Friday Favorites

She says...

Good morning and Happy Fri-yay! I am flying solo today since my hubby is at the camp; hopefully he will bring home some fish. I am linking up with Narci, Erika and Andrea to bring you my favorites for the week. I am excited about today's favorites and hope you will be, too.

First up is Reese Witherspoon's Whiskey In A Teacup. I started reading this book at the beach and plan to finish it over the weekend. It has great personal stories with some little nuggets of wisdom thrown in. Plus, I have found some new recipes I want to try at our next gathering.

Whiskey In A Teacup

Favorite #2 is a product I recently discovered on Amazon. This exfoliating cleanser is perfection in a bottle. It has organic extracts, tiny little beads for gentle exfoliation, awesome reviews and it smells so good!

Botanic Tree Glycolic Acid Face Wash

My third favorite is watching the new season of Comedians In Cars Getting Coffee on Netflix. My all-time favorite comedian, Sebastian Maniscalco, is included this season along with Jamie Foxx, Seth Rogan, Eddie Murphy and several others. Y'all go watch it!

My last favorite is a SWEET doormat for your front porch (it's a southern thing). Target has some really charming things for your home at affordable prices. This rug would look great layered over a larger rug with a black and white check or pattern for added texture.

Home Sweet Home doormat

That's all for this week. Have a wonderful weekend!

Friday Favorites

She says...

Happy Friday! Today we are linking up with Andrea, Erika and Narci with our Friday Favorites. Hope y’all are having a great week. We had a good week and were relieved that Tropical Storm/Hurricane Barry was not as bad as forecasted, at least for us. There were areas of our state that were impacted by the storm surge and some flooding. We are keeping our neighbors in our thoughts and prayers. 

My first Friday Favorite is near and dear to my heart. Our dog, Spot is definitely a favorite and so is this artwork we found in the French Quarter. Our daughter, Kelsey "spotted" it in a gift shop and we just had to bring it home. Notice the resemblance? 

I spend most of my workday on a computer and a lot of free time looking at a screen. So the next favorite I’m sharing is a pair of blue light readers I found on Amazon. These make a huge difference on my eye strain and with the blue glare. 

Lastly, our daughter came home Monday night from her trip abroad and came back bearing gifts for everyone. One of the things she shared was some delicious Cadbury candy. What a treat for my sweet tooth! Ha!

He says...

My Friday Favorites are related to hunting and guns. If you find these topics offensive, you probably want to pass on reading my post, this week.


Ladies....if your significant other is a hunter and you're a good better half, you may want to share this with them. If you're a great better half, you can start making your Christmas List....but, only if the lesser half is still on the good list! These will be some of my fav's that most duck and deer hunters would probably agree are some pretty good favs. I'm going on a weapons theme this week with a pair of my favorite long guns.

For the shotgun, my go-to for waterfowl hunting is the Beretta A400 Xtreme Unico. The model I own is in the Max 5 camo with the patented "kick-off" system and a 28" barrel. The gun cycles on the "Blink" gas operating system with rotating bolt. That just means it cycles shells really fast and smooth. The synthetic stock and aluminum receiver make this a very lightweight shotgun that swings fast and easily on passing blue rockets! The gun is a 12 gauge, chambered to allow 2-3/4" through 3-1/2" ammo without any adjustments. It cycles low brass and magnum loads, flawlessly. The kick-off system is built into the butt stock and acts like a shock absorber...actually, two of them...to reduce recoil - and it works! The shotgun comes with adjustment shims which allow you to adjust the length-of-pull, comb height and cast. Here is a good article on just what all of that means to those that don't know. Getting the proper fit makes all the difference in the world when it comes to bringing down the birds consistently and effectively. I run some of the factory chokes with it as well as some Kicks High Flyer Chokes that are really great aftermarket add-ons. In a nutshell, this shotgun is a lightweight, fast swinging, easy on the shoulder gun with very low recoil and muzzle jump. Beretta offers other variations of the A400 with regard to color, barrel length and without the kick-off system...but, why not have the kick-off? By far, this is the smoothest shooting shotgun I have ever shot. Be warned, this shotgun is a bit pricey. Personally, I feel it is worth every penny! Here is a look at my A400 with a strap full of blue-winged teal.

