Molly is here!

On December 13, 2011 Keith and I received the most beautiful Christmas gift ever. After 22 hours of labor and a c-section later, at 5:01 pm our daughter, Molly Diane, was born. She is the love of our life! We have truly been blessed!

Keith, Molly, and I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and that the new year will be a good one for you!

11-11-11

Did anyone make a wish at 11:11:11 on 11/11/11? I did. Not only is today 11/11/11 but it is also Veteran's Day as well as the 9th month of my pregnancy.

I can't believe Sweet Baby Molly's due date is just around the corner...4 weeks.  It feels as though the first 2 trimesters went by so slow but this last one has flown by. As I look back on this incredible journey I've taken with Molly, it's bittersweet. I'm sad to see it come to an end. I loved being pregnant. I'm going to miss feeling her kick or being the only one who can feel her kick each and every time she does. It's super sweet because i know in a few short weeks I will finally get to hold my sweet baby. I will be able to kiss her little toes, her feet, her sweet face, and hands.

As one chapter of my life closes another chapter begins and what a chapter Molly and I will write together!

Wordless Wednesday

Happy Halloween!
(saw this on Facebook)

11 in '11?

My St. Louis Cardinals have won their 18th National League Pennant.  St. Louis has won 10 World Series Championships (the most in the National League). Thanks to the Cardinals putting together an impressive winning streak late in the regular season and the Atlanta Braves choking, again, the Cardinals clinched the Wild Card on the last day of the season.

The Cardinals had to play Philadelphia, who by the way had the best pitching staff in Major League Baseball and probably in history. After the Cardinals beat the Phillies they had to play their division rival, Milwaukee Brewers. The Cardinals' bats came alive during the NLDS and the NLCS and I hope they stay hot.

For the first time in the 2011 post season, the Cardinals will have home field advantage (thanks to the National League for winning the 2011 All-Star game).

So, the St. Louis Cardinals are going to try for 11 in '11...to win their 11th World Series Championship in franchise history in 2011.

I'm looking forward to seeing all the Cardinal greats from days gone by, reunite on tv tomorrow night at Busch Stadium for Game 1...Ozzie Smith, Stan Musial, Bob Gibson, and Lou Brock just to name a few.

"Go Crazy Folks, Go Crazy!" - Jack Buck, announcer for St. Louis Cardinals on

Ozzie Smith's walk off home run in game 5 of the 1985 NLCS

Good Luck Kyndall

My brother's girlfriend is competing in the Miss Tennessee USA pageant this weekend. Best wishes and good luck to Kyndall!

Apple-Cream Cheese Bundt Cake

Try not to be too jealous of the quality of this picture...it was taken with my phone.

I love baking especially during the fall and the holidays. I saw this recipe on the cover of the September 2011 Southern Living magazine and new I had to make it for my small group from church.  The cake was a hit. The next time I make it i will use less apples and add walnuts.

CREAM CHEESE FILLING:

1 (8-oz.) package cream cheese, softened

1/4 cup butter, softened

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1 large egg

2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

APPLE CAKE BATTER:

1 cup finely chopped pecans

3 cups all-purpose flour

1 cup granulated sugar

1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon ground allspice

3 large eggs, lightly beaten

3/4 cup canola oil

3/4 cup applesauce

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

3 cups peeled and finely chopped Gala apples (about 1 1/2 lb.)

PRALINE FROSTING:

1/2 cup firmly packed light brown sugar

1/4 cup butter

3 tablespoons milk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup powdered sugar

1. Prepare Filling: Beat first 3 ingredients at medium speed with an electric mixer until blended and smooth. Add egg, flour, and vanilla; beat just until blended.
2. Prepare Batter: Preheat oven to 350º. Bake pecans in a shallow pan 8 to 10 minutes or until toasted and fragrant, stirring halfway through. Stir together 3 cups flour and next 7 ingredients in a large bowl; stir in eggs and next 3 ingredients, stirring just until dry ingredients are moistened. Stir in apples and pecans.
3. Spoon two-thirds of apple mixture into a greased and floured 14-cup Bundt pan. Spoon Cream Cheese Filling over apple mixture, leaving a 1-inch border around edges of pan. Swirl filling through apple mixture using a paring knife. Spoon remaining apple mixture over Cream Cheese Filling.
4. Bake at 350º for 1 hour to 1 hour and 15 minutes or until a long wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool cake in pan on a wire rack 15 minutes; remove from pan to wire rack, and cool completely (about 2 hours).
5. Prepare Frosting: Bring 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1/4 cup butter, and 3 Tbsp. milk to a boil in a 2-qt. saucepan over medium heat, whisking constantly; boil 1 minute, whisking constantly. Remove from heat; stir in vanilla. Gradually whisk in powdered sugar until smooth; stir gently 3 to 5 minutes or until mixture begins to cool and thickens slightly. Pour immediately over cooled cake.

