Rantings of a Creole Princess

Smokey Mountain Thanksgiving!

We survived the road trip.

Almost.

I kirked out at hour 8 and wanted to  jump out the window and roll around on the ground like a 3 year old in full on tantrum mode.  Yall...I was DROVE!  I'm talking Oprah DROVE.

So was Jaru.  I looked back at one time and almost died laughing at my poor puppy cuz he looked like he'd just given up on life.

 

That's funny because he was SO SAD looking when he saw our suitcase since he's used to us leaving him so when he saw me pick up one of his beds to take out too...BAAAAAAAAAAAAAABY! DUDE STARTED TWIRLING LIKE A CIRCUS DOG!  TuTu and all!

But lawd jeevus...he soon realized that a road trip is not all it's cracked up to be.  How folks do this on a regular I vow to never, ever know.  I have a friend who does a road trip every month or so.  I now think she must be a serial killer looking out for new places to hide bodies cuz yeah...no.

So we got here and when I saw the view...seriously...it was SO worth it!

I plan on sitting out on this deck as soon as someone gets rid of that snow because I'm kuntry and when a kuntry girls sees a rocking chair...rocking must be done.

My food traveled super well.  We dang near needed a blowtorch to unwrap my turkey.  I'd wrapped it three times in foil and then three times in Saran Wrap.  I was so nervous but when we took it out...it was nice and cold to the touch.  Instead of reheating the entire bird...we sliced a platter of meat and reheated that with fresh sprigs of rosemary and damp paper towels covering it.  Everything was delicious and my tablescape was simple and lovely.  The centerpiece traveled well too and it was super quick to lay out.  

Hold on...let me side eye my mother-in-law right quick.  She's talking about going forage for pine cones in the woods with the bears and the other wood stuff that lives on side of a mountain with a winding dirt road surrounded by trees.  I need to remind her that we can get a bag for like $1.50 from Michael's with a 40% off coupon.

Side eye sequence complete.

How's Jaru you ask?  Dude took to the cabin like water to a duck.  (Why did I first type like butter to a duck cuz seriously...that was just odd.  LOL!)

Dude is all good.

THAT FACE!  I love my puppy.  

Well...the menfolk are about to get ready to go golfing.  We're going to run to town and forage for pine cones IN A STORE and fire starters IN A STORE cuz ain't nobody going out there foraging in the woods.  LOL!  My mommy-in-law brings me JOY!  She's simply the cutest EVER!

How was your Thanksgiving?  All well?  

My Aura is Blue

Your Aura is Blue!

Thanksgiving Hiccup

The weather jacked our plans and we're not leaving until 3:00am Thursday morning. The Robinator made the best decision possible to keep us safe.
Totally threw all of my cooking plans out the door. Since we're not getting there until after noonish...I decided to cook my turkey and everything here and travel with it all done. 
I totally LOOK like I'm going with the flow but inside my brain I'm on serious panic mode. 
On a ridiculous note...I have an unnatural fear of traveling when it is cold outside. I watch too many Hallmark movies where folks get stuck in snow storms when their car breaks down. They be shivering...

Just crazy huh?
Did you get where you're going yet? Any cooking questions? Anyone making that brie?

From Shelly: Throwback Tuesday with @oneblackman

I bet Kanye is foaming at the mouth...

Hot?

I know a lot of people going goo goo ga ga over this dude. Are you one of them?

VIDEO: Take a glimpse inside the world of competitive TWERKING | Mail Online

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/video/video-1074888/Take-glimpse-inside-world-competitive-TWERKING.html

And now my bad mood has been solidified. *sigh*

Bobby Pins

Last week I was attempting to strategically place a bobby pin in my bun so you couldn't see it. I must have adjusted that thing 4 times to get it right. 
I guess that's gone out of style since Rihanna accepted an award presented BY HER MOTHER...with bobby pins holding her hair down in plain view. I guess that's what is hot on the streets now huh?

I guess.
Do YOU hide bobby pins? Or are you cool with them in plain view?

COMB YO DAMN HAIR HELL!

