Show and Tell Tuesday...This is a DOOZY

Today I'm linking up with Andrea from Momfessionals (she's so cute) for Show and Tell Tuesdays.

OH BOY...

This Show and Tell Tuesday is the equivalent of me running naked through the mall...NOT PRETTY people!!!!

I am really putting myself out there and I already know the ones who will ridicule me...you know who you are too, so be NICE! ;) I should also note that I am choosing KINDNESS today and not bringing my husband or children into this.
#theycanthankmelater

This months Show and Tell is about "old school pictures" and to say I had some real doozies is putting it lightly. Sometimes I wonder what did I ever do to my mom to make her let me look like that. (sorry Mom) Maybe it was payback for being a little sassy. It just so happens that when I went home to help them in April I brought back all of these old school pictures.

Here we go...

As soon as you finish wiping the tears from laughter off of your face, we'll move on.

I think this was around first grade and for some reason my mom thought a "PERM" would just be grand. It was grand all right...the kids at school asked me if I was wearing a WIG!

#ifididntneedtherapyafterthisineverwill

Go A.M. Davis Vikings!!!

I look at these and think maybe someone really should market mascara for young girls. This right here is why I wear the mascara I do. (talked about here)

Ahhh yes, the "turd roll" era...that was a good one.

I think these are about 3rd grade.

Go A.M. Davis Chargers!!!

This was probably around 5th grade. Want to hear something really funny??? Kent was graduating high school. Can you even imagine if someone had shown him this and said this is your future wife. Oh the horror he would have felt. 

#hemayhavechosencelibacy

I know this is middle school and how all us girls just loved us some Tally-Ho sweaters and button down Polo's.

I think this is circa 8th grade and finally mascara made it onto my eyes.

#hallelujah

This must be around sophomore or junior year and I'm back to short hair.

And finally freshman year of college...I think I'm starting to get my act together. Just remember, it was the 90's and cut me some slack.

I'm going to stop right here because it's going to involve digging through boxes now and "ain't nobody got time for that"

Hope I provided y'all with a good laugh and self esteem boost.

Do you have some real doozies yourself? It can't just be me.

Happy Tuesday!!!  

Lisa

XOXO

Disclaimer: These photos can in NO WAY be used without my express consent. I can think of a handful of people right off the top of my head who just might have to much fun with these.

Here are the other Show and Tell Tuesdays I've done if you've missed them

Your Personal Style

My Tribe

And here's a complete list of past and future topics.

Love Your Spouse Challenge

Hey there friends and happy Monday to you! Hope you had a great weekend. I think for a lot of people summer is in the final wind down as kids are starting back to school.

This is a big week for us, it's finally arrived. Friday we leave to take Katie to college. I truly believe I'm in denial. I've felt pretty strong and optimistic that this is going to be a fairly easy transition (at least that's what I'm trying to convince myself), but the closer it gets the more I feel the cracks appearing on the surface. I think it could seriously go either way. I guess we'll all know in a week and a half when Kent and I are back in California without her.

#wishmeluck

Have you seen the "Love Your Spouse Challenge" going around on Facebook?

Well my sweet friend Laura nominated me to take part in it and so I happily did. It was really fun to look back through the 100's maybe 1000's of old photos and find some to share.

The quality of the photos is not great, but most of these were made before digital came along and then even once it did I had a hard time giving up my film.

#idontlikechange

I thought it would be fun to recap the 7 days in a post for y'all. Let me just say that I am blessed to have a wonderful partner to share my life with. I realize not everyone is as lucky as I am and I don't take it for granted. We've had challenges in our marriage but they've been not so much relational as situational. We've had to make a couple of moves in the last 6 years because of job changes and those can prove challenging, but we've managed to remain on the same page and come through them as a team, not individuals.

Here's a little trip down memory lane...

Day 1: KX Christmas Formal 1990, Hermitage Hotel (with big Nashville hair as Kent calls it😂)

Day 2: Cancun, Mexico on our honeymoon in 1992. (The hair is still big, it's just pulled back)

Day 3 of "Love your spouse" challenge and we are expanding our family. This is the day after we brought Benny home from the hospital and our hearts were full. (and for the years to follow I will look tired😂) 

Day 4 of "Love Your Spouse" challenge. Little did Benny know that next year he'd have to share the spotlight. What a fun and precious time in our lives. It's especially fun to look back at all these pictures as we approach a major change in less than 2 weeks when it's back to just the 2 of us...WOW!!! It's a fun, crazy life we've built together! 