The praline frosting makes the cake!

Here's the picture from Southern Living and the recipe again.

Fried Chicken

The other night I went to the Viking Store and took one of their classes. We made fried chicken, mac and cheese, collard greens, cornbread, and caramel cake.

I must admit, I hate greens. All types of greens. However, after Saturday night I am a fan of greens if they are cooked and seasoned the way we made them.

I've taken many many classes at the Viking Store. If you have the chance I highly recommend taking a class or two.

It is a...

Keith and I found out on July 15th that we were going to have a sweet, precious, healthy, little baby girl. We are so excited. I've been spending money a lot these days buying all kinds of cute baby girl clothes. It is so much fun. The most important thing we learned at the doctor's office is that our daughter is healthy! Yes, we do have a name picked out for her...Molly Diane. Molly is my great great great grandmother's name and Diane is my mom's middle name as well as my middle name. Molly Diane will be here in December!

Miss Tennessee 2011 Pageant

This past weekend I had the chance to attended the Miss Tennessee 2011 pageant. My brother's sweet girlfriend, Kyndall, was a contestant. She was Miss Metropolitan. I've never been to a state level pageant before so I didn't know what to expect. There was so much excitement in the air. It was really neat! This was Kyndall's first time in the Miss Tennessee pageant. Kyndall was the 4th runner-up which means she finished in the Top 5 which is a huge accomplishment. Congratulations Kyndall! I'm so proud of you.

Pageant Week 2011 started off with a "Meet and Greet" at the mall in Jackson, TN. The contestants were introduced and then they signed autographs (in the pageant program books).



Kevin talking to Miss Metropolitan 2011



The preliminaries started on Wednesday and ran through Friday. The final night was Saturday. Each night, the girls arrived in a tour bus escorted by police cars. The security guys would unload all the luggage off the bus and after each girl waved to her fans, friends, and family, she picked up her luggage and went inside to finish getting ready.

Kyndall arriving at the Carl Perkins Civic Center



After the opening number, the contestants introduced themselves.

"A 20 year old Junior at the University of Memphis. I'm Kyndall Covington, your Miss Metropolitan!"

The first night Kyndall was judge on her talent. She sang "Note to God". Kyndall has a beautiful voice! She did an outstanding job.


Kyndall performing "Note to God"





The second night Kyndall competed in the swimsuit competition. Once again, Kyndall did an awesome job. She looked great! She looked as though she had been doing this for years. Apparently, she's a natural.

Kyndall competing in the swimsuit portion of the pageant.

We were all so proud of Kyndall on Thursday night because she won the swimsuit preliminaries!

"The winner of tonight's swimsuit competition is Miss Metropolitan!"

Swimsuit winner Miss Metropolitan and Talent winner Miss Shelby County for Thursday night

The final night of the preliminaries Kyndall competed in Evening Gowns and the on-stage interview. Kyndall looked so elegant and sophisticated in her evening gown. I'm not sure why, but the evening gown winner was not announced during the week.


Doesn't she look stunning?

After the evening gown, she did a quick change and came back on stage for her on stage interview which was basically a question about something each girl wrote on their questionnaire.

Kyndall is telling the judges why she is the "chicken" in her family.

Thus ended the preliminaries. The next night, Saturday, was the final night. Kyndall made it to the top 5 which meant she competed in talent, swim, evening gown, and an additional interview question.

Kyndall answering her interview question from Alison Demarcus (Yes, she's married to Jay from Rascal Flatts).

After the interview question, the top 5 held hands while they waited on the announcement of the Miss Tennessee 2011.

The Top 5 (the winner is on the far left).
Apparently the blondes got a memo telling them to wear beige/cream dresses. ha ha ha

Although Kyndall did not win Miss Tennessee 2011, I am very proud of her for finishing in the top 5 (and she should be very proud of herself). I think she should have won but I'm also biased.
Kyndall is a beautiful girl but her beauty doesn't even come close to her beauty on the inside. Kyndall has a sweet spirit and people are just drawn to her!

