Sunday Sentiment

Coffee, tea, or?

Something else warm and cozy? This product is for you!

It is the Cuisinart Coffee Plus 12 Cup Programmable Coffee Maker with Hot Water System.

In my house, my husband is the coffee drinker while I don't touch the stuff. I prefer hot chocolate or hot apple cider. It is also perfect for the hot cup of tea.

Both sides each have a charcoal water filter, with its own method of priming so you don't have that yucky charcoal debris the first few times it is used. Both sides have its own water storage.

The left side is the coffee maker with so many good things. It has a gold filter basket so you don't have to pay for filters. It has its own on/off button. If you filled the water storage up to 12 cups but only want to drink maybe 3 or 4 cups, there is a 1-4 button and approximately 5 cups will brew. It has a programmable auto on switch. You can choose the amount of time the plate stays warm and for that amount of time you can choose hot, warm, or cool for the temperature for the plate. After the amount of time set, it will automatically shut off. Among other things, there is also the "pause" feature that allows you to pause mid-brew to pour yourself a cup of coffee and then resume brewing.

My side is even better! Really, it is! I can not even tell you how much water is in reserve. There are 2 lights above the on/off switch. The first one is water ready. It will blink blue until the water is hot (boiling hot) and it will then turn solid blue. The other light comes on red when you need to add more water. It takes about a minute to heat up the water. Below the on/off switch is the dispenser tab. All you have to do is press the tab down while you fill your cup, mug, or tumbler. However, there is a catch, a safety guard. A sliding lock. You have to slide the lock to the left to unlock and dispense the hot water. After dispensing the water, just slide back under the tab. I love this feature. Great for safety for younger kids but also safety that you don't accidentally hit the dispenser and very hot water come pouring
out! The last feature is a removable drip tray. With the drip tray in, my 16oz Tervis Tumblers fit perfect! I THINK that removing the tray, my larger tumbler fits as well. It is removable for larger travel mugs.

All you need to do is fill whatever drinking vessel you choose with powdered or homemade dry hot chocolate mix, apple cider packet, teabag or tea diffuser. Next, unlock and dispense the hot water. So far I have only tried hot chocolate using Swiss Miss sugar free. Using my 16oz Tervis Tumbler, I added 2 packs of mix and filled up with water. I will say that I filled about half way and used an iced tea spoon to stir it up and dissolve any powder left and then finished filling with the water, stirred again. Just perfect! Let me warn you that it is hot. At home, I leave my lid off so it will cool. If you need to fill and go, I would wait just a few minutes before proceeding to drink. My second cup was even better. I put mini marshmallows on the bottom, then mix, then water! Yummy! Tomorrow, I plan to make some caramel sauce and try some caramel apple cider. Not having to boil water, I may start drinking hot tea again.

In the new world of 1 cup dispense coffee makers, I still would choose this model! As a non-coffee drinker, I truly dislike any hint of coffee taste in my cups or drink. I even have mugs that my husband is not allowed to use for his coffee.

If you are a house divided or love other hot beverages or have children who love their hot cocoa, this is the product for you.

This product usually retails for $99 but Lowes had them on sale for $69. We also had a Lowes coupon for $10 off a purchase equal to or greater than $50. That made ours only $59! My husband was in dire need of a coffee maker, but I told him I had to pick it out. A stunned look came across his face and said, "You don't even drink coffee," to which I reminded him the kitchen was mine! Now it is OUR coffee maker and neither one of us regret the purchase and now that we have used it for a week, we would have paid $99. I truly suggest you check this
kitchen electronic out. Off to fix me some more hot chocolate to sip while watching Christmas movies!

I was not asked nor compensated for my review. All opinions are my own.

Santa Claus is coming to town... By boat!

