All Over the Place

"I need to live like that crooked tree --- that knelt down in the hardest winds but could not be blasted away." (Edward Hirsch)

 

Hello, my lovely friends!

 

    Looks like our power decided to take a vacation! I'm currently rocking the lantern life because the entire neighborhood's been dark for a couple of hours now, and it seems like we've got a few more to go. No idea what happened, but it's a total blackout.

 

    The silver lining? The sun's finally down, and it's way cooler than the 92 degrees we had earlier. I've got the windows open, and there's a fantastic breeze blowing through. I even hopped in the shower to cool off!

 

    So, with a full laptop battery, what's the best thing to do? Chat with you ladies, of course!

 

     This week's been a real rollercoaster of emotions, and my mom is definitely feeling it. It's tough watching her try to adjust to her "new normal" – not being able to do all the things she used to. Can you imagine getting to a point in your life where your body just won't let you do what you want? It must be incredibly frustrating.    This week's been a real rollercoaster of emotions, and my mom is definitely feeling it. It's tough watching her try to adjust to her "new normal" – not being able to do all the things she used to. Can you imagine getting to a point in your life where your body just won't let you do what you want? It must be incredibly frustrating.

 

    Mom's always been fiercely independent, so asking for help doesn't come easy, but she's actually getting better at it! I've been trying to find little tasks for her that she can do while sitting, like folding laundry or packing up meat for the freezer. It helps her feel useful, and honestly, it helps me too.

 

     You know how it is with chronic pain – my mom was back at it on Monday, getting those knee treatments. I'm really hoping this helps ease some of her discomfort! She's got arthritis everywhere now, so she knows it's not going away completely, but even a little less pain would be amazing. Seriously, all I wish for is some peace for her. Then, tomorrow, she's headed back to Kaiser for more treatments, this time for her back. Let's send all the good vibes and hope it brings her some relief. 

 

     Wow, the heat is seriously cranking up here! We might even hit triple digits this weekend, which, ugh, you know how I feel about that.

 

My big project this year has definitely been the yard. I've been tackling it all by myself, but honestly, I think it's time to call in the cavalry (aka the lawn service!). I've done my part though: everything's cleaned up, the water's on, and now I'm just wrangling all the containers.

 

    Of course, I'm late to the party with my garden again this year, but I'm counting on those lettuces to pop up super fast. I might even have to grab a big tomato plant if I want any actual tomatoes this season! At least I know I'll have plenty of fresh lettuce and herbs, which is a win in my book.

 

    Anyone else out there getting their hands dirty with a garden this year?

 

 So glad you stopped by! Wishing you the coziest morning/afternoon/evening ahead. Can't wait for our paths to cross again!

So glad you stopped by! Wishing you the coziest morning/afternoon/evening ahead. Can't wait for our paths to cross again!

It's All About You

 

Happy Father's Day In Heaven

 

Just the Facts #18

 "If you have good thoughts, they will shine out of your face like sunbeams and you will always look lovely." (Roald Dahl)

 

Hello, my lovely friends!  

 

     Here we are another Friday Funday! Alright, folks, it's summer, and the heat is on – literally! So for today's blog, I figured, why not share some of my scorching-hot (and some decidedly lukewarm) opinions on all things summertime? Consider this your rapid-fire guide to what makes my heart sing, and what makes me want to hibernate until October.

 

1. I love lemonade and try to make different flavors of it.
2. I love all citrus fruits and put them in my water most of the time.
3. I only paint my nails pinks, red, or corals during the summer. 
4. As a kid I loved going to the drive-in and playing on the playground before the movie started. We saw many movies like Jaws 1 and 2 there. 
5. I can only watch summer movies during the summer like Jaws, Gidget and other beach movies. 
6. My mom would make cold fried chicken and potato salad in the summer and we still only have it in the summer. 
7. I always air dry my curly hair and once it’s dry I put it up in a curly top on my head in a scrunchy and it stays in the same hairdo all summer long because of the heat.
8. I love popsicles more than ice cream. 
9. I use lemons all year long, but especially in the summer. 
10. I loved running through the water in the backyard as a kid. We would get all the things like the Slip-n-Slide fun times. 
11. I don’t like fish, but like shellfish. I’ll eat tilapia and that’s about it. 
12. I don’t like being out in the heat.
13. I love using the charcoal grill over the gas one. It taste so much better.
14. I don’t like sleeping under the covers in the summer. I normally sleep just on top of my quilt with no blankets.
15. I don’t like being out in nature because I hate bugs. You won’t find me fishing or hiking somewhere. I know I live in Colorado, but it’s not my thing.
16. I’ve been in both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.
17. I’ve been on a small inflatable boat on the ocean and hated every moment of it because I don’t like not seeing the bottom of the water. 
18. I have and this is the honest truth never had a smores. Really never and maybe it has to do with I’m not a fan of chocolate. 
19. I have never went to a summer camp or went to summer school. 
20. I don’t like the heat, duh!

