how it can thrive even in the desert.