Sunday in My City-Buffalo Foods

My city is Buffalo, New York, though I live outside the city in the rural suburbs....it's what most people think when you tell them you live in Western New York. This last week talking to several people from around these parts about food and how popular and known Buffalo is for these foods. Most I have never had or heard of before moving here.

First of coarse is the ever famous Buffalo Wings. People are crazy for their wings here, it's wings this and wings that. Gotta order pizza and wings. I personally have had Wings once here. They were good not earth moving omg good. Pretty much my hubby ruined Wings for me, how you ask? By giving me the calorie count per wing.....somewhere in the 200's including the sauce and dips than you need to add the sip of beer to wash it down, and who really has one wing.

Next is Beef on Weck......roast beef piled high on a Weck roll....I ordered one once also! The meat was piled so high and was so fatty....well lets just say I'm not a fan. But people love them here!

One of my favorites is Chicken Finger Sandwich....it's spicy, cheesy and one of the reasons I'm currently not losing any weight!

Looks harmless right.....I won't even research the calorie count on that one....gotta have a few vises!

This little gem I never had or heard of until moving here. I say you either love it or hate it.....well I love it of coarse. It's Sponge Candy . My favorite is from Fowlers Fine Chocolate's Buffalo's best!

It's molasses flavored candy hard tasting at first than melts in your mouth....it's not for everyone but it means more for me!


There are so many brands of food found here that when people come home they stock up on. With Buffalo being a melting pot of cultures the cuisine reflects just that.

Join Unknown Mami and travel the world with her today! Happy Sunday all!



All images from here

Yes I have become one of those people....

It's no secret I love my dog Sophie....never really thought I'd be that dog person....but I am! She is so stinking cute. She has not let me out of her sight since returning from vacation. It's cute but annoying...especially when you step out of the shower to be greeted by a dog laying on your towels waiting!!

Yesterday while reading blogs she had enough of no attention and decided to take matters in her own hands.

Seriously cute isn't she.....I know I know puke!! Have a wonderful Saturday!! 

Friday Fragments...

Happy Friday!

It's been a fast week! Slowly getting back into the swing of things after vacation! Sophie came back from vacation skinny, we need to fatten her up. She eats when she is there, but really active. Here she is lazy and sleeps all day! I on the other hand came back from vacation fatter and need to get serious!

Katelyn and I went to dinner with our neighbor the other night. It was fun she is a nut. She has never lived anywhere but here and is very small town. I was telling her the differences of people in WNY vs. everywhere else plus the different foods. I think she was shocked to hear the rest of the world is not all about Wings! While we were looking at the menu she pointed out to Katelyn a sandwich called a BLT and seriously wanted to know if she had ever heard of them, like they are exclusive to WNY. It was all we could do but laugh.

It's finally raining here, it's been the hottest and driest July in many years. Our lawn like straw, really sad to see. The grass is dying but the weeds just keep growing.....doesn't seem right! I hope it rains all weekend.

I hope you all have a fun, relaxing and enjoyable weekend! Stop by Mrs. 4444's at Half past kissin time for more fragments plus she did a great Vlog today!

I ♥ Chunky

I'm currently in love with homemade chunky salsa.....it's whats for dinner tonight.

I seriously crave this yummy fresh mixture....tonight I'm adding cooked chicken and putting it in a wrap! My mouth is watering just thinking about it. I could eat this whole bowl in one sitting it's so good.
My friend made this over the 4th of July and I've made it every week since.

It's one of those recipe that just list the ingredients and you adjust the measurements as you like.

Avocados cubed( I use a minimum of 4)
Red onion chopped ( not big onion fan so did 1/2 cup chopped)
Grape tomatos halved
Cilantro
Jalapeno peppers deseeded and chopped
Juice from one lime
Juice from a slice of an orange
1 tsp of Honey
1/2 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp garlic

All that's missing is a cold margarita! 

Enjoy! Happy Thursday! 

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. July is National Ice Cream month...your favorite flavor? Soft served, hand dipped, or frozen yogurt...which do you prefer? And technically yogurt is not ice cream but its hot outside so I'll let that slide for today.

I have fallen in love with a flavor this summer.....I tried not to but it happened almost at first sight or taste. Perry's Birthday Bash...it's a little bit of birthday in every bite. Taste like frosting with sprinkles.