In the rifle department, my go-to for medium to big game is a bolt action rifle I have had since the early '90's. It is a Weatherby Vanguard in what they termed the "WeatherGuard" since it was offered with a lightweight, synthetic stock. Although this rifle can be chambered in a number of different calibers, my choice was the 7mm Remington Magnum. The current WeatherGuard models are slightly different than mine in that the new ones have inserts on the pistol grip and forend whereas mine has the traditional checkering. My two-stage trigger has been worked to a 3.5 lbs. pull....a far cry from the factory, lawyer-proof trigger pull. I'll admit, it's not a gun you want to take to the range and shoot a box of shells through. It certainly packs a punch on both ends. But, when you squeeze the trigger on a wild game animal, you tend to never notice recoil! Weatherby has always been a brand synonymous with quality and fine workmanship. Although much more affordable than the Mark V counterparts, I don't feel they cut any corners on the quality and craftsmanship with this one. As for optics, I'm a firm believer that a person should not skimp on glass. After all, a rifle is only as good as the scope that is on it. Having said that, there are people that will tell you your scope should cost twice as much as your weapon. I'm not one of those guys. The scope I have on this gun is a Nikon Prostaff 3x9 x 50 mm. The Nikon Prostaff series is a mid-level scope that is a great compromise of price and quality. For the average hunter, the Prostate glass offers good clarity. Save your money for the really expensive binoculars....you're going to be looking through them much more than your rifle scope! Here is a view of this rifle and scope overlooking a calm morning in the South Louisiana marsh.

Just a shout of thanks to all of those that asked about us during the Barry "event." There are a lot of people thankful for the ridge of high pressure over us which kept the rainfall amounts much less than what they were forecasted. Have a great weekend!

Friday Favorites

She says...

So glad to link up with Andrea, Erika and Narci to share our Friday Favorites! There is a Tropical Storm headed straight for us this weekend, hopefully Barry will be a mild one. Lord knows we've seen much worse!

Here are my favorites for the week (nothing in this post is sponsored, just sharing what I like):

First up, my new favorite snack. I have a sweet tooth and anything sweet and salty is even better! I tried Snappers Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Pretzels when I was shopping at Costco last month. (They also come in Milk Chocolate). 
Of course, I bought a bag to bring home because they are delicious. And if you are watching calories, one "cluster" is just over 50 calories so that is not bad for something that is a treat. They remind me of candy turtles, without the nuts.

Snappers-sea-salt-dark-chocolate-6oz link  

My second favorite is this button down chambray dress from J Crew Factory.  I can see myself wearing this dress most of the year with the warm seasons we have here in South Louisiana. The cotton/tencel fabric is so lightweight and perfect for the hot and humid summer months. I'm loving the sale price, too!

J Crew Factory Dress link


I love to read autobiographies and memoirs and this one did not disappoint. I remember listening to Tina Turner as a teenager in the 80's and loved her music. MTV was just getting popular and I remember watching her dance in high heels like it was easy. This book includes memories about her past with Ike, her struggles and of course, her rise to music stardom. But there are many more chapters in her life, including her love affair with her husband, Erwin and her son's suicide. 

Tina Turner My Love Story Link


My last favorite this week is extra special, Boiled Blue Crabs!  I am so lucky that my hubby had a meeting in Chalmette on Monday. On the way home, he stopped by Today's Ketch to pick up the best boiled crabs around. They are really good and spicy! I snapped a picture to share with y'all; don't be jealous. 😍

He says...

This blog isn't big enough to hold all of my favorites! One thing for sure that can go down in the books as a favorite is Chevrolet Trucks! I've owned Chevy Trucks nearly all of my adult life. My current driver is a 2006 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD. It has the Duramax diesel with the Allison transmission.

13 Years Strong

When we bought the truck new, I told Anne we were going to keep it for 10 years or 300,000 miles....whatever came first. 10 years later, I was close enough to 300,000 miles, I said, "What the heck? Let's go for the 300,000!" About a year later on July 31, 2017; we hit that mark!

Where were you when your Chevy Truck turned 300,000 miles?

Two years later and a very short daily commute only has it at 325,000 miles. This truck has seen two kids start/finish college and a third starting his third year. Next stop, 400,000!

On the truck subject, I found this really neat group called the Chevy Truck Legends. To be eligible, you simply need to be a loyal Chevy Truck owner and currently own a truck with mileage in excess of 100,000 miles. If you have been a loyal Chevy Truck owner, give them a look. Since joining, they have sent us some really cool swag; like the raised metal badge, below. 

Being from South Louisiana, I think it's only logical to say one of my favorite things to do is fishing! I love coastal, saltwater fishing for redfish and speckled trout. One of my favorite fishing rigs is this Bass Pro Shops baitcasting combo consisting of a Johnny Morris Signature Series reel above a Johnny Morris Signature CarbonLite, micro-guide rod. 

BPS Combo w/Berkley XL with a Swim Bait

The reel is a 6.4:1 ratio which I find is a happy medium between the high speed retrieve and the low gear power reels. The rod is a 7' length, medium power, fast action rod. The (12) micro-guides keep the fishing line aligned, minimizing memory curl along the length of the rod, allowing you to cast a country mile! This is a perfect combination of length and power to battle broad shouldered redfish; yet, fast action and light enough for wearing out the specks. I haven't seen the micro-guides on the CarbonLite rods in a while. I was skeptical when they first came out. But, I am sold on them, now. I'm not quite a braided fishing line convert, yet. I have a few heavier rods rigged with braided line; but, I still prefer mono and fluorocarbon line. I'm usually running 12-14 pound test on most of my gear. For mono, I like the Berkley Trilene XL Smooth Casting and the Berkley Trilene Big Game. I have started converting over to the more expensive fluorocarbon line. Since I've had great success with Berkley Lines, I've been giving the Berkley Vanish Fluorocarbon some use and liking it, thus far.

