It's the Little Things ...

I know. I suck. I have been gone for evahhhhhhh.

Sorry.

But - I had the most amazing weekend EVER with this stud pie here. We went to the beach and just relaxed and ate (way too much) and laughed and laughed and laughed. Priceless time. Best vacation ever. 

Be impressed with this. It took me a good bit with Anj's Swiss Army to get this baby on there. I'ma check hopefully next summer to see if it's visible and and gnarly and black from wear.

This was straight magicalness. Minus the ginormous gust of wind that came by and RIPPED our tent (and the stakes) violently out of the sand and dragged the tent down the beach like a raggedy piece of tumbleweed. 

RIP blue tent w/ red trim. Thankful it wasn't the NC Stizzle tent. ;)

In other news, I decided I'm sick of Bare Escentuals. Or at least, I figured I was sick of payin $30 for it. So, I paid $26 for this magic below, but it will last foreverrrrrrrrrrrrrr and then I just bought the cheaper Physicians Formula mineral makeup from good ole CVS. HATE the container it comes in though. Top won't stay on, so I used one of my mama's old mineral makeup containers and dumped my new mineral makeup in it. Ghetto? Yes. But, serves the purpose I need it to serve. So, back to this Erase Paste by Benefit. 

It's brightening and hides the blackness under my eyes that indicates I haven't slept in three nights Thank you sensor for alerting me about everrrrrrrrrything going on in my body. Alllllll. Night. Lonnnnnnnnng.

Now, for the second part of my post. 

Meet Michaelangelo aka "Mikey", beloved Tatum/Davis/Cooper family member:

IRL, he's about 2" in diameter. When Brotha E first found him, he was wiiiiiddle bitty - about the size of a silver dollar. 

Here is a picture of the top of his mansion, which Brotha E constructed - real hard core, friends. Wood frame, wiring over the top (no snakes, heaven forbid they creep into the garage, can get Mikey now!), and a special light bulb. Looks like the top of a science project:

That shabby thang over there to the left is where Mikey was livin when times were harder. Now he a straight balla.

Get your Proper Care of Water Turtles learn on: 

Make sure your water turtle feels loved with these special treats:

Occasionally, your turtle may enjoy a field trip outside his ordinary habitat:

And by field trip, I DO NOT MEAN throwin. Mikey. into. the. trashhhhhhhhh because "he wasn't movin" (I'm not pointin fingers, but let's just say me and Eric are glad she didn't throw us in the trash when we were a little too still while we were nappin). 

But, she loves Mikey. As evidenced in the background dialogue in the video below...wait for it....waaaaaiiiiit for itttttt.....

Don't think turtles aren't smart. When Mikey sees any of us, especially Brotha E come to his tank at a certain time of day, he gets excited. And if there's a container that may contain fishin worms. Holy Smokes! Get back! Mikey is bout to tear that up! 

Everyone have a splennnnnnndid rest of the week!

Layla Pie

Remember my Amanda, my Sister in Dia-bee-tus who just had a baby shugpie, that I was talkin about before?

Well, I have been really excited because I secretly made this for her:

Because she had this little piece of heaven and named her Layla Marie:

I love usin "recycled" fabric to make magical things. I started with little girls' fairy sheets, a green and white linen shower curtain, pink and white striped fabric (actual fabric) and two of the soft fleecy feelin blankies that you can buy at any Walmart or Target. 

First, I took the window that I'd gotten from an old farmhouse and laid it out and traced its total size on the fairy sheet and cut it out:

Then, I just wanted to mark where the center strip of wood in the window would be so that I wouldn't accidentally sew the letters behind the wooden strip in the middle...so I just measured it off, and marked  the back of the sheet in sharpie so I could see where not to sew:

Then, I measured how much "opening" I'd have in the window and then cut squares small enough to fit inside the openings without taking up the whole space, and I allowed for the fact that I'd be sewing in five letters in the top opening of the window and five letters at the bottom opening of the window:

I picked alternating green/white striped pieces with pink/white stripe pieces. All blocks were cut to the same size, then I arranged them in the window to get an idea of how it would come together.

