February Fancies

Books I Read

Make Something Good Today by Ben & Erin Napier - I have literally been reading this since sometime in November and I'd read a chapter, put it down and get caught up in other things...and that's how I ended up finally finishing it this past month! The book was warm, uplifting and encouraging - just like watching an episode of Home Town!

The Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie Society by Annie Barrows - I so enjoyed the movie that Netflix made based on this book and so I just had to read the book! It had some differences from the movie; a bit more plot here and there that the movie simplified and it was probably just a hair better than the movie... then again, the book is usually better than the movie!

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens - One of four books I purchased mid-month...and when I posted a picture of the books on Instagram, this one garnered a comment and so I started with it. The story follows "Marsh Girl" Kya as she is abandoned by her family, ostracized by the townspeople and raises herself in the marshes of North Carolina in the late 50's.. the story also has a murder mystery tied in and once I got started reading it, I couldn't put it down.

Books on the Shelf

Circe by Madeline Miller

The Storyteller's Secret: A Novel by Sejal Badani

The Tattooist of Auschwitz: A Novel by Heather Morris

Those are the books on the shelf and I haven't made a decision yet about which one to read just yet. I'll be spending some extended time in a car in the next week, so I'll have to figure out which one I want to read here soon... but I haven't just yet. Recommendations?

Must See TV

I don't have anything new to report on this front this month - I've been watching Home Town and This Is Us on the regular, but otherwise there hasn't been much that I've been turning into with any dedication. I have recorded the limited series show I Am the Night but I haven't gotten around to watching it quite yet... I think I'm just living for Game of Thrones final season, which is finally arriving in April!

Movies of the Month

Isn't It Romantic - The only movie I saw this month but it was a delight! The movie follows Natalie (I like that name...); an architect that finds all things love-related to be silly and overly dramatic because of the unrealistic expectations that the romantic comedies she grew up watching have set for her. When she sustains a head injury and finds herself in her very own romantic comedy, hearts flutter and hilarity ensures. This movie was so fun and enjoyable, made me laugh a lot more than I expected and was just downright delightful!

Streaming Selections

Schitt's Creek - I finally had to check this out after multiple blogs that I follow recommended this show and now I can see why, it's hilarious! The episodes are just a short 21-22 minutes long and follow the Rose family and their riches to rags story... which lands them living in a town called Schitt's Creek. The show is packed with heart, witty banter and comedic gold; is perfect for binge-watching and absolutely cracks me up! The first four seasons (13 episodes each) are on Netflix and I'm guessing the fifth season will end up there sooner or later - the show currently airs on Pop, a Canadian network.

The show in it's entirety is hilarious but this clip is one of my favorite moments so far... 

Tunes & Talks

I've still been listening to all things Queen on a near constant rotation but when I'm not listening to Queen, I've also listened to the soundtrack from A Star is Born some here and there... and I recently found The History Chicks podcast, which I love. The two female hosts talk about the lives of famous women throughout history; the show is funny, entertaining and informative.

Tasty Treats

The ultimate snacks this month were all the divine chocolate treats from the Chocolate Escape that my Mom and I went to early in the month - the delicious truffles, chocolate mousse cake, salted caramel hot chocolate and s'mores campfire bread - it was all so good!

My Mom made some delicious lemon and strawberry tarts for Valentine's Day and we grabbed some of our favorite popcorn from Popcorn Monkey in Middleburg; Salted Caramel and Chocolate! I tried my hand at Shepherd's Pie and it turned out quite well and rounded out the end of the month with Restaurant Week having chicken, bacon and spinach ravioli, chicken and waffles and white chocolate key lime pie! It was a delicious month!

Anticipations 

Vacation to TN & MS - I am kicking off the month of March with a little vacation to Gatlinburg, Tennessee and then further south to my former home of Mississippi. My younger cousin Alex is getting married and so we decided to just make a week of it and visit our old hometown, with a short stop on the way in one of our favorite spots, Gatlinburg! I'm going to catch up with some friends and my Mom, my "little sister" McKenna and I are going to check out Laurel - the setting for Home Town!

 

Spring - I am so ready for all things Spring y'all... I am just about done with the cold! I know that once September arrives I'll be wishing for a chilly breeze but right now, I just want some warmer days to arrive and bring with them some color and sunshine and more time outdoors.! The first cherry blossom predictions for this year will be announced on March 6th and I'd love to get the chance to make it back into DC to see them again this year!

