Tuesday Temptations

I bet you wonder where my twisted brain is going now....

The first three pictures are of my favorite indulgences at the moment and I blame all three on SF.  She knows I have a HUGE sweet tooth and when she goes to the grocery store she comes home with something special for me.  I love her for that but it means harder work to keep them from ending up on my mid-section or hips.

The last one is my all time favorite actress, not really, but she is the only one I would consider cheating with if I was that kind of person....seriously, she is brilliantly intelligent, in excellent physical condition and is my age.  That means she is older than my stretch marks and that makes her eligible on the dating scale.  I love her smile and her eyes.

And what are all these?  Pieces that I would like to add to my collection.  Some are blue diamonds.  Some are Sapphires.  Some are Rubies.  Some are black diamonds.  Some are green amethyst.  Some are chocolate pearls.  I think that I deserve some more bling and these are calling to me in very loud voices.

At this very moment, there is beef stew cooking in my crock pot.  It is loaded with turnips, parsnips, carrots, baby red potatoes, onions and celery.  Plus the perfect beef and spices.  I'll be making cornbread as soon as I get home.  After I eat, I'll be finishing the secret knitting so that I can get it gifted this week.  That means that I'll be able to post pictures this week of the socks and this item.  I may even be close to being able to get a good shot of the shawl too.

What is tempting you these days?

Tuesday Temptations

I thought I would lead this post off with a few pictures.  The first two are of Eraser and Sassy.  For some reason they both slept this way with one paw shielding their faces.  Odd but they are cats, so they do things that we humans do not understand.  The third one is a glimpse of the Red Hot front and back pieces blocking and drying so that I can assemble them at some point today.  The second sleeve is almost done so I can block them for assembly as well.  The fourth one is of some roses that SF gave me on Valentine's Day 2010.  I selected three of the buds from this arrangement and hung them upside down to dry out.  When I am sad, down or frustrated I just need to see them on the side of the bed (retreat room) and they make me remember that it will all be okay.  The fifth and final one is of a Mourning Dove that was sitting on the fence outside the kitchen window last week (Friday the 24th) during a very heavy downpour.

As for the temptation portion...well, I have been culling my recipes and putting them in order so that I can find them faster.  I want to start using the crock pot again and that is what prompted the actions.  Fall equals crock pot cooking to me, so I needed to get ready.  I love coming home to the smell of dinner that is ready.  Crock pot cooking is hearty and most of the food sticks to your ribs.

There will be more later today, I just wanted to get this portion up and off my mind....

Tuesday Temptations

As promised, I am trying to get back to the regular weekly posting of these temptations.  This one is all about stuff for me personally.  Not for a room or for the house, for moi!

I am about to admit that I want a piece of technology that I thought I would never own in a million trillion years.  It just wasn't something that I thought I would ever want.  I want an eReader.  I haven't decided if I want the Kindle, the Sony or the Nook.  I know my tech savvy gal-pal Mel will have some comments and I am hoping that she shares them with me.  She is the goddess of all things techie and I need her powers.

You may ask why I find the prospect of owning an eReader so odd.  Let me splain.  No, let me summarize.  I LOVE books.  I love the way they feel in my hands.  I love the way they smell, especially hardbacks.  I love the fact that I can inscribe them for that special occasion.  I treat each of the ones I own as treasures.  Their spines are not broken and in most cases look as if they have never been read, even though several of them have been read over and over again.  I would never dream of loaning or sharing these treasures, as I have no way to guarantee their survival.  But, I recognize that there are books I want to read but not necessarily own forever.  I also know that I can load a lot of them on these devices which makes them perfect for trips and work.  So, I will be researching them and would love to hear everyone's input.  I need positive and negative input so I can make a sound decision.

This is the temptation for this week...I am on a serious search for one of these eReader contraptions.  I just heard the sales pitch for the Nook today, so I will need to go by a Best Buy and see the Sony version and hear the pitch about it as well.  So, if you have one of these newfangled contraptions, please let me know why you chose yours and what you would do if you could do it again, if you don't like what you have now...

Tuesday Temptations

I promised temptations....in reality it will be a combo post of the LYS exploration and temptation.

So, last Thursday I had a few spare minutes and was in the Sugar Land area when I remembered that a new yarn store had opened off US59 at the Williams Trace exit.  Having lived in Sugar Land for fourteen years I knew that exit very well and I even knew the building that it should be in within the strip center area.  It is a huge retail area with a Home Depot and several other large chains and then there are sprout buildings along the perimeter.  They were tucked in the building right behind Jason's Deli.