This evening is the Morehead City to Beaufort flotilla. The Christmas parade where floats really do float! I had planned to be there as parades on the water are just beautiful. Remember me mentioning my excitement about being able to spend next year's July 4th at the beach! If you choose to watch the fireworks by boat and you stay around the waterfronts, it is dark with the small lights on the boats all lit up on the water and the fireworks lighting up the night sky. The flotilla is almost the opposite in that they boats almost light up the sky but instead they light up the water like fireworks while stars sparkle in the night sky.

The Christmas flotilla adds even more magic to the season! I so wish I was able to go and wish even more that you could join me!

Who says reindeer HAVE to fly?

Happy...

4th of July! I know... You are thinking I am just bonkers! Why is it that today I am posting about Independence Day?

Today my husband called and told me he has the entire week of July 4th for vacation! He also secured the week of September 4th as well! I am so excited for multiple reasons. We started dating on July 4th and we can always celebrate that day because it is a federal holiday, but also I LOVE Independence Day at the beach. And the vacation schedule in his office never allows him the week off and only the day after if the holiday falls on Saturday! The reason I am so excited about the week of Labor Day is that our wedding anniversary is September 4th. And when he told me he has that entire week off, he added, "so we can go somewhere for our anniversary." 

He still has about 100 hours that are not carried over to use next year. I know he will take 2 more weeks but we usually take mini vacations of 3-4 days, usually in late September and October and he turns the remainder back in when it gets closer to times he has off.

I feel like Christmas came today!

The Countdown Is On!

My oh my... It is December 1st! It has been over 4 months since my last post. I do hope I still have followers. As my mama says, "If the good Lord's willing, and the creek don't rise," I will be blogging much more regularly.

I am going to start back short and sweet by sharing a picture of one of my favorite Christmas houses. Welcome to December!

It is my...

My "baby Girl" turned 19 today. Officially, not until 10:37 tonight, but you know how the moment turns 12 am on the day of your birthday, and celebration begins. The hard part, and by no means am I wishing time to go by quickly, but this is her final year as a "teenager!"

Miss Brooke's bestie from college came up Thursday night. Friday we went to dinner at her fave Mexican restaurant. Her papa, my daddy, even came just to spend time with her. She started getting the FB wishes and anxiously awaited the midnight hour, when 'T' as we will refer to him for now,was to be the 1st phone call of the birthday. Tonight we plan to sit in 100 degree weather for a baseball game after a day of shopping.

Happy Birthday Miss Brooke! You will always be my baby girl!




I love you so very much!

- Posted using Blogger from my iPad
Cake photo via Tumblr.

Back to School Already???

Even though it is only July 13th, we are already planning Miss Brooke's return for her soph year of college. She has about a month left, but a very busy month. Just yesterday, she mentioned needing a new agenda for school. Today I am hunting agendas. We love the Lilly ones but LOVE the layout of the Mom Agenda. However, I can't see her carrying an agenda around that says MOM.

So, I am considering designing my own. I love the MA with how you have the typical weekly calendar at the top, and spaces for up to 4 kids at the bottom. However, instead of kids, I would probably use those for sorority plans, sporting events, other social, and misc. obligations.

I would like to have month at a glance for her to add assignments from class syllabi and school calendar, as well as the ability to add in other assignments and even notate when classes are cancelled.

I have a perpetual calendar that I use for birthdays where we do cards for the month at the beginning of the month, including buy, sign, address, stamp, and then put a little post it indicating the day.

I think I might add an "expense report" for her to document eating out, sorority expenses (ie: tees, big-lil stuff, crafts), other stuff in general, and even gas. I may even include a deposit column for her paychecks (she is a student assistant for the Dean of Sports Sciences).

I think I may include a sorority section since her chapter does not use member books with certain info. And a section for notes in general.

Finally, I may include at the very beginning, a three column to do list. One for school, one for 'home' (cleaning, take out trash, laundry, clean bathroom, etc), and one for social.

I will probably print on card stock, making it colorful to keep her attention, and include not only favorite quotes, but also inspirational sayings, and fun stuff in general. Very cute cover and laminate so it should last longer, and have it spiral bound.

