Author: Big Mama

  • Thursday Things

    Is this an actual thing I’m doing now? I don’t know. If you do something once, does it become tradition? Maybe.

    Truth be told, I just liked the way Thursday Things sounded because alliteration.

    Life here has been busy with all the usual things like soccer and traveling to speak and finding things to cook for dinner and changing out all the plastic hangers in my closet with those velvet huggable ones. I’ve barely even had time to watch Netflix and feel like I’m the only person on earth who hasn’t watched some version of the Fyre documentary.

    Anyway, here are some things I thought I’d share.

    1. Edie’s slow cooked chicken thighs recipe

    My friend Edie posted this on her Instagram stories a couple of weeks ago and then sent the actual recipe in her email newsletter. I’m normally opposed to most chicken, but this sounded so good that I had to try it and it didn’t disappoint. My whole life is basically asking myself “What would Edie do?” Except Edie does Crossfit and I’m drawing the line at that.

    Edie’s Slow Cooked Chicken Thigh Recipe

    Ingredients:
    Family Sized package of Chicken Thighs (bone in and skin on)
    Salt & Pepper to coat
    Trader Joe’s 21 Salute Seasoning (optional but so good!)
    Almond or Einkorn Flour (Melanie’s note: I just used regular flour because I don’t even know what Einkorn flour is.)
    Clean and pat chicken thighs dry.
    Coat with Salt & Pepper and 21 salute seasoning.
    Dust chicken thighs with almond/einkhorn flour
    On your stove, grab your Dutch oven and heat olive oil on high
    Brown both sides of the chicken for 2-3 minutes
    Cover the Dutch oven and place thighs in oven that is headed to 300*.
    Cook at 300* for 2 – 3 hours. At 2-3 hours, check to see if chicken needs liquid, if so, add 1/2 c chicken stock
    Cook at 250* for 2-3 more hours. Right before serving add 1/4 – 1/2 c of heavy cream if you want to live your best chicken thigh life!

    2. Trey Kennedy’s video on Moms

    You know how sometimes you watch something and you just know that you’re seeing yourself? That was me when I watched this video. And then Caroline totally agreed. Especially the part where he says, “Who else was there? Name them all individually.”

    Whatever. That’s my job.

    3. Butterscotch bars

    This is a recipe I got from P’s mom many years ago and then I totally forgot about them until earlier this month when I needed to make a dessert and had butterscotch chips that I bought during Christmas because I had big plans to make haystacks and then that never happened. Anyway, these are delicious and the recipe makes two 9 x 13 pans which is a plus.

    Butterscotch bars

    1 cup butter
    12 oz package of butterscotch morsels
    2 cups brown sugar
    4 eggs
    1 teaspoon vanilla
    2 cups flour
    2 teaspoons baking powder
    1 teaspoon salt

    Melt butter and butterscotch morsels over low heat. Stir in brown sugar. Cool five minutes. Add eggs and vanilla. Combine flour, baking powder and salt. Add to mixture and stir until mixed together. Spread in two greased 9 x 13 pans. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes.

    4. Good Earth Sweet and Spicy tea

    I was addicted to this a few years ago and then fell off the tea wagon. But I ordered some from Amazon a few weeks ago and am thoroughly enjoying having a cup of hot tea before I go to bed at night. It’s the perfect amount of sweet and spice and I don’t have to add any sugar.

    5. charlotte tilbury unisex healthy glow

    This has become one of my favorite products. It’s basically a moisturizer that just gives your skin a little bit of a glow and it’s perfect for days that I don’t really want to wear makeup but I also don’t want to look like a pale old hag. It goes on gray and then just seems to adapt to your skin tone so it’s like your natural face but better and more glowy.

  • The Big Boo Cast: Episode 130

    In this episode we talk about our individual experiences dealing with outdoorsy things over the past weekend. We also talked about sneakers we like, which is as fascinating as it sounds.

    You can click here to listen. Or here. You can even listen right here on the blog.

    And if you’re on the Facebook, well, we are, too.

    We’d love for you to subscribe on iTunes, and we’d be honored if you’d leave us a review.

