Rantings of a Creole Princess

Yesterday...

...I was so sad.

If My Mommy Was Alive

If my mommy was alive I'd probably have picked her up from the airport 'round 'bout Tuesday.  She'd be all excited and jittery about coming and she'd be in new stuff from head-to-toe in that simple, country folk way she had about her.  See...when she was going somewhere she considered "big time" she believed in wearing all new stuff.  If it was just jeans and a long sleeve t-shirt I bet it was brand spanking new right down to her sneakers cuz baaaaaaaby...coming to visit her only baby girl and son-in-law all the way up in the DC area on a plane was BIG.TIME.

Packing Away Spring / Summer - Fall / Winter Clothes

onefromphilly puts away the clothes for different seasons and puts out clothes for the current season in her closet.

I think that's awesome.sauce.

Do I think I could do it?

No.

I mean sure...I pack away the heaviest coats and the bulkiest fleece and sweaters but that's about it.

What about you?

Do YOU do this?

What's new on YOUR Easter Menu?

Simple Scalloped Potatoes

Easter Outfit

Do you still get one?

Do your kids?

Happy President's Day...

Are YOU at work today?

Baseboards

When's the last time you painted your baseboards?

ValentiMe's Day Card Tradition at 13700

Every year The Robinator gives me two cards for ValentiMe's Day.  

A lovely heart felt one...and one like this:

ValentiMe's Day Getcho Life

Woman:  Happy Valentine's Day!

2nd Woman:  I haven't had a proper Valentine in over 10 years.

Woman:  *BLINK*

What does one say to that?

Happy Valentine's Day Gorgeous!

I love you guys.  I truly, truly do.  You are always so lovely to and supportive of me.  Of us.  I love what I know about you from your comments because you can tell a lot about someone via their written word.  I know that most of you are thoughtful, kind, and smart.  I know that you have empathy and you're extremely considerate.  I know that you're spiritual and just rock solid good people.

For that...I love you.

Happy Valentine's Day Gorgeous!

13700 LOVES YOU!!!!!!!!!

HAPPY MARDI GRAS!

Crate and Barrel Essential 7" Bowl

We eat a lot of soup because I love making soup.  When reheating soup in the microwave...you want the soup to heat pretty much evenly and that can be a challenge with deep bowls.  

I bought these bowls a while ago and yeah...they serve that purpose well.  They are also stylish as hell in that basic, chic kinda way.  At only $3.95 per bowl...you can't go wrong.  

Essential 7" Bowl

 

2013...BALANCE

Raw, Fresh, Uncured Ham!

I wanted to try something different for Christmas this year so I decided to do a raw, fresh, uncured ham.  It seemed to be pretty daunting but honestly...it was the easiest thing in the world to do and sooooooooooo delicious!

I ordered a 10 - 12 pound ham with the bone-in shank up on an angle.  (NOTE...mine was a little over 12 pounds.)

GO ME!

Merry Christmas Eve from 13700!!!!!

Christmas Treats for UPS, FedEx and USPS!

Cool Holiday Tip from 13700!

Keep a basket of holiday treats near the front door so when packages are being delivered you can give the different UPS, FedEx and USPS delivery people a holiday treat if you're home!

You can find holiday themed packaged candy almost anywhere and you can always use peppermint candy canes.  Russell Stover usually has individually wrapped turtles, etc. and the movie candy boxes are only $1 each.  

I simply hold out the basket and let them pick what they want and they are always grinned up just like kids at Halloween!  LOL!  Add a friendly Merry Christmas or Happy Holiday with a wave and they get the Christmas feel good!

Trust me...your delivery people will LURVE IT!  Little things like this go a long, long way with the spirit of giving!

Instrastin Holiday Gift

The most instrastin holiday gift I've received so far is an umbrella.

No worries...it's from a business so I'm not putting anyone on front street.  I'm just wondering at the selection committee for the company gift giving.  It's not even a particularly awesome umbrella.  Had it been one of these weather ones with like the dual brella for the wind ...dude...cool...but it's just all randomly regular.

