Amazing Amazon Finds!
March 17, 2023 • Lifestyle
Don't you just love Amazon? I know my family sure does,
It is easy, fast and they have large selection of
whatever you are looking for.
I have never been that girl that likes to go to the mall, that sounds like shear torture to me. So, I can shop online and have it on my doorstep in a few days and sometime within a few hours.
These are just a snapshot of a few things we have been loving on Amazon recently.
Ella recently celebrated her 18th Birthday in style with this adorable sash and crown
This Women's Chiffon Top is cute for Spring.
I am in love with these Faux Boxwoods. These pictures do not do them justice. I have them on top of planters by my front door and they look so amazing.
Recently, we stayed in a hotel in Charleston, and they had these sleep machines in the room. As soon as we came home we ordered them, I like how you can adjust the volume of the white noise with a simple turn.
We have 3 cats in our house, need I say more! We had seen this Chom Chom on the gram and finally decided to give it a try. It is life changing if you have pets.
Ella was accepted to App State, and I am over the moon with excitement and pride. This App State flag is garden size flag and looks amazing in my yard. Show your Mountaineer Pride and pick one up today.
Hope you enjoyed a peek at our Amazon finds and hopefully, you have found something that you would like in your own home.
Cheers!
Dana
Homemade Pimento Cheese
March 15, 2023 • Cooking
Before we get to the good part, let me tell you a little about pimento cheese.
What is Pimento Cheese?
Pimento cheese is a very popular Southern spread made with shredded cheese, mayo, and pimentos. Here in the South we put it on crackers, use it on sandwiches, and we have also been know to fry into the worlds most delicious little balls as an appetizer.
What is in Pimento Cheese?
Block Cheese-please for the love of it, don't cheap out and use pre shredded, trust me it ain't the same thing.
Mayo- here in the South we only use one kind, and you know it by heart, Duke's. But really I am sure you can use whatever you have on hand.
Cream Cheese- this makes your pimento cheese spread like warm butter
Pimentos-a tiny jar of pimentos, they are found in the grocery aisle with the pickles and relish.
Seasonings- salt & pepper, cayenne pepper, garlic are added to your taste
How to make Pimento Cheese from Scratch
Mix all the ingredients in a bowl until they are well combined. I have a mini food processor that I use to grate my cheese. Just cut the block into smaller pieces and give it a few soft pulses.
How to store Pimento Cheese
Store in an airtight container for up to one week.
Ingredients
2 cups shredded extra sharp cheddar cheese
8 oz cream cheese softened
1/2 cup of Duke's mayo
1 (4oz) jar of drained pimento
1/4 tsp of garlic powder, cayenne pepper
Salt & Pepper to taste
Enjoy!
I love a good pimento cheese sandwich on some fresh white bread, yummy! I grew up eating homemade pimento cheese, my Dad always made it best.
Enjoy!
Dana
We Got New Flooring!
March 13, 2023 • Our Home
We have lived in our house for approx. 24 years and with all things, time takes its toll and things need a refresh. Our house has lots of traffic with 3 people and visitors, we also have 3 cats. We have so many memories here and plan on making a bunch more.
Our floors have been neglected, we have had the same builder grade carpet, since we built our house.
But, this change is really coming because, I am sick of being sick. My family and I, have been sick since Aug, and it is really starting to suck. We have had everything from ear infections, strep throat, sinus infections and so much more. The carpet can't be holding anything good in them after all these years.
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| We went with Stainmaster Summit Oak |
I also wanted cohesive flooring in the whole house, as we had 3 different types of flooring that could be seen from our foyer. So, up they came and new non-carpet flooring will go down.The flooring we chose is going to be a LVP-Luxury Vinyl Plank from Stainmaster, it is more affordable than hardwood, but better than laminate, in my opinion.
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| Oh my, I am not going to miss this at all. Bye!! |
We will be using Lowes Hardware for this project. We have tackled other projects around our house but, we are smart enough to know, this is a monster we do not want to wrestle.
Lowe's came out to our house, and measured our floors and started the process.Our first floor is 1700 sq ft and it all got new flooring.
