Make your life easier with online grocery shopping

October 8, 2019 • Out & About

We are all very busy with life and kids and all that other blah, blah, blah. The last place I want to go to is to the grocery store.

I also, am not one to stay on task very well(shocker).
So, I may go into the store for milk and bread and come out with an extension cord and wine, it happens to us all.

My life has been a roller coaster ride lately and I have started embracing anything that makes it easier and less stressful.

We were not meant to go to work, pay bills and I am adding grocery shopping to that list too.

Run your life, don't let it run you!!
I am going to repeat that, just because I need to hear it again,
Run your life, don't let it run you!!

Here are some benefits that I enjoy about grocery shopping online-

1. Convience- shopping online saves me time and to me that is the biggest benefit.

2. Quality-All the products I have gotten have always been really fresh, even my veggies are nice. Some people are weird about having another person pick out their veggies, I am not that person.

3.Shopping List- I know this could fall under convience but, I like to keep my grocery list running all week as I run out of things and plan my menu, I can just add too it. Then hit the submit button when ready.

4. With lots of pick up times and delivery options available I can schedule pick up when I am ready.

Just pull up, alert them by app or phone and wait and within minutes my groceries are delivered to my car.

I like using Wal Mart because they are close to home and they do not charge a fee for the service.

Now, if you were in a rush or maybe just had a baby, sick or just don't want to leave home they offer have a delivery option.

I checked from my Wal Mart market to my house is $9.95 most days and two next week it is $7.95.

Not sure why the delivery cost is different, they only thing I can figure is maybe because it is so many days out.

So, give online shopping a try and I promise you it will be a game changer.

Thanks for stopping by!

~Dana~

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Foodie Friday-Broccoli Salad

September 13, 2019 • Foodie Friday

Hey, Y'all!! I really am still alive and kicking over here. We have been dealing with back to school and getting settled into that routine, which like always is a struggle for all of us.

Recently at work, we made this recipe for broccoli salad and I forgot how much, I love it.

I can remember my Mom making her version and it was always in a butter container(when people used every resource they had) in our fridge growing up.

Sometimes my Mom add different ingredients, depending who might be coming over for dinner. I always ate it all up, no matter how it was made and I miss it very much!

Here is a quick & easy salad that goes great as a snack or with a meal.

Broccoli Salad

5-6 broccoli florets

2/3 cups dried cranberries

1 cup crumbled bacon

Mix with 3/4 cup mayo

1/2 teaspoon white wine vinegar

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

Mix all together in a big bowl, cover and put in the fridge over night to marinate.

Enjoy!!

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Cleaning Wood Furniture

September 11, 2019 • DIY

Many years ago Sonny & I gifted ourselves a very nice Adirondack furniture set for the fire pit area of our yard. The furniture was made by an older gentleman in our community and it is sturdy and very well built.

When Sonny put this furniture around our fire pit, he put the legs on small path stones and that has preserved the legs and the entire set for about 20 years now.

After sitting thru rain, winter and the blazing hot sun it became a bit gross looking though. I knew it was time for a good cleaning and restaining.

With Fall on the way I wanted to get this project off my to do list so, here is how it went.

It all started with my new Greenworks Electric Pressure washer(love it) and trust me nothing is safe when I have this baby in my hands.

It was on sale at Lowe's Hardware for about $159 and it is much easier to use than the gas types.

It comes with easy change tips for different jobs which makes this pressure washer very versatile.

This is what my Adirondack furniture looked like before the cleaning. I could not remember the last time this furniture had been clean.

I got this Rust-Oleum Deck & Patio from Lowe's Hardware.

The instructions say mix and spray and leave on for about 10 mins which I am sure works better if your

furniture doesn't look as bad as mine.

I used a scrubbing brush and then rinsed with the car was tip of my pressure washer.

The swingset was just as disgusting

Here is the chair after cleaning, it is still a little wet but,

I am going to let all the furniture dry before giving all of it stain protection.

Much better after a good bath.

How adorable it will be all fresh and clean with some cute Fall pillows and a fire going this Fall.

