My Favorite Things - p.27

These are a few of my favorite things that seem to have disappeared from the world.

Butterfinger BBs - I really like butterfingers, but they always make a mess because of the perfectly crumbly inside. Butterfinger BBs were the perfect solution to this. I only ever got them during gas station snack stops, but they were a wonderful treat. I am very sad they don't make them anymore. They have what they call "minis" that come in the big movie-theater box, but it's still not the same.

Chocolate Soldier - My grandmother used to ALWAYS have chocolate soldier drinks in her fridge. Eventually she stopped being able to find them and went to yoo-hoos. They were still a special treat, but nothing will ever be as good as Chocolate Soldier!

Vanilla Coke - you just can't find it in stores anymore! I had some at the Coke museum in Atlanta which I think just made my longing for it worse!

Keds - Used to be you could find Keds anywhere. For kids or adults. I had a new pair of white keds every year as a kid. One year my mom and I got matching white Keds flip-flops (I think I was like 12). I think the last pair I had were knock-offs that I wore as a senior in high school as part of my costume in a play, where I was ironically playing the part of a six year old (keeps the smart comments about type-casting to yourself please!) I was so thrilled when I was able to get "real" tennis shoes but now I kind of miss them. Especially those flip-flops...

Yellow gold - I don't know why. Maybe it's my pasty skin color. Maybe it's what I grew up with. Maybe I'm just a sucker for matching. But I really do love yellow gold jewelry. White gold and silver are nice, but yellow has always been "more dressy" to me. Unfortunately, it is exceptionally hard to find in any sort of style that is appealing to this mid-twenties woman!

Being a Good Guest

It's no secret that we live in a very "gimme" culture. We're very independent and most of the time our thoughts begin and end with "me" and "mine". However, we are still social. There are still general rules for getting on in the world that make it a nicer, more respectful place. They're called etiquette rules and they DO matter. They are NOT outdated. And while we definitely hear about and think about how to be a good host/hostess (especially in the South!) there are also a few things to consider when being a guest. I'm guilty of most of these mis-steps, but I always try to do better and hope this will serve as a helpful reminder to everyone.

#1 - Be appreciative. For the most part, being a guest is a choice. Sure there are occasions when you may be obligated to appear at a function or attend an event, but for the most part if you don't want to go somewhere or do something and accept the invitation to be a guest, you don't have to do it. And if you do decide to accept an invitation, have a good attitude about it! Be grateful for whatever it is that is being done with/for you.

#2 - Ask, don't tell. It's always a nice gesture to ask your host/hostess if there is anything you can do/bring for whatever engagement. But phrase it as a question, don't simply say "Oh, I'll bring _____" and if you are told that there is really nothing you need to do or bring, respect that! If you aren't sure what to wear or what will happen, it's ok to ask, but if you don't get the answer you want, don't push it.

#3 - When in doubt, watch your host/hostess. This is a safe rule for just about anything, from what fork to use at a fancy dinner to whether it's ok to put your feet up! Also remember that, over time, things will probably relax a bit, but look to your host(ess) for guidance about when and how far that goes.

#4 - Leave it the way you found it, or better! When I was in girl scouts, one of the first rules I learned was in regards to visiting places, and you were taught to always leave a place cleaner/better than when you found it. To go above and beyond. While this may not always be possible when you are a guest, it's certainly something to try and strive for. Pick up your own trash. Keep up with your own stuff. If you move something, put it back. If you need to unplug something, plug it back in before you leave! Little things like that really do make a big, positive impression.

#5 - Share your memories. Pictures, stories, whatever. Places have a memory as well as the people who inhabit them. Share your great experiences with others, and use them to inspire you. If there's a guestbook, sign it. Pen a little thank you note. E-mail a few photos. Reminisce with your companions and your host(ess). It is good for everyone!

Rare Bog

Everyone needs a good camp song now and then. This one happens to be one of my favorites. This is an abbreviated version because if I typed out the whole thing it would go on for days and I think you're a smart bunch, you can figure it out. If you don't know the tune or the motions, let me teach it to you the next time we're together.

