Girls Love Fried Pickles

My week in Instagram & Pixlr

2012-02-24T06:00:00.002-06:00

Happy Friday to all. Hope your weekend is filled with lots of fun and pictures. Here is my week in Instagram and Pixlr.

yummy candy at the party store

Peek a Boo! I see you! Pixlr pic

these puppies where setting on my door step Friday

when I arrived home, LC hooker heels

this lot of makeup for a total of $16 smacks

the blush is amazing, great knock off of

Nars Orgasm

thy workout once the "roid" goes away

sister and I are on our ways to the bikini

Tracy Anderson Metamorphisis

So there you have it. A fun week and I love looking at all the photos on Instagram. Follow me on Twitter to see all my photos. Happy Weekend!

Hugs,

Dusty

Two Cents Thursdays

2012-02-23T06:00:00.004-06:00

If you have followed along this week, well it’s been interesting. It’s not been a rock your socks off type of week really, but worthy of a few two cents. Here what I am pondering this week.

My weekend started out with a birthday party for my son. He turned 7. We called it “Ian’s Winter Olympics Birthday Party”. The kid was born in February. Prime time snot season. So, I wondered how many people would cancel. I actually at one point asked “Duh” why he couldn’t have knocked me up so the child could have a warm birthday party filled with pony rides and slip-n-slide. But it turned out to be a great crowd. The kids did sack races, marshmallow toss, pin the tail on the donkey and a piñata. I love children. You can get them to do anything. So much fun watching them fall flat on their faces, bean each other with marshmallows, twirl in circles and get dizzy to bust a piñata and pin a tail on a donkey. Suckers!!!!!!!!!!!! But geez busting a piñata takes forever. It’s like the owl on the tree when he says how many licks does it take to get to the center of a tootsie roll pop..three. Well, not a piñata, and $60 dollars worth of candy later, it was sugar high for all involved and no need to thank me parents. Your welcome and lose my address when your kid needs a new grill when his teeth rot out from the bucket o’ candy he or she received.

The weather here in Tennessee is crazy. Snow Sunday, pea size hail on Wednesday and 67 degrees today. It’s the apocalypse, I swear. I don’t know whether to kiss a snowman or bring out the Daisy Dukes and wash my car like a bad Whitesnake video. (Gawd, I think I just told my age)

Did you read my blog yesterday? Well, a little update...I didn’t insert the bullet just yet. I am trying a homeopathic approach. I stay home and not go down that path just yet.

And finally, did anyone watch the Whitney Houston funeral? I did, in the midst of party planning, I was glued. I cried at the end. I mean how long does it take to bury someone? That bastard Bin Laden shot dead, thrown out to sea for shark food and wallah! Done like a New York strip steak in a day. I think when I go; I want to be carted around in a car like the guy from Weekend at Bernie's. Remember that movie? Put me some sunnies on, lip gloss, tape a smile on my face and let’s go for a drive and maybe some volleyball on the beach if this is the new standard to funerals.

Hope your week has been delish! What’s your two cents today?

Hugs,

Dusty

Sounds like a personal problem

2012-02-22T06:00:00.004-06:00

Ok, so I am going to write a post about something very personal. I don’t know how many of you have ever experienced it, but I am going to go there with it because not only is it hurtful, its kind of funny. A few weeks ago I got violently ill. On top of praising to the porcelain god and calling him Ralph, I also praised him with the toots of what I am sure was a tuba in the marching band. After all that happened, I noticed that something wasn’t right. Setting at my desk one day I got very uncomfortable. I felt like I had a stick poking out of my butt. I squirmed and couldn’t get comfortable. After talking with “Duh”, he said, “honey, I think you have a hemorrhoid.” I was like oh, no. I was pregnant, swollen up like a whale, gained 40 pounds and walked like a duck, and didn’t get those things. I pride myself on being the only pregnant girl who didn’t. I said, “no you have hemorrhoids’, not me.” Yes, he has had hemmalites as my son calls them since he was young. Once when I got so pissed off at him I knew the only way I could get him back was to put rubbing alcohol in his precious bottle of Tucks pads. The poor guy came out of the bathroom running around the house saying his ass was on fire and I had to get in my car, drive down the street and call my BFF because that was the ultimate revenge. Needless to say, I was proud of myself and have always been proud that I can have every ailment there could be at one time or another but dangling butt ornaments weren’t one of them.

Fast forward a few weeks later and I was setting at work and all of the sudden it came again. I absolutely couldn’t stand myself. I gave in to the possibility and at lunch rushed to the local pharmacy and there it began. The shelves of butthole relief. I picked up every package. Read it. It wasn’t like maxi pads. There was no heavy, light, and medium flow. No super, panty liner or overnight selection. It was buy me and insert into anal area. I mean “anal area” it sounds so volatile. I decided on Prep H because it’s been around for 100 years. I mean they must be doing something right. I went back applied and went back to my chair.

As the day went on, I became a 3 year old, squirming in a shopping cart at the grocery ready to get out. I sat to the side, on my legs, stood up and down. I mean if someone was paying attention it might look like I was giving a sermon on Sunday because all I kept saying was, “oh, gawd, this is awful.” UP down, up down. I call my husband, he intern keeps telling me the same thing; when you get home insert bullet and go lie down because you will have leakage. LEAKAGE! YOU DIDN’T SAY ANYTHING ABOUT LEAKAGE! Screw him, I call my friend, W and she then tells me the same thing. After thinking there could be a possible conspiracy between the two of them, I hang up and think why in the world couldn’t I have gotten like a boil on my butt cheek, or a tumor growing out of my forehead? Why is it that I have to have the forbidden condition of hemorrhoids’. I want to call the doctor but I don’t want to have to answer to the lady that answers the phone, “Yes, I’d like to make an appointment to see the doctor.” “What’s the nature of your visit?” “I have dangling death hanging out my ass!” Ugh, seriously I am not equipped.

As I write this, I don’t know what the outcome will be. I have pulled out the package of bullets, read it, and although the sound of relief is like dancing fairies in my head, I am not sure what I will do. Yes, it’s probably a lot of information, and you are thinking, she did go there, but you know we all experience something in our lives that is probably forbidden to talk about. But really, we’re friends right? Sharing is a beautiful thing. I just became Dr. Oz didn’t I? No matter what, I gotta do something. I gotta set on fluffy all day and the feeling of blazing knives being extended from “the region” isn’t as fun as the magic show and some nice girl throwing them. It’s life. I got a condition.. literally a pain in my ass!

Happy Wednesday friends!

Dusty

I wonder

2012-02-21T06:30:00.001-06:00

There are days when I feel just like a robot. Same ole same ole every single day. Get up and ready, tend to the kid, work, come home, dinner, chores, bed and wake up and do it all over again. I often daydream. I think we all do. It’s like, when I can’t go shopping because the monthly bills are due and I really would like something new, I still go, just to window shop. I love to window shop. I often can be satisfied, if I just go in, look at the items, try them on then leave. Although it makes me want them even more, I know there will be a day when the sale rack calls my name.

I used to have a well paying job where I didn’t have to worry the stress if I bought a new pair of shoes, but since the recession, that’s not the case. Everyone’s needs always come before mine. I did just recently by a few things, but with gift cards and a little tax money, I got a few things I have been dreaming about, with the exception of those Navy mid-calf Hunter Boots which you will hear about until they arrive on my doorstep.

I wonder what it would be like to have all the money in the world, then I could live like a soap opera star. Get up, go to the gym, hit the mall on the way home and not stress about saving my money because some bill is due. Hell, who am I kidding, with all the money in the world, I could ditch the gym and have some plastic surgeon suck the fat out of fluffy and I would be tight as an unused rubber band.

I wonder what it would like to be tall, so I wouldn’t have to have every pair of pants altered. Most of the time I don’t. If mom can’t do it then I just let them drag the floor or wear heels. The worn look I tell myself is in.

I wonder what it would be like to dye my hair back to its natural color, dark ash brown. I have tried once but it freaked me out because I have highlighted my hair so much I felt like a different person. But I see these women with this beautiful dark hair and it’s shiny, tossing it around like a high priced hair shampoo commercial and I think, oh, the less maintenance would be nice.

I wonder what it would be like to have brown eyes and boobs. I have family members that have dark eyes. They are so intense. I have family members that have big kahoona’s. They say they hate them, I just want to try them just once.

I wonder what its like to be a PTA mom. I will never be a PTA mom. I don’t like clicks. I cuss too much. Baby daddy got too many tattoos and looks like a walking coloring book, we wouldn’t fit in with those type of people, that their every breath is what little Johnny does every second of the day. I want Ian to grow up being humble. We praise him, but I want him to live in HIS world not a fantasy world I create for image purposes only. So much of that goes on now. I love my son more than anything, but I got a life. But I know I will never be atop the phone tree.

I guess I could wonder all day long but the facts are these. I am happy. My life isn’t perfect. People aren’t always accepting, I have the necessary things I need. My body is my own temple how I nurture it is my own conflict with my head and getting off my ass (see I cussed). How I look is the way I was born. If people find me beautiful then I am in awe of that. I am not conceded, nor vain. But I am proud that I am not Cinderella by day or night. So, I guess for me I can wonder all I want and its okay because the mirror reflects me and what I see is, Dusty de.

What do you ever wonder? Does it ever cross your mind, but you realize it’s OK, just to be who you are? Let me hear your daydreams.

Hugs,

Dusty

Plain & Simple

2012-02-20T06:30:00.001-06:00

Being from the South, there has always been a standard of grace, good manners and beauty. Southern women are known for the image of always being the bell of the ball. When I was younger, I can remember my grandmother standing in the bathroom fluffing her beehive that could have put Marge Simpson to shame and drawing on her eyebrows with precision. Women have been taught that image and how you look is almost insistent when it comes to the public eye. My mother’s generation and generations before that never leave the house without their face and hair perfect not knowing who they would see out and about. A secret society of sorts. You work all week but on the weekends you never know who you would see at the local grocery or drug store.

To this day my grandmother or my mother do not go out without some type of “war paint” as my grandfather called it on their faces to venture to Wal-mart. I mean seriously its Wal-mart, who cares! But they do because it means you might see Betty Jo who’s married to the only insurance agent in town and you might have to discuss what took place at the Friday night football game or who’s child is now divorced..oh, the shame.

Growing up especially high school and my twenties, I had the same mentality. My face was covered in “war paint” and my hair had enough Aqua Net on it that if a match was lit within 2 feet I probably would have burnt to a crisp. Image death by hairspray. It’s seriously a wonder the girls of my generation weren’t toxic with the sprtiz and chemicals on our hair we inhaled and I should honestly have stock in Agua Net extra firm hold in the white can with the pink label. Of course, now I realize I had to wash and style my hair everyday because after shellacking my hair with that stuff, you couldn’t get a comb through it the next day and the dried flakes it made in your hair was disgusting. We didn’t have dandruff it was “the spray.”

Today, I still "war paint" myself up when necessary but if I am not going out, this chick doesn’t put on a stitch of makeup. I could care less who I see in Target because I hate going to Wal-mart. I’d rather be hit in the head with a wet squirrel than go there. I don’t dress up to venture to the grocery. And most days on the weekends, you will find me in a hat and ponytail because really, I am flat ironed right out. I actually have crazy curly hair. No not Taylor Swift crazy just naturally wavy hair that if blown dry naturally, me and Buckwheat from the Little Rascals could compete. Don’t get me wrong. I am a sucker for makeup. I love it. Just bought a whole lot of it recently (sucka). I have at least 5 curling irons, one for each type of small, medium and large curls I can twirl for beachy waves. I have enough hair products to make my hair stand up on its ends and now have learned the art of dry shampoo. But I am now realizing that beauty does come with without all the brushes and strokes. A little powder on the nose, some mascara and lipgloss and out the door I go. Let’s not get any wires crossed here, I think I look like death eating a cracker without my war paint, but I also see all these beautiful women barefaced and think gosh I wished my skin looked like that. So sometimes you gotta just let it breath and if people don’t love you for the inside then the façade on the outside will eventually break down.

I took this picture with the new phone just messing around. I posted another one on Friday that had been edited with software. But this photo really made me think about my clean, plain skin. I had no makeup on, I think a little mascara. But still knowing that I don’t get all gussied up like my grandmother or my mom, as a southern women I still apologize for not looking like a million bucks every single day. It’s just a southern thing, its second nature and I don’t think that will ever change in my generation or the next.

“To bare your true self is to see yourself in the purest form”. Happy Monday loves.

Dusty

My week in Instagram and Pixlr

2012-02-17T06:33:00.002-06:00

So you know I got my new iPhone and promised I would Instagram like a wild woman like a sale at Macy's. Well, I haven't gone overboard. I just really am still figuring out my phone. But I did some things. I also by the way of Miss Makaila over at Distinctly M downloaded the app, Pixlr. It's sooooo much fun. If you like Instagram you will love Pixlr. Of course, I have been living under a rock, so I am sure all you smart beauties know all about it. If so, work with me won't you?

And away we go, here's my roll..

Baby its cold outside, so we had a fire all weekend

Worthless guard dog #1, Mille

this is what you do at 84 years old..sleep

Worthless guard dog #2, Libby Lou

this is what you do at 2 years old..sleep

Sunday Funday consists of reading material

I think I would buy a pile of poop if it had her picture on it

Valentines Day

It said, "After all these years, you're still my favorite dessert"

I called this "breakfast"

Dedicated to Ruthie Hart

my stance against working on Valentines Day

no makeup Thursday

Pixlr is so fun because I actually looked like death on a stick

Awww, I know, I know, my first time and it's not jump off the pages, but boy was it fun. Pictures in any form make us so much more aware of the beauty of our surroundings. We can take anything and make it scrummy with a little fun and software. I wish you all a wonderful weekend.

Hugs,

Dusty

Two Cents Thursdays

2012-02-16T06:00:00.001-06:00

Oh, my goodness what a week. Since the weekend I have been asking myself, what’s up world? I didn’t post yesterday. I usually do a faboo fashion post, but I was blank. It was love day, me and the kid ate Sonic burgers and snuggled and dad was working, so it was that kind of day to just say, “hey, I got nothing, so sue me.” I have read were some people have blogs for days in their que’s and I have a hard time with that because what I write about usually I either pondered it for a few days, made notes about it or it just mysteriously pops into my head. But if I decide to take a little one day break, I may have to think about that “save up blog post” for that day. Any hoot, let us not ponder it and since there was not fantabulous fashion post then you all can go naked.

Since its Thursday, hey, hey, hey as Fat Albert would say, let’s get all fly up in here. Gangsta talk in Nashville is funny. If you’re from Compton high five, if you’re from Nashville, well, enough said. I mean really? Although I did sign for a package on Tuesday from a guy with all gold teeth and he had on a sweatshirt that said “Hustler since 1974”. Maybe he’s gangsta? I believe I actually saw my first person ever with a grill. He didn’t talk gangsta. I wonder what he would have said, if this olive on a white cracker said, Yo, thanks, hope your day is rollin’!” Of course, he would have thought I was stupid. I would have looked stupid. Oh, well, yo lets move on.

Did anyone watch the Grammy’s? I loved it…for most of the parts. I actually thought it was one of the best in a long time. I mean who didn’t want to bring their milkshake to the yard when they saw Bruno Mars? Jason Aldean and Kelly Clarkson, that song makes me want to kiss strange people right on the lips. LL Cool J is one of those people that you would like to set down with and say, and your real name is what again? Love him. Lady Gaga, I can’t even. The Beach Boys featuring Adam Levine. Well, Adam five minutes with you and I could roll you around in flour, dip your ends in chocolate and call you a cannolli. Yummy you are. I love the Beach Boys but that was when I took a slight break. Chris Brown did a little jig and his ex Rhianna well at least she didn’t lip sync all her song.

Did anyone freak out when they thought Katy Perry’s song screwed up. I did. Fell for it, hook, line and sinker. But she’s cool even though her hair brings me back to the days of those blue icy cones you used to make with a kit and add blue or red flavoring to them. Nikki Taj Mahal or whatever her name is? One word AWFUL. That was the most ridiculous thing I have ever seen. Some people apparently were offended by it. I wasn’t offended. I am pissed- 4 minutes of my life I can’t get back. And then, Jennifer Hudson. Wow! I cried. Whitney Houston passing away is shocking. We were watching The Voice Saturday night when it came across the screen. I don’t know what to think. I will never ever understand drugs. I just don’t. I barely have enough money to live life. These people have all the money in the world, the attention and a lives to live beyond their imaginations and they destroy it with drugs. I feel for her daughter and her family, but as a mother the last thing I would ever want my child to see is me high as a giraffe's ass every day of his life until my poor body couldn’t take it anymore. I don’t know what happened. It’s not my place to say, except its sadness and it’s caused sadness around the world. Hopefully she is free from the demons and ghosts. But who rocked it out for me…..Adele! Hell-O. I have to confess, please don’t hate me. I just a month ago discovered her. I live in a world of Disney Channel and Kids Bop. I had heard Rolling in the Deep a ton but had no idea who sang it until, ding dong, I heard Someone Like you. I love her and that voice. It’s haunting and sad, yet original and raw.

