Weekend Happenings, Restaurant Review, Pinterest Stuff (19 Things We Should Say to Our Children)

Good Friday morning!

RANDOMNESS #1 - The following is a post from two years ago. I know I've mentioned it on A Simple Life before, but I wanted to do it... one more time!

Roxie and I watched the Season Premiere of Dance Moms last night. You can sum up this reality show with one word... DRAMA! Over and over and over throughout the show last night, Roxie and I asked ourselves, "Why don't they just leave her studio? Why do they continue to stay?" But we also knew the answer.

They are on a really popular reality television show, and whether or not their daughters make it to Broadway one day, they'll already be rich and famous... which seems to be the ultimate goal.

My goal for Roxie was chosen when she was born.

When I was pregnant with Roxie, an older lady at church walked up to me and asked if I knew what I was having. I replied, "A little girl."

"You know what you need to do, don't you?" she asked.

I listened attentively for more "New Mom of Girl" advice, but this was a little different.

"When I was born, my Mama gave me my Proverbs 31 verse. If your little girl is born on the 11th through the 30th day of any month, that's her verse."

"I don't understand. What do you mean?" I asked, trying to process this new info.

My birthday is May 12. My verse is Proverbs 31:12. 'She brings her husband good, not harm, all the days of her life.' I'm a good wife."

"Oh. I see." And then I started trying to figure out how to totally skip labor days one through ten of September so Roxie could be born somewhere between the 11th and the 31st. Somehow, we did it!

Roxie's Proverbs 31 verse is Proverbs 31:25. "She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come."

It's not Broadway, but it is a noble goal, I think.

RANDOMNESS #2 - Last night was a sad, sad night in our Basketball 2013-2014 career. While we arguably played our very best game ever Tuesday night, it could also be said we played our worst game ever Thursday night.

Sad, but true.




It was a very frustrating night, but I think we can overcome and win tonight's game.

I just feel it!

RANDOMNESS #3 - Roxie is going to the Prom this year, and in order to avoid the "EIGHT-DAYS-TO-FIND-A-GOWN-FOR-HOMECOMING" Debacle of 2013, we have already found the dress.

Two months before we actually need the dress.

I feel like one of the most accomplished Mothers on the planet, I tell you.

And guess what?

I've already scheduled hair, make-up, pedicure AND manicure.

All that is left... Shoes and earrings.

Let me just say that one more time.

Shoes and earrings, Folks.

And I'll let you in on a little secret. When we go back to the dress shop in two weeks for our fitting, I'm going to let an expert pick out the shoes and earrings.

I am.

And when Roxie and I leave that little shop in two weeks, we're going to eat at All Steak before coming home. A celebratory "WE'RE-FINISHED-WITH-PROM-PREP-ONE-MONTH-AND-ONE-WEEK-AHEAD-OF-TIME," if you will.

Don't hate us because we are going to be ready for Prom ahead of time.

Because I am so certain many, many, MANY things are going to go terribly, terribly, TERRIBLY wrong before the actual night.

Before we started actually looking for The Dress, Roxie said she wanted a flowy, blueish gown with pretty straps and a killer back. (Killer backs are a must in Roxie-World.)

Needless to say, Roxie is not wearing a flowy, blueish gown with pretty straps and a killer back.

Nope.

Let's go through the process, shall we?


Ahh. A very attractive flowy, blueish gown with pretty straps and a killer back. Could the first dress we try on actually be THE ONE?

Uh... No.


Here we have the second dress which fit the description of flow, straps and killer back.

However, the color changed.


And then, The Chick just went nuts.

We went back to blue.

Only half flowy.

Great straps.

Killer back.


Rust, not blue.

Blingy, not flowy.

Not so great straps.

Not so great back.

But definitely a beautiful color.


I kept thinking maybe, just maybe, the Chick could rock the giant polka dot look...

But she nixed that idea quickly.


We ended the day with cupcakes at Frostings in Cullman with our friend, Taylor.

Where is THE dress? Are you not going to show us THE dress?

Nope.

Not yet.

I will tell you it is NOT blue.

It is NOT flowy.

It has great straps.

It has a killer back.

Don't worry. You'll get to see 1,032 pictures of it very, very soon!

Restaurant Review

Dixie Fish Co. - Mike and I ate at this restaurant last Saturday night, and can I just say, it was great!

It is a large, large restaurant on Highway 280. We arrived at 7:00, but we had called ahead to see if they would take reservations. They did, and although our original reservation was at 7:30, they took us 30 minutes early and we walked straight to our table.

There was a large crowd waiting, and the people I was standing next to while Mike was checking on our table did not get seated until almost an hour later.

I highly recommend the reservation route!

The restaurant is big, bright, family-friendly, date-friendly and warm. On a cold winter's night, it was so nice and warm.

