Archive for the ‘Considered opinions’ Category
Another wedding! BF and I made it to the wedding of one of BF’s friends, one year after Rafael & Carmen’s lovely affair.
Hi, Again, Dear Readers:
Have you tried one of the new foodie trends yet? No? Me either. BF is glad that I haven’t cajoled him into a Boba Tea shop yet—the local PJ’s Coffee shops and Starbucks in Hammond are enough for him any day.
He likes that PJ’s offers veterans discounts, and some of the tasty things they have, too. Especially in that PJ’s next to the military recruiting stations in Hammond. We did try one of the recent Aldi Finds, Priano tomato and mozzarella gnocchi from Italy. Not bad, but he didn’t care for it. It’s OK, though, we at least tried some.
An Invitation
Once again, we were invited to a wedding. Traveling was about an hour round-trip, and it was a great time. And guess who forgot to get pictures of the food? Yup, your intrepid blogger. But I got pictures of everything else, including me and BF, and the gorgeous wedding cake, too. Note that I was using an iPhone 11, so not all of the pictures are top-quality.
BF has known Ray, usually called “Ray-Ray,” for many years. He’s been to the Casa de Rurale several times, sometimes with his brother Gerald. We’ve not met his wife Angela yet. We only saw her at the wedding and didn’t get a chance to chat.
Then one day BF sent me a text message with a picture of an invitation:
This came by text
Who? What? Upon asking, he confirmed that it was, in fact, Ray-Ray. I was surprised because I didn’t know he was getting married, nor that we would be invited. We made our plans to attend.
Wedding Venue
This wedding was held in The Knights of Columbus Hall in Ponchatoula, a nice-sized venue. I didn’t get to ask who did the décor, and everything was elegantly done. (Even if I didn’t get pictures of the food tables.)
We weren’t told this ahead of time, but it looked like the theme was black and white:
Isn’t it lovely?
Closeup of the place setting in the area reserved for the family.
Each table had a similar arrangement
I think this was the groom’s cake–but I confess, I don’t remember, and I think I forgot to ask, too.
And there was a table and chairs for the couple following the wedding:
We were far across the room for this so I didn’t get any pictures of them here.
A beautiful backdrop for the ceremony:
Lots of pictures were posed here too
Most of the family members wore black and white in keeping with the apparent theme, although there were some exceptions. I was the only one wearing Navy Blue. Later I was told that the far side of the room was reserved for family members, but nobody minded me taking a few pictures before the wedding started.
More venue pictures
This was the card box:
Another part of the family-reserved area:
On the other side of the room, the settings were slightly different but equally elegant:
This was our table
Closeup of the place setting
The bell had a message:
And we did!
The Ceremony
It was short but meaningful, led by the groom’s brother, who is a minister. The bride wore a lovely light grey gown with a corset back and a sparkly tiara.
Isn’t she gorgeous?
The walk took a few minutes:
There wasn’t an actual “aisle” as in a church
Once the bride made it to the wedding arch, they started:
The ceremony begins
I zoomed in for a closer look:
From here, everything starts
Following the ceremony, Mr. and Mrs. Ray Dantzler:
Married!
There were lots more pictures, and BF and I even posed with them for their photographer. I didn’t get a picture of that, though.
The Wedding Cake!
Ok, just get an eyeful of this beauty:
Beautiful
And that detail:
Check out that detail!
I thought I took a picture of the slices passed to us, but I can’t find it now. We both enjoyed that delicious confection. Oh, the smooth, creamy icing. . .it was just everything you expect in such a rich confection.
The “Wedding Cake” Flavor
Local bakeries have something called “wedding cake flavor.” Anyone who grew up in the New Orleans area knows that it’s the traditional flavor of local wedding cakes. Out-of-towners have no idea.
That distinctive element of wedding cakes of New Orleans—and this one—is the presence of almond flavoring. It’s a local tradition. While the cake at Rafael & Carmen’s wedding was indeed delicious, it did not have almond, or the“wedding cake flavor” you find in and around New Orleans. A Texas baker isn’t likely to know about it, nor would the couple, and probably wouldn’t ask to include it—unless they knew.
I’d forgotten about that until I took a bite of this one and remembered it well. It’s been a while, and you don’t forget that taste. A quick search turned up this article from the local newspaper about that very thing. A small amount of almond extract is added to both the cake and the icing. Not too much, because almond extract is very strong.
At Justin & Bronte’s wedding in 2020, we had a slice of the groom’s cake, not the actual wedding cake. So, I don’t know if the cake was “wedding cake flavored”—we’ll just guess that it did.
Now that I think about it, I want to make some kind of keto cake and icing with almond extract for that taste. Who’s with me?
Champagne, Cocktails and The Dinner Menu
Right after the wedding concluded, champagne servers were walking around and pouring at every table. I had one and was hoping for a second sip but couldn’t find anyone serving anymore. The bar area was making strictly mixed drinks, wine, and beer. I could have had a cocktail, but didn’t, even though BF was doing all the driving that night.
Dinner was. . .barbecue! No kidding, along with mac and cheese, green beans, and a couple of other things (that I don’t remember.) Everything was delicious. (And of course, no pictures of it unless I can cajole them from the groom.)
The man who did the catering was seated at our table and told us he was the one who made everything. No complaints! Everyone enjoyed dinner and the company that came with it at our table.
Dancing After Dinner
The one thing I heard the most was, “The music’s too loud.” Admittedly, it was kind of on the loud side, but all the DJs do that now, right?
Gerald was sitting at our table with a nice elderly lady, who pointed out one song sung by the sister of R&B musician R. Kelly. (Yes, that guy.) I thought the lady said her name was “Sheila,” but I can’t find it now. It was a pretty good song, but I was completely unfamiliar with the music myself. A lot was going on that night.
After dinner, folks were getting up and dancing. I should say some folks were getting up and dancing. BF was not one of them, nor were most where we were seated. I hate to say it this way, but the white folks were kind of boring, and everyone else was having fun.
After a few of BF’s odd looks, I got up and danced with some of the ladies and tried my best to learn their dance moves on the fly. They were friendly and gave me some help. If I’d had a bit more time I would have gotten the moves down.
And then the music changed, and everyone danced a different step.
Gerald showed his amusement when he saw me get up and attempt dancing with the ladies on the floor. Guess I should have danced with him once. They’ve been to the Casa de Rurale since the wedding. They haven’t forgotten and let me know about that.
Should have started dancing with the ladies long before I did.
My Outfit
Ever the fashionista, I wore the same Badgley Mischka cocktail dress from Rafael & Carmen’s wedding—because why not?
Isn’t it fabulous? (It is now out of print.)
I finally got around to hand-sewing a bunch of snaps onto the drape and the fringe so I could remove the fringe later. I don’t even want to know how many snaps I sewed by hand, and it took me a while to get them all on so that the drape looked right.
Three years after Justin and Bronte’s wedding, I finally finished the Navy blue birdcage headpiece I originally planned to wear to their wedding, and also planned to wear to Rafael and Carmen’s. I made it from this out-of-print Simplicity pattern of accessories.
Mine is at the top right, View D
Amy’s cheat: I bought the white flowers already made from Hobby Lobby and cut the stems short instead of making the flowers. The Russian veiling I ordered from Etsy, where you can get things like that in nearly any color. One day maybe I’ll attempt that fascinator, View E, in a deep red.
I thought it would look good with the Badgley Mischka dress during the ceremony. Then, I would remove it for the reception, carefully tucking it into a bag and in my purse. And I would have, but BF put up a big fuss about it, insisting that it would look “funny.”
He said this looked “funny.”
So, I didn’t wear it inside the venue. It stayed in a bag in our vehicle.
Not a good picture of us, but here we are. The DJ is directly behind us in the corner.
Honestly, I should have worn it anyway. I’m not taking fashion advice from a mechanic again.
A second opinion
Later, I posted those pictures of the pattern and veil on Facebook, both on my page and in McCall’s sewing group. Carmen said on FB that she wanted a birdcage but couldn’t find one she liked. She might have gotten me to make one had she known I could. Wouldn’t that have been fun if we were both wearing the same headpiece in different colors?
