Coffee, Clothes & Chaos: Birthday Hot Dogs, Questionable Dinners & Christmas Movie Season!

Hey Peeps!!!

Oh WOW… I've been so discombobulated lately that I've completely neglected to keep y'all up to date on the various levels of chaos happening around Samma's House!

So buckle up, grab your coffee, wine, or whatever gets you through the day, because we're jumping all the way back to Friday the 6th, where I last left you.

We've got birthday celebrations, vet visits, questionable fashion choices, some seriously pathetic dinners, and a whole lot of Christmas movie anticipation!

Let's get this party started!

🐾 The Doggie Diaries

We'd better start with the pups because we all know that's why you come here.

It's certainly not for the fashion or the food! 🤣

Little Miss Divalicious

Let's start with the one and only Rouxby Sue, who, not to be outdone by her fur brother, headed to the vet on Tuesday for her yearly shots.

She also got her yearly heartworm injection because the little turkey HATES those chewables, along with a blood draw and parasite check.

And I don't think I need to tell you where they collect that last little sample from, either! 🍑

Speaking of THAT particular region…

What's a week at Samma's House without talking about Rouxby's arse?

Yep. Those glands needed expressing AGAIN!

GEEZ LOUISE!

At this point, I'm thinking we should just have a standing appointment. Maybe a punch card? Ten visits and the eleventh one's free?

Despite all that poking, prodding, and indignity, she was a very good girl, charmed the vet and the entire staff, and came home ready to terrorize poor Reggie.

Not much slows this diva down!

I even found her outside by the fire pit, standing on the table.

I'm guessing she was waiting for me to roast her a hot dog and make her a s'more.

NOT HAPPENING, DIVALICIOUS!

Meanwhile, Reggie Is Living the Dream

Reggie, on the other hand, has been living his BEST life.

He's gone to the deer lease with Hubster the past two weekends, and while they haven't "caught" a deer yet, Reggie is thoroughly enjoying himself.

Probably because he's not home being terrorized by his little sister!

Hubster sent me this picture earlier today, and I'm pretty sure Reggie is wondering if he can just stay there forever.

He's going to be REALLY unhappy when he gets home and discovers that his annoying sister has been sleeping in his bed.

Possession is nine-tenths of the law, Reggie. Better take that up with your sister!

👚 What I've Been Putting on My Body to Go Out in Public

Well, if you thought I'd be looking any better this week, you'd be wrong.

I mean, I got dressed.

That's about the end of that!

Friday: Matching My Christmas Ornament

Last Friday, I had my final embroidery class at 11, and I'm happy to report that my little pink snow lady ornament and I were practically twins!

I also ran by Trader Joe's and then went out to dinner with the neighbors at our local hangout, Tony's Pizza & Pour House.

I wore my much-loved, Hubster-hated green barrel pants (XS), a bright pink sweater (XS) from last year, and my new pink Birkenstocks.

Warm, cozy, and apparently a walking advertisement for the color pink.

My hair, however, was NOT cooperating.

Eh, whatcha gonna do?

Some days you win the fashion battle, and some days your hair declares war.

Saturday: Dressed Up for Absolutely Nothing

Saturday morning, Hubster and Reggie left around 4:30 a.m. for the deer lease.

I wasn't planning on going anywhere, but apparently, I got dressed like I had somewhere important to be!

[

It's a matching set from Gap, pants (S) and top (S).

And would you LOOK at that?

I HAVE ON SHOES!

I must have thought I was going somewhere.

Maybe I did. 🤷

We'll never know.

WAIT!

Yes, yes, I DID leave the house!

I had to run to Sam's Club because Sunday was Hubster's birthday, and we were having a bunch of neighbors over for a cookout.

I KNEW I had shoes on for a reason!

Mystery solved. Nancy Drew would be proud. 🔎

Sunday: Happy Birthday, Hubster!

Which means I got dressed AGAIN on Sunday.

Aaaaannnnddd it looks like I even washed and dried my hair!

Special occasion indeed!

I pulled out my Varley quarter-zip sweater (XS), AG black jeans (27), and new tennis shoes (8) from the ol' WallyWorld.

And I was ready to get the party started!

By party, I mean we grilled hot dogs and sausages, enjoyed some time with the neighbors, and everyone was gone and my kitchen was clean by 8 p.m.

We are PARTY ANIMALS, people!

Retirement birthdays hit a little differently, apparently.

Monday & Tuesday: The Missing Outfit Files

Listen, people.

I am completely unsure what happened, but there are NO outfit photos from Monday OR Tuesday.

And I actually LEFT THE HOUSE both days!

Monday, I had class.

Tuesday, Rouxby Sue had her vet appointment, AND we went out to eat with the neighbors.

A series of brain farts is the only explanation I can come up with.

I promise I was dressed. You'll just have to take my word for it!

