Your Friday Quickie * I Think I've Sold My Soul To A Piece of Fruit

The Wedding of Vada Purvis and John Ralph October 10, 1964, Shipman, VA

Friday!  Friday!  Friday!  I love me some Fridays!  This weekend The Hubbs and I are on the road once again.  We're in the truck, with the dogs, driving up to central Virginia to celebrate my parent's 50th wedding anniversary tonight (a few days early but with a bunch of family!) and to attend our annual family reunion (on my mom's side) tomorrow.  This is a weekend I've really been looking forward to.  And I'll have lots of photos to share with you on the Monday Manic Roundup.

But before we get to all of that, my friend Michelle at The Whole Smiths accepted my suggestion for this week's Whole (craft)Cocktail and so of course The Hubbs and I will be partaking later this evening. You can get the ingredients list on her Instagram feed. Watch my Instagram feed for pics!  And please join us!  We'd love to have more folks participate in our VHH's (Virtual Happy Hours).  

 

Ok, now that we have that stuff out of the way, here's today's little tidbit.  It all started long ago with an iPod.  And then another.  And then an iPhone.  And then two more.  And an iPad.  And a MacBook Air.  Then a mini-iPad for work.  Then I outgrew my Air and gave that to the Hubbs and got a MacBook Pro.  And now I dream of the new iPhone but my contract on my work phone isn't up yet, so I'm waiting.  Patiently.  Sort of.  <maybe not so patiently>

A few days ago, I updated my iPhone to the new iOS8 (before the update was issued that actually made things worse).  I was worried, because my iPhone is pretty loaded down with stuff and in updates-past, I've had to remove stuff just to add the new iOS.  But then I found a website that helped out.  Apparently, if you connect your phone to your laptop to update, you don't need all that space on your phone, like you would if you install the update "over the air."  Whew!  Now I don't have to delete all those photos. 

And then once I updated it, I found that Mac had installed a little icon on my home screen called "tips".  And, that's in fact what it really is.  A link to a bunch of tips!  Helpful ones.  If you haven't updated yet (assuming you even have an iPhone and aren't like The Hubbs with your Android in hand), you can check you what you're missing here on Apple's website.  And if you have updated, you can see what you just got.

Oh and I also found out from a friend that you can ask Siri "what planes are flying overhead right now" and she'll tell you!  Crazy!  I use it while walking the dogs all the time, since we live under a flight pattern.  Not that it really matters, but now I no longer have to look up and wonder where that airplane is going with all those people on board.  And now, as one always full of wanderlust, I know if I wish I were up there with them or not. 
See you this evening at the VHH!  Happy Friday.  And you're welcome.

Your Friday Quickie * Joan Would Have Liked This One

It's Friday and The Hubbs, bonus daughters and I are finally off to Iowa to go see my family and some friends and hang out for the weekend.  If you remember, we were supposed to go a few weeks ago (and go to the Iowa State Fair - now long over), but The Red Dog was having complications from his surgery and we couldn't go. 
He's healing up nicely thanks to our new friends at Shiloh Animal Hospital and the sugar bandages we've been treating him with each day.  Info on those and instructions on how to do them was last Friday's quickie. 
So, we'll be VHHing (Virtual Happy Hour) with my parents (who don't really drink) and The Whole Smiths late tomorrow night.  After that it's fun, frivolity and the Downtown Farmer's Market for us this weekend.  I'll post highlights on Monday.  
But before we head off into the great blue yonder this evening, I thought I'd honor my good friend Joan Rivers, who had been suffering complications this week after undergoing an endoscopy.  Ok, she and I weren't really friends. But I like to think that we are.  (Originally, as I sat down to start writing this post yesterday, this was a tribute to her as she was still hanging on.  About half way through, I got an alert via my New York Times App on my phone that she had passed.  My condolences go out to her daughter and the rest of her family.  I'm guessing that Robin Williams is waiting for her at the gates and they're about to put on one heck of a show.)
So, as a tribute to my self-proclaimed plastic surgery loving "friend" I offer this as a way we might all stave off the plastic stuff and try to go the natural route.  I mean we all want to keep our looks but not all of us are willing to go under the knife to do so.

Fred G at The Bliss Spa Chicago.  He's like an even hotter Anderson Cooper but he'll make you look beautiful instead of humiliate you on TV.