Instrastin...

What's the most instrastin thing you've ever received?

Christmas Menu!!!!!

I'm trying to decide what we're going to have for Christmas dinner this year.  We all know Robby can't have Christmas without a ham but I wanted to do something new and different too. 

What are YOU having?

Christmas Card Game PROPER!

The Tiffany McGraw collection.

Where do you guys generally purchase your Christmas cards?

For your Jewish friends...do you get a couple of individual cards which say Happy Holidays?

Do you do photo cards?

Do you send photo cards to family and framily only?  

About how much do you normally spend on Christmas cards?

How many cards do you generally send out?

Do you keep a stash to send a card to someone who sent you one who wasn't on your original list?

Holla atcha girl.  

Stocking Stuffer Ideas

This year I'm doing retro fun stuff in our stockings.  I can't WAIT for Robby to get his stuff out.  LOL!  Thinking about one of the things going in his stocking has me already cracking up laughing.

Do YOU do stockings?

Damn Dogs...

How to make easy giblet gravy!

I got 4 messages the day before Thanksgiving asking how to whip up some quick gravy and I answered.  

I filmed how to make easy gravy on Turkey Day so folks could refer to the video for next year.  I'll put this here in the event yall need it too.  Oh...and remember...there are LOTS of different ways to do this.  This is just a quick and easy version that's pretty tasty in my opinion.

There are lots of different ways to make giblet gravy, of course. This is the quickest, easier way to me. Remember to serve in a lovely gravy boat with a gravy ladle!

Drippings from turkey
1 stalk celery diced
1/2 white onion diced
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1 cup of water

1. Add diced onions and celery to roasting pan (don't clean after removing turkey and drippings) and saute until translucent (about 5 minutes).
2. Add drippings.
3. Whisk cornstarch into water and add to pan.
4. Bring to boil.
5. Allow to thicken while constantly stirring and remove from heat.


www.MonicaMingo.com

Fat/oil separator:  OXO Good Grips 4-Cup Fat Separator

Immersion Blender:  Cuisinart Smart Stick Hand Blender

M

Christmas Decor 2012 at 13700!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas at 13700!  I like to put a bit of Christmas in every room so I'm working my way from the bottom up.  LOL!  

The mancave looks like Christmas spit up in there.  ROFL!  Someone grumbled about Santa staring at him while he was watching a game.  I have a feeling I'm going to go down there one day and Santa will be turned to the wall.

I'm still working on the mantle but it's getting there.  I'm going to use the peppermint ribbon on a small sugared fruit wreath to put on the mirror.  That mirror came from upstairs where it was replaced with the new mirror.  GO ME!  RE-PURPOSING ISH!

The tree is "light" this year.  I was about to start putting bulbs all over it but then The Robinator said he liked it like this so I stopped.  LOL!  Seemed only fitting to use Magnolias again this year.  :)

I like how it doesn't look all matchy matchy.  Makes me smile.

That's just a garland with a piece of ribbon woven through it.  I might attach some snowflake glitter ornaments to fish string and attach with white thumbtacks to give the allusion of them floating up there.  Let me tell yall how dusty it was on that ledge above the door.  I was shame.

Seriously...SHAME!

Poinsettia stems in a gladiola vase along with a cinnamon broom that I bought at Trader Joe's for $3.99.  They smell soooooooooooooooooooooooooo good!  GO ME!  

This lil guy brings me joy.  He's chilling in the powder room.  LOL!  I love his smile!  He's a tea light holder and he's holding a puppy.  LOL!  Makes me smile.

I hope to be finished this weekend.  I have a few more fun things to do that will include glitter, glitter, lots 'o glitter and I want The Robinator to do a few things outside.  He quickly veto'd putting lights on the holly tree for me.  Something about being pricked to death, scratched up like crazy or whatnot trying to put lights on a 10 foot holly tree.  Ninny.  LOL!

