If you Knew Hilda, like I know Hilda..

If you haven’t met, please allow me to introduce you. Hilda is a big beauty with a bubbling personality and a pin-up girl from the 50’s. Her creator is Duane Bryers. I found Hilda quite by accident and have been trying to locate calendars, postcards, prints, anything with Hilda’s picture on it ever since. I just think she would look adorable framed in my kitchen. I don’t know where to begin to tell you what I love about her. She’s curious, giddy, exasperated, troublesome, but always fun.  I like her irresistible child-like innocence.  However the thing I love most about her is that she is completely comfortable with her body and seriously, how could she not be? She is absolutely gorgeous and I don't think she knows how voluptuous she is.

Below are many of Duane Bryers incredible Hilda paintings done specifically for Bigelow & Brown's Hilda calendars. These were illustrated between 1957 and 1970 although Mr. Bryers continued to do original paintings for the calendars until the early 1980s.

Aren't you glad you met Hilda?  Let's all embrace our curves.  Now, please pass the cheesecake!

Holly

xxx-ooo

Never Fail Recipes - Part One

Most people have recipes that they always go to when they want something quick and easy and although I do love to try out new recipes, lately I’ve been falling back on my favorites. These are the recipes that I never have to think about, and they are always a hit. I usually have everything already in my cupboard for these so I don’t have to make the last minute shopping trip. (Don’t we hate that trip where you just have to pick up one or two things?)

Simply Great Chicken

(Source: Country Chicken cookbook)

1 broiler-fryer chicken (3 1/2-4 lb.), cut up ( I leave the skin on)

1 (.7 oz.) envelope Good Seasons Italian salad dressing mix

1/2 c. packed brown sugar

1. Place chicken in a single layer in a greased 13x9x2-inch baking dish.

2. In a small bowl, combine dry salad dressing mix and brown sugar; sprinkle over chicken.

3. Bake, uncovered, @ 350 degrees for 55-60 minutes or until juices run clear.

I love the crispy sweet goodness of this chicken recipe.

The next is the easiest cookie recipe I have. Only 3 ingredients, I don’t believe you heard me, 3 ingredients only!

3 Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies

1 cup peanut butter

1 egg

1 cup white sugar

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.

2. Combine the peanut butter, white sugar and egg. Mix until smooth.

3. Drop spoonfuls of dough onto the prepared baking sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 6 to 8 minutes. Do not overbake! These cookies are best when they are still soft and just barely brown on the bottoms.

Hope you enjoy!

 

Holly

xxx-ooo

Slumgullion and Dinner Rolls

When my sister and I were little and Mom went out for a Girl’s Night, Dad was in charge. This was a much anticipated occasion. We knew two things were definitely going to happen.

1) My sister and I would play barber shop. Dad would want to take a nap on the floor in front of the tv but knew he had to know where we were at all times. His solution was to lie on the floor and allow us to cover his entire face in shaving cream and shave him with butter knives while he napped. Good times Dad!

2) We would be eating Slumgullion. This was Dad’s famous recipe. If you asked him what was in it, he would tell you that it was everything that was left in the fridge and thrown in one pot. I honestly thought that he made the name Slumgullion up, but I’ve found that he didn’t. You can actually find real recipes for it on sites like Cooks.com and Allrecipes.com. Who da thunk it?


I’ve come up with my own way of making this easy dinner. It also involves getting rid of most things in the fridge and freezer. I made it for my husband who is quite picky and he loved it. It’s a lot like goulash but I hide vegetables in it since my husband doesn’t eat “green stuff” and it’s a little more soupy than goulash. I think some people call it hamburger soup.


I use:


1 lb ground beef or turkey
1 can petite diced tomatos
1 can tomato sauce
1 ½ cans water or chicken or beef broth
1 large diced onion
2 cloves garlic
2 TBSP soy sauce (trust me)
Oregano, basil, pepper.


After browning the ground beef, put in the onion and garlic and sauté until soft. Throw all the rest of the stuff in and simmer for about 20 minutes. Then start cleaning out your fridge/freezer. Today I used 1 cup of frozen corn, 1 cup frozen green beans and some diced baby carrots. Simmer another 20 minutes until carrots are softened. You can throw just about anything else you have in there. Green peppers are really good in there too. Bring the mixture to an easy boil and then add about 1 cup of macaroni noodles and cook until they are done. That’s it! Super tasty. I serve mine with Rhodes frozen dinner rolls because I’m too lazy to make my own and these always come out so fluffy and pretty.

Thanks for checking in.  And that's all I have to say.

 

Holly

xxx-ooo

Every Grandma Had One

Lately I've been hooked on vintage Cosco 3 tiered carts and stools.  I'm not sure why, other than they make me feel nostalgic and I love the vintage look.  My grandmother had one of these in her kitchen for years, I think most Grandmothers did.  I found one at the thrift store down the street for $2.00 a few months back and had been kicking myself for not buying it.  I don't have a lot of counter space and I wanted something to put at the end of my counter to hold my Kitchenaid mixer.  Well, I went back to the thrift store a few days ago and they had another one there.  This one was $7.00...inflation?  I knew I couldn't pass it up.  For some reason I didn't take before pictures so you'll just have to trust me on this.  It was an ivory color and pretty dirty.  Very little rust though.  I brought her home and cleaned her up (with my Oxygen Orange Cleaner, of course) and sanded down the rusty parts.  I primed, painted and added a coat of polyurethane.  I just love her and she fits so perfectly in that little space.  Don't you agree??