 

So glad you stopped by! Wishing you the coziest morning/afternoon/evening ahead. Can't wait for our paths to cross again!

 

Tequila Lime Chicken

 "Just because I laugh a lot, doesn't mean my life is easy. Just because I have a smile on my face every day, doesn't mean that something is not bothering me. I just choose to move on, and not dwell on all the negatives in my life. Every new moment gives me the chance to renew anew. I choose to be that." (Author Unknown)

 

Hello, my lovely friends!  

 

    When my dad passed away I got all his liquor collection. He had some Tequila in there, about a half a bottle left.  I'm not one of a hard liquor drinker so I had to find something to do with it. I found this recipe. 

 

Tequila Lime Chicken
Ingredients:
1 1/2 lbs deboned chicken thighs, skin-on (click to learn how) 
3 cloves garlic, minced 
lime wedges, for garnishing 
chopped cilantro, for garnishing 

Marinade:
2 tablespoons olive oil 
1/4 cup tequila 
2 tablespoons lime juice 
3 dashes cayenne pepper 
1/2 teaspoon salt or more to taste 

Instructions
Preheat oven to 400F. Rub the garlic onto the chicken meat. Give it a good rub all over the meat and the skin.

Whisk all the Marinade ingredients together in a big bowl, mix well. Add the chicken into the Marinade, stir to coat well. Marinate for 15 minutes but best for 2 hours.

Heat up a skillet and pan-fry the chicken with the skin-side down until slightly browned. Turn over and pan-fry the other side of the chicken until slightly browned.

Transfer the skillet into oven and bake for 15 minutes or until the the skin nicely browned. Broil the chicken for 1 minute or until the skin is nicely charred. Transfer the chicken and the juice that seeps out after baking to a serving platter, squirt some fresh lime juice and garnish with cilantro, serve immediately.

So glad you stopped by! Wishing you the coziest morning/afternoon/evening ahead. Can't wait for our paths to cross again!

Being Positive

 

Just the Facts #17

 

 

“When you finally go back to your old hometown, you find it wasn't the old home you missed but your childhood.” (Sam Ewing)

Hello, my lovely friends!

 

    Get ready for a trip down memory lane! I've been thinking about all the awesome things I got up to as a kid during those long, sun-drenched summer days.

1.  School officially wrapped up the first week of June, kicking off a summer that stretched all the way to the last week of August. We always headed back to class that final week, and there was always an extra buzz knowing we'd get a well-deserved Labor Day day off the following week! It was the perfect way to ease into the new school year.

2.  Some of my favorite childhood memories involve escaping the summer heat, all thanks to a kitchen table my dad rescued from the university. He brought it home and set it up in our finished basement, transforming it into our cool-down dining oasis. On those sweltering days, there was nothing better than heading downstairs for dinner. As a kid, it felt like a special treat, a mini-adventure to eat in a different, wonderfully chilled space. Sure, getting everything up and down the stairs was a bit of a workout, but with four of us pitching in, we made it work – and the delicious, cool meal was always worth it!

 

3.  Summer days meant one thing: the community pool! My mom would sign us up for the free morning swimming classes, and then it was a perfect routine. We'd zip across the street to my elementary school for a free afternoon lunch, and then it was back to the pool for hours of splashing. Most days, we'd walk the mile home, sun-kissed and exhausted, though sometimes Dad would play chauffeur after work. This was our daily ritual, Monday through Friday. And on weekends? Even more pool time with family during the evening swims!

 

4.  Our family's semi-annual ritual involved collecting cans, cashing them in, and then — boom! — turning that cash into summer fireworks. Forget the big rockets; I lived for the variety packs. Sparklers, Black Cats, and best of all, those ingenious little joke firecrackers shaped like cigarettes. My dad was a smoker, which meant endless opportunities for me to play a little prank. I'd slip one in, wait for him to light up, and then brace myself for the surprise explosion. One unforgettable night, he was deep into a horror movie when it went off. The look on his face? Absolutely priceless.

 

5.  When summer arrived, our house became little more than a pit stop. We were practically glued to the outdoors, spending every sun-drenched hour playing, tearing up the pavement on our bikes, or splashing around at the pool. As evening approached, our adventures shifted to the block. Our street was a magnet for kids, and we'd launch into epic games of kickball, stealthy rounds of hide-and-seek, or frantic freeze tag. There was never any worry about neighbors complaining about our joyful chaos; in fact, most of them would pull up a chair in a driveway, chat, and enjoy the evening right along with us.

 

So glad you stopped by! Wishing you the coziest morning/afternoon/evening ahead. Can't wait for our paths to cross again!

 

 

 

Be A Good Person