"Let Them Eat Cake" (Or Cupcakes)

Today was my mom's "29th" birthday.  She's been "29" for at least 30 years, but who's counting, right? I was fortunate to have her agree to go with me to meet with the bakery that I wanted to do my wedding cake.  The Murph who seems to be very anti-cake was going to go with me, but really didn't want to so I gave him a pass.  Dreamcakes Bakery is a local company in Homewood, Alabama and I was informed that they make the best tasting cakes and cupcakes ever.

I picked my mom up early so we could look for shoes for her to wear with the dress she chose for the wedding.  We found the perfect pair at DSW, our second stop before heading to the Dreamcakes Bakery.  They are Liz Claiborne Massey sandals found Here in off-white.  I think they will be perfect with her dress.

I took pictures of my wedding dress and pictures of some of the wedding cakes I have found in magazines that I like.  We met with K at Dreamcakes and she was very nice and brought out samples of the different cake flavors as well as photo albums and an Ipad full of wedding cake pictures and ideas.

For the wedding cake we decided on three square layers with the first layer having the exact embroidery, beading and design as the top of my wedding dress, the second layer being a little plainer (like my dress) with some edible pearl beading and the last layer having the exact same embroidery and sparkle as the bottom of my wedding dress.  There will also be some flowers in the wedding color strategically placed on the cake and a sparkly monogram of the initial of our last name on top if I can find one to order and get it in on time.

The grooms cake is going to be a special surprise, but will include some chocolate, red velvet and a strawberry cake layer since the bride cake is traditional white cake with lemon filling and vanilla butter cream icing on the top and bottom and almond cream icing on the middle layer.   This bakery does make some very tasty cakes.

They are most famous for their cupcakes.  Since it was my mom's "29" birthday, she picked out some different flavor cupcakes, Lemon Drop, Strawberry Lemonade, and Coconut Cream.  I took home the Lemon Drop, Maple Bacon (yes it is a cupcake with bacon on it), and Over the Moon, which is vanilla butter cream and my favorite so far.

Lemon Drop and Strawberry Lemonade Cupcake

Over The Moon Cupcake

Lemon Drop, Maple Bacon, Over the Moon Cupcakes

I'm saving the Maple Bacon cupcake for breakfast tomorrow.  I was told it tastes like pancakes and bacon.  I've already nibbled or licked all three of them so I can tell you right now they are all delicious.  I warned The Murph if he wanted one of them he should get the side that I didn't lick.  He said that's okay.  He doesn't want any cupcakes.  He still wonders why the heck we need wedding cakes at all.

My cupcakes are safe.  They will still be in the box when I'm ready to eat them tomorrow.

Unless this guy gets them.  He's not suppose to be on the kitchen table, but he wanted to be up higher so he could watch me taking pictures of the cupcakes.  He's very bad!

Very bad!

In Search of Mother of the Bride Attire with my Mom

Bridesmaid dresses have been picked out and ordered so yesterday was all about the mother of the bride dress.  I picked up my mom at her house yesterday and we went shopping.  Our second stop was a bridal shop in Birmingham, AL called The White Room.  I went there over a year ago to look at wedding dresses, but ended up purchasing my dresses in Charleston, SC.

The White Room does have beautiful dresses from many of the top designers.   They also carry mother of the bride dresses which was our goal yesterday.  After trying on several different styles, my mom decided on this one by Kay Unger.  I think it is beautiful and she looks great in it.

She also tried on several at David's Bridal and they had a good selection, but ultimately this was the one she liked best.  It has a jacket that goes with it.  The jacket is important because it is August here in the south and she was freezing whenever we went inside any store.  Even I wasn't that cold and I get very cold in air conditioned buildings.  I told her she should get her iron levels checked.

Anyway, the jacket is tweed so she will be very warm at the wedding if she wears it.  We were unsuccessful at finding shoes.  She likes low heels and it seems like all the shoes were flat or very high heel.  I love high heels, but that is not going to work for her.  We plan to look again tomorrow.

Cadence obviously approves this style.  My mom said I should give him treats.  I say he needs a spanking for chasing Ed under the couch!