Hey it's me and let me tell you I was hot, dirty and wet and this was taken early and in the shade.

Cleaning furniture is no joke girls but,

but now it all looks so much better.

I think Sonny would be proud of how this turned out, we always enjoyed building a fire a having a cold beer or 12.

I even found a Coors Light(Sonny's fav beer) can in the ashes of the firepit and it made me think of him.

Now I just need to give it a few coats of stain and it will be beautiful for many more years.

Falls Coming,

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Chicken Tenders in the air fryer vs stovetop

August 14, 2019 • Cooking

My kids love chicken, it is the meat of choice around our house. For many years I have fried the chicken tenders in oil on the stovetop(be careful with this method) but lately, I have been breading them and using the air fryer I got for Christmas. Does everyone else just love their air fryer? I sure love mine. No more smell of oil cooking in my house and the time standing over the stove watching the oil like a hawk. The kids can use it if they need a snack(chicken nuggets or popcorn shrimp without me being here to supervise. It's been our most used kitchen appliance lately.

I have used House Autry products as long as I can remember and they have always been the best.

I start with a pack of chicken tenders and follow my Moms recipe(it's in my head)

Sometimes I drench my chicken in buttermilk first but, I was out so I just used milk.

Set up like a little assembly line of milk, breading mix and the basket for your air fryer. I only put about 3 or 4 tenders in my air fryer at a time. Follow the temps for your fryer recommends as each one is different.

Read here when I posted about getting my air fryer and these wings I made.

My kids have a serious Ranch dressing addiction.

Everything gets dunked.

I like making chicken tenders in the air fryer better because, the breading makes this nice crispy outside(just like oil with the mess)

It takes less time than using the stove and it is a healthier option.

What have you made in the air fryer that has changed how you cook?

Did you used to make one thing using the oven or stovetop and have now changed to the air fryer?

Tell us about it in the comments below.

Until next time,

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Motivational Monday- a 15 minute morning yoga routine

August 12, 2019 • Motivational Monday

Happy Motivational Monday!

I am back and getting set in a routine with school and work back in full swing. Different studies have different results but, most say 66 days until something becomes habit.

Do whatever that one thing is that you have been avoiding for 66 days and it will now be a habit and muscle memory will take over from there. The best way to get to those 66 days were a new thing becomes a habit is to just start.

I am trying to add a new routine to my day, since my days can be long it made sense for me to try a yoga routine in the morning.
I have been on a night routine for about 6 months and I have noticed the difference.

I found this yoga instructor here and she gives easy yoga instruction from basic to advanced.

She covers other things that go along with yoga, like gratitude and balance.

So take the time and turn that "thing" into a habit.

Maybe you want to start walking, yoga, meditating, saving money, journaling if you start now you can be well on your way in a few months.

Each journey starts with the first step.

Happy Motivational Monday,

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The Chef's Table aboard Carnival Sunshine- A foodie in Paradise.

August 11, 2019 • Cooking, Foodie Friday, Out & About, Travel

Hey, y'all!! I know I dropped off the face of the earth right after we got back from our cruise but, this girl has been busy!

First of all, you know how short our summer was and as soon as we returned from vacay it was back to work(insert frown here)

You know how much I love my job but, I was not ready to go to work honestly, I didn't want to leave the Bahamas.

But, the cruise was amazing and beautiful and more then I could have ever dreamed of and more.

I think I told y'all some time ago that I had booked myself to have dinner at the Chef's table and it was really exciting.

Let me just say it was one of the coolest things I have done lately.

I heard someone at dinner say, "The two most important people on the ship are the chef and the captain." I am going with the Chef as my fav.

The menu had food I had never tried but, that didn't stop me. I tried and loved everything.

Let's start with appetizers and a champagne toast in the galley of the Carnival Sunshine.

We enjoyed some delicious appetizers as we toured the kitchen

With over 2,000 guests onboard you can imagine how crazy this kitchen can get at times. It was like a ballet dance of trays of food, ovens cooking as hard as the could and everything coming together at just the perfect time. Sounds like my days sometimes.