Responses were mostly positive in both places, except for one troll in the Facebook group who wasn’t paying attention and felt the need to remind me that “only the bride wears white.” Not only did I not wear white, but neither did the bride, her beautiful dress was very light silver gray. DUH, lady.
BF, of course, wore khaki trousers and a white/blue checked Izod dress shirt like this one.
Source: Amazon
Can’t tell you how old it is, only that I’m tasked with occasionally ironing it for him.
Another lovely wedding
Each wedding is unique and reflects the personalities of the couple getting married. As nice as each one we attended was, the only thing they all had in common was a man and a woman getting married, and a big cake. The details were all completely different and made each occasion special for everyone who attended. Each had its own vibe. There is no comparison of one to the other.
Like the previous two we’ve attended, everything went perfectly. Everyone had a great time and were all happy to see them get married. Ray and Angela’s elegant affair was just a half-hour drive home for us this time with no toll roads. Eventually, I’ll have our pictures printed up in a little Shutterfly book. As soon as I am finished with the book for the last one we attended.
We wish them a long and happy life together and thank them for their gracious invitation to a lovely evening.
Congratulations to Ray and Angela!
Caulipower has upgraded its signature pizza line with three new upgraded flavors. In this blog, I try the one with mushrooms.
Hi, again, Dear Readers:
Ok, after my last post, I decided to write up the local wedding we went to last year, and it’s about halfway done. So that’s coming soon.
I also found a selfie I sent to BF during the holidays when I went to meet up with a little old lady at Starbucks in Hammond:
Went to visit someone over the holiday season
Or as I call it on Facebook, a “proof of life” selfie. Sometimes, amazingly, I still look a little like I used to before life got the upper hand. That’s OK, I’ve got BF now, and that’s good too.
Pizza and Valentine’s Day
Longtime readers know I’m a fan of Caulipower’s delicious pizzas. And because BF won’t touch it, not even a bite, they’re all mine. They’re thin crust and not big, so I can enjoy the whole thing by myself. I don’t care what he says, they are that good.
For multiple reasons this week, we decided to get frozen pizzas for dinner, including Valentine’s Day. It’s been a tough week for us and doing the whole Valentine’s thing was too much to think about. Maybe next week. We’re here, we’ve got each other, we love getting on each other’s nerves, and that’s all we need. Plus a little chocolate occasionally.
On Tuesday we made a supply run. That’s when I accidentally discovered a new artisan flavor of Caulipower pizza in the back of Walmart’s freezer case.
It’s in a black box, rather than white. I bought one of those and an Uncured Pepperoni for the first non-cooking dinner. BF had his usual thick-crust Red Baron, which he enjoyed over two nights.
Caulipower’s Three New Flavors
The company is always pushing the envelope on healthier offerings using cauliflower, so there’s always a new flavor or new thing around, like their Cauliflower Pasta. Recently, they’ve debuted a new artisan-style Over The Top pizzas with stone-fired crusts:
- The Dream Supreme, with pepperoni, sausage, and bell peppers
- Spicy Chicken Sausage with chicken sausage and fire roasted bell peppers
- Truffilicious Mushroom, with a mushroom blend, white sauce, cheese, and truffle oil
Admittedly I have not tried them all, and doing so would require BF to be working late more often. This is to avoid the retching noises and other negative reactions when I tell him what I’m trying out and avoid reactions like the one for Overnight Oatmeal.
Then I found something new.
The Trufflicious Mushroom Pizza
Remember in my post about 2024 foodie trends I said that one prediction was mushrooms everywhere for vegans and vegetarians as a meat substitute?
What’s this?
Caulipower has joined the trend with this version of its newest pizza line.
Mushrooms on pizza is nothing new, whether vegetarian or not. The sauce is not tomato but a “white sauce,” which is occasionally used on pizza like it is on pasta.
Here’s the important stuff
So, being curious (and having an extra $8) I bought one to try.
Bake It Up
The instructions are the same for every type of Caulipower I’ve ever tried: bake at 425 degrees for 13 to 16 minutes, until done. (Unwrap it first, of course.)
Looks like any ordinary mushroom pizza.
Don’t forget about it, either, especially in a small countertop oven.
Just like that.
In what seems like seconds later, you have pizza:
Ready?
Even though it’s a bit “Cajunized” on one side, the other side needed a few more minutes. But I wasn’t about to wait. I took it out and sliced it up.
I was hungry, too. BF had no interest.
The Taste
Let me start by telling you the positive parts of this pizza:
- Stone-fired pizza crust
- Gluten-free
- No artificial flavors, preservatives, or colors
- Good source of protein
Caulipower makes all kinds of good-for-you foods based on cauliflower that offer fast, convenient, and healthy eating at any time. I haven’t tried all of them because they’re not all available here.
But I’m just not wild about this pizza, y’all.
I’m glad I tried it once, but I don’t want it anymore. It’s not bad, it’s just not appealing. Maybe it’s the truffle oil in the sauce, or the cheese, or the mushroom blend, I don’t know. This pizza is just not for me. I can’t answer for anyone else.
Will you like it? I don’t know—you must find out for yourself, honestly. If this blog doesn’t make you curious, well. . .get the uncured pepperoni version, or pick up a box of crusts and create your own Caulipower. Their “regular” pizzas are very tasty. I just can’t vouch for this one, despite their other tasty flavors.
The Other Two
Since I only found the Truffilicious Mushroom version of the Over The Top line in Walmart, I don’t know if I can get the other two here. As always, I’ll check out Winn-Dixie or Rouses later and see if they have them in stock.
I’ve had Caulipower’s Buffa-Whoa buffalo chicken pizza and found it to be a little too warm for my taste. This makes me cautious about the Spicy Chicken Sausage version because I don’t like anything that’s overly hot. I haven’t found their “white pizza” either but will try it if I ever find one. The rest I like, including the crust that you can add your own ingredients on top and bake.
Good Food Frozen
As more people embrace healthier eating, better quality things are available in the freezer case. I’m sure there will always be regular frozen pizzas, lasagna, and other freezer staples available. But healthier food is making its way into American grocery stores, and that’s always a good thing.
Enjoy!
New Year, New Food Trends. What’s coming to our tables this year? In this blog post, I’ll look at what the “experts” predict for the newest foodie things for 2024.
Hello, again, Dear Readers:
I know, it’s been a month. My apologies for that. I discovered one picture from our trip that I forgot to post:
He liked the leather wallets, but that’s not me standing next to him.
BF found something he liked, although he did not buy one this time.
Our extreme cold snap is over. Here, we’ve had bouts of rain throughout Texas and Louisiana. It’s still cool, but not bitterly cold like it was before. Recently, I asked Aunt Ruth during the cold snap if she was warm, and she told me that her granddaughter gave her a nice warm heated blanket throw for Christmas. I’m glad because the little kitty doesn’t stay inside much.
Expert Trends
As with every New Year, “experts” of all descriptions predict what we’ll be doing after January 1. How many of those predictions become trends is anybody’s guess because a “disruptor” comes along that changes things, like Instagram and TikTok (which I’ll talk about later.) Or life changes in some way, like the three-year thing, and we adapt accordingly.
So I decided to see what they’re saying about the newest foodie trends that may be coming to us in the New Year.
Trends And Predictions For 2024
I thought about doing this after my last blog post. What are the trends we can look forward to seeing in 2024 on the foodie front? Every year, there’s always something new to discover, even if it’s something old that’s just repackaged.
TikTok, the short-video social media, seems to be the primary trend influencer. This blogger does not have TikTok on her phone and only knows what she reads about and sees that flows from TikTok onto Instagram. But because TikTok is the thing now, it’s a driver for these “new” food trends, along with the food industry. Remember how high eggs were a year ago? Record inflation for the past three years has also cut into food budgets from teenagers to families with children, so not everyone is on board with, say, the caviar-on-Doritos trend.