Then, I cut out the letters of Layla's first and middle names from two baby blankets from Walmart/Target. (One is blue with green and white elephants, and the other is blue with pink flowers). Then I stitched the letters onto the blocks.

Once all the letters were cut out and stitched onto the blocks, I used stick pins to pin the blocks in place with the window frame on top to make sure everything was where it needed to be before I sewed them down.

My brother (from Brotha E's Car Service/aka Sylvia's hero) helped by sanding the all the paint off and getting out all the caulking from where there were glass panes in the window. He also attached hooks with picture hanging wire on the back. We worked together to staple gun the fabric to the back of the frame. Here is the finished product again. 

Layla, I hope you like it! 

Love, 

Aunt Beefy

(maybe when you are older you can dress up in fun cop hats and aviators too - Don't tell your mom & dad)

 

Lazy/Lame = How We Roll

So, what'd y'all do this weekend? Mine was very laid back. Laid back = my husband suggested I didn't post this because "it makes us sound lazy/lame." I told him we are lazy/lame. He said, "So true." Let's be honest, there's nothin I hate more than a fake-ass. And, not every day of your friggin life is gonna be magical. I didn't feel like doin anything really. You know how sometimes you have those weekends where you're just like, "Man, I'm sicka doin ... pretty much everything." Welp, this was one of those.

I found a new eye make up tutorial thingie on Pink Lou Lou's blog. Then, I tried it, and I took a pic because I was really excited about how it turned out, and I wanted to show y'all.

But, what I really learned is that when you take pics of your own make up...shit just looks scary. Spider eyes. Shiny. Large pores. Can't even SEE the eye shadow aka the whole point of the picture. You're welcome.

I started to crave some potato salad of the sour cream/chives/bacony variety. I looked up a mega lame recipe and then I had to doctor that mess for like 20 mins. But it turned out good in the end.

 

Mmm...chives.......

I was also mildly excited because we found a half decent tomato at the grocery store and it's June:

I got hungry while I was cookin the rest of our supper/foods for the Davis Reunion, so I started to get creative -

It was so good. I ate about 4 slices of tomato covered in salt & pepper and chives. Yummm!

I was so exhausted from cookin/doin nothin all day, I rewarded myself with The Real Thang:

Then it stormed real good, and the hubs and I watched The Switch (good movie - I'd watch it again at some point), while we listened to the thunder n lightnin.

Sunday, I struggled to get up after 10 hours of sleep. What is my deal?

Then, we went to the Annual Davis Reunion where I ate casseroles, biscuits, fried chicken, potatoes until I felt that I would vomit. And then I ate dessert. Then, I felt even more disgusting.

Now that I'm a Davis, I can say, "I was full as a toad."

Go ahead. Make fun. I did.

Then, I had to drink TWO Diet Mountain Dews on the way home because I was so drowsy from stuffin myself sick. Ugh.

I wished I could do this:

But, I couldn't. I had to drive.

I hope y'all had a magical weekend.

I know I feel well rested. 

You KNOW You Want Some!

{One}

I just HAD to tell y'all about this. You know when I find somethin good to eat or drink, I tell everybody I know. 

I have had this about six times since Wednesday night and it's only Friday afternoon. I've had it with chips, on my omelet, stirred up with shredded chicken & cheddar, and a couple times I just had it by the spoonful. 

This here is some GOOD-NESS FO YA MOUF, frands. I LOVE anything that contains tomatoes, first of all. But, even if you don't, this stuff is out of this world. Silas's frand Suzanne makes it. And, she da bomb, I must say. 

Oh. my. Goodness. 

She makes all kindsa goodies, but I am most hooked on the regular ole salsa - it's not thick - it's well blended and juicy. I could just drank it with a fat straw, but that would be gross, wouldn't it?

Yah's Best. It's made in Huntersville, NC but here's some other places where it can be found.

