Happy Memorial Day

While you're enjoying your time off, whether it be with friends and family by the pool, at the beach or by the grill, don't forget those who have sacrificed their time and some, their lives, for the freedoms we have today.

Thank you to all the men and women who have served our country to protect our freedom.

Happy Memorial Day, y'all!

xoxo,

Laurie

Currently

I'll be honest.  I was afraid that this would become a weekly post for me.  You know, because I'm somewhat in a rut of dullsville.  Anyway, I think enough time has passed since my last "Currently" post to do another one.  And mostly because my operating system at work is down and I have nothing else to do at the moment.

Currently I am:


Listening...to Rock 92  on TuneIn through my phone.  I love the 2 Guys Named Chris Show.


Eating...nothing.  Breakfast was a blurrrrr around 8:45.

Drinking...Still drinking my coffee from this morning.  Just a tad on the cool side by now, too.  Have you tried the new HEATH bar from International Delights?  Holy crap it's my new favorite....replacing Almond Joy.  Yes, I have a thing for chocolate candy bars in my coffee.

Wearing....Chicos seersucker, black and white checked pedal pushers, my black, tone-on-tone Big Pony Polo (oddly, I was wearing this my last currently post), and black, strappy sandals. 

Feeling...tired.  I am still not getting a deep sleep.  I toss and turn and just can't get comfortable.  On the other hand, I am SO excited for the weekend...a long one, too!

Needing...to purchase a new bathing suit for the summer.  I cannot find anything I like and I really want to go to brother's pool this weekend.  It's going to be 90!

Wanting...a haircut and color.  Desperately needed.

Thinking...I need to get my butt back on the streets exercising.  I did sign up for a tennis league and it starts two weeks from today.

Enjoying...baking.  I've been baking up fresh bread, pretzels, and coffee cakes.  I still owe my cousin in Nashville some cookies.  It just might be the perfect weekend for cookies!

Happy Wednesday!
xoxo,
Laurie

Shabby Apple and a Giveaway

Hi, y'all!  Have you checked out Shabby Apple yet?  Sleek yet elegant style at affordable prices.  They carry everything from women's clothing (even maternity!) to swimwear to shoes and accessories.  There are so many things to see, I still haven't seen it all.  I am loving this retro swim line, though, Stardust Inn.

I love the looks from the 50s and 60s.  It's reminiscent of a simpler time.  An age of innocence that we seem to have lost through technology, but that is a subject for a post all it's own.  These clothes are just fabulous.  Here are few of my favorites:

As if the clothes weren't fabulous enough, there are fabulous shoes and jewelry.  Shabby Apple is your one-stop shopping destination.

Do you know what's even better?  Shabby Apple is offering one lucky reader a $50 gift certificate just for entering our giveaway.  They are also offering a 10% discount to all of my readers until June 15th. See the Shabby Apple Shop Now on the right for an easy click through to their site.  Use code luluanddaisy10off.

To enter the giveaway, there are two mandatory entries, but several additional entries available.  Since I use Raffflecopter, it does verify your entry, so be sure you enter your information correctly.  Per Shabby Apple guidelines, this giveaway is open to US residents only (with a US mailing address).
Here goes:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck! The giveaway ends May 31, 2012.
Happy Saturday, y'all!
xoxo,
Laurie
*All images courtesy of Shabby Apple.

RIP Donna Summer

I wasn't going to blog today, but the passing of Donna Summer has me reminiscing about my childhood.  Friday nights when my brother and I could stay up late if we were quiet.  We'd pull out our disco records (and I do mean vinyl), as well as numerous 45's and listen to our favorite disco hits while we played.  We were just kids playing with our CHiPs and Star Wars action figures and Playmobil people.

I'm not sure what song I love more.  Donna Summer was the 70's to me.  My life has a soundtrack and certain songs remind me of certain times in my life.  Donna Summer, the first 13 years of my life, you were a big part of that soundtrack.  You remind me of those carefree days of my childhood.  Rest in Peace.

{Semi} Wordless Wednesday

We're half way through the week and that is a huge hoorah!I've got a giveaway coming up from Shabby Apple next week that you won't want to miss.  I've seen a few other blogs doing a similar giveaway and I am excited to join in the fun to get their product out there.
I've been quite creative the last few months, but instead of painting or crafting, I have been baking and cooking some yummy things.

Maybe I have a sweet tooth??Happy Wednesday, y'all!xoxo,
Laurie

Soft Pretzels

If you read yesterday, you know that I made a batch of soft pretzels over the weekend. They were quite yummy so I wanted to share the recipe with you.  Of course, I found it on Pinterest, so if you follow me, you can just click through on the YUM board.