My mom is such a good sport.  Not once did she point out that I should just go to the courthouse and get married since this was not my first rodeo and the first wedding was big with dresses, flowers, receptions, rehearsal dinner stuff and everything.  I'm sure she remembers that bill.

Well, maybe once she told the girl at The White Room that she wished I would just elope.  She laughed when she said it though.  My brother and his wife just went to the courthouse to get married and they've been married forever.  They were easy.  I have always been the difficult one.

I'm also a terrible romantic, but having a small wedding with our closest friends and family is actually the Murph's idea.  I agree 100% though!  This may not be our first wedding, but it will be our last. The Murph and I feel the same way about that.

Tomorrow it's wedding cake tasting time and my mom turns....   "29".  She probably wouldn't like it if I posted her real age out here, but let's just say she is starting a new decade so this is a very important birthday!  We were going to give her a big surprise birthday bash, but she found out and vetoed it so we are taking her out for a special birthday dinner Saturday and tomorrow more shopping for her and cake tasting with me.

I am really glad she agreed to go with me to the cake appointment.  The Murph is totally uninterested in cake!  He doesn't even know why we need one.  I told him I really don't know why either, but you just do.  You have to have some kind of cake.  There would be a riot among every guest over 40 without cake!

Last Week's A Blur

Strapless version of dress with the tie on skirt

Last week is a little bit of a blur now, but we got The Boy moved into his apartment, barely.  He got his accommodations form filled out at special student services by himself since it was closed by the time we  got his meal plan and books squared away.

We interviewed three different wedding florists and have picked one of them out.  We got the photographer booked.  I ordered the bridesmaid dresses, but when I went to order them, I found out that it would take 8 weeks to get the dresses in since it was a new Jim Hjelm design so I had to choose another dress.

I liked the detachable skirt idea so I asked the Bridesmaid shop if they had anything like the Jim Hjelm design that I could get in faster and they suggested this Pretty Maids design from the House of Wu.  It comes in fuschia.  We put it on rush order so it will be delivered by Sept. 10 and I could choose strapless, halter, regular straps, short tie on skirt or long tie on skirt.  I choose halter with long skirt.

One of the bridesmaid's preferred halter, but we couldn't find any halter designs until now.  Also, if she doesn't like the tie on skirt, she doesn't have to wear it.  And as you can see, there is no ruching so nobody is going to look "fat".  Except me because the dress I'm changing into for the reception has draping that is kind of like ruching.  I hope I am spelling ruching correctly.  It isn't coming up on spell check.

Halter neck dress without the skirt

Personally, I love the dress.  The Girl said she liked it.  I haven't heard from The Running Nazi, my other bridesmaid, but generally we like the same styles.

Now we have bands and DJ's to choose and I'm going with my mom this week to find something for her to wear.

I haven't heard from The Boy yet, but his classes start today.  We have to move the rest of his things down in a couple of weeks.  He wants his mountain bike since he's a little further from his classes this year.  He said he didn't want a television.  We had no room for it on the first trip and had planned to bring it to him the next trip.  It is very surprising that he doesn't want it because he sleeps with it on.  When he's here it never goes off even when we get on to him about leaving it on when he isn't using it.

Strange, but it might be a good thing for him not having a television on all the time.

Peter Roth Instant Mineral Sunscreen

This sunscreen was recommended to me the other day.  I have oily skin that tends to break out when I use other lotion type sunscreens.  I have tried a mineral powder sunscreen before and loved it, but once I ran out I couldn't find a replacement.  I bought it while in Key West, Florida and couldn't find the brand here in Birmingham or online.

I like this Peter Roth mineral sunscreen even better than the other one I used.  (I don't even remember the brand) After I figured out how to get the container to work, it was great.  It's a little tricky trying to figure out how to get the sunscreen out to the brush.

Not really that tricky, I'm just clueless.

You are suppose to shake the container gently and then brush it across your face.

I guess I just couldn't see any of the powder on the brush, but it was there.  I just couldn't tell at first.

This can be brushed on your face at any time of the day over your make up and used as a powder to prevent shine.  It has salicylic acid to help prevent breakouts as well.