I arrived around 10:45 AM (they open at 10:00 AM).  There was one other customer inside.  The store is spacious due to the layout.  The siting/knitting area is LARGE!  I love the way that they combined slate and wood with contemporary glass fixtures.  The yarns are displayed in a manner that makes it easy to access them and the assortment was wonderful.  I made a quick pass through the entire store to get my bearings and then started back at the front.  There were old favorites and a lot of new surprises.  Only one of the owners was in.  Jenn was charming and very laid back.  She told us stories of living overseas in a climate where you could actually enjoy Aran sweaters and real wool.  She also told us about some original hand-knits her mother had made that she recently uncovered and of a cardigan that she still can wear (at home only).  She also told us of items that she has made for her grand daughters.

I continued my exploration and I found this yummy yarn.  I am supposedly on a yarn diet while I am trying to whittle away my stash.  As much as I tried I could not avoid this one.  I know my fellow knitters will understand when I say that the feel of the yarn would not let me put it down.  Not having a pattern in mind, I only purchased two skeins of color 18 (Coral).  Not a color I would normally choose for myself but I couldn't resist.  Early yesterday I while trying to open my eyes and drink my first cup of coffee, I found this pattern on Ravelry.  So what did I do?  Since it was before 7:00 AM CST, I quickly sent Jenn a PM and asked if she still had two more skeins in the color and dye lot I had purchased.  I asked her to email, PM or call me.  Lo and behold I got a response later that morning telling me that she had put the requested skeins in back and they would be waiting for me to swing by for them.  Customer service that rocks!

I will get by there as soon as possible, due to the fact that I have already swatched and will be casting on as soon as I finish Megan's Calais and her BMG's Footies.  This will be for me and I want to wear it this summer!  I may even plan going when I can sit and knit there for a while.  Not that I can't or don't enjoy knitting at home with SF nearby.  Some times you just need to be with fellow knitters (or hookers as the case may be).

So, my LYS review and temptation all rolled into one spontaneous trip....

Tuesday Temptations

Bet you thought I would forget about this post since it is so late in the afternoon.  Not a chance.  I have been doing a little purging the last couple of days.  No, not food related.  I have been getting rid of things from the past that I no longer need and it feels GREAT!

I did come across this picture of Sassy and I in the pool from  a few years back, July 16, 2006 to be exact.  I kept it simply because it shows how much Sassy loves the pool.  She and Eraser would take turns sitting in my lap.  When Eraser was in my lap, she would put her paws in the water when she got hot.  I am still looking for the picture of her and I in the pool.

The temptations for today are really quite simple.  Our neighbor is in the midst of purging his pantry and kitchen of foods that he should not be eating.  He is trying to get his blood sugar down so that he will not become a full blown diabetic.  So, he brought me a goodie basket, like I really need that.  Inside I found these and this.

The orange slices bring back so many memories.  They go all the way back to when I was in the eighth grade.  My dad had just been hospitalized with his second collapsed lung from smoking.  The doctor told him if he wanted to see me graduate from high school he had to quit smoking NOW.  He did, cold turkey.  He did it by keeping a baby aspirin bottle full of toothpicks in his pocket, some gum that wouldn't stick to his partial (I can't recall the brand any longer) and by having bags of orange slices all over the house.  We weren't supposed to eat them but how could we resist.  We probably should have owned stock in the companies that made them because for a year he went through a whole bunch of them.  To this day, I still recall how scared we all were and how this simple candy helped save his life.

That got me to thinking about the candy that I loved as a kid and I discovered that I can still get some of it on the interwebzs today.  I can get these at almost any store now.  It seems that they have become quite popular again.  I wish that we could get the Brach's version of this year round.  I can eat my body weight in these any time I buy them.  And I love these in every size.  I got hooked on this when I was pregnant with Megan.  It is the ONLY time that I will eat Brazil nuts - PERIOD!  You can call me baby anytime as long as you are supplying me with these. And even though I have never smoked, I loved these as a kid.  Made my mom furious with them. And I laugh every time I see these because my sister actually wore them as necklaces and ate off them all day....yuk. I made my self sick off these one day but I still eat them when I can find them.  And I wish I had some of these right now.  I am old enough to remember when this candy first came into being.  And I got the sensation from these alright.

What did you like as a kid?  Is it still available?  Funny what memories candy triggers.

Knitting has been a huge part of relaxation for me as of late.  I have been making quick projects again and dishcloths have taken over my WIP basket.  Tomorrow will be all about knitting and a special swap package I received.  Ready to bail and get ready to fix dinner and watch DWTS and the WNBA game.