Opening Day of Baseball - The opening day of baseball is the earliest it's ever been this year; March 28th and I plan to be right in the thick of things! The first games of Spring Training were played this past week and I cannot wait for Spring, Summer and early Autumn afternoons and evening spent at the ballpark. *sigh*

**************************************************************

And that's all I've got for February - it's been a whirlwind of a month it seems, but I can't say I'm sorry to see it go. While I've been doing my best to savor each day as it comes - I can't say I'll miss January or February - but then I don't normally miss them, ha-ha! Onward to Spring I go, with open arms!

Watson Wednesday

He's really just the most delightful little guy - but especially when he settles down on the couch with me to help me decide what to blog about!

All Things Oscar

Oh man - I do just really love all things Oscar-related. I enjoy watching the red carpet to see all the dresses and other...interesting fashion choices (although sometimes the interviews are awkward and just painful...) and I especially love watching the show itself to see what movies take home big awards. I know there are people that decry the Oscars for being showy and providing celebrities the opportunity to clap one another on the back - but I'm such a fan of all things movie related and so, if movies and celebrities aren't your thing - feel free to skip this post.

If you love all things pop culture, movies, fabulous fashion and more - let me share with you all my favorite things about the Oscars. There are truly so many and so I just figured I'd start at the beginning and make my way through the whole show - because again, I found so many aspects enjoyable!

I don't remember what season Adam Lambert was on American Idol but I do remember watching him and I've followed his career pretty closely ever since. I have several of his CD's; not only does he have an amazing voice but he is an impeccable showman. While no one could ever "be" Freddie Mercury, I can't imagine that there are too many people who'd fit in better as a front man for Queen than Adam Lambert - and watching Queen and Adam Lambert open the Oscars was just like a preview for the concert I'm going to in July! I can't wait!

One of my very favorite things is seeing all the gorgeous dresses that the ladies wear down the red carpet - I can't imagine that I'd ever have a moment in my life that would require something so glamorous as all that, but that doesn't mean I don't love choosing the dresses that I'd want to wear if I had that chance. There were some absolutely fantastic dresses and SO MUCH color! My favorites are below - I just don't know which one I'd choose as my very favorite...but it's probably a tie between the yellow and purple!

Constance Wu - this is absolutely beautiful!

Tina Fey - blue is my favorite color & this is simple but stunning!

Emilia Clarke - pale pink & sparkly, what's not to love?

Lucy Boynton - this purple & what appears to be black velvet...it's so regal!

I feel like Constance Wu's dress stands out in my mind because it reminds me of Belle's dress from Beauty & the Beast - almost a modern retelling of the look - and you know I love that! Tina and Emilia's dresses are also lovely and then there's Lucy Boynton's absolutely queenly looking purple and black-trimmed gown. The look is such a stunning old Hollywood style look - it's fantastic!

I definitely thought the show didn't suffer from the lack of host - it seemed to flow much better and I didn't miss the host one iota. I was thrilled to see Bohemian Rhapsody win awards early in the night for Film Editing, Sound Mixing and Sound Editing... someone tweeted that they definitely should have won because no one can sing like Freddie Mercury but you'd certainly have never known Rami Malek's singing was dubbed! It's the truth!

I guess it was a little more than halfway through that the show returned from commercial and because Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper need no introduction, they just started their music and they came up on stage and performed Shallow - and well - a part of my brain imploded a little bit. Have you seen the performance? If you haven't - please feel free to watch it below but prepare yourself. You may need a fan... or a drink of cool water... or something else...

People are quick to point out that they are actors - performers - just doing their job but man, the level of chemistry they share is enough to set your TV on fire. I told my Mom that I felt like we were watching something we shouldn't have been - but I couldn't look away... and I couldn't help but share the snaps below because I feel like they pretty accurately describe my thoughts on the whole thing...

Finally at long last - the award I'd really been waiting for was Best Actor because I'd been campaigning hard for Rami Malek...and when I say campaigning, I really just mean I've seen Bohemian Rhapsody more than once, watched all the interviews and encouraged as many people as possible to check out the film because seriously - his performance is stellar. I think even though he had become the favorite, he was still pretty surprised when they called his name...

I had to include his speech too - because it was just fantastic. He seems like the nicest guy; very humble and so appreciative of his award. Plus, his shout out to his girlfriend Lucy at the end of the speech was swoon-worthy... *sigh* I love it. He also fell off the stage when the show went to commercial - but I didn't include video of that - but I'd be lying if I said I didn't find it and have a little giggle about it.

A lot of people went on and on about Gemma Chan's fluffy pink confection of a dress and while I didn't dislike it, I spied this picture from the Vanity Fair Oscars Party (after the show) and I love this one so much more. I feel like dancing in this dress would be absolutely fantastic - all that beading would shimmy and swing and it would just be divine!