It's available at several locations if you live in North Cack. If not, holler at Suzanne and I'm sure she can hook you up.

I am also totally obsessed with the Pico de Gallo. Holy Snap! I didn't see it on the website, but again, ask Suzanne.

Tell her Silas's Daughter in Law sent you her way. ;)

{Two}

 

Here's somethin else that's tasty and easy.

My MIL calls it TX Caviar - but it ain't got nothin to do with caviar, promise: 

You just dump all this in a bowl, and let it chill for a lil before you eat it: 

1 Can each of the following (WELL DRAINED):

• black olives
• black beans
• black eye peas
• yellow corn
• white corn
• green chilies

then chop up and add:

• tomatoes 
• yellow onions
• green peppers
• garlic (just one clove'll do ya)

(I didn't specify amounts with the exception of the garlic, because it depends on what you like. I put a lot of tomatoes because I looooove some tomatoes.)

and finally ...

~ 1/3 cup Italian salad dressing

Voila!

I PROMISE it doesn't taste bean-y. I don't looove beans. You need to resist the urge to leave stuff out that "you don't like" because I'm tellin you, the flavors all blend together and when you leave stuff out, it gets whack. AND - if you don't drain the canned stuff really really good, it will end up lookin like veggies floatin/swimmin in a river = who wants to eat that? NOBODY.

Don't say I didn't warn you!

Call up some frands and get your salsa/dip/summa time par-tay on!

Happy Friday y'all!

Jus Makes Me Smile ...

 

I.

love.

this.

man. 

Who wouldn't wanna eat them veggies? 

Look at that white T shirt. Tan. Bare feet.  Deliciously summer. Man bringin me homegrown food from a garden? Come ONNN now.

(If you are a Davis who watched Sweet Anj grow up from when he was just a widdle shug pie, and you find these comments disturbing/nauseating I am sorry). 

Never fear. At the risk of grossin people out and embarrassin my sweet Anj Davis, this whole post is not about how scrumptious I think Anj is, though I COULD go on fa-evah about that, y'all.

Here's what the post is about. It's a stretch, but yes, there is barely a common thread here - this is just how my brain works...

Tonight, I was lookin through 123,542,234,232,664, 345 pics on my hard drive. I really should get to at least deletin the duplicates, but ewwwww, who wants to do that? I came across a few I haven't seen in awhile that put a smile on my face for various reasons and thought I'd share. Don't lie. You know you got some random mess on your camera/phone/hard drive from Lord only knows when and Lord only knows why.

Sweet, sweet Prissy Mae Pie. She too was my Sister in Dia-bee-tus. But she is in heaven now, eatin chee-bur-kers, and chasin squirrels that she actually catches. And no more shots.

I cannot imagine my own children melting my heart more than this right here. Eat. him. up.

My MIL likes to make CERTAIN that her cat, "Little Boy" is properly cared for (by people with no common sense apparently me and Anj while she and Big Silas are away)

Shit is real. Bet it you could knock somebody out. COLD. Anotha one in the cooler for back up.

Are there even words for this level of preciousness?

I think cows are some of the sweetest things God makes. Look at them.

Is that a desk chair?

Make the Bravos feel your support!

Priceless.

I wanna be a farmer from back in the day.

And that's another NC State...........FIRST............DOWN!

I mean NO DISRESPECT AT ALL. But, when I see this, I think, "This is what Jesus would look like in a J.Crew suit."

Not blessed enough to be able to do the robot/moon walk combo. But blessed enough to be married to a man who can.

It's disgusting/weird enough that cats do this IRL, but the fact that someone actually made a mini statue of it was worth documenting. Am I right?

It's late and I'm clearly gettin delirious. I've had some potato salad and pretzels and I'm goin to bed.

Sleep tight snookie pies! Tomorrow is hump dayyyyy!!!

