September Prime Purchases

AND, it's the first Tuesday in Oct. and that means I get to share with you some of my Amazon finds.

 GLOSSY  BLACK  SHOPPING  BAGS

If you have been reading my prime purchase entries for very long, you likely know that I love bags.  These are large merchandise bags but they come in handy for soooo much.  They are great for carrying things somewhere or they can even be tied with a cute bow and ribbon and used as a gift bag.  You and a friend could split them and each take half.  Either way, they are nice to have.

AMAZON

PUSH  BUTTON  TAPE MEASURE

These are the greatest little tape measures and are perfect for your purse.  I ALWAYS have a tape measure in my purse and I can't tell you how many times I use it.  These come 3 to a pack and would make great stocking stuffers and little "happies" for friends.

AMAZON

TRAVEL  MAKEUP  CASE

This is a cute travel makeup case.  It is soft sided but has plenty of body to stand firm.  It has removable dividers and it is the perfect size for my makeup and I LOVE the animal print!

AMAZON

LADIES  WALLET

Okay, I needed a new wallet and let me tell you, this is the "granddaddy" of all wallets.  I LOVE it!  It has lots and lots of space for cards, money and coins.  And, it keeps everything so organized and easy to find.  The coin and bill compartment is separate and you don't have to unsnap it to get to those.  It's easy access.  It comes in several colors and I got the red.  It is so pretty and it is real leather.   Yes, it is a big wallet but that's what I like.  If you are not into a big wallet then you likely will not care for it.

AMAZON

HEEL  PADS

Do you ever buy a pair of shoes that slightly slip on your heels.  Well, these may take care of that issue for you.  They adhere inside the heel of the shoe and will keep your shoe from slipping up and down. I have to use these a lot as I have a narrow foot but so often the shoes I want/like do not come narrow and I need heel pads on a medium width plus insoles.  If I like a pair of shoes a lot, I'll do whatever I have to do to adjust the fit.  But, they still must be comfortable.  I'm long over wearing uncomfortable shoes. 

AMAZON

RELIC BY FOSSIL HANDBAG

This is the greatest handbag!  It allows me to keep the items inside my purse organized.  It has a center zipper compartment  and that way I can have two sides to keep my "stuff."  And, it has two really big outside pockets and those are a MUST for me on any handbag.  It comes in several colors, is large but not too large and has a magnetic snap closure.

AMAZON

SPRAY  BUTTER FOR THEATER STYLE POPCORN

If you like buttered theater popcorn, then you will love this spray.  I love popcorn and I love butter on it but I don't want the calories that butter adds.  This spray is calorie free and oh, so good.  No joke!  I have never seen it before but it will now become a staple at our house.

AMAZON

BARF  BAGS

Okay, now stop laughing!  I had no idea you could purchase these until I recently saw them in someone's car.  I immediately ordered some and have shared them with my children.  It seems that all of our Grans have at one time or the other thrown up in the car and these would have sure been handy. Yes, a child does have to be old enough and able to hold them but anyway, not to be gross but felt I owed it to you to let you know these are available.  They are packaged very compact and then open up to a large size.  Enough about these.  

AMAZON

HOTOUCH  PJ'S

I shared the capri version of these back in the spring and now that cooler weather is around the corner, these would be nice to have.  As I said, I use these for lounging clothes but they are pj's.  So, suit yourself and wear them for either or both.  These wash  and wear well.

AMAZON

That's it for this month and remember, Christmas is just around the corner.  So, perhaps these posts can help you with your Christmas shopping ideas.

Wishing each of you splashes of joy!!!

The Wednesday Hodgepodge

It's good to be back with the HP.  I've been MIA the last 2-3 weeks but I'm back with it and ready to answer Joyce's questions this week.  

1. When is the last time you experienced nostalgia? 

Just the last couple of days.  Unbeknownst to me, daughter and son days were just observed.  While I didn't really acknowledge them on those days, I did do a lot of reflecting on "bygone days" and what a wonderful privilege it is to be their Momma.   

