Kale Salad. Why haven’t I been making it for years? I put kale in my smoothies. I order kale salad at restaurants. Today I set out to make my own kale salad for the first time, and it is YUMMY! Plus it is super healthy, easy to make, and a nice alternative to the typical salads I eat. So today I bring you my version of the kale salad, which features chickpeas, sun-dried tomatoes and a lemon vinaigrette with a bit of {Read More}
Checklist for Hosting a Stress-Free Thanksgiving Dinner
November 9, 2014 By
The only Thanksgiving Day checklist you’ll ever need! Ever since the first Thanksgiving after my marriage 27 years ago, I have LOVED hosting Thanksgiving dinner. In fact, throughout all those years, there have been only a handful of Thanksgiving Days when we did NOT host friends and family. Even though I’ve always loved my home being the gathering place for this holiday, I was always stressed out and harried during the early years. In recent years, I have developed a {Read More}
Gifts for Her Plus a Giveaway!
November 7, 2014 By
Now that we are into November, it’s time to start thinking about Christmas and Hanukkah gifts. Actually, I rarely get going on my gifts before December, but this year will be different! Yes, it will. Because, let’s face it, blowing it off until December is really stressful. And I don’t want stress. Here on the blog today you can enter to win $200 in PayPal Cash as well as a $75 gift code for personalized jewelry. Wouldn’t FREE be a {Read More}
Casual Camo
November 5, 2014 By
It finally happened! It was cool enough this weekend to break out a long-sleeved shirt. I thought this day would never come! I opted for a casual camo look as we dined and shopped along El Paseo with friends. I LOVE mixing patterns, so I grabbed a leopard headband. Camo and leopard is one of my favorite combos! As you may know, “Fifty, Not Frumpy” is my motto. Please, Lord, never let me be frumpy! My pals Gina and Renee {Read More}
Fun with Friends in the Desert
November 4, 2014 By
Last weekend was one of those that leaves you longing another day off to recuperate. Maybe two days. So much laughter. Incredibly exhausting. Totally worth it! Nothing is better than fun with friends in the desert. And we had several visiting! We had one gang in from San Antonio, and then two more friends from Austin and Chicago. As soon as they landed, we hit the ground running. Catching up over wine and delicious meals was our M.O. for the weekend. {Read More}
A Sweet Engagement Story: Trevor & Rachel
November 3, 2014 By
Update: The wedding was amazing! Check it out here, here and here. If there were an award for parents who were most involved and instrumental in their son’s proposals, I do believe Tom and I might possibly win! We were blessed to play an integral role in the sweet engagement story of each of our sons. Today, I want to share the story of the most recent Tabler proposal, that of Trevor and Rachel. Over Memorial Day, Trevor found the opportunity {Read More}
Black and Gold on El Paseo
October 31, 2014 By
Our dear friends from San Antonio arrived yesterday, and we celebrated our reunion at Tommy Bahama’s Restaurant. My besties and I had lots of silly fun with this black and gold on El Paseo photoshoot… with my NEW CAMERA! I have so much to learn but we gave it a test drive. My photographers, Renee and Gina, did a great job! El Paseo, known as the Rodeo Drive of the desert, is a beautiful street of amazing shops and {Read More}
5 Ways to Strengthen Friendship in Your Marriage
October 29, 2014 By
This weekend, three of my very dearest friends are coming out to the desert from Texas. What makes them some of my dearest friends? They KNOW me. Really know me. They listen well. They care. They empathize. And they pray for me. Just as importantly, we have FUN! So much fun! We do life together. We celebrate together. We sometimes laugh until we cry! Few experiences in life are as satisfying as time spent with a close friend. (Especially when {Read More}
Cheesy Shrimp and Grits
October 27, 2014 By
Cheesy Shrimp and Grits. When I first heard about this from my sister a few years ago, I thought YUCK! I may be a Louisiana girl, but I definitely never liked grits. Though maybe I never tried them. Yes… I think that must be it. Because if I’d ever tried Shrimp and Cheesy Grits, I would have fallen in love with this creamy, ground-corn goodness long ago! When I was at boarding school at Culver Academies, the infamous Dean Nagy taught me AP History. The {Read More}
10 Practical Tips For New Bloggers (From A New Blogger)
October 24, 2014 By
You’ve got your blog designed and ready to go. Maybe you have even written a post or two. While researching tips for new bloggers, you suddenly realize there are about a million things you are being advised to do with your new little piece of blogosphere real estate. It’s impossible to do it all, so where do you start? I officially started blogging three months ago today. Definitely STILL a newbie! I’ve immersed myself in the world of blog writing and {Read More}