And gawd finally, you know on your car mirrors where it says, objects appear closer than they are? I am so tupid! I was backing out the other day in the work parking lot, look up and slam on my brakes. I mean to the point of you heard my tires. My head flew forward almost hitting the steering wheel. I was about to back right into a Tahoe. I compose myself, look out the back window and see that I have plenty of room. Hello, dumb ass! I so totally looked around to see if anyone saw what I did, then took off like a bat out of hell. I seriously think there are black marks.

Well, Happy Thursday. What’s your two cents. It’s been a crazy week. Fill me in!

Hugs,

Dusty

The First

2012-02-14T06:30:00.001-06:00

Do you remember your first crush? Your first love? Your first kiss? The night you fell in love or your first embrace? Love is a powerful thing. It takes your emotions to different levels. Your heart is more powerful than your head. We always chose our hearts first because that power is stronger. Love also takes on many colors, different levels of significance and the one power that we do have is to choose it or not.

I remember my first crush, my first love, my first kiss with the man in my life and I am so lucky because I got to relive those same emotions the day my son was born. So you see love comes at different times in our lives and when you feel it that very second, you own it one hundred percent.

I love this video. It reminds me of the first time for everything that every made my heart swell and at that very second, I owned the night.

Happy Valentines Day,

Dusty

Yahoo! I got it!

2012-02-13T06:30:00.001-06:00

I have multiple wish lists and have hem hawing around about this one on my list for quite some time. I have asked friends, electronic geeks, read reviews and gone back and forth over this little puppy. The great debate of Droid vs iPhone. Pro's and Con's of having each one and which would fit best in my life and my blog. After much debate, I decided on the iPhone! Yahoo! I am sure everyone that I have drove nuts talking about it is finally please that I finally made a choice.

I have wanted an white, not black, white iPhone since I saw them. It had to be white because they are pretty and girly. I will look like I have knowledge and be kind of fancy doing so. I have loathed my Blackberry for the last year. I stepped on it at Christmas so the screen was shattered and every time someone saw it they couldn't believe it still worked and asked me repeatedly, "Dusty, when are you going to get a new phone?" My reply, "When I shit a money tree!" Well, I tried but when my tree didn't grow, I depended on Uncle Sam who we all know isn't my uncle but because I made so little and have a kid, he got together with some of his friends and decided I would get a refund, thus I had the money to purchase this little piece of technology.

I walked right into the store, said what I wanted, the guy knew I meant business, didn't ask me any questions, I showed him my other phone, jokingly asked if I could sell it back to them in which he looked at me like I had four heads, I said, it was a joke and we moved on to the purchase. I walked out of there thinking I was hot snot, got in my car and realized that jerk wad didn't show me jack crap about the dang thing. I couldn't even figure out how to make a damn call. So after setting in the parking lot with Ian rushing me to go to Target, I figure out how to make a call (on speaker phone because I had to take off the plastic thing to hear) and away I went! I am NOT mechanically inclined. The fact that I even set up this blog is a miracle in itself and I still don't know how to do everything. I just figured out that the edit HTML is where you can embed links from Pinterest. I had researched that on Google. I am by no means I don't think stupid but machinery with buttons, lights and whistles do not process in my brain until I eff them up big time.

After our adventure to Target in which I was afraid to put it in my purse, came home and started fooling around with it. Also, if you know me, manuals are not in my realm of thinking. If I would just read the manual to my new camera I could figure out how it worked, but I don't. I do things trial by error and hoped to gosh it works out.

I figured out how to dial a call, text and check my email, which took 20 minutes to program because the sales rep couldn't figure out my email..I repeated it over and over at one time I was going to look at everyone in the store and say, "everyone repeat after me "girlslovefriedpickles at gmail dot com., I downloaded apps and Angry Birds for Ian to play, programmed my notifications sounds and ring tones and I am an iPhone fool ever since. I still have no clue how to do some things. I had to Google how to log out my Twitter and come to find out you don't. Duh!

So, I have entered the Apple world. I think I catapulted myself into a whole new league to pretend that I know how Apple products works. NOT! I will just confess, that I wanted a fancy white phone that had Instagram and be done with this because I truly can't lie and say, I wanted it because it had the capabilities to drive my own car. I wanted it because it looks pretty on my ear and I might figure out one day how to fully operate the dang thing. Until then truth hurts, I got it to be Fancy damn it, work with me!

Here she is. I think I should name her, not sure what yet, something sophisticated yet redneck princess. You know maybe I shall check my family tree and see what names have been passed down from generations that way she feels important.

I also pinned this case on my Pinterest forever ago. While dreaming for this phone, I knew I wanted something pretty (you know cause I don't care about breaking the dang thing as long as its pretty) kind of like new shoes. They hurt your feet but you look good so shut up and fight threw the pain. I chose this one...

Source: tibi.com via Girls Love on Pinterest

It's gonna have to wait a few days at $54 smacks and paying a whopping chunk of money, I gotta recover from just the shock of using my credit card and that amount of money coming out of my checking account. Any hoot, there she is one item off my wish list. Actually, a few things came off my wish list this weekend. The weather was so cold and snowy and it forced me to online shop, but I saved up for those things and got lots of discounts and items on sale.

The only thing I can say is the battery life isn't so wonderful. That may be just me because I have been on it constantly, but it seems it eats alotInstagramming like a crazy woman and can't wait to post those pictures. So, please someone tell me where or if there is place to dump those photos for awesome collages coming to a blog near you.

Happy Monday! Did you do any shopping this weekend?

Hugs,

Dusty

Hello Friday, I've needed you!

2012-02-10T06:00:00.003-06:00

TGIF! I know everyone is saying that today. I don't anyone that says, "Oh, I love you Tuesday, thank Gawd your here." Why? Cause that be tupid! It's going be cold here in the land of Tennessee like a low of 19 Saturday night, so my very fluffy ass will be setting in the homestead with a blazing fire, probably reading blogs, Pinteresting and contemplating a workout plan. After this week, I got get moving. We are going to the beach and fluff muffin needs to move it.

I have one little announcement, its just so huge. I realized I have wrote my 100th blog post. Actually 104. I missed it. But I thought I would jump well, mimic jumping and share that exciting, drink worthy news. What the heck, I am going to have a Mt. Dew for the occasion.

Well, last week I did a post where I picked my top favorite blog posts and had from my standards a great response, so I thought I would do it again. Only this time, I am going to pick three that way you don't get bored to death before the end of this 104th post. If you are one of my beautiful followers, then just leave me some love anyway. It's share day and I know you got the memo.

Stupid Cool

Read it and find out if your Stupid Cool

Smashing Party

My experience with a mammogram

Ditch the LBD

My ousting of the little black dress

So there you have it. I hope you have a great weekend. Fluffy here is going to do the best she can at doing nothing which will end up being something. Happy Friday, friends.

Two Cents Thursdays

2012-02-09T06:30:00.001-06:00

Thursday are one more day until Friday and it makes the anticipation worse. Come on Friday. Until then, here's my weekly thoughts for this Two Cents Thursday edition.

I have read a ton of blog posts this week on blogging tips. Do this, don't do that and I am soaking them all in. One of the unanimous things that I have read is about the comments box and verifying with a verification word. I took mine off along time ago because I read many months ago that its a detour for people that want to comment without going through the process. Either way its fine with me. I want a comment box that you just enter the information, hit post and wallah, but dumb girl here can't figure out how to get it. Anyway, I commented on a blog the other day and the verification word was "trannie." I busted out belly laughing.

The last of our Super Bowl leftovers are gone, thank you baby Jesus. I feel like a human garbage disposal this week.

Ian's birthday was Tuesday. The big 7. When asked were he wanted to eat for his birthday, he said Five Guys Restaurant. This made me giddy. Love a good hamburger. We walked in and saw 3 guys and a girl... is that false advertising? Pondering...

I bought a jump rope for a dollar at Target. Chad looks at me and says, "what are you going to do with that?" Really honey? I thought I would practice lassoing fake bullhorns out in the yard.. I love him so much but I think from now on I should refer to him as "Duh."

I had a follower on Twitter that unfollowed me. Frantic, I was like who would do that how rude. Then realized it was some guy for whom I had no idea who he was. That's ok, DUDE, you weren't that interesting or I would have followed you back. Jerk.

And finally, do people return things to the grocery store? I bought lip gloss, got it home and I look like a ho-dawg, but I feel weird taking it back. I mean Target can put some tape on it and throw it in the half price bin, but I can't bring myself to bring my Hooker Lane lip polish back to the grocery. I mean what am I going to say when I have to tell them why? Oh, its a beautiful color for street walking and please don't take my gas points away? I'll pass and 8 bucks down the drain. I could have ate more cupcakes.

Well, that's my spiel this week. Hope everyone has a great Thursday. What's your two cents?

Hugs,

Dusty

PS..Happy Birthday to my friend, Wendy. Your support and friendship means the world to me. Thank you for always being there, reading and being one of my biggest fans.

Flared Pretty

2012-02-08T06:30:00.004-06:00

When I was little I had these blue, pink and white flower pants and ruffle shirt with ABC's on it. I tried to find a picture but that was impossible in my attic, plus I think my mom has it. Any hoot, I wore it all the time. I am not sure if it was by choice or if my mom just kept it in quick rotation with three kids to take care of but I remember it vividly. Plus, I had this long naturally curly hair which by the way I flat iron every day and my mom just stuck a barrette in it and off I went to school rats nest and all. That was the 70's and now 30 years later, its back in style. Except now, we use a big barrel curling iron to make those beachy waves and pay big bucks for those fashions that were said by several they would never wear again.

This weekend while Pinteresting (usually on a Friday nights while the kid watches Smackdown, yuck) I was looking through my pins and came across this one photo which led me to the inspiration for this weeks post and some spring ideas. When I pinned this photo in a matter of five minutes it was repinned like 22 times for a total overall of 39. Now I know that's not a record but I was kind of thrilled that someone loved the photo as much as I did. For some reason, I want to recreate this look, hair color and all. Which my hair is pretty similar in fakeness. I am also pretty sure that I can find a cheap knock off of the Ray Bans cause Moma can't deal out the dough for the realzies and fake tan myself into oblivion. Isn't she purty? Pretend its me, mmmkay?

Source: weheartit.com via Girls Love on Pinterest

So I immediately became nostalgic and started looking for some cool-mo-de outfits and shoes...on a budget of course. I started scanning the stores and came across this outfit at Kohl's.

Source: kohls.com via Girls Love on Pinterest

These jeans are $34 smackers and I ordered them. I read the reviews and overall they got good marks. Does anyone else read clothing reviews? I literally found a pair of shoes once that were over a hundred dollars and marked down to $25 and didn't buy them because the reviews sucked. Now, I know I am one of those people that will sometimes forgo the practical for hot to trotness, but I got it stuck in my head and told myself no. Still a little sad about it..hold on let me have a moment and a little wine sip. Also, does anyone think the way she's standing is odd? Look at her stomach? Well, I guess she got paid to look like she's a distorted Barbie. Moving on... I then found these shoes. I haven't made up my mind on these, but I am digging them and think they would be cute with some sweet dresses this summer and those jeans. These puppies will have to go on sale because they are $74 smacks, but they are in the back of my mind. What do ya think?

Source: kohls.com via Girls Love on Pinterest

So, there you have my style picks for this week. Hooker heels and jeans with an extra wide leg that I am sure were designed really to keep the air flowing for coolness to the crotch area in the dead heat of summer. You know Kohl's could just be nice and send these to me so I can write my own review. Ha! What's your style this week? I hope you have a great Wednesday.

Hugs,

Dusty

linked up the pleated poppy n rolled up pretty

Dear Ian

2012-02-07T06:00:00.003-06:00

Dear Ian Gage,

This is a letter to you. I hope one day you will read it and understand why I love you so much. On the day I found out you were going to be in my life, I ran down the hall, not bothering to pull my pants up. I showed it to daddy and the journey began. You definitely gave us quite a scare. At 8 weeks pregnant, we were so excited to hear your heartbeat and it wasn't there. We left that day, with tears thinking our struggle for 9 months to have you could be over. They told us to wait two more weeks and come back. By that time daddy was having his surgery and I had to go face what I thought was the end, instead I heard it. Your heart beat. Strong and fast. With no one to comfort me, it was only later that I realized that in that moment by myself that me and your heartbeat we were a team.

Ian you made me fat! I was swollen, I ate enough pancakes that my pours seeped out syrup. I craved breakfast; eggs, bacon, cereal and biscuits at 3 am, three meals a day. Sonic knew me by name and I thought you would be shaped like a peanut because I ate so much peanut butter.

That year it was the Summer Olympics. Before we knew you were a boy, we had a list on our refrigerator of names. Sloan and Ava for a girl, Tate and Gabe for a boy. Daddy didn't like any of them. We found out you were a boy. I knew it in my heart, but every sign told us you were a girl. The heart beat, the Chinese needle trick, the way I carried you. Wrong, but I was thrilled either way. We came home and talked about names and watched the Olympics every day. I knew I wanted to name you something with a story behind it. Someone strong, someone that when you needed confidence, you could look to a hero and how you became who your were. There was a gold medal swimmer named Ian Thorpe from Australia. He was on fire. I don't remember how many medals he won, but I knew then your first name would be Ian. I have told you that story before but I can't wait until you become of an age, that I can tell you why. Ian Thorpe was a hero to his country and the world. He was strong, confident and courageous. He worked hard to get to where he was. He was a fighter and he accepted winning or losing with dignity. That's why your name is Ian. Your middle name is a nod to daddy loving trucks, cars, grease and being dirty...thus Ian Gage, a boy name was created. I hope you take that and apply what he represented in your own life. And when you think you can't try anymore, read his story to lift you up and make you a great boy to a man.

Because of complications, you came early..a month early. I was so scared. But as frightened as I was, I was so relieved. There you were dark hair, sounding like a duck, and healthy. When you came out the first thing I a said was, "oh, god he's got his daddy's hairline!" Please understand, I was in shock, there you were, I couldn't feel anything from the neck down. I had you via C-section and honestly I just wanted you out. They took you away and I made daddy leave me. He stayed by my side the whole time, holding my hand, but I wanted his eyes on you at all times. I couldn't hold you right away. I had to rest because I wasn't doing well. You were born at 8:38 am, but I didn't get to hold you until 6 pm. I couldn't wait. I cried tears of joy. You were perfect. I looked up at daddy and said, "look what we made."

I held you every second. I rocked you. You weren't a fussy baby. You loved it when I patted your butt and sang you to sleep. Now you tell me to stop singing. I used to tell you, we would "nuggle" and then we would both fall asleep in the rocking chair. Your smell, the eyes, that giggle. It was infections and I became a lioness to protect you instantly.

Then came the birthdays, you with this curly blond hair, you walked as soon as you turned a year old. On your first Halloween I dressed you up in a cow costume. Your second birthday you received a Wiggles car in which you screamed in excitement which made me cry again. You loved fruit and yogurt. You still do. You would tell me things were "bwoke". You loved to dance, being out doors, swinging and your wagon. I loved showing you off.

Now here we are. Your seven. Your a challenge, but one I love. Your funny like me, but dance like your father (very stiff). Your talented and smart. You still love the outdoors. Your kind hearted but stubborn. You are already brave. So my message to you is this. We love you so much. When you remind me at night to give you a hug and kiss before going to bed melts my heart. I demand you to clean your room and to be respectful and sometimes I don't hold you to it, but I do demand this. I demand that you have happiness. That you grow up to be respectful with manners. I demand that you love who you want to love and be whatever you want to be. I demand that no matter what you come to me or daddy and we will always be understanding. I demand you to be kind and fair and invite people into your heart regardless. I demand you not judge others but realize that we are all equal but stand up for what you believe in. I demand that you believe that all things are possible. In the end, I demand we always be a team. Happy Birthday my sweet boy.

Love,

Mommy

a week old

first birthday

age 2

age 3

age 4

age 5

age 6

my pants are too tight

2012-02-06T06:30:00.001-06:00

This weekend, specifically yesterday during the Super Bowl, I did my butt no justice. I sat on it and ate a feast. I guess the jump rope I bought at Target this weekend has a purpose now. Of course how can you not set back watch the SB and not enjoy good company and good food? You can't. It's a unwritten rule. You must gorge yourself beyond recognition, assume the turtle position on the couch which is your backside and not move until bedtime. Here's a little snippet of our day and a recipe. Hope everyone had a super Sunday.