Wednesday: Teddy Swims & Household Chores

Moving on to Wednesday.

I didn't leave the house, but somehow I managed to take a picture.

Go figure!

I pulled on my new T-shirt from the Teddy Swims concert and my comfy Gap shorts (26).

And obviously, I brushed my teeth.

RIVETING CONTENT AROUND HERE!

I had plenty of chores to tackle around the house, so shoes were not required.

One less decision to make. I call that a win!

Thursday: Two Outfits, One Happy Hour

Thursday, I got dressed and finished up the cleaning chores I'd started the day before.

I grabbed my cute little red gingham shorts (S) and my Billy Goat Tavern T-shirt.

But have no fear, because it was Happy Hour with the Hubster, which meant an actual outfit change before heading out for the evening!

I pulled on my Paige jeans (27), a Free People cotton button-down (XS), and slipped my feet into those pink Birkenstocks.

Look at me, getting dressed TWICE in one day!

Somebody alert the fashion police. I've exceeded my weekly quota of effort.

Friday: Jazz Class & a Little Retail Therapy

Friday rolled around, and Hubster and Reggie headed back to the deer lease around lunchtime.

I had my Jazz Family Tree class, so getting dressed, including shoes, was required!

The class was in the nursing school building, and it's ALWAYS chilly in there and I still don't have a car sweater so I dressed warmly. 

 I grabbed my Risen jeans (27) from last year, a blue BP sweater (S) from Nordstrom, also from last year, and those same WallyWorld tennis shoes.

Class ended at 4:30, and traffic was CRAZY TOWN.

So naturally, I stopped at Anthropologie for a little shopping while the traffic cleared.

I mean, what's a girl supposed to do? Sit in traffic or browse cute clothes?

Exactly.

Then I headed home, promptly put on my jammies, and snuggled up on the couch with Rouxby Sue to watch Christmas movies.

Which is EXACTLY what I'm planning to do as soon as I finish this here post!

Saturday: The Fashion Situation Has Deteriorated

Having ZERO intention of leaving the house today, I threw the following disaster onto my body.

Those brown gingham pants (S) that Hubster absolutely detests but he ain't here so he won't see me!

And yes, they're really too big, so they've officially been banished to house-only duty.

I paired them with a very old pink sweatshirt.

High fashion, y'all.

I've done absolutely NOTHING of significance today except yell at the Tennessee Volunteers until they got their shizzle together and WON THE GAME!

GO VOLS!

Sometimes that's all the productivity a Saturday needs.

🍔 Let's Talk Food

I'm just here to tell you that if you thought the food situation around here had hit rock bottom…

You were sadly mistaken.

We went from bad to WORSE.

Seriously, wait until you see this week's embarrassing meals.

Friday: The Last Cherry Pop-Tart

Let's jump back to last Friday, when I enjoyed my beloved Pop-Tart Friday in the car on the way to class.

It was the LAST packet of cherry. 🍒

This is becoming a crisis, people.

I really, REALLY need to go grocery shopping.

If that 90-day blackout disaster actually happens, we're going to STARVE at our house.

Although I suppose we could survive on whatever mystery items are hiding in the back of the freezer.

And in what's becoming the norm around here, you're getting a verbal account of dinners because I continue to fail at taking pictures.

Or cooking, for that matter.

Friday Evening

Tony's Pizza & Pour House with the neighbors.

We had pizza.

OF COURSE WE DID! 

He doesn't serve fries in case you wondered.

Saturday

Mere swung by for the night, and she and Hubster made big plates of fancy nachos.

I had chips and salsa.

Because apparently, even when there's a proper dinner being made in my own kitchen, I still manage to eat like a college student.

Sunday: Birthday Cookout!

For Hubster's birthday, we had quite the spread!

Hot dogs, Slovacek's sausages, baked beans, broccoli salad, mac and cheese, and Lovely Lois made him a strawberry cake!

I was GOING to take pictures.

But then I got to talking.

Don't act surprised.

I managed to eat ONE hot dog and absolutely nothing else.

Talking is more fun!

And really, why let a perfectly good party plate of food get in the way of a conversation?

Monday

Leftovers!

I had a hot dog cut up into a spoonful of leftover baked beans.

Yep.

That's dinner.

Tuesday

We went BACK to Tony's Pizza & Pour House for dinner with the neighbors.

Again.

I don't know what to tell you.

I already warned you about the pathetic state of dinners around here!

At this point, Tony's might as well give us our own table. (technically we do have our own table but that just feels like I'm bragging now) 

Wednesday: I COOKED!!!

Well…

Sort of.

And before you get too excited, remember that you were warned.

I made Trader Joe's beef and broccoli with their vegetable rice.

And while you may laugh, it's DELICIOUS!

So THERE!

I turned on the stove, heated up dinner, and put it on plate, then I cleaned up the kitchen!

I'm counting it as cooking, and you can't stop me.

