thoughful thursday {H}

-H-

Something I like: hydrangeas

Something I don't: hiccups



source

 

 

Place I've been: Harrington, DE

We've been to the Delaware State Fair several times.
Peter, Nathan, and I saw Daughtry in concert there twice. Pictures below from 2008.
It's always SUPER hot when we go to the fair!!!

Somewhere I want to go: Hawaii

Food I love: Hamburgers



One of the best burgers ever....House of Blues - Downtown Disney

 

 

 

Movie I've seen: The Holiday



source

wordless wednesday

Wow...





I know there are much more important things going on in the world than a MLB game being played with no fans in the stands, but this is a perfect example of the sad state our world is in. Prayers for Baltimore and for our country.

EMPTY STADIUM

After a pair of postponements caused by rioting in Baltimore, the Orioles and Chicago White Sox will play at Camden Yards in what is believed to be the first game without fans in 145 seasons of major league baseball. Because of the unsettled environment in Baltimore, officials moved the game up five hours from its original 7:05 p.m. starting time and closed it to the public.
In addition, Baltimore's weekend series against Tampa Bay was shifted from Camden Yards to Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida, with the Orioles remaining the home team and batting last. - SOURCE

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I saw a little of the game - it looked so strange!!

Menu Plan Monday: April 20-26

 

 

Last week's menu:

 

 

{Monday 4/20}

 

Beef Enchiladas

This actually made 2 meals- one for now and one for later!


 

{Tuesday 4/21}

 

Broccoli Cheddar Soup and Pigs-n-Blanket
 

I don't like to use packaged stuff, but occasionally, I'll take the shortcut when making dinner.


source

 

This stuff is delish!!! I usually add some fresh or frozen broccoli.

 

{Wednesday 4/22}

 

Beef & Broccoli over Rice
 

Again, I don't like to use the packaged version, but I hadn't had Beef & Broccoli in forever. I saw this in Walmart, and had to give it a try. I LOVE Beef & Broccoli- this was very good, but I need to find a good homemade recipe.

source

I'll have to try this recipe from oh, sweet basil.

 

{Thursday 4/23}

 

Fried Clam Sandwiches and Potato Salad

 

 

{Friday 4/24}

 

Steak Subs and Fries

 

 

{Saturday 4/25}

 

Garlic Lime Chicken, Mashed Potatoes, and String Beans

LINK 

 

{Sunday 4/26}

 

Burgers on the grill, fried potato cakes, and a salad
 

The Simple Woman's Day Book: April 2015

 

 

 

For Today...April 26th

 

Outside my window...today was chilly, but sunny. It hasn't been very warm so far this spring, it's either cold or rainy....I am very ready for warm weather to come and stay!

 

I am thankful...that the boys were able to see each other this tour, even if it was just for one night. I'm also thankful that Nathan passed the AB course and now has that and Tankerman school behind him. He's very excited about the next steps in his career! :O) 

 

I am wearing...jeans and my new VA tee...

source

 

 

I am creating...nothing creative, just trying to finish up the Spring cleaning before I go back to work. I did get the baskets stained and they turned out great!

 

I am going....nowhere! I don't have anything scheduled anytime soon. BOO-HOO!
My Dad, sister, nephew, & friends went to NEW YORK a few weeks ago and had a blast!!
They took the train in and stayed in the city for 3 nights!! :O)
Here are a few pictures:



Julie taking the subway like a pro!! :O)



Dad {loved} the double-decker bus tours!! :O)



Derek & Pop....Awesome!!



Julie, Caroline, & Derek at the Central Park Zoo





Always amazed by the amount of people! That's crazy!

Dad: "What's better than eating at McDonalds?.....Eating at McDonald's in NEW YORK!!!"
We definitely don't have the same taste in dining while on vacation!! :O)
 

I am now obsessed with planning a trip for Peter and I in the near future. Christmas-time in New York maybe????

 

In my kitchen....

Yesterday, I made Garlic Lime Chicken .....yum!

 

In my garden....

Lots of beautiful blooms (post HERE)

 

 

A favorite quote of the day....

 

source

:O) :O) so perfect!

 

From the board room (Pinterest)

 

source

Cool patio idea: use Dollar Store solar lights in tiki torch bases.

 

One of my favorite things: sunsets

I caught this one last week (we actually were just a minute or two late).