I have no choice but to cheer for the this team. My love is a Yankee and an avid Patriots fan.

We smoked out the neighborhood with this little ditty. We have one that's even bigger, but we didn't want the fire department to be called. Plus, this was my step dad's who just passed away. I wished he was here to use it or at least eat the Boston Butt we made out of it.

We then ate until our bellies were extended beyond our belt buckles and I think I even licked my fingers clean.

There was ham sammies, sausage balls, bacon and cheese dip, pasta salad, Boston Butt pulled pork sandwich's, and Mexican Corn dip. Here is the recipe for the dip which is so easy and quick.

2 cans Fiesta Corn

1 cup sour cream

2 cups Mexican Cheese

1 4 oz green chilies

1 4 oz jalapeno peppers

Mix corn, sour cream, 1 cup of cheese, chilies and jalapeno peppers. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Pour into oven safe bowl, sprinkle remaining cheese. Bake until cheese is bubbly. Serve with Tostitos scoops.

After eating all that, I ate this sweet beauty. Say hello to my little friend...red velvet cupcake.

Yes, I ate every morsel and I don't regret it a minute. Now it's time to get on that workout. We enjoyed the Super Bowl and the commercials especially the Doritos commercials and the E Trade Baby. They are always a favorite. I would love to say that I hope everyone used restraint and didn't eat as much as I did, but I hope you all ate until you turned into ticks. I know its not nice, but if I have to suffer so should everyone else. Happy Monday my friends.

Love,

Dusty

An award, a Q&A and Blogger Exchange..oh my

2012-02-05T10:14:00.000-06:00

Happy Super Bowl Sunday. I don't usually blog on Sundays, but I am a little behind and thought I would do a little catch up. This blog is a three parter (is that even a word?) An award, a Q & A, and bloggy party exchange.

First, I wanted to give a shout out to some sweethearts that bestowed the lovely Liebster Blog Award to me. I loved receiving this award and do not care how many times I do. It's great to be recognized by your friends. Erika over at Erika Inez and Bethany at Life So Sweet are adorable. I love following their blogs. Erika has a great husby and cutie patootie fur babies and Bethany is a beautiful Cali girl full of fun adventures. They are new to the blogging world so show them some love won'tcha?

Next I was tagged in two separate games floating around the blogging community. I thought I would answer the questions for all to see so I combined them both together. I am not good with tagging and choosing. I hated having to choose other bloggers for awards because I really believe we all deserve it. So no tags, but thank you my sweet Anna at A Sweet Southern Mess and Halle at Classic + Glam.

Here's my 411 peeps....

Who tagged you? Anna & Halle

What is the main idea of your blog? It's a lifestyle blog. Full of things I love, want to share and full of laughter. Laughter really is the best medicine.People have asked where the name comes from. Seriously, where to women end up when they get together? Around a table eating good food, gossipping, catching up on their lives and enjoying each other's company.

What are your top 3 places to shop? Target, Kohls, JCP. If there was an H&M store in Tennessee it would be empty. I can promise you that. I am so looking forward to the online shopping coming later this year.

If you got $500 what would you spend it on? Hunter Boots, flare jeans, maxi dresses for summer, new Too Faced Makeup kit, iphone.

Flats or heels? Heels

Favorite color (be specific!)? Pink

Favorite blogger of the moment and why? Oh, I can't answer that one. I love them all. How about I say me. I am feeling frisky on this Sunday.

One of the goals you have for your blog? Just grow, have sponsors and show that all women can be fabulous with themselves, on a budget, and inspire.

When did you start blogging? August 2011. I actually attempted to back in May of last year then got a little scared. Then decided to make some changes in my life and went for it. So glad I did.

Who do you tag? No one.

What is your favorite place to eat at? Right now its Five Guys.. I love hamburgers..love love.

Do you have a favorite quote? Only you can change yourself. Why is it so important to you? I tell my friends all they time, nobody can change you, only you can make the change for the difference. You control your own fate.

What is your life goal? Happiness.

Where are you from? Middle Tennessee. about 20 minutes from Nashville.

What is your favorite music to listen to? I love all music. I listen to country most of the time. I like old classics as well, you know Bon Jovi, the hair bands.

Any books you've read lately? You Can't Drink All Day If You Don't Start In the Morning, Celia Rivenbock. She and I are very similar. My friend Missy recommended her series to me. She said, "Dusty, this women is so you. She says some of the same things you would say and reacts the same way you would react". And she is right. This book is a belly laugh.

Got any plans for this summer? Just enjoy it. Family trip to the beach.

What is your least favorite color? Lime Green (I don't do neon colors)

What is your favorite dish that you always look forward to at holidays? Hashbrown casserole. I use Monterrey Jack and Colby cheese. It really makes it so much better than just cheddar.

Favorite TV shows? Revenge and the Real Housewives of wherever.

What is the food that you dislike the most? Green beans

What is one thing that is on your bucket list? Be published. I would love to just write one article for a magazine or paper.

And finally, I was paired up with a sweet blogger Leigh at VeryLoveLeigh for the 2012 New Year Blogging party over at the The Crowley Party. I received my package with the cutest note.. she said, "I wish I could buy you the Hunter boots, but I am not rich". I belly laughed out loud. Leigh is a beautiful blogger with some awesome fashion posts. This is what she sent. All of my favorite elements. She's a doll. Thank you Leigh!

Swoosh, that's it for this Sunday. Stay tuned tomorrow with some great Super Bowl recipes. I can't wait for the commercials. Happy Sunday everyone.

Love,

Dusty

Back in the Beginning

2012-02-03T06:00:00.002-06:00

I have gained some awesome followers the last few weeks. I am one of those ding dongs that when I join a blog, basically the whole weekend is spent going threw the whole kit n kaboodle. Well, maybe not every post but I will take a month pick a few posts, to get to know that person. So, I thought why wouldn't it be fun to give the newbies a quick wrap up of some of my favorite posts because in reality not everyone is a dork like me and wants to get to know everyone they read. But I am new myself, probably blogger naive and so just please let me live in this fantasy for a bit longer won't you?

Before I start, you will see on my blog I have categories. I file all my posts under one of these categories. If you click at the top, it will tell you what each category means, then you will understand why they are filed the way they are.

So here are my top 5. Thank you everyone for following along. I have made some great friends even though I don't get to see or meet you in person. I love following your stories, fashion posts, recipes, beauty bits, inspirational words and everything in between.

What's In My Bag

My very first post. I had this in my head for weeks. I knew exactly what my first post would be.

No Leg Waxing in my Future

This was a tragedy in itself

Two Cents Thursday - Rachel Zoe edition

Although people will probably gasp..oh, how could she, its one of my best and I do like her BTW

A Different Kind of Thankful

I read the story of this and cried my eyes out. I cannot tell you how much I love this story being an animal lover. I still look at it and my heart fills up with the hidden message of this that should be applied to friends of human kind.

What if?

One of my favorite fashion posts.

So there you have it. My top 5. Hope you enjoy and it intrigues you enough to read more. This is my shout out to all you fabulous bloggers out there! Big hugs and thank you for welcoming me into your world.

Love you bunches,

Dusty

Two Cents Thursdays

2012-02-02T06:00:00.000-06:00

I have been a bit under the weather this week. But I have done my best to keep up. Did you notice that I didn't post on Tuesday. Nope, that was for a reason, but I am going to hold off on that reasoning until the weekend to see if it rectifies itself. So my Two Cents this week is somewhat light.

First, we did our taxes last weekend. As excited as I am to see if I will get any money back, I then become depressed of all the things I have to pay for with the money. I don't understand Uncle Sam. Your not my Uncle. I researched my family tree. You are not there. Not even an acorn that fell off the tree. Your a pain in the ass like a long lost cousin, who comes out of the woodwork when a wedding or a funeral comes around. We aren't friends and never will be and you and your slut buddy FICA can kiss my @$%&!

Next, why do they call our sweet computer's laptops? I don't know about you, but if I hold my laptop in my lap, it becomes an easy bake oven and my thighs become hot turkey legs.

I can admit I haven't seen one episode of Grey's Anatomy. Nope not even 10 minutes. I click over to the channel, attempt 20 seconds and turn it. Sorry, don't yell. Gawd!

And finally, because I wasn't feeling well, I laid in bed all day yesterday and watched enough Discovery Channel to last me a few days. I love the ID channel, the true stories of love triangles, Dateline mysteries and the new show Dark Minds. But I have to say this, there are some crazy people in this world. I mean we are all a little screwy, but these people are missing alot of screws. Like chain link fences. I am going to build a very tall fence around my house, put pad locks on all my doors, put a GPS tracking chip in my son and live off the land.

Well, that's my two cents. Give me the skinny on your two cents. Anything interesting, you know, things that make you go, huh? Have a great Thursday and a great February!

Love,

Dusty

Hey Homeslice

2012-02-01T06:30:00.003-06:00

You have heard me talk about our remodeling/redecorating our house. We don't live in a huge house. We went from 3,000 square feet to 1,200 square feet when the economy tanked. I miss having a big house, but I also love cozy spaces. I love the look of coastal homes. I don't necessarily mean the beach, I mean the rustic homes up north - Cape Code cottages, Kennebunkport, Maine cabins, and old farmhouses. I dream of one day having a lake house but until then, my little home here on a street filled with speeding cars and asphalt will have to do. We have accomplished one element and that is our hallway. With little fingers, the walls in our house are always getting washed down. So a fresh coat of paint was in order. Once the decor is up, I will post a picture. Right now I am looking for an old row boat oar for a DIY project. Here are a few ideas I am toying with for different elements of each room and a fantastic find.

I am obsessed with having a farmhouse sink. It will happen in my lifetime. Our kitchen is a cream color with a whitewash stain. I would love this little addition. I just have to figure out how it would work.

Source: HDTV.com via Girls Love on Pinterest

Next on my list is a bench. I have a rustic table similar to this one and 4 chairs. We love company and when we have people over for dinner, I have to drag out two chairs from the spare rooms. This is on my antiquing list for this summer.

Source: potterybarn.com via Girls Love on Pinterest

I have a thing with paisley. I think its the boho girl in me. We have a rustic coach, love seat and chair with ottoman with these wonderful vintage iron nail heads in a scroll on the arms, but after having these for 6 years, flying boys, and animals, they are in need of a redo. I have decided to keep the base of these pieces the same and recover and restuff the cushions. I found this fabric pattern and hopefully with those sewing lessons I am taking from my mom, by Fall hopefully we will be fluffed up.

Source: fabric.com via Girls Love on Pinterest

I love this LOVE photograph. I found it on another blog, researched where it was sold and then about crapped my pants when I found out how much it was. I wanted to write the site and say, "honey bunnies, I am sure this is a top selling item, in rich land, but this girl is a design on a dime kind of girl." So, I have an idea on how to make this myself and it doesn't cost $150 smackers.

Source: theletteredcottage.net via Girls Love on Pinterest

Finally, my fantastic find. My splurge vs. steal. I pinned this duvet from the Pottery Barn sight back at Christmas and it has been repinned like Eeyore the donkey's tail. While in Kmart (you know the place I got my fantab clogs), I came across this marked down to $14.99 and swiped it up.

Here is the one from Pottery Barn no longer available but I am sure probably in the $200 range for the set.

Source: potterybarn.com via Girls Love on Pinterest

And here is my steal from Kmart. Although not exact, it still is a great find. And it looks so yummy on my bed. Our bedroom is a deep chocolate brown. I am going to mix it with the teal blue and some throw pillows maybe in burlap.

Source: kmart.com via Girls Love on Pinterest

So that's my ideas so far for my little cottage redo. Have you been thinking about your own home? Maybe its spring fever, maybe its just needing a new look, but I am so loving the home ideas.

Happy Wednesday friends!

Love,

Dusty

linked up rolled up pretty

Chicken Enchiladas & a New Look

2012-01-30T06:30:00.001-06:00

So first things first. Did you notice anything different? Huh? Did ya? Did ya? Yes, I have a new look. Of course its not a major overhaul, but a new header with some photos I love and I added new clicky buttons to my other sites to follow. Now, that took brain power. Two days of trying to figure that out. I was exhausted. I have wrote about how I am not very computer literate and that was a test, but I did it, cleaned up my blog and walla! Cool beans. Two of my favorite colors are pink and brown and I just love it, it's purty. Now on to food because we all know that's more important than my new look which I am sure once I truly figure out what I want then I can hire a smart person to do it for me.

This recipe has been bouncing around Pinterest and I have been in a food rut. I cook dinner every Sunday (well, I cook almost everyday except Saturday's) but Sunday is our family staple, sit down at the table day..no excuses. I did a little pinning this weekend, came across it and the rest is history. This recipe is totally amazing. It's so yummy, we devoured half the pan. It seriously is all the hype and a bag of chips. I altered this recipe a bit, but only in quantities. Without further adieu ....

Chicken enchiladas with green chili sour cream sauce

8-10 soft taco shells

3 cups cooked, shredded chicken

4 cups shredded Monterrey Jack cheese

3 Tbsp. butter

3 Tbsp. flour

2 cups chicken broth

1 cup sour cream

1 (4 oz) can diced green chillies

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9x13 pan

2. Spread chicken on tortillas, sprinkle with cheese. Roll up in tortillas and place in pan.

3. In a sauce pan, melt butter, stir in flour and cook 1 minute. Add broth and whisk until smooth. Heat over medium heat until thick and bubbly. Reduce heat.

4. Stir in sour cream and chilies. Do not bring to boil, you don't want curdled sour cream.

5. Pour over enchiladas and top with remaining cheese.

6. Bake 22 min and then under high broil for 3 min to brown the cheese.

My pan only held 8 tortillas and the recipe calls for 2 cups cheese but I used all 4 cups because I covered the the chicken with cheese and then rolled. I also used canned chicken breast. Don't forget the green chillies. That really adds flavor. I served with corn and I was craving pinto beans, so I opened a can (not very southern I know), but they were yummy too. This recipe is easy, quick and you will love it.

There you have it. Fat food at its finest. I am sure this recipe could be just as good with low fat ingredients. I hope you enjoy. I also want to say thank you to all my new followers this weekend. I have come across some great blogs and have enjoyed reading them.

Happy Monday friends.

Dusty

I'm a Versatile Blogger..Award

2012-01-27T06:00:00.002-06:00

I love opening the blogs I follow and see that they passed on an award to me. Insomniac Mom bestowed this sweet little mention and I send her sweet hugs for it. She is funny stuff. Her Wacky Wednesday post cracked me up. So I thank the Academy, oh I mean Insomniac Mom and can't wait to read more funny days on her blog.

So, here are rules for this award:

Thank the person that nominated you, and give them a shout out on your blog with a link to theirs.
Share 7 random facts about yourself.
Send on the award to 15 other bloggers whose blog you love and appreciate and then let them know they won the award.

My 7 random facts which I am so sure you will find so interesting. I mean compared to Hollywood Starlets, I am ~~front~~ back page news.

1. My middle name is de. Yes, little "d" one "e". Apparently, back in the 70's they gave you a sweet cocktail when you had a baby and mom obviously wasn't lucid when she named me, Dusty de.

2. I have perfected the eye roll. Yes, I have and Chad hates it. But, if I do the eye roll that means your full of shitz.

3. I love college football. I am an avid University of Tennessee fan (please all Florida peeps do not unfollow me). I break things, cuss people out and wish the opponents some type of vinerial disease.

4. I have a lipgloss fetish. Its gotten better, but I am always in search of the perfect peachy pink.

5. I am not from Hoboken, but I love saying it. Hoboken, Hoboken, Hoboken.

6. I had braces at 25. I went in to fix one little tooth, ended up wearing them for 18 months. As soon as they came off, the tooth went right back to where it was. But it was fun eating lots of mashed potatoes during that time.

7. And finally, I snort when I laugh. Yes, it's true. I am a proud snorter, full fledged, need no reform.

So there you have it 7 random facts. Isn't it refreshing to just let it go. All your hidden secrets now out in the open to repeat.

Now onto the other portion- my 15. I don't like choosing because I love all my blogs read, but I don't want a voodoo hex on my head. I will follow the rules. I don't like rules much. We aren't friends, but if I must.

So there you have it. I hate choosing. I have so many I love love love. But remember..the voodoo doll thing. Ok. So I wish you all a happy Friday. Don't forget you can follow me on Pinterest, Twitter, BlogLovin, and Facebook.

Love,

Dusty

linking up

Two Cents Thursdays

2012-01-26T06:30:00.002-06:00

What's your Two Cents? Here's mine. First,I brushed my teeth with peroxide and baking soda this weekend. Have you ever done that? OMG, it was gross and it didn't work. Why I expected my teeth to look like a Crest Whitening commercial I have no clue, but note to self, never do that again.