Tuesday Temptations

As promised, this edition of Temptations will be all about the pool, entertaining by the pool or simply water related.

As many of you know, I am a Cancer and we are generally ruled by two things:

1. Water
2. The Moon 

Because of these things, I am drawn to water and it is most certainly one of the best ways for me to rid myself of stress.  I can accomplish that in the garden tub, the shower, the pool or the ocean.  As long as I can remember I have always used water to help me sort things out.  A hot shower helps me relax and let things that trouble me dissolve and disappear down the drain.  A soak in the garden tub allows me to float off and concentrate on dreams or ideas.  The pool lets me escape or imagine, depending on what I need.  I think that is half from the water and half from the sun.  The ocean marries me back to the moon because of the tides.

As many of you may also know, I have been working diligently to get the pool ready to "open" for the season.  We have a salt water pool and having had both types I can say that I prefer salt water over traditional chlorine pools.  There were a lot of things for me to learn this past year but I am a fast study and I enjoy the work because I know that I can swim if the pool is maintained and ready.  SF has been a very patient teacher and we are fast becoming a finely tuned machine when it comes to the pool.

I have been looking at the poolside space this past year trying to decide what we need to do.  At present, SF's decoration of this area is spartan to say the least.  There is a table that seats six, complete with an umbrella.  There is also a side table with two additional chairs.  She also has a pub style table that seats four still in the box in the garage.  The furniture is functional but does not scream "use me".  I know that part of that stems from the fact that she does not view this as "living space".  We have begun to discuss it a little more, so when I get the chance, I show her things I would love to see us purchase.

Now, some of what I want is not practical, but it does have a romance feature and I'm all for adding romance where ever I can.  I mean, why not?  There are no children that live with us, so what the heck?  One such item would have to be this five-piece lounger. The canopy is a bonus that lends itself to privacy from the neighbors and the fact that it can be one whole unit or pulled apart for entertaining is a bonus as well.  Of course, I would also love this lounger.  It lacks the privacy factor but looks of so inviting.  Of course I be a lot less subtle and just get this.  I'm just sayin', it is a queen bed for heavens sake.....water, sun, adult beverages and a pool-side queen-sized bed.....oh my.

Now, I would also be remiss if I didn't show my outdoor living space idea that I have been pitching.  I think that a seating arrangement like this would be beautiful for the space.  With the weather that we have in Texas, minus hurricanes, we can entertain outdoors a lot longer than many parts of the country.  An arrangement such as this would allow us to enjoy the outdoors so much more.  If we were to add one of these or one of these, we would have no real excuse not to be out there a lot more.  Of course if I add this to the mix, then I would never have any issues.  We could watch sports or whatever from the comfort of the outdoors and never miss a beat.

All women will agree that sitting on the side of the pool with our legs in the water would be great if the surface of the outside didn't snag out suits, leaving our buts looking less than sleek.  Poolside has now gotten a lot nicer since I discovered these.   And you can bet that two sets (blue) will be ordered post haste.  Of course you can't be in a pool for long without wanting a float to rest upon.  We have to that are still fine, but why wouldn't I want these instead?  Adult beverage recipes included..... I would also accept these as alternatives, should SF frown upon the other suggestion.  Of course we could also get these or these but they are so plain.  We also need this to store them properly.

Now, I would be remiss if I didn't also include that I am looking at ways to make the master bathroom fell more like a spa.  With the one year anniversary of my moving in approaching, I felt that I needed to begin to make some more impressions in other rooms.  There is a fine line between SF's existing style and what I can change or add.  So much of what is here was specifically purchased when the house was designed and built.  The basic floor plan is still similar to the original; however, SF made numerous changes that make it different than any other house in the subdivision.  So my changes aren't earth shattering.  I would like to see a basket on the back of the garden tub filled with bath bombs, bubble bars, bath salts, luxury bar soaps and luxury bubble bath products.  Candles are the least of my worries, as I have lots of them and SF loves candles.  We have some luxurious towels already but we could both use a spa quality bath robe.  I haven't found any yet that suit the bill, so if you have a favorite, please let me know.

Ok, that's all for today.  By the end of this day I will have given both Sassy and Eraser their first baths outside of the year and brushed them.  All in addition to the daily job.  Have a great Tuesday!

Tuesday Temptations

Okay, I promised that I had been busy getting this post together, so here goes!

