Preppy Empty Nester F

Wednesday, December 14, 2016

A String of Hodgepodge

Hello, dear friends. It's pretty nippy around here, and it is supposed to get even colder by the end of the week. I'm not sure I am cut out for this weather.

I hope that you are having a good week and you are checking a lot off your list.

You know the drill.

If it's Wednesday, it's time for Hodgepodge.

1. Are you more task oriented or people oriented? Elaborate.

Definitely people oriented. I'd rather chat on the phone with my girls or my Sista than empty the dishwasher any day of the week.

2. December 15 is National Wear Your Pearls Day... do you own/wear pearls? Everyone share a 'pearl of wisdom' with us here today.

I have worn pearls for all of my adult life. I have real ones, fake ones, one strand, two strand, three strand, six strand, and eight strand. I have short ones and long ones, white ones, grey ones, gold ones, and pink ones.

I have more pearls than I have sense.

Everyone share a 'pearl of wisdom' with us here today.

If I had a dollar for every time I said this to my girls, I could afford the most expensive pearls in the world.

3. Speaking of pearls... oysters? Are you a fan or not a fan? If you answered yes, tell us your favorite way to eat oysters. If you said no, be honest - have you ever tried one or does just the idea of eating an oyster make you gag a little?

Although I never order them, I could eat fried oysters provided they were accompanied by a mountain of fries.

4. Time Magazine has named President- elect Donald Trump Person of the Year. Let's take presidents and presidential candidates out of the mix for a minute. If a political figure had not been chosen who would you name Man or Woman of the Year for 2016.

I don't know about Person of the Year, but I think that Marlo Thomas should be honored for carrying on her father's legacy in her fight against childhood catastrophic diseases at St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital.

5. The Pantone Color of the Year for 2017 has been announced, and it's a vibrant green aptly named - greener. Your thoughts? Is this a color currently in your home or wardrobe? Will you add something in this shade for the new year?

No plans for new home decor, but I am planning on changing my hair color for 2017.

6. Today, I've had too much Walmart.

I made my monthly pilgrimage to Walmart for all our household essentials, and it was packed.

One of the nice greeters even took a picture of me.

And just in case you are wondering, I do have my pearls on.

7. Share a favorite lyric from a favorite Christmas carol.

Etsy

8. Insert your own random thought here.

An oldie but a goodie

Monday, December 12, 2016

Kitchen Gadgets for the Cook in your Life

Hello, dear friends. I hope you all had a great weekend. The Mister and I spent yesterday binge watching the entire third season of Mozart In The Jungle. Needless to say, we enjoyed it tremendously.

Last week, the Mister sent me a link about kitchen gadgets. So I took the hint and put together some gift ideas for the chef in your life. You can find them all on Amazon, which is my go-to store for just about anything and everything. You can still receive these items before Christmas. If you pay big bucks and promise Amazon your first born son, you can get them tomorrow.

I like any scale that I don't I don't have to step on. This Drop Kitchen Non-Slip Silicone Connected Kitchen Scale and Interactive Recipe App is the answer to any cook's prayers. No more guessing measurements and it's all done in one single bowl for less clean up.

If the cook in your house loves using fresh herbs, this Miracle Gro Aero Garden Ultra (LED) with Herb Seed Pot Kit will just be the thing to have her/his love grow for you.

Am I the only person in the world that hates hard butter? That! Spread that Serrated Butter Knife would be the perfect addition to my overflowing (I hope) Christmas stocking.

That! Scoop That II Warming Ice Cream Scoop is sure to warm your chef's heart.

The Two Elephants 8-in-1 Kitchen Tool is a great stocking stuffer for the college grad moving into his or her own pad.

This Hamilton Beach Dual Sandwich Maker would make a great gift for the chef who is a newlywed and is still interested in impressing his/her spouse.

For the person that doesn't like to stir the pot, this StirChef Saucepan Stirrer will make your chef dizzy with delight.

Amazon

A great gift for both the experienced and inexperienced cook, such as myself.

Amazon

For the cook who loves to entertain, this cookbook will be their hottest gift.

My #2 recommended this Himalayan Natural Crystal Salt Cooking Tile. She says that you can chill or heat the slab and it adds great flavor to all foods placed on it.

Not only can your favorite chef whip up your first day of your diet low-cal smoothie, this Ninja QB900B Master Prep minces, dices, chops, blends, and purees. It also has the reputation of being a mean ice crusher.

For the chef who needs more spice in life, this Kitchen Art Professional Select-A-Spice Auto Measure Carousel. It can stack and store up to 48, count 'em 48, different spices. Twist the dial for the perfect measurement.

In a past post, I mentioned how much we loved the store bought zoodles. This Paderno World Cuisine Tri-Blade Vegetable Spiral Slicer would make the weight-conscious Chef spiraling with glee.

Amazon

And if you include the cookbook, you will be sure to be noshing on great meals all year long.

Friends Pizza Peddler Monkey Unicycle Pizza Wheel would make a great stocking stuffer or throw it in a gift bag with a pizza stone and cookbook.

CastElegance pizza stone with thermarite guarantees best crispy crust. Comes with scraper and Ebook.

Amazon

This book includes recipes for healthy, low-fat, and gluten-free pizza.
Wait... is there such a thing?

Amazon

Almost all 5-star reviews on this one.

If you want to keep your Mommy/Wifey Chef always happy and in a good mood, you can surprise her this Dacor Wine Dispensing System. It may be over 5,000 buckaroos, but you can get free shipping.

For the angry ex-wife ~~who never got a wine dispensing system~~ a knife holder that may remind her of a certain someone - how about this The Ex 5- Piece Knife Set?

Here's an idea for the nasty coworker whose name you picked in the Secret Santa drawing. I'm sure they'll get the message of how you feel about them with this Toilet Bowl Mug.

Amazon

And last but not least, a peek at what my chef may be getting in his Christmas stocking!

Until next time...

Sunday, December 11, 2016

Easy Peasy Centerpieces

Good morning, dear friends. I hope that you are having a good weekend.

Yesterday, the Mister and I spent the day in Connecticut for a funeral. My Sista's beautiful Mother-In-Law passed away. The funeral was fitting for a woman who was the quintessential hostess with a heart of gold.

This post is an oldie but a goodie from a few years ago.

One of my favorite boards to pin on Pinterest is "DIY." When scrolling through these brilliant ideas, I always seek out the ones that look fairly easy. Unfortunately, I have come to find out that although these projects are probably elementary-level to almost everyone - there is one exception to the rule - moi.

All of my whole-hearted attempts seem to end in a defeated call to Sista who then whips out her glue gun, a shoebox, and some watercolors only to end up with a DIY project worthy of some upscale designer boutique. She then sends me a text with a picture, and as I fawn over her latest creation, she tells me it is merely my "interpretation" that fell short.