I bought three fashion magazines this past weekend. I have been slacking on reading my "smut" as I call it. And they all sucked. Then when I do find items in the magazine to pin to my Pinterest or possibly interested in buying and they are either unavailable or no where to be found on the website. What's up with that? I think these editors in People Style Watch should realize that even though these are published a month later than when written, the items aren't available.

Ian and Dad were playing the fart game. So, I thought well, I will play along. I let one rip and all of the sudden its , "oh, gross mom", or "honey, that's so disgusting." Really, where is it written that mom farts don't qualify? I either out did them or I guess it's a mans world when it comes to gas.

Why can't I get my coffee to taste the same way every day? It's either too sweet or I over creamed.

Ianism- "Mom, reading really makes my brain smart, but it sure gives me a headache". Hmmm, is that what they call a real Catch 22?

ER said 9 minutes this week. Less heart attacks and chopped off fingers I assume.

We have been redecorating/remodeling our house. Chad paints the bottom half of the wall and I love it. For two days the creamy white at the top he keeps saying is too white. I say I like it, he says no I will take it and get it tinted another shade darker. I agree. I come home on Saturday and he painted the wall, the original white color! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

And finally, I have lacked motivation to pursue my resolution to get healthy and in shape. You know, tone up, and not be reminded my milkshake brings all the boys to the yard. Which is why I consumed enough carbs on Monday that if you pressed my stomach I made the sound like the Pillsbury Dough Boy. Lord, please grant me the strength to get my milkshake in gear before it turns into a giant loaf of bread.

Well, that's my two cents. What's yours? Happy Thursday my friends.

Love,

Dusty

look look

2012-01-25T06:30:00.006-06:00

Well, its not really an official fashion post, but sort of. I am still a scaredy cat, but I wanted to give you the 411 on what I am loving this week and a little surprise, well, its not all that climatic but since I vary rarely post pics of myself, to some its a yahoo. If I could gain one follower or comment out of this post I will be shocked. You see my words and pictures but don't get to see me but it's coming I promise. After I work out like a supermodel and the weather cooperates.

First, I have searched for a shirt like this forever. I saw one last year on Net-A-Porter, but Net can tell Porter to fly a kite because I wasn't paying $200 bucks for it. But I found this little diddy on H&M (and you know my obsession with them) which is funny because we don't have one in Tennessee (insert mad face here).

source

Then with the weather in Tennessee being unpredictable, snow three weeks ago and now the rain every other day and up and down temperatures. We are all fashion impaired right now. But I love these boots. I want a pair of Hunter boots but the price tag is a little off my budget, but it's on my wish list this year so I will save up. I love these mid calf instead of the tall ones. A little more versatile.

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Aren't they adorable? Some cute socks, rolled up boyfriend jeans, ooowee doggies. Love. So now, you've read my quest for clogs or you should have. If not, check my catergory, Tater Queens Fashion Inspirations for that post. I found a pair over in Spain and they will be in my closet before the year is up, but I found a steal. These beauts at K-Mart. That's right K-Mart for ..wait for it, $12.00. Ahhh, I am satisfied just like a Swedish girl in a Riccola commercial.

I have wrote numerous times about my quest for this jacket.

And finally, here is my beautiful jacket that my mom made. I love it. I am so proud of it. Yes, that's me, in deep conversation using my hands like I do. That's a vintage Barbie t-shirt and hat from Old Navy. Isn't it awesome? Oh yes, sexier than boots on a duck!

So, there ya go some inspiration and sort of fashion post but thank gawd someone took a picture of my good side. Happy Wednesday everyone. Hope you have some fashion inspiration this week. Purty up!

Love,

Dusty

linked up the pleated poppy & rolled up pretty

why oh why

2012-01-24T06:30:00.003-06:00

Everyone has been asked the age old question, “if you could trade places with anyone who would it be and why?” Then you get the same answers like, the President and God. And of course you have those that say, “I wouldn’t trade places with anyone else because my life is just as its supposed to be.” And they are right, but I also say bull kaka. We all in our lives wished we could trade places with someone or want to make wishes that you hope come true. We all wished that we had things we don’t or why didn’t I get blessed with this or that. I tell ya there have been many times that I have said that one day when I get to talk to God, I am going to ask him so many questions. Of course, by the time I get done, he’s probably going to kick me to the curb.

Like, God, honey buns, why didn’t you give me boobs? No, I am not a sled, but something a little perky. Like when I cross over railroad tracks in my car they should bounce up and down, not side to side. You filled my butt out real good, but couldn’t you have transplanted some of that energy up top?

Or why do women have to have monthly menstrual cycles every 28 to 30 days? I know, I know, to cleanse the body and monitoring the cycle for child baring but you didn’t do this for man. Man deserves to feel the pain of cramps, push a watermelon threw a hole the size of a quarter. If not for the suffering for the bond you feel with carrying a child for nine months and feeling like a turtle on its back that can’t turn over.

Why do I have to shave my underarms and legs every few days. This I rebel on. Shave under my arms yes, but the legs, seriously, you’re lucky this girl isn’t considered green resembling a cactus. I hate to shave my legs, yet the burden upon a woman to be silky smooth is really over rated. And all the choices that we have to shave them with is despicable. Venus versus Gillette, Silky Smooth Shave Cream versus Barbosol. Have you seen the price of a Venus replacement..$14 bucks baby. That’s why you only get once a week with me. You could have just made me with no hair on my legs, it would have been fine really.

Snot…and its purpose is what? You blow and blow. Its purpose is nothing. I mean couldn’t you have least said, ok, if you make a snot quota after 10 day cold you get a prize. Our bodies produce a lot of things but why that? It’s sticky and slimy. Useless, well, except for two year old's who think its pretty yummy until they turn 12 and you tell them they used to eat it like chicklets gum. Then they are like, “no I didn’t”..oh, yes you did Bubba.

Why are dogs lives measured in years? Worthless guard dog #2 is 84 in dog years, oh wait that makes her twelve. Never mind, humans got the good end to that stick. High Five!

My point is, I do sometimes want what I don’t have or want to get rid of the things that are burdens in my life, but I don’t know that I could or would trade places with you. Your check lists have to be a mile long, your complaint box must be full and I realize that in your shoes I would probably fail miserably. Well, isn’t that just great, I come to revelation now I gotta go blow my nose, shave my body, take a Midol, find the push up bra and thank you everyday I am here for these 40 human years. Dang it, why do you have to be so Godlike to make a point. Ugh!

Have a great Tuesday!

Love,

Dusty

stupid cool

2012-01-23T06:00:00.001-06:00

Stupid Cool. Have ever heard of it? Yeah, me neither so if you haven’t then I take full credit for making it up. If its out there and I am just now getting on the train, then obviously I am uncool. It’s kind of like when my grandmother used to say, “it’s so ugly its cute.” Did anyone ever say that to you? My grandfather had an English Bulldog named Magoo. Loved that dog. She used to say he was so ugly he was cute. Stupid cool could be along same lines as “bless your heart” but not all the way there. Here’s what I mean.

At Christmas the line to Starbucks was wrapped all the way into the women’s section in Target. I thought why would you wait in line for an hour for a Carmel salted frappe whappe minus the skinny minnie, pay $5 dollars for a cup of hyped up jo. How stupid is that? But you receive your coffee and then you become cool because you’re carrying around a Starbucks cup, shopping throughout the store because everyone thinks your cool when you drink Starbucks coffee in “the cup.” Yeah, you become “stupid cool.”

We spent New Years in the Great Smokey Mountains. Doing a little sightseeing, we drove by these people bungee jumping. Five stories in the air, walk to the edge and jump! How stupid is that? Well, you pay $50 bucks, climb to the top platform, and let some stranger fasten clasps and ropes around your ankles and then cowabunga! There you go, head first. Then as your feet reach the ground you are suddenly cool. Cool to your friends, cool to yourself, you purchase the video, action photo and t-shirt and $250 dollars later. You’re “stupid cool.”

At Halloween, kids dress up and as parents, we think they are the cutest things since peanut butter and jelly, but as adults we dress up and you go to a party, see everyone and think, oh my gawd, we as adults actually took the time to look like Britney Spears, the President or an ugly vampire. How stupid is that? This day is all about being stupid because in the end it’s so cool because we used our imaginations and had a blast. For one day out of the year it’s okay to be “stupid cool”.

And finally, I saw a chickolette carrying a very expensive handbag. Oh, and carrying it just by the handle and the rest was dangling to the ground. I am looking at her like, really, you own a Louis and you’re lugging it around like it was old luggage. How stupid is that? First off, I can think of 10 things I can buy with $1000 bucks. Pretty stupid you shell out that much money for a handbag just for the name, but lord, oh lord, I would love one time just to be that girl with a Louis handbag. I can’t even afford to sniff the leather, but I sure would like to walk around being hot to trot and “stupid cool”.

So there you have it. Stupid cool. In some way, we all are stupid cool. It’s not a bad thing. It just means that in the choices we make in life, we all sometimes are lacking in judgement, but it sure feels good to be cool no matter the cost.

Happy Monday my friends. Be stupid cool today!

Love,

Dusty

hot tamale...an award for GLFP

2012-01-20T06:00:00.006-06:00

In the crazy world we live in, it is so rewarding to think that there are people that really are nice. I live in a house full of crazy, my family are whackadoodles, I fight my own insecurities every day, I am a princess, so admittedly which is funny because I guess everyone has their version of a princess, my friends are close yet so far away, I found comfort threw the internet and not on some site called I wanna seriously date, marry you and be yo baby daddy in two months dot com and I write all about it on my blog.

It’s my outlet, my own little piece of me. It’s me voting myself most popular because for just a few moments, I think I am sorta cool and then my kid yells, “mom come wipe my butt” and reality sets back in that I am just a girl who writes a blog with a funny name.

But then someone else read it, liked it and decided to put an award on it (insert Beyonce music here, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh)! So thank you Anna over at Anna Land (Where Everything Shines Like Glittler) for nominating me for the Liebster Blog award. You are a cutie patootie. Ya’ll check her out. Her blog is so colorful and fun.

So it is my pleasure to pass along this same nomination to five wondermous blogs. Which let me say I don’t really want to pick just five. I love all my blogs I read. But in keeping with the rules, I have to choose up and coming blogs with less than 200 followers, mention them on my site and then let them know, by sending them a message that they have been nominated, to take a bow, high five themselves and spread the love to the next deserving recipient.

Here are my five. I honest to goodness read all the blogs I have joined. I hope one day they find me lovely enough to follow back and I hope these girls have much success.

1. I Wanna Feel That Fire – she is an Instagram queen and adorable. Just a beatuiful lady with a sweet family and I love that.

2. Love Parish – great little fashion blog especially for youngin’s. One day I hope we see her face. But her pics are pretty.

3. Tara Ashley – she has some of the greatest quote pins and she’s too cute. I seriously laughed at her distorted iPhone picks at work to the point of wanting to pee my self and obnoxious snorting.

4. Distinctly M – true story..she commented on my blog the other day and I am like, where do I know that name from? Then ding dong..I remembered reading her proposal story like a month or so ago after coming across her blog. I instantly joined up to be a follower because I didn’t want to forget again. She's hot to trot and she’s funny.

5. Little Spindle - she just did a little bloggy makeover and I love her "Thanks for Sharing" series. Plus the girl is a cook. Yummy Yummy.

So there you have it my picks but there are so many more I think also deserve recongition. We are all great in our own special way. We are unique and I enjoy reading all my blog loves.

Have a great Friday and again thank you Anna. Oh, and you know you now have the Beyonce song playing over and over in your head..uh, huh, that's right, "if you like then you shoulda put a ring on it!" oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh... if not it is now.

Love ya,

Dusty

Two Cents Thursdays

2012-01-19T06:31:00.002-06:00

Yay! What’s your “Two Cents” cause its “Thursday”. I got some pretty good stuff. Here we go.

On my way home there is a sign on the side of the interstate from a local hospital that has their name and a clock with a wait time for the emergency room. Yesterday it said, “ER wait time 47 minutes”. Really, so what you are showing everyone in big red numbers is if you are having a heart attack, you will wait 47 minutes to be seen? Oh, wait they must have the same philosophy as “fast food”.

My sister and I are thinking about trying the Tracy Anderson Method called Metamorphosis. Have you heard of her? She transformed Gwyneth Paltrow, Jennifer Aniston, LeAnn Rimes, Madonna, all these celebrities’ bodies. She designs a workout based on your body type. You enter on her website and take this survey, and then she sends you an email letting you know which program best suits you to order. My sister and I were both Gluetcentric. Which is a nice way of saying, “baby got back”. Any hoot, I read an article that she was pregnant with her second child. Let me tell you I will be monitoring her every move. If a woman can bounce back using her own methods being over 35 and having a baby then I am investing. I will be writing about our achievement with this workout regimen.

My new favorite show on ABC, “Revenge”!!! Anyone watching it? Oh, I would love to visit the Hampton's (even though that show is filmed in North Carolina I think). It’s on my places to go.

Chad wants to move to Alaska. He’s overloaded on the misconceptions from the reality shows on TV. They show these beautiful landscapes, big moose, bears, drunks.. you know things a man loves. This is what I say to him when he mentions it.. “Yes, honey, I love you, bye bye. Oh, and let me know how it is”. Moma ain’t moving to Alaska!

Finally, I don’t talk about my son too often or often as I should. He’s a good boy and very funny. I thought I would share my Ianism’s with everyone. I share them on my personal Face book page, but I thought it would be fun to share with my bloggy friends.

Ianism #1 – Sunday Ian wakes me up at 7 am. “Mom, can I tell you a question.” I grunt and he says, “If you put 3-D glasses on a dog will it hurt their eyes?” My reply, “no it will only make them look funny”. "Ooohhh", he says.

Ianism #2 – That same Sunday driving to my niece’s first birthday party, he says, “Mom, look at that cow on top of that other cow, what is he doing?” My reply, “forming a Conga line”. (Hey, that’s what popped into my head). "Ooohh", he says.

Ianism #3 – Wednesday morning, “Mom, what do you think Paw Paw is doing in heaven with God?” My reply, “I don’t know but I bet he’s happy”. Ian then says, “I think he’s playing poker.” I silently bust a gut laughing. My step dad didn’t play poker.

So there you have it my friends. What’s your Two Cents. Share if you dare!

Love,

Dusty

things i am diggin'

2012-01-18T06:30:00.053-06:00

I came across this picture over the weekend on where else..Pinterest. It made me reflect first and foremost on my "old" friendships and how I always thought we would pinkie swear and be BFF's forever, have kids together, be in each other's weddings, you know all the crazy ideas you have in high school? Matter of fact it bothered me enough that I woke at 3 am thinking about where were my friends. Anyway, that's for another post. So, I pin this picture and it puts me in the mood for the groove. I start thinking of the 70's. Boho, Rock n Roll, Hippies and such then I remembered oh, yeah, I am a product of the 70's no wonder I love the look.

And I do love it. I am much more of a flower child. Pretty patterns, flowers, and clothes that are rugged and worn with a story behind them. But don't kid yourself, I do have my rock n roll side. I can party with the best of them. Dance on the table tops, do shots of tequila, and boogie the night a way. And then the next morning because I am a product of the 70's which makes me you know in the 4-0 category - I would promptly get up, take three Advil, have a cup of coffee, swear to Baby Jesus I will never do that again, apply Ben Gay to my aching muscles, brush my teeth twice to get the taste out of my mouth, pray to Baby Jesus again to please let me throw up, blame my lovey even if he wasn't apart of the shin-dig, call four new friends and tell them I had such a good time and can't wait to do it again, hang up the phone knowing I just lied my butt off and by 10 am, I will hopefully take nap. Gawd, I rock, huh!

So here's what I am grooving about. My Pinterest has been on fire lately. A ton of repinners, but only two new followers. I am still sort of new to the obsession, but if you like someones stuff, wouldn't you want to follow them to see what other cool, groovy things they pin next? Ugh, I gotta get a blogging for dummies manual and maybe a tutorial on Pinterest protocol.

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the photo that started it all. this must be mix of 70's & 80's

but look, girl power- love it

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turquoise earrings.. i am seriously in love with this known hippie tone color

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I am not a Rolling Stones fan (I think Mick Jagger is yuck)

but I love their logo and with my cool new shag coat..hot snot baby!

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I love this bracelet so much. I will have this!

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an updated hippie version and I love this whole look, Peace, Love & R&R!

So there you have it. I am stylin' n profilin' some cool wants this week. Hopefully, I am going to grow a little braver. One of the things I want to do with my blog, is out fit posts. I got this new camera, tripod and a wireless remote shutter. But every time I think about it, I chicken out. Plus, the weather here has been terrible. One day my friends...

Hope you have a great Wednesday and you find your groove.