Thursday: Happy Hour Steak Night

Thursday was Happy Hour night, and we headed down to Nickel City.

Now, we THOUGHT their steak-night deal ran from 3–6 p.m., so we arrived around 4:30.

Turns out they don't start serving the steak meal until AFTER 6.

So we were FORCED to sit there and enjoy cocktails until it was time for Hubster to get his steak.

The sacrifices I make for that man!

The deal is steak, fries, and a drink for $20.

Honestly, I didn't think the steak was worth the wait, but Hubster was happy, and that's what matters.

The other food was delicious, though, and the drinks were AWESOME!

PLUS, they're about to transform the place into a little Christmas wonderland.

And you KNOW I'm going to need to check that out!

I'd love to tell you I ordered something other than French fries.

But I'd be lying.

And let's be honest, you'd probably be disappointed if a week went by without me eating fries.

Consistency is important!

Friday & Saturday: We've Reached a New Low

And now we're back to gloom and sadness because I've been home alone.

Friday night, I had some pumpkin ravioli from Trader Joe's.

Which gave me a tummy ache.

Lovely.

And today?

I had cheese on a piece of bread.

That's it.

Cheese. Bread. Dinner.

AND NOW WE'RE OUT OF BREAD!

We've officially reached the most pathetic food level possible.

I'd LOVE to tell you next week will be better, but I'm not gonna lie.

It's probably going to get WORSE!

Hubster leaves Wednesday morning for New Orleans again, and I'll be home alone with the pups.

I need to go buy some Captain Crunch.

And Pop-Tarts.

Maybe bread.

You know, the essentials!

📚 Reading

I'm STILL reading The Primrose Murder Academy, and the little girl is most DEFINITELY a brat.

Nothing has changed my mind about that!

You'll be pleased to know that I DID finish W Is for Wasted.

On Wednesday.

Class was Monday.

So… there's that.

Now I'm frantically trying to finish Louise Penny's The Grey Wolf before Monday's 3 o'clock class.

I'm perpetually behind at this point, but I THINK I might actually finish this one in time.

Thank the Lord for the Houston Public Library and Libby so I can listen to these books while doing other things!

Multitasking, people!

I'll get back to The Impossible Fortune soon.

Probably.

Maybe.

We'll see.

📺 Watching

It's such a lovely time of year for television, so I'm going to tell you what gets watched each night around here.

Once again, riveting content I produce!

Monday

Holiday Baking Championship!

THANKFULLY, the team competitions are over.

Let's get back to regular programming!

I want to see gorgeous holiday desserts and people panicking over melted chocolate, not another team challenge.

Tuesday

Catch-up night!

If we're not behind on anything, Hubster watches that ridiculous Last Man on Earth show.

I have no words.

Wednesday

BIG TV NIGHT!

Survivor AND The Amazing Race.

And I'm STILL irritated about last week's Amazing Race elimination.

GRRRRR!

I don't even have any favorites left!

Thursday

The Traitors!

I think this week is the finale, and I'm going to miss the ridiculously over-the-top Alan Cumming every week.

The outfits! The drama! The theatrics! The MURDERSSSSS!!!

It's all just SO MUCH, and I love it!

Saturday

Saturday is for college football you silly goose!

Sunday

The Gilded Age.

Y'ALL.

THIS SHOW!!!

If I didn't have Christmas movies waiting for me, I'd go back and watch the episodes over and over.

The costumes alone are worth watching, but the entire cast is SO GOOD!

And then there's my ever-growing collection of Christmas movies just waiting for me on the DVR.

Rouxby Sue and I have some serious couch time planned.

📅 What's Coming Up?

Well, next week is shaping up to be busy and quiet at the same time.

I have THREE classes: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.

So you KNOW I'll be getting dressed at least three days.

And yes, shoes too!

Hubster is playing golf Monday and then leaving early Wednesday morning for New Orleans while I hold down the fort again.

He'll be back Saturday, which means Monday and Tuesday are probably the only days you MIGHT get dinner pictures.

I wouldn't hold my breath.

And can we talk about the fact that THANKSGIVING IS LESS THAN TWO WEEKS AWAY???

AHHHHHHH!!!

I've got a trip to plan, and we don't even know exactly where we're going yet!

I also need to get the Christmas decorations up before we leave town.

So naturally, my most pressing concern is making sure we have Captain Crunch and Pop-Tarts.

Priorities, people!

On the bright side, there are no classes Thanksgiving week, so maybe I'll finally get caught up on my other books.

But honestly, I'm starting to panic a little about how quickly this year is coming to an end!

Wasn't it JUST summer???

For now, though, I'm going to stop worrying about all the things I need to do, grab that little bulldog, and settle in for a Christmas movie.

The chores will still be there tomorrow.

And apparently, so will the pathetic dinner choices.

Until next time, Peeps!

Peace, Love, & Pass the Wine! 🍷