Day 5 of "Love Your Spouse" challenge and Katie makes her debut completing our precious little family of four. We are truly blessed with two wonderful children who make our lives complete. 

Day 6 of the "Love Your Spouse" challenge. In less than 2 weeks it will be back to just the 2 of us all the time. Thankfully we actually enjoy being together and have fun be it sitting on the sofa or exploring new places we've never been. I "watch" sports with him and he "shops" with me. He's the yin to my yang and I'm thankful each and every day for him.

Day 7 of "Love Your Spouse" challenge. It's been fun looking at our history and thinking about all the fun that's yet to come. Thanks for being my "Bubbie" for the last 25+ years. I love you!!!

Reading these you can see that the upcoming change in our lives is a real focus right now. I hate to keep mentioning it, but it's really just as big as when you are at the end of a pregnancy awaiting the arrival of that precious little baby that will forever change your lives. We are now on the backside of that and that same precious little baby is heading off to find her place in this big ol' world. In a way we've come full circle. We started off as two and now it's back to two again. No, it's not like were never going to be with our kids again, but not having them in the house day in and day out is really a big deal and until you are actually standing at the threshold of this new path you aren't really able to grasp it. It's exciting, scary and wonderful all at the same time and you guys have a front row seat to watch us go through it.

Have you participated in the "Love Your Spouse Challenge"? If you haven't, you might want to start it with some of your friends. It's fun to look back and remember the fun times with that special someone. 

Here's to a great week!!!

Lisa

XOXO

Friday Link Ups

It's Friday and that can only mean one thing...it's time for all the Friday link ups.

Friday Favorites with Erika, Narci and Andrea

and 

High Five for FRIDAY / Five on Friday / Friday Favorites / oh hey FRIDAY

I was barely out of the house this week and so I had a hard time coming up with my favorites, but I managed to round up a couple.

ONE

Y'all know I like to keep you informed when I find a new kind of coffee I enjoy. Well I came across this one day when I was in Safeway and decided to give it a try and I'm so glad I did. It's my current favorite!

TWO

I've been looking for a new basket to keep blankets in in our family room for a while. I saw one I loved in Nashville but didn't have a way to get it home. Kent and I went to World Market last weekend (I had a 50% off coupon and you just know I wasn't going to let that go to waste). We were cruising through the store and I was carrying a cute little tiered stand I thought I'd use it on when I spotted this...

Well the little stand lost out and the basket won!

It's perfect. Nice and big and is going to look great with our new sofa. If you missed the details on that you can read about it here.

THREE

The REDEFINE AMP IT UP Special with FREE Acute Care Patches is still available through the end of September or as long as supplies last.

This is such a great deal I really honestly hate to see anyone miss it. 

Feel free to check out my website and see what regimen is recommended for you.

www.lrichardson3.myrandf.com

FOUR

There's still time to take advantage of the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale. Prices go back up on the 8th and it's not too early to start thinking ahead to Christmas. (yes, I said it...the C word)

If you missed any of my #NSALE posts and shopping hints and tips you can find them here, here, here, here & here.

Hope you guys have had a great week and have a wonderful weekend.

Don't forget to check out all the links at the beginning and see what all my blogger friends have been up to.

Lisa

XOXO

Homemade Ice Cream

I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream!!!

I really wonder if I could eat ice cream 3 meals a day and never get tired of it. I mean seriously, I. love. ice cream.

My family loves homemade ice cream. Homemade Coffee Chocolate Chip Ice Cream to be exact and it really couldn't be easier.

I've had an electric Cuisinart Ice Cream Machine for at least 10 years.

It makes whipping up a batch of ice cream a real breeze. 

I was in Costco the other day and walking the isles to see what was new when I spotted an ice cream maker similar to mine. If you don't have a Costco near by Amazon has the same one I have.

This has a removable barrel that you keep in the freezer and then put in the machine when you are ready to make ice cream.  When we purchased mine there was a special offer to get an extra freezer barrel so I have two which comes in super handy since my favorite ice cream recipe makes enough for two batches.

EDIT:

Extra freezer barrel for ice cream maker available on Amazon.

