The view from here

California Dreamin'

Our crazy weather ... snow in mid April y'all! ... has got me thinking about a getaway. So has my busy life. I need to relax and recharge somewhere other than here. I have three destinations on my list. One is my BFF's house in northern WI. She moved away a couple of years ago and I feel guilty that I don't know what her new home or life looks like. I am afraid she'd make me go running now that that's her thing, but maybe she'd be okay with my making the coffee run instead. My next destination would be sunny southern CA. My ex-stepmother lives there and has extended an offer to visit. I've been about an hour north of where she lives for a conference a few years back, walking the beach for hours one night and seeing the most glorious sunset over the ocean. I'd love to relive that. Finally, my good friend MPB and I have been talking 'bout Vegas for years. A quicky trip of debauchery could be just what my soul needs.

Warning

Found this site courtesy of Gwyneth Paltrow's blog, GOOP - http://thugkitchen.com/
I cannot stop laughing ... thinking of having some framed as wall hangings.
WARNING: do not look if you are easily offended

Snowed

This is an actual Facebook posting exchange from earlier today -

Sassy: Happy Birthday to the best mom a girl could ask for. Love you ♥

Me: Aw, thanks honey. It's easy when you have the best daughter ♥ How much money do you need?

Who has who snowed here?!

Loads of love

I went to load the washing machine and saw Sookie in her familiar position atop the dryer. I was startled a moment later to see an extra head. Unfortunately neither one was interested in helping me with the laundry.

Flat or full

How do you like your macaroons? They should be plump, perfectly rounded little pillows. Sadly, mine look like this -

I purchased this book - for a pittance at $5 - because I dream of living out my life in a warm climate while toiling away in a little bake shop. Ah the good life.

I toiled in my kitchen last Sunday - almond meal check, pistachios check, pastry bag check, parchment paper check, new spatulas thanks to early birthday gift from mom check, endless patience uh, no. It was hard work and required a lot of energy to keep furry kids away from the goods. There may also be a reason that book was $5. I researched my little heart out - instead of writing my school paper - and found that I need to add the sugar to my egg whites earlier in the whipping process. That's how I'll be spending next Sunday.

Happy Easter mom! 

Amazing Amazon

I've been ordering from Amazon.com for quite some time. I'm not a power shopper or anything, but I like the selection, prices and free shipping. We buy supplies for hubby's needs, shows on demand through our Smart TV and I download e-books and apps for my Kindle. I was recently in the market for a pair of beige open toe wedge heels. I purchased a black pair last year and they were the perfect summer work shoe so I fgured a beige pair would round out my needs when black wasn't the best fit.

These came into my life via Amazon -

Unfortunately they weren't quite right. I prefer not to have much space between the front of the shoe and where my toes start - it looks like the shoe is too big and my toes are squatty. So I decided to return them and notified Amazon. They instructed me to leave the box for pick up outside my front door for UPS to collect. A week passed. I notified Amazon that UPS had not picked up and received a reply that UPS had been notified. Another week went by. I sent Amazon another email last night and received a reply within moments ... they were contacting UPS. I received another reply a few moments later saying that it was too expensive for another UPS pick up so I would be credited and could "dispose" of the shoes any way I'd like. Amazing. I guess I'll be keeping the shoes after all. They weren't expensive, less than $35, or I'd feel terribly guilty. Amazon's customer service is beyond compare ... I'm a lifer.