2. When you travel do you tend to pack too much or too little?

After living in Europe and traveling mostly by trains you learn to pack very light and conservatively. But if we are driving somewhere I tend to over pack...I figure why not I have the room. This last trip I wore almost everything I packed and was glad to have some extras as it was so hot and humid, we changed several times a day. 

3. What's your favorite cleaning product?

My most used is Lysol products. 

4. Which is the greater tragedy-an innocent person imprisoned or a guilty person set free? Explain.

This is a hard one....really want to pass! I want to believe with todays technology an innocent person rarely gets imprisoned, but I know I'm wrong. I think this is a great tragedy because after all this time there are still flaws and kinks in the system and this happens. Those same flaws cause the guilty people to be set free as well. I hate hearing someone was let free early due to over crowding in system....and then repeat their crime. 

5. What's the longest trip you've taken by car?

As a child probably from New Jersey to Florida....I remember it was long sitting backwards in the station wagon waving  to people and asking my parents are we there yet! As an adult Utah to California stopping over night half way in Vegas. I'm not the best co pilot I usually dose off about a mile into a trip! 

6. tennis-golf-canoeing-biking...pick one.

Tennis though I haven't played in years.....I loved playing it though. Biking if I could pick two....and if the temperature is perfect and the road flat!!

7. What sound drives you crazy?

Cracking of toes, fingers basic body noise like that...it's my nails on the chalkboard sound...yikes!

8. Insert your own random thought here.

I can't believe we are to the end of July already...the school supplies are out in the stores...we don't start until September 7th. I feel like as a child summer lasted forever now it's a blink of the eye.  Have lots to do on my list I mean my honey do list....he better get busy!

Stop by Joyce's at From This Side of The Pond and join in on the Hodgepodge today! 

Why do vacations wipe us out? I'm finally done with the mounds of laundry. Spent yesterday dealing with car repairs and grocery shopping. Still feeling out of sorts....back to my Boot Camp exercise class today....I'm scared it's been two weeks of very little exercise beyond lifting a glass to my mouth. Sophie is wiped out too, since picking her up she has slept non stop. I know how she feels.....ah! A dog's life! 

Happy Tuesday :)

I'm back...

Just spent a week in Long Beach Island, NJ with my family....27 of us! Here we are on the day we planned to take pictures..foggy, misty, hot, humid weather all day. 

This is where we stayed....it was gorgeous and a stones throw from the beach! 

We had a great time. It was the hottest weather I've ever experienced over 100 with humidity. The coldest ocean I ever felt in the high 50's ! Lots of family, lots of food, lots of alcohol, lots of fun.

Long drive home

I'm tired

lots of laundry!

Happy Sunday!

New App

I love my iphone .....I wish I had an ipad! I have a laptop so until that dies or mysteriously falls off the counter and dies, I'll have to wait! My favorite new app for my iphone is the Instagram....it's a fun way to play with your pictures, using different filtered looks. Here is one I did with Sophie...I love this picture, she has an ear infection so I got her medicine out and one look she ran and hid.

This is the toaster filter...I like it looks vintage to me. That's Sophie toy basket....she looks comfortable uh? I laughed so hard seeing her hiding spot of choice....she's a nut! 

What's your favorite App? 

Have a wonderful Saturday!

Friday Fragments...

 Happy Friday...omg! this week went by so fast!

Two weird things I want to talk about.....

First is this picture of a flower....I know not another flower, but this is one I have never seen before! I'm watching our neighbors house taking care of her flowers. I swear the ones that are dead were dead before she left, I hope she remembers that!! 

I know it is some kind of Clematis....isn't it wild looking! Do you know? Or have you ever seen this?

Next is on my Flickr account I posted a picture of my first Pedicure of the summer....it's gotten a lot of attention from a creepy admirer of toes. More views than any picture I've posted! I'm thinking I need to take it down....hello they are just toes....weirdo! 

We are heading to The Jersey Shore.....don't worry someone is watching our house, plus we have nothing worth stealing! I can't wait to see my family, relax on the beach, take pictures.....I hope I have some Snooki like sightings....even though we are going to a really nice part of the Shore it will be interesting people watching!! 

Have a wonderful weekend! Please stop by Mrs. 4444's at Half Past Kissin Time and join the fun! 