College girls (or guys)... What do you think? What would you add? What would you take away?



- Posted using Blogger from my iPad

Ralph and I would like to wish you and yours a...

Thank you Mr. Lauren for sending me this absolutely wonderful picture in my email today.

It represents many of us on the 4th of July.

Also, thanks for enlightening me of the "Star Spangled Banner Project."

Everybody enjoy your day, whether spending it with friends, nieghborhood parades, pool parties, cookouts, ballgames, fireworks, or just staying home an watching all of the glorious firework displays on TV.

Be safe, remember what this holiday represents to America, and have fun!!

I am going to see Team USA play Japan with the hubs, my daddy, and Miss Brooke.

Fashion Friday: For the Guys

Are you a prep? Or are you a prep-neck? Social Primer is giving us the chance to find out. Check out pictures and follow the comments here. In the meantime, here are 2 of my favorites with the 2nd being my absolutely favorite!

Happy Birthday

To one of the greatest men to have been a part of my life. On May 15, 1915, my GRANDdaddy, Robert E. Lee Morris. A very special man. This August 25 will be the 25 anniversary since his passing. granddaddy, I love you, I miss you, and there is not a day that goes by that I don't think about you. I am blessed because I know one day we will be reunited!


- Posted using Blogger from my iPad

I love weddings!

Saturday at 5:30, my cousin (my daddy's twin sister's only grandson and her oldest grandchild) got married. He is also the son of my favorite cousin who was also told that she would never bear children. (another story for another day)

It was a beautiful ceremony with a surprise the couple didn't know was going to happen by the officiant. The church was built in 1838 and the bride's parents married in the same church 30 years ago. The reserved pews had beautiful arrangements and there were only 2 arrangements on the altar. The bouquets were gorgeous but the bride did something very special with hers. Her 2 grandmothers passed several years ago and she chose added each of their favorite flowers to her bouquet. Pictures and more details to come later. It was a magical night with something featured that I had never seen before. Again, more details later.


- Posted using Blogger from my iPad

Spray Tans

I am loving spray tans. I was looking for a local place as I will never ever put my body in a tanning bed. When you have had multiple skin cancer removal surgeries, you tend to wise up. I honestly believe that 20 minutes in a bed is worse than 8 hours in the sun. While searching the Internet I came across SunTanCity (suntan city.com). There spray tan is a private room machine. NO airbrushing. It takes 5 minutes and if you don't add the tinter so you can see immediate results you will probably enjoy it better and doesn't get on your clothes. Plan it when you don't need a shower for 6-8 hours. If you can wait until the next morning, even better. A super natural tan, absolutely no streaking and NO orange!!! And this type of spray tan I have found lasts longer than a regular tan.

Are you curious yet? It is called vesaspa! Check out SunTanCIty
for a location near you and more info on Versaspa. It even applies a skin hydrator after the tan.

If you try it out (and the first visit is free), let me know what you think and how your tan turned out!


- Posted using Blogger from my iPad

Today is...

Wishing all of the mothers and grandmothers, and soon to be mothers out there

a very special Mother's Day!

Finally the plans are coming together...

Tomorrow morning the hubs, my daddy, and I are heading to pick up most of Miss Brooke's "stuff" from school. She doesn't have her last exam until Tuesday (final day) but she can't bring it all home herself.

So we are heading out about 7:45 in the am and meeting her at 10:45 at:

for my Mother's Day "lunch"! And then on to campus and the dorm to load up our car and my daddy's truck and bringing back as much as we can fit into the 2 vehicles. Hopefully, everything that is left can fit in her car on Tuesday. If not, I will be trekking back down there on Tuesday to help her out and make her journey home. (She will go back next Sunday to watch many of her friends graduate).

Hopefully, it won't take too long because "she says" she has just about everything packed and it will be all done tonight except for the few things and few outfits to last her through Tuesday.

Except for the fact that I get to spend a few hours with my daughter, albeit packing her up, what a Mother's Day!!

A great start to the weekend!