Gemma Chan - This is gorgeous!

In conclusion - I so enjoyed watching the Oscars and it is especially fun when you have certain categories you're cheering for a bit. I didn't even realize until the day after when I was reading an article, but Bohemian Rhapsody came out of the whole thing with the most wins - the 4 it took home were the most by any one film, so that tickled me. I was also pretty thrilled with Lady Gaga's win for Best Song and I don't know if anyone will ever top that performance - gracious but she is just so multi-talented!

Here's to hoping the next year will spawn some more excellent movies and this time next year, I'll be recapping another exciting night of Oscars fun! I'll leave you with this meme from Lady Cooper's performance (I've given them a couple name because... well duh...) because it tickles me to no end.

The Final Weekend of February

Well - the last weekend of February is in the books. I don't have too much to show for the weekend but with Spring in the wings, I feel like the weekends will be full of things to do! I've got a couple snapshots from the less than fascinating weekend...and a few words here and there!

The past week was Restaurant Week in nearby Winchester and so on Friday after work, we headed to Cork Street Tavern to sample the special menu - an appetizer, entree and dessert for $30! I started my meal with a chicken, bacon and spinach stuffed ravioli that was absolutely delicious and then had the Chicken and Waffles with Maple Bourbon Syrup...let me tell you,the chicken was absolutely incredible - cooked to perfection and tasted divine with the waffle. And yep - this my first time trying chicken and waffles. I finished out the meal with White Chocolate Key Lime Pie - refreshing and delicious! 

Chicken, Bacon & Spinach Ravioli

Chicken & Waffles with Maple Bourbon Syrup, Mashed Potatoes & Hobo Beans.

White Chocolate Key Lime Pie

I passed most of Friday night binge watching Schitt's Creek (have y'all watched this show - it's hilarious) and reading Where the Crawdad's Sing in my divine new swinging chair. I slept in for a bit on Saturday morning and after having my coffee and breakfast, I raced out the door to the salon to have my "hairs did" by my favorite person - Melissa! We chatted and caught up while my hair was painted and polished and pruned to perfection... so much alliteration! I decided to keep my hair dark and I'm loving that decision - even if everyone is keen to tell me that it's not dark brown, it's black!

Getting that hair all curled & styled...

Done & out the door!

I popped past Taco Bell on my way home and grabbed a couple tacos for a late lunch before spending the afternoon... watching a little bit more Schitt's Creek and reading - definitely a theme for the weekend. It rained all day on Saturday and it was just a dreary day indeed - so reading and watching TV were perfect ways to pass the time.

Reading with my guard dog in the doorway....

I woke up early on Sunday morning with a headache and after taking medication, having coffee and breakfast in hopes that it would abate but it was to no avail. I ended up staying home from church and watching Bohemian Rhapsody from the comfort of my couch before having some soup for lunch. The sun came out and the temperature was in the mid-60's on Sunday, so when my headache finally backed off a little bit, Watson and I spent some time outside soaking up the sunshine... and taking a long walk.

I spy a pup....

Living his best life.

The headache flared back up later in the afternoon, so I sort of laid around, took a shower and got myself ready to watch the Oscars. And then I proceeded to lay on the couch and watch the red carpet show and the full 3+ hour show before crawling into bed after 11:15. And don't you worry, because I have all the thoughts and feelings about the Oscars that I'll be sharing tomorrow - so fun!

And that's the last weekend of February in a nutshell. Nothing too flashy and fabulous and now the month has flown by and here we are - mere days from March! Hallelujah!

Five on Friday

One. It Snowed Again - The week was already meant to be a short week; so to speak, and on Wednesday it snowed something like 5-6 inches of snow and was then topped off by a nice little covering of ice pellets... and so the office was closed for a snow day! I honestly didn't take any more pictures than the three below because I'm honestly getting a little bit weary of the white stuff... *sigh* It was nice to have a whole day with nothing to do, but I was glad to see the sunshine on Thursday!

Two. A Roadside Spotting - Thursday evening on the way home from work, I spotted this guy at the edge of the road and had to slow down to snap his picture! I should probably clarify that I'd already turned into my neighborhood and wasn't pausing in the midst of a busy roadway... nothing like that! The deer stared at me as I slowly drove past him and only when I was almost eye to eye with him did he scamper down the hill and into the trees. 

Three. My New Chair - My delightful and fabulous new chair was delivered yesterday and I'm absolutely in love with it! I did drag my Mom into helping me drag it into my living room and then back into my bedroom so I could make sure it was exactly where I wanted it. It's just such a cozy spot to sit and gently swing and relax... I have big plans to read in it and thoroughly enjoy it! It's absolutely perfect!