    Show Notes:

    – A Simple Favor – Melanie says that it is not kid- or even teenager-friendly

    – Fyre: The Greatest Party That Never Happened – Sophie says that it is not kid-friendly (there is language)

    – BP Knit Crop Wide Leg Pants in S-XL

    – Steve Madden sneakers (so much pattern – so fun for the young’uns)

    – Golden Goose Sneakers

    – Golden Goose Knock-offs

    – New Balance Women’s 574

    – Brooks Glycerins (Sophie’s beloved walking shoes)

    – Adidas Flashback Sneakers

    Sponsors:

    – FabFitFun (promo code BIGBOO for 40% off your first subscription box)

    – Myro (promo code BIGBOO for 50% off your first order)

    – ZOLA (promo code BIGBOO for your free wedding website and $50 off your registry)

  • Fashion Friday: Edition apparently the focus is on comfort

    Here’s what I’ve been doing this week. Working on some chapters for my next book and sitting out in the cold at soccer games. I think this explains why this week tends to be focused on clothes that are warm and cozy and could potentially double as pajamas, although there are a few exceptions.

    Here are some cute things I found this week:

    1. clayton sweater

    I ran in Anthropologie yesterday to return a couple of things and, naturally, I had to run in the sale room just to take a quick look. That’s when I saw this sweater. First, it is so incredibly soft and it has slightly bell sleeves. Second it’s on sale for $69.95 and there’s an additional 40% off all sale at Anthropologie right now. I would suggest you size up if you want it to fit a little oversized and I love that the v-neck isn’t too low and you don’t have to wear anything under it unless you just want to.

    It also comes in blue, charcoal gray, coral and red.

    2. joylab star leggings

    My friend Heather posted about these on her Instagram last week and I went immediately to Target to buy a pair for myself because look at those stars. However, they were totally sold out. So I came home and found them on the internet and now I own them and I love them. I am convinced those stars will motivate me to work out.

    3. lou & grey signaturesoft hoodie top

    I love these hoodie tops from Lou & Grey. They are truly so soft and perfect to wear around with leggings or jeans or even just pajama pants. This one is $59.50 but Loft is offering 50% off with no code needed at checkout.

    There’s also this striped version here for $69.50 plus the 50% off.

    And in light gray here for $69.50 plus the 50% off.

    (The 50% off appears to be a 48 hour deal only so don’t wait if you want something from Loft.)

    4. alexander + david open front knit cardigan with pockets

    This is a great cardigan for just $28.95 and it has great reviews, especially considering that there is nothing for sale on Amazon that doesn’t have a one star review for something like the fact someone didn’t like the box it came in. It comes in several color options.

    5. ae oversized chenille turtleneck

    This is still one of my favorite purchases of the year and I’ve worn it all winter long. Now it’s on sale for $23.98 and it’s long enough to wear with leggings.

    6. ae shawl collared cardigan

    This is such a cute, cozy-looking cardigan and it’s on sale for just $23.98.

    7. long awaited black and white embroidered top

    Okay, this is my one item that means spring is coming. I saw this top and couldn’t resist sharing it because it is just so cute. It’s $54. It also comes in navy.

    8. zella high waist daily leggings

    These Zella leggings are my very favorite for working out or wearing around. They are super comfortable and wash and dry like a dream without fading or shrinking. They come in lots of color options and are just $26.97 at Nordstrom Rack right now which is a steal.

    9. keds rifle paper company sneakers

    Oh wait. This is my other item that means spring is coming. These are so cute and bright and happy. I’m a sucker for a bright floral shoe. These are on sale for $24.97.

    10. bamboo handbag

    These bamboo handbags are so cute and a big trend for spring and summer. Wait, did I just post three things for spring and summer? That was a total accident. Anyway, these are available lot of places but are usually twice as much. This one on Amazon is just $25.96.

    That’s it for today.

    Have a good Friday.

  • Fashion Friday: Edition it’s a three day weekend

    Happy Friday!

    I’m currently in a hotel room in Austin and it’s actually Thursday afternoon, but I’ve been looking forward to Friday since Monday so I’m going to go ahead and wish us all a happy Friday.

    And this isn’t any kind of transition at all, but I have been meaning to mention that I find myself posting a lot more often on Instagram these days because it’s just easy. In many ways, Instagram feels like the new blog format because it’s just so easy. All that say, you may want to follow me on Instagram if you aren’t already. You can find me here. This isn’t any kind of sales pitch or anything. I’m not selling Tupperware over on Instagram. I just tend to put more daily life updates or funny things there than I do here right now. The end.

    Now here are some cute things I found this week:

    1. sweater moto jacket

    If I didn’t already own a black leather jacket, I would totally buy this one. I love the sweater/jacket mix and the embroidery detail. It’s so cute and it’s on sale for $129.95 plus there is currently 40% off all sale at Anthropologie.

