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5 Things I’ve Been Loving Lately

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1. Inflatable pools for adults

Cheers to the genius who dreamed up these adult-sized “kiddie pools,” although I don’t quite understand the point of sharing a tiny pool with someone. Three people in one inflatable pool? NO THANK YOU! That’s just too many limbs in my personal space.

I like this pool with the banana leaf print, but trust me…I’m not sharing. Each one is $42.99, and you can find them at Thunderdome Target.

2. Upload on Amazon Prime Video

Absolutely brilliant! I blazed through the entire season a few weekends ago. It’s set in the near future… 2033…and it’s about a 20-something programmer on the brink of a technology breakthrough when his life is unexpectedly cut short.

No problem though because his consciousness is uploaded to the cloud into a digital slice of virtual “heaven” that people are able to purchase as a service before their demise. Of course, this neatness comes with a price, both monetary and otherwise, and the virtual “afterlife” turns out to be far less than ideal.

I laughed, I screamed (“DID THAT REALLY JUST HAPPEN?”), I saw the afterlife through a lens I’d never seen before (big surprise! — capitalism decides to monetize heaven). All I have to say is that I know myself all too well, and if loading your consciousness into a server ever becomes a choice in the near future, I will give that a hard pass.

3. My strawberry plant

I’m growing a strawberry plant in the Lady Sanctuary, and it already has a few green berries, which I’m SUPER EXCITED ABOUT. It’s so cool to see a plant thriving and doing its thing. I just hope the neighborhood squirrels and birds don’t find it so I can actually eat the fruit.

4. Improv ramen with gluten-free noodles from Costco

I’ve been craving all teh carbs lately, especially ramen noodles, and have been making this gluten-free quickie version at home. From start to finish, it takes about 30 minutes, so it’s a fairly quick meal, and the noodles stay good in the cupboard forever (well, almost). Plus, you can customize it with whatever you have on hand.

Lemme walk ya through it…

  1. Warm about a tablespoon of olive oil in a deep, heavy pot on medium heat. Add a handful of any aromatics you like — I used garlic, a bit of fresh ginger and the white parts of a green onion for mine — and cook till everything’s wilted and fragrant.
  2. Add one box of beef broth and a box of chicken broth to the pot. (Then, into each empty box, add a little water and swish it around to get all that good flavoring out, and add that to the pot as well.) Add two teaspoons of fish sauce and two teaspoons of soy sauce, but if you don’t have either of those, I’m thinking you can substitute with any thin, salty sauce, like coconut aminos.

    Bring to a boil, and simmer on low until you’re ready to add noodles.

  3. Next, cook your ramen noodles according to the directions on the package, and set them aside. I used Costco’s Lotus Foods Organic Millet & Brown Rice Ramen, which is gluten free and vegan, and it’s ready after about four minutes of cooking.
  4. Cook or prep any other accouterments you want. Some ideas: eggs, bacon (which I used this time because I didn’t have pork belly), shrimp, fish cake, green onion slices, corn, peas, dried seaweed… So many options.
  5. Ladle your broth into a big bowl, add your noodles, proteins and veggies, and enjoy right away! 😋

5. The idea of a tennis shoe collection

Back in the day when I was semi-fabulous, I lived in high heels. These days, not so much. It’s just so much easier for me to sprint after Connor and Rosie when I’m *not* teetering above the ground in three-inch strappy sandals. Plus, my feet are happier now that I stick to comfy sneakers.

The thing is…I don’t feel like I should be doomed to a life of boring footwear!

Sooooo, I’ve been toying with the idea of collecting Nikes…. They’re always coming out with cute styles, and my feet have been happy with every pair of Nikes I’ve owned. Beyond that, my standard-issue uniform these days is black stretchy pants with a tee, or jeans with a tee, and both go well with sassy tennis shoes.

Clearly, I’ve already done the math in my head. LOL!

Anyway, my birthday’s next month, so I’m thinking about finally springing for a pair of Air Jordan 1 High Zip Premiums in this pretty wine color.

I’ve been wanting these shoes for a couple years since they came out in black, and I’m still pining for them. They’re on sale now, so I might just bite the bullet.

I also like the Metcon 5s. The pink, white and black is so my style!

