My garden trials and tribulations this summer

My garden initially started out great this year. Everything was growing and I had minimal issues with bugs, I even added different types of melons and veggies to my repertoire. I even had so many cantaloupes at one time, I actually ran out of space in my freezer, so I began making cantaloupe infused vodka. Can you say delish? More on that in a later post. But then right before we went on vacation, my hubby was checking some melons to see if they were ripe and noticed they were extremely light. Anybody who picks melons knows that the ones that are heavy for their size and are fragrant, generally are ripe and sweet. Well, imagine our surprise when he picked the melon and it was light as feather! No really, it was light! Upon further inspection, we found a large hole in the cantaloupe and all the juicy meat was gone and we had no idea of what, who or how it happened! (see last photo) So since we were leaving we fenced the area off and went on our vacation. Whelp, our house sitter informed us that a couple of raccoons were enjoying the fruits of our labor. (pun intended) She was startled by them one day but at least we found out what the problem was.  After returning from our trip we were alarmed after reading all the horror stories on how to get rid of these pesky critters. We eventually settled on this sonic system and haven't had anymore problems so far. Unfortunately, they wrecked havoc for the short time they were here, so I'm working on getting everything together for my Fall crops.

Can any of my fellow gardeners recommend some ways they got rid of garden pests?  Any and all comment or suggestions are welcomed.

Until next time my Loves!

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Mmm...Mmm...Monday!

Anniversary Chronicles..

Many moonless nights long ago, two wild and crazy childhood adversaries decided playtime was over....and before their families combined their powers into one indomitable force known as The Lee's! The Lee's vowed to love, support and cherish one another as well as unite some powerful relative "down the way" factions and form a neighborhood conglomerate known as The Family! The Family includes following syndicates: The Lee's, Carr's, Roseman's, Payton's, Little's, Bryd's and Crutchfields!  

 

The Family has continued to grow and prosper, with each army embarking on one adventure after another. It has taken decades but the commitment and strength that these friends had in the beginning continues to this day.

 

So as each bead of morning dew clings to a blade of grass, may the love between The Lee's continue to grow and reign supreme all the way to the heavens!

Until next time Loves!

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Winter Blues

With all this chilly weather we've been having, I'm a tad bit gloomy and longing for some warmer days. Although I'm a native Ohioan, I am fully acclimated to this Central Texas weather and WE Texans are not accustomed to this drop in temperature! Seven or more consecutive cold days is considered a winter storm! I miss seeing the color green.  I cannot wait until things start growing again and I can go outside and get my full dose of vitamin D! But I'm just going to grin and grit my teeth and get through these wintry days. Until the sunshine touches my freckles once more, I will just enjoy these happy outdoor images, I hope you guys like them too!

 

Until next time Loves!

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Steals n Deals

I purchased this brand new Honeywell Enviracaire air purifier for $15 today, this size normally retails between $120-160.  I purchased it from a local retailer and its brand spanking new!  An air purifier is perfect for an allergy sufferer like myself, they remove dust, mold spores, pet dander, pollen and any other contaminants in the air.  I was on the hunt for an air purifier after staying at a hotel this summer that utilized one in the room. I slept like a baby, no dry coughs  or sneezing all night!  I am so ecstatic with my purchase...you guys are missing my happy dance!

Until next time Loves!

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The Help?

I have been busy cooking all weekend since my hubby is making it home only once a week.  I made Shrimp n Grits for brunch, and a grilled drum and Brussel sprouts!  They both were de-lishes!!! Inbox me if you need the recipe.

Until next time!

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Pop goes the weasel!

I have been drinking this strawberry, cucumber and mint sparkling water concoction since last week. This is my answer to soda pop and the fancy, schmancy water sold in the grocery stores.  The mint is fresh from the garden, and I am really pleased that something I grew is making its way to my table! Looking forward to switching things up with lemon and basil next week!  What changes have you made to your diet to support a healthy lifestyle?  Remember Loves, take baby steps...

 

Until next time!

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Lavender Bath Salt

I decided to get a head start on making some personal gifts this holiday season.  This lavender bath salt is so easy to make and a perfect gift for anyone who spends long hours on their feet.  The Epsom salt helps relieve pain and muscle cramps, while the lavender produces a sedating effect while easing tension.

