Crunchy Romaine Toss

I debated on whether or not to even post this recipe because it is so easy.

You are basically making a salad dressing, chopping some veggies, and toasting some yummy, crunchy things.

Here's what you need for the salad:

Chopped Romaine Lettuce

Chopped Green Onion

Chopped Broccoli

Butter

Ramen noodles

Sliced Almonds

Chopped Walnuts

Grilled Chicken*optional

You can basically add whatever you want to this salad.

1. In a bowl, combine the chopped romaine, green onion, and brocolli.

2. In a skillet, melt a tablespoon or two of butter.

3. Crumble up the uncooked ramen noodles and add them to the skillet. You may want to put the ramen in a ziploc and smash it up that way. Add the sliced almonds and walnuts to the skillet as well. Toast them until lightly brown and crispy.

Do not burn them! It ruins the entire taste of the salad.

4. Cut up a few strips of grilled chicken and add to the bowl.

5. Top with the toasted ramen and nuts.

For the dressing:

1/2 cup Sugar

1/2 cup Vegetable Oil

1/4 cup Cider Vinegar

2 teaspoons Soy Sauce

Salt and Pepper to taste

I combined all of these ingredients in a old but clean jar I saved a while ago.

Just shake it up!

REALLY shake it up!

Make sure the sugar isn't sticking to the bottom. Take a large spoon and drizzle a couple of spoonfuls on top of the salad.

Boom!

What I Want Wednesday

I really want to step up my arm party "game".

Some fun stuff but also some serious glam pieces...

A certain jewelry store that I am particularly fond of MAY be picking up Michele Watches soon. 

Fine by me!

So...just in case...I went ahead and picked out a few of my faves.

Michele Deco Day Diamond Tri-Tone, Diamond Dial

Michele Deco 16 Two-Tone, Diamond Dial

I want my new and improved arm party to have a good mix of glam and hippie. So I want to add in some of  these.

Navy & White Nautical Rope Bracelet with Pink Wrap by Buoy6. $19.95

 Super Wide Rhinestone Friendship by PureEssentia. $220

Obviously, the previous one would not be an everyday thing. But I LOVE IT.

Silk Bright Pink Rhinestone Bracelet with Swarovski Crystals. $28

And back to

 glam...

Alwand Vahan bracelet from the Love Knot Collection.

Carter Love Bracelets.

My dream.

Seriously, who doesn't want a Cartier Love Bracelet?

Every arm party needs a little Cartier.

Living Social Deal

I'm all about a discount nowadays so naturally,

I love Living Social.

I have bought coupons for everything from gel manicures to pounds of crawfish from this site. 

Yesterday, I bought a deal for a year long subscription to Us Weekly for $34.00. It's normally priced at $69.

Use the link below if you would also like to purchase this deal from Living Social!

http://www.livingsocial.com/deals/345348?rpi=62904256&ref=personalized-link-box-62904256&rui=77635389

Fried Green Tomatoes

A lot of things are different when Cameron goes out of town. Some negative, some positive.

One thing I do enjoy while he is away is eating fresh vegetables. 

Cameron prefers his veggies out of a can. 

Blah.

We stopped at Hamilton's Produce in Wilmer, Alabama on the way to and from Gulf Shores last week. I bought a pound of boiled peanuts both times. On the way back, I bought a couple of their pretty green tomatoes and a box of Whistle Stop Batter Mix. 

I was kind of scared of making these because I rarely fry things. 

To my surprise, it was quick and easy. The fried green tomatoes turned out lovely!

Here's what you need:

Vegetable Oil

1 Green Tomato

Whistle Stop Batter Mix or you can make your own like this recipe

1 cup water

1. Start by pouring a good amount of vegetable oil into a large skillet. Heat the oil on high for a few minutes.

2. Mix the batter with one cup of water. 

3. Wash and dry the tomatoes and cut them 1/4 of an inch thick. 

4. I like to test the heat of my oil my dropping a little bit of the batter into the oil. If it starts frying, you are ready to go!