I've been getting facials on and off for years.  In the lean years (and there have been several - 2005 to 2010, I'm looking at you), I did at home facials, but when I could afford it, I would go once every one to three months and get a professional facial at the spa.  In Chicago, my choice was the Bliss Spa at the W Hotel Lakeshore with Fred G (Fred is still there! If you live in Chicago and/or you are in town visiting you HAVE to go see him.  And, Fred, if you're reading this, I love and miss you!).  
In Atlanta I was too damn busy trying to keep the train on the tracks, so I mostly DIYd it back then. But since moving to the Raleigh area, I've found a great Medical Spa and an even better deal.  Like, a really good deal.  Like, I keep thinking the cops are going to show up and arrest me kind of deal.  I had been going to The Skin Center of The Triangle for a while, happily getting my monthly facials, which I thought were priced really well and my skin always looked amazing afterwards.  
One day I had to have a tiny mole removed so they could check it and so they submitted the procedure to my insurance.  After which, the receptionist mentioned casually that while they were getting authorization for the mole removal, they determined that I could submit my facials to insurance, since they are to battle acne. <I'm looking at your menopause, you bitch>   That would mean I would only pay my $15 copay.  Oh, and while we're at it, I could toss in an hour long body massage, since I have some muscle issues with my hypothyroidism and it would fall under that same copay.  
I'm sorry.  What did you say?!?  I pay you $15 and I get a facial AND an hour long massage?  And I don't get arrested?  Sign.  Me.  Up.  

Hannah the massage therapist who keeps me feeling young.

For the last couple of months, I head on down to the Spa, see Hannah first for my massage. She's great and while there are moments that I think about strangling her, she's only doing exactly what I asked, which is helping to work out the monster that lives under my left scapula (that's the wingy-like thing on your back).  For the longest time I had zero range of motion in my left shoulder. And it make a cracking sound when I moved it.  Thanks to Hannah, no more cracking and I can actually move my shoulder like a normal person.

Maria, the medical aesthetician who keeps me looking young.

Once I've finished up with her, I head in to Maria for my facial.  She cleans me up, performs some extractions (I'm one of those women that LOVES her extractions - i.e. no more blackheads) and then layers on a peel to help stimulate collagen production.  So my skin looks young and fresh. And zit free, for once (note to those under 35 - menopause and peri-menopause suck for the skin.  Big time. Hormones raging everywhere and you're skin is so confused.  It sorta thinks you're back in 8th grade.). And so now I don't have to have a facelift any time soon.  I hope.  
I wobble out of there all relaxed after paying my copay and tipping the girls (note - you should always tip on what the service would have cost BEFORE the copay) and make my way back up the road to BFE, my wallet a little heavier than it would have been. 
So, the moral of this story - if you have health insurance, check with your local favorite spa (it's much more likely to be a reality if it's a med spa, that's overseen by an MD) to see if you can get the same.  And don't smoke.  And wear sunscreen (although I forget to most of the time).  And you're welcome.  And Joan, we'll miss you.

 

Your Friday Quickie. In A Word - It's Groovy!

It's Friday!  It's Friday!  It's Friday!  I'm not sure if I'm happiest that it's time for another episode of "The Virtual Cocktail Hour" with The Whole Smiths and their Whole (craft)cocktail (she's listed the ingredients for this week on her FB page here) or if that this crazy week of some angry neighbors (oh yes, they got angry about bringing the water situation to light - some even told us to move out) is over.  Either way, it's Friday so it's time for your Friday Quickie.  
And we have a guest blogger for today's Quickie.  Sharon and I go back to our pharma rep days almost ten years ago.  We've supported each other through some insane crap over the years, but now we're both married with kids (her son she birthed, mine are bonus) and our lives look a lot different than they did ten years ago when we first met.  I don't know about Sharon, but I hardly ever have on high heels and/or makeup anymore, so not only does my life look different, but I do as well.  ;-)
Sharon is a shutterbug (a fun way of saying she takes ahhhhmazing photos) and she has a great app to share with us.  Sharon, over to you!

Something Groovy for your Friday! I love photography and have a lot of photography related Apps.  I'm that really annoying person that's always taking pictures. I love those little moments frozen in time to be looked at whenever you choose. 

I have a 15 month old baby boy who must think mom has a flash attached to her forehead. I've taken at least one (some days many more) photographs of him per day since the day he was born. In my naive (first time mom) mind I dreamt I would have time to create beautiful scrapbooks or photo books documenting his every milestone -- Naive indeed! The only thing that's certain is that I always have my phone camera at the ready and far too many pics saved on my iPhone. I'm also a little old school. While I love digital prints -- particularly the ease with which you can keep what you like and delete what you don't-- I find that I have a physical NEED for print photos. I really enjoy flipping through albums, sharing with friends and reminiscing. Not to mention that I'm paranoid about my photos disappearing or floating away in the "cloud" never to be seen again. That would be devastating! 

That's where Groove Book fits in!! I LOVE this app. Those of you that watch Shark Tank probably already know about it. To put it simply, Groove Book is the best thing ever. Ok, a little more information would probably be helpful. Groove Book is an App which you can download to your smart phone. Every month, you can load up to 100 pictures into the App and get this, for only $2.99, you get your 100 pictures, printed and bound into a cute 4.5"x6.5" photo book! It's really easy.

If you want to tear them out, no worries, they even come perforated for easy removal, no mess, no fuss. I keep all my little albums together like a library and since they're so colorful, they look great in my office.