We get our fair share of catalogs at Chez RubyRingz.  Some of them are due in part to the fact that one of us has ordered something from the place before.  Some, we know are due in part to the relationships other places have to ones we shop with.

One of my favorite catalogs has always been Solutions.   The stuff that you see in their catalogs and the stuff that is on the web site is sometimes just too much and other times it is the perfect answer.  Case in point.  We all know (or you should if you follow along) that my birthday is a National Holiday and that I avoid all theme related party suggestions.  However, I may have to make one teeny tiny exception this year.  I think I want this for the kitchen window.  Not too flashy and I can use it for many other holidays like Memorial Day and Flag Day.  I also saw this and almost choked on my dinner.  The possibilities are endless and I bet Zoe would love it since she can hold a hot dog bun but a hamburger bun is a little harder on her hands.

I have been on an organizing tirade as of late and I want this NOW.  I have the perfect wall in the office where it can live and with all of the CDs and DVDs that SF and I own collectively, it should be the best of all solutions.  Funny, when you begin the process to remove the yours and mine barriers, organization becomes much easier to tackle and tame.  In that vein, I would also like to get this for the bedroom seating arrangement.  It will hold the remotes and I should be able to put a basket with knitting on that bottom shelf.

Now, this is the part that just makes me scratch my head and wonder WTF.  I saw this product and  all kind of evil thoughts came to mind.  But I ended up just wanting to know who thought about this long enough to produce it and would I ever meet someone that actually bought it.  Seriously, if I lived with someone that purchased this I would need to have a serious Come To Jesus discussion with them.  I got about four pages further in the catalog only to find this one.  There is nothing else I can say about this, so I won't.  I also want to know how they can sell this, this this, this, this and this.  Seriously, how can I go from home organization and outdoor entertainment to this.....

Okay, enough of that.  I wish I had looked at the recent sales paper from Ulta before Mother's Day.  They have this and it is one of Stephanie's all time favorites.  There was also an insert discussing hair cuts that was informative and helped me refine the cut and look I am growing this mane out to become.

I know that I have an oval face and that I wanted something classic but I also need it to express confidence and a certain amount of sass.  We also get Rouge in the mail.  It is chocked full of all sorts of beauty and fashion tidbits.  After the bout with the eye infection this past November, when I couldn't wear make up for five weeks.  I was told to toss ALL of my make up and start over.  The Spring issue has an article, tidy, tally, toss that discusses the why's and when's of your beauty kit.  You can download this list to post as a reminder.

I'm not a fan of Neiman Marcus; however, I would make one exception.  I saw this Pearland Living Magazine and was totally mesmerized.  I'm not sure if I would ever utilize it for jewelry, but I think it is a beautiful modern piece.  An excellent way to balance the traditional feel of my antiques with the clean and contemporary lines that SF adores.

Knitting does actually take place around here and when new catalogs come, I immediately scan then for the sweaters.  That was no exception when the latest Eddie Bauer one showed up.  After I got past the initial urge to immediately order the Lightweight Lawn Tunic in Orchid I saw the Shawl Collar Cardigan.  I hate their site because it is impossible to link individual items but if you click on Sweaters and Cardigans you will see it and it is offered in Dark Navy, Chambray Blue, Ivory and Currant.  They want $59.50 for it and say that it is knit from a linen/cotton yarn.  You can bet that I will be scouring the Ravelry pattern pages.  I'm fairly certain that I saw this in a thread some where....  Best of all, in the catalog I finally found the summer weight cotton dresses that I have been looking for to wear with my cowboy boots.  Look out SF!  I will be ready for those Friday Night dates at the Mucky Duck on the deck!

Okay!  Enough for this week.  Let me know what you think....what you can't live without now, and what I should get first....

Tuesday Temptations

Yes, it is indeed Tuesday once again.  After a long weekend with SF, it is time to get back into the swing of things.  What all did we do while she was off?

Well, Thursday we decided to take the Blue Flame to San Jacinto Harley-Davidson to get the brake pedal replaced (warranty issue).  While we were there, my cap had come in.  This was wonderful news, as there is nothing worse than helmet hair with no cap to cover it.  I look silly in most caps any way, as I have a peanut head.  All the hair makes it appear I have a good sized skull under there, but no, it is small.  We always look around at their shirts while we are there, as Celina has the best stuff.  SF is a huge Looney Tunes fan and she found another new shirt and had to have it.  I didn't see anything that jumped out at me, so I wasn't going to get anything until they showed me the new tank top.  It is just a basic white wife-beater with a five point start in a silver-gray color with red, white and blue lettering.  Perfect for my birthday, so it came home as well.  We also had to get some brackets replaced (warranty work), so we were there a while.

