Wasting Away in Margaritaville

I gave up wine for the month of May.  I'm more than halfway through the month with only 10 more days to go...surely I can make it.  

Why give up wine, you ask?  I have my friends, the Coons, to blame for this one.  Well, not really but let's blame them anyway.  Rather than committing to one monster New Year's Resolution they have created the mini-resolutions.  I'm a big fan of minis, halves, etc...so I took to this quickly.  Basically you make a different resolution each month for the year.  

I only started in April since that's when I learned about this Coon sponsored trend, but I successfully gave up Raman Noodles in April (yes, I'm an addict...weird, I know) and am well on my way to having a wine-free May.  It will even win my friend, Brett $50...who took odds on me making it in the bet.

There are no shortage of funny comments when you give up wine for the month....my favorites being:

"You are giving up drinking?!?!" - CL

"She'll NEVER make it!" - SB

"I do not support this1" - AH

OK people, I said wine...not wine, beer, vodka, tequila, rum, gin...shall I go on?  I get that I am quite a fan of wine, but I'm an equal opportunity drinker for sure....spreading my time between vodka, beer, and particularly tequila lately.  

Last summer I decided to perfect the homemade Skinny Margarita and I pretty much nailed it out of the gate.  So in my month of May sans wine, I have taken to plenty of Skinny aka Fresh Lime Margaritas.  Many of you have tried them and asked for the recipe, so I thought I'd share it with the world (ha) today.  They are super easy and delicious!  Even my mom likes them and she's not "what I like to call a drinker."

Fresh Lime Margaleighta (ha - just came up with that on the spot)

Serves 1. (Double it for the perfect fit in a 20 oz styro and and you'll be sipping on a yummy marg for hours - just saying)

• 2 oz fresh lime juice – I can typically get an ounce out of 1 whole large lime if I use an electric juicer.  If I do it by hand, then it takes about 1.5-2 limes per ounce. Make sure you roll the lime around on your cutting board before cutting and squeexing, so you get the most juice out of each lime.
  
• 1.5 oz tequila blanco….I like Republic Organic Plata (it’s shaped like the state of Texas)
  
• ½ oz premium orange liqueur….I like Paula’s Texas Orange, but you can use Cointreau or any orange liqueur.
  
• 1 – 2 packets of Equal per serving depending on desired sweetness.  Usually one will do it, but if you like it a little sweeter then add a little more. I use equal instead of agave nectar.  If you choose to use
  agave or simple syrup then use 1 oz.  I found that equal does the same thing and is much easier

• Optional - splash or two of Fresca if it’s too tart and you want to make the drink last a little longer without getting totally smashed...unless that's your goal.

• Optional, a squeeze or two of a fresh orange….just half a small orange and then use the other half to slice as a garnish.

Combine all ingredients in an ice-filled cocktail shaker.  Shake vigorously and pour into salted (if preferred) glasses.

Salud!

Meatloaf Meltdown

I'm currently really into the Celebrity Apprentice.  It's my favorite of all the "apprenti", as I say.  I like the both the personalities and the charitable aspect...makes for excellent crack television!!!

If you aren't watching, then you are missing out on the nuttiness of Gary Busey, the greatness of John Rich, the classiness of Marlee Matlin, the bossiness of Star Jones, the Jacksoness of LaToya Jackson, and so on.  But...what you've most missed out on is the Meatloaf Meltdown!  It is must-share-television.  Here is a clip of Meat's Meltdown on last Sunday's episode.

Incidentally, Meatloaf went to Thomas Jefferson High School in Dallas with my dad.  Doesn't have anything to do with anything, but just thought I'd share.

Also, just for the record...I hope John Rich wins. I just love him!

All for now.
LLE

Oh, fudge!

I saw this sign today at the Czech Stop (an I-35 ritual for many Texans in West, Texas...not to be confused with West Texas) tonight. In doing so I had two thoughts, neither if which I claim to be deep thoughts, but I'll share nonetheless.

(1) The items listed below don't at all go together and therefore it perplexed me as to why a kolache/strudel shop would also tout these items. How could one really be good at all those things?

-and-

(2) I have now determined that I don't like the word Fudge.

And that's all I have to say about that...at least for now.
LLE

Terry & The Terribles

As you know, I spent this past New Year's at the Ranch.  Oh, maybe you don't know that, since I didn't post about it.  Argh!  Oh well, consider this me informing you that I spent New Year's at the Ranch.

Now that we have that settled it's time to introduce you to Terry & The Terribles...the new "band" inspired by a last minute, day we were leaving, jeep ride, photo shoot extravaganza!

Let me be crystal clear here...the use of the term "band" is really more ceremonial than anything else.  Several of us have been known to take to the stage and a mic before, but let's be honest...we are no band, but our album shoot turned out quite well.  Maybe we could be hired to be a Ghost Band and just be the face of another band...wait, does that make us Milli Vanilli.  Regardless, the album cover art has been finalized and the "song" list complied, so I felt the need to share.

Without further adieu, meet Terry & The Terribles and our first album entitled "Rowdy At The Ranch".

Front Cover

Inside Spread

Back Cover & Song List

Song List:

1. Highway 16
2. Corks & Camo 
3. Jonesin’ For A Jeep
4. Always Do
5. Nothin’ But Nubbins
6. Iiiiiii Know! 
7. Tap My head
8. Jeep-on-Jeep
9. Can’t Keep Bobby Ray at Bay
10. Hill Country Hangover
11. Margaret, No!
12. Firefest
13. Get Your Sneak On
14. Tales From The Trash pit
15. BONUS TRACK:  A Girl Named Squirrel

Click here to check out the rest of the pics from our Terry & The Terribles photo shoot.

Also, if you haven't already and are so inclined check out pics from our New Year's at the ranch!  Thankfully this time there was not New Year's Day polar bear plunge!

Leigh's New Year's Pics

Alicia's New Year's Pics

Stay tuned, you never know when a breakout solo album might appear!

You're My Obsession

Let's face it...I've been known to take things a bit too far!  As my friends often say to me in a loving yet patronizing way...

"Why would I overreact?! No one in my family overreacts!!"
              - said by Kimberly Williams as Annie Banks in Father of The Bride

But I digress, I only bring up my tendency to obsess to share my latest obsession....Kendra Scott Jewelry. 

Why do I love her stuff?  

• She's just darling and that's enough for me, but there's more.
• She's a hometown girl...and yes, the fact that I have lived in Austin for more than 5 years does indeed make me an Austinite.
• She makes statement jewelry.  Very few pieces are small and subtle.  
• Her jewelry is reasonably priced for what you get.
• You can find something for just about ANY outfit or occasion.
• You can play for hours on her online Color Bar...or better yet, drop by the newly opened boutique on South Congress and play for hours with the real deal.  I went into the store three times last week...no joke!

My first purchase was the Danielle earring in turquoise...one of her more famous pieces.  

Celebrities (I mean, other than me) have been spotted wearing them all over and they are a press fave as well

.  

Needless to say my collection has multiplied...thanks in part to their great sales and website discounts ($20 off Internet purchases when you sign up for the email list) and in part to Mamma Suze frequenting Austin more often.

All the Edgar girls got a pair of Danielles for Christmas.  They make great gifts and at $60 (less that $20 Internet discount), you can't beat the price.  

Read more about Kendra Scott, the woman behind the jewels, here.

Happy shopping!