Trader Joe’s has announced their Customer Choice Awards 2024, and one of my favorites is on it: The Brazil Nut Body Butter. It’s inedible, but one sniff of that incredible fragrance and you’re hooked. Even BF likes it, but only when I’m wearing some.
Predicting trends is not an exact science. Frequently, making predictions can be all over the place, as I discovered researching for this blog. So here are some of the anticipated trends predicted for this year.
Tamarind
McCormick is betting on its new “Mexican Inspired” Tamarind blend as the preeminent flavor for all things culinary in 2024.
McCormick makes this
I haven’t seen this yet but I’ll keep an eye out for it in Walmart, Winn-Dixie, Rouse’s, and anywhere else I decide to shop. Warning: this does contain sugar, so if you’re watching that sort of thing, be aware.
Not straight Tamarind, but a blend, with two types of sugar.
And if this trend doesn’t take off, I’m sure it will show up in Dirt Cheap or The Salvage Store when they eventually give up on it.
“Boba Tea,” aka “Bubble Tea”
Back in the day, the Frappuccino was the trendy new thing to drink. Then chai came along. Then the famous (or infamous) Pumpkin Spice Latte sparked all manner of fall-based trends. Today, we have Bubble Tea, also called Boba Tea, and it’s being called a new trend for 2024.
This is a generic picture of what Bubble Tea, or Boba Tea, looks like.
It’s something else I’ve seen but never tried, and probably won’t. Boba Tea has been around for some time. The only time I’ve seen this is in canned or kit form at Five Below, but then, I don’t go looking for it, either.
Because I don’t get out much, apparently there is Boba ParTea and TeaTery Tea & Tapioca in Baton Rouge. Boba ParTea is near one of our favorite places there, The City Café on O’Neal Lane. (I’ve never done a review on it, go figure, but we like it.) A quick search indicates that bubble tea places are popping up all over Houston. (Get it?) My Boba Tea is out on the west side, on Dairy Ashford, and there might be one in Clear Lake, too. (I couldn’t tell from a search.) Like anything in Houston, toss a quarter in any direction, you’ll probably find at least one. If you can get beignets in Houston, you’ll find a place selling bubble tea, too, but probably not in the same place.
Neighbor E is reading this and holding onto his chai latte real tight.
Neighbor E’s favorite
What It Is
So, what is this wacky new stuff that the kids all like? I did find some in our local Walmart this past weekend:
Yup, there it is.
Well, Boba Tea was invented in Taiwan in the ’80s. It’s simply tea mixed with milk and other flavorings, and little sugar-coated tapioca balls in the bottom, the “boba.” There are as many flavors as people in Houston, so there’s no telling what kind of boba tea you can get wherever you go.
If I were getting some, I’d go with that Vanilla Latte flavor.
Seriously. It’s a drink and a sugary snack all at once. The Food Network’s website offers a basic description of boba tea. The more you search, the more you find. We’ll be seeing much more of this trend in 2024. Don’t expect me and BF to be hopping onto the boba tea trend anytime soon. He would not go into such a place and would only stand outside and wait for me to hurry up so we could leave.
That’s how it’s made, and that’s a lot of sugar.
I’m not sure I wanna try this stuff, anyway. But if I do get curious, I’ll let you know.
Retro Anything Trend
For some bizarre reason, there is a 90’s nostalgia food trend happening now. It may have something to do with the release of a movie called Mean Girls, a reboot of the 2004 film. This trend sees retro food reimagined for folks who want to return to their youth or something. Also called “newstalgia,” this kind of thing appears during or right after difficult times. Maybe I should find new copies of some old cookbooks and see where that takes me.
On the other hand, I have no plans to source and purchase Pop Rocks to add into something. But it might be a fun joke to play on BF one day if he gets on my last nerve.
Increased Plant-Based Foods
Even though I stocked up on unsweetened chocolate almond milk during the most recent freeze, I’m not following this trend. However, an increase in demand for plant-based everything is expected to continue into 2024. Especially considering the increased prices of all types of meat.
However, the plant-based meat industry has faced obstacles, forcing many to cut back operations. And it’s not cheap, either. Some providers have closed for business entirely. There just isn’t the demand they anticipated, and the problems of the last three years haven’t helped. Furthermore, the ingredients in some of these offerings aren’t always as healthy as touted.
Because it’s impossible to get normal people to eat this stuff. (Source: Google Images)
Going beyond the mixed veg and salad crowd, plant-based proteins are expected to expand into things like plant-based “seafood” alongside meat substitutes and vegetables featured in recipes on their own.
Source: Google Images
Trend predictions show plant-based kinds of milk as prominent, including oat milk and, I’m not kidding, pea milk. No thanks. Besides, BF likes to remind me that “if it doesn’t moo, it isn’t milk.” BF is a smart aleck, too.
Source: Google Images/Getty Images
Who is buying these products? Granted, I’m in a rural area where people farm real beef, pork, chicken, etc., so it’s not likely farmers will be buying plant-based meat products. But how much of a market is there for them? Not as much as believed, and this trend may eventually fizzle out.
Mushrooms are increasingly used as a meat substitute. So much so that Delish and Whole Foods are predicting mushrooms everywhere you look in 2024. If you start seeing mushroom everything, you heard it here first.
Vegan Pepperoni?
I haven’t been to Trader Joe’s in many months, and the last time I visited Aldi was between Christmas and New Year. TJ’s does offer a fair amount of vegan and vegetarian foods for those who like them. They are a California company, after all, up on all the latest food trends. Well, Natasha from Trader Joe’s List posted this new Trader Joe’s product on Instagram the other day:
Source: Trader Joe’s List Instagram page
Yes—vegan pepperoni. How do they make it? I’m glad you asked:
Source: Trader Joe’s List Instagram page.
With wheat and a bunch of other ingredients that are not in any way “meat-like.” So, if you’re giving up meat, why eat something that attempts to emulate meat? Not my place to make these decisions, but there is a market for this type of product, albeit small. Makes me want to get a couple of packages of real pepperoni on my next grocery trip.
Trend: Artificial intelligence (AI)
AI has been rumbling around for years, but in 2022, ChatGPT brought AI into mainstream consciousness. While this blogger does use ChatGPT—like a bookkeeper would use a calculator—I wrote this blog without ChatGPT’s assistance. (And I’m sure it shows too.)
Automation has been in the food industry for decades. In recent years AI has become increasingly sophisticated wherever it’s used. The infusion of technology probably won’t be obvious to consumers and restaurant patrons. Most of it will work in the background, not in full view.
How It Works
For instance, I saw an article recently (but I can’t find it now) about how companies keep their ice cream flavors in stock. It works like this: the ice cream vendor owns the freezer that’s in your local store or a component thereof. The freezer or component is equipped with a sensor device that sends information to the company remotely, letting them know what to restock automatically.
In other words, HEB, or our local Walmart, or Winn-Dixie doesn’t have to tell the vendor they are out of a specific type of ice cream, gelato, or novelty frozen dessert. The vendor already knows the minute the freezer space is low or emptied. Sensors inside the freezer send them a notification automatically, and the supply chain that brings it is (mostly) seamless. The vendor is already working to get that freezer refilled with Cherry Mocha Chocolate Chunk Hazelnut Crème Gelato before someone starts asking questions.
In restaurants, automation and technology are expected to help pick up the load, saving labor and time. Again, customers won’t see this AI automation. McDonald’s has already opened a test of the automated concept in Fort Worth, but there are also humans working there. Increasing automation with AI is expected to help increase efficiency and cut costs in all types of eateries.
AI Trends In Popular Culture
Fans of The X-Files will remember a semi-comedic episode in the eleventh season (2018) with little dialog and revolved around an automated sushi restaurant. There are no humans in the place, and when Mulder’s order is wrong, there is no one to complain to and no way to get the sushi he ordered. Things escalate quickly, and the duo breaks out of the place. Headed home, Scully’s autonomous (and driverless) taxi speeds out of control, and her house is overtaken by electronics. Eventually, the pair is cornered by several robots that hand Mulder his phone, showing that he has not left a tip or a review. He leaves a 10% tip with his phone, the robots back off and go away, and then everything is all over.