After all the bike work was finished we had to get the stitches removed from the incision that the dermatologist had made to removed a few weeks prior.  In and out with a follow up in late July.  And the afternoon was ours.  The weather was perfect, so we headed out for more riding.  No place in particular but any time on the bike is well worth it.

Friday was a bad weather day, so we spent the day getting caught up on household items and planning for the next few weeks.  Now that we are part of the Hou-Tex Chapter, there are a lot events to keep track of and our calendar is an important accessory.  We did venture out to Don Carlos for a late lunch.  Some how lunch at 3:30 PM is more like an early dinner but either way we were ready for beer.  We shared mixed fajitas and the chips ad salsa kept coming.  Perfect way to spend a rainy and gloomy afternoon.  When we got home we settled in for the 6:00 PM news and then our Friday night shows.  I'm getting quite fond of our laid back home life.  We watched Ghost Whisperer, Medium and then Miami Medical.  You should know that almost any thing that Jerry Bruckheimer touches will be good and Miami Medical is no slouch.

Saturday got off to an odd start.  It looked overcast and that would cancel any ride on the motorcycle.  The yard crew showed up at 8:30 AM (really early for them) and SF was able to get them to pull out the cacti that had died over the winter.  They were huge and had three inch thorns.  They also trimmed the palms in the front yard with their special saw.  I showered while she was working with them, as I didn't really think that we would be riding.  Wrong, try again.  While I was in the shower, the bad weather moved to the north and missed us.  We suited up and headed to Resoft Park for the Chapter BBQ.

Mama duck and her babies

Mama duck and her babies

Chapter President

Washers Contest









There was BBQ from a local cooker.  We had brisket, chicken and sausage for meat choices and there was cole slaw, potato salad, beans, onions, pickles, jalapenos and bread.  The ladies had also brought desserts and there were chocolate cupcakes....enough said.  After we were finished eating, I wandered around looking at the wild life.  There was a nutria swimming about that had the ladies a little upset.  You see, it looks like a cross between a beaver and a very large rat.  They generally stay away from humans, even when food is involved.  I couldn't get a good picture of it but I did manage to get the mam duck and her four babies.  She had three yellow ones and one black one.  They were adorable!  While I was busy with wild life, SF got rooked into a game of washers.  Little did she know it was a tournament.  She and her partner one their first match and then their second.  It was looking like it was going to be a long afternoon when they lost the third game 15 to 12....They had been playing for about two hours.  After a pit stop and good byes to the group we headed home.

Sunday was the best ride.  We got up early (7:30 AM) and after a good breakfast we headed to Carlos TX.  If you take a look at this map, you will see Pearland in the bottom of the map and Carols (A marks the spot) up at the top near Huntsville.  Huntsville is where Stephanie, jack and Zoe reside.  It is also home to Sam Houston State University.  For those of you that have no clue about biker hang outs, you would love this place.  They serve one of the best hamburgers I have ever eaten and the onion rings were beyond description.  Not to mention that 16 oz. draft Shiner was $2.75.  Perfect for a Sunday afternoon.  There was a band (Leannasaurus Rex) and the lead singer was really good.  It was the perfect way to spend the day.  Just the two of us, the open roads and the motorcycle.  We got home around 6:00 PM and hung out by the pool for a while so that the dogs could get outside.  All in all, a wonderful weekend with the woman I love.

Temptaions will be short this week.  I am working on the Calais Shawl and I couldn't be happier with it.  I am using some hand-dyed yarn that I received in a swap several years ago.  The pattern has two simple charts and is works up quickly.  I have been looking for patterns in particular that utilize sock yarn and I will be organizing them ion my Ravelry queue soon.  That will be a post all to itself...

I will post more about this project this week, as I plan on getting her finished as well as one of the lingering Pay-It-Forward gifts that was in the UFOs pile for way too long.

ETA: I added the link to the Sock It To Me Twice Swap from 2008, after Jen C was kind enough to jog my memory.  Jen - I have been looking at both of these beautiful skeins that you sent waiting for them to talk to me and the multi-hued blues just kept saying "Lace".  When I saw the Calais pattern I knew I had the right combo.  I have about twenty-two rows left before I can bind off and block...More pictures will follow!  Now if I can only decide what the solid blue skein keeps whispering...perhaps it needs to shout.