Oh, and I don't drink tequila. I barfed my brains out in high school drinking it and vowed to never drink it again and I haven't in 20 years.

Love ya,

Dusty

linked up thepleatedpoppy & rolleduppretty

soups on

2012-01-17T07:00:00.002-06:00

This weekend was productive. Grocery, my niece’s 1^st birthday party and remodeling the hallway. Our first step into a home makeover. Turning my house into a little cottage has just begun. Of course, there was eating too. I made this loaded potato soup that was good enough to slap your cousin. Oh and my 7-up biscuits which are my new go-to recipe. Let me warn you, this recipe to so easy, but you will develop muscles similar to a body builder after you are finished from all the stirring. It was almost like the Old McDonald song, with a stir, stir here, and a stir, stir there, here a stir, there a stir, every where a stir, stir. Seriously, a lot of stirring. You get the picture? Here is the recipe. Hope you enjoy.

Loaded Potato Soup

2/3 cup butter

2/3 cup flour

7 cups milk

5 potatoes cubed

1 tablespoon butter

1 cup onions

12 ounces of bacon ( I used 2 jars of Hormel Bacon pieces)

1 cup sour cream

2 cups cheddar cheese

¾ tsp salt

½ tsp pepper

1 tsp garlic powder

Dice potatoes and boil until done. Set aside.

Sauté onions with 1 tablespoon butter. Set aside.

In large pot melt butter. Add flour and whisk until smooth.

Gradually add milk one cup at a time, stirring until thickened.

Add potatoes and onions. Stirring constantly. Bring to boil.

Reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Add bacon, sour cream, salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Stir until blended. Simmer 10 more minutes.

Serve with extra cheese and bacon on top.

And for my 7 Up biscuits, click here. Hope you have a great day!

Love,

Dusty

no longer friends

2012-01-16T06:00:00.001-06:00

*Warning this post may cause someone great distress because they have heard the truth I speak.

Who are you? I thought at one time we were friends. My revelation this weekend was confirmed that we are not. I have struggled and contemplated. I thought about telling you about it on Facebook, but would anyone listen? Does anyone feel my pain? Our relationship was close. I have known you for so long that, it’s so weird to know that you have changed. What happened? Was it time? Did I neglect to accept or nurture your every need? Did I not listen to others when they told me at one time you were so wonderful and I could trust you. That this pain shouldn’t enter your life at this age.

I knew this day would come. I knew I would shed tears. I knew that you would probably be your stubborn self and tell your friends and they would jump on the bandwagon and then turn against me. We were family. So close. We had a special bond and then all of the sudden you turn into a ghost. A figment of my imagination? I think not. You’re real. You’re hurtful. You suck! This anger shouldn’t enter my life so young. I have so many things to be thankful for, so why are you significant? Why is it when I read these stories of this happening to others, they can embrace your harsh entrance. Smile and act like nothing is wrong. It’s life! I was told by a friend. You can either chose to ignore it or do something about it.

So, I have chosen in my better judgment as a human being to eliminate you from every aspect of my life. I am sure that every few weeks or so I will wonder about you. When you will appear in my life again, I will try to remember that you were really significant and that you taught me a life lesson. That it happens to the best of us. Things or people enter into our lives but that you just have to let them go with vengeance.

My hair and I have had a falling out. That’s right you gray hairs. I am making an appointment to destroy you! How dare you invade my head and other parts of my body? You just had to go and spread the word and now there could be more out there I don’t know about. How dare you offset these beautiful highlights that I so treasure and pay good money for? My hair and I have a bond that will never be broken as long as there is a bowl, bleach and a good hairstylist that I call my friend in my life. At all cost, I will color you until the follicles cannot handle it anymore. I will have you shaved, waxed and plucked you until there is nothing left. You made your presence known now you must die bitches! In the words of Weezer from Steel Magnolias, “You are evil and must be destroyed.”

Happy Monday,

Dusty

thanks easter bunny

2012-01-13T06:00:00.001-06:00

I wanted to say thank you again to my new followers on my blog, pinterest, twitter and bloglovin and also, to those who liked my facebook page. So for the weekend, I hope you shake it like a poloroid picture with your friends and they will come back all excited to read some new material, laugh and realize how normal they are after visiting my blog (wink wink, that was sort of a joke but some what true).

Like my FACEBOOK page (click here)

Join me on TWITTER (click here)

Follow me on PINTEREST (click here)
Supertastic BLOGLOVIN (click here)

FEEDBURNER (click here)

or go to my main page and sign up via email

Leave me a comment so I can follow you back, if I haven't already! Have a great weekend everyone!

Love,

Dusty

Two Cents Thursdays

2012-01-12T06:00:00.005-06:00

Oh, yes after this week, I am up for Two Cents Thursdays! Let's get started shall we? If you know me personally then you have heard my gripe about how much my son's "car rider line" stresses me out. Since he was in kindergarten my hatred for this process only grows. Although I love taking him to school (we live right around the corner), I sometimes long for the days he can jump on a school bus. I don't want to wish his life in fast motion but I hate, no despise the car rider line. You drive in and you have 10 kids, mostly young girls standing on a side walk spinning their arms like they are wind mills, directing you to pull around to the end of the side walk. Most of the time these little princesses are doing cheerleader moves with the girl next to them, or having a very important conversation I am sure about little Johnny who just got off the school bus and "eek, they can't wait to see him in the cafeteria." Some how they neglect to do their duty and open the door for my kid who's already on the side walk when "oops" they discover he's out of my car, they come over tell me to have a nice day and slam the door. This causes me great stress. I find myself wanting to say, F...you, I hope Johnny thinks you have buck teeth, you didn't help my kid out of the car with a large backpack and he about face planted into the sidewalk. Oh, and if it's pouring rain and you stop at the door so your kid doesn't get soaked, they will promptly tell you to "next time pull to the end of the sidewalk". Hey, Betty Lou, suck it! I give this school enough money, I am not pulling to the end of the sidewalk for my kid to be soaking wet.

Open toe booties - I don't get it. Boots are for keeping your feet warm in the winter. Why in the world would I want some that showed a hole in them? My toe nail polish isn't that grand that you need to see it, plus I don't like cold toes. I am not saying they are bad, I just don't understand the concept of a boot with open toes. Your going to cover your whole foot and up to your calf and leave your toes hanging like a bad high five. Hmmm...pondering.

Red lips - I think its cool. I wouldn't do it personally. I am a smokey eye neutral lips kind of girl. I always thought that red lips were for special occasions or fancy dancy places with evening attire. Now they are everywhere. I see them on ton's of blogs but that's all I see. The first thing that draws my eye to the picture is the blood red lips. Some of these women could put on burlap sacks and they would have blood red lips. Just let me process it for a while. I will get used to it, ok?

My mom gave me a cool calendar. It's from Pillsbury and each month is a different recipe, then at the back are 12 more recipes. They all look yummy, but here's the deal, no matter how much or what you stuff a crescent roll with, it still tastes like a crescent roll! You know what I am talking about and don't say you don't. S'more stuffed crescent rolls. They taste just like a s'mores. NO IT DOESN'T! It tastes like a crescent roll stuffed with chocolate and marshmallows. GAWD! The only thing you can stuff a crescent roll with is a hot dog and then yes, it tastes like a pig in a blanket. That's it.. I rest my case.

I made myself laugh yesterday. Our worthless guard dog #2 Libby Lou is having her time of the sixth month and so am I. Sad thing is we can't share girl talk about it. Then she tried to chew her diaper with the maxi pad stuck in it. I just looked at her and said, "yep sucks does it?" Pretty sad when you and the dog both have PMS and you share maxi pads.

Well, that's it! I feel so much better. Oh, I am loving my new followers. Thanks so much. Don't forget to share your Two Cents.

Love ya,

Dusty

Bacon and Cheese Bread Bowl

2012-01-11T06:00:00.002-06:00

In the new year, it should be every one's resolution to share. I am usually wonderful at sharing except for Reese's Peanut Butter mini's. You put your claws on one of mine and I will slap you about the head and face. Nothing comes between this girl, chocolate and peanut butter. I ate so much peanut butter when I was pregnant, I thought Ian was going to come out with a top hat on looking like the Planter's Peanut guy dancing with a cane. The funny part is I hate nuts. To eat a peanut out of a bowl, freaks me out. But this girl loves her some Jif creamy peanut butter. Oh, gawd, did I just ramble? Hold on, I need to take a moment, I was overwhelmed with the thought of peanut butter. Any hoot, I am going to share my mostest, favoritest recipes. It's divine. A party favorite, easy and I make it a ton when I have to bring an appetizer or have a girls night at my house. You won't be sorry and your guest will love it, if they don't, well, may they eat rotten peanuts. Here goes!

Bacon & Cheese Bread Bowl

1 package of Hawaiian Bread

2 jars or packages of Bacon Pieces (or you can use the microwave bacon and chop up)

2 cups Monterrey Jack & Colby Cheese

1 cup frozen onions thawed

1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese (powder kind)

1 cup mayo

-Preheat oven 350 degrees

-Cut circle out of Hawaiian bread. Clean the center out, shred the bread, put into a container. Make sure you leave bread in aluminum pan it comes in.

-Mix mayo, onions, all cheeses, and bacon in a bowl and pour into the center of the bread bowl.

-Cover with aluminum foil. Place on cookie sheet. Bake for 30 minutes. Uncover bake another 30 to 40 minutes or until its a little golden brown on top or the bread bowl looks done and creamy.

-Use the shredded bread you put aside to spread on. You can also use Ritz crackers.

Yummilicious!

I hope you enjoy. Send me an email if you try this. It's my lovey's favorite thing and now that I think about it, I will send myself an email because I think I will make it this weekend.

Love ya,

Dusty

linked up rolled up pretty

until then

2012-01-10T06:00:00.001-06:00

I have dreaded this day since Friday night at 9 pm. Last week, I wrote a post about my step father and his fight with cancer knowing that he wouldn't have much longer to live. I just didn't expect a week later. My mom contacted me last Friday and urged me to come soon to the hospital. When I got there, I wasn't prepared for what I saw nor was I prepared for the reaction on my son's face. He was frozen, his face turned red, the eyes started to well up with tears and then he held it in. Already at six years old thinking he can't cry. We stayed an hour or so and left; two hours later he was gone. Into the light with open arms, he is now home.

How bizarre I was talking to my cousin on the phone and had just told her "I wish God would wrap his arms around him and take him to peace". About five minutes later my uncle called and said he had passed. How ironic. Was it coincidence? Was it that someone was listening to my voice? I do not know, but we got to say goodbye and I love yous. Maybe that's what he was waiting for. To be surrounded by his family and the acceptance to go. I don't know if he could hear us, but I know he was peaceful when he left and I know that my heart hurts. He wasn't my real father, but the only grandfather my son ever knew. He was right there with my mom at the hospital at 7 am when I delivered. He took Ian's first pictures after being born. Up until he was too weak, he came to every t-ball and baseball game. He loved to cookout and family. He yearned for a family all of his life and he got one when he married my mom. It doesn't seem fair that at only 60 years old he will not get to see the rest of the journey, but maybe he is ...from above.

Cancer is a disease that is hateful, spiteful and unjustified. To take a person and rot their bodies to the point of being undignified. The emotional toll of the wait and then the end. Today there will be tears. But are they tears of sorrow? Tears of rejoice for his life? I am angry. Angry he is not here to be with our family. Angry that he suffered. There will be no more family vacations with him, no more of his awesome hamburgers, swimming in the pool, him taking a blue zillion pictures with his high powered camera or him calling my son "biggie boy" like he always did.

The only thing I know is I loved him. Our family loved him. My son so loved him. We say goodbye today will full military honors, the twenty one gun salute that you so deserved for serving your country for over twenty years. So until then, on another day until we meet again, my heart is filled with love and gratitude for we are the lucky one's to have had him for the memories that will forever live in our hearts.

he was from Texas and this was on their trip

my favorite picture

Ian was about 6 months old

Hug someone just once more today,

Dusty

on most days

2012-01-09T06:00:00.007-06:00

I can't wait for the Super Bowl. Not so much for the food or the game, but the commercials. Some of my favorites the E Trade baby...of course. I saw this commercial and it made me think 1. Bring on the commercials of the Super Bowl and 2. I feel like this lately. On a zip line, in the middle of the jungle, squealing like a crazy person. For some reason, I have felt overwhelmed, tired and well, like a whackadoodle lately. That's what I get for making resolutions, I put too much pressure on myself. So, slowly I will do my best one day at a time!

So you ever feel like you're a crazy pig on a zip line or encounter those people that are so happy you want to bitch slap their mama's? I know that was harsh huh. Deep breaths, in and out, calm, relax and it's ok.

Happy Monday,

Dusty

join me, won't you

2012-01-06T06:00:00.004-06:00

I thought since its a New Year I would just like to say, thank you to everyone stopping by. I would love to keep in touch more than just a daily read, so here are my links below. Lets follow each other, hand in hand, through fields of clover with the smell of sweet magnolias and honeysuckle dripping off the weeping willow trees on a hot, southern Louisiana night with fireflies illuminating the ski. I know full of crap huh? But your hooked..Kisses!

Like my FACEBOOK page (click here)

Join me on TWITTER (click here)

Follow me on PINTEREST (click here)
Supertastic BLOGLOVIN (click here)

FEEDBURNER (click here)

or go to my main page and sign up via email

Leave me a comment so I can follow you back, if I haven't already! Have a great weekend everyone!

Love,

Dusty

Two Cents Thursdays

2012-01-05T06:00:00.002-06:00

My first Two Cents Thursdays post of 2012. Let's rock this! Hope your new year is fantastic so far. I am sure it is, we are only 5 days in. Here's my pondering moments this week and a special finale at the end.

First, all women hang their mouths open when they put on mascara, but last night I was taking my mascara off and my mouth...Wide Open. This morning putting on my eye shadow and my mouth...Wide Open. As I type this blog post, my mouth is Wide Open. Why is that? Is there some mechanism in our bodies that say that we will not get through a daily function without our mouth's ...Wide Open. Seriously, pay attention, you will be surprised.

Blue eyeshadow - I saw tons of ladies with blue eye shadow on this weekend. I personally like the dark blue shadows but I also think that your base coat should be a lighter version accented with a darker shade. If you pick out Cyndi Lauper blue and spread it to your eyebrow, then either your lazy, not creative or color blind. And when it mixes with dark brown eyebrows then, Houston we have a problem. Blend people blend.

I am boycotting the Kardashians. Again, I watched about 10 minutes of the New York show and I just can't do it. Then I read that the younger sister received a Range Rover for her birthday. In my white trash world, we think about payments and insurance therefore, we drive Honda's. Ridiculous this show. But I admit it's like a train wreck and you can't not watch or read.

Addicted to the ID Channel and Ghost Whisperer. Weird that I put those two together. I am a scaredy cat when I watch any kind of ghost stuff because I kind of believe in spirits, but for some reason I can set on a Saturday and watch re-runs all day. I am sure Chad is ecstatic I have found new shows to love. It used to be the Lifetime Channels. Now its all about real murder and mayhem.

I received a comment from an anonymous reader the other day on my blog. They, I assume, were making me aware of a copy cat blogger. After I thought about it and researched the two blogs side by side. I do see similarities, but here's my dealio. I joined her site because she was kind enough to join mine. Also, our blogs are reflections of ourselves. We join and read other blogs for inspiration, laughter and of course friendships. So, I would think at some point and time we are all going to copy each other. Why would there be thousands of blogs with outfit posts if we weren't meant to copy them at some point or another. I don't think that if I see a recipe on another blog I will vow to "Not ever eat a peanut butter pie because Bunt Cake Betty has posted the recipe on her blog". I call BS! I personally feel flattered if someone asks my opinion, recreates a post or tells me they made one of the faboo recipes. But I will say this, if you decide to re-create an outfit post, please photo shop my head on a girl with perky boobies and killer buns!

Droid vs. iPhone... let's debate it. I am leaning towards the iPhone. And I will be honest..only for Instagram!

Finally, there is a magazine, I think it's either Marie Claire or Glamour that posts pictures at the end of Do's and Don't of the fashion world. Well, honey bunny's let me tell you I found one. While in the mountains of rednecks, setting in traffic, I spotted this lovely. I tried to be inconspicuous with the camera, but it didn't work, but I was in a SUV, I could roll up my window and lock the doors. I snapped this girl's picture three ways from Sunday. And now I am going to share it with you.

Let me explain... she had on this beautiful coat then you moved downward. The shoes, well that's just crazy talk, then she had on the purple leg warmers, then these floral panty hose and underneath the panty hose where black knee socks. I am going to give this girl what we call in the south, The Bless Her Heart, award. Enough said.

Happy Thursday! Give me your Two Cents.