We’re a long way from that scenario, but don’t be surprised if the automated restaurant trend becomes more common, even in a limited capacity.
Speaking of Ice Cream
This article discusses new trends in our favorite frozen dessert. From calorie (and carb) conscious to more sophisticated flavor profiles, ice cream continues to evolve. I still prefer making my own, but it’s nice to know keto and sugar-free ice creams are available.
One of those trends is new flavor combinations. Well, I’ve got one I just saw in Walmart the other night:
Little Debbie is “the other woman” in our relationship.
Yes, BF’s long-term “other woman” is branching into ice cream. He hasn’t tried it yet, but if it sticks around, I’m sure it will make its way its way into our freezer.
Hot, Sweet & Sour Trends
If you’re one of those people who think the hotter, the better, you’re about to get your sensibilities whacked. By that, I mean that one new trend is to combine hot with sweet or other flavors to temper the heat and bring new layers of flavor.
Gen Z has discovered extremely hot condiments like Sriracha and enjoys adding them to different dishes.
Fermented food and drinks like kombucha also continue to be a force in food. Admittedly, this blogger does not go near the stuff. I do like pickles on occasion, especially the milder ones like kosher dill. BF, on the other hand, hates anything remotely “pickle-y,” and will let you know about it–loudly.
Rethinking The Drink
People like BF, Aunt Ruth, and Aunt Kathy are just not going to be fazed by the trend of Dry January right after the holidays. (Yup, a bit late for that too, but hear me out.) I don’t drink that often, and I can tell you the last occasions where I had alcohol: A wedding last November, (BF drove us) plus Thanksgiving and this past New Year’s Eve at home. But some folks drink a little more regularly and observe Dry January as a month of “reset.” Actress and foodie Valerie Bertinelli takes it seriously and frequently posts videos about her Dry January on Instagram.
If you can’t give up the cocktails, there are ways to enjoy a sophisticated libation without the alcohol in January or any other month.
Fancy Sodas and Soft Drinks
For BF, Cherry Coke is about as fancy as he gets. I quit drinking soft drinks back in 1997 and have had only one since then. Now, I don’t have a taste for them. But over the years, soft drinks, aka “sodas,” have evolved into nonstandard versions that appeal to more discriminating tastes.
The first one I remember seeing was Izze’s, a “fizzy” juice blend with no sugar or artificial flavorings.
This is just one of many flavors
While it started as an indie, it’s now part of the Tropicana brand. I remember trying it once, and it was pretty good, but the only place that sold them was the Houston Central Market, so I never had one again.
Zevia
Another one I’ve seen is Zevia Zero Sugar Sodas, but I haven’t tried them myself. They offer soda, energy drinks, teas, and drinks for kids.
One of several varieties
Winn-Dixie offers two flavors in our local store. They’re not available in my local Walmart, but Walmart will ship them here. BF would blow a gasket if he ran out of Coke and I gave him Zevia. Next trip, I might try some, if they have some in stock. The company offers three versions of “mocktails” in a reel on their Instagram feed, all with Zevia canned sodas. Maybe we’ll try one for Valentine’s Day.
Berry Town Produce in Hammond also carries Zevia, according to the company’s website. I thought I’d blogged about that place already, but I haven’t. Looks like I now have an excuse to go back, shop, take pictures, and write one. It’s like the old “fruit stands” that used to appear in New Orleans but enclosed. They have lots of great stuff.
If you’re cutting back on sugar, you might think of switching to diet soft drinks. You can do that, of course. But these are not the same as your regular diet soft drinks. These are “reinvented” sodas with less sugar or no sugar added.
This article from Eater lists ten of the newest non-alcoholic libations around, including “functional” sodas with prebiotics, and hybrid seltzer drinks.
The Dry Cocktail Trends
Non-alcoholic wines and other spirits are also an evolving market, especially for Dry January. Something new that has crossed my path is called Ritual Zero Proof, spirits for people who love to drink. No kidding, it’s a series of taste-alike alternatives to tequila, rum, whiskey, aperitif, and gin. The bottles are sold individually as well as in bundles. (NOTE: I have not personally tried these libations.)
Cocktail ready with no alcohol.
What’s in this stuff? Well, there is cane sugar, along with filtered water, natural flavoring, caramel coloring (in the rum version), and xanthan gum, a thickener. In other words, simple syrup with some extra ingredients to make it taste like the real thing, and free of alcohol.
Rethinking Your Drink
Do you want a drink? They’re easy to find. There are always recipes for dry cocktails, or “mocktails,” available online at the touch of a button. I have several cocktail recipes in books, too, like Suzanne Somers Cocktails book, one of my favorites. You can make many of these drinks without alcohol, including my favorites:
- The Somersize Mojito on page 17
- The Watermelon Mojito on page 21
- The Ruby Red Greyhound on page 27
In all three, club soda can sub in for the alcohol. As with most of her recipes, they are made without sugar. Swerve can replace the SomerSweet; just adjust it for taste.
Our NYE Drinks
For New Year’s Eve, I found a recipe on Natasha Fisher’s Instagram feed (TraderJoesList) that called for fresh cranberries frozen in tangerine juice with a sprig of rosemary in larger-size ice cube trays. (I had to use orange juice since I wasn’t going to Baton Rouge before then.) When you’re ready to drink, pour your Prosecco or Champagne over the cubes. Delicious.
For BF, I bought some fizzy apple juice for his “mocktail.” Mine, of course, had that small bottle of Prosecco that’s been in the fridge for some time and forgotten. We both enjoyed a nice “adult” beverage on New Year’s Eve with sliced cheeses and gluten-free cracker nibbles on the way to midnight. This charcuterie for two included slices of delicious Cranberry Cinnamon Goat Cheese from Aldi’s, and we even had some leftover cubes in the freezer for another time.
The art and science of new trends
Remember that anyone can now have a social media presence and call themselves an “influencer.” That’s their job, to promote products and hopefully start a trend that sells products. I get that, and sometimes they are good products. This article on Mr. Porter better explains how a trend comes to be and the process by which it ceases to be a trend and then becomes mainstream. Sometimes, I’m an “early adopter,” and other times, I’m an “early majority.” Occasionally, I’m a “late majority” or even a “laggard,” depending on the trend.
I say that because if I have a problem to solve, I seek a solution. Sometimes that solution shows up on Instagram, no kidding, or on Amazon. Later, that “trend” became mainstream, and I found it at our local Walmart. One example is this battery organizer I bought two years ago that’s similar to one now available in Walmart.
I guess being classified as a “Baby Boomer” makes me wary of going near some of the trends. I’ll take “laggard” in those cases.
Gluten-free isn’t a trend—it came about because so many people discovered they had wheat sensitivities and allergies, like Elena Amsterdam of Elena’s Pantry. Reading Wheat Belly by Dr. William Davis made me believe in the gluten-free lifestyle.
Cauliflower and cauliflower rice became a foodie trend with the low-carb and keto crowd because people looking for new things discovered its versatility. (Since that blog, I’ve found bags of frozen cauliflower rice at Walmart.) Trends develop from what people want, see, and need, and take all kinds of forms.
What trends come next?
As I said, predictions aren’t hard science, so these predictions and others may not become the thing. And what happens tomorrow is anybody’s guess. The Kansas City Chiefs (and of course, Taylor Swift’s boyfriend) won the Super Bowl, so at least one blogger on Instagram this morning had a recipe for KC brisket. As if I would make anything but a Texas brisket—DUH!
Trends form around what people want and see on TV and social media. Taking a cue from that famous ball game, Taylor Swift wore a black corset top that’s been an on-and-off thing for many years. On YouTube, there’s a clip of the late Tina Turner doing a preshow performance at the 2000 Super Bowl, and her backup dancers are wearing the same style of corset tops, 24 years before TS wore one. That top is already a trend now. But since SHE wore one yesterday from an Australian designer, the Army of Swifties will probably be swift in getting their own. Not me—I’m not a Swiftian, nor will I be buying or making one just yet.