An Inspirational Pattern - Knitting and Crochet Blog Week - Day 2

The Saga of the Sunburst Pullover



Most of my "local" followers will know that I am a die-hard Coldwater Creek lover. I don't get to shop there as often as I would like but that is a story for another day. I think it was about three years ago when I posted on an edition of Tuesday Temptations about a sweater that I was dying to own. If I recall, I even asked the wise FemiKnitMafia for her sagely advice.

It turns out that FemiKnitMafia was on to something when she told me to contact Coldwater Creek about the designer. I was in the process of sending out an email when another knitter on Ravelry steered me to Norah Gaughan. Turns out that the exact sweater was her design and the pattern had been published in the Summer 2002 Interweave Knits issue. I was ecstatic.

I was at Yarns 2 Ewe for an edition of Friday Night Knit Nuts and was lamenting over how to get a copy of a 2002 issue (was not available at IK's online site). Zarina was nearby and said that she thought that she had a spare copy of that issue.....sure enough, she did and the next time I was in the store she handed it to me. The yarn called for in the original pattern has been discontinued, but I doubt that will dissuade me. I have even been stalking the Webs site and found an exact fiber match that I love. Since it is a Fall/Winter sweater I will probably go for one of these three colors (in no particular order): 0538 Leaf, 1012 Espresso or 2430 Coleus.

The main reason that I have not started this one as of yet is the yarn diet I put myself on. When I moved from the apartment to SF's house last year, I decided to knit from my stash until I had depleted as much of it as possible. I have been sticking to it and as a result, this one will have to wait until I make it through at least one more bin of the stash. Unless I get the yarn as a gift from the daughters or SF.

Tuesday Temptations

Yes...it is Tuesday already!

I will start with this. SF has been a Parrot Head for many years and was so excited when she saw the date on his stop in Houston. I am well aware that the concert is on a Thursday. Guess what...she has the next day off. Next task is to get some appropriate Parrot Head attire. I may just get this one and be done with all the shopping. Although I would love to have this or this if there is time to get it ordered and delivered. The second one would be able to do double work, as we have a Pink Flamingo Party to attend again this year.

I have been designing a little seating plan for the area right outside the kitchen window. It is outside the fence but recessed so it is hard to see from the street. I found this collection at Pier 1 and I think that it will be perfect. I am considering the bench and one side table OR two chairs and one table. The square version of the table is more my style. I will be adding some planters with shade loving tropical plants. I am considering Bromeliads and a few other things, but that part is still in the research phase. I want a bird feeder and some wind chimes as well. I also plan on adding this as well with this to hold them.

We all know that I love my Keurig. And we also know that I have picked up a few extras along the way. Well, I get the Green Mountain catalogs delivered to the house and they are LOADED with temptations! I will order this, this, this, this, and this. Of course I can still buy coffee beans and grind them myself to use with the M K Cup that came with the brewer. That means I can enjoy any coffee I want, in addition to the huge selection of K Cups available. So, if you have a favorite coffee, please share!

I am on a mission this year to host at least two pool parties at Chez RubyRingz this year. SF hesitates, as she does not want to clean up. I have a plan hatching..... I will need this, this, this, this, this and this. The secret is to plan in advance. In the past, I have found that if I ask each guest to bring what he/she wants to grill plus an assigned item that everyone has been most cooperative. I plan on having fresh fruits, fresh veggies and a salad of some sort, like pasta. I will also have a shrimp tray out. This keeps the cost down for everyone and it becomes more fun. I also provide an adult punch and mixers and encourage everyone to bring their favorite adult beverage. Makes for a fun time and I use disposable plates and silverware when ever possible so clean up is minimal. Presto....party plans....

I think that several of these can be used for parties and for yarn. They come in a number of colors and three sizes. Speaking of yarn....I saw this mentioned in a forum on Ravelry and now I am dying to get some. I think that it would make a wonderful tank or perhaps a workable substitute for Tilli Thomas Pure and Simple. I want to make another Sahara this year and I want a yarn that has some sass.

Now you all know that I love a good glass of wine, so when I saw these I knew that they were on the temptation list. I also want to host a wine tasting party this fall, so I am putting the plans on paper so that I can create the theme, the guest list and the menu.

That's all for now....but just a gentle reminder that Mother's Day is coming up. I get to purchase Stephanie stuff now and I am looking forward to shopping over the next few weeks.

Tuesday Temptations

The Friday before SF left for her audit of another facility, we ran a number of errands. One of them was to get a battery for her Swiss Army watch, much like this one. I love it when she wears it, as she looks good in burgundy.