 

 2. September 29th is National Coffee Day. Do we need this? Ha! So are you a coffee drinker? If so how many cups per day, and tell us how you like it. Is there a recipe you enjoy that calls for coffee as one of the ingredients? 

No! we do not need it but there seems to be a day for just about any and every thing.  Yes, I have been a coffee drinker for many years.  My paternal Grandpa started fixing me milk coffee when I was 6 years old and I've loved it ever since. I start my day with a cup and probably drink 2 full cups a morning and I only drink out of an insulated mug. I'm only into HOT coffee, not lukewarm.  I like powdered creamer, a heaping teaspoon of Stevia and about a half teaspoon of cinnamon.  Yum, it's so good!  Funny that if I have coffee any other time of the day I only want the creamer.  I only do sweetner and cinnamon in the morning.  I can't think of a recipe that I use that calls for coffee. 

 3. Do you find praise or criticism to be more motivating? Explain. 

In general I find praise to be far more motivating and believe that it is for most folks.  But, if criticism is done in a constructive way, it, too, can be motivating.  I'm all about praising folks and try to do my fair share of it.

         4.  What's a television series you keep coming back to and re-watching? 

                                                                    I can honestly say that I have never re-watched a television series.  I've just never been into watching series or movies again.  An added note......Tommy and I started watching the TV series, Heartland, about a month ago and we are enjoying it.  It should keep us busy for a while as it is 13 seasons and we are just now on season 4.  We've really gotten into watching series on Netflix and Prime in the past year.  We love choosing our time and not being interrupted by commercials.

 5. As the month of September draws to a close give us three words to describe your mood. 

 6. Insert your own random thought here.

Last week Hubby and I went to Atlanta to see Tommy's sisters and their husbands.  The 6 of us then went to Highlands, North Carolina for a couple of days.  It is such a lovely area but it rained the entire time we were there so we didn't get to enjoy the true beauty of the area.  We stayed in a lovely home high up on a mountain and might I add, up a VERY curvy road. ~smile~  We had a great time being together.  AND, I was real close to Joyce's neck of the woods and we did discuss meeting up but it just did not work this time.  But, hopefully there will be another time.

And, if everyone would just remember this:

Wednesday's Hodgepodge

1. What's one thing you learned at the ripe old age of whatever age you are now?

I've known for a long time that I truly have NO control over so much but this whole Covid mess has really taught me how little control I have.  I mean, all the fretting and stewing over the way things are will not change them and some days I feel so powerless.  This is especially true when it comes to my precious Daddy who lives in an assisted living facility.  I have had to ask the Lord for calmness and patience more times than I care to admit. And, I know HE is in control and who better to be?

2. I read here a list of foods that can help you look younger-

extra virgin olive oil, green tea, fatty fish, dark chocolate, vegetables, flaxseeds, pomegranates, avocados, tomatoes, spices, bone broth

How many of the foods listed have you tried? How many do you eat regularly? Your favorite from the list?

I have used olive oil in cooking but not regularly, I do love dark chocolate, especially with an almond included, I eat most vegetables and I like most spices.  I regularly eat dark chocolate and vegetables and I use various spices on a regular basis and their generally on the "hot" side of spicy. I mean, we live in Louisiana and that means "hot and spicy."

3. Something you miss from the 'good old days'? When were the good old days anyway?

I think my growing up years were 'good old days."  There were few to no interruptions, great TV shows that were so family friendly and we didn't have the need to be in constant communication with each other.  Life was slower and a bit sweeter.  I do love my life as it is now but it is such a contrast to my early years.  I often wonder what it would be like to go back to that slower and calmer lifestyle.  And, one where the Sabbath was truly a "day of rest." 

4. What are two or three of the most rewarding things to be found in growing older?

Wisdom - I have certainly gotten wiser with each passing year.  Now, I certainly have a whole lot more to gain and I imagine as long as we are living that is the case. 

Realizing I don't always have to say yes - It was such a freeing time in my life when I realized that I had the freedom to say no to things either I did not want to do or did not have the time to do and did not have to give an explaination for either. 

