SOCIAL MEDIA

Thursday, September 30, 2021

Things I Love Thursday // 9.30.21

Anniversagio

Cheers to 19! Mr. Jones and I tied the knot in 2002 and it's been an incredible journey since then. I think part of why it works so well is that we are both kinda dorky. For example, he took me on a surprise trip to Vegas for our first anniversary and we stayed at The Bellagio. (BTW, Vegas can be very romantic and lovely rather than trashy and insane --but you have to have a solid itinerary with those goals in mind.) Since then, we've only ever referred to our special day as our Anniversagio. Dorks. I love it. I love him and this life we've made. (p.s. Trashy and insane Vegas is also a fantastic trip --just maybe not for your first wedding Anniversagio.)



BENign

Our 8.5 month old Bernedoodle, Ben, is the sweetest, smartest, most handsomest Lemon you'll ever have the pleasure of being toppled over by. Even though he wakes us up too early every single morning, none of us can even imagine our lives without him. He's on twice-a-day medication to control his seizures, has a bum eye that's half-blind and might have to be removed someday, and recently underwent a removal of three growths on his back that our groomer found --leaving him looking like Benkenstein. We just heard this week that the pathology on the masses was benign! Such a relief.


The Cocktailery

My hugely talented friend, Tamu Curtis, has just opened the most beautiful storefront in Atherton Mills (South End) for all of your cocktail needs. Her story is fantastic and the woman is a force. The first time I met Tamu was for a cocktail-making class she gave in 2017 (when her company was called Liberate Your Palate). I blogged about it here and the cocktails we made that evening are fun to revisit all these years later! She made a huge pivot during the early days of the pandemic and she's been grinding and thriving since then. If you're local, be sure to find her new space at 2000 South Blvd. (in the building tucked behind Luna's Living Kitchen and Anthropologie). Follow her on Instagram from near or far and check out her website to get your hands on some of her beautifully curated bar accessories and accouterment. Greg and I were thrilled to attend her Friends & Family event last night (amazing sips, nibbles, sweets, music, and fun). We came home with so many gorgeous goodies! You'll be impressed by the quality and the prices!



Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell

I picked up this book for myself back in January while spending a birthday gift certificate at our neighborhood independently-owned book store, Park Road Books. It was on the shelf near the checkout where Sally places the current "good stuff" --I have never picked up a book from that shelf and not enjoyed it! Of course, I had every intention of reading it right away but, as ever, my "want to read" list grows almost daily and somehow, this owned title kept getting pushed off. (That's the real trouble with checking so many out from the library --DEADLINES.) Wow. The historical setting was completely engaging, the writing was exceptional, and the added pleasure of listening to parts of the book on Audible made this on of the best stories I've read in awhile.


Turkey Eggroll in a Bowl

I've mentioned this recipe before. Turkey Egg Roll in a Bowl is a family favorite and fairly easy to execute. The biggest obstacle is having a pan that is big enough! All that Napa cabbage is voluminous before it cooks down. Tips: increase the turkey, don't skimp on the ginger or spicy finishing sauce, and never skip the step where you drain off the liquid after the cabbage cooks. Enjoy!


This post may contain affiliate links and I may make a HUGE commission (j/k it's literally pennies) when you click on the links at no additional cost to you. You should know (and I'm legally required to tell you) that as an Amazon Affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Feel free to make me RICH. lol ;)

Thursday, September 23, 2021

Things I Love Thursday // 9.23.21

Guess who's back? Back again. Tammy's back. Tell a friend... If you know me, you understand how much I love Eminem despite his flaws. Let's not get into all of that. May I present to you, at long last... an overdue installment of Things I Love Thursday! 