Congratulations Kyndall!

And Baby Makes Three!

Yep, we are having a baby. We tried for three months and well, the rest is history. I am 14 weeks and 3 days pregnant. Yes, we are excited. Baby should be here around December 10th!

For the most part I've been feeling pretty good except for the overwhelming exhaustion and the "morning sickness" that occurs at night. The doctor gave me some medicine and it takes care of my nausea. Medicine is a wonderful thing.

I'm not craving anything in particular. I'm just eating more than usual. I'm not starting to show yet but as one of my friends on twitter said (she is about 2 weeks behind me) she just looks like she's had too many cookies. That's the way I feel also.

We are planning on finding out the sex of the baby and once we do...I'll be hitting the stores.

I stay indoors alot. Mainly because it's been in the high 90s for the past 3 weeks or so and I don't like it.

Thanks for checking in!

'Ol Man River



 

picture from Fox News

All the rain from late April and early May left 'Ol Man River fat and overflowing as well as his friends the Wolf River, Obion River, and Loosahatchie Rivers just to name a few. As the smaller rivers in West Tennessee flooded the surrounding areas, the Mississippi River slowly began to crawl out of its banks. And then....more rain came. Two weeks later Memphis was bracing for the worst flooding of the Mississippi River since February 1937 where 'Ol Man River crested at 48.7 feet. On May 10, 2011 the Mississippi River finally crested at 47.8 feet...shy of the 1937 record.  Areas all over Memphis and West Tennessee flooded, from Lake County all the way down to Shelby County. It's a mess.

Park on the Mississippi River (picture from WREG News).

A week before this picture was taken my family and I drove down to river to look at it. We parked in the 5th parking spot from the right...it's under water in the picture.




Below are pictures of Mud Island before the flood.  For those of you not familiar with Mud Island it is a tourist attraction that is on an "island" and it has a river walk which is a replica of the Mississippi River from start to finish. You can paddle boat in the "Gulf of Mexico."

Picture from Mud Island Website before the flooding.

Pictures after the flooding.

View of Mud Island (Picture from WREG News) during the flood.

If you look behind the boat (by the way, the boat is part of Mud Island) you will see the white swan and blue river boat paddle boats that is in the "before" pictures. 

View of Mud Island (picture from WREG News)

You can see the hill with the flags in the "before" picture with the blue paddle boat.











Memphis in May

Memphis does a lot of things wrong, a lot of thing, but it does a few things right and the month of May is done right in Memphis.

It's almost May and you know what that means...Beale Street, Tom Lee Park, and the Mighty Mississippi are getting ready for Memphis in May. This year's country is Belgium.

The first event is none other than the Beale Street Music Festival April 29-May 1st. This is a 3 day music fest much like Bonaroo without all the non-showering people and minus the traffic on 1-24. A few of the performers are John Mellencamp, Cee Lo Green, Stone Temple Pilots, Everclear, Ke$ha, Jason Mraz, Ludacris, and hometown boy...Jerry Lee Lewis. See the full lineup here.

The next week, May 2-8 is the salute to Belgium. Each year Memphis in May salutes a different country. All week long there are exhibits, performances, and museums celebrating Belgium. Click here to see the list of performances, exhibits, and the gala all to honor Belgium.

The next weekend, May 12-14 is why Memphis is famous (well, one of the many reasons Memphis is famous)...it's Bar-B-Que weekend. That's right, it's the World Championship Bar-B-Que Cooking Contest. The contest takes place in Tom Lee Park. Teams from around the world, literally, compete for prize money and bragging rights. Click here for more information and schedule of events.



Picture from Memphis in May website (World Championship Bar-B-Que Cooking Contest official poster) 

 To wrap up the month, May 28th is the Sunset Symphony set on the banks of the Mighty Mississippi!  It's an all day event with music, an air show, the Memphis Symphony Orchestra and fireworks. Just picture it...sitting on the banks of the Mississippi River as the sun sets on Bluff City and you are listening to the orchestra who will no doubt play Old Man River. Click here for more information!

So, if you are in Memphis during May be sure to check out Memphis in May 2011.

New York City

Back in December my friend Mary and I took a trip to New York City. I have always wanted to go during the holidays to see the city decorated. We were there for 4 days and had a blast.

As we were approaching the airport I looked out my window and saw the Statue of Liberty, New York City, and Citi Field Ballpark (home to the New York Mets).  New York looks so different looking out the window of an airplane. 