5. Take on slice at a time and put it into the batter. 

6. I use my fingers to flip the tomato onto the other side and to make sure that both sides are covered in batter.

7. Carefully lay each tomato slice into the oil. Cook on each side for a about 3-5 minutes.

8. Once browned and crispy on both sides, remove them from the pan and place them on a paper towel lined plate. I like to add a little salt to mine and serve them with the Comeback Sauce from the Mayflower Restaurant in Jackson. 

Glass of homemade sweet tea with fresh lemon.

Fried green tomatoes with Mayflower Comeback Sauce.

Reading 50 Shades of Grey by the pool during the day and watching Downton Abbey season 1 at night. 

I could get used to this. 

It was a great Memorial Day! Missed you though, Cam!


Here's a helpful tip from my good friend Fran on what to do with the grease.

Thanks Frannie!

Make a bowl out of aluminum foil.

Pour the grease into the aluminum foil bowl.

Let it cool and solidify.

Then roll the ball up and throw it away!

Voila!

Monday's Must Have

Summer Hair

I am in need of a hair color update.

For the last two years, I have been going to Kez at Noggin Salon in Ridgeland for my cut & color. KEZ IS AMAZING. Not only does she give me blonde hair that looks pretty natural (Yeah, in REAL life my hair is almost black) but she got my hair to grow past my shoulders. I have been trying to grow my hair out since a different hairdresser hacked it off when I was in tenth grade. Thanks for fixing me Kez!

Back to my hair color...

I get full highlights in three different colors. Two shades of blonde and one shade of brown. 

It lasts for 5-7 weeks usually. Most of the time, I am back in the salon by week 5 because I love for my hair to be bright blonde. I don't do dulll.

Check out my About Me page to see what my hair looks like now.

So here is my predicament.

It's pretty expensive and time consuming to go in every 5 weeks and get my hair highlighted. 

Would it be less expensive to just dye all of my hair?

Would it look OK if I dyed my entire hair one color?

Like this...

because Kez can totally make me look like Kate Hudson, right?

Sad Day. No she can't. But the hair will do. 

I'm thinking of asking her what she thinks of a little strawberry added to it?

What do Y'ALL think?

Is it cheaper to dye it all one color?

Will it look OK?

Should I try the strawberry thing?

Help me out here.

I just want to be like this girl all summer long.

Awesome hair, long limbs, pretty tiled pool, and surrounded by good looking foliage. She needs a better chair though.

Happy Memorial Day Everyone!!

Thanks to everyone in the U.S. Armed Forces for the amazing and difficult job they do!
God Bless all of the soldiers that gave their lives so that we could live freely!

5 Things I'm Loving

Monogrammed Yoga Mat from Marley Lilly

I just started yoga classes and I'm obsessed. 

Jack Rogers Sante Fe Sandal 

I know this year's Kentucky Derby has come and gone but this event makes me want to host my own for next year!

This pic of my precious niece Stewart that my sister-in-law Irby sent me. Love!!

My amazing parents are celebrating their 28th wedding anniversary this weekend!
So lucky to have such happily married parents.
Congrats Mom & Dad!!

String Cheese Incident

Jellyfish

Hangout Festival

2:10 mark on the video.

THAT'S US!

On the video screen. First you see Cam dancing and then you see me singing!

Check out youtube for the larger version and you can see us much clearer. 

Hangout Fest

Here's my Top 5 of the Hangout:

1. String Cheese Incident...duh

2. Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros

3. Red Hot Chili Peppers

4. Alabama Shakes

5. Gary Clark Jr. 

Sorry Dave. Sunday was not your best night. 

I am now obsessed with two bands that are relatively new to me.

Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros

Gary Clark JR. 

fast forward to the one minute mark. 

The Gary Clark JR. video was taken in the VIP area. Cam and I and behind that yellow fence watching the show along with about 30 other people.

Thank you friend for helping us change our flat tire on the side of the road in Lucedale, MS in 90 degree heat. We paid him in the beer. SCORE!

The Hangout was probably the best festival I have ever been to. Mostly because of the String Cheese Incident, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros and the BEACH!!!!

We had the best crew and BEST SIGN EVER.

I'm ready for next year!