Have you put up your tree yet?  Are you in the Christmas spirit yet?????

 

Question: Do you know how to make a Christmas or regular bow?

 

I wanted to put peppermint striped bows on these two mini topiaries and couldn't find any already made.  I didn't want to have to buy a complete spool of ribbon to make two little bows...but I ended up having to anyway.

I was only doing simple bows.  Two loops...two tails.  Easy breezy.

I wanted to share with you guys a little tip I use to make bows for pretty much anything.  I always use Christmas ornament hooks to twist around the middle.  LOL!  I always find them on sale after Christmas for like ten cents for a pack of a hundred or so and I buy them and put them into my craft basket to use for bows.  LOL!  WAY cheaper than floral wire and they are usually the perfect size.  AND...I use the other end to hook it to whatever I'm attaching it to if need be.

GO ME!

Do YOU know how to make bows?  Do you use wired ribbon?  I do because it's sooooooooo much easier to shape it properly.  

What's the last thing you made bows for?

DMX's Rudolf set to the actual film...ROFL!

 

PEOPLE ARE FUN-TAY!!!!!

Dating and the Holidays

I always took Cojoe to my holiday parties if I wasn't in a committed relationship when I was single.  I didn't want to keep bringing some new guy around my very stuffy co-workers.  

I remember bringing a guy I was in a relationship with who wasn't all that great conversationally.  He was a smart dude...he was just socially awkward around certain types of people.  Every.single.time he opened his mouth I struggled until I couldn't take it anymore, feigned a headache and we rolled out.  

The next day he was mad because he felt like my co-workers were patronizing to him and it really made me look at him differently.

ESPECIALLY when he started going in on "all those White people."

I was like...dude...I've always been the only or one of the only Black people wherever I've worked.  Hell...I spend more time with my co-workers than I do with you.  Sure...they can be instrastin (and not because they're White)  but seriously...you were giving them ammunition.

But I didn't say anything because I wanted him to feel comfortable and I was practicing picking my battles but baaaaaaaaaby...when I tell you it was a struggle...it was a STRUGGLE.

Gift giving around the holidays is pretty big.  It's a pretty clear sign as to if a guy is thinking of you in a generous light.  And no...I'm not talking spending big bucks.  But I'm thinking THOUGHTFUL.  If you're a runner and dude gives you a gift with that in mind, he's thinking of you as you are.  He's not trying to do too much just in case, but enough that you know he's a FRIEND.

And you should always only date people who are friends to you.

If he gives you a manicure kit that he bought at the register while he went to Rite Aid to purchase some condRoms.  Well...you already know.

Women going all out for a guy they aren't in a committed relationship with are seriously hoping the generosity of their gift will buy them some more quality time and I say...to that...if you have to spend money to get someone to spend time with you well...you should rather want to be alone or with REAL friends and your family.  Holiday time is precious.  It just brings out all kinds of sentimental thoughts, hopes, dreams and desires.  Spend that time with people who care enough to be generous enough with your thoughts.

Keep it small.  Keep it simple.  I always say that if it's something you'd want to snatch from or off him/her if you ever see them with another person...don't give it as a gift.

If you've been dating someone and their family is in the area and you don't meet any family members for the holidays well...please don't fool yourself okay?  Please keep it real and know what that means.  To that same turn...if you invite someone to meet YOUR family and they decline for any other reason than being with THEIR family.

DON'T FOOL YOURSELF.  

PLEASE.

I love the holidays and wish I had the type of holidays I always envisioned as a child.  A house filled with noise and laughter from children, baking cookies and cakes, getting dinner ready, people in and out for a quick plate but alas...Christmas is usually pretty quiet for us at 13700.  We've considered traveling before but I'd miss my home, my doggies and the laziness of being us.  We've made Christmas the best of what our life offers us to allow it to be.  