If you collect tennis shoes, please talk me into it! 😁

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. I collect Converse. Highly recommend. You can wear them year-round, in the rain, and they clean well. Oh – and you can totally run after (or run away from) anyone, as the situation presents itself. And since they don’t expire – but only cross over to being “vintage” – I don’t gets in trouble with my hubs. 😎

    Reply

  2. OMG I miss my gold Pumas. I would collect the super low-profile canvas Pumas in ALL THE COLORS–if they still made them. *sob*

    I love the ramen idea bc I’ve been craving noodles. I bought King brand soba (100% buckwheat, which actually contains no gluten and is a superfood according to my microbiome). It can be Italian pasta or ramen or just plain good noodles with butter n eggs!

    Dude, you have an amazing camera. That strawberry plant is so beautifully shot for posterity if the squirrels decide to be jerks.

    Reply

    • Of course now I have to ask what happened to the gold Pumas?!

      I like buckwheat’s nuttiness. Will try to see if I can find those soba noodles!

      Reply

      • King soba is on Amazon. 😉
        I wore out the Pumas. Literally, until they had holes. They were soooo comfy & stylish. I’m not a material girl but some Things I just miss!

        Reply

        • Ahh, I’m sure those shoes saw a lot of adventures. Now that I think about it, gold shoes are the neutrals of the footwear world. I had a pair of gold sandals (which I don’t wear any more, no arch support) that I wore all the time.

          MAYBE I NEED GOLD NIKES?!

          Reply

      • I’m in love with the Cole Haan Zerogrand shoes. I have 4 pairs in different colours. They’re super comfortable and also look cute even with a dress.

        Reply

  3. Collect sneakers, hella yes! I have over a dozen pairs, mostly Nike Air Vapormax Flyknits, but also Converse, Asics, Ecco and Edelman. Oh, and the off-court Nike slides and thongs are what I wear day-to-day in the house. These do just fine in our sub tropical climate and are easy to care for. I have no mid nor high tops yet, but maybe when it gets cooler . . .

    And, I’m thinking of having a strawberry plant along with morning glorys (for the hummingbirds); you’ve inspired me!

    Be happy and healthy,
    Leigh
    South Padre Island, TX

    Reply

  4. I’ll have to pass on the pool, Saturday being the official Last Day of Going Outside in Florida Until Mid-October. But I’m loving the gold pineapple cups in that picture! Is Target really that bad out there? It’s pretty normal here, even a little quiet on weekdays.

    My shoe collection is comfortable, supportive, yet cute sandals and flip-flops. I love cute sneakers, too, but it’s too hot to wear them most the time. (See above.) Now I have to keep a pair of ‘rain shoes’ in the car, because it rains almost every afternoon (see above) and I don’t want my good shoes to get ruined. Ah, life in the ironically name Sunshine State. Even footwear is complicated. 😄

    Reply

  5. I watched the first episode of “Upload” and ended up streaming the entire season in one sitting! My husband couldn’t believe it since I don’t watch much TV other than the news and a few guilty pleasure shows. I really got a kick out of the concept and the entire cast is a delight to watch. Great show!

    So, what am I loving lately:
    1. Working in my garden. I’m like a little kid—I love digging in the dirt 😃
    2. Sitting in a lounge chair under the trees reading a good book. I love the sound of the wind singing through the trees.
    3. Walking in the hills with my husband and our dog.
    4. Texting! Texting has been a “lifeline” between me and my friends and family.
    5. Trying out new recipes. One of my sons is quite the chef so we’re always exchanging ideas. Once he can safely fly down from SF, we’re going to have to have a Bobby Flay style throw down!

    Reply

      • The citrus trees are fully loaded and the fruit is really good this year. It’s the off year for the avocado tree—maybe only about two dozen avocados, but the fruit is huge and buttery. Last year was epic. We had avocados hanging on branches like bunches of grapes. No one could believe that tree put out so many. Next year should be a bumper crop again. I planted a few heirloom varieties of tomatoes and herbs—lots of herbs. I’ve always got mint growing but this year I added basil, oregano, marjoram, and thyme. The rabbits love me!

        Reply

        • When we cleaned out our front yard a couple weeks ago we found random small avocado trees starting up. When Connor was a baby, she ate a ton of avocados, and occasionally El Hub would toss a seed out into the yard. We ended up removing the plants because I’ve read that they grow into large trees. Are yours very big?