Four. Perfectly Posh Hair Mask - The February Splurge with Perfectly Posh launched yesterday and it's a hair and scalp mask made with Tea Tree and Neem! The mask deep cleans hair from root to tip, provides a tingly feeling for the scalp, hydrates and nourishes for stronger, shinier and healthier hair. It also supports healthy hair growth and tames frizz! This is an exciting little product and you can pick yours up (while supplies last) for just $18 at http://NatalieSummerlin.po.sh 

Five. Weekend Plans - Tonight my family and I are headed to Cork Street Tavern to take part in Restaurant Week; you can get a three course meal for $30 and I can't wait to try some new things for dinner tonight! I'm getting my hair done on Saturday morning and I can't wait to have fresh and fabulous hair again - I love it! I also love catching up with my sweet friend Melissa, who always makes my hair look so awesome! I'm not sure what Saturday afternoon will hold... or Sunday afternoon for that matter but Sunday night is the Oscars and I am so looking forward to watching them!

I could honestly care less about *most* of the nominations but if you've read this blog at all since early November, you'll know I'm cheering hard for Rami Malek to win Best Actor for his absolutely amazing performance as Freddie Mercury in Bohemian Rhapsody! I'd love for Lady Gaga to win for her performance in A Star is Born but Glenn Close seems to be edging her out... what I am looking forward to is seeing Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga perform "Shallow" and y'all - Queen and Adam Lambert are also performing! Have I mentioned that I'll be seeing Queen and Adam Lambert in concert in July? I am!

I also can't wait to see all the dresses - y'all know I love perusing all the wonderful (and sometimes weird) things that the ladies...and sometimes gentlemen...wear to the Oscars! I loved this article showcasing the best actress dresses from the past 19 years - they're amazing! I'm also off work on Monday, so that means it won't matter if the show goes on and on past 11:00 (although I hope it doesn't, ha-ha!) 

**************************************************

That's all I've got for this Friday y'all - it's the final weekend of February! January seemed like it lasted forever and now I've blinked and February is almost over! Time is a crazy thing y'all!

Shepherd's Pie

I feel like I should start this post with a disclaimer that traditionally Shepherd's Pie is made with lamb - if another type of meat is used, it's actually called Cottage Pie. So technically this is Cottage Pie but I'm going to keep right on calling it Shepherd's Pie and all will be well!

I've thought about making Shepherd's Pie for a while now - ever since eating a delicious version of Shepherd's Pie at our favorite Irish pub called Nana's! Seriously, it's delicious and I've been thinking long and hard about making my very own. Monday being a holiday, it seemed like the perfect time.

What You Need

For the Filling

• 2 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
• 1 small container mirepoux
• 1 1/2 lbs ground beef
• 4 cloves garlic; minced
• 2 tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. black pepper
• 1 1/2 cups beef broth
• 1 can peas & carrots; drained
• 1 can corn; drained
• 1 can diced potatoes; drained
• 1 tsp. oregano
• 2 tbsp. all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup water

For the Mashed Potato Topping

• 1 package Idahoan mashed potato mix

*that's right - I took the shortcut route for my mashed potatoes. No shame in my game, ha-ha!*

What To Do

• Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the beef, mirepoux, garlic, salt, pepper and garlic about 5 minutes, until the beef has browned.
• Add the beef broth, peas & carrots, corn, diced potatoes and oregano and cook on medium heat for about 5 minutes. Reduce heat to low. Mix together flour and water until well blended and pour over filling. Stir together and reduce heat to low.
• Preheat over to 350 and prepare your mashed potatoes according to package directions. 
• Fill baking container with filling and top with mashed potatoes, smoothing into an even layer on top.
• Bake uncovered for 30 minutes. If you want a browned top on your mashed potatoes, put the oven to broil for the final 5 minutes of cooking. 
• Serve immediately. 

I really enjoyed my delicious little Shepherd's Pies - they were pretty easy to make and perfectly tasty for a chilly Winter night! Give them a whirl, I don't think you'll be disappointed!

Watson Wednesday

My little featherhead - relaxing on a snow day. 

The Long Weekend is Over

It's another Tuesday post... after a long weekend has ended! The weekend was so nice, even if it was a little chilly but I'd like to imagine that Spring is right around the corner! I say that while we are under a Winter Storm Warning that's supposed to dump 8-12 inches of snow and ice tomorrow. *sigh* I guess a groundhog isn't always the best predictor of weather?

Venice - framed in time!