Love,

Dusty

Remember this

2012-01-04T06:30:00.005-06:00

One of my very first posts was about this jacket. Do you remember? Probably not, I had eight followers and heck they probably don't either. If not, let me refresh your memory or click "jacket" and let the memories flow. I saw this jacket in People Style Watch with the lovely Sienna Miller wearing one similar. I went on line, and to no luck ..SOLD OUT!

The picture below is from Urban 1972. At a bargain price, it should have been mine, but apparently, it was also the rest of the female population.

remember I am refreshing your memory

Well, my mom who is the bestest of the best knew I wanted this jacket. I probably would have sold my sexiest pair of feety pajamas for it, climbed the tallest roof at the mall, and wore a Madonna cone bra for it. Well, probably not, but after much discussion, she decided to give me this for Christmas.

I know, I know. Isn't it DE-LISH! Your hearing the song "Brickhouse" playing in your head right now aren't you? She's a Brick- House! (insert breaking down motion here). How awesome is that? But here is the kicker. SHE MADE IT! That's right my sweet friends. My momma can kick Sienna Miller's designers ass! So not only does my quest for a bath rug end with this little beauty, it means more to me because she made it with her own hands. Peace out, chicks!

Love,

Dusty

linked up with the pleated poppy & rolled up pretty & mine for the making

Back from Holiday

2012-01-03T06:00:00.007-06:00

Hello, my friends. I am back from holiday (imagine me saying that in my wonderful English accent. Hawl-a-daaay). How was your New Years? Ringing in the new year was great. We, coupled with a few friends, decided back in early August to book a trip for the mountains. One of the things I have vowed is to try to do some different things especially outside of my comfort zone. My love is from Maine so he's been skiing all his life and I want to learn and it would be great to expose my son to different sports. I am not sporty. Unless you call, surfing the net, shopping and watching college football sporty. I did play tennis as a teenager and loved it, and I would like to be more active. Well, I plan on being more active as one of my resolutions. Did I just wander a bit. Yes, back to the story. We booked this cabin in the Great Smokey Mountains which is only three hours away thinking we were going to get to snow ski, snow tube (high on the must list) and enjoy the winter in the woods. Little did we know that in December it would be 56 degrees. But it was cold at night. Now back in our homestead its 28 and I am freezing my baguettes off!

We did end up going up the mountain, touring Ober Gatlinburg and had a wonderful, relaxing time. It's so good to ring in the new year with friends. Here are some highlights. I can't wait to show you what my blog will become this year.

the view from our cabin, Mountain Top Escape

our friend, Rich and Ian playing Kinect

Moonshine (I didn't drink it)

lunch downtown that we waited 2 hours for

the mustache (still waiting on our lunch)

Ian and my friend Karen switched shoes

lounging at the crib

lips and staches I made out of printables and straws

thank you Pinterest

the girls

Ian fell asleep before the New Year, so I had to take this the next day

view from the Tram ride to Ober Gatlinburg

pulley system that operates the Tram

So you have it. A few pictures from our weekend. The highlight was New Year's Eve. We played a game called "Catch Phrase". If you haven't played this game I highly recommend it. It was our first time playing it and everyone in the room was drinking but me. It was a total riot. At one point, we got the laughs so bad, we could barely breath. It was girls against the guys and we got creamed, but I think they had a strategy going, they cheated us or it could have my been partners itzy bit of drinking.. All and all, a blast!

Here's to 2012. And we are off and running. Well, walking, let's start out slowly, OK?

Love,

Dusty

The Five and Five

2011-12-30T07:00:00.000-06:00

I was going to do a top ten countdown of 2011, but I thought I would split it up and do my top five favorite moments of 2011 and top five resolutions. I do NOT usually make resolutions because I don't like to play by the rules very much. Plus, I have moments of weakness and a Hershey candy bar is a victim if in my presence.

Top Five Moments

5. My blog, duh!

4. I joined Twitter. I know to you, this isn't a big hoo ha. But to me it is. I am not computer literate. I am still waiting on my "Blogger for Dummies" book. It's hard to sum up what I want to say in 140 characters or less 'cause I am a talker. Plus, all the symbols, @,# RT, etc.. It's overload. Then I thought if I joined, I would have to scan my pupils, give up my first born and enter into a world of cult like status of tweets and twits. I survived but I am still trying to figure out how my 15 year old nephew who joined a month ago has more followers than me? I must challenge all my followers, casual readers from boredom and any one else who dares, to follow me. I can't have a high schooler out doing his aunt.

3. My son hitting a home run. Oh, how I love Little League baseball. I cried. Then, ding dong, light came on..Hmmm, maybe we are on to something here. Baseball, college, pros?Come on baby boy, I know your the next A-Rod. Mama wants a vintage Beetle bug convertible, baby blue with a white top.

2. Remembering 9/11 ten years later. Something we will never forget, but this year of all years there was coverage of these events and stories that I had never heard or seen. It's not that I ignored it when it happened or maybe these were new stories, but I will have to admit this and oh, sweet mama's of the world don't stone me, but I personally (key word personally), do not wish to relive it or to see the 87 angles of these planes hitting these buildings over and over. My take is this - if I were a mother it only reminds me that I can watch my child die over and over again repeatedly and I can't imagine what its like to have to watch this, uncover those feelings, the deep anguish that it cause every single time we see it. I was honestly mortified seeing this, but in awe of the stories of courage and the children that have come afterwards and their stories as well. I will never forget where I was or watching it at work, but I wish that some aspects of the media would limit some coverage for the sake of the families.

1. The Royal Wedding - come on you knew I was going to say it. Who didn't love this? Yes, we watched it over and over. The anticipation of what her dress looked like, then the kiss (not one but two), that gawd awful ugly hat his cousin wore, remembering his mom, William telling her at the alter that she looked beautiful. Call me a sap, but I ate it up like a pig eating cornbread. (oh, I so dig her style, I hope she does this royal thing her way).

Resolutions 2012

5. Grow my blog and be published somewhere somehow in a local magazine, newspaper, flyer at the fair, wanted poster, something. I read the Wilson Living magazine and I know most of you have no clue, but it's a local magazine for the hob knobbers and I want to at least have one lifestyle article published. I plan to bug the crap out of them until they do. (oh, and if anyone knows the editors personally, go ahead and put in a good word for me, the check will be in the mail once I see my name in print).

4. Take one weekend trip just me and my girlfriends. I want to go somewhere and reconnect, be Dusty, dance on the table tops, sing karaoke, stay at a beautiful hotel, shop on the "rich people" row (well, I will just browse and smell the merchandise. Last I checked me and Chanel don't know each other and I won't have bail money), laugh and just be a girl again.

3. Be more Patient. I have learned a lot this year, but times are trying with a full workload and family. I can't juggle everything ever day but I want to learn to let things go a little, be a little more patient with people and family. I am one of these women that it's just easier for me to do it than explain it. I need to be more patient let that person experiment and try and I for once just watch and enjoy.

2. Give back. This year I organized to adopt two Angel Tree kids from the local Salvation Army for work at Christmas. It was a success and it really put in perspective that there are people out there worse than myself. I am most of the time too broke to pay attention, but there are people and children less fortunate. I hope that I can find a way to help others. Plus, it would be a great lesson for my son to see.

1. Get healthy. I don't mean to say, I am going to give up my Mt. Dews. Not happening. But I want to change my lifestyle of the way I eat, get toned, strengthen my body. After being diagnosed with Fibro

Happy New Year my friends. Do you have resolutions or fantastic moments of the past year. I would love to hear them. Don't forget follow me on Twitter. Team GLFP beat that nephew! And ......

Welcome 2012!

Dusty

Two Cents Thursdays

2011-12-29T06:00:00.001-06:00

Well, it's the last Thursday of 2011. I thought I would do a wrap up of the year. I look forward to 2012. Although it only means I get another year older into the 40 category (you suck). My year started out yucky and I know I will be faced with some other heart breaking times. My sweet baby, partner in crime, my first child, worthless guard dog #1, Mille won't be here too much longer. That dog has been the love of my life for 12 years. She has also been the biggest pain in my butt. If you saw the movie Marley & Me. She is an exact duplicate only female. I dread that day to the core of my heart.

My step dad has terminal cancer with not a long time left. The battle I have seen him fight is one I wish not on my worst enemy and what I learned from it, was that life is just so fragile. He wasn't supposed to make it through 2010 and he did. Even though he is my step dad, he's the only grandfather my son has ever known. His first words when he found out he had cancer were, "my grand babies, what about my grand babies!" He loves my son even though not of his blood and although the illness has taken a toll on his mind, I know that for the last six years, he's been a great Pa Pa to my Ian. I am so grateful. My heart is with my mother. For she has sacrificed so much. We often forget those left to deal with the aftermath of something so tragic. We tuck away our emotions for those that have to deal with seeing this process every day and the sadness they feel in their hearts. If I were to put myself in her shoes, I hope that I am strong and filled with love and I remember the good times and the memories that have been made and remember to love and laugh every day. I love my mom for everything she does for my family and for being my mom.

I realized I am stronger than I thought but weak in some parts and I am okay with that. I am a Scorpio. I love very hard and strong, and hurt even deeper. I have known this about myself since I was 16 years old. You always have a first love and when it was over, I thought the world had ended. Oh, lord the despair and dramatics. I bawled my eyes out. I didn't understand it and it wasn't until later I realized. It wasn't that I lost my boyfriend or the love of my life blah blah blah, it was I lost my best friend. When I love, I love that person for being many things in my "whole" life.

This year, I had to evaluate my life and what was in it. I fought for the things I love and what mattered most. I lost people along the way, but I see it as growth. For those who went away must not have been loyal to my heart. If you know me, I am pretty blunt. I say what I say. Does it hurt people's feelings, I am sure. But I don't like to sugar coat anything because in the end when you sprinkle a little BS on it, it ends up being a big pile of poop. To those I hurt, I am sorry. But true friendship and loyalty means you agree to disagree and at the end of the day, if you respect then you move on. I DO NOT approach a mean girl mentality. I am more of a don't made get even or depending on my mood, I'll let you dig your own hole by handing you the shovel. Most of the time the latter. Sometimes not saying anything is the worst revenge. I might not like what you said, you might not like what I said, but don't attack some one's inner self. Women should never attack someone's inner or outer-self. We struggle so much in this world with the expectations of what the media outlets display as a women's standards in the first place. Fight about the issue, don't point fingers and don't pot shot someone just because your angry and have no other defense and I am guilty of calling people out. But, the nanny nanny boo boo mentality only works in kindergarten. Was I wrong in some of my approach? Of course, but if you know the real me, you understand me, you accept me and you love me. I apologize for hurting anyone, but I do not apologize for honesty and being me. You don't want to know don't ask. Simple. Plus, whatever happened to good ole' girl fights with claw scratchin', hair pullin' and finger snappin? I firmly believe girl's should be fighting for each other not against each other.

The love for my son and my family has grown in a way I never imagined. Although, I am totally insane by my everyday life, the only thing I would trade was having the ability to provide more. My poor child has his father and my DNA. I jokingly often say, I am bound to be in the Principal's office everyday of his teenage life. But you know what? If it makes him, his own individual and puts him at his place in this world with respect for others and love for his family and friends, then we have taught him all the right things. It doesn't mean there are times I wouldn't like to beat him until I felt better (I don't by the way), but he completes my world. I know he's my greatest accomplishment of all time. So proud for him to be my son and lucky God gave me this gift. I vow to grow and be more patient. I also hope he learns to wipe his own butt. Sometimes, I just can't be interrupted.

Finally, this year meant I found me again. Since my son, I have struggled with my place. After I had him, all my friends that didn't have kids or had older kids, kind of fell into a different category. I wasn't sure where I was. Am I still that girl that goes line dancing? Do mom's do that? When do I take the time to read a book or shop just for myself? The guilt of dividing my time was overwhelming. I became consumed with dividing my time between being a mom, cook, laundry biatch, friend, provider and lover. I can honestly say, I AM NOT SUPERWOMAN. Although being hot in a costume with pretty bracelets would be fantabulous! I can't do it all and I am okay with that. It sucks to have to take a long look in the mirror and I did it and I came to this conclusion. I have everything I need wrapped up with my family of three. They complete me, but I also need myself. If I can find a baby sitter, this mom will be line dancin', having dinner with friends, shopping (if money permits), cussing like a sailor after too many sangria's, and taking weekend trips. Ssss-Nap!

I started this blog back in the fall and I haven't looked back. Do I share everything with the world no. Maybe in time, but I am not that exciting, well maybe on Thursdays, but I found an outlet. Something I enjoy and makes me happy. I have ~~met~~ read some incredible people that inspire me. Some that are just like me, some that are different, but I love seeing how other people manage this crazy life. I found laughter and my funny bone which is mostly always on display, but I found my serious side and that's okay to be weak but pick yourself up and keep moving.

Thank you 2011 for being my biggest pain the ass and biggest lesson of my life. Time to move on, I have got bigger fish to fry, goals to accomplish and love to spread. Thank you Chad and Ian for providing me with love and support and the biggest headaches a girl can imagine. To the rest of my family and friends. I love you deeply.

Happy New Year everyone. I hope you continue on this journey. My cup can't runnith over just yet. So many more things to fill it with.

Love,

Dusty

7 Up Biscuits

2011-12-28T06:00:00.008-06:00

I made these 7 up biscuits I found on Pinterest Christmas Day and they were a hit! They were moist and gobbled up. I will be making these again (since I bought a whole box of Bisquick). You can't beat four ingredients and they baked quick.

2 c Bisquick mix
1/2 c sour cream
1/2 c 7up
1/4 c melted butter
Preheat oven to 450º
Cut sour cream into your Bisquick mix, then add 7up - it will make a soft dough, stir. Now sprinkle your counter with a little Bisquick mix then add dough and pat it out.
Melt butter and pour it into a 9" square baking pan. Cut your biscuits up and arrange them in pan on top of melted butter.
Bake 12-15 minutes or until golden brown.

***Note: This recipe only makes about 12 biscuits. So double the recipe if you want more. And remember this lovelies, I used wax paper to spread the dough. The dough is very, very tacky, so add a ton of extra mix when patting out or it will stick to your counter or paper. Use your hands not a rolling pin.

Happy New Year!

Dusty

snippets

2011-12-27T06:00:00.004-06:00

Are you glad it's over? Not me. I wish it lasted for more than two days. It seemed like it flew by so fast. To sum it up, a wonderful, joyous time. I got my new camera. I am a picture taking fool! And as a surprise, I received a tripod and remote shutter button. Everyone was a victim in my house on Christmas day. Except me..I put my hair in a pony tail and as usual was a wild women. I woke at 4:30 am, just to get up and blow my nose, then love woke up and we decided that it was very sad that we were more excited to get him up and so, the day began. I won't lie, I went back to bed for an hour and half after pressing the button on the coffee maker. By 7:30, it was breakfast of pancakes, then I made my famous bread bowl for snack, then dinner. I cooked like crazy. When the guest and family arrived, I apologized for looking like the homeless, threw on a hat and ate until my belly pooched out. Then as a tradition, we put on our scratchy pants and watched, Christmas Vacation. Every year we do this and it's a little reminder of my Pee Pa who loved this movie.

I promptly got on Pinterest this morning to look up fitness routines. I never make resolutions, but I have a few for the next year. Although the thought of 50 jumping jacks first thing in the morning, makes me want to volunteer to be hit in the head with a roll of barbwire. But start slowly right? Well, here is a snippet of Christmas Eve and Day. Note to self, do not buy dogs squeaky balls for Christmas next year. We had to take it away from worthless guard dog #2, Libby. She reeeeally loved her obnoxious noise maker.

I hope you all had a wonderful holiday. Thank you for all the wonderful things I received. You will see these items in the next few weeks. A special thanks to my mom. She made our Christmas so special with her generosity. I can't wait to see what the new year brings. Thank you all for following along!

Happy New Year,

Dusty

Merry Christmas

2011-12-25T06:00:00.000-06:00

May your day be Merry & Bright

Happy Holidays,

Dusty

Girls Love Fried Pickles

my favorite christmas

2011-12-24T09:38:00.001-06:00

Don’t you just love Christmas? I love it so much. Everything about it makes me smile. Although stressful especially in this economy, there’s still something magical about it, huh? I have always adored it even when I was a little girl. The anticipation would drive me insane. I can remember my brother, sister and I would get underneath the tree to see what was for each person. My mom would only put out so many gifts then Santa brought the big gifts Christmas Eve. When my mom would go to work, my brother and I would unwrap the presents to see what they were and wrap them back. Until we got busted of course. We used to have an aluminum tree with a color wheel. It rotated and my mother would turn it on and the wheel would spin and turn the tree colors and then we would stick our arms in the tree and it would send it into reverse mode. Drove her nuts! Seriously, nervous breakdown if you made the tree go the opposite direction. Now that I look back on it, that tree was nothing but a huge weapon. You could have stabled someone with the limbs. I wonder what ever happened to that tree? Hmmmm.. pondering.