To make this at home you need:

1/2 cup Epsom salt                5 drops of lavender oil            

Add the salt to your bath as you fill the tub.  Slip in the tub and relax, let your muscles loosen up and enjoying the calming effects of the salt.  Another added benefit is you will sleep so soundly after this bath.  Try this salt out and let me know what you think.

 

Until next time!

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Mmm...Mmm...Monday!

Happy Birthday to my beloved grand daughter, watching you grow makes my heart sing and my eyes weep.  Love you to the move and back!

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Cafe Pita

Enjoying a delicious lunch with my honey at Cafe Pita in Houston.  Cafe Pita was featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives with Guy Fieri and I made a mental note to check them out on my next visit to Houston, I can honestly say they did not disappoint!  The fried sardines were divine and my honey splashed them with lemon which reminded me of the times when my Dad would prepare smelts the same way.  My honey had the Hadzijski Cevap and I had the Cevap they both were incredibly tender and flavorful.  The chef Omer was kind of enough to take a picture with me and it's on Instagram so check us out!  Our waiter Milan was very attentive and we never had to wait or want for anything! We will indeed be returning here!

Instead of eating the same ole lunch time fare at a fast food joint, go visit a small bistro, cafe or diner the meals are fantastic but the customer service is what's to die for!

Until next time Loves!

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Mmm...Mmm...Monday!

San Pellegrino is an Italian brand of flavored sparkling mineral water, that I began drinking years ago in place of soda. While it is a carbonated beverage it does contain real fruit juice and sugar.  I enjoy these beverages because they are not overly sweet or syrupy.  So in between my numerous glasses of water, tea and juice on these hot summer days, I do enjoy a limonata or aranciata!  Limiting my intake of these delicious drinks are a must however, because sugary drinks are a major diet busters!

Until next time Loves!

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Rudy Dee: A National Treasure

It seems like all the great and accomplished woman, I have long admired in the creative arts field are leaving this earth in quick succession.   Luckily for us they do not go before sharing their gifts with the world.  Ruby Dee is one of these women she was an activist, actress, poet, playwright and screenwriter.  I first became enamored with after watching A Raisin in the Sun.  Her character Ruth showed so much strength and she could actually pull my eye away from the equally talented Sidney Poitier.  Purlie Victorious was a play I watched with my grandmother that we both enjoyed,  for her to be such a small woman she commanded attention when she walked on stage.  Her character in Do The Right Thing reminded me of my grandmother taking care of the residents on our street.  But none of these aforementioned characters compared to her role as the mom Lucinda, to a drug addicted child in Jungle Fever!  The intense exchanges between her and her husband the Good Reverend Doctor (Ossie Davis) and son Gator (Samuel L. Jackson)  is some of the most compelling scenes I have ever watched on screen!  I could feel the pain, turmoil and anguish she felt over her child's drug addiction!  That was magic right there!  The acting and the writing in Jungle Fever was the absolute best!  Her long career garnered her an Emmy, Grammy, National Medal of Arts, Obie and a Screen Actors Guild for Best Supporting Actress and a Lifetime Achievement Award.  To honor this beautiful woman and accomplished thespian, I will invite the ladies over this weekend and we will watch some of her movies in memoriam!

Until next time Loves!

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Landscaping Lullabies

Have you ever been tired of shopping?  I didn't think I would get tired, I know I would probably run out of money before I ever utter the words "I'M TIRED OF SHOPPING!"  But this lady here is tired!  Couple my enthusiasm for the sale on flowers at Lowe's with my struggle to get my allergies and sinuses in check has me seriously dragging.  It doesn't matter how tired my body is I can still work this mouth and scream at the top of my lungs "GO to LOWE'S"!  They have been slashing the prices on flowers since Sunday.  So after the minor success with my garden and early landscaping efforts, I took the plunge and purchased some flowers. Here's a peek at what I purchased and I will post pictures on my progress and have a final reveal.