Friday got off to an early start - which was fabulous for me because it seemed like the cold I'd been dealing with all week was fighting back hard on Friday! I popped into Hobby Lobby on my lunch break to pick up a painting from Venice that I had framed - it turned out gorgeous and I already have it hanging in pride of place in my bedroom! I also received my gorgeous personalized planner from Papier and a t-shirt I've been eyeing for a little while - Happy Valentine's Day to me, I suppose!

Friday evening was pretty low-key - which was fine by me. We had dinner at Front Royal Brewing Company and the food was quite tasty; I also had an Orange Crush cocktail that opened up my sinuses, ha-ha! I just watched movies and doodled in my new planner and went to bed fairly early since I hadn't felt my best for most of the day on Friday!

Saturday was gorgeously sunny but pretty brisk! After coffee and breakfast, we headed over to one of our favorite spots here in Northern Virginia - the little town of Middleburg! The town has some of the best little shops and restaurants and we popped into a new one called the Side Saddle Club to have lunch...and the food was divine! I had a grilled cheese made with cheddar, spicy pepper jack and Gouda on a homemade bread - thinking about it makes my mouth water!

The Side Saddle Club was located in the basement of one of the old buildings that line the main street of Middleburg and the timbers that criss-crossed the roof of the restaurant had been painted white and were emblazoned with the names, ranks and message of hundreds of military members. We spotted an open portion of the rafter right above our table and decided we'd leave a little about ourselves as well, so I wrote my Dad and sister's names on the rafter and my Dad finished it off with some airplanes flying in formation! So fun! We promised my sister the next time she visits we'll go eat at Side Saddle Club and she can find her name!

If you're ever in Middleburg, VA - check this place out!

Popcorn Monkey! 

We perused some of our favorite shops and I picked up some goodies for Watson at Wylie Wagg - one of the best little shops with all things pet related! We also popped into Popcorn Monkey (no pun intended) before heading home - they have some of the best flavors and varieties of popcorn, all made in house and all divine! And I am not even a big fan of popcorn...but if it's from Popcorn Monkey - I'll take it!

I relaxed at the house for a short while on Saturday afternoon and then met up with my friend Danielle at the Alamo Drafthouse to see Isn't It Romantic - which was hilarious! We started our evening at the bar and sipped drinks before heading into the theater to have dinner with our movie...and we cracked up! The movie manages to make fun of and use the tropes of romantic comedies while still being endearing, heart-warming and delightful all at the same time! It was such a good movie!

It's true though...

Sunday morning after church we popped into Mission BBQ for lunch and then perused Kirkland's, where I just had to get a small letter board for my entry way - it's too cute! It's maybe a little smaller than I thought it would be (given the packaging style) but it's still a delight and was only $9! My blue light filter glasses for use while on the computer also arrived... I've been trying to use them today but it's been a little bit hit or miss. Maybe it will take time to acclimate to them?

Nerd Level - Expert

I passed Sunday afternoon with a small nap... for some reason I just couldn't get myself together but it could have been the gathering clouds outside making everything dark and dreary. Who knows? I ended up doing some cleaning and organizing in my little home, catching up on Victoria, taking walks with my pup and then finally giving him a much needed bath - he now smells like his Argan oil shampoo and it's delightful! We had a delicious pot of chili for dinner and after a lovely bubble bath, I watched Victoria and then read before crashing... which was made doubly nice since I didn't have to set an alarm!

I slept until 8:00 on Monday and it was absolutely the best! There is just something so nice about those days off and getting to have the luxury of doing whatever you please... right? After having coffee and getting in some exercise, I joined my parents for lunch at Panera Bread and to do a little shopping - furniture shopping, to be specific!

We perused one of our favorite spots for furniture and I stumbled upon this amazing hanging chair that I immediately climbed into and fell in love with! It matches my bedroom...honestly it matches all aspects of my little home perfectly and I was shocked when my parents came over with the salesman and added it to their ticket! So my new and absolutely fabulous chair will be delivered on Thursday afternoon and I said I'd never leave it once it was in place, ha-ha!

After a quick grocery run, my Mom and I started a new season of The Great British Baking Show (our new favorite) and I moved some furniture around to prepare for the arrival of my new chair! I whipped up some Shepherd's Pies for our dinner and they turned out quite well - I'll share my recipe a little later in the week - it was yummy and pretty easy! I spent the rest of my evening getting ready for the week ahead (a short week - yahoo!) and then watching the new episode of Home Town!

It was a lovely and mostly low-key long weekend and I'm already likely looking at another day off tomorrow because of the impending arrival of yet another winter storm to the area! So, I suppose we shall see what tomorrow brings!