I'm at the radiology center waiting to have my mammogram. The young lady at the front desk looks like she just rolled out of bed and didn't TOUCH her hair. Like...her ish is all the way crunchy with old curls flat and bent every whichaway from sleep. WHO THE HELL GOES TO WORK LOOKING LIKE THAT? WHO THE HELL GOES TO WORK WITH COMBING THEIR HAIR?????????????????????? I bet her azz doesn't show up at the club looking like that. I am TOO THROUGH! Why is this acceptable? What would YOU say to an employee who showed up to work with uncombed hair?

Ugh! I can't even look her direction without my lips tight. Just...EW!

Little Woman, Big Dog

I posted this picture last night on FB and a friend wrote, "Little woman, big dog."  LOL!  That cracked me up because it could totally be the title to the story of my life.

I'm looking at this big dog now while he's sprawled out on his bad snoring, smelling all tea tree oil good from his grooming on Saturday and I'm worried about him on a long road trip.  We decided to rent a vehicle to take the drive so he'll have enough room to spread out because yall know he has issues.  My truck is a mid-size SUV and The Robinator drives a big pickup truck without a cover on the bed so we decided to rent a big SUV so this beast is comfortable.  

I swear...the things we do for our pets.

We have a prescription for Dramamine in the event he starts having issues on the ride but hope to not have to use any.  The doctor said if we wanted to...we could give him 1 mg per pound of Benadryl and that would make him kinda sleepy for the ride.

Hmmmmmmmmm...

We'll see.

Have YOU ever taken a road trip with a dog?  Any tips?

A boyfriend, at your age...is a GROWN AZZ MAN!

Sometimes it's infuriating listening to women talk about the men they are dating or were dating.  I listen in amazement wondering if they are describing something that happened with a boy when they were in middle school and not with a grown azz 40 some year old man.

Cuz what you just shared makes no damn sense.

A grown azz man knows better.

I refuse to believe that there are so many grown azz men who don't know better.

So...maybe they know better but search for BOO BOO THE FOOL so they don't have to DO better and dear...guess what?  You're the contestant on BOO BOO THE FOOL!

When someone does some ish like you're BOO BOO THE FOOL...why don't you call them out?  Point that ish out and keep it moving?  Acknowledge that you don't HAVE to be BOO BOO THE FOOL.  Acknowledge that you control how people treat you!   Acknowledge that your two feet work just fine and you can put one foot in front of the other and keep it the heck moving.

I was stood up for a date once and the guy didn't all.  When I tried to call him...he didn't answer.  I called that mofo ONCE thinking something had to be big time wrong.  He didn't answer.  Oh well...guess who ain't BOO BOO THE FOOL?  I was too old for that ish and perfectly fine with spending the weekend on my sofa watching television.  I never answered any of his calls after that and meant that ish.  When I saw him out and about months later he looked like he wanted to say something to me.  LOOKED LIKE...cuz that shithead didn't get an opportunity to come near me.  I was NOT having it.  My name is NOT BOO BOO THE FOOL and you're not going to treat me like ish and think I'm going to be skinning and grinning in your face afterwards.

NO.

HELL.NO.

I heard dude got married and then divorced within a year.  Sounds like he thought his wife was going to play BOO BOO THE FOOL for the long haul.  Good thing she figured that ish out because I can't think of anything worse than marrying a grown azz, rude fuck that periodically forgets the concept of respect.  Sounds like his azz needed to be alone.  

Women...PLEASE don't be walking around here being BOO BOO THE FOOL.  Be who your parents raised you to be.  Be who you see yourself as.  Don't be what a rude, disrespectful shithead reduces you azz.

RANT.OVER.

Do you know any BOO BOO THE FOOLS currently?

 

 

Kahlua, Pecan, and Brown Sugar Baked Brie

You should DEFINITELY add this to your grazing station for Thanksgiving this year.  A friend made some recently and I embarrassed myself with how much of it I scarfed down.  I'm talking...DEEEEEEEEELICIOUS!

About 18 ounces of Brie 

1/2 cup butter, melted
1 cup Kahlua
1 cup light brown sugar, packed
1 cup chopped pecans 

Slice rind off top of brie but don't remove.  Bake in oven at 350 degrees for 15 minutes. 

While brie is baking, melt butter, add Kaluah and brown sugar and bring to boil, stirring constantly, for 10 - 15 minutes (carmelize).  Add pecans for about 2 minutes or so to warm the pecans.

