I'm blogging again, new blog, new title....wildsugarblog.blogspot.com

Katie skirt

I just ordered this adorable skirt! Can't wait to pair it up with black, white or turquoise........

I'm back............

from a very long, much needed hiatus. I hope you will all come back and visit. So many changes since I last blogged. I live at the beach now and I'm loving it. I'm happy. I'm in a good place. A couple of very special friends I've made through blogging have contributed to that. So, here I go again ;)

‎'I have a short memory for painful things.' And I do. I have one of those incredible memories where I just erase painful things. Maybe that's really unhealthy, and I probably need to see a therapist. But I don't dwell. You just keep going forward. Also, I have kids. What are you going to do? Are you going to teach them to be one of those people who keep looking in the rearview mirror, or are you going to teach them to be one of those people who go, 'Tomorrows another day'?" -Reese Witherspoon ♥

Make a Mocha...

I don't know what your favorite Starbuck's drink is. But I love a Mocha. Tall, no whip, extra pump of mocha. Hot when its cold and icy when its hot. Thought I'd share, seems like a lot of work, but I think once you do it a couple of time and have all of the supplies it would be easy. Here's a recipe...


1
Get an Espresso machine, now you can go all out and get a fancy machine that grinds the coffee for you and all that stuff or you can get the Mr. Coffee Espresso machine for around $30 bucks (depending on how much of a coffee connoisseur you are).

2
Get your hands on some Starbucks Mocha Powder. This is not always an easy trick but they do sell it during the Christmas holiday season (I usually buy out the store when it does become available). Or if you go to E-Bay you can find the actual bags of Starbucks Mocha Powder.

3
Get your Espresso coffee - this has many options; you can buy it already ground from the store (but many times this is not ground enough for good espresso), you can buy whole beans and either grind it at the store (most grocery stores have a grinder in the coffee department) or grind it at home (you can get grinders pretty cheap just make sure it grinds espresso fine). Another option is buying it from Starbucks and they will grind it for you.

4
Brew the coffee per your espresso machines directions.

5
Now here is a nice shortcut, instead of mixing the mocha powder with hot water first I just put my mocha directly into the cup (a "Grande" takes about 2 tablespoons but this will really depend on how much mocha taste you want). Then you can just pour the coffee directly into the cup and mix up the mocha powder.

6
Add your favorite type of Milk.

7
Add your favorite flavoring (optional). Note - you can buy any of the flavorings from Starbucks (even though it does not list them anywhere they are glad to do it)or most grocery stores.

8
Stir well and you are ready to go.

(Marshmallows optional)

This will never replace the professional made coffee but for the price it cannot be beat.

I realllllly

want these beauties for fall! And I'd really love some clogs too. And I really wish I could find some come suede stretch boots to replace the ones my daughter's dog ate last ear. yWhat are you looking forward to fashion-wise for fall?

Red White and Blue...and a Fabulous Long Weekend

I had a wonderful long weekend...How bout you?? We went home to the Atlanta area :) A weekend full of fun! Peachtree road race...no I did not run...a dip in the Chatahoochee after, followed by brunch with all the boys and then some, a nice looooong nap, dinner then live music and fireworks. And that was just for the fourth. Lunch with my kiddos (-my youngest) and my Evie Monday. I hope yours was as much fun as mine. I will post some pics later. Enjoy your short week!

I would love....

this for my birthday dress, and.....





these for late summer, to wear with boots...

What I'm Wearing Saturday

...in black. To Lonestar and Martina, an outdoor concert. With lots of gold bangles and a long gold necklace. Its a big celebration and a kick start to what I hope will be a fabulous summer. I move the next weekend, so I gotta relax a little this weekend. I have a hair appointment tonight to finally go back to blonde, please send good thoughts my way.

Grandma's Ring

When I was 15 my mother gave to me my grandmother's engagement ring. She had had it for some years. My grandmother had severe arthritis that had really taken its toll on her beautiful hands. I don't say beautiful because they were the kind of beautiful you are thinking. They were beautiful because of how she used them. I love and cherish this ring for so many reasons. The first of which is the story she told of her wedding day. My grandfather had to work that day, and it was stormy day. She waited patiently for him down town at the courthouse. It was the second marriage for them both, my grandmother's first husband had died in World War Two and shortly after he died, she miscarried their son, she had already lost a little girl at birth. She told me of how many times she must have turned that ring around her finger hoping that he was just late due to the weather, that he hadn't changed his mind. I think of the hope she held in her heart, of starting over with the man she loved and hoped to build a beautiful life with, as she turned it round her finger. And she said, at last, he stepped through the door, and her heart leapt. And she was off on her adventure to fulfill her dreams. With her beautiful hands she took care of her much loved husband, had a beautiful daughter (my mama) that the doctors told her she would never have, helped raise her two grandchildren. And through the years served her family with her hands by baking delicious meals, I can still see her cleaning the biscuit dough out of her rings when she'd forget and leave them on. I can see her hands holding mine and holding the church hymnal as she she sang. If I look down at this ring, I see the beauty of her life. A little piece of her that I can carry with me. When I look at it, I can hear her singing, feel myslef standing next to her as a child in church, feel her hugs, see her waving goodbye from the screen door and I remember all the long talks we'd have before we fell asleep on the nights I was able to spend with her. I have passed the ring down to my youngest daughter, which was not easy. But see, I love her hands too. I did steal it back for just a few days and am wearing it today. It makes me happy. I miss my grandmother so much sometimes its as though I am that little 13 year old girl standing on the hill at her funeral all over again. But the joy and the beauty she brought to my life. The person I am because of her, outshine the pain of losing her. And today, I am reminded of her love and her inspiration from this precious ring. And I am thankful.