Nothin a Little Fried Fish & Potato Salad Won't Cure

So, if you've been reading my blog, you probably recall this evil car shug pie, usually referred to as Sylvia:

Now, I am tryin to give her the benefit of the doubt. She is used and she ain't a spring chicken anymore, but she also ain't over the hill. I (meaning my brother/husband/auto zone/sweet guardian angel Richard) have dealt with the following on dear Sylvia in just a few short months: 

• battery
• fuel assembly/inaccurate gas gauge
• crank position shaft
• check engine light for various reasons
• traction system lights

... and we finally got her back to glory. PSYCH! I mentioned before that I think she does stuff for attention. Soooo, this past weekend, when my parents are visiting for the Davis Fish Fry, Sylvia decides Hey, wouldn't it be funny if I start to hesitate and jerk violently at stop signs and act like I don't want to crank and rattle like a roller coaster at 60 mph? Yeah, that sounds fun! I think maybe Sylvia has a crush on my brother and she just wants him to take a look at all her parts like once a week. Floozie.

Anyhoo - I. Was. Pissed. And moreso terrified that the hubs and I bought a lemon and we are going to be stuck with it. But, I am trying to keep in mind, it is a used car, and hopefully, this is just the fact that the Engine Variable Timing Solenoid (don't ask how I know - see lovely pic below)

See how the two sections furthest to the right have screens over them? Wellll, the one that's second from the left is supposed to have one too. Instead, it is MIA and there is TRASH stuck in that little valve/hole/thingie. Thank God Eric can find this mess and knows what the deuce those codes mean. I sure haven't the slightest idea.

... Back to what I was sayin - the Engine Variable Timing Solenoid and the crank position shaft are partners in crime and they encourage each other to do stupid stuff to jack my car up. Let's not worry about the check engine light throwing a code about the fuel sending unit WHICH JUST GOT REPLACED. Ughhh! I am getting stressed thinking about it. SO. ANGRY. But, I try to remember there are worse - much worse - things to be going on in this life than car problems. There hasn't been anything so far that the Lord hasn't taken care of. I doubt He's going to stop today, right? 

Then, the new fancy Droid X2 went black randomly and wouldn't turn on. Awesome sauce! Ugh! Together these two things made me feel like there must be something in my blood that is jackin up the wiring of everything around me. Maybe my pump and my sensor are runnin some kinda conspiracy to interfere with the wiring of everything within a 5 mile radius of me? 

Anyhoo - enough rantin. Today is another day. And there's a lot to be grateful for. Like, the delivery of this shug pie's baby, Layla. This shug pie and I have been friends since we were 8 (we are sooo old) .... and she is my Sister in Dia-bee-tus, so I am extra proud of her, and thankful to God for getting her, her hubby and Little Miss Layla Pie through this pregnancy, so they can start making wonderful memories as a family. I haven't met Little Miss Layla yet (because Sylvia is SICK and I don't mean that like a 19 year old white boy means it). But here is her mama lookin magical here below:

Photo by Stephanie's Creative Photography in Roxboro, NC

Also, here is a tiny glimpse of the Fish Fry magic from this past weekend. I should have done less talkin and eatin and more picture takin. Y'all know I can never have enough pictures - or talkin or food.There were just too many things goin on. I was overwhelmed. Sorry.

Yummy Flounder

Hushpuppy Prep

Silas's (father in law) lesson on why the water pitcher ain't workin.

One of my fav things about Silas is his shirts.

Davis men at work.

Make sure the oil's hot enough.

These hushpuppies were D-VINE as my mama would say. To the left you can see just a widdle bitty glimpse of the delicious fried pickles they made from Me and Lois Ellen's pickles last year. Yumm-o!

Mmmmm....let's eat! Fish, slaw, hushpuppies, potato salad (told y'all that was my job), watermelon, and Yaya's AMAZING salsa and pico de gallo, pineapple cake, chocolate chip cookies. Man! How can it get any better?!

We didn't eat and drink and run our mouths the entire time. See:

This was Silas's daddy's truck that they had on the farm when Silas was growin up. Ain't she beautimous?

