Bargains

It is no secret that I love a good deal. 

Sales, bargains, deals, clearance racks, coupons, whatever you want to call it!

Finding a bargain and paying much less than the ticketed price is like winning some kind of prize to me.  When the full impact of the bargain price hits me with its full force, it's all I can do to contain myself and resist the urge to do a victory dance in the aisle, announcing to the world what a great deal I have found! 

"Hello people, do you know how much money I just saved!??! 
Yes, it's me, bargain-shopper-extraordinaire!" 

But as I said, I usually resist those urges so I don't get taken away by the men in white coats and locked up in the loony-bin.

Alrighty then, moving right along....

Hobby Lobby is not only a fantastically fun place to shop, they also run great sales and 80% off clearance aisles between every season (clearance aisle = where I shop).  It's a fun place to browse and get inspired, and when I'm looking for a little special something to help spice up a room, it's my go-to place.

I have ideas for sprucing up our bedroom at home a bit -- ideas like maybe putting something on the walls so it's not quite so...white...but while I was wandering the aisles, I came across this adorable pillow.  Which, I'll add, will go quite well with our black accents and white comforter.  Cute, yes? 

Want to see the price tag? 
That makes it even cuter!

  

A whole $2.00!  Ideas started swirling around in my head and I am so looking forward to having time to revamp our room a bit.  Our cute new pillow will simply be the cherry on top! 

Several weeks ago I mentioned the new no-sandal policy that went into effect at my job.  And because I am not a fan of heels or dress shoes, this has created quite a crimp in my style.  Fortunate for me, ballet flats have been in full-force during the past couple years and are usually lining the shelves aplenty.  But when I finally need some, I either:  A) can't find ones I like, or B) can't bring myself to pay the retail price. 

Which brings us to:  Bargain Highlight #2

The other day I was wandering through Target to pick up something for my hubby when I took an unplanned detour through the shoes.  Yes, unplanned.  I always get lost in Target stores (and Macys), but that's a whole other issue for another time. 

Moving on....  I was scooting by (attempting to find the checkout) when my eyes fell on these fun little gems.  See the sparkles?  I'm pretty sure that's what caught my attention.  I paused, I looked, I tried, and I admit it...I bought.  But how could I resist? 

They are:

• 
  
  Perfectly sized
• 
  
  Perfectly shiney
• 
  
  Perfectly comfortable
• 
  
  Perfectly cute
• 
  
  Perfectly priced

And what was that price?

Well, I threw away the tag before I remembered to take a picture of it, so you'll just have to take my word on this one.

They were on clearance for a whopping $3.24.  Yes, you read that correctly.  Score!  

My feet were very happy (and stylish) at work today.  Oh, and in the sunshine, them glimmer even more!

So those, my dear readers, are my bargain highlights for today.  Anything you want to share? 

Backyard Antics

We never know what we're going to see what we look out our kitchen window.  We have a growing number of small furry animals that have graced our backyard and are providing us with superb entertainment!

 (Although I'm sure the carrots I'm leaving out for them are helping with their growing interest...)

For all you Beatrix Potter fans out there, envision something along the lines of:

The Tales of Peter Rabbit and Squirrel Nutkin

{These pictures were taken from my kitchen window and through a screen, thus the poor quality.}

 

What goes on in your backyard?

Miscellany Monday

*1*  I am thrilled about the growing selection of movies that NetFlix has on ‘instant streaming.’ It’s so nice not always having to wait for the disk to arrive in the mail.

*2*  My hubby got me addicted to iPhones and now I’m frustrated that they keep delaying the release of the new white iPhone 4. Grrrr. Hubby has the black one and the multi-tasking feature is so nice! Definitely a fantastic upgrade.

*3*  I’ve really been missing quiet mornings in Hawaii, lingering over our pancakes and marveling at the amazingly beautiful surroundings.  I’m not sure if I’ll ever stop missing that place.

*4*  Looking for light & fun summer reading? Try the French Twist series by Sandra Byrd – it’s especially fun if you’re a foodie, like me! It’s all about French bakeries, Paris, and a few cream puffs thrown in.

*5*   I’m growing my hair out again. Several months ago I decided I needed a change so I cut several inches off, and now I think I’m done with that change.

Hopefully one of these days it’ll look something like this:

{source}

Happy Monday, ya'll.

Lebanese Cravings

It's not very often that I get a true craving for a certain food. 

There are staples that always sound good:

Pizza

French Fries

Pasta

Bread

Ice Cream

You get the idea....

But those are not craving -- those are just foods I seldom pass up because I could eat them all the time.  However, the exception to my rare cravings would be this one meal...a meal I sometimes crave even on back-to-back days, and simply cannot get enough of.

Chicken Shawarma & Hummus w/ pita

from the local Lebanese restaurant.

Wow.  So amazing.

I can't begin to accurately describe to you the amazing combination of flavors that burst in your mouth as you bite into that chicken wrap. 

Creamy garlic sauce, marinated chicken, loads of dill pickles, in a warm soft wrap. 

It's truly a wonderful experience.

And the Hummus?  Well, you have heard my rants about the merits of homemade vs. store bought.  You know I make my own and tell the world how they can do it too.  But to taste hummus from this little restaurant is to taste something I have been unable to recreate in my own kitchen.  It is simply magnifique!  And with the pitas so thin and soft, so ready to be dipped and devoured. 
So delicious.

Have you ventured into the world of Lebanese food? 

What do you crave?

Foodie Alert

My husband lovingly calls me a “foodie.”

He is so right.