Remove brie from oven and pour sauce over top.  Serve with crackers and apple slices.

You'll want to try one at home first before you share with others.  Not because there is a science to it that you have to perfect but because it's sooooooooooooo good...you won't get enough to satiate you with your friends around.

SERIOUSLY.

GOOD.EATING!

 

Easy and Cheap Fabric Tablecloth!

I couldn't find the thing I needed to pull my tablescape together.  It just seemed to be a bit "blah."  I kept searching high and low but nothing.

Zip.

Zilch.

The tablecloth section everywhere was ugh.

So I went to J-Ann's fabric store today with the table measurements and found something that would bring color to the table.  Then...I called Erica B. to find out what kind of edge binding stuff to use on the edges to make it nice and straight.  When I got home, I pulled out the ironing board, my ruler and iron and ironed down the edges.

First I made the straight line using the iron and then I put the tape in the fold and followed the instructions to bind it all together. Basically you just hold the iron down for a count of ten all along the edge and then turn it over and do the same.

It was sooooooo easy!

That binding stuff is here:  5/8-Inch by 20-Yard Stitch Witchery

The fabric was $3.98 per yard.  Erica B. made me download the Jo-Ann app so I could get a coupon and my purchase was only about $10.  GO.ME!

The only thing I know about the fabric is that it's cotton and I liked the color and pattern.  LOL!

So I'm finally ready!  Here are the linen elements of my tablescape for Thanksgiving 2013!

What colors are you using this year?  I totally think I'm going to make my tablecloths/toppers all the time now.  It was super easy and I had lots of options to choose from by way of fabric.  

New Shoes

When's the last time you bought new shoes? Heels or flats? Boots or shoes?

Have you had your mammogram yet this year?

...if you're in the guidelines of needing one?
Mine is Monday and, since I'm a cancer survivor...I get to do this creepy scan one. Wheeee! Go me! But I'm not complaining. Thank God I have good medical insurance right? Right.
What about you? Did you do it yet? All well? Are you scheduled?

Are you brining your turkey this year?

Question...

Do you have a sibling or other family member you could start a business with or work for? Have you ever? How did it work out? Any advice for someone considering it?

Nursing in Public Scenario

If your husband didn't/doesn't want you to nurse in public...how would you handle?

To-do Lists

Do you CURRENTLY have one?  What do you keep it on?  Phone?  iPad?  Special To Do list paper?  Scrap of paper?  Post it note?  Piece of notebook or printer paper?

"When I hear it...I be listening."

I haven't purchased anything by R. Kelly since "12 Play."  I just couldn't.  I know other people, MANY other people, who didn't feel the same but hey...that's cool.  We all get to spend our money as we want.

I never said that when I hear his music I don't "be listening" and grooving.  I never, ever said that.  I just said I don't buy anything by the man if I know he's involved.  He can get richer off other people.  Damn shame dude is so talented and I can't buy a thing by him.

Do YOU buy his music?  If you don't...when you hear it...do you "be listening?"

This cat...

...BRINGS ME JOY! We should name him SIP! LOL!

Who painted the art in Olivia Pope's office?

The artist is Randy Hibberd. You can find the print here:  Beauty In Blue II by Randy Hibberd

Scenario from real life...

You and your S/O get into a huge argument.
The next day, your S/O sends you flowers.
The note says..."I'm sorry even though I still don't think I did anything wrong."
You good?

Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder?

Someone I know from FB was going to be on GMA this morning so I kept switching the channels so I could see the relationship advice he was going to give since he's one of the few advice giving men I don't roll my eyes clean out of my head behind.

The story he was giving advice on was about a woman who went on a 10 day meditation sebatical away from her family that helped her be a better wife and mother.

I can totally see that.