Peter Roth also has one that is not for oily problem skin.

I'm glad this was recommended to me because I probably would never have found it on my own.  I have been trying it out at the beach and it works great!   I just have to touch up if I work out and sweat or if I go into the water.

Interested in trying it out?  You can find it Here.

Black Toilet Paper

Seriously, that is black toilet paper in that photo above.  The black toilet paper rolls were not only on that window ledge, but in various strategic places all over the restroom.  I was so fascinated, I had to take a picture for my blog.

The other day The Murph and I were busy checking off wedding vendors right and left.  We checked our invitation proofs at the invitation place, interviewed and booked a wedding photographer, looked at wedding bands, ordered bridesmaid dresses and interviewed three florists and now we are are about to go over their individual estimates.

This very, cool and unique black toilet paper was in the restroom of one of those florist/design studio.  I had to pee really bad and was directed through this really cool place stocked with neat furniture, pictures, artwork, floral arrangements, cushions, you name it.  I was itching to pull my camera out of my handbag and start shooting pictures for potential blog photos, but restrained myself until I got to the restroom.  I lost total control of camera restraint when I entered the restroom which was decorated very uniquely and totally way cooler than our entire house.

So after I relieved myself, I took two bathroom photos and hoped nobody would see the flash under the door crack and think I am weirder than I actually am.  A fellow blogger would understand, but not so sure about the floral design guy.

I really dug the black toilet paper!  (they had white for regular use)

Today we move The Boy back to college, but tomorrow we are going over the three estimates from the different florists we talked too.  I know which florist I am leaning toward.  I mean who wouldn't want to hire a florist with black toilet paper in their restroom to do the floral arrangements for your wedding?

Alabama Shakes - Hold On (I'm Loving This Song!)

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this song!

This awesome band has come a long way and fast!  I am so proud of the fact they come from my home state of Alabama.  I read something about these guys who started playing and writing songs while still in high school, which wasn't that long ago.  She's just 22.  (I think)

The other day, I'm in my car listening to the top 20 on 20 on my satellite radio and was so surprised to hear this song.  This band that started just 3 years ago in one of their garages and now they are in the top 20  on the Billboard charts and touring the country with sell out crowds.  Not to mention being on Letterman.

This is quickly becoming one of my all time favorite songs!  

Products - I'm Addicted To Sephora!

I went in Sephora the other day looking for something to firm and tone my skin and get it wedding picture ready.  I can't get out of that store without spending a ton of money on products.  I am addicted to products!  Below are a few of the things I purchased.  Three are new ones I'm trying out.  One I have been using for a while.

The sales associate at Sephora recommended Philosophy's When Hope is not enough.  The name says it all!  I dab it on my face every morning after cleansing.  I can already tell a difference.  I am using this in place of the Obage-C serum I usually use.  I like the Obage-C, but I have been using it for years and I felt like my skin needed something different for a little boost.

To find Philosophy When hope is not enough click Here.

I substituted this Philosophy Help me for the Obage-C cream I usually use.  It isn't as strong, so I'm not peeling.  It seems to be doing a good job.  The sales associate at Sephora recommended it for firmness and wrinkles.  I dab a little on my face every night after cleansing.

To find Philosophy Help me click Here.

I am very excited about this serum.  I don't have time to get laser resurfacing on my skin before the wedding and am a little bit chicken to go to that extreme right now anyway.  This serum is an excellent substitute.

Can't afford laser or want something less invasive than laser, click Here.

This DDF stuff is my absolute favorite.  I have been using it for a couple of years now.  I use it before I put on makeup, after I work out or anytime.  I love not only the way it makes my skin feel, but also the way it makes my skin look smoother and more radiant immediately.

Want to try one of my favs,  DDF Wrinkle Resist Plus Pore Minimizer serum? Click Here.

All of these products can also be found at Sephora.  They are going to discontinue the DDF Wrinkle Resist Plus serum soon.  I guess I will have to start ordering it online.

Make Them Last - UPDATE!