Foodie trends are the same way, like charcuterie boards. Trends of all types are influenced by everything from current events, politics, technology, popular culture, social media (of course), and just in general the way things change over time. Look how fast society adapted to working from home when they had to, and nearly everything changed overnight. Trends are also driven by changes in style and taste and become established by shared opinions and eventual widespread appeal.
Until Next Time. . . .
No, I’m not looking to start any trends, but if I do, GREAT! I just hope that trend comes with a highly acceptable payout, but not holding my breath on that one. But if you find something new to enjoy, have at it, and of course. . . .
Happy Dining!
Now that the holidays are finally done and dusted, turn on your favorite Spotify playlist, and let’s get back on track. Happy New Year!
Hi, Again, Dear Readers:
Mail carriers, UPS drivers, and others who deliver packages are glad that the holidays are over and we can all get back to our normal lives. I thought I’d drop in and do a quick blog post to say Happy New Year! Because the last year wasn’t all that great, and neither were a couple of others.
I’m almost finished with the second blog on the rest of our Houston trip. . .in 2022. Now it’s 2024, I just need to upload it and install the pictures, which are minimal in this blog.
In With The New. . . .
Don’t give me that “New Year, New You” stuff. It implies that there is something wrong with the current or old you. Unless there is something badly wrong, you don’t need to “fix” anything, just make some adjustments to get what you want. Admittedly, that comment sells a lot of products to the American public, doesn’t it?
Yes, it’s 2024, and there are all kinds of things to help you with your “New Year’s Resolutions!” That would not be me, of course. If you want to clean up your diet, which is always a good thing, I’m always going to try and find (and make) healthy food for us. Sometimes you’re out or on vacation and that goes by the wayside.
Most of us know that resolutions usually last from one to six weeks into the new year. Few people actually accomplish them as intended. But it’s not for lack of trying for a few days. Real life comes back with a vengeance and throws the proverbial bucket of cold water at you. Then, that new routine you’d planned just doesn’t fit. Or whatever goes wrong. Been there, done that, as we all have.
Reading And Exercise Are Fundamental
One of my actual real resolutions is to read more this year. I have a couple dozen books stacked on my coffee table that I want to get through. Included is Suzanne Somers’s last book, A New Way To Age. I bought it and several more recently after watching AWAI’s annual Copywriting Bootcamp. These were books either referenced or written by the speakers. I have others I’ve bought elsewhere, and they’re all mostly business books. I also want to go back and watch the replays of several of the sessions.
During a recent power outage, I managed to finish reading two books that I’d already started. They weren’t terribly long reads. The first was one for copywriters and their clients by Kim Krause Schwalm, and one was on ChatGPT, which I’m still learning. But I want to make sure these books don’t just collect dust, I need to know what’s inside all of them.
It’s also a good time to get back on my previous resolution, the Sunny Row & Ride #077, which happens to be under $100 at the moment.
It’s a great piece of equipment. . .when I use it. (Source: Sunny Health & Fitness website.)
I’m not saying you need a Row & Ride. (They actually have three versions of it now.) I wanted one for myself after seeing a commercial for something more expensive, and I’m glad I bought mine. Sunny Health & Fitness is a good company, too, and has its own YouTube Channel with free workouts that don’t all require equipment.
Getting Fit Isn’t Expensive
You do not need to join a gym or spend too much money. Remember:
- If you have a bike, you can ride it, even in the house with a bike trainer stand in front of your TV. Mine came from eBay several years ago.
- If you can move and have sidewalks or other available safe amenities in the area, you can walk.
- If you can’t walk, or have limited mobility, even light weights are good for strength training.
- An inexpensive bike pedal exerciser is also great for getting movement. Walmart has these too.
- YouTube has millions of exercise videos for every level of fitness, most for free, just find what works for you. From gentle yoga to the most difficult weight and kettlebell workouts, it’s available 24/7 at the touch of a button. Pick one and start. Don’t like it? Find another one and save it–the choices are endless.
- Your local public library likely has exercise videos you can borrow for free to see what you like, whether it’s yoga, Pilates, weightlifting, kettlebells, or anything else. This is especially true of the Freeman Library in Clear Lake, where they can get you seemingly endless things on VHS, DVD, and on-demand online. For many libraries, you can request them online and pick them up at the counter.
Amazon is the perfect place to research something you’re thinking about with info from both the manufacturer and people who bought it, even if you don’t buy it there. Furthermore, you may find something equal to the thing you’re considering but a less expensive model. That’s how I came across the Row & Ride. Heck, Five Below has plastic push-up stands for $5 right now, just like these from Amazon for $10.
Just make sure you don’t buy something with which to hurt yourself. Self-inflicted injuries are not a great way to start your new year.
Buy Sustainable, Buy Used
If you want a new exercise bike or other fitness equipment but don’t have a big budget, check out Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, (exercise care with these, and don’t pay in advance) eBay, or local thrift stores run by nonprofits.
People buy things with the best of intentions, and after dusting them multiple times, eventually want them out of the house. Some have been used once or twice, just like sewing machines. Now’s a great time to score something for less than you’d pay retail for new, and help someone clear out their space or who needs a little post-holiday cash. Use Amazon as a research site and go from there.
Sitting too much and being sedentary just isn’t good, because one day moving might not happen anymore. I was told that a long time ago by a lady right after her knee replacement.
Motion Before Motivation
Sometimes you’ll hear someone say, “I’m trying to get motivated.” Or someone is just sitting and waiting for the motivation to come to them like this woman waiting forever for divine intervention. Well, you could be waiting for years for that or to get motivated to do something. I have a suggestion: just get started and the motivation will come to you.
How I know this is a self-help book I need to re-read myself: Motion Before Motivation by Michael Dolpies. Someone mentioned it one day in a Facebook group for copywriters, and I bought the book on February 2, 2016. (Thank you, Amazon for that bit of data.) Get started doing it, whatever it is, and the motivation will come. That’s the theme, although there’s a little more to it than that. Just pulled it from my bookshelf and will be adding it to the coffee table stacks.
If I had one of those fancy, expensive Peloton bikes with a book rack on it, I might be reading it on that. Truth to tell, you can find an exercise bike for much less—even Aldi has a foldable one for under $75.
Our Holiday Week
We’re still here and getting on each other’s nerves, as I like to tell people. For Christmas, I made BF some comfy pajamas out of a modal knit I found at Girl Charlee Fabrics called Unimpressed Bear:
They came out great, and he loves them.
They’re warm and comfortable, although I need to take the pants up a little for him. When I saw the fabric in July, I knew it would become pajamas for him, because he hates cold weather. It didn’t last long–right after I bought some, it sold out completely.
Otherwise, our holiday period wasn’t always joyous. Many things went sideways, and I ended up throwing in the towel Christmas Day on cooking after two finger cuts, a burn, and a hard nibble from TigerCat, aka, furry little terrorist.
TigerCat And Broccoli Stir-Fry
There she is, a little puddle of fluffy orange fur.
Twice, this orange beast walked outside on her own for a grand adventure.
Isn’t she so cute? She’s small and fast, too. I was hoping the open window would get her back inside.
The first time she stayed out all day, roaming the property like the Norwegian Forest cat that she is, with Broccoli Stirfry keeping a close eye.
BF was going to try and catch her when he got home. He texted me when he was leaving work, and asked me to bring the dog inside. When I did that, she walked back into the house with the dog like she was returning home from work.
Yesterday, she slipped out unnoticed while I was dealing with the dog. When she discovered it was cold, about 32 degrees, she loudly howled at BF to be allowed back inside. We think she was outside two or three hours before he found her on the patio.
Back To Cooking
Anyway, BF finished the Christmas Day cooking, and we ate that afternoon. I didn’t bake any cookies this year, either. Plans for a keto copycat version of Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bars also didn’t happen. I may do that next week because I have everything I need, including the Sugar-Free Dried Cranberries that I made in the Dash dehydrator.