5. What's your favorite part of your life right now?

Good health and a life that's fairly balanced with pleasure and those things over which I have responsibility.  I thoroughly enjoy the phase of life I am in and hope it will continue for many more years.

6. Insert your own random thought here.

Last week I took my annual trip to the woods with Hubby.  I always go once a year when he is getting his deer stands prepared for hunting season, putting out feed and sitting up his camera.  If the truth be known, at this point in his life, he enjoys this far more than hunting.  He has been hunting for 60+ years and has killed about all the deer he ever cares to kill, had the thrills and isn't all that fond of the early morning hunts and the cold, cold weather.  It was a bit of a cooler morning when we went and once we sprayed ourselves with OFF, the mosquitos left us alone.  It was an enjoyable time sharing the great outdoors with my favorite fella.  

The Wednesday Hodgepodge

Wowzers, it's already September.  I mean, Christmas will be here before we know it.  I told someone the other day that I sometimes think that Christmas rolls around too often and that perhaps it would be better if the gift giving part was only every 5 years.  We could celebrate the birth of our Savior every year but the gift giving can get to be a little much sometimes.  But, hey, let me move on to the questions at hand.

1. The Hodgepodge lands on the second day of a brand new month. Tell us one thing you're looking forward to in September.
Tommy and I will be going to the Atlanta area to see his two sisters and their husbands in about 3 weeks and we always enjoy our time with them.  We're even going to take a little side trip to The Highlands with them.  Perhaps more fall than summer will be in the air by then.

2. Do you enjoy browsing second-hand shops? Last thing you bought or 'inherited' second hand?

It all depends on the shop.  I went to a second hand home decor shop last week with a friend and left almost as soon as I went in.  It was sooooo disheveled and unorganized and while I'm pretty sure they had some great "finds", I just didn't enjoy trying to browse through the store.  Give me a well put together second-hand shop and I'm all in.

3. Something you had second thoughts about after committing to, purchasing, or posting/commenting  online?


About a year ago I purchases a couple of pieces of Copper Chef pans.  I had heard so many positive comments about it that I felt I just had to give it a try.  I definitely had second thoughts as I didn't really need any more cookware but I really wanted some that was non-stick.  And, let me tell you, Copper Chef delivered!  I have bought more pieces now and will eventually replace all of my stainless steel cookware with this. 

4. What's a product or service you use that you'd rate as second to none?




I am a big fan of L'ange hair products but this hair dryer is one of my favorites.  I've had my dryer a couple of years and it a lightweight, quiet and quick to dry.  You can check out L'ange products here.

5. Something you do so often or that comes so naturally to you it's second nature ?

This will likely sound silly but I'm always picking up or straightening up.  No joke!  I live by the motto, "don't put it down, put it up."  Of course, with just Hubby and me here most of the time, it's not that difficult, but back when the kids were at home, it was a full time job.  I try to never let clutter and stuff get ahead of me.  Yes, I'm one of those people and doubtful at this point that I will ever change.  It truly is second nature for me.

6. Insert your own random thought here.

I'm fairly certain, unless you live under a rock, that you have heard about the devastating hurricane, Laura, that hit Louisiana last Thursday.  The worse hurricane to ever hit.  We live in the Northeast part of the state and by the time it arrived here it was a category 1 with winds about 70mph.  It  was the first time in over 150 years that a hurricane has hit our area.  While there were lots of home damaged, tons of trees downed and tons of debris strewn everywhere, there is no comparison to the damage in Lake Charles, where the hurricane landed.  A lot of our area was without electricity for some time and a few are still without.  We were able to house some of our dearest friends in our guest suite while they were without electricity 3 days.  We were out for 2-3 hours but we have a full house generator and were most grateful for it.  You can ride around and see lots of roofs with tarps pulled across areas of them, trees piled on the sides of the road and we have a lot of evacuees staying in our 3 local hotels.  And, schools have been closed since last Thursday.  They had just started last Wed. and boom!  While everyone was concerned about how the Covid was going to affect the school year, no one was expecting Laura to come this far north.  So, it's just one more thing that 2020 has thrown our way but, as they say, "we are Louisiana strong."  On a side note, our porches were the only thing that required attention here after the severe winds and rain.  We have no trees and both Hubby and I are so grateful because for 35 years we lived where we had trees upon trees and had massive cleanups following any bit of storm. I was able to get both porches back in order very quickly.  But, the dear folks in Lake Charles may never fully recover.  I can't even imagine living through such devastation.