When The Murph and I were children, one of the many things we had in common was our parents telling us to "make things last."  My mom went to the grocery store every other week to purchase food and snacks and it had to last until the next time she went.  She never made extra trips.  Grocery shopping was every other Saturday, period.

Even though The Murph's mom went to the store every week, they had a house full of growing boy's so one package of cookies rationed three ways didn't last very long.  Therefore, snack foods purchased (if they were purchased at all) had to last until the next time mom went to the grocery store or you did without.

Personally, to me this was tough.  The first week we had limited snacks.  The second week, the pantry was barren.  Combine this with the fact my mom liked to cook gross stuff for dinner like liver and onions, hamburger helper and macaroni and cheese with diced spam and you can see how my childhood culinary experiences were very traumatic.

For years she told me and my brother that the liver was actually steak so we would eat it.  It wasn't until I was in first grade that I discovered the truth about the "steak".  It wasn't steak at all.  It was an organ that came out of a cow.  Ick!  I felt so deceived!

Where is all of this going, you ask.  I don't know except for the fact that now The Murph has decided that I need to ration out my animal crackers so they will last until the next time we go grocery shopping.  He suggested I count the animal crackers in the teddy bear container and divide that number by 7 so I will know how many I can eat per day to "make them last."

Suddenly, I'm being thrust back to the horrific days of liver steak and spam and hamburger helper.  The days where one package of Oreo's or Chips A'hoy and a box of Pebbles or Lucky Charms were purchased on Saturday and expected to last until Saturday two weeks later, but never made it past Wednesday of the first week.  The only things we kids considered worth eating were gone in half a week.

Oh, the suffering!  I need some serious counseling sessions now because of it.  When I became an adult and was on my own, I vowed to never sacrifice like this.  The only time I would sacrifice like this was when I refused to eat anything because I thought I was too fat.  Once I started eating again, I didn't "make things last" if I wanted to eat them right away.  No way!  If cookies purchased on Saturday ran out on Wednesday, I purchased more if I wanted too.   Maybe a different kind, but cookies (or whatever ran out) just the same.

The Murph knows this and is only doing this to torture me for fun.  He is just like me when it comes to food, except he's not into cookies.  He doesn't make things last anymore than I do.   I've never seen him counting out how many beers he can drink per day to make his last until the next time we go to the store.  I would just love to see him make those two 12 packs of beer he purchases at the grocery store last for an entire week.

The beer guy can attest to the fact that this doesn't happen.  We've had at least three extra runs to the beer store just this week.

I will make a deal with The Murph.  I will make my animal crackers last for the week if he will make his beer last for the entire week.  This is the only way because I'm not counting all those animal crackers in that giant teddy bear container any time soon.  Besides the fact that it is the end of the week and I still have cookies left.

Deal?

I didn't so!

UPDATE:  My mom just informed me that it was NOT spam in the mac and cheese.  It was corned beef.  Sorry mom!

She reminded me that she did, however, feed us bar-b-cued spam.  Double Ick mom!

Hint Hint

I barely even noticed the broom this morning, leaning against the kitchen table at the time I first walked into the kitchen.   My only thoughts were getting those demanding, meowing cats fed as quickly as possible so I could get my first cup of coffee.  I saw the broom out of the corner of my eye, but didn't think anything of it.

Why would I?  It's a broom, not a pair of Jimmy Choo's.

Later, when I went into the kitchen to put my coffee cup away, I didn't think it was strange that the broom was now leaning against the kitchen counter, right where I walk in the door.  I walked right past it, once again not thinking anything about it.  Not even wondering why it was out of the closet.

It wasn't until after I had changed into my workout clothes that the Murph, frustrated with my lack of attention, pointed out the pink sticky note that was stuck to the top of the broom.

My name!

The Murph had put my name on the broom and then had been moving it around the kitchen in hopes of getting my attention.  A "subtle" hint that it was past time to sweep in there and sweeping is now my job.

The Murph was right.  The last time I swept was right before we left for the beach and that's been well over a week ago.  Maybe two.  The floor has gotten a little crunchy in there.

