THE VILULA TEA GARDEN

...it was a little tea room in my memories...ladies wearing white gloves and pretty hats; soft and mended old linens on the tables; and heirloom roses in crystal vases....lovely.

May 22, 2011

New Friend


This is Corby Winters, aka The Little Black Dress! Believe it or not, I met her at the Lancome counter at Belk's department store when my daughter was helping her with a product...I loved her immediately!

She is a mighty woman of God and isn't afraid to tell you! What fun...we discussed the Lord, as well as our love for shoes, handbags, and everything else! I would encourage you to check out her website - you will be so glad you did!

Go to www.corbywinters.com

May 21, 2011

Live Life To The Fullest!


Live in the Sunshine,

swim in the sea,

Drink the wild air!

Ralph Waldo Emerson


May 18, 2011

My Daughter



Here's a little bit about my daughter, Robyn a.k.a. Fluffy... She is a Free-Lance Make-up Artist and has done some photo-shoots and make-up for several commercials! She has such a passion for this and hopes to 'quit her day job' at Lancome Cosmetics and do this full time in the future...

Just look at these girls! I think she did a great job with the modern 60's interpretation of the make-up!




Here's another one...Here's my girl...isn't she beautiful?





May 14, 2011

I'm growing tomatoes!

I am so excited! This is the first time I have been able to successfully grow tomatoes (for shame, I know, I do live in the South, after all)! My friend Laura told me how to put them in the garbage cans because I am unable to dig in the compacted soil in my yard...I used Miracle Grow soil with the fertilizer in it and look at this!

An article online said to pinch the little shoots between each junction of two stems, so I have been doing that...

This is the Goliath Bush Tomato plant. It has dark green leaves and stems and is so vigorous looking! The other ones are Big Boy and Better Boy plants. I think the Goliath plant is my favorite! I love the smell of the leaves when I pinch the little shoots back every few days...I can't wait to harvest these tomatoes when they ripen and have my favorite tomato sandwich with lots of pepper! I hope I will have lots to give away, too!

This little lizard is eating the bugs around my black garbage can compost bin...I am also growing cilantro, parsley, sage, chives, basil, and flowers in pots! I am listening to and looking at the rain coming down right now...hope your garden is doing well! More photos to come...

May 10, 2011

Sisters on the fly in Appaloosa Journal Magazine!

Link http://www.appaloosajournal.com/2011/05/sisters-on-the-fly/

Check out the May Issue of Appaloosa Journal Magazine for an article about my camping group! I can't believe my picture is in it! Also, we will be in "O" magazine in the June issue (I think!)...too much fun!

May 9, 2011

May 5, 2011

This is my son Lee...caught this whopper on West Point Lake today!!! No fish was harmed...he caught and released; although we had fish at Ruby Tuesdays afterward for my Mother's Day supper!

May 1, 2011

Celebrate Cinco de Mayo on the Fifth of May with friends!



Every Monday, some of my friends and I meet at a local Mexican restaurant for Fajita Monday...we always get the same thing...either steak or chicken or mixed fajitas! Anita and I always pig-out on a huge Guacamole we share....so good! Since most of you can't join us, have a Cinco de Mayo party and invite some friends...what would we do without our Sistas and some good food, right? There's just something about breaking bread together...wouldn't miss it. By the way, I have an herb garden in my backyard and for those of you that love Mexican food like I do, plant some Cilantro...it's as easy to grow as Parsley and it adds SO much to the dishes you make.

To start out your party, try this recipe from Rachel Ray...Super Nachos...


Ingredients

  • 2 bags corn tortilla chips in 2 colors or different flavors, such as blue corn, red corn, yellow corn, lime flavored, chili flavored or black bean chips -- pick 2 favorites

Pico de Gallo Salsa:

  • 4 vine ripe tomatoes, seeded and chopped
  • 1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and finely chopped, for medium to hot heat level
  • 1 small white onion, chopped
  • 1/4 cup, 2 handfuls, cilantro leaves, finely chopped -- substitute parsley if cilantro is not to your liking
  • Salt

Beef and Beans Topping:

  • 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 pound ground sirloin
  • 2 cloves garlic, chopped
  • 1 small onion, chopped
  • 1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and chopped
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons dark chili powder
  • 1 1/2 ground cumin, half a palmful
  • 2 teaspoons to 1 tablespoon cayenne pepper sauce, giving you medium to hot heat level
  • 1 can black beans, 15 ounces, drained

Cheese Sauce:

  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups milk
  • 3/4 pound pepper jack cheese, shredded, about 2 1/2 cups

Additional toppings to choose from, optional:

  • Sour cream
  • Chopped scallions
  • Chopped black olives
  • Diced pimento
  • Sliced avocado, dressed with lemon juice
  • Hot pepper sauces

Directions

Arrange a mixture of 2 varieties of corn chips on a very large platter or use your broiler pan as a platter.

Combine salsa ingredients in a bowl and set aside for flavors to marry.

Heat a medium nonstick skillet over medium high heat. Add oil, garlic, onion and peppers to the pan and saute 2 minutes, then add meat and crumble with wooden spoon. Season meat with salt, chili powder, cumin and cayenne pepper sauce. Cook meat 5 minutes, then stir in beans and reduce heat to low.

In a medium sauce pot, melt butter and add flour to it. Cook flour and butter 1 to 2 minutes over moderate heat, then whisk in milk. When milk comes to a bubble, stir in cheese with a wooden spoon. Remove cheese sauce from the heat.

Pour cheese sauce evenly over the massive spread of chips and top evenly with beef and beans and the pico de gallo. UBER NACHOS! Serve immediately as is or, garnish with your choice of extra toppings from the toppings list.

Linky

Roxy

Roxy

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The apron I made for theFlirty/Sassy Swap!