The recipe comes from the fabulous blog, Simply Gourmet Photography.  She made them with her daughter, so they are child friendly and super easy to make.  The original recipe and link are below:


Recipe:  Chindeep's Pretzel Recipe by Melissa
For the dough:
5 cups unbleached all-purpose flour  
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons sugar
4 and 1/2 teaspoons dry yeast (not fast acting)
2 scant cups warm water
Place all ingredients in Kitchen Aid mixer bowl. Beat until mixed well. The dough will be kind of hard to knead, add a tiny bit more water, if needed. Knead until soft and smooth, About 5 minutes.  I didn't need any additional water, but I did stop the mixer and knead by hand to pick up any dry pieces.  Just oil your hands prior and you won't have any sticking.

Place dough in a buttered glass bowl, cover with plastic wrap and allow to rest in a warm place for 30 minutes. It should be noticeably puffed, but not necessarily doubled in size.  I got side-tracked and so mine did double in size.  That said...I should have made 14 or 16 instead of 12.  I still made 12 and they were chubby!


Preheat oven to 500 degrees F. Oil two large baking sheets. When the 30 minutes is up, transfer the dough to a lightly oiled work surface and divide into 12 equal pieces.

Next, allow the pieces to rest, uncovered, for 5 minutes. This will make the dough much easier to handle. 


Combine 1 cup warm water and 1/4 cup baking soda in a shallow bowl.  Set to the side.
Roll each of the 12 pieces into a 28 inch rope. I have to be honest when I say...I have no idea how "long" my ropes were when I twisted them into the shape of a pretzel.

Once twisted, dip the pretzel in the soda wash, and place on baking sheet.  6 per sheet.  My baking sheets were small.  I packed up my sheets and put them in storage (thinking I wouldn't need them until we moved) so mine were tight on the rectangle cake pan I used.


Sprinkle each of the pretzels with coarse kosher salt.  I used Sea Salt because it was what I had on hand.  Allow them to rest for 10 minutes.  I kept forgetting the resting part, so I'm not sure if they rested for 5, 10 or 15 minutes.


Bake for 4 minutes. Rotate baking sheets. Bake an additional 4 minutes, or until golden brown. Remove the pretzels from the oven and brush with melted butter.  Once I applied the butter, I sprinkled 6 of them with Cinnamon and Sugar and the other 6 with salt.   Both flavors are very tasty...but my sweet tooth will tell you I prefer that cinnamon pretzel for breakfast!


I'd like to try this recipe using my sour dough starter to test it out.  That may be my weekend project.  I'll keep you posted.


I have just realized that I didn't photograph the final pretzel, but trust me when I tell you they were yummy and beautiful!


Happy Tuesday!
xoxo,
Laurie

Busy Busy Busy

My life has been really busy lately and I don't see any let up in sight.  I like being busy, but it does make for a tired me.  This weekend was no exception.

First, on Thursday, I received my May Birch Box. This would be my third box and I am loving them. This month's theme was Gossip Girl.  I don't watch Gossip Girl, but the box has lots of treats.  A Stila eye liner, Algenist repair moisturizer, a perfume sample (there is one in every box and I love being able to try these), and a small bottle of makeup brush cleaner.  I cannot wait to give my brushes a good cleaning.  Overall, I am pleased with this month's treats. Do you Birch Box?

 Next, I tried my hand at homemade soft pretzels.  I was babysitting for my nephew while my sister and BIL had a night away for their anniversary.  Can't believe it's been 5 years.  I prepared these in between playing outside and nursing a scraped foot.  The recipe to follow later in the week.

We then turned our eyes to dessert.  I've been trying to incorporate more fruit, so I thought a fruit pizza would be the best idea for dessert.  It's been a huge hit around here.  Overall, an easy recipe, too.  Don't worry, I'll be posting this EASY recipe later on, too!

Yesterday, we celebrated Mother's Day with my family at my sister's house.  Lots of screaming, running, laughing kids and some fabulous cheeseburgers cooked by my BIL.  We all brought something to go with the burgers.  I made cole slaw and prepared my favorite baked beans.  I don't kid myself, Bush's are the best.  We had a great time.  I feel lucky that, as the oldest of four, we all live in the same town and enjoy being with each other.

I hope all you other mothers out there had a fabulous weekend, especially yesterday.

Happy Monday, y'all!
xoxo,
Laurie