Night Love's, see you all on the flip side!  *the pots are from Ross and Tuesday Morning*

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It's so easy being green

I wanted to share the progress of my garden with you all.  There have been some changes starting with the garden itself.  I had to remove some of my food from containers to a garden bed since they were growing so well.  Since, I would be working on and in the garden by myself,  I decide to make one using cinder blocks. I got this idea from the community garden in my area and I must say, I am very pleased the total cost to erect this structure was a mere $25.00! You can not beat that!  All the openings along the top of the cider block can be filled with herbs.  The possibilities for this type of garden bed is endless and will not put a strain on your pocketbook.  "Do people say pocketbook anymore?  Oh well, it will not strain your wallet!  The jalapeno pepper and some of my tomatoes are ripening like the Roma's and.....I can not for the life of me remember the name of the other variety!   I must be in the early stages of "oldtimer's" anyways, my Heirloom, Celebrity and Cherry tomatoes are not ready yet.  The squash, peppers and all the herbs are doing extremely well.  Clipping the Rosemary weekly has become a chore, that thing is a beast!  My Meyer lemon tree has struggled a bit due to the extreme weather changes but, I see new leaves every week.  As the items in the garden ripen I will use them in recipes and share them with you!

Starting a garden was easier than I initially thought, but in the words of one of my favorite comedians Martin Lawrence, "ain't nothin to it but to do it!"  Until next time Loves!

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Tyku Wine Bar and Lounge

This has been such a busy and productive week for me personally and professionally.  I cannot wait to put the finishing touches on some projects I have been working on, so I can share them with you all.  I have never been more ready for a weekend than this week!  My body and my brain is tired and I am running on empty.  So, if you are like me and need to find some place to unwind this weekend, I highly recommend the Tyku Wine Bar and Lounge.  It is a beautiful place to unwind and have a sip of vino and listen to some great music by the band FATSAUCE!  Yes the name is FATSAUCE!  

Now back to Tyku, this new hot spot is located in a partially renovated downtown Killeen.  The revitalization that is being done downtown is great and sorely needed and I look forward to more businesses coming to the area that cater to a mature crowd.  Tyku fills the need for people 25 yrs and up who are looking for a classy place to sip and unwind.  The decor is Asian inspired and the area where the band plays is cozy and intimate.  There is a courtyard and a convenient rotation of food trucks in the back,  for all you that need to grab a nibble.  The VIP area upstairs is nice and plush and can be rented out for private parties.

My only complaint with Tyku is they call themselves a wine bar and I have yet to meet anyone on their staff who is knowledgeable about the different types of wine and/or food pairings.  But hey, that's a small thing considering you do have a generous selection of wine to choose from.  Beer and spirits are also available for those of you who do not drink wine.  I don't know who you strange people are but hey, they have something for everybody!

Now back to the band FATSAUCE who play at Tyku.   I was pleasantly surprised with the band who have a wide repertoire of music from classic R&B to current hits.  Also since I am a tried and true hip hop fan I have to get props to the band member who did Jay Z's rap from the hit "Empire State of Mind" when he started I was giving him the side eye but he killed it!  At last, at last,  a place for grown folks to listen to live music in the area, I will most definitely be a regular here!

Until next time!

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Mmm...Mmm...Monday!

Cinco de Mayo

Hey Loves, I know I am posting extremely late this evening but I have been enjoying Cinco de Mayo today! So while I kick back with my meal and the smooth sounds of Celia' Cruz in my ears,  go ahead and have a shot of tequila on me!

Until next time!

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Earth Day 2014

Happy Earth Day everyone!  I am making a huge effort to be environmentally conscious.  In recent months I have moved into a green house, planted a garden, purchased oxygen cleansing plants, stop buying Styrofoam plates, recycled my plastic bags and the biggest accomplishment of all...plan all my shopping excursions so I wont drive all over.  I know these are baby steps but at least I'm moving forward.  Next on my list is to purchase some rain barrels.  What steps are you taking to protect the Earth?

Until next time!

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Mmm...Mmm...Monday!