I know a lot of people do not care for seafood, but there is a large menu with a huge variety of different meals. (Not huge like Cheesecake Factory huge, but plenty big.)

Here are a few of the items we liked on the menu...

Dixie Chicken - Half a chicken marinated in sweet tea then fried crispy and tossed in house made pepper jelly. Served with gratinéed mac and cheese topped with chilled buttermilk whipped cream and green tomato coleslaw. **We fry our chicken to order. Please allow a few extra minutes for cooking. Good things come to those who wait.

I almost ordered the Dixie Chicken. If the South starts marinating everything in sweet tea... Well, let's just say it is going to get crowded down here with all the Northern transplants!

But then the Trout caught my eye.

Trout Pecan - Baked and topped with crispy baked pecans. Served with farmed pea popcorn rice and brown butter meuniere sauce.

I'm a sucker for fish covered in "crispy" baked nuts.

Not "soggy" baked nuts.

Crispy.

And the Trout Pecan did not disappoint. It was wonderful.

Redfish Maque Choux - Redfish fillet lightly breaded, pan sauteed and topped with Good People Sweet Brown Ale BBQ shrimp. Served with maque choux and green onion pilaf.

Mike ordered the Redfish. He likes Cajun cookin' and there are at least two Cajun chefs working at Dixie Fish Co.

And they obviously know what they are doing in the kitchen.

The desserts were great (Mississippi Mud Pie and Country Style Lemon Ice Box Pie).

Most of the dinner meals are between $15 and $20. There are a few priced higher.

We will definitely go back.

Mainly because I have to try the Dixie Chicken.

Pinterest Stuff

19 Things We Should Say to Our Children

1. I love you! There is nothing that will make me stop loving you. Nothing you could do or say or think will ever change that.

2. You are amazing! I look at you with wonder! Not just at what you can do, but who you are. There is no one like you. No one!

3. It’s all right to cry. People cry for all kinds of reasons: when they are hurt, sad, glad or worried; when they are angry, afraid or lonely. Big people cry, too. I do.

4. You’ve made a mistake. That was wrong. People make mistakes. I do. Is it something we can fix? What can we do? It’s all over. You can start fresh. I know you are sorry. I forgive you.

5. You did the right thing. That was scary or hard. Even though it wasn’t easy, you did it. I am proud of you; you should be, too.

6. I’m sorry. Forgive me. I made a mistake.

7. You can change your mind. It’s good to decide, but it is also fine to change.

8. What a great idea! You were really thinking! How did you come up with that? Tell me more. Your mind is clever!

9. That was kind. You did something helpful and thoughtful for that person. That must make you feel good inside. Thank you!

10. I have a surprise for you. It’s not your birthday. It’s for no reason at all. Just a surprise, a little one, but a surprise.

11. I can wait. We have time. You don’t have to hurry this time.

12. What would you like to do? It’s your turn to pick. You have great ideas. It’s important to follow your special interests.

13. Tell me about it. I’d like to hear more. And then what happened? I’ll listen.

14. I’m right here. I won’t leave without saying good-bye. I am watching you. I am listening to you.

15. Please and Thank You. These are important words. If I forget to use them, will you remind me?

16. I missed you. I think about you when we are not together!

17. Just try. A little bit. One taste, one step. You might like it. Let’s see. I’ll help you if you need it. I think you can do it.

18. I’ll help you. I heard you call me, here I am. How can I help you? If we both work together, we can get this done. I know you can do it by yourself, but I’m glad to help since you asked.

19. What do you wish for? Even if it’s not yet time for birthday candles and we don’t have a wishbone, it’s still fun to hear about what you wish for, hope for and dream about.

The Enchanting Belinda says - Of course, this was written with small children in mind. While I like this list very much, if I was starting out, I would re-write the list adding Bible verses... Not because it is wrong to say the above without Bible verses, but when you're taking the time for teachable moments, you want your children to know that pleasing you (the parent) isn't the main objective. Pleasing, respecting and honoring God, our Heavenly Father, is the most important.

I think you could definitely do that with this list.

And if I had to do it all over again, I would use No. 11 so much more. The hurrying was rarely as important as I thought it was at the time.

Weekend Happenings

What can I say that hasn't been said before? Basketball, work and church.

There are only two things that will be different this weekend...

1. Roxie is going to the Circus Saturday with Hunter and family. She's going to have a ball.

2. And I'm cooking The Pioneer Woman's Brisket for Sunday dinner.

If you are looking for an action/adventure blog to follow, can I just say, "This ain't it!"

Have a fabulous weekend. I'll be back Monday to let you know how my very FIRST brisket tasted. (I'm a lover of FIRSTS... all kinds.) I'll also have some miscellaneous pictures of things other than meat.

Take care, and I'll talk to you next week.

Sincerely,

The Enchanting Belinda