Summer Glow!

Have you ever had husband tell you that you look positively glowing, only to reply:

"No Darling, that's sweat from folding clothes all day, vacuuming, ironing, frying green tomatoes, snapping green beans, and sewing dresses out of the draperies, all in an 80 degree apartment since we're trying to save money on the electric bill!"

Okay, so I may be being a tad dramatic....I've never fried green tomatoes. I have snapped green beans before, but considering we live in an apartment there are no fresh veggies growing in this household. And no, I'm not cutting up the curtains my mom just made me to make dresses. I haven't had new clothes in a while, though.........

But the rest is true.

However, I do occasionally have glowing skin not caused from sweat.

For all you makeup lovers out there who want to find another means of getting a healthy glow not related to housework, you need this stuff:

Clinique Up-Lighting Liquid Illuminator

 I used this for my wedding to get that "Wedding Glow," and I absolutely love it (I use the natural color).

It's perfect for when you're in a hurry and don't have time to go through your whole makeup routine.

Just dab a little on your cheekbones and you're good to go!

Also great for the summertime.

Visit your local Clinique counter to pick up your bottle today!

And no, I promise I'm not their new spokesperson. 

 

Picture Perfect

Rule #4:
Brides, don't skimp on a wedding photographer.
The pictures (and each other!) are the one thing you spend money on that you'll have after the wedding is all said and done.
They are living proof of all the hard work you put into your special day!

All pictures courtesy of HolliB Photography.

MeMa's Mac N Cheese

Rule #4:

Every Southern Housewife needs to know how to make macaroni and cheese.
After all, what husband doesn't like mac n cheese? For that matter, what Southern Housewife doesn't like mac n cheese?

It's cheesy, and noodly, and creamy, and bubbly, and loaded with yummy carbs...what's not to love?

It's the perfect comfort food. In fact, if I was teary-eyed, and feeling stressed about being a good housewife for my hubby, I honestly think a big ol' bowl of the cheesy stuff could cheer me up.

But not just any bowl of mac n cheese could do the job. Only my MeMa's macaroni and cheese!
I've been eating it for as long as I can remember. I could probably make myself sick on the stuff. Thanksgivings, Christmases, Birthdays...it was always MeMa's job to bring the macaroni (I would get mad when Mom would kindly offer to give MeMa a break and bring it herself instead....my mom is a wonderful cook like all moms are, but she doesn't make the macaroni and cheese like MeMa).

So, tonight, being the brave housewife that I'm learning how to be, I tried my hand at MeMa's infamous macaroni and cheese. And I must say, it was rather delicious. 

yummy yummy in mine and Darren's tummy

Granted, it didn't taste JUST like MeMa's, but after a little bit of tweaking, I think it will be really close. And honestly, can anybody make a dish that tastes exactly like their grandma's? There's just something about a grandmother's cooking that can't be matched.

But if you would like to try.......Here's the recipe for MeMa's Macaroni and Cheese (I know that my MeMa is not your MeMa, so it might be kind of weird for you to call it "MeMa's." You can call it whatever you like): 

- 4 c. dried BIG elbow macaroni                        - Black pepper, to taste
- milk                                                               - 1 stick of Oleo (margarine)
- 1 tsp. salt                                                       - 1 lb. sliced American cheese (NOT processed!)

*Cook macaroni according to package directions; boil approximately 7-8 min. Drain. Return macaroni to saucepan and ALMOST cover with milk. Add salt, pepper, oleo, and cheese, leaving 3-4 cheese slices to place on top before baking. Melt ingredients together on medium heat. Pour in casserole dish. Place remaining 3-4 cheese slices on top. Bake at 350 until brown and bubbly, about 15 minutes. Enjoy!

(It tastes very delicious with barbecue meatballs, green beans, and buttermilk biscuits.......mmmm....) 

Organization skills, Ladies

Part of becoming a housewife is learning how to be organized.

Keeping things tidy.

Drawer organizers.

Shelves.

Making the most of your space.

Finding specific places for things.

Remembering where those places/things are.

Trust me, it's VERY important.

See this platter and these dish cloths:

One of my friends bought me this gift and I love it!

I remember registering for this platter at Dillard's.

I thought it looked so bright, and summery, and festive, and I couldn't wait to serve hamburgers on it (I recently served quesadillas on it instead; our apartment complex won't let us grill)!

So I was super happy to receive it as a gift. 

When we got home from our honeymoon, I began unpacking gifts, and began getting ORGANIZED. As soon as I opened a gift, Darren would take the trash and chunk it...what a good hubby.

The next day, I continued my organizing and began finding a place for all my new things. 

Naturally, I started looking for my lovely platter and dish cloths.

Nowhere to be found.
I searched high and low.
I turned the apartment upside down.
I looked in every single empty box.
My platter had been "chunked" in the trash. It was the only explanation.
I cried to my mom.
We purchased a new one at Dillard's.
I made quesadillas!

One week later, I noticed this adorable black and white hat box in mine and Darren's bedroom.

I thought, "This would be a good box to store things in!"

I opened the lid, and there was my missing platter and dish cloths!!!!! 

I then had two.

If anybody wants one, there is an extra at Dillard's.

Organization, Ladies: Find specific places for things, and REMEMBER WHERE THOSE PLACES AND THINGS ARE!!!!

I'm still not quite sure why the specific place for my platter was in a hat box, so don't ask. It's now in the kitchen where it belongs.

When Husband's Away.......

When husband is away on business (3 weeks into marriage I might add),

Wifey will go home to see Momma and Daddy!

Yes, I have to admit, I am a big time Momma's Girl. And I'm not ashamed to admit it.

It's great to have your mom there for advice when you first get married.
Where should I keep my pots and pans? What kind of vacuum cleaner do I buy? Do these pillows look good on the couch?

And then of course there are the "Will yous...."
Mom, will you come help me sort through gifts? Will you go with me to shop for decor? Will you make me some curtains for the living room???!

So, when Darren was out of town for work, I bought some fabric at Hobby Lobby that I had my eye on for MONTHS, and I went home to spend a couple days with my mom and dad........and so my mom could make me curtains!

And how beautiful they turned out!

this is the fabric I picked out

And the finished product!

What a sweet, amazing, talented mom I have.
(She'll be in for a real treat when my kids are someday knockin on her door for help; I have no clue how to make curtains.)

Puppy Rules

Rule #1:

If you are newly married and want a puppy to keep you company when husband is away, get one!

They're cute and cuddly and snuggly and fluffy and happy and always excited to see you!
(for some reasons husbands don't always get down on all fours to greet you at the door when you get home.)

If you want to make sure puppy doesn't pee, poop, chew on shoes, chew on furniture, dig threw trash, etc. while you're gone to work all day, buy a baby gate.

Install said baby gate in an enclosed area to keep puppy in.

Make sure you get it tight enough or puppy will learn to wedge her way out!

This part is very important....... BUY ONE WITH STEEL BARS SO PUPPY CAN'T CHEW THROUGH IT AND CLIMB OVER!!!!!!

See the hole? Yeah, puppy isn't small enough to climb through that. Meaning, she propped her feet up on it and climbed over. The gate was still perfectly intact. Puppy met me at the door when I got home.

She's a lot smarter than she looks.