 (Don't look at the linoleum, it's a rental home, not much I can do for now.)

Here's what I need next:

Image from Apartment Therapy

I must find that stool!  My next mission.

And that's all I have to say.

Holly

xxx-ooo

The Makeover and a Dollar Store Wonder

I've had this dusty little metal gecko on the wall in my back yard for the past year and the sun has really taken it's toll on him.  I decided he needed a makeover, plus I'm trying to bring a little more color onto the patio.   I brought him in and washed him up with my favorite cleaner "LA's Totally Awesome Oxygen Orange All Purpose Degreaser".  I buy this stuff at the dollar store for, yes, you guessed it $1.00.  It works on everything.  Just spray it on and the dirt, grime, fingerprints, just wipe off with a dry cloth.  My husband uses it on his boat and it works wonders!

It's great for cleaning all your appliances and did I tell you it's only $1.00??!!  Anyhoodle, what were we talking about?  Oh yeah, the gecko.
Here's what he looked like after I cleaned him but before I painted him. 

Very faded and boring.

Here's what he looks like since I've painted him.

Very colorful and obnoxious!

He makes me smile.

Have a great day!

Holly



Ready for Fall

It's beginning to cool off here in Phoenix.  I'm finally able to start planting flowers again since the summer killed everything in sight.  I love this weather.

(Sorry about the dog butt)

You may think I'm trying to be funny with that sign up above but it's really a neccesity, you don't know our friends!

Have a great day!

Live Out Loud!

Holly

xxx-ooo

My Forever Friend

Sisters are different flowers from the same garden. ~Author Unknown

This is Kelly, my beautiful, amazing sister. She lives in Florida and I’m in Arizona so we don’t see much of one another. Of all the women in the world, she is the one I am most in awe of.

She’s four years older than I am so by the time I began high school, she was getting married and moving out of state. I didn’t have time to steal her favorite sweaters or ask her advice on makeup and boys.

She’s the kindest person I know, she’s strong (a breast cancer survivor), and she’s funny.

She is an amazing wife and mother and has always been an inspiration to me.

We had our fair share of "She's touching Me!!!" (Which she did A LOT!)

We did get chance to get together a few months back in New Mexico where they have an adorable mountain home. My parents live there so it was a wonderful family reunion.

I love you and miss you Sissy!
 
Holly

Happy Birthday to Us!!

Today was a great day!  Got to spend it with my daughter who is one of the sweetest, funniest people I know.  We almost share a birthday.  Mine is on the 25th and hers is on the 27th so we usually have a girls day to celebrate.  We started off by going out for lunch at a place called Pita Jungle. 

My daughter is a vegan so it can be difficult to find places that we both enjoy going to but this place was great!  Katie had some kind of pesto pasta salad and I had the chicken pasta salad.

We had a lot of fun and talked girl talk.  See how cute she is!??!!

Then we headed out to get Manicures and pedicures.  So relaxing.  Look at them toes!!

I love my sweet little baby girl and cherish every moment I get to spend with her.  Happy 23rd Birthday Katie!  I love you!

I hope everyone has a great weekend.

Live Out Loud!!

Holly

I lost 40 lbs at Walmart Today!

My husband and I went to Walmart today and I was standing at the back of the truck while he loaded the bags into the back.  I happened to glance down into the very dirty chrome bumper of the truck and lo and behold, I had very skinny legs.  They looked pretty good, even though there were bugs all over the bumper.  As soon as we got home I ran inside and grabbed my camera and took a few shots of my legs because I hadn't seen them look like that since I was like 12.  My husband saw me with the camera.

Brian:  What are you doing?

Me:  Taking a picture of the reflection of my legs in your bumper.

Brian:  Okay.

God love him, he understands me!!  Okay, maybe he doesn't understand me but he knows better than to question me when I so obviously have a great idea.

So, here is the pic I took of the "bumper legs".  Ignore the bugs and dirt, just look at my legs, my wonderfully thin legs!  This is so much easier than "photoshopping".

Unfortunately, here is what they really look like.

(By the way, that is a white design on my shirt, not a big toothpaste splotch on the mirror)
I may just have to spend more time outside washing my husband's truck. 

I bet I would look fabulous in a bikini!!

Live out Loud!!

Holly

Couldn't be Cuter!!!!

You know you've done it.  Don't tell me you haven't.

We were at a friends house the other night playing cards and they told us about a stray cat that had a kitten in their back yard.  Well, you know the rest of the story.  She is making herself at home now (along with my other two cats and my dog).  Just what we needed, but come on, would you just look at that face?

We haven't named her yet.  Any ideas?

We were thinking:

Keeper

Juneau (from our honeymoon)

Ellie Mae

Dammit (my husbands choice)

Bella

Skootch

What do you think?

UPDATE 9/26/2010

Well, Brian named her Gizmo but I say her name is Miss Gizaboo, Princess of the Royal Litterbox.  Been calling her Gizaboo or Gizee.

Live out Loud!!

Holly

Missing the Honeymoon!

Three and a half years ago, my dear husband and I went to Alaska on a cruise and I am sure missing it right now. We had such a great time.

Husband didn’t get bored.

Had the bar to myself!

He was so brave.

Need to get back!

Love ya'll,

Holly