I've used different ice cream recipes through the years and the first recipes I had required being cooked because they had raw eggs in them. One day I was looking through my Better Homes and Gardens Cookbook (doesn't every home have one of these?)  which was my first cookbook and has all the basics in it and stumbled on what would soon become a family favorite.  I found a super easy, no-cook ice cream recipe that can easily be changed and made into different flavors. If you have this same cookbook, you can find the recipe on page 136.

The basic recipe is this:

No-cook Vanilla Ice Cream

3 cups light cream (I use fat free half and half)

1 1/2 cups sugar

1 Tablespoon vanilla

3 cups whipping cream

In a large mixing bowl combine light cream, sugar, and vanilla. Stir till sugar dissolves. Stir in whipping cream. Freeze in a 4 or 5 quart ice cream freezer according to manufacturers directions. Makes 2 quarts (16-20 servings)

To make my families favorite Coffee Chocolate Chip Ice Cream, make the following adjustments to the original recipe.

Prepare as above, except dissolve 2 - 3 Tablespoons (I use 3) instant coffee crystals in the light cream mixture before adding whipping cream. If using an old timey hand crank or electric ice cream maker that uses ice and salt add 1/2 cup (or more) of miniature chocolate chips to the mix before starting machine. If using ice cream maker like mine, wait until the ice cream is almost done which will take around 20 minutes and add chocolate chips for the last 5 minutes of churning/mixing. 

This ice cream will be pretty soft when finished, but you can transfer it to a container and pop it in the freezer to firm it up.

This is without question my kids favorite ice cream and if we have it in the freezer I have no self control! I can usually keep all kinds of ice cream in my freezer without being tempted (even though I love it), but with this homemade coffee chocolate chip...all bets are off and I'm eating it a spoonful at a time all day long.

#secretaddiction #notsosecretnow

Do your family a favor and make some this weekend and if you do, be sure to let me know if they like it OR if they LOVE it!!!

Lisa

XOXO

Try It On Tuesday - #NSALE Edition

Are you ready for another issue of "Try It On Tuesday"? 

Today I'm sharing my scores (and returns) from the Nordstrom sale.

The dressing room is my own home and I'm showing you what I loved and returned. Not that I necessarily wanted to return, but sadly I can't keep it all.

#ineedtowinthelottery

BUT...before we get to it, I want to wish my sweet daddy a very HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

I know a lot of you girls think you have the very best father, but just let me tell you I hit the jackpot when God gave me to this man (and my mom ;) ) I hope you have a wonderful day and know just how loved you are!!!

#bestdadever #daddysgirl

Now back to TIOT (Try It On Tuesday)

Let me tell you right up-front that some of these items are only available in a few sizes and some are unavailable, but if you are interested in something you should check back frequently because they are continually restocking. I checked twice on a pair of jeans that were out of stock the other day and the second time I checked they had shown back up.

#persistencepays #igetthemfriday

Sweater / Jeans / Shoes (shoe option) / similar necklace

I love sweaters and this cocoon sweater is a great almost year round piece. It will transition from late summer cool evenings right into fall and then on into winter and carry you through early spring. I love the weight and it's soft too. I paired it with the Wit and Wisdom absolution stretch jeans that I'm pretty sure I'll wear the tar out of and these adorable lace up flats. I bought my first pair of Wit and Wisdom jeans last year during this sale and they are super comfortable. Did you know items bought during the sale qualify for FREE alterations? I took my black jeans in to be hemmed assuming I'd be charged and it was free!!! I was pumped!

Love these shoes!

Let's talk about this sweater. Y'all must be figuring out I'm a sucker for soft fabrics. When I ordered this sweater I really wasn't sure what it would be like and when it arrived. Oh. my. word. It is sooooo soft. I really want it in every color just because of the way it feels. I love the olive green color I have on here. I feel pretty confident this is going to be a favorite this winter.

Sweater / jeans / shoes

The things I do for you guys.  I wanted you to see the cut of this sweater. Yes, it's boxy, but it still looks really cute on. I love the way it hangs.

Here I just changed out my shoes for my new boots. LOVE THEM. I've been looking at these Frye boots for at least five years and finally caved and bought them. I know I'll be able to wear them for years and years. I'd really love to try a pair of over the knee boots, but I know there's no way I'd be able to pull them off (figuratively). My legs are just too short.

