I Love Lists, Friday

1. Three Boozy Drinks to Make with Canned Cranberry Sauce
2. Although I love cooking, I can't help but be excited by these 34 Insanely Simple Two-Ingredient Recipes 
3. Santa Strawberries are just too cute! I might have to make thes this year.
4. Our children shouldn't have these, so neither should squirrels!
5. Magical Minature Clouds by Sarah Anne Wright. I love her technique!
6. Sloopy the Dancing Chihuahua. What a cutie!
7. Try and Circle the Cat. Waste as much time as I did! (It took me about 5 minutes to capture the cat, actually...)
8. The importance of a sountrack. Epic Neil Time.
9. Awe. Abe!

Thanksgiving 2012

This year, Ryan and I hosted our first Thanksgiving Dinner for our families. Everyone who lives in town was able to come. My parents were there as were Ryan's grandpa and Pat, his sister Laurel, my Aunt Mare and soon-to-be Uncle Bob and my grandpa. Ten in total! Quite an undertaking considering we make everything, and I do mean everything from scratch. Mom and Mare brought appetizers and Laurel brought a pumpkin pie, but Ryan and I made everything else. The menu included:

Pioneer Herb-Roasted Turkey with a Sage Gravy

Southern Style Cornbread Stuffing

Orange and Ginger Scented Cranberry Sauce

Sweet Potato Puff

French Cut Green Bean Casserole

Homemade Honey Wheat Rolls

 

Pumpkin Pie

Vanilla Cheesecake Pecan Pie

Pear and Sparkling Cider Cocktails

It was wondeful to have everyone join us in our new home. I see many more family Thanksgivings to be hosted in the Alexander house!

I Love Lists, Friday

 

I Love Lists, Friday

1. I really would like to visit Alice of Magic World in Tokyo.
2. Seven Deadly Sins Rings. Neat idea!
3. Oz The Great and Powerful. Full trailer awesomeness!
4. Movember. It Gets Fuller.
5. The Littlest Princess Captain America [Cosplay]. Cutest, girl, ever.
6. THOR!
7. Avengers Logo. Done right.
8. Disney Princesses Give Leia a Warm and Musical Welcome.

Restaurant Review: White Rock Coffee

 

White Rock Coffee

http://wrcoffee.com/
Category: Cofee and Tea
Address: 10105 East Northwest Highway, Dallas, Texas 75238
Star Review: 4/5

 

I don't know why it has taken me so long to write a review for White Rock Coffee. I have been coming here for many years now, although it is quite the distance from where I live. Anytime I am within 10 miles of White Rock Coffee, I'm there. I absolutely love their White Rocker, iced in the summer and warm in the winter. It is the best drink I have had at any coffee shop. I also like the laid back atmosphere at WRC. It doesn't feel so corporate like some shops. It feels warm and inviting. Although small, there are plenty of chairs to cozy up in with your coffee, or you can hit the drive through and take your coffee to go. Either way, WRC is outstanding!

I Love Lists, Friday

1. Just in time for the holiday season. Cocoa Trimming Kit.
2. Add this Flower Festival in Zundert to my bucket list. Simply stunning!
3. Cerealism.
4. Helvetia's Dream: a beautiful timelapse of Switzerland.
5. This man who Repaints Movie Character Figures has some real talent!
6. Neat Instgram Book Website. I might have to consider making one of these. Neat!
7. How did we miss seeing these Chocolate Dioramas at Disney's Food and Wine Festival?

New Additions to Foodie Finds: Foodbeast and Foodiggity

Make sure you check out our Foodie Finds page and visit the two new additions to a growing list of great food websites. Foodbeast is an offbeat food website with short blog stories about unique and funny food finds. They also have a listing each week of the top six Instagram food photos. Foodiggity is pretty similar to Foodbeast in that it is also a site with offbeat food news. What makes this site great? They feature some of the most interesting and ridiculous kitchen gadgets on the market. You will surely want to visit both of these great foodie finds!

Restaurant Review: Meso Maya

Meso Maya
http://www.mesomaya.com
Category: Mexican
Address: 11909 Preston Road, Suite 1426,  Dallas, Texas 75230
Star Review: 4/5

I truly adore this restaurant which is very unassuming from the outside in the small strip shopping center where it is located. I have been here twice now, once with a friend and once with my parents and husband. Everyone has loved it! The food is really fresh and yummy. The service is quick, although it can be difficult to understand the service staff. Not to worry though, you will still recieve quick and friendly service. Not only is the food fabulous, the atmosphere is my favorite of any restaurant I frequent. It is warm and inviting and the lighting is spot on. I also like the authentic nature of the food here. It isn't On the Border with the fake, americanized food. So if you are looking for great food and stellar atmosphere, try Meso Maya.

Ebates for the Holiday Season

If you are going to do any online shopping this holiday season, make sure you use Ebates.com. It is free money! All you have to do is search for the store you want to shop at online and click through to it through the Ebates website. Then just do your online shopping as you normally would, check out and pay. A week or so later, the money from the percentage back you were promised appears in your Ebates account. They transfer whatever money you have earned with them to your PayPal account quarterly. It really is free money and I have earned over $330 in just over a year for the online shopping I already do. Click this link to sign up today: EBATES.COM

Happy shopping! And don't forget, Ebates can be used for any online shopping every day of the year.

Charlotte Alexander: Photo Retouching

Just this past weekend, I launched my new website! I do photo retouching for a small fee. I have been retouching digital photos for over six years. I believe every photo can be retouched, even if only slightly, to show the true beauty of any individual. I focus on natural retouching that ensures the final photo still looks like the original, just better, brighter, and more vibrant. I can also do more advanced retouching such as adding makeup, tanning skin, thinning face and body, and even removing distracting objects from photos. I have a passion for making every retouched photograph exactly what my clients envision. From wedding photographs to senior photos to author headshots, I will make sure you look your best. Visit my website Charlotte Alexander: Photo Retoucing and let me help you with your photo retouching needs today!

New, Sweet Girlies

Since Cordelia is no longer with us, we wanted to make sure Velma wasn't lonely. So yesterday we adopted two of the sweetest girls. One of them was already named  by the employees of the place we adopted her. Her name is Milli and she is litterly the sweetest little rat ever. We also ended up adopting a sweet little camel and white colored rat that reminded us of our old rat, Clara. We named her Luna. She is also sweet, but is not as outgoing as Milli.  They are both great additions to our family and the three of the girls are fast friends. I think Velma is happier and I know that I'm glad these two sweet girls didn't end up as snake food. I love our little rattie family!

Meet Milli

Meet Luna



I Love Lists, Friday

1. Finally got the chance to watch A Fan's Hope. Loved it!
2. Hurricane Sandy. I love that people are coming together during this time of tragedy and loss.
3. The Zombie Song. It's quite catchy!
4. I like Stephanie Mabey.
5. Who wouldn't want a Donut Shot Glass?
6. Stop it Nabisco!
7. A Worldwide Celebration of Halloween.
8. I'll be needing one of these this holiday season! Too bad it retails for $240.
9. Oddka. Yes.