Sweeping use to be the Murph's job, but in order to even out the work load around here, he made it mine.  Which is fine.  The only problem is that when it was his job, he swept once a week only.  Never more, never less.  Now that he's made it my job, he thinks it should be swept daily.

So not gonna happen.  I prefer to clean the way he has in the past.  Weekly.  And that's only if I don't forget it's that time of the week to clean.  Then it might be every other week or every other week and a half or so.  Until I remember I haven't cleaned or somebody sticks a sticky note on something.

I got the kitchen swept after we got back from the gym.  The Murph clapped his hands, jumped up and down, and grabbed the camera for this rare photo op.

He's just so precious!

Next time I'm putting sticky notes with his name on them on all the toilet bowl brushes.

One Bridesmaid Is M.I.A - Update

Jim Hjelm Fall 2012 Collection

 I finally have a bridesmaid dress picked out.  It has The Girl's approval.  I haven't heard from my other bridesmaid, The Running Nazi, but I think she will like it too.  Unfortunately, The Running Nazi is missing in action.  I haven't heard from her since July 27, according to our last exchange of emails.  I was at the beach, she texted me about doing a long run, but I couldn't do a long run with her that weekend since I was out of town.

We were suppose to do a long run last Sunday, but she never responded to my message.

I called and left a message on her cell phone yesterday at 1 pm.  No response.  I emailed a link to the dress to her last night.  No response.  This morning I sent her another email which goes directly to her cell phone.  In this message I included, "Please respond because I am very worried about you!"

If this was The Boy not responding to me like he did a few times last year while at college, I would add, "If I don't get a response within the hour, I am calling the police.  They will be knocking at your dorm room door."  This always works with The Boy, but since The Running Nazi is an adult and not my child, I'm not sure what to do.

The Running Nazi is very busy working almost 24/7 in her new job so maybe she is busy and doesn't have time to respond.  I think if something was seriously wrong, her husband would respond to my texts and/or emails.  Don't you think?

I also know she can't be mad at me because of the blog posts about her because I've told her about some of them and she never gets on my blog and reads them.  I don't think she even remembers how to get on my blog.  She doesn't even remember her Facebook password and how to get on Facebook.  She is too busy for that time wasting stuff and could care less about it.

I'm not that busy except when I'm working out, so I'm on it everyday.

As for the bridesmaid dress,  it is part of the Jim Hjelm Fall 2012 collection.  I like the dress in the color, azalea.  Azalea is a darker pink that I think will look great for a Fall wedding.  Azalea is very close to the berry color that is on the wedding invitations.  It will have to be special ordered since it is part of the Fall 2012 collection and isn't in stores yet.  Rush order since the wedding is in October.

I hope The Running Nazi likes it.  Once I find her, I will know if she does or not....

I am very worried about her!

UPDATE ON THE RUNNING NAZI'S WHEREABOUTS:  The Running Nazi has been found!  She finally returned my call yesterday evening as she was heading to her hotel somewhere in LA.  That's Lower Alabama, not that other LA out in California.   She explained that she has been really busy working almost non-stop and hasn't been able to run or work out at all.  Also, her cell phone doesn't have very good signal in some of those LA towns.  She also said something about a fish camp.  (shivers!)  

Overall, she's sort of fine, but sort of not, but at least she's okay.   She said she would look at the pictures of the dress when she got to her hotel.  We lost signal before we could officially end the conversation and I haven't heard from her since then, but she was going to have a busy day today in LA.

The Best Napping Spots

It looks like Cadence is ready to go back to school with The Boy.  After The Boy returned home from his dad's Tuesday, he left his suitcase by the laundry closet in the kitchen since he has clothes to wash.  It didn't take long for Cadence to discover this nice comfy napping spot.

The Boy only has one more load of clothes to wash and we've found that he is an expert folder.

This napping spot is much more acceptable to me than the other spot he chose this week.  I went to pick my wedding dress up from alterations and left it on the dining room table when I got home.  I left to go on a bike ride and received a text message from the Murph that read, "Cadence wants to be a bride."  (Actually the text said "Crybaby wants to be a bride."  The Murph never calls Cadence anything but Crybaby.)

Cadence's napping spot number two = on top of my wedding dress.