A few years ago I never would have guessed that I would fall into that category, but considering the fact I was raised by a foodie, I shouldn’t be surprised.

food•ie [foo-dee]

–noun Slang

a person keenly interested in food, especially in eating or cooking.

Yep, that’s me.

This week I have been re-watching “Julie and Julia” which is an incredibly fun and well done movie (especially for those of us who used to watch Julia Child on TV). That movie always makes me want to run into the kitchen and create some form of dining pleasure, amazing enough to tempt even the pickiest of palates. True cooking is an art, as well as an escape for those who love it. I admit though, most nights when I’m headed home from work and scrambling to come up with something for dinner it doesn’t feel like an escape! And often what ends up on the table doesn’t look like my cooking was an art.

Then my husband and I sit down at the table, the work day behind us, and we bite into something that I prepared, something lush and better than restaurant-quality, and I remember that cooking is indeed a beautiful piece of creativity and art, and I sigh me a happy sigh and revel in the reminder of why I love to cook.

I will say though, that often the greatest cooking pleasure comes when I don’t have to cook, but when I simply want to. Freedom of expression in the kitchen is so exciting, as you throw a pinch of this and a dash of that into a dish, and voilà, out comes a masterpiece!

Any recipes I make have been tweaked – nothing remains as it was first written on the page. How boring would that be! Subtle creative urges take over when I begin to cook and my ideas always seem to make more sense than what somebody else constructed when they published the recipe. I love being able to take any recipe and adapt it to how we would like it, which also makes cooking very personal.

I also love photographing food, something I have been laughed at many times for doing. But food makes such great subjects! It stays as I placed it, doesn’t talk back, and offers varying delightful ambiances depending on the composition. Such fun! Besides, I love being able to chronicle my kitchen successes and failures with visual aids.

I loved this post because decorating a wall with my food photographs is definitely something I would be tempted to do! Isn’t it so inviting? It would make me feel like I was eating in a café every time I sat down at my kitchen table. Besides, it’s really nice to know I’m not the only one who takes pictures of everything I eat or make!

This weekend hubby & I strolled through the local Farmers Market and admired the rows zucchini, blueberries, and fresh baked bread. We didn’t think the selection was great, but it is always fun to browse those kinds of places just the same. I came home with a jar of raw honey and a desire to cook with more varieties of vegetables. I love the challenge of taking vegetables and actually making the good and desirable to eat! Green beans, asparagus, corn and sweet potatoes are about the only veggie staples in our house, but I’m working on adding other ones in. Spinach in our smoothies, pureed squash, carrots, or squash are great in soup, but broccoli is one vegetable that I can’t camouflage enough to make it go unrecognized.

Any suggestions?

All that being said, I suppose I should plan out our menu for the rest of the week!

Bon appétit!

Cooling Down

Like a piece of shade in the desert, is the refreshing taste of something cold on a hot day.  In the midst of the summer heat and humidity, this icy glass of Strawberry Lemonade made my taste buds stand up and dance!

How do you cool down after a hot day in the sun?

Holiday Weekend

I’ve been so bad about blogging & commenting lately!

Sometimes it’s nice to have a break from the cyber world though.

How was your holiday weekend?

Hubby & I took a couple extra days off work to make the most of our holiday, but like always, time off went by too quickly. The weather was beautiful – hot and humid, but so nice to see the sun shining!!! Saturday afternoon we spent at the lake with friends, just enjoying the cool breeze and the Jet Ski. Gotta love the relaxing that happens when you have time away from work.

Also this weekend, in an effort to spruce up our back yard a bit, we splurged on a humming bird feeder and a couple Tiki torches. Granted, the torches are nothing like the ones in Maui, but it’s the best we could do for now. 
During random free moments over the past few days, I have sat outside staring at my flower bed and have now come up with some plans for it (plans like digging most of it up and starting from scratch…) but we’ll have to wait and see if that comes to fruition this summer.

Hope everybody is doing well.  I'm just trying to get back into the swing of things after having a few fun lazy days off from work! :-)

The Flag

Hello. Remember me?

Some people call me Old Glory, others call me the Star Spangled Banner, but whatever they call me, I am your flag, the flag of the United States of America.

Something has been bothering me, so I thought I might talk it over with you — because it is about you and me.

I remember some time ago, people would line up on both side of the street to watch the parade, and naturally I was leading every one, proudly waving in the breeze.

When your Daddy saw me coming, he immediately removed his hat and placed it against his left shoulder so that his hand was directly over his heart — remember?

And you, I remember, were standing there, straight as a soldier. You didn't have a hat, but you were giving the right salute. Remember your little sister? Not to be outdone, she was saluting the same as you with her right hand over her heart — remember?

What happened? I'm still the same old flag. Oh, I've added a few more stars since you were a boy, and a lot more blood has been shed since those parades of long ago.

But now, somehow I don't feel as proud as I used to feel. When I come down the street, you just stand there with your hands in your pockets. You may give me a small glance, and then you look away. I see children running around you shouting; they don't seem to know who I am.

I saw one man take his hat off, then he looked around, and when he didn't see anybody else take off his hat, he quickly put his on again.

Is it a sin to be patriotic today?
Have you forgotten what I stand for, and where I have been?
Anzio, Guadalcanal, Korea and Vietnam!

Take a look at the memorial honor rolls, and see the names of those patriotic Americans who gave their lives to keep this republic free. When you salute me, you are actually saluting them!

So when you see me, please stand straight and place your hand over your heart, and I'll know that you remembered. I'll salute you by waving back!

"The Flag"

- Anonymous