We picked out a color that we felt would be a great fit for our family for years to come. They have so many options to choose from.
The prepping part is the hardest on us, we had to pack up all the knick knacks, nothing could be left on the floor and the furniture had to be clear of lamps or anything else that was on the top surface.
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| Prince thought all this flooring was for him |
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| Kitty quickly made herself at home in the moving boxes |
We also used this as a time to purge junk, we all have "stuff" that serves no purpose, and it makes my type "A" brain happy to clean out and make space for calm. I am a huge fan of these Bagster-Dumpster in a Bag and use them often, they really hold a bunch of junk and pick up is easy as one simple call. We moved upstairs for a few days while the floors were replaced downstairs. It was a lot of work to prep our house for new flooring, but the reward is amazing.
Also, I was warned of the dust that would be going on during this project but, man I way under estimated it. I am still finding places where there is dust hiding. The pictures below are just a brief look into the process we went through.
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| So long carpet |
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| Lowes team was very calculated and took rooms in sections |
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| Yes, that is our toilet sitting on the front porch |
We have started moving some things back inside but, some pieces didn't make the cut and are still sitting in the garage waiting to be hauled to Goodwill.
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| Living room before |
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| Living room after, our large area rug is being cleaned and should be back soon |
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| Foyer is starting to come back together |
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| Soooo much better |
Whew, what a whirlwind but, like always, so worth it in the end! When I get the house put all back together I will share more pictures.
Until next time!
Dana
Holiday Bucket List
December 1, 2022 • Lifestyle
Happy December 1st!
December is a magical month of wishes, dreams and so many nostalgic feelings. I wanted to make a wish list of things I want to do, so I can enjoy this season to its fullest.
#1 Go see Christmas lights is top of the list for a good reason, everything just looks better in twinkly lights.
Use the cheer map from Next door, and find all the cool lights in your area.
#2 Watch holiday movies like our favorites, A Christmas Story and Ebbie with Susan Lucci.
#3 Make some yummy apple cider, I like this recipe.
#4 Make a donation to a charity, as Christmas is not just about getting, it is also about giving.
#5 Set up a snack stand on your porch for all those delivery drivers. Include water, crackers, bagged chips. I promise you, they will really appreciate it. Include a small note to thank them for the job well done.
I think with great planning and purpose, it can be a great December!
Happy Holidays!
Love,
Dana
What is Mirepoix and why you should be using it!
November 22, 2022 • Cooking
Hello again friends, as life happens and takes us on detours that we never want to be on. It has caused me to be absent from posting. I will speak more on that later.
Today, I wanted to tell you about something I learned about,I mean I just turned 55 and had for some reason, never heard of Mirepoix. My family was gifted some meal kits and I was preparing one of them and the recipe said to add the Mirepoix and so, you can say after that I have kinda been obsessed with it.
What is Mirepoix?
Mirepoix is a mixture of onions, celery and carrots at a 2:1:1 ratio using butter until caramelized.
This is essential for adding flavor to soups, stews, and stir-drys.
How to Make It?
Chop the vegetables. If your recipe requires a sauce or frying method, you'll want a small dice, approx. 1/4 inch. For soups or stews, a medium dice, approx. 1/2 inch, works best
Other Versions of Mirepoix
The Holy Trinity(Cajun):onion, celery, green bell pepper with olive oil or butter
Soffritto(Italian): onions, carrots, celery with olive oil often contains parsley
Sofrito(Latino):onions, garlic, bell peppers, tomato with olive oil
If your dish calls for tomato paste it could be added during this step for extra flavor
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Add the vegetables to butter and cook low and slow until they become caramelized
With wintertime here it is the perfect time to try making mirepoix for your next pot of soup. I promise you it will give you flavors that you have only tasted at fancy restaurants or your Momma house.
Cheers until next time,
Dana
Our Whirlwind Weekend in Charleston/Mt Pleasant!
May 26, 2022 • Travel
We recently participated in the 45th Annual Copper River Bridge Run in Mt Pleasant and Charleston, SC.
Gary and I loaded up the car on Friday around 9am and arrived around noon.