The sky was amazing!

 

  

Saturday 9: Hawaii Five-O

 

Saturday 9: Hawaii Five-O (1969)

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) This is the theme from the TV show that originally ran from 1968 to 1980 and is on now again with a new cast. Were you/are you a fan?

 

I used to watch all the time, but I don't faithfully watch the current show. Peter and Nathan love it and own all the seasons.

source

 

2) On both shows, Five-O is an elite police task force led by Det. Lt. Steve McGarrett. Who is your favorite TV cop?

Peter watches them all: Blue Bloods, Chicago P.D......I'm not into tv as much, but my most recent favorites were Flashpoint and Rookie Blue.

source

 

source

3) On both shows, the part of Danny "Danno" Williams was played by a second generation performer. (James MacArthur was the son of Broadway legend Helen Hayes; Scott Caan is the son of movie actor James Caan.) If you followed one of your parents into their chosen profession, what would you be doing?

My Dad was a teacher for over 30 years, so I'll say teacher! :O)
 

4) Both shows are filmed in Hawaii, the boyhood home of President Obama. Have any of our 44 Presidents hailed from your state?

Of course there have, I'm from Virginia!! Eight U.S. presidents, including George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, were born in Virginia and most of their homes can be visited today.

Click HERE to read more.

Monticello

 

5) Kona coffee is made from beans cultivated on the Big Island of Hawaii. Are you a big coffee drinker?

 

Not really. I do, however, enjoy iced coffee.

Get'n Grounded

 

6) This week's song was written by the late Morton Stevens. In addition to composing for TV shows, he was the musical director for a group of entertainers known in the 60s as "The Rat Pack." Can you name any "Rat Pack" members?

 

Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin (I'll have to Google the rest!)

7) This week's featured band, The Ventures, began when Don Wilson purchased a used car from Bob Bogle. During negotiations, they discovered a shared passion for playing guitar. Did you buy your current ride new or used? Did the negotiations go smoothly?

 

We bought a used 2007 Chevy Trailblazer in 2008, and yes, things went smoothly.

8) The year this song was popular, 1969, is when Donald and Doris Fisher opened a San Francisco clothing store called The Gap. Today there are more than 3,200 Gap locations. Do you shop at The Gap or gap.com?

Yes, to both.

 

9) Random question: What's on your Saturday to-do list?

On this rainy Saturday, after quite a busy week, my to-do list was very short.....a quick house tidy, make dinner, and then RELAX!!!

source

Longaberger Basket {Re-Do}

Somehow, (back in the 90's), I jumped on the Longaberger basket collecting bandwagon and spent wayyyyy too much money buying monthly basket combos (you know, the basket...the fabric liner...the plastic protector...the lid....). Just thinking about the amount of $$$ I spent makes me question my claim of being a fairly good manager where our finances are concerned. And when you spend that kind of money on something (and they won't sell on eBay no matter how many times you try listing them), you just can't justify not using them anymore. I do still use some of them - for organization in several cabinets and still display a few, including the canister basket set on the kitchen counter. I even added chalkboard tags to hopefully give them a less dated look, but I just didn't love their bright honey-colored stain anymore.

 

I've become obsessed with dark stain

(thanks to my love of Fixer Upper).....

 

source: hgtv.com

 

....and I love all the dark stained baskets from World Market.....

source: worldmarket.com

 

 

....and I really love dark stain and gray paint together....

 

source

 

source

 

source

 

source

 

source



 

 I've been adding some dark stain to the kitchen, along with the gray paint and I really love the combo!

 

 

I decided to freshen up my Longaberger baskets and give them a new, more stylish look.

 

before.....

 

 

 

I used dark walnut stain for the baskets (be sure to use a sponge brush)

 

 

and some leftover gray paint for the lids.

 

and after..... 

 

A completely different look! LOVE!! <3

 

 

 

 

I may distress the lids a little, but otherwise, I love my "new" baskets!!!  

 

Just out of curiosity, I went over to the Longaberger website to browse around. I'm obviously on the right track, because they now offer a "rich brown" stain that seems to be very popular!

 

 source

And if you are looking to drop some money, they are running a special on this:

source

 

a cat "treat" basket for ONLY $45 and $15 for the lid (+ tax & s/h)! And to think I probably would have bought this back in the day of my crazy, basket obsession!! :O)

 

Linky Party