Sending you "splashes of joy!"

August Prime Purchases

Can you believe, it's the first Tuesday of Sept and also the first day of Sept. What a year this has been and I don't want to rush time, but I'm ready for 2021 to get here and hopefully bring with it, some kind of normalcy.  We can always hope can't we?  But, for today, I'll share with you some of my Prime Purchases.

SHEETS

I'm pretty sure I have shared these sheets with you before, but I ordered a couple more sets and wanted to make sure you hear about them again.  These sheets are just great and for such an affordable price. And, they have such a great color selection.  I like to match my sheets to the bedding and with all these color choices, that's pretty easy.  If you are in need of sheets, then you just might want to give these a try.

AMAZON

TOUCHLESS  SOAP  DISPENSER

I love touchless soap dispensers and just ordered this one for our guest bathroom.  I have one in the kitchen also.  I feel like those are the most used places for hand washing and guests use our guest bath and this seems to be a wise choice in these "germaphobic" days we are living in.  It comes in 3-4 finishes to match whatever you decor may be.  It works great, you just have to remember that it will not work with a thick handsoap and will often get hung up.  I always Simple Human hand soap in the two dispensers I have and they never miss a beat.  It can also be found on Amazon.

AMAZON

PIKO  TOPS

I remember the first Piko top that I ever bought about 8 years ago.  I loved it and they are even better now as they loosened the sleeves and that was a wonderful improvement as they were skin tight.  I enjoy wearing these with leggings on a real casual day.  They come in soooo many great colors.  If you are looking for a great casual, comfortable top, this is for you. 

AMAZON

SET  OF  3  WOODEN  SERVING  TRAYS

These are like small Charcuterie boards and so nice looking.  They are a great size to use for a cream cheese block with a sauce over it with wheat thins.  And, I think they would make a great gift with cookies or candy or perhaps both placed on them.  They come 3 to a pack  and they would work well along with a large Charcuterie board.  As someone said, Charcuterie boards have become "works of art."  And, I heard someone refer to them  as "grazing boards" as well,  So, suit yourself, as to what you call them.

AMAZON

FOUNDATION  BRUSH

I LOVE makeup brushes!  I have never used them for my foundation until lately and I don't think I'll over go back to applying it with my fingers. I ordered this foundation brush and LOVE it and I love the way it smooths out my foundation.  The short bristles make it so easy to manage and it works perfectly for applying foundation.  I have learned a lot about using makeup brushes from watching You Tube videos.  I'm pretty sure there's a You Tube video on just about anything you want to learn how to use or do. And, makeup brushes can cost a small fortune but this one is very reasonably priced.

AMAZON

AIR  WICK  AUTOMATIC FRAGRANCE DISPENSER

A sweet friend of mine gave me one of these a couple of weeks ago.  I liked it so much that I ordered one for my husband's office.  They are automatic fragrance dispensers and work like a charm.  I have mine on the top of a cabinet  just as you walk in our garage door.  It keeps such a fresh smell in the air and they make Lysol spray for them as well but, of course, those are not to be had right now.  They are battery operated and I have mine set to go off about every 15 minutes.  It has 3 settings and I'm not sure how long the batteries are going to last but I'm sure a while.  You can get a few different fragrances but, I prefer the Fresh Linen

AMAZON

So, there you have it and if you see something you want to try, click on the link and order it.  It's just that easy, in fact, Amazon shopping it wayyyyyy tooooooo easy and convenient.

And, I leave you with this............

Etouffee - Louisiana Style

I've had several folks to ask me for this Etouffee recipe  and decided to make a blog post out of it as their may be others of you that would enjoy having this ULTRA easy and quick recipe for some yummy Louisiana eating.