My New Microbladed Eyebrows

Ladies, I continually thought about doing this for myself for about 2 years but always ended up putting it off because, A) it's a tattoo on your FACE; and B) it's a FACE TATTOO. Am I right? Big stuff. Granted, it is not really permanent --but you certainly can't erase it if you decide you don't like it. So... I contemplated, researched,  asked around, thought about it some more, and finally pulled the trigger. If you're in or around the Charlotte area, I am happy to refer you to my esthetician. If you're not around here, come visit! Ha! Or, do what I did: ask your friends and/or stalk the IG accounts (before and after pics) of microbladers near you and then obsessively search out their unfiltered reviews on all the other platforms to make your choice. Not gonna lie, the process is fairly uncomfortable and the price is equivalent to (more or less) 3 great pairs of jeans. The healing time is 3-4 weeks and during that period your brows change, peel, flake, and look less-than-stellar. Having said all that, I can't believe I didn't do this sooner. Cheers to saving so much time and frustration every morning!

Same day: Before, During, After

Snake Print Ruggable Runner

It's washable! That's what all the ads want you to hear first. I get it. Sounds great! But how I'm going to fit (even this runner size) into my machine is a mystery I have yet to solve. But I don't care! I immediately fell for the serpents and the colors of this Jonathan Adler Venom Sapphire Rug which could not have been a better match if the rug was custom made for our kitchen. 


Ben-Approved

A Little Getaway

Greg and I enjoyed an indulgent and fun trip to Miami recently. Thanks to his hard work and my mother-in-law's willingness to hang out with the girls, we were able to get away together for about 5 days. We stayed at the Fontainebleau South Beach and let me tell you, everything I packed was made of entirely too much fabric. Not kidding! The food, drinks, friends, weather, and people-watching were all delightfully top-notch. I am grateful for our vaccines, for the Covid tests before and after our travel, and the special time away with my guy.


Nobody Will Tell You This But Me

This memoir by Bess Kalb is the best thing I've "read" (listened to on Audible) in a long time. It's the touching, honest, hilarious, and heart-warming story of Bess's maternal grandmother and their relationship with one another. Listening to the author read it herself added another layer of meaning that will stay with me for a long time. I miss my own grandmothers very much and this was a story I needed when it fell in my lap. I love when that happens!


Volleyball

You guys. Volleyball is a very exciting sport. Especially when it is played with just enough skill --at the very particular level when mistakes and triumphs abound. It's especially enjoyable when you get to watch your kid leave her heart on the court.


New Cargo Pants

These drawstring cargo joggers from Banana Republic are my new fall favorite pants. I went into BR to check out this dress to take to Miami (a total winner and if you're shopping for dresses, consider this one and size down) and I grabbed these pants before heading to the dressing room. They are comfortable, very flattering, run little generous through the hips and bottom (thank you, BR!), and have just enough detailing to dress up or dress down. 


Panzanella Salad

This salad is amazing. I especially love that fact that my friend, Sarah, made it and did all the work and I just got to sip my wine and enjoy every bite! Sarah's the kind of cook that makes everything look effortless and easy. She'll sip her wine, tell you stories, listen to you talk about your life, and manage her household --while she chops, toasts, dresses, and serves you incredible food. I love our time together (usually around her kitchen island) even more than I love food! Here's the recipe she jumps off from for this dish. Thank you, Sarah for putting your heart in your dishes!


Target Lounge Wear

As today is the first real day with a chill in the air, I must share my absolute favorite fall loungewear. I picked these up a couple months ago and they're finally going to get some use this week as the temps around here drop into the 70s (good thing too --since our AC is out until next week). I love the pocket detail on the shirt and wide leg pant (though, they have a jogger style option as well). They could not be softer or feel more incredible. As for sizing, I went up. I wanted them slouchy and able to run right through the dryer without a problem. I bought a M shirt and L pants (drawstring at the waist and they pool at my feet --which I love).


The color is a little off in this pic. I think they're closer to the pic of the shirt (and both shirt and pants are the same fabric/color).

This post may contain affiliate links and I may make a HUGE commission (j/k it's literally pennies) when you click on the links at no additional cost to you. You should know (and I'm legally required to tell you) that as an Amazon Affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Feel free to make me RICH. lol ;)