I then went and read her article and I saw it even more:  http://www.babble.com/relationships/i-took-a-break-from-my-husband-then-i-fell-back-in-love/

I feel like this can happen all the time in smaller doses too.  I know that when I'm traveling solo, I realize just how much I prefer being with my husband than with pretty much anyone else in the world.  That's not to say that I don't enjoy myself...but I'm always hit with how much I'm missing him or how much he would have enjoyed something, yada, yada.  I'ts kinda like why I always bring him something special back.  I start missing him big time and appreciating him and I want to bring him a little something back.  It's really odd because whenever we talk when one of us is traveling, he sounds all nonchalant and whatnot because he hates the phone, but when I get home...he's always done something really sweet that he knows I wanted him to do because he missed me and wanted to do something to make me smile too.

I like that.

What do yall think?  Do you feel like small doses of being apart helps you remember how amazing your family is too?  Sure...you might look forward to the quiet time or having the bed to yourself but honestly don't you feel better knowing it's temporary?

HotNESS or HotMESS? (SM)

Foot Locker's Week Of Greatness 2013: All Is Right

Google Chromecast Review!

Dear Kim, Kanye, Kimye, Kimmycakes, Yeezy...ALL YALL!

And you know it.  

Dude has the mother of his daughter damn near naked gyrating on a crotch rocket.

No.  Just...no.

Let's not even PRETEND this is cute, the in thing to do or in any way a deep representation of true love.

Cuz it ain't.  

The hell wrong witchall?????????

And Ellen...I'm sideeying you too for premiering that mess on your show.  UGH!

#StrugglePublicity

The Hungry Games

Black Filmmaking: The Elephants in the Room...

1.  Those two youngest kids. o_0

2.  Why didn't Julian leave with his wife and kids after she found out about the video?  He just stayed behind?  With THAT kind of crisis going on in his marriage?  SERIOUSLY?  AND WHY IN THE HELL HE SHOWING EVERYONE ELSE THE DAMN VIDEO BUT HASN'T TALKED TO HIS WIFE ABOUT IT?????????

3.  When did they practice the dance routine?  I can see Mia arranging to have matching costumes at the ready...but the dance routine?  That took practice.  When did they do that?

4.  Can we stop with the dating White people jokes already?  It's 2013.

5.  Yall know the fertility clinic wouldn't have put them embryos in without being paid in full first right?  Trust me on this one.

6.  Who is Shelby's baby daddy?  How'd she get on that show she was on? 

7.  They delivered a breech baby.  In a Lexus SUV while speeding.  Oh...and if they were in snail traffic one minute...how did they end up FLYING down a damn near empty interstate the next?

8.  Shelby and Quenton being disrespectful getting busy when they did?

STRETCHED.OUT.HOLLERING!

Who's buying it?  Send us a pic of your ON SALE for $276.75 wreath okay?  

Outdoor Christmas Decorating Challenge

This is my challenge for outdoor Christmas decorating this year.  I want to do this type of filler inside of my urns.  I do NOT want to pay $179 each for it.  I imagine the people who came up with that price are still giggling at how funny they are because seriously...THEY FUNNY.  

Battery-operated Holly and Berry Christmas Urn Filler

I tried these lights last year and they were okay.  I think if I used more than one string per urn I'll get the look I'm shooting for.  White 30 LED String Lights Battery Operated

These plus the burlap Christmas wreath should make the front pop quite nicely.  What say you?  Do you have planters out front?  What do you do with them for Christmas?

Question from Quora

How would YOU answer this question posted on my FAVORITE time wasting website, Quora?

 

Passive Aggression at 13700

We have company coming.  I always keep a doggie gate up in front of the guest bedroom because Jaru has nainh problem hopping up on the guest bed and getting his nap on.  Dude be sprawled out CHILLING and I be mad as hell.

Every.single.time he does it...I have to wash all the CLEAN linen on the bed and yall...it is annoying.

We have company coming.

The guest bedroom was clean.

WAS clean.

My husband moved the gate to use it downstairs.  (We have a doggie guest currently.)

He was adamant that Jaru wouldn't get on the bed.

Nice, super clean bed and room.

OCD dog.

Big azz sprawling mattress compared to his dog bed.

Jaru got it in.

We have company coming.

GOT.DAMMIT.ALL.TO.HELL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My husband is in the office working.  

The office is next door to the guest bedroom.

He's working and I am always respectful of his space when he's working.

