Absence
July 31st, 2010
I’ve been mostly absent in my little blogging world for the past week and I’m sorry about that. As you know, I’ve been dealing with the vertigo and I’ve been so tired on top of it that when I’m not working, I’m resting.
Unfortunately that has also meant that I’ve fallen behind on so much that my blogs have suffered, along with the housework. I’m still very tired and dizzy, but I’m trying to push through and do a little catching up. I tend to feel stressed when all my proverbial ducks aren’t in a row, so I’m trying to catch up before the new week begins.
I do have much to talk about, so hopefully this coming week will find me much more productive.
5 O’ Clock Friday’s Submission
July 31st, 2010
Mom too this picture yesterday at around 5 while she was on her way to her 45th High School class reunion. This year I celebrated my 25 year reunion, but I wans’t home in June to attend. A group of us are planning to get together later on and celebrat and I’m looking forward to it.
I think this picture was made on River Road, or at least that is what it looks like to me. Mom would have to confirm that, but I know their reunion was close to the Gulf and this isn’t far from the C0astal area. Based on the pictures I’ve also seen from the reunion, mom and everyone who attended had a great time.
Thanks mom for sharing this picture and for bringing a smile to my face. Can’t wait to see it again for myself, real soon.
More 5 O’ Clock Friday’s submissions coming after I get them from my other computer.
5 O’ Clock Friday’s
July 31st, 2010
Yesterday when Marcel brought the mail in, he handed me a large envelope. I wasn’t expecting anything, and I knew I hadn’t ordered anything, so I had no idea what it was. When I opened it, I saw this beautiful book, along with a card from a friend. It was a belated birthday gift, and I was amazed at the pages within.
For those of you who know me- know that I’m a huge fan of the movie Wizard of Oz , which also happens to be where my online ‘nickname’ Wizardress comes from. This book is amazing! It shows literally everything about the making of the movie from the costumes to the scripts. I knew that I had to share it as this week’s 5 O’ Clock Friday’s submission.
If you’ve never seen the movie, then you don’t know what you are missing. It truly is a classic. I still hope to make it to Broadway one of these days to see Wicked and who knows, that may finally happen next year. Thank you E. for thinking of me and for blessing me with your friendship and such a wonderful gift.
More 5 O’ Clock Friday submissions to follow and if you have one to share, it’s not too late.
Sinful Treats- Frozen Chocolate Mousse Squares
July 28th, 2010
Marcel is a huge fan of chocolate mousse, so when I had this email yesterday from Kraft I couldn’t help but add it to my ‘to make’ file. The photo to the left is the finished product and one that I stole borrowed from the fine people at Kraft.
In addition to thinking about how delicious it sounds, I couldn’t help but think about how great it would be to serve at a BBQ or even as a cool dessert on one of these warmer than warm evenings. I actually think I may make it for a little get together that I’m planning later with friends, and even though I’m trying my best not to indulge these days- I may have to have a little bite or two of this.
Even though as made it is not for the calorie conscious- there are ways to make it ‘lighter’ by using fat or sugar-free Cool Whip, or using fat free sweetened condensed milk. Both of thsoe could shave off quite a few calories, plus if you use low-fat Oreo’s that would help as well. Then again, sometimes an indulgence is nice.
I leave you with the original recipe- compliments of Kraft Foods. In the meantime I think I’ll go wipe the drool off my mouth. haha\
Frozen Chocolate Mousse Squares
LINE 9-inch square pan with foil, with ends extending over sides of pan. Mix cookie crumbs and butter in prepared pan; press onto bottom of pan.
BEAT cream cheese spread in large bowl with mixer until creamy. Gradually beat in milk. Blend in chocolate. Whisk in COOL WHIP. Spoon over crust.
FREEZE 6 hours. Remove from freezer 15 min. before serving. Use foil handles to lift dessert from pan. Let dessert stand at room temperature to soften slightly before cutting to serve.
5 O’ Clock Friday’s Submission
July 28th, 2010
My friend Deanna sent these pictures for 5 O’ Clock Friday’s and I just love them. Everyone knows that I absolutely adore kitties and I have to say that animals could be one of my favorite photographic subjects. This little kitty actually looks as though they were enjoying having their picture made, and I love the reflection in the mirror. It makes me smile to look at it.
This other picture, yet another beautiful shot also makes me smile. It looks like the kitty was sniffing the air almost certain that something good to eat was being cooked. Mister M. does that same thing when he smells tuna or some other type of fish that he finds to be interesting or delicious.
Thanks so much Deanna for sharing with us.
It isn’t too late for y’all to start thinking about this coming week’s 5 O’ Clock Friday’s. Just take a picture at around 5 (either a.m. or p.m.) and send it to me at lori in care of this website (simplywizardress.com). If you prefer to share the photo on your own blog- feel free to let me know about it so I can link your blog from here and share your picture with others and of course, with ME.
Looking forward to seeing what everyone comes up with this week!
Eczema and Vertigo
July 26th, 2010
I went to the doc today after having some dizziness issues and an ugly rash on my neck that seemed to be getting worse and not better. I knew that the dizziness was vertigo, but the doc wanted to check my blood pressure and such to make sure it wasn’t anything heart related. My BP was 130/80 or something, which he said was great, plus my pulse was normal, and not skipping any beats, so that’s another good thing.