And, like Anne, I'm not a paid or endorsed sponsor for any of the above items. But, if Chevy wants to buy me a new truck or BPS wants to send me some new rods and reels......I'll have more of my favorites! LOL

Please keep all of the folks in Barry's path in your prayers. This doesn't seem to be much of a wind generating storm. But, it looks like it will be a slow moving, rain deluge that will probably generate some flooding.

Trader Joe's Beauty Bargains

We have a Trader Joe's in our area and enjoy shopping their great selection of bath and beauty products. If you have been to TJ's before, you know their store brand is great quality and reasonably priced (Plus, if you are not happy with a product, TJ's will refund your purchase).

The beauty products I am featuring are all less than $10 and most, less than $5. Favorites from left to right:

1.  TJ's A Midsummer Night's Cream - This can handle your dry skin, even in the winter months. It is made with a blend of avocado oil, jojoba oil and aloe making it soothing and replenishing. It is unscented so it works for anyone. 

2.  TJ's Enrich Moisturizing Face Lotion - Troy & I both use this daily because it is fragrance free and has SPF 15. It has a light, non greasy formula that is enriched with vitamins A, C & E. It is PABA free and does not clog pores (Yay!).

3.  TJ's Hair Mask - Ahh, this smells like the beach! It's heavy duty moisture for your dry, summer hair with shea butter and coconut oil and vitamin E. Just leave it in for 3-5 minutes and the deep conditioning formula leaves your hair soft and silky (It also helps with tangles).

4.  TJ's Spa Facial Cleansing Pads - The hot summer months can definitely bring on the shine. I combat it with these natural wipes that are refreshing and soothing. It is formulated with botanical ingredients like tea tree oil, calendula and witch hazel. 

5.  TJ's Coconut Body Butter -  Luxurious and thick, but not greasy and smells like a tropical paradise. My favorite thing to slather all over my feet during sandal season (which in Louisiana, lasts 3 seasons). It is made with coconut oil, shea butter and Vitamin E.

Weekend Breakfast

In South Louisiana, we are known for our good food. Cajuns (myself included) love to cook, eat and entertain our family and friends.  While I do most of the cooking in our household, my husband shines in the breakfast department. We all love Troy's delicious Belgian pecan waffles, fresh fruit and bacon. I followed him around in the kitchen this morning to show you how he does breakfast:

First, make the waffle batter

Follow recipe on box, plus add a little sugar

Cracked pepper bacon

This waffle maker is the best

Swoon worthy!

Have a great weekend and give Troy's waffles a try!

Happy 4th, Y'all!

Spot Celebrating the 4th

We are enjoying this holiday and started with a stop at one of our favorite bakeries in New Orleans. La Boulangerie French Bakery is located on Magazine Street and is so charming. Today we brought Spot along and watched the the world go slowly by as we ate our breakfast at the little tables outside.

Almond Croissant

Chocolate Eclair

After breakfast, we decided to walk around Audubon Park and then down to the levee. There were lots of people out walking dogs, riding bikes and playing golf. It was a hot day; but, we kept cool under the shade of the beautiful, mature oak trees.

Audubon Park

Snoball Stand

Today's high is in the upper 90's; so, a snoball might be in order. We are going to celebrate tonight and watch the fireworks over the Mississippi River.

We hope you are enjoying your 4th celebrations today! 

Welcome...

She says...

I am so glad you stopped by, welcome to our little blog!

 A little about me, I am a wife to Troy and a Mom to Brennan, Kelsey and Lacy. We have been blessed with 2 granddaughters, Addison and Madeleine and our son in law, Ron. We also have a dog named Spot. We are blessed with our beautiful, blended family!

I work for a healthcare system in our area and also have an Etsy shop (although, my Etsy business has taken a backseat for a minute). I also enjoy reading, arts and crafts, cooking, fashion and other blogs.


Troy and I are recently empty nesters and are adjusting to our new way of life. We have always loved boating/fishing and being out on the water in our beautiful state of Louisiana. 
I have included a few pictures of some of our adventures below.

He says...

Thanks for reading our blog! I am the "Troy" portion of what she said ^^^^. My blog participation is to provide a guy's perspective to things...at least from an old guy's point of view. Anne will give the "finished and refined" viewpoints. I'll provide the "rough around the edges" take on things.

I am the Quality Assurance Manager for a company that sells and services various types of valves and valve automation. My background is fixed equipment integrity and reliability. I'm just your average, hardworking, bring home the bacon kind of guy. I'm an outdoors enthusiast that enjoys pretty much all types of hunting and fishing...just wish we had more time to do those things.

Beignets in the French Quarter

Spot enjoys fishing, too

Grand Isle Redfish

Venice Redfish