(Chorus)

Rare bog, rattlin bog, way down in the valley-og

Rare bog, rattlin bog, way down in the valley-og.

And in that bog (echo)

There was a tree (echo)

A rare tree (echo)

A rattlin tree (echo)

Tree's in the bog, bog's down in the valley-og

(Chorus)

From here, you keep building up

And on that tree (echo)

There was a limb (echo)

and so on and so forth until you get the whole thing built up

Camp's in the world

World's on the feather

Feather's on the bird

Bird's on the egg

Egg's in the nest

Nest's on the twig

Twig's on the branch

Branch's on the limb

Limb's on the tree

Tree's in the bog

Bog's down in the valley-og

EVERYBODY NOW!

(Chorus)

Rare bog, rattlin bog, way down in the valley-og

Rare bog, rattlin bog, way down in the valley-og.

Branson Trip Re-cap

11 hour drive each way

Ripped shorts

Fireworks along the highway

The meat locker

New shoes

Fountain show

Ginormous jacuzzi tub

Way too much red meat

The Platters

Cirque Montage

Six

Titanic museum

Lots of laughs at other people's kids

Tupelo

Lots of Relatives

It was a wonderful trip, but I am so stinkin' glad to be home!

Friday Five - Forgetful

I was all excited to be up early this morning before we left Branson, eager to get my Friday Five up and kicking before we left Branson. Well, sadly it wasn't up and kicking this morning, so now that we are settled in Tupelo for the evening, here it is!

What's the last thing you forgot? - I forgot to pack a water bottle for camp! EGADS! Thankfully I never really needed it, but that could have been bad.

How do you keep track of appointments? - I have my trusty worship planning calendar. Yes it's big, which wasn't as big of a deal when I always carried a backpack full of notebooks for school, but it is the best thing I have found for me! Currently, day planners just aren't cutting it!

Do you keep a running grocery list? - YES! It is on a magnetic pad stuck to the fridge. If we run out of anything, it goes on the list. If it doesn't make it to the list, it isn't going to get purchased that month. It's a very simple (but effective) system!

When forced to improvise by circumstances, do you enjoy it or panic? - For the most part, I panic. However, I have learned to at least go with the flow a little bit. Occasionally I will come out of it with some feelings that might be described as "enjoyment" but those are usually after the fact!

What's a memory you hope you will never forget? - My mom's smile when I came home to see her before she died.

Florentina's - Branson, MO

I know that most of the folks who actually read this won't have much occasion to visit Branson or to try this place out, but I figured I'd throw my thoughts out there because, well, it's my blog! And this place really is worth checking out if you have the chance!

I got the chance to dine at Florentina's on a Thursday evening with Jeff and 6 other people, including 3 children ages 11 and under. The first part of our group (including myself) arrived right at 5pm and the parking lot was filling quickly. Although there were no other people waiting to be seated, the dining room was pretty obviously getting to be on the full side. (Insert your own old-folks joke about Branson here) We were seated almost immediately at a large (10-top) table in the back of a smaller, more private room that held three or four other large tables. We were the first ones in that evening and were encouraged by the hostess to simply spread out however we would like and make ourselves comfortable, which was nice. It was also much more quiet in our little back corner, which made conversation an actual possibility. The general ambiance was casual, but not exceptionally cliche. Although one of the big advertising points was the brick-oven pizzas, it definitely did not feel like a pizza place.

Our server, Tanya, was excellent. Very friendly and prompt. We were able to sit down and get comfortable, and she immediately came over with two pizza paddles with several loaves of fresh, hot bread and plates of parmesan cheese and herbs to be mixed with olive oil for the bread. She took our drink orders, and after the brought our drinks didn't bother us again until everyone else arrived. Although the menu was pretty extensive, it didn't take long for everyone to find a familiar favorite. Throughout the meal there was plenty of bread, drinks stayed full, and we stayed very happy.

