February 2013 – Loving Food, Fashion, & Life

When David Beckham Came To Town

Posted on February 28, 2013 by LFFL

Could my life get any better than this?! The man, himself, came to see me. O-M-G! I remember it clear as day. I was prepared WAY ahead of time for this as soon as I heard about it—I had my tickets, DB shirt and outfit picked out, camera ready to roll, and running shoes in case people needed to be pushed out of the way. (Yeah, you heard me.)

Ahhhhh, I’m dying here!!!

So, if you have nothing else to do today, watch David Beckham play some soccer, football, whatever. Just watch him.

Take-Away Life Lesson: Always take a deep breath. It’s gonna be ok.

Are You Kidding Me? No Cinnamon Rolls?!

Posted on February 25, 2013 by LFFL

So I drove ALL the way to my favorite hometown diner earlier today to get some things for tomorrow’s 30-foot snow shut-in—a French vanilla cappuccino, 2 slices of that fabulous bread pudding, and a huge cinnamon roll as per usual that I can warm up tomorrow in the microwave to eat while drinking freezing ice-cold milk in my PJ’s while watching TV under a blanket on the couch.

The scenario played out so well in my head during the drive out there. Sooooo, where are all the freaking 6″ x 5″ x 2″ cinnamon rolls that belong on the top shelf here?!!! It was only 6:00pm and the snow flurries had only just begun.

Well, the possibility of a 30-foot snow shut-in apparently terrified the crew enough to stop production of the cinnamon rolls just in case they had to evacuate and head home before the snowstorm. Chickens!

What?! You can’t just stay open without the cinnamon rolls. It’s like McDonald’s staying open without hamburgers. Just shut the whole place down, if that’s the case. Because why stay open at all? I mean, people make ‘pit stops’ 10 miles out of their way just for the cinnamon rolls for crying out loud! Hello!

Naturally, I had a discussion with the manager about my ‘pit-stop’ drive and the main reason I came out there and my utter disbelief. At least they gave me my cappuccino free for my troubles. I still want a cinnamon roll.

So, if you have nothing else to do today, let’s see if we can’t figure out how to get me one of these cinnamon rolls before the storm kicks in!

Take-Away Life Lesson: Never get too happy before it’s time. You’ll only disappoint yourself. Ugh!

I Luuuuvvv A Good Breakfast

Posted on February 21, 2013 by LFFL

Biscuits & Scrambled Eggs smothered in gravy; fully loaded Hash browns with green onions, bacon, and cheese; Pancakes with whipped butter and maple syrup; and a super large 6″ x 5″ x 2″ Cinnamon Roll loaded with frosting.
(Of course, I can never go to this place without getting a cinnamon roll.)

So, you all know I pretty much dig my local hometown diner because of those cinnamon rolls (among other things), right? Well, I took myself out for breakfast one fine day and this is what I ended up with at the very same diner. Who knew? I just love me some breakfast! I could eat it anytime 24 hours a day. And I never worry about having someone to go with because I have no problem eating out by myself. It’s awesome.

On another beautiful outing, my breakfast consisted of:
Pancakes with whipped butter and maple syrup; a 5-Way Grilled Cheese Sandwich with Swiss, Monterey Jack, Cheddar, Parmesan, and American cheeses on thick-cut egg bread; Ham & Egg Biscuit Sandwich with Cheddar cheese; and loaded Hash browns with bacon, green onions, Swiss & Cheddar cheeses.

And, YES, this was all for me. I wish people would stop asking me that like this is so abnormal. What kind of eating are you doing, anyway? You’re not living and enjoying life too swell if you’re not eatin’ like this!

So, if you have nothing else to do today, go grab a big breakfast by yourself at your local hometown diner and order a minimum of 5 items for yourself, eat, and enjoy.

Take-Away Life Lesson: Ignore all the people staring at you and your food in disbelief when they expect a 2nd and a 3rd person to join you and then realize no one else is coming. I do. Mind your biz.

Melting Pot Fun

Posted on February 19, 2013 by LFFL

Cheddar Cheese Fondue

Spinach Artichoke Cheese Fondue

House Salad

Spinach Mushroom Salad

Breast of Chicken, Teriyaki-marinated Sirloin, Citrus-marinated Pork Tenderloin, Breast of Duck, & Potstickers

Pure Chocolate Milk Chocolate Fondue

Cheddar Cheese Fondue with Cheddar & Emmenthaler Swiss cheeses, lager beer, garlic & seasonings served with chips. bread, apples, & veggies.

Spinach Artichoke Cheese Fondue with Fontina & Butterkase cheeses, spinach, artichoke hearts & garlic served with bread, chips, apples, & veggies.

House Salad with crisp Romaine & iceberg lettuce, cheddar cheese, tomatoes, croutons, sliced egg with ranch dressing.

Spinach Mushroom Salad with portobello mushrooms, red onion, chopped bacon, & Roma tomatoes with warm, burgundy shallot vinaigrette.

Breast of Chicken, Teriyaki-Marinated Sirloin, Citrus-marinated Pork Tenderloin, Breast of Duck, & Potstickers with potatoes, mushrooms, & broccoli served with 7 different sauces.

Chocolate Milk Chocolate Fondue served with strawberries, rice crispie treats, cheesecake, marshmallows, brownies, & pound cake.

When I first tried this restaurant, I really didn’t know what to expect. I listened intently to the server so I would know how this is supposed to work. And, oh my goodness, the cheesy fondue he stirred right before my eyes was to die for. I dipped just about everything into it and had a blast. The same thing happened for dessert with the chocolate fondue. I went to town dipping all sorts of things into that pot of chocolate goodness. I was in heaven.