Wedding Invitations Picked Out And On Budget!

We finally ordered wedding invitations!  You would think this is easy, but I assure you it is not.  For one thing, if you remember these past blog posts Here and my all time favorite Here where I added photos of invitations I liked, you will understand the problem.

I wanted fancy, expensive wedding invitations fit for a movie star or well.... a princess.  Unfortunately, these types of invitations cost money.  LOTS of money.  For example, my favorite invitation is $55 dollars per invitation and prices can go up from there.  No wonder they are so wonderful!  

When the Running Nazi was pointing out what a budgeting dumb ass I was on that run a while back (this one, remember),  I made sure not to mention the cost of the invitations I liked or my "secret" wedding invitation budget.  Since we are having a small wedding and only ordering 75 invitations,  I figured we could spend a little more per invitation.  

My "secret" wedding invitation budget was $2,000 dollars.  Do the math and you can see that 75 invitations at $55 dollars is over $4,000 dollars.  That amount was even out of my "secret" wedding invitation budget.

The Murph was more vocal about his wedding invitation budget.  His was under $500 dollars.  This was a more acceptable amount for the Running Nazi as well, although she thought we could get invitations for under $200 if we weren't such spendy fools.

So, see the dilemma we were in when it came time to order invitations.  I'm trying to find fancy smancy $4,000 invites for under $2,000, the Murph wants invites for under $500 and it really doesn't matter what the Running Nazi thinks.  I never put her in charge of the budget and now I'm too scared of her to tell her how much we spend.  

So we walked in the store today and there were literally thousands of invitations to choose from, including William Arthur and Vera Wang.  They were hanging on the walls everywhere and there were tons of books to browse through.  We had some decisions to make.

So that's where this poor man comes into the picture.  Alan, the owner of Alan's Invitations, one of the most popular invitation shops in Birmingham.   We talked to him last year about invitations and got totally confused at the huge selection.  It was probably the Murph and my first argument, although the Murph said it wasn't really an argument, just a minor disagreement.  

Alan didn't remember us at all or at least he said he didn't.  A good thing for us he didn't remember us, he might have thrown us out of the shop right then.

I think Alan has a super human ability to block out unpleasant things and unpleasant would describe me and the Murph trying to decide on invitations.  He's been in retail for awhile.  I remember purchasing birthday invitations for the Boy here many, many years ago.  I don't think they do birthday invitations anymore. 

Alan had his job cut out for him today.  The Murph and I have different ways of communicating and making decisions.  All unpleasant.  The Murph had decided on an invitation within 5 minutes of entering the store.  While I thought that invitation was okay, it wasn't exactly what I wanted.  I thought it was kind of plain.  I wanted sparkle.  I wanted some bling bling.  I wanted tulle or ribbon or both.  And I wanted it to have at least a hint of fuchsia.  Fuchsia, not red, not burgundy.  Just that perfect shade of pink.

Not too much to ask you'd think, except for the fact that this invitation doesn't exist unless you're willing to spend mega bucks.  Being practical like the Running Nazi, the Murph said, "Why spend a lot of money on something people just throw away?"

Love the funky chandelier!

After a couple of hours where I satisfied myself that I wasn't going to find any bling in our wedding invitation budget, I decided on shiny vintage gold invitations with a satin ribbon.  We customized the entire thing and added a hint of fuchia to the inside border and ink and the envelope flap.  Then we picked out fonts.  Millions of fonts.

I wanted our names in cursive, the Murph didn't like flowing, curly girly letters.  Alan came to the rescue by finding a cursive font that wasn't too frilly for the Murph, who was already declaring the fact that he was going to have to turn in his man card.  

Below is a close sample to what we chose.  All by William Arthur.

Alan probably needed some Valium by the time we left.  Although I was the worst, most indecisive one, Alan told me I had my hands full with the Murph.

 I know I do, but...

Alan's been in the wedding invitation business long enough to know better than to tell a man in front of his fiance that he has HIS hands full.  Even though I know the Murph has his hands full with me too, it's more fun to say the Murph is a handful.

The Murph with his checking account a little bit lighter.