The food was really great. The menu was quite extensive, combining a lot of classic favorites and some not-so classic but very tasty-sounding dishes. One thing I noticed that was really nice was the option for family-style (and family-sized) options. Not just entrees either, but appetizers, salads, and sides as well. We had too many differing tastes to be able to do something like that, but it was definitely a nice option to have. I had the chicken saltimbocca (which had a much fancier name) served with green beans and roasted red potatoes. My only complaint was that I wished there was a little more of the lemon cream sauce because I really couldn't taste it at all, but the chicken was tasty, the sage was fresh, and the potatoes were perfect. I can't comment on the green beans because, well, I don't eat green vegetables. I offered them to others but they didn't want them either because green beans just aren't something I associate with italian food! I simply wanted the potatoes instead of pasta!

Jeff had the "Paolo's Favorites" which consisted of lasagna, fettuccine alfredo, and spaghetti with marinara and italian sausage. Other dishes on our table included a spaghetti that seemed to be a souped-up version of Jeff's spaghetti, and a carni pizza. The kids kept it simple with pizza and fettuccine alfredo. Everything was absolutely wonderful. I got to try bites of the fettuccine, lasagna, and pizza in addition to my dinner and it was all wonderful. I wasn't overly impressed with the fettuccine, but it was still very good. No complaints here. Even our pickiest little guy finished off his entire pizza (which I don't know if I could have done!) We never made it to dessert because the portion sizes were generous, but not insanely huge. Most of us finished off our meals, but we definitely did not leave hungry!

My biggest gripe was the fact that they didn't have sweet tea! I know that we are kind of on the line between being in the south and not being in the south, but it seems that most places around here have sweet tea. I was a little surprised this place didn't. However, I also discovered this place has been open less than three months, so that may change soon!

The prices were very reasonable. It definitely would not qualify as a "cheap" meal, but it was absolutely a great value! Although food around here is plentiful, I definitely have not encountered this quality of food or of service, especially for this price! It certainly would have been easy for us to get sub-par service (in fact, I was almost expecting it) considering that not only were there several children, but the gratuity would automatically be included since we were a larger party. However, I was very pleasantly surprised to find that this was not the case!

I really have no complaints about the whole evening! It was great food, a great setting, great service, and great company!

I really wanted to try the fried ravioli but didn't get a chance (and frankly, I'm kind of glad we didn't get any because I probably wouldn't have been able to finish my dinner if I had!) so if you ever go and try them, let me know what you think!

My Favorite Things - p.26

It's hard to believe that I have done six whole months of this! I want to see if I can keep going for a whole year, so suggestions for topics area always appreciated.

These are a few of my favorite children's books. I love children's books because the pictures are beautiful and the simplicity of the language is refreshing. Plus, I have lots of happy memories associated with books.

The Country Bunny and the Little Golden Shoes - this is a great story that combines a lot of my favorite things. First of all it has a great moral/message. It's not just about having physical abilities, but about having the mind and heart to go with it and having the drive and determination to try and to keep going in the face of adversity. Secondly, it's about a girl keeping up with (and even doing better than) the boys! Thirdly, it's about an amazing working mother who proves that your life and your dreams don't end when you have children! And of course it has beautiful pictures of a sweet little brown bunny who saves Easter for one child! I guess that is a not-so-hidden (but also not so obvious) message - that it's not about just doing for the majority, but about the fact that every life and every person matters. Just trust me, you should read it.

Once Upon a Potty - educational and entertaining. Although I would venture that most people reading this really don't need the instructional part of it, it's still a cute book. There is even a "his" and "hers" versions. And there are lots of pictures of poo, which every kid likes!

The Polar Express - this was my family Christmas Eve tradition rather than reading "the night before Christmas". I was very disappointed with the movie. I understand why they added a lot of stuff to it, because it's a short book and you had to fill in more of the story to make it long enough for a movie. But they changed the climax, and I didn't like that at all. I had a good time riding the ride at Sea World last year, but the book will forever be the "right" way to hear this story. It's a nice reminder about the importance of believing in magic, even when you "should know better".

Peter Rabbit - actually, I love everything by Beatrix Potter. I think the thing I love best (now) is that none of the characters are furry humans, their homes, foods, and activities are largely those of the animals you would observe in the English countryside. However, the way they often go about these things has a distinctly human twist that makes it relatable. They also have wonderful interactions with great things to be taught. They are well over 100 years old, and still doing great things in the world of literature.