Two Kisses

When something touches your heart you want to share and tell everyone about it, in hopes they will feel the same thing share your same feelings. I just finished this book last night and loved it.

Two Kisses for Maddy

Photo from here

I don't remember when I started following his blog or how I even found his blog but I'm glad I did. Matt Logelin story is a sad one, but also a happy one. With this great sadness came the joy of his daughter Maddy. His wife passed away 27 hours after giving birth to their beautiful daughter Madeline in 2008. This is a story about their incredible love and the incredible loss of his wife Liz. It's a beautiful memoir and truly makes you think of your own love and family. Matt and many of his supporters started a foundation The Liz Logelin Foundation in Liz's memory $7 on the 7th. This worldwide charity  foundation gives support to widows and widowers with young families. 

You can find the book HERE a percent of the book sales also goes to the LLF charity.

You can find his blog HERE

You can find The Liz Logelin Foundation HERE

Follow him on FaceBook HERE

Have a wonderful Thursday! 

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. How has your hometown changed since you were a kid? What has changed most about the neighborhood you grew up in?

My hometown in NJ where I spent my formative years as not changed much at all. Maybe the grocery store is bigger, my old middle school is remodeled etc....but all in all it feels the same. My old neighborhood the same. It's funny we lived down the street from the middle school and that walk seemed so long. Now when you drive it, it's a blink of an eye long. 

2. What song makes you laugh?

Lots of songs make me laugh, especially the ones I get the words wrong to. Katelyn is pretty good at correcting me but every time I hear the song again I laugh because how can two people hear same song and get such a difference. I'm not really the type of person that knows all the words to any song or who sung  the song....my mind just doesn't retain that info. 

3. Are you a fan of Harry Potter? Read the books? Seen any/all of the movies? Will you be standing in line somewhere close to midnight later this week? For those of you playing along today who live outside the US or UK is Harry Potter a phenomenon in your part of the world?

I have not read HP and have only seen the first movie . I really liked the movie but just never got on the band wagon. Maybe some day! 

4. If the truth hurts, will you tell a lie? Are we better off as a society in a world that allows no form of deception whatsoever?

If the truth hurts I hate to think of it as a lie more like sparing someone unnecessary pain. Seriously if I ask you if I look fat in this outfit ....I know I look fat in it or I would'nt ask....telling me isn't gonna change anything except, be like I can't believe Joyce thinks I look fat in this outfit!!  I certainly think in depends on the situation. I don't think society could exist without deception...it seems second nature to some. To think I could get my car worked on and not be deceived into more repairs than need is unreal!

5. What is your favorite 'sauteed in garlic and butter' food? Or garlic and olive oil if that makes you feel better.

Brown butter tortellini with spinach and pine nuts .....yum! Or for a healthy day veggies in garlic and oil!! Recipe from Joyce at A Perfect Beginning. 

Brown Butter Tortellini with Spinach and Pine Nuts

20 ounces pkg (Buitoni) 3 cheese tortellini or 16 oz. gnocchi

4 Tablespoons butter

4 Tablespoons pine nuts

3 garlic cloves, minced

2 (12 oz) packaged fresh spinach, torn

1/4 tsp salt

1/4 tsp fresh ground black pepper

1/4 cup shredded parmesan cheese

Cook tortellini according to package directions, omitting salt and fat; drain.

Heat butter in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat Add pine nuts to pan; cook 3 minutes or until butter and nuts are lightly golden brown, stirring constantly. Add garlic to pan; cook 1 minute. Add tortellini and spinach to pan; cook 1 minute or until spinach wilts, stirring constantly. Stir in salt and pepper. Sprinkle parmesan cheese. Serves 4

6. Attending any reunions this summer/year? High school? family? Other? Do these events stir up excitement or dread?

This weekend heading to the Jersey Shore for my family beach trip/reunion of sorts. My four sisters their spouses, my parents and fifteen grandkids...27 of us in two beach houses. I'm excited and nervous....excited to see everyone, hangout, catch up etc... nervous....27 of us!! Enough said!

7. Lilac, hydrangea, peony...pick one.

This is a tough on love them all....but Hydrangea last longer so I pick that one. We have probably ten bushes in our garden. Planted four new this spring and they are doing well. All the older ones when we moved in last year hadn't bloomed in years the people use to cut them down every fall which is a no no. We didn't and happy to say this summer we are having a few blooms! Yay! 