But think of how much money we saved.  My secret budget was $2,000.  The Murph's budget was $500.  The actual wedding invitation cost for 75 invitations was $850.  We saved over $1,000 dollars!!

Go me!!

Fried Chicken For Dinner -The Controversy

Today the Murph was on his Facebook looking at all his friend's status updates and suddenly he says, "Hey, how come all these people were having Chick-fil-a yesterday and we were having KFC?  What does that MEAN??"

He looks at me suspiciously, like I was trying to make some kind of pro-gay, anti-Chick-fil-a statement by stopping by KFC to pick up dinner on my way home last night.

Honestly, it was all innocent.  I just wanted KFC for dinner and I pass right by it when I'm driving home from where I meet a group to bike.  Not that I would have gone to Chick-fil-a to support them yesterday.  No way!  There are enough people in this bible belt to offer their support.  They don't need mine.

The Murph's suspicions were on target though.  It was kind of ironic he made the connection because  just last night when I got home from the ride I got on my Facebook and someone had posted the Rainbow Randy Chick-fil-a video (see below) and I was watching it and cracking up.  I told the Murph about it and he didn't think it was that funny.  (how can you NOT love Rainbow Randy???)

The Murph informed me that Chick-fil-a day was all over the news.  Yesterday, all the CFA supporters were eating there to show support.   I missed it because I was on the bike ride.  (oh shucks!  -sarcasm there)

Then, as I was trying to watch Rainbow Randy, The Murph was going on and on and on and on about how the Chick-fil-a guy, Cathy, had a right to express his opinion and that he wasn't anti-gay, but anti-gay MARRIAGE.  (yada yada yada).  Really.  I just wanted to watch Rainbow Randy.

Finally, after I had heard enough, I told the Murph, of course Cathy had a right to express his opinion and I have a right not to eat at his restaurant anymore.  I don't care if the guy is anti-gay marriage (he has a right to his opinion, everybody does no matter how right or wrong they are), but I do care that he gives money to anti-gay marriage charities.  He could give that money to cancer or AUTISM charities.  HELLO!!

HELP not HATE.

It pains me that even the Murph still doesn't get it.  It's not about freedom of speech.  It's about hate and prejudice and people that use religion and the bible to promote this hatred and prejudice all while saying it's God's will and God's word.

Also, am I the only one or did I read that Cathy also made the statement that "we are still married to our FIRST wives." First wives???  Really???  So what does that make those of us who have been divorced and on our second or third wives (husband's).  Is he discriminating against us too?  Being a little "holier than thou?

I'm sorry, anti-gay marriage or not, I don't like that guy.  And that's my opinion and I have a right to express my opinion too.  This is my blog.  That's his fast food business.

I'm sure he isn't reading my blog and I know he won't even notice my lack of visiting his restaurants.  They've gone down hill ever since they took the chicken salad platters off the menu.  The ones they had in the eighties and early ninety's with the little pickle, carrot and celery sticks and the hard boiled egg surrounding a scoop of chicken salad on a bed of lettuce.  Remember that one?

Now that was good!  Sorry they stink so bad now.  You may or may not be able to get a scoop of chicken salad in a styrofoam cup.  That's about it at the Chick-fil-a's around here.

I'm sorry to the Murph that I got a little huffy with him last night because he wouldn't put a muzzle on it while I was trying to watch Rainbow Randy.  I know he doesn't think Cathy is anti-gay, just anti-gay marriage.  One is about the same as the other to me.  I don't really care.  The Murph never eats fast food anyway.  KFC is about it.

KFC is way better anyway.  Colonel Sanders rules.  I don't know if KFC is pro-gay.  I hope they are or I hope they keep their personal opinions to themselves, because I really like their original recipe chicken and those little, fluffy biscuits that the Murph calls hockey pucks and I really don't want to have to stop eating there.

There's no room for bible thumpers and haters in my world.  That's not the way my God works.  My God loves and accepts everyone.

As for last night, I just wanted fried chicken for dinner.  With the biscuits. (aka hockey pucks)

Upcoming Sprint Triathlons -Yes, I Committed!

