Shopaholic in Alabama

Source: imdb.com via Lori on Pinterest What is the one thing we all love and enjoy about the holiday season? Why, the traditions - of course!  Whether it's going to my Nanny's house on Christmas Eve, attending a religious service, enjoying The Mobile Ballet's annual performance of "The Nutcracker" or exchanging gifts with best friends over wine and good food (sounds fun, who wants to join me?) - traditions made the holidays even more enjoyable for me.  One tradition the DH and I have: watching our favorite holiday movies. This generally starts about two weeks prior to Christmas, and we'll watch a movie every few nights until we have seen them all. One exception: we always stay up after midnight Christmas Eve and start Christmas morning by watching "A Christmas Story". You know, "you'll shoot your eye out"!  Source: Uploaded by user via Lori on Pinterest Another favorite is "It's a Wonderful Life". This one, w...

Happy Monday, my friends! Hope you had a great weekend. Are you ready for Santa? Not so much here, lots of work left to do! How do YOU manage holiday commitments and family time? Do you feel like you just run, run run all around town (or you have to travel and THEN run all over the place - that's what we do)? Naturally, all of our running around occurs on either Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. I can remember a time when we lived in the same county as everyone else - but would put 170 miles on our car CE/CD. Insane! When is it just too much? When do you decide to stay home? Or better yet - when you do say "heck with it" and celebrate the holiday a week early - then go to NYC and wake up Christmas morning at the Plaza? Hopefully with a light dusting of snow outside... One day, this is where Santa will have to deliver my gifts...

Happy Thanksgiving, Shopaholics! On this day most of us are celebrating the holiday with our family and friends. Activities include: eating more than we should, having more than one dessert, partaking in a little bit of wine, taking a late afternoon nap, watching a football game (Go Cowboys!). What are you thankful for this year? Of course I am most thankful for my wonderful DH, family and friends - as you would expect me to say. However, I am also thankful for the following... My health No "visible oil" on our beaches - note I said "visible" because it's still there. The fact that I can wear my Lilly Pulitzer collection all year! Not leaving on a jet plane every Monday and Friday to make a living, for a company who never appreciated it anyway... Living At The Beach Empty laundry baskets Kiehl's hair straightener and my BaByliss Flat iron - those two products changed my life! Tide Pride Season Tickets (...

Happy Thursday everyone! Hope you're having a great week, I can't believe it's almost over. I've been "off" every day since Monday was a holiday, good thing I have calendars all over the place around the house. :-) Many of you will remember that a few weeks ago I posted photos of my 40th birthday party. (original post HERE ). The picture of the Strawberry Cheese Ring my sister made created lots of interest, both here on the blog and on Facebook . I should tell you guys - this is one of the recipes that my Mother, sister and I make for almost every party we host or attend. It was originally introduced to us by the man who catered my wedding, wayyyyy back when. Then he also catered my sister's wedding. Now sure how Mother talked him into the recipe - but she managed to do so. To protect his privacy and "secrets" I won't post his name, but...I will share the recipe. STRAWBERRY CHEESE RING (2) Cups grated Cheddar Cheese (1) Cup Chopped ...

Happy Sunday everyone! Hope you are having a wonderful weekend and living it up! :-) Yesterday I attended Nana's 90th birthday party, sans DH because he had to work. Funny that Nana introduced me to one of her friends as "D's Better Half" - considering he is her grandson! HAHA. This woman has a sense of humor - can you believe she is 90!?!? Ironic that she is turning 90 - and I'll be 40 next month. I tried to spend time talking to Nana about what her life was like when she was my age. Interesting to know that she was divorced from D's grandfather (he was abusive); working full time in a factory, and raising her two sons by herself. This made me really think long and hard about how easy my life is, in comparison. Don't get me wrong, I'm certainly not priviledged - but I am lucky. While I'm on the subject, people that have no respect for the elderly, I have zero tolerance for them. Did your parents even warn you to be wary of any man who wasn...

TGIF, my fabulous friends! I hate to report that my dear BFF Priscilla woke up on Thursday morning with an awful virus and we weren't able to do lunch. All three men in her house had suffered from the virus over the past week and she thought she'd escaped. Not so fast.....so lunch was postponed until a day she's feeling better. Hated it, I spent the rest of the day chasing bargains! As our days get longer and turn warmer (it was 76 on Thursday!), I think of making Tomato Pie. This is a very traditional southern recipe and served at many of our family gatherings, including Easter! It's a perfect compliment to the obligatory Honey-Baked Ham. When I cook, I make things that are super easy. I'm a good cook, but I believe in the KISS method - Keep It Simple Stupid. This is probably why I don't make candy or bake elaborate cookies, cakes, etc. I'm also not known for my patience, so if I can master this, you can too! (Side note: wish I had a photo to share, but...

Happy Saturday to all my preppy fashionista friends! As you know from Friday, I'm trying to get over a migraine and actually enjoy the weekend. There is a very special event happening in my hometown today. The annual "Senior Bowl" is in Mobile, AL. Now most of you are thinking "what??" so I'll tell you all about it. Everyone knows "the South" is well known for their love of college football. Well actually, more like their OBSESSION with college football, and especially SEC football.  All of us GRITS are proud to be a part of those traditions. GRITS = Girls Raised In The South. :-) If you're a GRITS, at the time of your birth, your parents have a favorite team and begin the indoctrination process VERY early. I'm sure there is a photo of this Shopaholic in her Univ. of Alabama cheerleader outfit somewhere around here..... After the college football season ends (which this year my team won the national championship, Roll Tide Baby!) ther...