We went to the Jared location at the Pearland Town Center, as they are authorized Swiss Army dealers. While SF dealt with the watch, I was "free" to roam about the store. I saw this and was hooked. I love Venetian glass already, so to find jewelry was a delight. The earrings were stunning and I think that I would wear any of them.

I continued my exploration of the cases....low and behold, I found pearls.....colored pearls. I am a sucker for pearls and these were beautiful. The bracelets were just as beautiful. I think that I may have to buy myself pearls for Mother's Day this year.

I saw other things that caught my attention but I noticed a sign that proudly announced that all of their gem stones are enhanced to bring out the best in each stone. That bothers me greatly. I love rubies, but I would never want one that has been altered in any way, so I made it a point to let SF know that if she ever was to purchase some thing for me, please avoid all gem stones.....

They did have this watch that I was interested in purchasing. With my mother celebrating 5 years breast cancer free, I am always looking for products that support continued research as well as survivors. I would be proud to wear this one.

I am also a proud supporter of this line as well. Speaking of HD gear, SF purchased me this Saturday at the Customer Appreciation Event. For those of you that do not ride, or do not wear helmets when you ride, you may not understand helmet hair. It is not fun.....so, we carry caps with us for when we stop and take off the helmets. SF did not like my kid-size baseball cap and thought that I should have a more appropriate one, so she has been having me try them on at each dealership we visit. Being a smart-ass, I put this on and told her that I thought it was appropriate....she was not amused but she did howl with laughter, as it made my peanut head look even funnier....then, I was not amused...

That's all for this week's edition.....because this weekend we laid low watching the Master's on Saturday while it rained and then rode the Blue Flame on Sunday, so there was little time to be sidetracked by shiny things. I am certain that this week will bring new opportunities and more finished knitting projects, so sit tight.....

Tuesday Temptations

Well, this entry will be full of temptations that bounce all over the place. You can thank Stephanie and Jack for the first part.

Jack knows that I love dark beers and he is always on the search/prowl for new ones for us to drink. He and Stephanie FORCED, yes forced, me to drink a Snake Bite. They prefer Young's Double Chocolate Stout over Guinness. I have no recollection of the cider that they used but I know I need to find out to be able to re-create this one.

They also provided me with this list of beers that I need to try:

• Dogfish Head 90 Minute Imperial IPA
• Xingu Black Beer
• Tommyknocker Butt Head Bock
• Indian Wells Brewing Company Lobotomy Bock
• Breckenridge Brewery Vanilla Porter
• Dixie Brewing Company Blackened Voodoo Lager
• Samuel Smith Oatmeal Stout

I am also blaming Stephanie on my recent desire to eat these by the handful. I delivered Zoe's Easter basket and Stephanie was munching on them...Aunt Flo is on her way for a visit....and she suggested that I try them. They are wonderful and best of all, I can get them at any Wal-Mart.....

Okay, next up is swim suits. Not a topic I am thrilled about but I need some new ones since I have shed a few sizes this past year. I have always liked the variety of suits available at Land's End and this year is no exception. I have my eyes on this one for the back yard only. I prefer the Shirred Bikini Top and the Regular Bikini Bottom pieces and I think that I am going to branch out and get the Deep Lagoon Blue. As for a suit that I will be comfortable wearing around other people, I like this one in the Deep Sea Blue Uneven Squares and this one in the Blackberry. Of course, due to the dermatologist warning me about sun exposure, I need this for when I am out of the pool but not quite ready to go inside.

I am in need of new shorts as well, and I just saw these in the latest catalog. They come in a host of colors and in 7" and 5" inseams. I love the V-neck tee that they paired with them and the color choices are another bonus. And how cute are these to top is all off.

I'm still searching for summer dresses like the ones in Hope Floats, but I may have to pull out the sewing machine to make some...will be looking at patterns next to see if any exist.

Send me suggestions and if you have beer choices for me, please share them too!

Tuesday Temptations

OK! I am ready to get some of these up for ya'll!

Today, I purchased this for our bedroom. We had discussed a storage bench before but the original one was discontinued, so I punted and found this one at Cost Plus World Market. It had the same dimensions but has shorter legs, which I believe is actually better than the original.

I ordered a things from JC Penney and when I can find the order info I'll update this with their pictures/links. I am slowly starting to think about Spring and dresses, so I wanted to get some affordable dresses for a Business Casual environment. That said, I want a few things from Coldwater Creek as well and will post about in next week's installment.

I bought this and this from Bed Bath a& Beyond yesterday and I can't wait to use them.