We had to stop by the Charleston Convention Center and pick up race packet info and then we went to our gorgeous hotel in Mt Pleasant.
Read here about all my love for the Mt Pleasant area.
Let me just tell you, if you are planning on coming to the area during the weekend of the bridge run, make your hotel reservations as far in advance as possible, they sell out fast.
I am planning on making ours for next year as soon as race registration opens again.
Where We Stayed
We booked our stay Embassy Suites by Hilton in Mt Pleasant. It was very close to the bridge and sits on the water and we loved the location. Inside the hotel it was gorgeous and well decorated and they had a nice Happy Hour with drink specials and snacks. The courtyard was a nice place to just relax as live music entertained us.
Our room also featured a balcony that overlooked the water and we got to see lots of water traffic, even the Carnival Cruise Ship that Gary and I met on, almost 3 years ago. A chance meeting that I am thankful for every day.
We will definitely stay here again because we do love the Mt Pleasant area. The walking path on the property takes you along the water, under the bridge and up to the Battleship.
Our room was a 2 queen bedroom with a living room and a couch that folded out, we needed the extra space because Ella brought her friends.
Coffee bar with mini fridge and cabinets
The bathroom has a very large shower with a glass door and plenty of storage
This is such a beautiful courtyard with a relaxing fountain and at night they have a musician to entertain you.
Outside of Embassy Suites
The lobby of the hotel was amazing and so beautiful.
Our room with a desk, fold out couch and a balcony
The lobby has lots several little areas like this where you can just sit and relax in style.
This is the view from our balcony and across the water is Charleston
The only thing I didn't get a picture of was the breakfast.
It was amazing in gorgeous breakfast room where you can have a custom omelet prepared for you or enjoy the sausage, grits, bacon, oatmeal, cereal, fresh fruit and coffee, juice and soft drinks.
Trust me when I say, it was so yummy!
What We Did
On Friday, after we finished picking up our race packets at the Expo Center we came to check in at our hotel and get freshened up for dinner. Ella and I love crab legs and have found this place to be our current favorite. After stuffing ourselves on way too many crab legs we decided to walk around Charleston and get Ice Cream. We called it a night around 9 because we had a very early morning coming up.
On Saturday morning the alarm went off around 5 was we were set to leave our hotel at 5:30 to catch the shuttle to the starting line for the race. We stopped and grabbed breakfast and coffee and headed off to our coral to wait on turn to go. I really enjoy the Cooper River Bridge Run and this year my goal was only to beat last years time. I totally did that as last year was 2:22 and this was 1:56 minutes.
Just think what I could do if I trained and ate right, lol!
After the race, we headed back to the hotel for a much needed shower and took the girls and went to Isle of Palms for dinner. It was chilly on the beach so we didn't stay long and after dinner that pretty much for Gary & I, We were past done.
Ella and the girls headed out to a park and to get ice cream while Gary and I stayed in bed, he watched basketball and I slept,It was perfect.
Sunday morning we got up and headed downstairs to enjoy the delicious breakfast the hotel provides. After breakfast, Gary & I took a walk along the water and under the bridge and I felt a kind of achievement come over me, that I "Got Over It" Way to go Dana! We headed back to the room and packed up and checked out. We headed into Charleston and dropped the girls off on King St, The mecca for shopping and we headed to tour this beautiful historic home.
After the girls shopped on King Street and we toured a historic home, it was time to grab some lunch and get ready to head home. We all love the area and can't wait to be back soon.
Dana
Eating at Mattie's
• Cooking, Lifestyle
Mattie's, is a diner car in Charlotte, formally, located at the Music Factory, the diner closed in 2015 and was put into storage, It sat that way for more than 6 years. Matt King, owner of Mattie's spent all of his time looking for a new home for the diner.
He wanted to be a fixture in a community in Charlotte, and not just a place for outsiders to come. Matt bought the diner car from a used car lot in NJ in 2005, it was named, The Bound Brook Diner back then. Matt loaded the diner up and had it brought south to Charlotte, where it now has a home forever.
My favorite spot is in the diner car at the bar, so I can see all the action and mouth watering meals as they are prepared.