Yes, today I signed up for two different sprint triathlons that are coming up at the end of this summer.  Both of them are in Alabama, one in August in north Alabama and one at the coast in Gulf Shores, Alabama in September.

I try to do at least three triathlons minimum a year.  This year I decided to do only short ones, no half-Ironman or Ironman triathlons.  I am thinking about signing up for a half Ironman next year though.  Right now I am looking at a new half in Puerto Rico unless it fills up.  I'm not committing to it yet, so there is a good possibility it will fill up before I commit.

I am also still looking for a marathon to run this fall.  Since the wedding is in October, I am looking for a November or December marathon.  I haven't done a long run in two weeks, but I have been running several shorter runs.  I ran 6 miles Sunday in the heat at the beach.  I did lower body strength training Monday at the gym and then ran last night after we got home.  My legs are pretty sore right now despite not doing a long run.  It was the strength training.

The first sprint triathlon I signed up for is in two weeks.  It is a 600 yd lake swim, 16 mile bike ride and 5k run.  It's short, but fast.  I need to swim at least a couple of times before the race.  Probably need to get on my tri bike too.  Wouldn't be a bad idea.  I have been doing this race almost every year for about 12 years now.  I've only missed maybe 2 years since I first started racing.

The lake swim course use to be so shallow you could walk it if you didn't know how to swim or didn't swim well.  Beginners would do this race and actually walk all or part of the swim course.  The race director did NOT like this at all so she changed the swim course so now you have to swim out further and come back in instead of just out a little and then parallel the shore and back in.

Now you are forced to swim because it gets too deep to walk.

I never walked the swim course,  but I've bumped into walkers on the swim course a lot.  I'm glad the race director changed the course so racers can't walk anymore.  It's funny every year though, whenever she warns racers at the beginning of the race that everybody is going to have to swim.  No walking, so you better have a decent back paddle, free style or a good doggy paddle, cause if you don't you will be in trouble!  Big trouble!

Fun In Pensacola Beach

New Observation Wheel in Pensacola Beach, Florida

It's been a few months since we've been back to Pensacola Beach and when we arrived last Thursday, we discovered this huge new attraction that's been erected.  We haven't been up in it yet, but I'm sure we will someday.  Someday when it's less crowded.  It looks very impressive and festive though.  According to an article in the Travelhost mag you can see 16.6 miles away in every direction when at the top of the wheel.

We went to The Grand Marlin for drinks and appetizers the other night.  This is the view of the ferris wheel (Observation Wheel) from the restaurant.

  

Me with the Ferris Wheel in the background.  See how festive it looks from a distance.

 

The Murph looking very handsome.

 Us bugging the bartender to take our picture.  He's use to it and doesn't seem to mind too much.

 

Everything that I've had at this place is delicious.  

But I got one of my usual appetizers, the Maryland Lump Crab Cake.  It is so yummy I just want to lick the plate.  The vanilla infused lobster fingers are good too, but I need more than what they give you in one order.  I need 10 orders of that stuff.

I didn't lick the plate, but I did a pretty good job of finishing every last drop.

 

They have some fun drinks too.  This is the Strawberry Mango Mojito.  I also had the Chipotle Pineapple Mojita.  The Murph got his usual beer.  No pictures.

 

Then we went over to Shaggy's, a new restaurant that just opened up in Pensacola Beach, FL  in May.  We decided to try it out.  I got a banana daquiri.  The Murph got his usual. (beer)

Banana Daquiri at Shaggy's

 The cheese fries belonged to someone sitting at the bar next to us.  They smelled heavenly and were covered in cheese and bacon.  A deadly, yet delicious combination.  The Murph took a picture of the fries when their owner got up to go look for her family.  She lost her family.  (and she really didn't seem to care as she started to dig into those fries).  I may try the fries one day when I am feeling very brave.

Bacon Cheese Fries at Shaggy's

The Murph and I got the shrimp basket and the pulled pork sandwich to go.  The shrimp was good, but just average.  The pulled pork was delicious!   Shaggy's is a very casual, laid back kind of place.  We will definitely go there again.  This island needs more good restaurants.