You can do this yourself, the recipe explains how, either in the oven or the dehydrator.
And I didn’t get a real CBB because three different Starbucks stores I visited said they sold out of them very quickly long before Christmas.
Blog post on this one of these days too.
Dash’s entire website is 20% off sitewide through the 7th if you’re interested in one of these or any of their other little appliances (code “NEWYEAR.”)
Our New Year’s Eve involved some cocktails (he had no alcohol), some delicious cheeses, and crackers in front of the TV. But that’s OK, too, we had some nice quality time on New Year’s Eve, and we both enjoyed our cocktails. Need to find more drinks like that.
Out With The Old. . . .
Everything changes, yes? Sometimes it happens in the new year, sometimes it just happens.
I mentioned that we had guests for Thanksgiving, following a visit in July. Both times it was someone from Houston I know for a long time. Well, they won’t be returning, like, ever, nor appearing in this blog again.
On New Year’s Day, I received a text message from Miss Alice, visiting relatives in Florida, telling me that she did not want to continue our friendship. Like she was canceling a Netflix subscription. I said, “OK, Good luck” and proceeded to ensure that she would not see me on social media or my phone number again. Didn’t think fast enough to say “Bye, Felicia.” She’s not on the blog email list, and I removed her email from the back end of the site. However, there’s no stopping anyone from locating and reading the website and blog on the open web. Not that I care, really, and I doubt that will happen. Good luck, God bless ya.
BF has been very supportive since we saw this stunning text. Conversations with The E Man and nearby friends J&B reminded me that I do have friends like them, plus Rafael, Aunt Ruth, Aunt Kathy, and so many others. YouTube videos by funnyman Jeff Dunham also helped.
One thing I’m thinking about in the new year is to either start a new blog or a podcast and call it, “What The Hell Is Wrong With You People?” BF and I read and hear so many stories about people who may not qualify for the Darwin Awards but show that they could indeed be in the running. Finding one person to highlight for a weekly podcast would not be difficult, just read the news. I’ve already downloaded podcasting software and tested it, so don’t tempt me.
It’s Coming, Honest
The pictures are what will take the longest to finish up the blog on our trip. I hope you’ll see it as worth the wait.
Meantime, we go forward in the new year because there’s no going back, not yet. If there was, I’d be heading back to my 16th birthday with some serious warnings to my younger self.
Happy New Year!!
It’s the beautiful wedding of Rafael and Carmen Cruz Rodriguez in a rustic, peaceful setting in Magnolia, Texas, just north of Katy. Finally, the blog you’ve been waiting for. Me too. TL:DR: Everything was just lovely, and of course, the food was delicious. Take a ride with us to The Springs of Magnolia.
Hi Again, Dear Readers:
So, I’ve been procrastinating for over a year with these blog posts and it’s time to just get it done. I know, there have been been a couple of other occasions where I put it off before. But seeing as the married couple just celebrated their first wedding anniversary, well, here it is.
Going to the Chapel of Love
Rafael And Carmen Had a beautiful wedding on Saturday, November 5th, 2022 at a place called the Springs in Magnolia. A year before, Raf texted me the date and they later sent out a “save the date” card to their guests.
This was a big fridge magnet, and I framed it later.
The pictures are perfect. But one thing it does not show is that Carmen is at least a foot and a half shorter than Rafael! That’s OK. If you didn’t know, you wouldn’t see it in the engagement pictures. But it’s obvious in the wedding pictures, as you’ll see.
Later on, the wedding invitation arrived.
Yup, framed that one too after the wedding.
Rafael and Carmen did the design work themselves. Nice work, well done. The design was in full view throughout the reception.
Travel Arrangements to Houston
And then BF and I made our plans to attend. We found a suitable pet sitter on Rover.com. She was a nice young lady who took care of our two dogs and two cats for the duration of our trip. Once we arranged that, I made our hotel reservations.
Rafael suggested staying in Katy because it was the easiest and best way to get to the wedding. I used Booking.com, and it was easy. For the wedding, I booked us into the Katy Hampton Inn, right off I-10. For after the wedding, I booked the Extended Stay Suites on Nasa Road 1 for the second half of the trip. It made no sense to stay 50 miles away in Katy when we were going to spend time in Clear Lake visiting people there. BF didn’t understand this until we started driving around Houston.
When I asked BF about his preference for hotel chains, he just said that since he’d stayed in foxholes with a bunch of guys, it didn’t matter to him. So, I booked our hotels based on location. I just wish that I had done a tad more research into hotels before we went. Next time we will stick with Hampton Inn. But eventually, everything was fine.
A few things went wrong for us. But we made it to the wedding on time and saw Raf and Carmen get married. We enjoyed everything, talked with some great people, and made it home safely. And of course, the food was delicious and beautiful, too.
Friday, November 4th, 2022
Finally, The day came when we drove from the Casa de Rurale to Katy, TX. We began our packing a day or two before leaving. Every day, our pet sitter kindly sent us pictures of the Casa de Rurale Zoo residents.
The day before we left, BF went to someone’s house to install a motor by himself. It had to be done, he said. But it was a bit more difficult than he expected. He hurt his hip somehow and was in pain for a couple of days, walking around carefully. He talked about dancing at the wedding, but thank heavens, he didn’t. I would later find out that he was blathering to make me worry a little. He was successful.
We left home mid-morning and made it to Katy in the early afternoon. The hotel was a little hard to find because I’m not as familiar with Katy as I am with Clear Lake. But after a lovely Mexican lunch, we found it and checked into our hotel room.
Early Voting in Texas
What I didn’t know from looking at Booking.com was that The Katy Hampton Inn was also used as an early voting station. That’s right, it was around the time of the 2022 election, and the hotel lobby was used for early voting. In Clear Lake, that early voting area is the Freeman Library on Diana Lane where I’ve early voted many times. But there was no way to know that the hotel was an early voting station when I booked.
We discovered this when we saw long lines of people trailing out of the lobby door. I went inside to check us in and get our hotel room, while BF began removing our luggage from the truck. Ever the smart alek, BF handed me some of my luggage, and carried the rest, loudly announcing to everyone in the parking lot:
“Hello, My name is James and I’m Amy’s pack mule.”
Yes, he actually said that, out loud, where everyone could hear him. There must have been 200 people standing out there, waiting to vote. He got a few laughs and a few funny looks, but not everyone in line was a Texan, either.
Tex-Mex
One of the things we did was to get a big lunch and takeout boxes so we could eat later. After driving 300-plus miles, we didn’t want to go out again, and the second half was enough for a good dinner. Besides, it was real Mexican food in big Texas style, and worth savoring. (More on that one in the next blog.)
BF’s brother also checked in with the animals in the evening, letting them out again on his way home.
After texting Raphael and letting him know we’d arrived, and BF talking to his brother, we could finally relax in our hotel room. It was lovely and very comfortable, and we looked forward to breakfast downstairs the next morning.
Saturday, November 5th, 2022
Breakfast was great. We had plenty of options and I had some delicious coffee. Because we did need a few small things, we headed to the Katy Target store a few miles up the road on I-10 first thing in the morning. BF wanted a new tie, that sort of thing. Once we got everything, we returned to the hotel to get dressed for the wedding.
Just to let him know what we were doing, I texted Raphael a few times that morning. Additionally, we had the venue and address loaded into the phone so we could find our way without any trouble. We didn’t realize what a long drive it was, and of course, BF was unfamiliar with the terrain.
Rafael told us to leave early since the wedding was scheduled for 3:00. He suggested we leave about 1:30 or so from the hotel. I’m glad we took that advice because we missed the onramp to the Grand Parkway twice. We were not prepared for driving laps on the Katy Freeway. Finally, we got onto the Grand Parkway and headed North.
The Drive
At some point, you get off the Grand Parkway and get onto a road that takes you to The Springs in Magnolia. That road gets smaller and smaller and more rural. It was almost like driving around our little rural area. Then we saw the sign.
We made it!
And then the sign that told us we were at the correct hall:
And in the right place, too.