Our first scheduled event was Radio City Music Hall to see The Rockettes and then over to Rockefeller Center.

Not only was I looking forward to all the decorations but also all the great food we were going to be able to enjoy. The first meal was at Serendipity and of course, we ordered a Frozen Hot Chocolate (along with our meal). Serendipity is a small restaurant with lots of white Christmas trees with blue, hot pink, purple, red decorations. They had a huge hot pink tree outside on their roof.  The Frozen Hot Chocolate did not disappoint. It was incredible! If you go to NYC you have to try a Frozen Hot Chocolate at Serendipity.

We also went to Ground Zero. I'm sure anyone who sees the firetruck go by while you are at Ground Zero probably gets goose bumps and a little teary eyed. My dad is a retired fireman so in addition to the goose bumps and the tear in my eyes I also stood a little taller. Everything seemed to disappear for a few seconds when I saw the firetruck as I thought back to September 11th and began imagining the firemen running into the towers as everyone else was running out.

I also couldn't help but think of President Bush at Ground Zero speaking to all the rescue workers when someone yelled "We can't hear you" and President Bush replied quickly (and without a teleprompter) "I can hear you and soon the world will hear you also!"

Ground Zero is hallowed ground - no doubt about it.

Friday morning, Mary and I went to the Early Show. Let me just say, it was so cold outside but it was worth it since we were on tv.

After the Early Show, we jumped on a train to Hoboken, NJ to go to Carlo's Bake Shop from TLC's Cake Boss. We stood in line for about 1.5 hours but it was well worth the wait. After I got my cannoli and lobster claw (best ever) we headed back outside. The line was all the way down the street and around the corner.

We went to dinner one night at Sparks Steakhouse. Sparks Steakhouse is famous for being the place were Gambino crime family's boss, Paul Castellano and his body guard were shot and killed on the orders by John Gotti.  When we walked in the host took our coats. They didn't ask if we wanted to check our coats - they TOOK our coats. After we sat down I looked around the restaurant and noticed that the only people working that night were men 50 years old or older. I swear the restaurant is owned by the mob. Mary is very picky about how her steaks are cooked. I made it very clear that if her steak showed up to our table and it was still mooing she was under no circumstance to send it back! ha ha

As we were leaving a brand new Rolls Royce pulled up to the restaurant. Of course I told Mary it was the mob.

We spent the day shopping. One of the many, many, many stores we went to was Macy's. It was so pretty decorated for Christmas. If you notice in the pictures below you will see an escalator. It is one of the original escalators. Yes, it is made of wood.  You'll also see me standing in front of a green looking door. This is a tribute to Isidor and Ida Straus who died on the Titanic. In 2985 Straus and his brother bought the store from the Macy family. When Isidor and Ida died on the Titanic, the co-owner (his brother) decided to make a memorial to those lost on the Titanic, specially his brother and sister-in-law. That's the reason why this entrance is permanently closed.

Isidor and Ida are portrayed in the movie Titanic, briefly. They are the older couple who are lying on their bed together as their stateroom floods; however, that isn't how they died. They actually died while sitting on the deck holding hands. A huge wave crashed onto the deck and swept Isidor and Ida out to sea. Isidor's body was later found but Ida's body was not.

There is also a plaque inside the department store about Isidor and Ida Straus.

The picture below about sums up my shopping trip in New York City.

Play Ball

It's Opening Day!  The grass is a little greener today. The sky is a little bluer today. The birds seem a little bit happier today. I can smell the popcorn and hot dogs in the air. It's been a long cold winter and although it is still a little cold outside it doesn't matter today. Why? It's Opening Day 2011! Today, every team, every fan (even the Cubs) thinks this is their year! I love baseball. Baseball is a part of me. It's in my blood.  Here's to Opening Day! Play Ball!!



Go Cardinals!


The one constant through all the years, Ray, has been baseball. America has rolled by like an army of steamrollers. It has been erased like a blackboard, rebuilt and erased again. But baseball has marked the time. This field, this game: it's a part of our past, Ray. It reminds of us of all that once was good and it could be again. Oh... people will come Ray. People will most definitely come.
                                                                     - James Earl Jones from Field of Dreams 

Royal Wedding

The Royal Wedding is exactly one month from today! Who is planning on getting up extra early to watch? Not only am I going to set my DVR to record the wedding but I am also going to get up early and watch it live.  Oh to be Kate!!