I stripped that damn bed so loud you'd have thought an army of Clydesdales were in there stomping.  I almost yanked the lid off the washer shoving the linen in and I promise you've never, ever, EVER heard Downy poured so LOUDLY!!!!!!!!!!  Just TWIST OFF LID, FLING IT, GLUG, GLUG, SPLASH, SPLASH, FIND WHERE LID WAS SLUNG, TWIST LID BACK ON, SLAP CONTAINER BACK ON SHELF KNOCKING ISH ALL OVER!!!!

THAT.ISH.MADE.MY.TEETH.ITCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

But I didn't say a word because he's working.

Oh...but he knows I was boiling mad and I'm sure he was probably in there ignoring the pig ish outta me because he has a deadline.

Now...I've gotten over it as I write this and listen to the washer, laughing at how much noise I made stripping that damn bed.

Passive aggression at it's finest.

What about you?  You ever employ passive aggression at home?  How long do you generally stay mad about some dumb ish?  

 

Must Have

I MUST HAVE a new pair of brown flat boots.  I don't need them but I MUST HAVE them.  I don't have a pair of flat brown boots and I pretty much exclusively wear flats now.  I don't have brown boots.

I MUST HAVE brown boots.

You have any MUST HAVES currently?  What are you looking for that you'll know you've found once you see it?

Best Man Holiday Rating

Did you go see it?  Did you cry?  What grade did you give it?

Bookin' It!

Ready Player One

What are YOU reading?

"CALLENGE!!!!!!!!" CLEANING CHALLENGE!

Yesterday Shelly and I were on the phone talking about cleaning up.  An hour later...we still hadn't cleaned anything.  We were both trying to get the energy to get up and get moving ans we went down the list of stuff we knew we needed to do.

It wasn't getting done.

Then...I said...let's have a competition.  In 10 minutes, let's get up and start cleaning for one solid hour and then see who got more done in the hour.

Shelly...the overachiever that she is jumped up and said, BET!  (Well...that's not exactly what she said but I can't remember what she said but it was prolly something like that so we good.)

We hung up the phone and started.

I had stuff flying around this house something FIERCE!  I started by decluttering and putting everything where it went.  Then I emptied the dishwasher and loaded it again.  I started the stock for the Creole cornbread dressing.  Next, I dusted and picked up the dining room chairs and put them on the table.  I wiped down all the counters and cabinets and vacuumed the floor and rugs.  I pledged and cleaned the doggie drool from the windows.  Then...I mopped.  The entire main level.  I'd almost finished when the hour was up.  I broke out into a sweat and I couldn't BELIEVE how much I got done in an hour!

So Shelly called huffing and puffing.  She was like...I'm almost finished mopping!  She ran down the list of what she'd done and she was shocked at how much she got done too.  Then we were like...we should do this again upstairs!  So we did!  One solid hour of competition cleaning.  

I walked around my house afterwards astonished at how much I got done in such a short amount of time.  LIke seriously...WHOA!

How long does it usually take you to clean your house?  Do you ever need motivation or are you the type of person who is on such a regular cleaning schedule that you never have stuff that piles up?

We're going to do it again next Sunday!  GO US!  CALLENGE!!!!! (I STILL giggle every.single.time someone says challenge because I totally think CALLENGE like old dude said in his email back in 2011:  http://creoleindc.typepad.com/rantings_of_a_creole_prin/2011/01/grrrrrrrrrrr.html

We've Been Eating Apples Wrong!

 

So I tried it.  I couldn't eat the seeds but yeah...I got it down pretty small.  

This is AWESOME!  LOL!  Do you eat it like this yet?  If you've known this...how long have you know?

Books for Preteen Girls

Smooches All!  

Can you recommend books for a preteen girl?  Age 11?  

Convo at 13700

Me:  You want to go see the new Hunger Games movie when it comes out?

E:  Nah.

Me:  Why not?

E:  Because they missed an epic opportunity.

Me:  Huh?

E:  Yeah...it would have been exponentially better if they'd have held the Hunger Games in Jurassic Park.

Me:  *BLINK*

Thanksgiving Tablescape 2013 Decisions!

So...the cabin has white dishes so I can use their plates.  I'm considering silver and gold chargers.  I'll take my own runner(s), placemats and tablecloth.  Oh...and I want to use these awesome burlap silverware holders.  