#knowyourbodytype #shortgirlprobs

Boots

This is one of the sweaters that is called a sweatshirt I showed you in an early #NSALE post.

Again, super soft and casual but cute.

Bobeau sweatshirt / similar jeans / booties

These Lucky booties are darling and even better than that they are really comfortable. They have a nice cushiony insole and feel great on your feet.

Baby blardigan love right here. This is just as soft as those sweet little baby blankets with the dots. You know the ones I'm talking about, right? You will want to wear this every single day...I know I do.

If you look closely you'll notice this is a different pair of booties. When I saw them I just couldn't decide which pair I liked the most so I ordered both. The cut outs on the side of these are so adorable and I'd love to just keep both pairs, but in the end the Lucky booties won out in comfort. These are by no means uncomfortable, but the Lucky pair is just really comfy. If I didn't already have black booties, I'd be getting this pair in black.

Baby blardigan / similar  jeans / booties / necklace

Baby blardigan in navy.

Baby blaradigan / similar jeans / booties / similar tee / necklace

I need y'all to help me decide which baby blardigan to keep? Oatmeal or Navy?

I'm really torn but just can't keep both. Leave a comment with which one you think I should keep. I keep going back and forth and can't commit.

Thanx for the help. :)

This sweater is light-weight, but not too light. I love it, but it's just too long for my frame. You tall girls would look great in this one and it would be a great transitional piece. I think it runs kind of large so I'd suggest sizing down. This one is a small, but I'd definitely need an extra-small if I was keeping it.

sweater / necklace

I wanted y'all to see just how long this is on me in the back. I'm almost 5'3" ;)

#akwardpicture

There you have it friends. The good, bad (not really) and the returned. I wish I could keep everything but I'm just thinking of it as a lesson in self-control.

#fruitofthespirit

Lisa

XOXO

Weekend Wrap Up - New Sofa Edition and Random Thoughts

Hello friends and happy August!!!

Can you even believe how quickly the year is flying by? I'm such a summer girl I don't want to see it end. Some stores are already putting out Christmas stuff. #stopit

If your kids are getting ready to go back to school or your like me and getting ready to put your last child or maybe your first in college I wish you luck and hope for a smooth transition.

I think this accurately sums it up...

And speaking of counting down days, is it November yet? Oh my goodness, I'm so tired of all the political stuff on TV I can barely watch the Today show or any other news program these days.

I have a friend who owns a hair salon and she used to tell me there are two things she never discusses with clients. Politics and religion.

#goodpolicy

People are very passionate about both of these and passion is good, but when it turns nasty, not so much. 

Moving on...how was your weekend? Ours was really nice. Low key and relaxing for the most part. 

We love our photo-bomber.

Katie was sick when we returned from our trip last Tuesday and most of last week but was finally feeling better Saturday morning so we went for a walk and it was HOT!

This girl is making plans for pretty much everyday between now and when we leave to take her to school NEXT FRIDAY. I hope she remembers to fit us in.

The least relaxing yet most exciting part of our weekend was ordering a new sofa for our family room. We've had the sofa and love seat we're currently using for about 13+ years and it's time to freshen things up. You can see it HERE if you missed our home tour.

We went to Ethan Allen and looked at what they had and I fell in love with some fabric so it pretty much ruined every other store we went to and we ended up right back where we started. We decided to go with a sectional which honestly makes me really nervous, but I've been wanting one for quite a while so we stuck with my gut and ordered it. The fabric we chose is a light, subtle geometric pattern that comes off as a solid from a distance. I'll be able to switch out throw pillow seasonally and I think the lighter color will lighten up the room. I guess we'll find out in 8-12 weeks. #fingerscrossed

I'll give you a sneak peak. Here's the style we landed on which is what I've had in my head and is very similar to what we have right now.

And here's the fabric...oh my heart, I love it!!!

There it is draped on the left back cushion and it looks solid. I tried several different textures and colors of throw pillows with it in the store and they all looked great. We currently have latte colored walls,  but I'll be able to go with gray or any number of colors if I ever decide to repaint.

I continue to order an item or two here and there from the #NSALE which runs through August 8th. If you've seen something you want but it is sold out check back online frequently. They are constantly restocking so you might get lucky.

Tomorrow is another installment of Try It On Tuesday and I'm going to show you what came in all of my boxes while I was gone last week. Which items I kept and returned.

Lisa
XOXO