And that's what Christmas is really about...to me.  Finding that sweet spot that brings you the most happiness and smiles.  Anything else is simply not good enough.

Date responsibly this Christmas.  Smile more often than not.  Don't worry about acting silly cuz silly is where it's at.  LOL!  

Let's get Christmas 2012 started!

SIP:  Ramble, ramble, ramble.  What yall got to say?  LOL!

Dave Koz and Sheila E!!!!!!!!!!

Last night The Robinator surprised me with tickets to see the Dave Koz Holiday Jazz Tour with Sheila E and friends!

DAVE KOZ AND FRIENDS CHRISTMAS 2012 
with Special Guests: David Benoit, Sheila E., Javier Colon and introducing Margo Rey 

Yall...it was soooooooooooooooooooooo good!

Sheila E. is still amazing and the entire concert was really very good!  I've got to say that it's one of the best concerts I've been to in a long, long time!  

I loved it because Robby found it and decided on it all on his own knowing how much I love me some Sheila E.  He bought the tickets, made the dinner reservations and simply told me what time to be ready.

I didn't get cussed out for running late but only because twenty minutes before heading out, while fully dressed, I hit my big toe on the dresser in our bedroom and cracked the nail all the way down past the bleeding point.

It was BAD.

It IS bad.

We clipped it off, put Neosporin on it and a bandaid and rolled out anyway.  Robby was like...can we go?  Are you sure?  

Me:  I'm sure.  Just don't let me see the blood and I'm good.  If I see the blood however...well...um...erra...

So we rolled out.  WHOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

If you get a chance to see this please go!  You won't regret it!

 

Office Party Dress Guidelines

Question...Do  you have any PERSONAL office party dress guidelines you follow?  

Christmas and Holiday Cards to 13700!!!!!!!

Yall know how much I LURVE getting my holiday cards from you guys!  I get them and be all grin-t up like a school girl fo' sho.  So yeah...don't forget to add us to your list this year!  WHOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOO!

If you don't have the addy to 13700...drop our card here:

Monica Mingo

P.O. Box 2763

Germantown, Maryland 20875-2763

 

Oh...and PLEASE don't forget to include your screenname so I "know" who it's from if I don't KNOW you!  LOLOLOLOL!

Kensie Snowflake Microfleece Jumpsuit

I was in TJ Maxx and found this jumpsuit for $24.99.  I bought it in a large so it would be totally comfy for cold days chilling at home on the sofa.  

I really wasn't thinking it was going to be groundbreaking or anything...it just looked all comfy, warm and toasty.

I put it on this morning and tucked them into my shearling slipper boots (yes...the ones I spilled gumbo grease on one of last year and tried to clean them but the color on the toe of the greasy one stayed dark and still is which The Robinator HATES, HATES, HATES!...ROFL!) and I am over here in 7TH.MOON.DOG.HEAVEN!!!!!!!!!

So I decided to look online and see if I could find them in other colors and I found them on Amazon, but for the full price.  I don't know if I'd pay $52 for them but then again I might cuz they are seriously the softest thing I've had next to my skin in forever and the kid is LOVING.IT!  Kensie Going Navajo Microfleece Jumpsuit

If you hit up TJ Maxx today, go see if you can find some.  I PROMISE you won't be disappointed.  SIP's honor.

Brick Clips!

LOVING THESE TOO FOR CHRISTMAS DECORATING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Brick Clip, 2-Pack

Best New Christmas Thing I've Purchased!!!!!!!!!

No more crawling under the tree to plug the lights in getting my hair caught on the branches and coming up looking like a shook cat!  GO ME!!!!!!!!!   All-Purpose Foot Switch

Christmas 2012!

The Robinator brought home our tree tonight and, miraculously, there was almost NO.CUSSING involved in putting it up because E helped him instead of me.  

Which pissed me off because now I know he can do it withOUT cussing.  

I'm totally feeling some kinda way.