I bought this for the "retreat". My room had taken a back seat to the rest of the stuff that has been going on and I have begun to focus on getting it cleaned up, organized, and decorated. A future post will be devoted to the new elements that I will be introducing to the room. I have decided on a exotic floor lamp and I want to have some curtains made. I may get a twin size quilt and have the curtains made from it, as the window is short and small. Still pondering that one.

Knitting was prevalent this weekend, as I stayed close by since Eraser has not been well. I will post about that later this week. I have been trying to get a lot of WIPs done and converted to FOs, so hang tight.

That's all for now, as Windows wants to restart after uploading some updates....silly Microsoft....doesn't it know I'm busy?

Tuesday Temptations

As promised...here are the current temptations....

SF spent a great deal of time designing the house that she thought she would some day share with the woman of her dreams....so, as the reigning candidate (hehe) I am honored to be able to utilize top of the line/state-of-the-art appliances. However, I am in need of a few extras if I am to bake and cook like a good Southern Wife. I must have this in Tangerine. It will allow me to whip up all those holiday creations that I need to make to satisfy the girls and SF. I also need this as soon as possible. I already have a 2.5 Quart one that is perfect for SF and I to use for just ourselves; however, with the holidays in mind and entertaining the kids, I want to make certain that I have one big enough to handle the job.

While SF and I were discussing future entertaining needs, we agreed adding some new dishes was in order, as we both have older sets that are perfect for just ourselves but not so appropriate for any entertaining. After some discussions as to what we thought would meet our needs we agreed upon Fiesta Dinnerware. This past Friday (07/10/2009) we decided to stop by Macy's to check them out before we purchased any large quantities. We decided to get the 9" Lunch Plate to start our test with. We chose two in Peacock so that they would go with some of our existing dishes in case we didn't like them....

Well, we have used them all weekend and have decided to get busy purchasing the quantities that we want/need to make a full set. We now have to get six more of the Peacock Lunch Plates. We have decided to mix and match in lieu of a traditional set of dishes. We will be purchasing the Square Dinner Plates and the Square Salad Plates in Tangerine from JC Penney. We will be purchasing the bowls in Peacock from Macy's. As you can see, there is a theme here. We are utilizing the colors of the Lady Vols. Silly as it sounds, we both love the Lady Vols and since I am a Tennessee native, it seemed perfect. The colors will add a splash of color to the existing palate and will boost the white Mikasa Elegance pattern. SF was wise when she had her Direct Buy membership to get a service for 16 in the pattern for next to nothing.

We are also discussing glasses for entertaining. All adult beverages should be served in the appropriate glass. Having stated that, we are comfortable when it is just the two of us drinking in plastic/polycarbonate glasses because of the amount of time we spend in the pool. However, we do need to invest in pieces that we can utilize inside for adult entertaining. Having said that, we would both love to have a complete collection of Riedel; however, that would be unrealistic.

We have found some patterns that we can discuss. We like this, this, this, this, this, this, this and this to start with. We are trying to find something that looks substantial without looking masculine or too old world. We both agree that we want something that is suitable for our age but no so old fashioned that it dates us. Please send suggestions if you have any....we are stumped, well sort of...

Okay, I can also safely say that I am almost finished setting up the retreat room. It is truly the one place in the entire house that SF did not leave a footprint. I have been considering keeping the Moroccan theme but updating it just a bot to make the room look a little more sophisticated. I came across this bedding while I was looking at curtain rods for our bedroom. I also liked this one and this one as well. Of course when I saw this I almost broke down and ordered it first without any additional shopping. I do like many of the elements in the picture and will most likely try to duplicate as much of it as possible while making it my own.

I have also been exploring what to do in the vast space that is our walk-in closet. Back in the late summer, before either SF or I were ready to admit that we might even be dating, I went with her to The Container Store. That was really torture for me, let me tell you...seriously, I LOVE that place. She bought 10 of these racks. When I arrived with my stuff in tow, she had saved me two of them, not knowing how many I would really need. Lucky for her, in the beginning I only needed two. However, as I have begun to get more comfortable with myself and my choices, I have added some items and now I need to go and get two more to accommodate future growth. I also want to add two of these, two of these, and one or two of these. This will get the closet functional and if I need to, I will add a few of these as a last resort.

There are a few other minor things that I need to get SF organized. The Utility room needs this ASAP! It also needs this too so that she will stop using the showers and the towel racks...The garage also needs some help and this is the first thing that I need to purchase.

Okay, I'm sure that you are all either bored or wanting to get new stuff of your own now...so consider this installment complete....