Real life with Lar

Happy Grandparents Day ! Snuggle napping with my Great Grandpa aka 'Shand-Dad' Such a sweet & gentle soul! I loved all my grandparents. I was lucky  to have had some awesome ones. I learned so much from each of them. Although they have all passed on they are never far from my thoughts. I think of each one fondly, BUT my relationship with my GanGan (aka Gang) was a special bond. Gang & I during our last visit. I was trying to take a selfie with her. She wanted to just lay her head on my forehead.  GanGan was more than just my paternal grandmother. She was my mentor, my encourager, and my friend. She always had sound advice, great instinct and wisdom I always trusted.  Her laugh was amazing and we laughed A LOT. As a matter of fact, GanGan was so cool that as a teenager my friends looked forward to her weekend visits so we could 'hang out' with her .  BeeBee and I at Disneyland park, 1970. We loved our trips there I lost my matern...

One Bad Month Don't Spoil the Whole Life Girl! (Sing to the tune of 'One Bad Apple' by The Osmonds) One of my favorite places...Ormond Beach Florida! I remember watching the movie 'Parenthood'.  The best scene was grandma as she described grandpa taking her on the roller coaster  "You know, it was just so interesting to me that a ride could make me so frightened, so scared, so sick, so excited, and so thrilled all together! Some didn't like it. They went on the merry-go-round. That just goes around... Nothing. I like the roller coaster; You get more out of it." Life with its ups, downs and upside down loops sure does feel like a roller coaster. Isn't that what makes life a great adventure? This past month my fight with cancer has been a true roller coaster ride. Two surgeries,  a BAD reaction to anesthesia from both surgeries, slow wound healing and the list goes on and on. But, during this past month there were also some ups....

The Thanksgiving Day Dance My Thanksgiving day cooking schedule is something I've tweaked and perfected over time. Its like a well choreographed dance; flowing and moving towards a great ending of...well... making us feel as stuffed as the Turkey. 😉 One of the best decisions I ever made was to start my prep work on the day before. This way I can enjoy my family more on Thanksgiving day itself. So here is my order of prep and cooking... Wednesday I start with my pies. I usually make a few pecan pies. I just double the batch and split the filling in half between the 2 pie crusts. While the pies are in the oven I start on other deserts. This year I'm making Paula Deen's "Oooey Gooey Pumpkin Cake" and some of my fudge brownies. All in all, this takes just a few hours from start to finish. Once I am done with desserts I clean up and then I work on some prep for the actual meal. I will... Chop onions and celery for the stuffing Tear the bread ...

Thanksgiving Meal Grocery List Thankful for this view from my living room sofa! Thanksgiving is a little over a week away!! Have you planned your Thanksgiving Day meal yet!? If not, there is no time like the present. Planning your meal is step one in prepping for your day. Step 2 is making a shopping list.   I like to make my shopping list like this… Go through every recipe and write down what is needed. Then, check your pantry and refrigerator to make sure of what you have on hand so you don’t over buy or “think” you have something you don’t and have to trek to the grocery store on Thanksgiving morning. (Or in my case - send Smokin Hot Hubby) Below is my shopping list for my Thanksgiving Day meal. I always cook A LOT because it’s what I love to do. Cooking great food for family and friends is what makes Thanksgiving my very favorite holiday. The list shown below is the ingredients and amounts needed for my menu but I have found that a Thanksgiving grocer...

Putting yourself on a time out One of my favorite pics with Mom.  I love that even though I'm a handful, she still has a smile on her face. While raising our two girls I wanted to put it in their thought process that it's ok to take care  of yourself, to spend time pampering yourself.  It's ok to take the time to relax and nourish your body, mind and soul. So many times as women we forget that 'me time' isn't selfish; it's necessary. Just like on an airplane when they say for you to put your oxygen mask on first before someone else's. If you run yourself into the ground then what good are you to the people in your life that need you. Laughing with my baby girls. Love being their mom! 1. Time management Whether you are a single woman, stay at home mom, working mom, or retired grandma time can and will get away from you if you don't manage it well. Planning out your week makes your anxiety and stress levels p...