As I mentioned in my last blog, The Springs of Magnolia is a beautiful rural spot ideal with two reception halls for such an event. Take a look:
Isn’t it gorgeous?
And this:
And the weather was perfect.
This was the chapel-like altar setup behind the hall:
Isn’t that gorgeous?
Another shot of the wedding area:
A closer look at where the wedding took place.
After parking, they directed all the guests around the back of the Stonebridge venue. We sat down, and took a selfie:
We made it!
Then I texted our selfie to Rafael to let him know we were there. I also managed a great picture of BF:
He’s so cute!
Because you don’t see him in a suit every day. I have this one framed on my desk, and why not? BF exudes “FBI Special Agent Fox Mulder” vibes here, too.
My Designer Dress
Because I sew—and I can’t help myself—I had to have a new dress. BF has a few suits, and he just picked one from the closet. But no, I needed a new dress and something stylish. After changing my mind about 187 times (vintage or modern?), I decided on Vogue 1776, a Badgley Mischka cocktail dress from a holiday season or two ago:
Isn’t it fabulous?
I showed it to Rafael, and his first question was, “You’re going to wear white to a wedding?” I forgot to tell him I was making it Navy blue before I showed him the pattern.
And you know I had to have that FRINGE! A quick trip to Etsy and I got some that arrived a week later. I stitched it to the drape and removed it when we got home to wash the dress. The intent was to have snaps to hold the fringe onto the drape, then remove the fringe for washing and storage. But I didn’t get that done on time. (I did the snaps a few weeks ago, as I’ll explain in an upcoming blog post.) It’s fully lined, too.
Unfortunately, I don’t have a good picture of me wearing the dress. . .so, it’s Navy blue, and yes, it does have the long fringe hanging off the drape. And I can’t say it looks just like that on me. Plus, I won’t bore you about how it swings when you walk or how it gets in the way when you’re seated.
The Wedding
Although everybody arrived and was seated on time, the wedding started just after 3:00 pm, maybe 15 minutes or so. But once it did, everything went smoothly. A few of Rafael’s groomsmen were members of the Texas State Guard. They were dressed in uniform for the wedding.
Three are military; Rafael is the big dude on the left.
Then came the bridesmaids, one at a time.
Get a look at that dress!
Isn’t that an interesting color?
There were four ladies:
Same color, slightly different style
I say “interesting” because bridesmaids’ dresses are usually pastel colors, like pink or blue, or darker colors like red, blue, purple, etc. Not here. These ladies were all were drop-dead gorgeous:
Yes, I know, I got the cameraman’s equipment in the shot.
They used this gorgeous and dramatic fall color for the bridesmaids’ dresses and throughout the entire wedding. The flowers all matched, from the bouquet to the cake and table flowers.
Here Comes the Bride!
And then it was Carmen’s turn to walk in her very intricate gown.
Just a few days before the wedding, Carmen’s abuela (grandmother) in Puerto Rico passed away suddenly, and her father had to go back to Puerto Rico to tend to her final arrangements. So, it was up to Carmen’s son to walk her up the aisle. He handled the job perfectly.
Here she is!
We were in aisle seats, so I got some great pictures, even if the official photographer’s equipment was in some of the shots.
I told you he was taller. And Carmen is wearing heels!
Married
The wedding ceremony went off without a hitch—well, none that we noticed. Once the minister pronounced them married, they walked back down the aisle together. Now husband and wife:
The sun came in at the right time, yes?
Raphael was impressed at some of the pictures I showed him, so he asked me for copies. Since they’re uploaded into Shutterfly, I just shared a link to the online album with him. He could easily see and download the entire collection. I think he even used one or two of my shots in his social media.
Then, they posed for a bunch of pictures, naturally! When the pictures were all finished, they went in first. I took this one, which I thought was pretty good:
They look fantastic!
And they both released this one from their official wedding photographer on their social media accounts.
Married! We were literally sitting right there when this was taken.
Then it was time to socialize and have a reception for these two.
Pre-Reception Appetizers
We were led onto the back veranda until they opened the hall an hour later. The workers wouldn’t let us into the hall just yet, so there were appetizers outside in the beautiful cool sunset:
Oh, my word. Ceviche!!!
I didn’t mind. . .except that the sole split from my right shoe as we were walking up the stairs, and my um. . .Spanx was showing a little from the bottom of my dress. Well, it wasn’t our wedding, right? Someone was kind enough to discreetly tell me, but the staff wouldn’t let me inside to fix the Spanx.
BF very kindly went out to the truck to get my other shoes. I wore a pair of Navy Crocs flats with a fancy Badgley Mischka cocktail dress, including the long fringe on the drape. The other option was black duct tape around my shoe. Oh, that’s classic, right? (Classic dork!) I later wished I’d gone with the duct tape, but I’ll explain why later. (I have since found some shoe glue on Amazon, which I’ll add to my next order.)
We met many great people, all friends and family of the now-Mr. & Mrs. Rodriguez, while enjoying some delicious nibbles:
I could have stayed here for the whole reception, but thankfully, we didn’t.
Ceviche And Empanadas
The servers were passing these cups of ceviche, the South American fish dish that is “cooked” with lime juice.
Ceviche! It was SO GOOD!
This picture of the ceviche came out pretty good, yes? It was delicious, and it included a dollop of guacamole. I also plated it to show the details:
Naturally, BF wouldn’t touch the ceviche–too exotic, even if he does like shrimp. He doesn’t know what it is or what to do with it, and lime is involved so that’s a no. That’s just more for me! But he enjoyed the charcuterie nibbles. Servers also passed around these delicious Puerto Rican empanadas, but I only had a beef one.
These were also delicious.
BF had one or two, and he enjoyed them. I kept saying “gracias” each time I was near a server because everything was so tasty.
Yes, I’m afraid “gluten-free” went out the window this time. But like everything we had, it was delicious. I can’t tell you what “Puerto Rican style” meant, but I may ask Rafael one day. When we worked together, I used to tell Raf that if ever I had a Hispanic boyfriend, his mother would be on the hook for Spanish cooking lessons.
Inside The Hall
The staff were putting the finishing touches on everything, I suppose, and getting ready for the delicious dinner meal. We sat with some nice people and had some great conversations. After about an hour of hanging out on the back veranda in the beautiful weather, they directed us to the front door. We were greeted by an enlargement of one of the engagement pictures:
Seating arrangements were posted, and we found our way to our table.
Notice how the design matches the wedding invitation, too.
We signed the little hearts:
And I think there was a book, too.
The tables and arrangements were perfectly arranged, and included the rust color from the dresses and flowers we saw earlier:
Let’s put it this way: nothing was left to chance, and every detail was taken care of to the letter, in the same fashion as Southern Oaks Plantation does.
Cocktails, The Dinner Menu, Including Dessert
I knew about the dessert menu in advance, because Raf showed it to me. But the dinner menu was a bit of a surprise:
Interesting, no?
New York Strip Steaks? Yes, thank you! And the addition of chimichurri sauce was nice, too.
Everything was so good.
I also tried the Pollo Tropical, aka “Tropical Chicken.” BF also had the steak because Pollo Tropical was too exotic for him. Besides, there were cute little desserts to sample after dinner.
Longtime readers may remember the day I made my chimichurri sauce after being gifted an oregano plant. Chimichurri normally includes vinegar, so I suggested to BF that he pass on it, which he did. But guess what? It was very delicious and garlicky but with no detectable vinegar taste. They must have omitted the vinegar. I offered to let BF try some, but he declined. He did enjoy the steak and everything else on the menu.
Yes, there was a wedding cake, keep reading. But we also checked out the mini desserts.
Because, why not?
I don’t have a picture of it, unfortunately, (or I can’t find it) but there were also his-and-her specialty cocktails at the bar. The “her” cocktail was a Mango Margarita, and I had to have one. BF was driving, and he doesn’t drink, ever, so me drinking one wasn’t a big deal. (There was also champagne somewhere in there, and I only had one.) Although it was quite a strong cocktail, I didn’t feel it, probably because of the nibbles and dinner. Even if I had become a bit tiddly, we had our phones and Google Maps to get us back to the hotel, and he would be driving anyway.