    2. laszlo textured top

    This would be a great top for work or for date night. I love the color and the way it fits at the waist. It’s $49.95 plus 40% off all sale at Anthropologie.

    3. wilhelmina pullover

    I did this photo shoot thing with a friend this week and realized I have no solid color items in my closet right now that aren’t tan, black, gray or white. I’ve decided I need to fix that and this sweater is a good start. It’s $59.95 plus 40% off all sale at Anthropologie. It also comes in a few other colors, but sizes are limited and I adore this fuchsia.

    4. jenna floral embellished cardigan

    I ran in Francesca’s the other day and saw this sweater and thought it was so cute. It’s $68 but is 30% off with no code needed at checkout.

    5. wind down sweater

    I have a sweater just like this. Shockingly, it is in the tan family. But I love this hot pink version. It’s $36 and it comes in a ton of color options. It’s lightweight so perfect to wear alone or under a jacket or sweater coat.

    6. sam edelman espadrille flat

    These espadrille flats are such a great transition shoe for spring. They are normally $89.95 but on sale for $49.97 at Nordstrom Rack. They also come in black.

    7. free people sweetest thing thermal

    Free People has a ton of stuff on sale right now and this is one of my favorites. It’s on sale for $49.95. It also comes in ivory and rose.

    8. taffy sweater cardi

    This is such a great cardigan. It’s on sale for $99.95.

    9. j.crew factory floral printed pajamas

    J.Crew makes the best, softest pajamas. I love this bright floral and they are on sale for $39.50.

    10. treasure & bond varsity knit stripe top

    I love a good long sleeve tee and this one is so cute to wear with jeans or leggings. It’s $45 and it comes in several different color options.

    11. bb dakota cool cat snow leopard coat

    I didn’t know that I even wanted a snow leopard coat until I saw this one. It’s so fancy and white and pretty. It’s $118.

    12. erica twist cowl neck pullover

    I’ve been needing a couple of workout type tops to wear around on days when it’s colder outside. The working out part is totally optional. This is $79 and comes in a couple of other colors.

    That’s it for today.

    Have a good Friday.

  • This and that on a Tuesday

    I haven’t done one of these posts in forever, but I had a few things I wanted to share that I thought you may or may not be interested in.

    1. A new dinner recipe

    I don’t know why this has been such a challenge for me lately, but I think it’s a combination of being tired of all my usual meals and trying to get back in the swing of real life after the holidays. On Sunday night, P asked me what we were having for dinner and I stared in my pantry for about ten minutes trying to think of what magic I could make using only rice and ground beef before I finally announced that we would be using Favor to get something delivered. So I started searching around for various recipes and made an actual grown up grocery list with dinner ingredients and vegetables and such.

    I made Euna Mae’s Mexican corn and black bean skillet for dinner last night and it was a hit. The only thing I did differently was buy a rotisserie chicken because if I handle raw chicken then I can’t actually eat it. I have a raw poultry phobia. I also won’t put corn in it next time because P announced at dinner that he hates corn and thinks it ruins everything. This is the first I’ve heard of this in twenty-one years of marriage. However, with or without corn, it’s delicious and an easy meal to cook on a weeknight.

    Also, I highly recommend Amy Hannon’s cookbook (She’s the owner of Euna Mae’s) called Love Welcome Serve: Recipes that Gather and Give. If you’re trying to eat Keto or Whole 30 or Paleo or are on a juice cleanse or whatever other nonsense your New Year’s resolution has gotten you into, then this isn’t the book for you. But if you want to make just really good comfort food that’s delicious, then it’s one of my new favorites.

    2. A breakfast recipe

    Breakfast has been my other dilemma along with getting dressed in the morning. This is what Christmas vacation did to me. Caroline is like me and really doesn’t care about breakfast, but I decided we had to do something better than a bowl of Honey Nut Cheerios. So I’d been making these breakfast sandwiches that are essentially an egg in a hole with bacon and lettuce and then another piece of toasted bread on top.

    But then last week she had two soccer mornings that required her to be at school by 6:00 a.m. and I didn’t feel like I could be coherent enough at 5:15 a.m. to make a breakfast sandwich, so I found a recipe for these sausage, spinach and cheese cups that you can make ahead and then just heat up in the morning. They are delicious, easy and even make a good snack when she gets home from practice in the afternoon and is starving.