He did some tests and said he could see that I was having some inner ear issues that affected my balance, plus he looked at the rash and said that I have eczema. I’ve been very tired from the dizziness but hope that in the next few days that I start feeling better. He said if it lasted longer than 3 weeks then I would need to have tests to make sure that it wasn’t neurological. He also told me that people who have had this before are more than likely to get it again, but it has been quite some time since I had it last time.
Now, I guess I’ll just rest as much as I can and hopefully in the next day or so the medications will kick in and I’ll feel like doing something other than sleeping. It has been highly frustrating to me because this has affected work and also my exercise routine. I can’t do much about it, so I’m going to have to roll with it til things get better- This too shall pass and I hope it’s sooner rather than later.
5 O’ Clock Friday’s Submissions
July 24th, 2010
This week, mom didn’t forget her 5 O’ Clock Friday’s submission and just as she was about to leave work the police had pulled up next door and were doing a drug control or some type of control. I don’t know if anyone got arrested, but mom was able to get a shot through the door without anyone noticing she was there.
These kind of pictures always make me curious as to the ‘rest of the story’. I didn’t see or hear anything about it on the news, so I guess it wasn’t that big of a deal- Still, I’d like to know what was going on.
In other news- my friend Ruth sent a picture for last week’s 5 O’ Friday’s, but I didn’t see it until later in the week, so I’m adding it with her submission from this week. They were away for a little holiday in DC and they came in their room to find that housekeeping had made their bed and placed their little monkey on the bed- just so as opposed to tossing him on there in any ole’ position. I thought it was adorable. 
This week, Ruth was in her office when 5 rolled around and she decided to snap a picture of the beautiful aloe plant. Thanks y’all for sharing a little bit of your lives with us and showing us what was happening in your life when 5 O’ Clock rolled around.
It isn’t too late to send in your submission for 5 O’ Clock Friday’s. Email me your pictures at lori in care of this websites (simplywizardress.com) and I’ll share them here- or if you have a blog of your own and prefer to share it there, let me know and I’ll link it from here.
Hope everyone is having a great weekend so far!
5 O’ Clock Friday’s
July 23rd, 2010
This week when 5 rolled around, I had just finished with work. I grabbed my camera and decided I’d take something close because I had to get a bath, get dinner going, plus get ready to go visit a friend of Marcel’s a little later on. I didn’t have a lot of time, so ended up taking several pictures and this is the one that I ultimately chose and decided to share.
I was actually very surprised when I viewed this on my computer because the red was not over saturated. Anyone who has taken any number of pictures would probably know that red tends to over saturate, especially in direct sunlight, which is where these little beauties were. Since I was in a hurry- I took it on an automatic setting, again, surprising me that it wasn’t ‘too’ red. In spite of the way they appear in the photo, these flowers are actually about the size of a fingernail of a woman’s pinky.
I’d love to see your submissions for 5 O’ Clock Friday’s, so please either send them to me in care of this website to lori via email lori (at) simplywizardess.com or if you share on your own blog- please feel free to let me know so I can link back to you.
I hope everyone has a fantastic weekend. Things have been extremely busy here and I’m finally seeing a slow down coming- which will begin tomorrow afternoon after I’m finished working. Before that time, we have birthday parties to attend and people to visit. I’m never one to wish away my time- but I’m ready for some down time.
Fascination with Food
July 22nd, 2010
It seems that lately I’ve been fascinated with posting pictures about everything. It seems that me and my ‘eye’ have been in a constant state of picture taking when we are out and about, because it seems that there is always something interesting in my path.
Today, I wouldn’t say that this was in my path, but it’s a picture of my lunch. It’s tuna salad that I made, and when I ate it, I couldn’t help but think of my parents. I remember many years ago, one of them made some tuna salad (made with Kraft Mayo- their ONLY mayo choice) and I noticed that my tuna salad had carrots in it. I was disturbed that they’d put a foreign object in my salad, but mom urged me to try it and I actually liked it. Now, when I make tuna salad- I do the same thing, only I use low-fat mayo and lots of mustard. I added some pickles, grated egg, a little Tony’s seasoning, garlic and onion powder and then spread it on a whole-grain cracker. I have to say that it was delicious and reminded me of home.
Summer Time Treats
July 22nd, 2010
Yesterday I asked the question on Facebook if people would share their favorite summer time treats. Many of the responses were the same or similar to what I would choose as my own favorite: watermelon, strawberries, rasp and blueberries, peaches, nectarines, ice cream (preferably home-made) and the list goes on.
Several people commented that they love McDonald’s Ice Cream cones this time of the year, and I’d have to agree with them. Not only do they have built in portion control because you’re getting one serving, but the calories and sugar are far less than some of the other popular ice creams out there, so it’s virtually guilt free.
Another one of my summer favorites has become the Mocha Frappuccino Light from Starbucks. I seriously consider it to be bliss in a cup and could drink them every day. I recenly found a similar recipe on the Coffee-Mate website, so I’m going to be trying it out soon.
The picture to my right is another one of my summer time favorites- It’s fresh raspberries, Fage 0% Fat Greek Yogurt sweetened with a Vanilla Splenda stick, a little muesli and a couple of chopped walnuts. It’s delicious. The only thing that could make it better is if I’d frozen the raspberries first, making it an extra ‘cool’ treat.
Now that I’ve shared some of MY favorite summer time treats with you- I’d love to know what YOURS are. Feel free to comment away and share with me.