Hey Loves, I missed you all last week but my allergies got the better of me and I had to make friends with my pharmacist.  I'm still not 100 % fine but I'm functioning.  So you all know my Mmm...Mmm...Monday posts are about something I really love at the moment but this post is different, its special.  I am posting about the two items I own that mean the world to me, and those are my Grandma's cast iron pans.  For all you that didn't know, I was raised by Grandmother and she instilled some serious pearls of wisdom in me that I unfortunately didn't appreciate until she was gone.  The one lesson she tried to teach me was to cook and at the time I wasn't receptive to her efforts.  My focus was on having this fabulous career and dining in fancy restaurants.  Fast forward over 20 years later and I am a wife and mother of two, who fancies herself to be a culinary dynamo in the kitchen.  If you would have told me 20 years ago that I would actually enjoy cooking, I would have looked at you crazy.  Well back to the pans, whenever my Grandmother would cook her Pineapple Upside Down cake, Cornbread, Fried Chicken, Spanish rice or Spaghetti and Meatballs she would pull out one of these pans.  Sometimes I would sit in the kitchen and help her prep some ingredients usually with a frown on my face.  Grandma must have forgot that I was going to be this fabulous career woman and would be too busy to cook!  It's funny how all those cooking lessons I was too stubborn to learn from my Grandma, I struggled to learn from a cookbook!  When my Grandmother passed away and some of her possessions were divided among my family, I asked for her cast iron pans, it seemed funny at the time because I couldn't cook a thing!  Grandma must have known that cooking for you family was a gift and that a meal could nourish your body and your soul!  So with my Grandma whispering in my ear, I will create memories for my family one meal at a time!  I love you forever and always Grandma Wilma and your pans are being put to good use!

Until next time!

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Lily's Cakes

Every now and then I come across a gem in my city that I just have to share with everyone.  Last year I had a craving for something sweet to eat but I wasn't sure what I wanted.   As I was driving to my grocer's bakery I saw the sign for Lily"s Cakes on the way and decided to give them a try.  Well I am happy to say we have had a long standing relationship ever since.  If you are a cupcake, cake pop, cake or baklava lover this is the place for you.  I have sampled many of the cupcakes and they have every flavor imaginable from Italian cream, Nutella, Coconut Cream, Red Velvet and my personal favorite Salted Caramel.  I know I'm leaving out more flavors but this is a place you have to visit for yourself.  The cakes are truly works of art, they look beautiful and taste delicious!  After my umpteenth(I know this isn't a real word but I had to use it!) visit last week I wondered who was the person behind Lily's Cake?  Well I had the pleasure of meeting the owner Lilian Halabi and she is one hardworking lady. This family owned business located in Harker Heights, TX opened in October 2012 and has already amassed a hefty following of cake lovers myself included. When I asked her permission to take pictures for my blog she was unsure at first, but when I let her see what my blog is about she said she really liked it and graciously allowed me to take photos.  She even showed me photos of some of her other creations as well on Facebook.  If you are in the mood for a little sweet treat or you want to purchase a cake for any occasion that is beautifully designed and delicious head over to Lily's Cakes and tell them Really Darn Lovely sent you!

Until next time!

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Grown and Sexy

Every year I vow to take control of my health by exercising regularly and watching what I eat.  So far this year, I am still going hard by increasing my workouts considerably.  I went from doing cardio from 3 days to 5 days a week.  I also added weight training to my schedule 3 days a week.  My endurance has increased tenfold with the additional workouts but I didn't notice a difference in the mirror until.....I changed my DIET!  Yeah I know, this should be a given thing but this IS a real struggle.  Eating consistently is really hard for me because I'm not really hungry in the mornings.   But every morning I make myself eat my oatmeal with flax seeds and chia seeds or my Greek yogurt with nuts.  If I don't eat in the morning, I will definitely overeat at lunch!  Choosing healthier options for me are now easier since my husband has also gotten on board with changing his eating habits.  We both have always worked out regularly but have shied away from making true changes to our diets.  But let me tell you honey, we both like the way we are looking and feeling!  I wish I had started earlier.  When I was younger and I would see all the older people walking and jogging around my neighborhood I use to think to myself "why did they start so late?"  Now I know, they want to grow older without any health issues or limitations.  I know this post was a bit wordy but my new outlook will bring some health conscious posts.  So make sure to support and/or join me in my quest to keep it GROWN and SEXY!

Until next time!

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Mmm...Mmm...Monday!

Hey loves, here is a post about that patio of mine I'm constantly changing.  I know I may have previously posted on my Facebook page about the patio but some things have been added that is making me love the space even more.  So last week I found the wall art from Z Gallerie and I have now incorporated that into the design.  Also, the Meyer lemon tree I have been searching for since the beginning of the year has been found, thank you very much Home Depot!  I am still tweaking the patio however and every time I sit out there I think of more improvements.   I am now looking for privacy screens or shades so I can enjoy sitting outside for a longer period of time without the sun shining in my eyes or the eyes of my neighbors beaming on me!

 

Until next time!

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