The Cake!
Of course, because there was a wedding, there was also a beautiful wedding cake.
Lots of lovely details. The flowers and pearl detail are just exquisite:
That’s a lot of work, for sure.
Oops! That’s one detail nobody asked for:
It was a big cake and needed careful handling, so a fingerprint shouldn’t be a surprise, really. Everyone handling or serving food wore gloves. We each had a slice of this delicious vanilla cake with a rich vanilla frosting. Two thumbs up here.
Other Reception Activities
We found our table and were seated with another couple who have known Rafael for many years. During the reception, we met many different people from all over Texas (I think we were the only ones from this side of the Sabine), and for me, it felt like “home.” I’m used to being around lots of different kinds of people, especially after working in the Houston Medical Center, Rice University, Compaq, and Boeing for eight years. (I was the only Boeing alumni who attended, although others were invited.) BF spoke with lots of new people that night and throughout the trip.
Remember when I said everything was perfectly matched? I wasn’t kidding. Even the napkins on the tables were that beautiful rust color.
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The table settings were just gorgeous, especially with the rust color infusion:
Our table was sort of in the middle of the hall. We were right by the stairwell when the happy couple came down the stairs to join the reception from upstairs.
They were not only happy but enjoying the music that accompanied their descent.
The back of Carmen’s dress was also quite intricate:
I suppose they were taking more pictures up there, but I didn’t ask. And these two were just so happy.
Wedding Pictures of Rafael and Carmen
Of course, the photographers kept Rafael and Carmen busy posing for pictures the whole time. When it’s your wedding, that’s what you do.
They were the only dancers:
I’ll wager a guess that their picture of them with the fog machine looks better than mine:
Family pictures were also nice:
I don’t have any pictures of Carmen tossing her bouquet. If I remember correctly, I stood with the rest of the women for the catch. Normally, I stay far away from that activity. Well, I didn’t, but I wasn’t looking to catch it anyway. Maybe they decided who would catch it, and that’s OK, too.
I managed to get a quick selfie with Rafael:
My Boeing Brother.
Didn’t get to talk to him for very long. Then again, nobody else did, either. And guess who forgot to say Hi to Rafael’s parents? I know, DUH. But it was a busy night for them, too.
Reception Amenities
Everyone received one of these cute little favors, best described as a coaster, or maybe a Christmas tree ornament if you leave it in the little bag:
Either way, it’s a pretty reminder, and BF and I both brought one home. They’re nice keepsakes for some great memories. We’ll enjoy them for many years to come, along with the next souvenir.
The Sketch Artists
We noticed people were gathered around two sides of the hall, one in the front, and one in the back. After dinner, we investigated. It seems that the happy couple brought in a pair of sketch artists to make drawings for attendees.
These ladies were SO BUSY!
Wasn’t that nice?
I think they did Rafael and Carmen’s first, then sketched others as they approached the tables. We really didn’t know about this ahead of time. Both ladies worked hard to get everyone’s beautiful sketches done. We waited until they got less busy so they could catch up a little, and this is what she gave us:
Ours was also nice, and I did see Doctor Who and his Companion vibes here. Maybe that’s just me.
Of course, the sketch captured my dorky flats with a designer cocktail dress. Now you see why I wish I’d gone with the black duct tape instead. It’s not a big deal, but again, it was their wedding. Later, I framed this little sketch, and it’s hanging where we see it every day.
Photo Booth With Video
I don’t know how to describe the second amenity on the other side of the hall. It’s a photo-booth thing where you can take still pictures and make a 30-second music video in front of a 360-degree circulating camera. We went with the pictures, but not the videos, and this is what came out:
I know, I look awful here. The dress was too big because I didn’t get to fit it correctly before we left. Bright lights, no filters, and other reasons, but lots of photogenic props for posing. BF had to lean on me a little because he was still hurting from Thursday’s motor installation. This was my one chance to wear a tiara, so I did. BF just had fun with the “wedding crashers” sign, the prop gun, and looking “gangsta.”
If you’re reading this and laughing about it now, you should be. I may try to use some photo editing apps to make a nicely framed headshot of us from one of the pictures.
We could have walked to the next “attraction” with the tiara and pea shooter in the middle of the stage and made a 30-second dance video with flashing lights and the camera racing around 360 degrees. Honestly, we had to ask about what the heck it was so we could decline! It’s hard to describe, and I don’t even know where to find something online to show it to you. Everyone was having fun making their videos, and BF was still in pain, so we just watched.
Eventually, I want to add all our pictures into a few of those little books from Shutterfly.
The Texas Military Delegation
I’ve told BF before that Texas has its own military, to which he would respond, “Oh, you mean the National Guard.” You see, he was in the Louisiana National Guard for a long time with a couple of active duty stints overseas. As a veteran, BF knows all about that sort of thing.
Except in Texas.
Louisiana has a National Guard delegation, but not a formal “state militia” as Texas does. That’s because Texas was an independent country before it became a state. BF didn’t understand, and I don’t know enough about it to give him a proper explanation.
Rafael joined the Texas Army several years ago and continues to do technology-related work for them. During the reception, we approached a couple of these Texas Military members, introduced ourselves, and asked them to explain it to BF. They were happy to talk about it, and BF learned some interesting things he didn’t know. Military guys are in their zone when they start talking about their service tenures! I was glad to see him chatting with these fellow veterans, and he learned a lot he didn’t know before.
Enlightenment
On the return drive to the Katy Hampton Inn, BF called his brother. The first words out of his mouth: “Did you know that Texas has its own Army?” I just smiled while he explained everything to his brother.
The next morning, we also had breakfast with one of the groomsmen, also a Texas Military man. We didn’t know he was staying in the same hotel. He was going home to Austin while we were headed to the Extended Stay in Clear Lake for a couple of days. When BF told me who it was, I took a picture and sent it to Raf, who got a kick out of that one. We had a nice conversation over breakfast and coffee with him, including a little more about Texas’ military forces before parting company.
The Remains of the Night
After we got our portrait drawn by one of the two sketch artists and had a small bit of the wedding cake, we left the reception.
The remains of the day, or night
We were there until about 9:00 pm, I think.
Before we left, we saw Rafael again, congratulated and hugged him and Carmen, and walked out to the truck to head back to the hotel in Katy.
It was a lovely wedding that evening with delicious Puerto Rican-style food and a great time with a diverse group of friendly people. The weather, the venue, and everything else was just perfect. The Mango Margarita added a little tasty je ne sais quoi, but not too much.
Congratulations to Rafael and Carmen, and Happy Anniversary. We hope we’ll get to see them again one day soon.
What’s Next In HeatCageKitchen
I’ll try to get these done sooner rather than later, but now that the wedding blog is done, it should be easier.
The rest of the trip to Houston
The next blog will include the rest of our Houston trip, including a visit to the Houston IKEA store. We also visited some people: Aunt Ruth, Aunt Kathy, and Neighbor E. I’ll also tell you what went kind of sideways. That will be a blog of its own.
Thanksgiving
Miss Alice and her daughter N came for Thanksgiving last week. That was a busy couple of days! We were so glad to see them, but a couple of obstacles that meant I wasn’t entirely ready when they got here. But Buddy was so happy to see his friend B-Dog, who is ten years older. I got a few pictures, but not many, because I was so involved in getting a turkey in the oven and dinner on the table. Whew!
Another wedding
Guess what? We went to another wedding, a year after Rafael’s. This one was closer to home, in the Knights of Columbus Hall in nearby Ponchatoula, LA, and one of BF’s business cohorts. It was also nice, in a smaller venue, and every bit as enjoyable. Admittedly, I wore the dress from Rafael’s wedding with a few tweaks, including the removable fringe. That wedding will be a separate blog, too.
The Holiday Season is here whether we want it or not, so buckle up and stay warm. Winter is starting to show itself, and we hope we’re ready if we have another big winter freeze before spring.