    I also made a version with a square of crescent roll dough in the bottom of the muffin tin and then egg and bacon. Basically, you could use just about any ingredient combination you want. I plan to make some variation of these from now until the end of the school year. Amen.

    3. Bible verse text messages for your teen or tween

    A friend passed this along to me and I think it’s a great idea and wanted to share it with you.

    “Christian Parenting wants your teen to know their incredible, enduring value! We have created FREE 30 Days of God’s truth TEXTS sent straight to your teen’s phone…and heart. For 30 days they will receive a personalized bible verse on their phone.

    You can sign up by texting “textingtruth” to 555-888 from your teenager’s phone or by clicking this link .

    In a world full of mixed messages, this is a way to help your teen understand and embrace their identity in Christ.”

    Anyway, that’s all for now.

    Hope you have a great Tuesday.

  • Fashion Friday: Edition as I sit in Starbucks between soccer games

    I woke up at the crack of dawn on Thursday morning because Caroline had to be at school at 5:50 a.m. to catch a bus for school soccer. For those of you unfamiliar (myself included) this means it was still dark outside. Even Piper and Mabel were looking at us like “Why are we up in the middle of the night?”

    P dropped her off and then I poured an extra strength cup of coffee before I finally managed to be coherent enough to get dressed and make my way to San Marcos to watch her play in an 8:00 a.m. game. And now I’m sitting in a Starbucks right by the outlet malls because I promised myself I’d get some work done before I let myself shop. So basically I’m online shopping before I do some real life shopping. That’s a good day. Even if it did start at 5:15 in the morning.

    Here are some cute things I found this week.

    1. make it fair pink dust cardigan

    These color block cardigans are everywhere right now and I think they are so cute. This one is $44. It also comes in an olive green option if pink isn’t your thing.

    2. greatest embrace sweater

    I love a long sweater and the red version of this one is so vibrant and pretty. It’s $44. It also comes in olive, black, cream and blush.

    3. not my fault black jumpsuit

    I bought a jumpsuit last year and I wore it all the time. I like this one because it’s a more casual version of the one I already have and just looks so cute and comfortable. It also appears easy to dress up or down depending on your fashion needs. It’s $52.

    4. oversized fashion sunglasses

    So a fashion blogger that I follow on Instagram posted a picture of herself in these sunglasses that I loved. They were the Celine Tilda sunglasses that run about $350-$400, which is decidedly outside my sunglass budget because I have a tendency to lose and/or sit on them.

    But then I did a little internet digging and found these almost exact replicas for just $10.95 on Amazon. This is exactly within my sunglass budget and I couldn’t be happier about it.

    5. kut from the kloth wide cuff boyfriend jeans

    I’ve been looking at boyfriend jean options because I really love that look, especially looking forward to spring when you can just throw on cute jeans with a t-shirt and sneakers. This pair has a great wide cuff and the perfect amount of distressing, plus I’ve always had good luck with the Kut from the Kloth brand. These are $89.

    6. bp cozy leggings

    I know I keep featuring these leggings disguised as joggers (or are they joggers disguised as leggings?) but they are so dang comfortable and I love them so much. These are 40% off and just $23.40.

    7. tretorn sneakers

    If you’re in the market for a comfortable but cute pair of sneakers, here’s a chance to return to the Tretorns of your youth. I think they are the perfect sneaker for just running around. They are $69.95 and come in a few different color options.

    8. old navy compression leggings

    I haven’t tried these yet, but I keep hearing great things about Old Navy’s compression leggings and they do have great reviews. They are on sale for $22 and come in other patterns and colors if this is a little too much for your taste.

    9. old navy lightweight performance pullover hoodie

    This is the perfect lightweight hoodie to wear with leggings and/or joggers disguised as leggings. It comes in tons of colors, it’s only $12, and I like to order the tall size because then the length is longer. You usually can’t get the tall in stores, but you can usually find it online.

    10. oh dear white acrylic earrings

    These acrylic earrings are everywhere right now and I really like this white version. Sometimes earrings can get lost in my dark hair, but white really stands out. These would be great year round and are $18.

    11. miranda top

    I’ve seen different variations of this top, but I think this color and pattern combo is my favorite. It’s $38.

    12. knit duster

    It’s hard to beat a knit duster. It’s easy to throw on with jeans and a t-shirt or over a dress. You can wear it to grocery shop or to the office. This one is $64.50 but is 50% off right now and available online only. It also comes in light gray.

    That’s it for today.

    Have a good Friday.