Low Fat Onion Rings

It's no secret that my favorite website for recipes is Ginas Skinny Recipes. Her recipes are easy, yummy, and include Weight Watchers point values.  This past weekend I tried her Low Fat Onion Rings. My oh my! They were so good...I didn't even miss the Sonic onion rings. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did. My husband hates onions which means there's more for me!

Tip - The first time I made these I let the sliced onions soak for about 2 hours. The second time I made them I only let them soak for about 10 minutes. Do not skimp on your soak time! The first batch was much better than the second batch due to the soaking time. Allow yourself enough time to let them soak for at least 1 hour.



Picture is from Gina's Skinny Recipes

 Gina's Skinny Recipes Low Fat Onion Rings
Servings: 2 • Serving Size: 1/2 • Old Points: 1 pt • Points+: 2 pt
Calories: 74.7 • Fat: 0.6 g • Carb: 14.7 g • Fiber: 1.6 g • Sugar: 1.7 g • Protein: 2.9 g  
 

• 1 medium onion, sliced into 1/4 inch rings
• 2 1/4 cups low fat buttermilk
• 1/2 cup panko bread crumbs
• 1/4 cup Italian seasoned whole wheat bread crumbs
• 1/4 cup crushed corn flake crumbs
• salt to taste 
• olive oil baking spray

Place slices of onion in a shallow dish. Pour the buttermilk over the top and let them soak for about 1 - 2 hours, refrigerated. 
Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Line baking sheet with parchment paper or foil.

Combine panko, bread crumbs and corn flakes in a large dish, season with salt.

Dip each soaked onion ring into the crumb mixture; coat well. Place rings onto two cookie sheets. Lightly spray with oil. Bake about 12 minutes or until golden brown. Serve immediately.

Motor City

I'm a Ford girl. Always have been and always will be. I'm an even bigger fan of  American made/owned automobiles. I'm also a lover of the old muscle cars, the Mustang, the GTO, the Cobra, Chevy Super Sport etc. I love going to car shows. My love comes from my dad. Dad was a fireman but on the side he was a mechanic. People would call the house all the time and want Dad to work on their car. He only worked on American cars. He was working on a '65 Mustang that had been restored. This car was awesome. The paint job cost more than my first 2 cars combined. Kevin and I were given strict instructions to not touch the car. If we wanted our bikes we had to walk our bikes out of the garage instead of riding them out for fear of bumping into the mustang. We followed the rules. We were walking our bikes out one day and Kevin fell...the handlebars slid down the mustang. I just knew I was going to be an only child. Luckily, it was the rubber part of the handle bars that hit the car and the car was covered with a blanket. Kevin's life was spared.

Dad has a Torino that he restored. I have begged and begged him to let me drive the Torino but he always says "the car has too much power for you to handle." Um, he's right.

So, what's the point of this post? GM used some billboards in Detroit for the 2007 Dream Cruise Weekend. Thought I'd share them with everyone.

Blog Makeover

How do you like the new look? Yes, my blog needed a makeover in a big way and well, she got one. My brother helped with the customization of the girl and Krizzy Designs designed the layout and the rest of the blog. I highly recommend Krizzy Designs. She is great to work with and is priced very reasonably. Go check her out. Tell her This Memphis Belle sent you. You will love her, I promise.

Pray for Lucy

Please pray for this little girl, Lucy! Lucy has been diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of brain cancer, medulloblastoma. Lucy is in Memphis at both Le Bonheur and St. Jude.  Click her to follow Lucy's journey.

Malcolm Winters

The other day I was talking (tweeting) with a friend about The Young and The Restless. The conversation eventually turned to the character Malcolm Winters and the 2 guys that have played him...Shemar Moore and Darius McCrary (current).

Shemar Moore was one of the reasons I tuned in daily to Y&R. He always made my days better. Now, he's making my nights better...on Criminal Minds as Special Agent Derek Morgan.

When Shemar left Y&R, he was replaced by Darius McCrary - better known as Eddie Winslow. Um, no thanks! Darius is attractive but he is no eye candy like Shemar. I still watch Criminal Minds every night (reruns  are on all the times and new season on Wednesday) just to see Shemar wear a tight t-shirt and a gun. I do not watch reruns of Family Matters.

Now when I see Malcolm Winters on Y&R I can't help but expect Steve Urkel to walk in and say "Did I do That?"

I know it's not fair to Darius but Shemar Moore will forever and always be Malcolm Winters to me and lots of other people.

Who is your favorite Malcolm Winters?