After our kitchen tour, we moved up a few floors to a private dining room and the table was set for 12 people. I am glad they kept the group small because it gave you a chance to enjoy the evening and get to know others at the table and have one on one with the chef.

Spring Peas & Matcha Soup

We used the spring onion to mix the matcha into the soup

Berkshire Pork Belly with veil of yuzu mustard, crustacean essence

I have never eaten pork belly but, this may have been my favorite. It had so much good flavor.

Slow Cooked Crispy Lamb with roasted beet & port jus

Quail, Wild Mushrooms and Carnaroli with parmesan, pepper threads, roasted onion jus

I have also never eaten Quail and was a little nervous but, it didn't disappoint at all.

These courses brought lots of compliments to the chef from everyone at dinner. It was fun to try new foods and the service they showed us was out of this world.

As stuffed as we were, we still had to find some way to get dessert down too.

Citrus Cream with lime snow, elderflower caviar

Chocolate Hazelnut with basil moss, cocoa logs, chocolate soil

Special thanks to Executive Chef Ramesh Selvam and Carnival Sunshine for this amazing experience that I will always remember.

My kids are talking about going on another cruise and I know I will participate in the Chef's Table again.

Ok, here it is Carnival Sunshines Signature dessert recipe

Warm Chocolate Melting Cake

Yield 5 servings

Ingredients:

Chocolate Semi Sweet 3 oz

Sweet Chocolate 3 oz

Unsalted Butter 6 oz

Fresh Eggs 4 ea

(Make sure the eggs are at room temperature and chocolate is warm enough while making the mixture)

Flour 2 oz

Sugar 1.5 oz

Method:

Melt chocolate and butter

Mix the eggs and sugar and whisk for a few minutes, add the flour

Add the egg mixture to the melted chocolate and mix

Pour the mix in a greased mould

Bake in the oven at 320 F for 14 minutes

Serve with ice cream and a fruit garnish.

Enjoy!

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Motivational Monday-My favorite Quotes!

July 29, 2019 • Motivational Monday

Happy Monday Y'all!! I officially go back to work today and it's going to be a tough week. Kids come back to school on August 6th as we are in our first short summer of the new calendar.

Going to work/school is fun, but to help me through it I love me some quotes. I have letter boards around my house and quote magnets on my locker at work and change them around often.

I like the quotes to be short and to the point and I like for them to speak to me directly.

Sometimes quotes make me reflect on my life and I cry or laugh.

I just like them.

So, I put together some of my favorites and I hope you enjoy.

Don't Obey All the Rules

I am currently in a state of repair

I mean come on, it's a Burt qoute.

Not just the NASCAR world changed when Dale Earnhardt died but, the whole world cried. True words from a wise man.

Lately, I get this quote more than ever.

But here I still am just killin it.

Now, this is me.

It's the songs

in my head that makes me blurt out lyrics and it is always a good time.

Music is one of life's greatest gifts.

I asked myself this question for a long time and then I day I jumped and I flew. Self-talk had me in a place of doubt and I knew I deserved better. So, this is one of my favorites.

This is a good one too.

Loving yourself is a road we should all be on.

Take yourself out, get a massage, read a book it is all ok to be totally in love with yourself.

Amen!

Take that first step!

I am blessed to say I do what I love every day.

So, find your favorite quote and put it on your bathroom mirror or in your car or on your coffee mug any place where you will see it.

Stay Positive,

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The Charm of Charleston, SC

July 24, 2019 • Out & About

Hey, Y'all! We are home from our Bahama Cruise and I promise I am going to be writing all about how wonderful it was very soon, but first I want to take you on a tour thru the streets of Charleston, SC.

Now I am sure you all know how beautiful Charleston is with its cobblestone streets, southern charm and beautiful homes, but really who wouldn't like to see them again(I know I never get tired of it)

We live in a perfect part of NC because we are only a few hours to the mountains or the beaches of both NC & SC. We left out of the Charleston Port for our cruise but we went down a day early just so I could enjoy all the charm of this amazing city.