Lois Ellen drivin our friend Steve's truck. I should've taken a pic of the outside ... it is a seriously jacked up Chevy with monsta tires and LE was so excited about this opportunity. Thanks Steve!

And, I said before that I would tell about the potato salad. (In addition to drivin monsta trucks, Lois Ellen takes time to teach her sister-in-law, little ole me how to make bomb diggity potato salad). It's pretty simple, but I like to add one extra ingredient when I make it at home and also, at home, I like to leave some of the skins on. Totally up to you, shugs. Oh, and please remember, these pics were taken with my phone - so forgive the fact that these food pics won't look insanely realistic and edible like if I had a $600 camera. Sorry, it's the best I can do for now.

1) Ingredients:

• Mayonnaise (Duke's light is what I use at home, and I swear, it still tastes yummo. If you want it to have a little more of a buttery/fatty flavor or if your husband will trip out if he finds out it has light mayo in it, then you can just use the regular Duke's).
• Mustard - plain old regular mustard
• DILL pickle relish - NOT sweet
• yellow onion
• green pepper
• salt
• bacon (this is what I add at home because me and Anj Davis love anything that contains bacon. Mmm!)

I usually just buy a 5 pound bag of potatoes and cut off bad spots plus a little dab more of the skin - depends on your potato skin preference and I cut them into chunks about 2 inches wide. Just makes em boil faster and makes my life easier. Put the water about an inch or so above the potatoes. I don't know how long to boil em. I just go in, stick the potato masher in there after about 15 mins and if the potatoes are soft, I take em out. If they're not, I let em keep boilin. Profound, I know. But you don't want em to boil too long or they are like mush, like pureed turnips. Scary stuff.


VERY IMPORTANT: 
1) When you take the potatoes out and drain them, mash them with the potato masher, but leave them a little bit chunky because they will break down even more when you go to stir in the other ingredients.
2) After semi-mashin, put the potatoes in the refrigerator with the top of the bowl or whatever OFF and let them cool. They need to be cool to cold when you stir in the mayo, etc. or it just won't stick right. They will have a creamy goopy consistency. Naisty.

I usually use about half of a small onion, and about 1/3 of a large green pepper. Chop them up really fine.

Finer than this. I took the pic before I was satisfied with the consistency. Sorry.

 I like to cut the bacon in half before I fry it. I think it makes it crisper. But, hey, I could be just makin that up. Who knows. About 3 pieces is what I use (because I fight the urge to put in about 7 slices, but I certainly don't think it would hurt to do more than 3 pieces).

 Then, after it's cooled and is reallll crunchy, break that mess up into bits.

Okay, so this is the part you gotta kinda eye ball and just keep tastin it til it tastes right. I'd say for a five pound bag of potatoes, I'd start with 3/4 cup of mayo and about 1 teaspoon of mustard. Stir. The potatoes should be coated in the mixture but just barely because when you add everything else, you don't want it to get runny. I like my potato salad to be light yellow - maybe a hair lighter than a post-it note. Darker than that = too much mustard. Give it a stir and then gauge what you need more of.

Now we can add everything else. We already talked about how much green pepper, onion and bacon to add. Now, I'd say I use about 1 tablespoon of pickle relish, and then I drain about another tablespoon of the juice into it.

I don't add the salt until everything else is stirred in because the bacon and pickle will provide a good bit of the flavor and you don't want to over salt cause you can't get it back out and you don't wanna ruin all your hard work (especially the potato peelin and the stirrin - shew-wee!). 

And there it is, folks. Like I said, the pics don't quite communicate the color...it's more like a little bit lighter than a post-it note. ;)

Thanks for not judgin me for the way my brain will randomly dump a crap load of unrelated information at one time.

Happy Monday! (Please pray for Sylvia - she is one sick sister and my whole family is tired of dealin with her tantrums. Thanks.)

Love,
   Shug and Anj Davis and Brotha E/Sylvia's crush