On our visit, on a very busy recent Sunday, Matt and another guy were busy making meal after meal.
We watched them make egg omelets, burgers, tuna melts and much more.
I skipped breakfast cause I wanted to try all the food.
It was delicious. So good to have Mattie's opened again.
Stop by and grab a bite, I promise you will love it!
Mattie's Diner
3100 The Plaza
Charlotte, NC 28205
Dana
Planning a Staycation-6 Family Favorites!
March 2, 2022 • Travel
With gas prices at an all time high and no sign of them dropping, this summer may look a little different as far as vacations go.
I want to share some local fabulous places with you that are close to home, affordable and great for the entire family.
Pack a bag, let's Go!
Our first stop is this amazing lakeside retreat in Lake Wylie.
Gary & I stayed here a few years ago and Wow, it was an amazing weekend.
We shopped for groceries before arriving, to avoid having to go out. We relaxed, we swam, we ate and it was perfect.
A Lakeside Retreat is waiting at Long Cove Resort
This tiny home resort sits on the banks of Lake Wylie and is home to 33 individual vacation rental homes. They also have a marina, watersport rentals, beach front, and an outdoor swimming pool.
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| Long Cove Resort Beach Area |
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| Just one the 33 properties offered at Long Cove Resort ________________________________________________________________________________ If indoor waterparks are your thing and the weather is just not warm enough for outdoor swimming, head to another one of our family favorites, Great Wolf Lodge in Concord. They now offer day passes without having to stay in the hotel. The prices for a full day pass from open to close are $40, and passes that cover you from 4pm to close are $32. You can go all out and book one of the gorgeous rooms and stay the night as well, it's all up to you.   _____________________________________________________________________________________ This stop on our staycation should have been #1 because, this is my all time favorite thing to do in the summer, and I go as often as I can. Pictures this, it's a hot summer day, you pack some food in the cooler, throw a few cold drinks in too and you drive to Zaloo's Canoes in Jefferson, NC. Once there you immerse yourself into a tube and spend the next 2-4 hours gently floating down the New River. I always say, I bet this is what Heaven looks like, and once you go, you will agree. Adult Tubes rent for $20 and a cooler tube(a must) is $15 for a 2 hr float. Trust me, go ahead a pay a little more and book the 4 hr trip, you will thank me.  Our Crew Getting ready To Tube The New!  The New River _________________________________________________________________________________ From Jefferson, NC to the heart of Charlotte is our next stop at the sprawling Camp North End with 76 acres of food, shopping, fun and history. A cool place for the whole family to just hang out in a hammock swing with a cup of coffee or a cold beer and take in all the cool art work and the amazing use of the space. Looking to up your IG game, this is the place to go for some great backdrops. Explore the property and grab a bite to eat or do a little retail therapy.   __________________________________________________________________________________ Another family favorite past time is Carowinds and season passes are a must for this park, so you can come back again and again all year. Full of rides, fun and year long events makes Carowinds all around great deal. The water park is included in your pass and it is perfect in the heat of a southern summer. Looking to save some money? Yes, i know food is expensive in the park but instead, plan ahead and pack a picnic and leave it in the car, half way thru the day take a break and come out and enjoy. My family does this often and it gives us a chance to catch our 2nd wind to finish out the day.   _____________________________________________________ Just North of Charlotte the amazing Lake Norman State Park sits on the largest manmade lake in NC and boasts one of the region's more popular mountain biking trails, a sandy swim beach area and bathhouse. A family campground with 32 sites and all beautifully laid out within walking trails and paths. Pack the tent and stay for the night or just go for the day, it will be perfect!   _______________________________________________________ This should keep the kids busy for a while and allow you to relax and recharge. These places are affordable too, so you don't have to take a hammer to the piggy bank. Enjoy! Cheers! Dana Cliff Hangers is a new, state-of-the-art indoor climbing facility that brings together the passion of challenging yourself to new heights with a community of friends and supporters along your journey. With everything from speed climbing, introductory classes, yoga studio, fitness area, café, and kid’s climbing area – Cliff Hangers has |
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