A sweet friend gave me this recipe about 20 years ago and I've never made Etouffee any other way.  She served it at a club meeting and we all thought that she had slaved over the stove for hours making this.  But, I'm telling you from start to finish it takes about 30 minutes.  The hardest part is opening all the cans of soup. ~no joke~  You can thank me later.........

Etoufee

from the kitchen of Lea Culp

3 cans Golden Mushroom Soup

1 can diced Rotel Tomatoes

1/2 pkg. frozen Seasoning Blend

1/2 stick of butter

1 lb. boiled shrimp or 1/2 lb shrimp and 1 lb. of crayfish

Saute' Seasoning Blend in butter and then add all other ingredients and simmer

for 30 minutes.  If you do not use a non-stick pan then be very careful as

this will stick and burn and that would be real aggravating!  It is served over rice or some folks prefer angel hair pasta. Suit yourself!

My personal notes:  This is easily doubled or tripled and freezes like a dream. I always triple it and I use 2 pounds of shrimp and 1 pound of crayfish.  You can suit yourself on that.  All this dish needs is a salad and french bread and dinner is ready.  It is such a crowd pleaser!  And, if you want to thin it some, just add Chicken Broth to get the consistency you desire. 

Now, go copy and paste the recipe over into Word, run it off, and you'll have this for future use.  

I thought this was a very timely quote for this recipe and the times we are living in.

The Wednesday Hodgepodge

It's Wednesday and that means it's Hodgepodge time.  Enjoy!

1. Five years ago this month hubs and I relocated from New Jersey to the Palmetto State. What were you doing five years ago this month?

On August 14, 2015 we moved in to this house.  We had been in our former house for 35 years and had spent a couple of years working on the plans for this house.  It was a HUGE move but we have so enjoyed these past 5 years.  We were still unpacking boxes, and getting settled when we got a phone call from our daughter that she had just gone into labor and that we needed to head that way. Coleman was due the first week of Oct. but decided to make his entrance on August 31, 2015.  So, off we went and believe it or not, they had just moved from Texas to OKC (like 2 days before), and they had boxes on top of boxes and they needed us to start unpacking and get their house in some kind of order.  I look back on it and cannot believe we survived all of it but we all know that's just what parents do.  It makes me tired just recalling it. ~chuckle~

2. What was the last 9-5 job you worked? Tell us about it.
Well, we are really digging up memories today for sure.  My last job was a bank teller, a job I had until I "retired" to enter Motherhood 43 years ago this month.  And, in those days, it was an 8-2 job.  It was the greatest job on earth and I so enjoyed my banking days.  

3. Plead the fifth, high five, take five, it's five o'clock somewhere, or the big 5-0...which number five phrase relates to your life in some way currently? Tell us how.

I think I would have to say "plea the fifth" and that's rare but there have been a few times in the past months that I have had to "plea the fifith" when things turned political. Now, that's mentally, not verbally.  I just choose to keep my mouth shut.

4. During this season of spending so much time at home, what distractions get in the way of being your most productive? Or have you been extra productive since this whole thing started?

I would have to say I feel I have been very productive.  The first few weeks I cleaned out, straightened up and reorganized things that were already organized. ~no joke~  I have baked and baked and baked some more and I picked up crocheting again.  I did get distracted with the Netflix series, Anne With An E at the very first of the pandemic.  But, I'm much happier with busy hands than idle hands. 

5. Give us a list here of your top five anything.

These were the first 5 things to come to my mind and I'm sure our country's current state of affairs had a lot to do with that. 

5 Day Makers

1 - Start your day with a quiet time with the Lord. It's a difference maker!

2 - Do something nice for someone everyday.

3 - Always be kind.

4 - Always be encouraging.

5 - Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

6. Insert your own random thought here.

We were in Oklahoma last week and while we were there we celebrated this little guy's 1st birthday.  His actual birthday is this Friday but since we were there Bridget decided to go ahead and celebrate.  He had no reservations at all about digging into his smash cake.  He is the happiest little guy and totally mesmerized by his two older brothers.