I want all of the tablescape items to fit in a small box so I'm not going all out.  I'm having a floral centerpiece made, low (bubble vase) and in Fall colors.  The table will be SUPER informal since we're at the mercy of using whatever we bring with us and I don't want to have to bring a lot to pack, unpack and pack again.

I'm running into a challenge of finding an oval tablecloth as the table at the cabin is oval.  I'm trying to figure out if I can simply fold and tuck an oblong one in such a way it doesn't look crazy.  

Here are my first decisions in putting the tablescape together so maybe you can help me out.  Which do you prefer?  

A)  Round placemat, gold charger.  No salad plate.

B)  Rectangle placemat, gold floral salad plate, silver charger.

I think I'm going to use two runners placed across the middle of the table.  IF I can find another runner to match this one or two new ones that match.

What say you so far?  A or B?

Warning!

Would YOU date him?

Tall.

Handsome.

Financially stable.

Your boss' client.

Your boss is a divorce attorney.

Dude is in the final stages of his divorce.

Angled Dripless Turkey Baster

I absolutely 100% can't WAIT to try my new Angled Dripless Turkey Baster out.  I am so geeked it's crazy.  It has a brush, a flat pour thingy and a nozzle and yall...I think it might be the best thing to ever happen to my turkey!

Do you baste with a baster, a brush or both?

Question...

Could you live with your sister?

Neutrogena Makeup Remover Wipes Question

I keep a little pack of these in my travel bag.  Normally...when I'm traveling...I put on mascara or something to look mo' betta-er.  They work pretty well removing eye makeup but I always wash my face properly after using them.  I was reading something this morning and it stated that you don't have to wash your face after you use them.

What say you?  When you use one of these...do you still wash your face the normal way?  

Dear Pet Owners:

Do you talk to your pets?  Not like giving them commands and whatnot...but talk to them.  

(I'm watching Frasier and he just told Eddie all his problems.  Eddie hid his head between the sofa pillows.  ROFL!)

Brothers

I love how close Niles and Frasier are on the show.  And Ray and Robert.  It's nice that they see each other so often and share so much.

On television.

LOL!

Is your S/O that close with any of their siblings?  Is it nice?

Thanksgiving Hostess Gift Ideas!

Hostess gifts make me smile because they truly are usually the most USABLE of all the gifts you receive.  Folks don't understand how hard it is to find gifts that people will actually use but hostess gifts pretty much keep you covered.

And they are normally VERY inexpensive!

Someone asked me recently if I considered a bottle of wine a hostess gift or a contribution to the dinner.  Um...huh?  You said wine.  Wine is a GOOD gift at 13700 and thank you very much in advance of all advances.

MOVING ON!

I thought about that some and thought about how some of the Usual Suspects generally bring a bottle of wine and something extra a lot so I guess maybe some people agree that wine is lagniappe.

Plants make excellent hostess gifts.  I think I did one around here somewhere...lemme check...hold on...I'll be back.  Here it is.  Used a grocery store plant and made it nice:  Simple Hostess Gift

Spreaders make great hostess gifts:  Classic Spreaders, Set of 4

The trick with spreaders is to keep it simple.  Don't get the colorful, jeweled bead ones because the hostess will get more use out of ones they can use with many different tablescapes.  And really...some of those jeweled ones are simply just...no.  You can't wash them in the dishwasher.  The beads can fall out.  (Totally speaking from experience here okay!)

 

 

Bookends are always a hit.  I mean...who doesn't have books right?  And...certain styles of bookends can be used as decor on a end table, window sill, etc.  Cast Iron Fleur de Lis Bookends

Bottle stoppers:  Here are some cheap ones:  Set of Bottle Stoppers  

Pottery Barn has some super cute ones!  Pottery Barn Bottle Stoppers

Plain white kitchen towels:  All-Purpose Kitchen Towels, Set of 4

Guest soaps - I always find the best prices at TJMaxx or Marshall's.  If you're lucky you'll find some initial ones!  

Kitchen hand soap/lotion combination:  Caldrea 3 Piece Green Tea Verbena Kitchen Set

I have so many that I love giving to include bath products, cutting boards, cheese trays, etc.  What are some of YOUR favorite hostess gifts to give?