TOTALLY.

HUMPH.

I just KNEW I'd get cussed out for taking this pic but alas...best behavior cuz the Godson was around.  o_0

I'm finally trying to focus on finishing the front room.  Actively looking for two chairs and an ottoman that makes me smile.  Yall like how I switched it around?  Took out that dark rug.  Lightening it up from the bottom up is lightening up the room.  Me likey so far but finding two chairs is proving to be a daunting experience.  I've been to four furniture stores and every.single.thing I like is far too expensive.  Humph.

Our soundtrack.

I love my Godson so much.  He truly brings me joy.  Imma fight him one day I'm sure...but I will fight him while loving him.  LOL!

Did you get YOUR tree yet?

 

Christmas Decorating!

Do you put a bit of Christmas in every room or just in the room you put the tree in?

eDecorate Me!

Orange accents are proving to be difficult to decorate with for Christmas. Any ideas? ~ MMingo

Solar Powered Christmas Lights

Have you tried them yet?  I want to put them on my door wreath this year so I'm trying them out.

Dear Target:

The Target Christmas Lady was the hottest thing you've ever done marketing wise.

I have no idea why yall don't recognize this but I am MAD.ABOUT.IT and insist you bring her back STAT!

 

What are YOU cooking for Thanksgiving?

Need any inspiration or questions answered from the Tribe?  

HAVE AT IT!  LET'S GO!  

Sautéed Brussels Sprouts with Pancetta

Sautéed Brussels Sprouts with Pancetta 

 

Thanksgiving Invite!

Yall know how we do.  

We're Southern and we don't believe in people we know or "know" being alone for the holidays.  If you don't have anywhere to go or anywhere you'd like to go...please know you are welcome at our home for Thanksgiving dinner.  

We're swamped this year with work so it won't be a big production but we will have lots of food, movies and football going on.

Send me an email (Monica dot Mingo at Verizon dot net) if you want to come hang with us on Turkey Day.  

Love,

Monnie, Robby, Jaru & Lucy

AKA

13700

From Jimmy Kimmel:

How to Roast Pumpkin Seeds - The Child-free Couple and the Holidays

The hardest thing about not having babies is probably the holidays.  Not just the major ones...but the small ones too.  At least...I know it is for me.  

For us.

See...I was raised in a home where we did all the cool holiday stuff.  ALL OF IT!  From stringing popcorn garlands to baking Santa's cookies to making eggnog, popping firecrackers, Easter Egg hunts, Halloween decorating, chocolates for Valentine's Day etc.  My family had a BLAST!

Our way.  Just us.

And so was The Robinator.

So yeah...that's the hardest part.

For me.

For us.

Sure the pain is eased a bit getting to share some of these things with the kids we love but not really you know?  Never really.  It's always right under the surface.  Always there able to steal the joy right out of the most perfect of days.  

I've been in the middle of wrapping a gift, looking at my perfect, perfect tree and it's hit me like a truck so bad that all I could do was stretch out on the floor right where I was and give in to it letting the pain wash over me and flow violently through my body only to be picked up from where I lay by my loving husband and carried to bed.  Spooning me until it was over.  

No words necessary cuz his pain is mine and that pain has us so connected that the only joy we can find from it is given by the other.

War wounds.

Today, I decided to roast pumpkin seeds the same as my mommy showed me how decades ago.  I figured the Godson would love to carve the pumpkin provided he have definitive instructions to make sure it wasn't something offensive.  LOL!  I put the pumpkin in the sink and washed it off well.  

Next up was to trim the stem to a height where I could put a bowl over top and trace a perfect circle to cut out the top.

Then...I cut out the top.

Remove the seeds.

Clean out pulp.

Melt two teaspoons of butter and toss seeds with the butter, Creole seasoning, garlic powder, and cayenne pepper.

Spead on a cookie sheet and bake at 300 degrees for 45 minutes and VOILA!  Roasted pumpkin seeds just like my mommy made for her babies.  For me.

