I've been waiting for this day for a while now and it's finally here!  

That's right, Skinnygirl Margarita is finally being sold in Meridian!  

If you have watched (or am like me who is obsessed with) Bethenny Ever After, this is her product!

Broadmoor Discount Wine & Spirits is selling it for $14.50 and it's sure to make your day after a long hard day at work.  Stop in and tell Miles THANK YOU for selling this in Meridian!

Let me know how you like it!!

Perfect cupcakes for Easter parties

A few weeks ago, Abby D posted about these — and I thought they would make the perfect cupcakes for the upcoming Easter festivities.  So, I thought I would try my hand at them.

Tie Dye Cupcakes

Very easy, just a little extra time and patience is all that is needed.

First I started with a basic box of cake mix.  The recipe said "white" but I used what was in my cabinet.

I followed the directions on the back and then divided the mixture in to four bowls.

Using any colors you like, add some food coloring to each bowl.  A couple of drops for a lighter color and a lot of drops for a bolder color.  (I think using a couple of drops are perfect for Easter pastel colors!)

I put a few more drops in each bowl to make it show up better for the photos.  After the mixture and desired color has been reached and incorporated, line your pan with paper cupcake liners and start the layering process.

Remember to not fill the cupcake liners full, only half way to make sure during the baking process they do not over flow.

When layering, you can decide how you want them to look.  You can use just a few colors or all colors.  Spoon out a little of each color one at a time and add to the cupcake liners.

Bake in a 350 degree pre-heated oven for 18 to 20 minutes.

Let them cool for about thirty minutes before frosting.

I used my homemade cream cheese icing recipe for these.

8 oz softened cream cheese

1 stick softened butter

1 lb powdered sugar

 

To prepare frosting, beat cream cheese and butter until creamy.  Slowly add powdered sugar until creamy and thick.

No one cupcake will look alike!  =)

And Abby came over to see how I did...

Yep, it's a thumbs up!!!

Make these for your upcoming festivities and your contribution is sure to be a hit!

Happy baking y'all!!

Pregnancy photo no-no's!

One of my facebook friends is pregnant and posted a link about 12 crazy pregnancy photos.  While I'm not opposed to taking some maternity photos for my myself and my husband one day, I can promise you none of them will look anything like these!

It was hard to pick a favorite from the 12, but I do believe this one made me laugh the most...

PHOTO FROM POPHANGOVER.COM

To see the other 11 photos, click here.

Painting for a Purpose

Y'all remember one of great friends, Ashley Owen Hill.  And if you know Ashley, you all know the amazing work she does for the dogs that do not have a voice or a say in their own life.  She doesn't get any federal funding to help with the saving of these dogs, yet, she is still out there working day and night to make sure these precious dogs get the life and the help they need.

Not everyone can be a Ashley Owen Hill.  Some try and succeed for a few weeks, months — even years.  But, most of them have the backing from the state or by being a non profit organization.  Whether Ashley has the money or not, she still does not give up.  To Ashley, these dogs are her children. If you are pro-life, you might be able to understand the way she and others (including myself) feel.  These homeless/shelter/unloved dogs didn't ask to be brought into this world, yet, they are the most giving and the most loving creatures known to man.  And thanks to Ashley, these homeless/shelter/unloved dogs are now FAMILY PETS/PART OF THE FAMILY/LOVED dogs!!

Like, I said, it takes a very special "breed" of a person to be an Ashley Own Hill.  And, if you have always wanted show your support to the Lucky Dog Rescue here in Meridian — here is your chance.  Not only do you get the satisfaction of knowing that you are helping out a wonderful cause, you also get to be an artist and bring home your masterpiece!

Painting With A Twist in Meridian is hosting "Painting for a Purpose" Sunday, April, 17th from 5 - 8 p.m.  The cost per person is $45 and the best part, 50% of that goes directly to Lucky Dog Rescue!!!  And you get to paint this...

How cute is this?!?!?!  

To register for this class (this is the only class, so far, that 50% of the cost goes to Lucky Dog Rescue) call Painting With a Twist at 601-282-5575.  It's located at 3401 North Hills St. Suite A • Meridian, MS 39305.  You can also register online by clicking here.

So what are you waiting for?  Go register and help out some dogs that deserve BETTER!
 

Unique finds at LCFS

While visiting Lauderdale County Farm Supply and Gift Shop today before going out to celebrate Al's 29th (+ 10) birthday — I browsed the gift shop to see some of the new things they are now offering. 

Not only do they have beautiful real and artifical flowers...

They also have some unusual gifts that you wouldn't find anywhere else. 

These glasses are hilarious.  But, they can be used for more than just a "wine glass."  I can see these being used to hold dips for fruit or chips, etc.  And for $16.99 these are definitely affordable and will no doubt be the hot topic of the party.  I can see it now, you give this as a gift — your gift will be the one remembered out of all the others given.

And if you're looking for a wedding, baby or home gift — this is something they will keep for a lifetime.