But who knew I’d be forking over money to a restaurant for the honor of cooking my own food at my table? So, basically, I pay the restaurant, they bring me raw meat on a tray with skewers, and I cook it myself to the desired temperature then eat it. Wow. Now that’s different. I’m so used to paying restaurants to cook for me that I didn’t realize I’d been doing it wrong all along all these years. I mean, the stove is actually inside your table and you cook right on top of it for crying out loud. It was pretty funny when I thought about it. Definitely something different for me to try.

So, if you have nothing else to do today, take a trip to The Melting Pot and tell them you can’t wait to give them your hard-earned money for a tray of raw meat to cook for yourself.

I’d definitely go again. It’d be a fun date night with someone.

Take-Away Life Lesson: Ask how much they charge to bring your own pots and pans from home to use. Might as well since you’re cooking your own food anyway.

Now That's What I Call A Cinnamon Roll!

Posted on February 14, 2013 by LFFL

Boy! It was a sad state of affairs when I discovered this sugary, doughy goodness at my local home cookin’, hometown diner—a massively huge 6″ x 5″ x 2″ fresh, warm cinnamon roll that I personally asked to be drowned in a pound of frosting. A sad state of affairs because I now have to have a cinnamon roll practically every day. My car just won’t stop heading in that direction.

I mean, once you’ve had the best (of anything, for that matter—cars, furniture, clothes, food, spa services, men, and whatnot) it’s hard to go backwards in time to what you were getting before. Like previously, every once in a while I’d buy a cinnamon roll from the cafeteria at my job when the mood hit. Well, that won’t be happening anymore, people, since I discovered what a real cinnamon roll is supposed to look, feel, smell, and taste like.

In comparison, the cinnamon rolls in the work cafeteria are small, hard, and don’t taste anything like this yummy goodness. And to imagine, I actually thought they were the bomb-diggity at one time only because I had no idea my hometown diner had much better ones. So now when I peruse the baked goods at work, I can hardly look at the cinnamon rolls they look so pathetic. I walk right on by because I know where the real deal is, baby.

So now I buy these fresh, soft, ginormous cinnamon rolls like clockwork, take them home, warm them in the microwave, and go to town with a side of freezing ice cold milk.

So, if you have nothing else to do today, try to locate a fresh, soft 6″ x 5″ x 2″ cinnamon roll in your neck of the woods and have them throw in a foot of frosting.

Take-Away Life Lesson: Never go back to less than the best once you discover something better out there.

Bored?–Get Your Hair Did

Posted on February 12, 2013 by LFFL

I just love my hairdresser. I actually have two of them. But this one right here I use when I’m experimenting with different hairstyles. Plus, he always has a good story to tell as he’s doing my hair. So he’s my entertainment, too. He also makes a good therapist, as all stylists do, if you have any stress or drama going on in your life. It one huge gossip fest.

Here he tried a ringlet-type curl all around my head. I adored it and my friends who saw me that day thought it was fab for me. It actually lasted for the next 3 days, too. I don’t know how he managed that, but when I woke up each day my hair still looked the same. Rock on!

So, if you have nothing else to do today, schedule an appointment with a local stylist (preferably a good one with years of good experience) and try a new style—or cut if you’re feeling bold—for experiment’s sake.

Take-Away Life Lesson: You never know how fabulous or different you can look unless you try. You can always wash it out, for Pete’s sake, if it’s that horrible.

RELATED ARTICLES:
Spa Love—Not

Good Eatin' At Houston's

Posted on February 7, 2013 by LFFL

Chicken Tenders Dinner

Club Salad

Pork Chop

Hand Filleted Fresh Salmon

Chicken Tenders with honey dijon sauce, Hand-Cut French Fries, Red Beans & Rice, and Garlic Cheese Toast.

Club Salad with crispy chicken, smokehouse bacon, avocado, egg, & tomato with buttermilk garlic dressing; Garlic Cheese Toast; and Tortilla Soup.

Best Pork Chop double-cut and grilled with Hand-Cut French Fries.

Hand Filleted Fresh Salmon grilled over hardwood with Asparagus and Hand-Cut French Fries.

I can honestly say I have tried everything on the menu at least once at Houston’s and I have never had a bad meal. Everything just tastes so good!—with the exception of the couscous. A girlfriend and I tried the couscous years ago and it was the nastiest stuff we had ever tasted. Maybe it was just how they chose to make it at the time but, suffice it to say, I never ordered it again to this very day.

And I made the mistake of thinking ALL couscous everywhere in the world tasted this way and would avoid it like the plague—but that is not the case, people. That’s just how traumatized I was at the time. But maybe they make it different now—of course, I wouldn’t know because I never ordered it again.

But other than the couscous, all the food is great! The service can be sub-par at times, but the excellent food is what keeps me coming back. Just find a favorite server you like and always request that server to wait on you. That’s what I do.

They also have some items that are not on the menu that you would never know about unless you’ve been a regular customer for years (like back when these things used to be on the menu). But I have the inside scoop, y’all. The chicken tenders made their way off the menu years ago, but they actually still serve them by request! Spread the word. Holla, holla! One of my faves. Just ask the server what else they serve that’s not on the menu. Any good server will tell you.

So, if you have nothing else to do today, Google the nearest Houston’s restaurant and treat yourself to some fabulous food.

If you can’t find anyone to go with you, go out by yourself. I always do. Eat directly at the bar if nothing else. That’s what I do sometimes, though I usually eat in a booth in the dining room. It’s what I deserve. It’s not as weird as you would think it would be. Trust me.

Take-Away Life Lesson: Do not need to be afraid of couscous. Not all couscous tastes the same. Lesson learned.