I served ours on the deck with a gluten free beer for my guy and a glass of organic wine for me.

Our Godson will carve the pumpkin tomorrow.  His diabolical mind needs to grasp the concept of NON-OFFENSIVE in a way which will probably be BORDERLINE offensive if I know him.  LOL!  I will walk away shaking my head and his Unca Robby will DIE laughing.  

Ya just gotta love this life I live.  

Warts and all.

 

Veronica Marche Custom Illustrated Cards!

http://www.veronicamarche.com/

SIP:  That's hot.  

Thanks SingLikeSassy!

Thanksgiving Menu!

We started the Thanksgiving menu this past Sunday.  Are YOU getting organized yet?  

We've been invaded by bats!

Target Halloween Wall Art- Create a Scene: Bats

 

IT'S MY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I wore this last night to a friend's birthday dinner.  It was a casual kinda thing and I just wanted to rock some jeans.  When I was purging a closet, I found that blouse with the tags still on it and decided to rock it first chance I got.

I wore flats because I only wear heels when I absolutely 100% have to.  

I'm totally comfortable in my own skin and love being comfortable more than anything.

I'm three years younger than my mommy was when she left us and I always thought that age was old.  

Even as I'm sitting here in my husband's robe and my headscarf still on thinking about re-painting that dang front door landing...I'm so happy in this space and place in my life.

I have the best husband, the best family, framily and friends surrounding me and supporting all that I do.  At age 43, it's not lost on me that I'm so very, very blessed and I hope that light shines through clearly.  

My life is certainly what I made it and, hopefully, you're in the same frame of mind too.  

Make your life a GOOD ONE!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!  HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!  IT'S MY BIRTHDAY!  IT'S MY HOLIDAY!  HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!

I CAN'T WAIT FOR MY PARTY SATURDAY!  LOLOLOLOLOLOL!  

4th of July "Weekend?????"

The actual holiday is on Wednesday this year so when are yall celebrating?  

What day do you have off from work?  

What do you have planned?

SIP:  *whispering*  Who's making the potato salad?

Mother's Day!

If a genie appeared and gave you the PERFECT mother's day according to YOUR WISH...what would happen?

Easter 2012!

I love mother-daughter pictures.  Especially when they are color coordinated!

This is my dear, dear, friend.  She's been through so much recently and this profile shows her strength.  Seriously.  

Jaru is surveying the Easter egg decorating center.

The very thought of an Easter BASKET when you're 13 made E shudder so he got an Easter JAR.  LOLOLOLOL!

A 13700 Easter basket!

Play clothes!  LOL!  #OldSkoolMama

Of course he wouldn't let me take a REAL pic of him.

My Bella.  Isn't she perfect?

Another of my "Huxtable family" friends.  LOL!  SO PERFECT!

Don't be fooled.  She has no use for flowers.  LOL!

Looking like her daddy with hair.  LOL!

I love her.

He loves her too.

My Becca brought me a Georgetown Cupcake.  Red Velvet!  Okay...so she brought enough for all.  I just wanted to be special!

A tabletop terrarium!  This is lavender!

Sage!  I searched high and low for small pots and couldn't find any.  These are sugar containers I found for $2.99 at HomeGoods.  I removed the lids and VOILA!  A small pot!

Speckled eggs!

I only got to take pics of those who arrived super early and I'm soooooooo sorry.  Everyone looked stunning in their Easter finery and I really wish you guys could see it.  I didn't post mine cuz seriously...I'll be wearing it again soon.  ROFL!  

The food was delicious and we had a REALLY good time hanging and laughing.  Truly hope you guys had the same!

HAPPY EASTER FROM 13700!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Easter Decor Prep!

Aren't you thinking what in the world I'm going to do with it?  :)

Instagram for Android is hot.  Kinda.  You know.  'Cept when it shuts down for no reason at all.  Other than that?  HOT.

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