They sell the frames that hold more than three letters and you can make it their first or last name or use their initials.  Or, you can do like the photo above and have it for your favorite team, city or state.  Such a unique gift and one everyone will love. 

Go by and see Al or Tommie at Lauderdale County Farm Supply and Gift Shop and tell them your looking for something unqiue and orginial to give for your next gift.

Happy shopping, y'all!!

Makeup Overload

Friday, I got a call from our out of town guests telling me what they had found at our local Hudsons.  When she said "Hudsons" I was immediately turned off.  Why?  Because I'm not a huge fan of that store.  As a matter of fact, I can count on one hand how many times I've been in the store.  

However, when she mentioned what they just started pricing — I was all ears!  She described her view as "Sephora, but CHEAP!"  Now, if you know how much I love Sephora, you know how intrigued I was!  Only problem was we had an event that evening and there was no way I could get down there to see all the goods.  

Driving to the air show on Saturday, she started telling me everything she found and I knew I had to go check it all out.  So, after the air show, we left the guys at home and drove on over to my least favorite store in Meridian, Hudsons.  I guess I should explain why I'm not a fan of the store.  First of all, it has a smell and I get migraines from certain smells.  Second, you have to dig.  And digging usually means your gonna get dirty.  I always feel like I need a shower after I leave, and as soon as I'm gone, that is the first thing I do.  Third, by the time I get there, all the good stuff is usually gone.  

But, to my surprise Saturday evening, they still had a good bit of the facial supplies left!  I dug and dug and dug and found my favorites that I normally pay $28 dollars.... for $1.99!  A steal I tell you.  Now, you know how picky I am, so every single item I bought either still had the seal on it or you could tell it had NEVER been used.  I'm not a nasty nice, but I do think it's nasty to use others lipsticks/makeup that you're not sure who's germs have been on it!

So are you ready to see everything I got for $20 and some change???

My Urban Decay loot:  setting spray, eye liner, two lipsticks & two eye creams.

My Lancome loot:  creme cleanser and two lipsticks.

Smashbox all over eye brush

Pretty good considering all of this would have been over $200.

This time it was all worth getting a little dirty and dealing with the accompanying headache! 

NAS Air Show 2011

Saturday, we attended the NAS Air Show 2011 and took three of the five Van Doren's from Bham.

Jennifer, Brooke and Eli

I think Eli had the most fun.  From watching the planes flying to walking around with Terry looking at all the planes.

Before and during the air show.  We had a great time!!

Some of my favorite pictures from the show...

This is the plane Angie D rode in on Friday.  She had a blast!

And we even ran into LB and her mom...

Thank you NAS Meridian for another great Air Show!!  It was wonderful and we had a wonderful time!

A little preview

The past couple of days have been VERY busy.  But, I thought I would share with you what we have been up to.

Last night, we got to visit with the Blue Angels at Northwood.

And afterward, we enjoyed a great steak dinner at The Landing.

Today, we left the house just before noon so we could see these guys in action this afternoon.

We took three out of the five Van Doren's to see them for the first time.  I captured this picture and I believe it shows how we all felt — mesmerized. 

Jennifer & Eli Van Doren

I took over 188 photos today, and tomorrow I'll have a blog post on my favorites.  

Hope everyone is having a terrific weekend! 

Budweiser Clydesdales

We got to spend our lunch today with some famous animals.

The Budweiser Clydesdales

Mitchell Distributing held a media luncheon to get an up close and personal viewing of these magnificent animals.  Before lunch, we got to watch them run, play and love on each other in the arena.  

During our yummy Squealers lunch, Nick (the guy over this hitch) held a Q & A to answer any questions we had about these beautiful "babies."  And believe me, we had a lot of questions.  

Before we started asking away, he had another handler bring up, Dixon.  

  Isn't he beautiful?!?!

OF course, my fellow State fans will love his name!  BTW - Dixon was at the Gator Bowl with his hitch on New Year's Day.  I told Nick that was fitting since every true State fan knows about "our" Dixon!

Dixon is nine years old and weighs 2000, yes, two thousand pounds!  The average age a Clydesdale starts touring with a hitch is around four.  At the age of three, they start training them to see if they are the right horse for a hitching team.  And depending on each individual horse, they usually stay on the hitch team for up to ten years.  (Some more, some less.) 

Each hitch (there are three total) tours with ten Clydesdales.  They use eight to pull the wagon.  The hitch travels in three massive 18 wheelers.  One carries four, one carries six and one carries the Clydesdales' gear and the wagon.  

  If you want to view these massive, amazing animals in person, come to the Lauderdale County Ag Center off HWY 19 South this Friday from noon til 6 p.m. 

They will also be at the air show Saturday and Sunday to help celebrate NAS Meridian's 50th celebration!

Thank you Manny, for asking us to come out today.  We had a great time and enjoyed learning more about the Budweiser Clydesdales!  

Hope everyone comes out to see them Friday and this weekend at the air show!!