My favorite Christmas was when I received the Barbie Dream House. I was the hot chick on the farm, let me tell you. A fully furnished million Barbie dollars home, and came with a purple corvette. My Barbie’s weren’t homeless anymore. We moved from a cardboard box to Beverly Hills or Dixon Springs 2^nd floor of Dusty’s bedroom. I played with that thing for hours. My dad set it all up. I think he had more fun at Christmas than the kids did. He loved to see our eyes light up when we got our gifts. That man could rip off wrapping paper in two point two seconds and move on to the next present like a sushi making factory. I remember my friends looking at it in awe and it defiantly didn’t come cheap. I think that thing was probably $200 even back 30 years ago. The greatest part of this story is, I learned to share. The cardboard box my Barbie’s lived in, I was so generous and passed it along to my sister. She now lived in the low income housing section of Barbie land and drove a yellow and green Tonka truck donated by my brother and I knew her Barbie’s would appreciate it. It was the gift that kept on giving. She reminds me of this story often (sigh).

Now that I have a son, Christmas through his eyes is so much more special. I can only imagine what my parents felt and saw and now I get to feel that as well. The pure excitement, waking up early to see what Santa brought. And then our tradition is our stockings. Every year on New Year’s Eve on Santa’s way back to the North Pole, he stops and leaves something in the stockings. This is a tradition that has been in my family for as long as I can remember and I have adopted it as my own to carry on and I hope that my son will carry it on to his children. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year my friends! Here is one of my favorite pictures of my son at Christmas. He was 10 months old.

XO,

Dusty

months old.

Have you ever....?

2011-12-21T07:15:00.002-06:00

I am an over analyzer. This is true. I take things, think about them, study them, research them, worry about it, talk about it, dream about it then get up the next day and think what the H-E-Double Hockey sticks! The last two weeks my attention span has been short, my fuse has been even shorter and my thoughts have been on overload. Have you ever done this? Of course you have, duh. For example, you have conversations with people and your so into the conversation, then three hours later you think...what was that, am I nuts or are they nuts? I just wasted three quarters of my life pondering it and I can't get it back engaging in BS.

I am an observer of people. I love to go into Target or a honky tonk and just watch people. My friend Becca and I have had many nights setting at a good ole fashion redneck establishment in the past and wondered how that girl walked out of her house in those tight jeans? Or how did he really stuff his whole package in those Wrangler jeans. Maybe she was cheering herself on by thinking "V" is for victory, if you get my drift. Have you ever wondered if they really looked at themselves and said, "damn I'm hot!"

Have you ever wondered what it will be like when you come back in another life? I often think I will come back as a dog. How wonderful. You get fed dog food and water. Then your master doesn't finish the biscuits and gravy and you eat that. You can go threw people's trash at 3 am while your out just wandering around and the cops won't arrest you and the neighbors have no idea how their trash got strewn all over their lawn. I mean when your neighbors tick you off you often plot in your head how to get back at them then suddenly your dog takes a big crap and you immediately think..REVENGE! I mean its OK that a dog can be humped over like a kangaroo and take a poop while 20 cars drive by but if you squatted over in your yard as a human you'd be arrested. I would love to be able to scoot my butt on the carpet to relieve an itch and people laugh about it. Instant funny. I profess I wish to be a dog in my second life.

And finally, have you ever wonder why parents let their kids walk around with snot hanging out of their noses? Is it acceptable that a 2 year old can blow snot bubbles and we think its cute. Adults walk around with a booger and we instantly avoid them like the plague and not tell them they have a light weight dried particle flapping back and forth amongst the hairs of their nose while having a serious conversation about what's going on in the world. But at that moment the rise and fall of the stock market doesn't exist all you can think about is, "the boogie." A child can have it running down his lip, take his sleeve and wipe it and we just keep right on talking and not miss a beat.

Have you ever read a blog and thought, I think the author is sleep deprived, on Christmas overload, worried about what the new year will bring or just plain nuts? Oh, wait that's me.

Happy Holidays,

Dusty

chocolate cupcakes with eggnog icing

2011-12-20T08:08:00.000-06:00

This weekend was a mad rush! I had two Christmas parties to attend. One with my whole family and then one with my immediate family i.e. mom, step dad, brother and his family. At our family party on Saturday, we played Dirty Santa for the first time and it was a riot. I ended up with a cool iron lantern and lovey ended up with a O'Charley's gift certificate..Way to go Team Alley! My cousin, Justin on the other hand who is the biggest Alabama fan in the world ended up with a University of Tennessee snuggie. Waaaaaaah! It was the highlight. He refused to try on the snuggie, but we did laugh alot. Our theme was "Italian Christmas" and we feasted on lasagna, spaghetti, salad and bread. I love having theme Christmas's. It gives your palate a rest from all the ham you consume. We also had cookies, pumpkin snowman cake and chocolate cupcakes with eggnog icing provided by yours truly. They were a hit. I love eggnog so I found a recipe on Pinterest, and whipped up a batch. Here is the recipe for the icing. Enjoy!

Chocolate Cupcakes
1 box Devils Food Chocolate Cake mix. Follow directions on box and insert into paper cups. Bake and cool.

Eggnog Icing
4 cups powdered sugar
1 stick salted butter
2 teaspoons vanilla flavoring (or 1 teaspoon vanilla flavor, 1 teaspoon rum flavoring)
8 -10 tablespoons Eggnog

Mix ingredients in bowl. To the consistency you want, add 8 tablespoons eggnog. If you would like it creamier add more. My love also suggested the Southern Comfort Eggnog. I may try that next time, but remember to minus the rum flavoring in favor of 2 teaspoons vanilla.

Frost Cupcakes and chill for an hour.

These were gone, gone, gone! I didn't even get to take a picture. But just imagine it. I know you can even if you've had too much eggnog and real whiskey..

Happy Holidays!

Dusty

my special guest....

2011-12-16T05:46:00.002-06:00

So thrilled to have Jennifer from Just A Girl in the World. Her blog is too cool. I love her "Yummies" section on her blog and you should check out her shop. It has some fantastic scrap booking materials. I am excited that I asked her to post on her favorite Christmas memory. I love hearing childhood memories. They take us back and make us remember how innocent and fun Christmas is supposed to be. Enjoy my friends.

Hi, everyone! My name is Jennifer and I am visiting from Just a Girl in the World today. I am so honored that Dusty asked me to guest post for her! I think she is so funny and love reading her blog.

I am in my mid thirties and live in beautiful Northern California. I am a writer and am currently working on a fiction novel. I enjoy learning new things and seeing new places, and am excited about life in general. I love to bake, make crafty things and find neat items to be repurposed at thrift stores or garage sales. I also love doing projects on my home, which was built in 1950 and is so very quaint.

Ah, Christmas! I have always loved Christmas. It is one of my favorite holidays. From the shopping for other people to the anticipation about what is under the tree, waiting for Christmas was near torture as a child! It didn’t help that my birthday is exactly 5 day before Christmas, my poor parents always tried to make a big deal out of both, but it was hard for Christmas to not overshadow my birthday. After all, it is the celebration of the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus. Who can compete with that?!

My favorite memory was the Christmas morning I woke up to find Santa had brought me a house for my Barbies! I was so excited and could hardly wait to play. It was large enough I could get inside and almost shut it. I of course found out later when I saw these pictures that my mom had actually put this together for Santa, because he had been too busy so he just dropped it off. She had stayed up very late working very hard on it!

This picture makes me smile, because I remember these items and have some of them still. My mom made the bedding for my Barbie bed. She was such a good mom, even if she had to spank me this Christmas for gorging myself on her homemade Christmas cookies. And when I say gorging I do mean eating several layers of them after dinner when she had all ready told me no more. My poor mom. How she made it through my childhood and teen years is beyond me!

Our biggest tradition is that Christmas Eve is our Christmas. While I was growing up, we would do this with my parents and my mother’s parents, which always made it a really special evening. To this day we still do this, although since my parents are divorced it is now my step-dad who is waiting there to greet me when I arrive. We meet at my mom’s house on Christmas Eve, have a dinner around 5 or so, then we open all of our presents. I always enjoyed that when I was growing up, not having to wait until the morning to see what I got! However there was always a surprise or two under the tree from Santa and in my stocking the next morning.

Christmas morning is spent with my dad and his side of the family, where we have the traditional tearing open of presents in our jammies and yummy Christmas breakfast. I remember the first time I spent Christmas morning with them, I was about 29 or so and I enjoyed the whole tradition so much! I had gotten used to doing everything on Christmas Eve, but what a joy it was also doing it the next morning! I feel like I get two holidays!

Although getting and giving wonderful presents makes it such a fun event, now that I am older I really cherish the time I spend with my family. That is the best part.

I hope you enjoyed hearing about my Christmas memories and traditions and would love it if you would come over and visit my blog sometime. I have a lot of exciting things in the works for this upcoming year!

Merry Christmas to all of you and thank you for letting me come visit!

Jennifer's mom putting together her Barbie house

Barbie's new home

See A-DOR-ABLE! Check out her site and show her some love. Thank you Jennifer, Merry Christmas to you! Hugs!

blog

Two Cents Thursdays

2011-12-15T08:30:00.000-06:00

Fav day..let's get this party started. It's Thursday one day closer to Friday and one week until I start my holiday vacation. Whooty Whoot! Here's my deal this week.

First, a plea to the UPS man that I sign my autograph for every day. Please, I am begging you. Ask the company guy for a larger size uniform. Your starting to remind me of a tootsie roll popping out of its wrapper.

The self professed virgin, Jessica Simpson is pregnant. I don't get it. All I ever heard was how she saved herself for marriage, wore a purity ring, and then got divorced. Now how is it that its okay that she's unmarried and pregnant? Let me say, that I am in no way saying it's not. Choices are that..choices, but I don't understand the philosophy behind why it was okay then to be pure and now she's prego and waiting until after the baby comes to get married..I guess all bets are off once you've crossed the line into boinking land. hmmm pondering...

White ink tattoos. Isn't the purpose of a tattoo to see it? I have my son's name on the inside of my ankle. Listen, if I am going to have someone imprint my body and go threw the pain, some one better damn well notice, ask me about it, drool over it and think I am a brave Indian for cow branding my body.

Men with long fingernails. Yuck. I went through a checkout in Target, he handed me my change and his fingernails were longer than mine. I didn't want to touch my money it was like it had some disease now that he touched it with his Beyonce pointed finger nails. (insert hebbie jeebbie motion here).

RSVP...doesn't anyone remember how its done? Let me explain it to you..it means you let someone know whether your going to attend a party! Respond, reply, dial my digits, send me a letter, flashcards, road signs, something. I don't put RSVP on an invitation for shits and giggles people. In the South use proper etiquette..no wait responsible women everywhere, please RSVP.

Blogger..you make me mad. I have joined to follow 52 sites, but only 33 show up in my dashboard. Why? I refresh, reload and you suck!

Happy Holidays,

Dusty

My gift from Mrs. America

2011-12-14T08:41:00.000-06:00

I participated in the Cold Hands Warm Hearts blogger exchange program this year and it was so much fun. The excitement of finding out who my partner was intense for me being new to the blogging community. I received the sweetest email from Justine from Stop Me If You've Heard This One and the rest is history. We became fast friends and if you missed my initial post, I refer to her as Mrs. America (read here). We have so much in common. She's from New York, a place I have always wanted to visit. How ironic is it that she also lives close to where my BFF, Lorraine is from. I heart Yankees. She loves to write. She's crafty and from following her Pinterest, probably a pretty snazzy dresser.

I received my package in late November and was so excited. I opened the box and this is what I received:

XOXO, Justine

Goodies

So thankful

Note cards and note pad with my initial "D" on them, chocolates, beautiful gloves, headband and the sweet butterfly hair diddy. All accompanied with the most precious notes. Pretty cool, huh? I loved this exchange bunches. I will continue to participate and am so thankful to have made a beautiful friend and I hope that one day our paths cross. It's been a blessing getting to know her and I will continue to follow her faithfully because she's a blogging crazy woman and I hope she continues to do the same. I also hope she enjoyed her package as well. Thanks to much love Illy and Sandy. This was too much fun!

Happy Holidays to everyone who participated and especially to Mrs. America, XOXO back atcha.

Dusty

linked up with sandyalamode

say yes to crack....bread

2011-12-13T08:07:00.000-06:00

Christmas day I cook like a wild woman. The traditional ham, hash brown casserole, rolls, veggies, etc. You know the crap that's not good for you. We do live in the South..HELL-O! My sweets, I bake on Christmas Eve. Tradition is we get up, open presents and breakfast. This year it's homemade pancakes and sausage links. Once that's cleaned up, I make appetizers for lunch to snack on until dinner around 5 pm. One year I over did it and made sausage balls, buffalo chicken dip, BLT dip and meatballs. We ate so much that we couldn't eat dinner. Not this year. I am doing two dishes to snack on and that's it. I always make the BLT dip because its our fav, but I saw this recipe on Pinterest and thought this might just introduce itself into rotation at some point or a good possibility for the New Year's Eve party at the cabin on our ski trip. Here is the recipe and if you attempt to make it before I do, let me know what you think. And if you're not a bacon/pork fan like my bloggy friend Ruthie, then leave off the bacon, cheesy bread is just as yummy too.

Cheddar Bacon Ranch Pulls (a.k.a. Crack Bread)

1 unsliced loaf of (round is preferable) sourdough bread
8-12 oz Monterrey jack/Colby cheese, shredded
3 oz bag Oscar Mayer Real Bacon pieces
1/2 cup butter, melted
1 Tbsp Ranch dressing mix

Using a sharp bread knife cut the bread going both directions. Do not cut through the bottom crust. Place slices of cheese in between cuts. Sprinkle bacon bits on bread, making sure to get in between cuts. Mix together butter and Ranch dressing mix. Pour over bread. Wrap in foil the entire loaf in foil and place on a baking sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes. Unwrap. Bake for an additional 10 minutes, or until cheese is melted.

I am pretty sure that if you eat this, it will require, 4 hours at the gym to work off two bites, but its ok, Weight Watchers forgives you 'cause I said so.

Happy Holidays,

Dusty

Wish list

2011-12-12T08:00:00.000-06:00

Christmas is nothing but a head game to a small child. But oh, what fun it is ... My son has asked for a ton of things and one of those is a new bike. So last night at dinner, we told him that Santa was probably all out of bikes and he should probably be prepared that he may not get one. Mean, I know, but oh, I can't wait to see the look on his face when he sees it, plus, it's hidden in lovey's man cave out back and its been nerve-racking trying to keep him out of the building. So, after looking at his list to Santa, I thought I would make one of my own. I already know what I am getting for Christmas, a new Nikon Camera! Yay me, but these things would be fun to receive and I may grab a few of them on an after Christmas sale.

All things aside, I am looking forward to all the hoopla, the cooking, Christmas day blasting of music, wrapping paper strolled everywhere, pancakes, staying in PJ's all day long, watching Christmas Vacation and roaring fire.

Happy Holidays,

Dusty

I wanna feel that Fire

2011-12-09T08:12:00.001-06:00

As part of the holiday season, I wanted to do something fun and have a guest post every Friday where another wonderful blogger talks about their own holiday traditions and favorite memory. Today I want to introduce you to Jennifer of I Wanna Feel That Fire. She is adorable. Today you will find me guest posting on her site here. I hope you also click over and read my favorite Christmas memories and traditions. In the meantime, show her some love, talk about her, tell your friends and share because that's what the season is all about..Sharing.

I have a lot of really wonderful Christmas memories but I have one that stands out the most. When I was a kid my grandma always went crazy overboard buying/making presents for me, my sister and my cousins. One year my parents knew that of course she would do that but also knew that my grandparents had had a rough year financially but that she would still do what she always did for us. So, my parents decided to save a littler extra money in the few months before Christmas and the week before Christmas we went and bought a WHOLE BUNCH of food and put it in boxes and wrapped them up so that we could take them to my grandparents house in Christmas morning. When they opened the boxes they were so shocked and touched by this gift. I think it really meant a lot to them.

I've only been with my husband for a year so we are still trying to start our traditions but so far one of our traditions is to decorate our front yard for Christmas the weekend right after Thanksgiving. I'm hoping to have more traditions next year and the years after.

My name is Jennifer. I've been a stay at home mom for 2 years and I love it (I'd never judge a working mom for their choice). I'm hoping to have another baby in the next year or 2. I love to blog about my family, my life, my thoughts, stuff I make or cook. I love to sew and I'm pretty crafty. Love love love books. I'd rather have a book in my hands than a kindle or something like that. Love to take pictures. And I secretly want to sing in a band but I'd probably get horrible stage fright and most likely pee myself!