          Reply

          • Yes, it’s a big beautiful tree. We have a balcony off of our upstairs master bedroom and the tree is actually higher than that. We had an arborist prune it after last years harvest to keep it strong and healthy and it’s been growing like a weed ever since. It’s about 35 years old.

  6. I love Pho .
    Is that the same as what you are doing ?
    I have about 3 pairs of sneakers 👟
    Grey , Black and white .
    Texting and face timing is a blessing .
    My daughter lives 25 miles away and I have 2 nieces in Utah . We are east coast I have a small garden : tomato’s , basil , artichokes and carrots 🥕

    Reply

  7. I was going to order in pho tonight (yay, tired, desperate mom club) but I’m going to try out your ramen recipe instead. Let’s see how it goes! xx

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  8. Karen I am so into shoes too. Right now I have 3 boxes in the truck on my car that I haven’t worn yet! As my mom always says to my sister and I “when you see something, get it!” cause no telling when they’ll run out of your size, etc. So I’m gonna use my moms words on you – get them! Then show us how you style them up with an outfit!

    Reply

    • Me too! I’m 100% certain that I would not be able to live in an uploaded world. I would be one of the people who jumps into the data stream on the first day, LOL!

      Reply

  10. I’m learning to love tennis shoes because I have to be better to my feet, knees, and hips so my joints pop out of place less often. I must got some really cute turquoise Pumas. Winter is still combat boot season though. I also ordered a pair of orthopedic sandals this week.

    I’m loving walks with my doggo. We look for four leaf clovers, play in the park, do socially distanced visits with my friend down the street…

    Also traditional Breton buckwheat crepes! I’m gonna make a bunch this weekend so I can refrigerate and freeze some to fill with eggs and emmental at my leisure! I also plan on trying my hand at a baguette recipe I have this weekend.

    And watermelon. I’m eating it like crazy!

    Reply

    • You must be the luckiest lady in the world, because the last time I found a four-leaf clover was in the ’90s!

      Ya know, I’ve never made crepes before. For some reason I got it in my head that it was hard?!

      Reply

      • I’ve always been good at finding clovers!

        There’s definitely a learning curve to crepes, it took me a while to get it down.

        Reply

  12. “Thunderdome Target” Ha! So perfect. I wonder if that pool is available on-line so I can avoid going into the store. I NEVER liked shopping at my local Target. Ever.
    I second the 100% buckwheat soba noodles if you can find them. Toothsome and flavorful. Although because they’re gluten free if you over cook them they break really easily.
    I also want to try these buckwheat pancakes from Woks Of Life. Every recipe I’ve tried from them has been so good. https://thewoksoflife.com/buckwheat-pancakes/
    And these buckwheat chocolate chip cookies from David Lebovitz. Although you’d probably have to substitute 1 for 1, in place of the AP flour.
    I hate being an enabler, but I have to admit the number of pairs of sneakers I own has climbed steadily in recent years. Keds, Vans (my daughter has hand painted for me), fashion brands, Converse. I love sneakers almost as much as I love heels for style and probably more than heels for how comfortable they make my feet.
    Did you know you can customize Nike Metcons? Dear Daughter created a pair in red and black with gold accents and when she wore them to her crossfit gym everyone went crazy over them. She loves them for her heavy back squats and dead lifts.

    Reply

  13. I have always wanted to collect sneakers but haven’t yet, I do have one pair of Nike Frees that get worn constantly (actually my second ever pair, I wore my first ones to death). I kind of want to get a nice pair of white sneakers that works better with my dresses because my current ones clash a little bit, even if they are a beautiful dusky lilac which is one of my fave colours.

    Reply

    • Do it! I just bought a white pair and even though El Hub teases me and says they look like nurses shoes, I think they’re sassy enough to go with most outfits.

      Reply

  14. I’m trying to catch up on weeks of posts but want to say that I fear you’re turning into me with the comfy clothes and Nike collection. If you start to only wear black, you’ll need to seek help! 😉 I hope all is well with you and the family and that things are getting back to normal!! Even though I haven’t stopped in for a bit, I think of you often and hope you’re doing great!

    Reply

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