In the back of each photo book, there are two coupons to share with friends so I'm sharing mine with you!  It's a really neat service and you can cancel anytime.

Want to learn more? You can check them out at http://groovebook.com

I use Shutterfly to create our annual family photo book and vacation albums (a lot of time and effort go into those) but I'll leave that one for another time :) I'd love to share more of the things I love with you! Until next time. Hope you like it!
PS - this is in no way sponsored by Groove Book. They don't even know I exist or like them so much. I guess it's like a secret crush!

I'm off to download GrooveBook before we head to the lake so that I have a project to keep me occupied up there this weekend.  Thanks, Sharon for sharing and we'll look forward to the post showing us how to use Shutterfly soon!  

I'll see all of you this evening, I hope, posting your "Virtual Happy Hour" pics on Instagram. The Hubbs and I will have ours up (you can follow my Instagram feed using the follow button up at the top of the blog). Until then, here's to photo bombing during happy hour and saving the photos in a GrooveBook photo book and bottoms up, all!  And you're welcome.

Your Friday Quickie: Cake! Cake! Cake!

It's Friday and I'm supposed to be at the Iowa State Fair right now, stuffing my face with a corn dog (it's my splurge day, so I get to indulge in allergens.  Yay me!).  But our Red Dog (his real name is Smitty) had to have surgery a couple of weeks ago and now the surgical site is very infected. So much so, that we couldn't leave town.  Poor little guy. 

To celebrate (I don't think that's the right word, but I'm trying to remain positive here, folks) not leaving, I'm going to make this week's The Whole Smiths (craft)cocktail for the virtual happy hour and snap photos to post.  Watch for those later.  But before that, you need your Friday Quickie

Instead of me posting pics of corn dogs, Chicago style pizza and any other food I could find on a stick (you should be sad we ALL missed this), I'm going to give you guys a cake recipe.  It is recipe week, after all.  And it's Friday. Which means you get a quickie.  And a recipe. It's like a double win.

It's not on my "approved list of foods" from the doctor, which sucks.  But, I do usually make it for my birthday (yes, I make my own cake most years) and anytime I want to wow folks with my cake making abilities.  I may make it tonight, now that I think about it, for a BBQ we're going to at Matt's (Mr. Butter Poached Lobster Rolls) tomorrow.

This is not just any recipe, however.  It's my Mema's recipe.  For the best chocolate cake you'll ever put in your mouth.  I personally guarantee it.  If it's not, you can sue me (please don't really sue me). 

Here's the recipe:

Cake:
1 package of chocolate cake mix (don't get the "pudding in the mix" kind - just a regular old chocolate cake mix works just fine)
2 eggs
1 can of cherry pie filling (save 5 cherries out of the can and put them in a tiny bowl in the fridge)
1/2 t almond flavoring (vanilla will work too but it's not as good)
*your cake mix may also call for oil per the instruction on the back.  If so, I use canola oil usually.

Frosting:
5 T of margarine
1/3 cup of milk (use real milk - I've tried almond milk, etc and it just doesn't work)
1 cup of sugar
1 t almond flavoring (again, vanilla can work)
1 small package of toll house chocolate chips

Start by mixing the cake mix using the directions on the back of the box, but sub in the can of cherry pie filling instead of water.  Mix everything but the cherry filling in first, then gently fold in the pie filling, so you don't crush all the cherries.

Pour the mix into greased and floured (I use a little cake mix instead of flour in my cake pans) cake pans.  Two rounds or one long rectangle pan work best.  Bake at 350f for 25-30 minutes.  Let the cake cool completely and it works well if you let it rest in the fridge for at least an hour or so before you "frost" it.

Make the frosting just before you get ready to use it.  To do so, put the first three ingredients in a sauce pan and cook over medium heat until it just starts to boil.  Let it boil one minute exactly (This is the only place you can screw this thing up, so be sure to watch to make sure you know when it starts to boil.  Don't screw it up.  Then you'll be mad at me and try to sue me for sure.).  After your minute is up, remove it from the heat entirely and add your almond flavoring (it could bubble up a bit so have a spoon handy) then add your chocolate chips and stir it well until all the chips melt.  Then pour it over your cake.  

If you did two rounds cakes, you'll want to take them out of the pans and stack them on top of each other on a plate or cutting board that will hold the frosting "run off".  Unless you like frosting on your counter top.  Then just go for it.  The frosting will harden after a bit but before it does you can take a frosting knife and make sure the sides are coated in frosting and that everything is even. Again, let it rest in the fridge for a few minutes if you need to hurry the process up. 

Take your five cherries that you saved earlier and place them in a neat little flower shape in the middle of your cake.  Then eat it.  Several pieces.  You likely won't be able to move from eating so much cake and will need some kombucha to settle your stomach.  You can find that recipe from earlier this week here.  

And you're welcome.