Isn't she too cute and she Instagram's like a wild woman. So follow Jennifer on her blog, pinterest, and twitter. Have a Merry Christmas.

Dusty

Two Cents Thursdays

2011-12-08T07:40:00.000-06:00

My fav day! Lets get started first, Pork Skins gross me out. Chad brought in two bags on Sunday and the smell alone was enough to make me nauseous.

While doing some online shopping I kept seeing "One Size Fits Most". So am I suppose to just take them at their word and walk around in a shirt that's either to big or to little? And how do you exchange it if it doesn't fit? I would like to exchange this to "one size sorta bigger, please". I don't understand the logic of this label.

Pulled up to the drive-thru..Me: I would like a steak biscuit and small coke and that's all, please. Drive-thru dingbat: One steak biscuit and a small coke, is that all?" Me: Yes. Drive-thru dingbat: "Would you like to make that combo?" No, you dumb ass, if I wanted a combo I would have ordered a combo. I didn't say this of course but this is exactly what I am thinking every single time they ask me this. UGH! Two extra minutes of my life I can't get back.

Standing in the grocery store isle girl walks by and puts five boxes of Skinny Cow Clusters in her basket. How is that a diet? She eats all five boxes she will turn into a bull.

And finally, on Saturday, I wasn't feeling real swift. Chad comes in after a day of hunting looking like a giant piece of fertilizer. I am lying on the couch. He says, what's wrong. I answer with "I don't feel good today." After an hour he says, "honey, you want to boink?" First, real romantic, second, why is it that you feel like crapola and men want to do the yum yum? I swear this is I will never understand. I was polite and said, uhh, no, but what I really wanted to say is, why in sam thunder hell would I first of all want to get it on with someone who looks like a tree stump and smells like doe pee? The whole idea as I gather it of hunting is to smell and look as repulsive as possible so the deer are tricked into thinking your not there, and bam! They become some one's dinner. And yet, you male species are turned on by this. Never mind that I also didn't feel good. No wonder he didn't get a deer. He was filthy and smelled of urine and probably eating pork skins. I wasn't impressed either. Smart deer! (and yes I went there and wrote about it)

Add your Two Cents? Would love to hear it!

Happy Holidays,

Dusty

Ode to Olivia

2011-12-07T07:58:00.000-06:00

I remember as a teenager I would set in my room for hours listening to Olivia Newton-John. I even drew a picture of her outlined it in glitter and sent it to her. I remember she sent me an autograph picture back and I am pretty sure we were BFF's. You know until she became so famous she didn't have time for me anymore. By the way, Livie have your peeps call my peeps and we'll do lunch. Anyway, I would put on these pink tights, legwarmers and leotard and dance around my room for hours. I know dork now and those pink tights would look like to pigs in a blanket wrapped around my thighs, but a little girl could dream right?

Now legwarmers are back! Etsy has the cutest legwarmers made out of sweater sleeves. They are adorable and on my "want list". My aunt and I were talking the other night and she said, "you would wear legwarmers now?" You bet your sweet Olivia Newton-John I would! So when I found this outfit, I thought how cute. Throw on some legwarmers with the boots and off on a date night with the lovey, shopping with the chicks or casual day at work in my fictitious hometown of Hoboken. Lookout Cake Boss, he wouldn't know what would hit him. I could whip up a red velvet cake with cream cheese icing while listening to Let's Get Physical. Wear them proud I would because somethings just make childhood memories a lot sweeter when you think about them.

super love this dress

via

Oh and I would throw these sweet dawlings to give it a little Rock n Roll.

via

Hopefully, you have sweet memories from childhood and they reflect on who you are today.

Happy Holidays,

Dusty

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linked up with the pleated poppy and rolled up pretty

Hard Candy Product Review

2011-12-06T08:31:00.000-06:00

Before I got laid off 2 years ago, I used to be a huge MAC cosmetics user. Now that I have a job and it pays me in carrot sticks in which whoever FICA is, takes a third of my paycheck, I learned how to attempt to be beautimus on a budget. And when I find out where FICA lives, I am going to kick there bleep! Anyway, around Halloween when I was in Walmart, I visited the beauty isle (as I do in any store) to pick up a foundation equivalent. I have been using Rimmel Stay Matte but wasn't overly enthused, so I thought I would try the Hard Candy products. I had read a review on Miss Natty's Beauty Diary blog about the Hard Candy Glamoflauge concealer, remembered what she had wrote and decided to give it a whirl. Anything to take these black holes away from under my eyes. I also picked up the foundation, thinking for $6 bucks what can I lose?

After the pure torture of Walmart..By the way, I hate Walmart. It drives me over the edge to the point of no return. Twenty six lanes and four are open and slow isn't even an action verb these people register with. I would rather be hit in the head with a wet squirrel than go in a Walmart, but for the love of my son and his costume, I swallowed my pride.

Back to the review.. the concealer is amazing. It's thick, so literally a pencil lead size will do. It takes my planet space black hole looking circles from Star Wars material to presentable. It is a little dry in texture, but the coverage is amazing. I recommend moisturizer before applying. I will give it 4 stars out of 5.

On to the foundation.. It's pretty dang good. No, it's not MAC, but its soft, gives a medium coverage and goes on very smooth. Does not take alot of the mixture for coverage and it comes in a variety of shades. It also has a handy pump, so it's a no mess bottle. I use a sponge to apply. The only complaint I have is I do get a little shiny on the nose mid afternoon, but I think that's just because I am so fantastic my nose needs to be showcased..NOT! Nothing a little powder doesn't fix. I will also give this 4 out of 5 stars.

So, if your looking for an inexpensive line of makeup, I do recommend it. If you would rather burn your eyes out with a Cuban cigar than go to Walmart, I understand that too, but its worth a try.

Do you have any beauty finds on a budget?

Happy Holidays,

Dusty

Smashin' Party

2011-12-05T08:23:00.000-06:00

I went to a party on Friday. I can say that it was the worst party I have ever attended in my life. As a consolation prize for turning 40, I was ordered to attend a mammogram. No, no formal invitation. I was just told to be there and I didn't have my bells on. So, on the drive into the doctor's office I kept telling myself over and over, "Smashin is the new Fashion". Yes, I am replacing the pink ribbon campaign with that slogan.

I totally understand why this is necessary and if I hadn't been having an issue, I would have probably put it off until 2012. The initial phone call to set up the appointment was funny in itself. When the appointment setter called, she asked me if I had implants. I busted into laughter and said, "no honey, once you see these puppies, you will know they are all mine and nobody would have paid for these little pebbles."

After undressing from the waste up, I was smashed, cupped, fondled and didn't even receive a kiss, no alcohol, chips or dip. At one point, I told the nice lady we weren't friends! I now know how cows feel at the dairy farm. Then it was on to an ultrasound which was just as uncomfortable, but she had a little more of a sweeter demeanor, and explained to me that women are obtaining mammograms as young as teenage years now. That breast cancer now has no age limit. And thank goodness I have no signs of breast cancer.

So, every year, I now know, that even if I don't get invited to the hottest ticket in town, I have a standing invitation to extend another year of my life by being aware of my body. Maybe next year for the Smashin' Party, I will sneak in a skinny cocktail. I am sure after looking at tata's all day long they could use a drink.

Happy Holidays and celebrate the tata's!

Dusty

This weekend

2011-12-02T08:24:00.001-06:00

Find....

Quiet time

someone to cuddle

peaceful dreams

filled with love

Happy Holidays,

Dusty

Two Cents Thursdays

2011-12-01T08:15:00.000-06:00

Two Cents Thursdays, hoot and holler! Let’s just cut right to the chase of what I have been pondering the last week and since I missed last Thursday because I was gorging my brains out and expanding my waist line on cornbread dressing, time for a little catch up.

First, do you ever just get the giggles? Like when you think about it two days later and you still laugh. My cousin, Rachel and I, Thanksgiving day decided to talk about the AMA’s and the subject of Christina Aguilera came up. And then it began. The mountain of comments, the laughs so hard with tears and almost pee pee pants. We became Siskel and Ebert. Here is our summary, it started a chain reaction that we couldn’t stop. 1.She basically looked like a basted turkey wrapped in aluminum foil that when the oven door opened, she escaped. 2. With her Wet ‘n’ Wild red lipstick, her lips looked like they were on their period. 3. To a child she might have looked like a Klondike Bar. 4. Her hair was one teaspoon of bleach away from being featured on a Wen commercial and it just kept going.

It was a train wreck. I support curvy girls everywhere. I got some junk in my trunk, but I know when to back away from anything that looks like you wrapped your leftovers in. It was almost like the game you play at baby showers where you wrap the prego in toilet paper. Someone shrink wrapped her into that dress. Ok, moving on.

Well, not just yet. I love that song by Maroon 5. “Moves Like Jagger”. But let us be clear.. Have you seen Mick Jagger move? Seriously, moves like he has to pee, legs tight together and big giant steps, or something is tucked up all tightly. If you move like you sat on a cork, dim der ain’t moves. It’s called my butt cheeks are together because I really need to poop, move out of the way sister!

Ok, now moving on…nicotine patches. Where’s the nicotine? How do you get it in something that looks like a band aid only bigger? So basically, if you where having a cigarette craving just roll that sucker up, light one end and smoke it. Heck alcoholics drink mouthwash.

I read tons of blogs every day. Every blog I follow I read and then a few more. You always see the “Mani of the Week.” Pretty nails all perfect but you never see the “Pedi of the Week.” I know feet aren’t that pretty and some people’s toenails you can slice tomatoes with them, but there has to be a pedicure blog somewhere I just know it.

Victoria Secret Fashion Show…. Where’s the beef? Just sayin'

I got my first rated X Twitter follower. Totally clicked the link and holy moly! Thanks for following but you are blocked, you Twit!

And finally, my son got a progress report and his phonics are low. HEL-LO-A. We live in Tennessee stupid teacher where “it” has six syllables. Ugg! And this what I pay taxes for.

What's your Two Cents Thursday?

PS.. don't forget to follow me on this blog via your email and Google Friend Connect, Twitter, Bloglovin, Pinterest and Facebook!

Happy Holidays,

Dusty

Ditch the LBD

2011-11-30T07:55:00.001-06:00

It's almost that time for the endless Christmas parties. I think I have four total this year. Every year, we all search for the perfect outfit (that we wear over and over) because lets face it unless you see these people at the same function, they have no clue you're recycling your outfit. And until I become some high society piece, this girl will be wearing the same thing just respraying the perfume to refresh it. All the mag's right now are featuring the "LBD" (little black dress for my fav redneck friends). But I am not a fan of dresses. I think my legs look like two turkey legs fighting to make a wish. If you see me in a dress, it means one of two things - I have had a moment of pretty or all my jeans are dirty. Don't get me wrong. I have dresses and I see them on others and want them so bad. Maybe one of my resolutions for 2012 will be to wear more dresses. So this year, I say ditch the little black dress and wear something unexpected; a conversation piece. You know something the administrative assistant will say, "did you see what Dusty was wearing at the Christmas party, the nerve!" Which means she secretly liked it but didn't have the kahunas to wear it or it could mean she secretly wants to be a hooker for her night job.

Any hoot, this is what I am thinking my rebels:

Start with the innocent: Pearls

via

then throw on these: Velvet flare pants

via

something that shows your personality

Barbie T

via

slip on

via

AND FINALLY

the unexpected

This faboo fur jacket!

via

I think I might just give my left pinkie toe for that jacket. I would walk in, go straight for the wine bar and grab the IT guy and convenience him to do the Electric Slide in this outfit. So girls, ditch the LBD, do something unexpected and have fun for 'Tis the Season To Be Jolly. Do you have your outfit picket out yet?

PS.. don't forget to follow me on this blog via your email and Google Connect, Twitter, Bloglovin, Pinterest and Facebook!

Happy Holidays,

Dusty

The Hype Is Over..

2011-11-29T07:56:00.000-06:00

Black Friday and Cyber Monday..it's over for 2011! Did you enter the madness? Not me. I did it once about 7 years ago and I said never again. I like staying out of jail. There are plus and minus's to both days. I get it. There's something funny about women who get together, strategies a route in a store, obtain walkie talkie's for constant communication, convince a clueless friend who has no idea what danger zone they are entering, to stand in line to save a spot for checkout all the while you are pushing a cart full of early a.m. deals around a store like you're on the Amazing Race. I live fairly close to a shopping center filled with Target, Old Navy, JCP and other price worthy stores. I don't like being trapped. The traffic just to go the bank on Friday was looney. It was insanity at it's best. I am not going to stand outside in 40 degree weather at 3 am to freeze my baguettes off over a five dollar toy that's going to end up at the bottom of the toy box 45 minutes after opening it because the box would make a good clubhouse after cutting out some windows and a door. This princess likes her beauty sleep.

However, I did manage to get on-line about 8:45 that morning to see what deals were going on. I found most of the deals on-line where gone. I tried every way in the world to buy my son some jeans from Old Navy for ten bucks. Fail! Item out of stock. Why advertise it, someone should be setting behind a computer when items sell out; to take it off the website. But all wasn't a bust. I did manage to purchase three things. This after having to refresh the page and almost an hour of trying to check out because the site kept crashing, yet somehow kept all the items in my "cart" every time i would log back on. Basically, two hours of my time, I could have used to probably fight the traffic to get a pizza from the Pizza Hut in Target. But its over, gone, forgotten and women folk everywhere are feeling like super hero's because they bought the last Ralph Lauren sweater on the rack for a fraction of the price while keeping all of their teeth and bail money fund in the jar for next year! Till the next Black Friday and Cyber Monday..fairwell!

Happy Holidays,

Dusty

the story of our tree

2011-11-27T10:01:00.001-06:00

Tradition in our house has always been to put the tree up after Thanksgiving which I am sure is 90 percent of America's tradition as well. I have always loved Christmas. It's my favorite holiday ever. In the past, I have had theme trees. You know, those beautiful trees that are either silver and gold, red and green etc.. Well, when my son came along he would make all these handmade ornaments and of course you're a suck ass mom if you don't put them on the tree, but it sure didn't go with my "theme". So, I thought about it and looked at ornaments and found that I love little snowmen, gingerbread people, lollipops, stars, snowflakes and all of those things that are too cute and represent Christmas in a child's eyes. We also have ornaments that represent times in our lives, like when we got engaged, married, pregnant and special places like Maine, where my lovey is from (nothing like having a lobster hanging on your tree). Then I know it sounds corny, but I thought about how long ago others decorated their trees with fruit and popcorn. So I combined it all and it became a "hodgepodge tree".

Every year I always buy at least 5 new ornaments (as if I need them and thank you mom). I couldn't wait to hang them on the tree. So Saturday after coffee, of course, we I started off the decorating. Lovey retrieved the goods from the attic and half a day later the house is decorated and festive. I have a few more things I want to include, but that will come throughout the week. Until then, here are a few pictures of our tree and my little helper, worthless guard dog #1, Mille.

new ornament

dad, mom, ian's stockings

(I need to add the worthless guard dog's #1 and #2)

Mille (aka Alfalfa)

our pretty fatso and snowball

Ralphie, Hazel & Phin

(We got these the year before Ian was born, I love these so much)

So that's a snippet of our holiday decor. I hope everyone had fun putting up their tree and you make beautiful memories and traditions throughout the season. What is the story of your tree? I would love to hear.

Merry Christmas,

Dusty

Give Thanks

2011-11-24T08:27:00.000-06:00

Here's wishing everyone a great Thanksgiving. I hope your spending it in cozy places with beautiful faces making memories and laughter to last a lifetime. Give Thanks!

XO,

Dusty

A different kind of thankful

2011-11-23T07:40:00.000-06:00

When I received this, I got a big lump in my throat and tears welled up in my eyes. I cannot tell you what or how large of an animal lover I am. At one time we had 5 labs, a cat, and 3 fish. Now we are down to 2 yellow labs since the passing of our sweet chocolate lab earlier in the fall. Ugh! I can't tell you how devastating it was, but when I see this. It makes me realize that not only are humans thankful for our friends, I am sure in a dog's world they are thankful for us, but their fellow friend as well.

Lily is a Great Dane that has been blind since a bizarre medical condition required that she have both eyes removed. For the last 5 years, Maddison, another Great Dane, has been her sight. The two are, of course, inseparable.

"People will forget what you said; People will forget what you did.
But people will never forget how you made them feel."

How sweet is this? It shows us that our instincts are to help and care for each other and be grateful for what we have and who we are for those less fortunate may not have what you do. You know what I really love about this most of all? How happy the look on that dog's face is. He can't see but he's so happy to have a friend.

Be thankful for your friends for they walk in when the rest of the world sometimes walks out.

XO,

Dusty