8. Insert your own random thought here.

I have finally been bit by the reading bug again. In the last years since I started blogging I have only read a couple books. I was bound and determine to start reading again this summer. So far I'm half way through my second book and love reading again. Though my family is feeling neglected because once I start I'm there until it's over. Sorry I didn't hear the timer on the oven go off ....dinner was not that bad.....was it!! Oops my bad! 

It's been so humid here and almost to muggy to be outside....so Katelyn and I have a few really bad shows we have been sucked into watching. I try to walk away but get sucked back in....

Have you watched on TLC  My big fat gypsy wedding??? It's crazy but interesting and a whole lot of disturbing at the same time. Also we have been watching....Hoarders buried alive....omg! I don't know how someone can live like that....! Have you watched? 

Stop over to Joyce at From this side of the Pond and enjoy her answers and many others.....or better yet join the Hodgepodge! 

Today.....really last night!

I took these pictures last night.....okay I promise I'm not turning into the blogger that post sunsets and flowers! But Katelyn and I are doing the 365 project a picture a day and it's really hard to find something beyond flowers and sunsets....! So here is what my last night looked like TODAY!

Sorry about the quality I took them with my iphone

What's your TODAY looking like?

Travel around the world TODAY

Happy Monday!

Hope you had a great weekend ......it was hot and humid here! I finished my first book of the summer reads and loved it. It was Rob Lowe Memoir- Stories I only tell my friends.

I loved the book, I finished it fast. I loved him in so many movies and TV shows. It was full of great stories and amazing opportunities he had. I like that he breezes over the sex and partying with little detail. It wasn't a tell all book....you figure by the title Stories I only tell my friends most of his friends were there partying with him whats to be told plus I think he has great respect for his family to write that kind of book.

I remember in my younger days he would come to Utah a lot to ski.....spent a many of nights with friends driving around hoping to have a sighting of young Rob! I liked the book....if your a fan you will too.

Okay lets talk about this sunset....I took this picture while at Lake Chautauqua, NY. I did nothing to boost or edit this picture. This is truly how it looked. Since moving to Western New York I have seen some of the most amazing sunsets....Maui sunsets I call them. WNY is no Maui believe me but come on look at this picture isn't it the most amazing. One of the relatives of my friend that lives in the area said they have them all the time, that Cleveland is rated #3 in best sunsets. Okay but we are in WNY...I guess they share the same glow from some 3 hours away in Ohio. I'll take it, especially since I feel like I'm in Maui....minus no palm trees, ocean and fancy drinks!

Happy Monday!

Sunday in My City-July 4th recap!!

I thought for this Sunday in the city I would recap my July 4th in Mayville, New York at Lake Chautauqua. We had such a great time with my childhood friend and her family. You may remember we crashed their family reunion for a couple days. They had a beautiful lake house where we hung out, the kids fished and we relaxed and visited. The next morning was the most impressive 2 hour small town parade. I was surprised they still throw candy out to the kids along the road. I tried bartering and trading with the little ones for their tootsie rolls but none would have anything to do with me!! 

After the parade, down by the lake they had a mini carnival, music and lots of carni food. It was a gorgeous but hot day. We stayed there awhile spending a million bucks before heading to my friend Uncle's house for a BBQ. 

Her Uncle has 42 arces of land with trails and a small lake. Katelyn was in her element driving the kids around in his ATV truck and golf cart......hours of entertainment. After that we head out to fire works and they were just as impressive as the parade. 

Next day more hanging out, chatting and than our goodbyes! It was a wonderful 4th of July. I hope yours was just as memorable! Have a great Sunday! 

Stop by UNKNOWN MAMI for more Sunday in My City! 

Friday Fragments...

TGIF

It's Friday woot woot ! 

I love this kid he cracks me up and does a great lip syncing to some of my favorite artist! This time he teamed up with some of my favorite Glee actors if you have 3 and half minutes to spare watch it! It will make you smile  or at least it did for me! 

My hubby got a new truck this week....his first new car in 16 years...it's not exactly new it's a 2008. Having a new driver in the house he passed his wheels on to her. She is thrilled and so is he. All he wants to do is go for a drive. I drove it last night, it has a lot of power....apparently too much and according to my hubby I have a heavy foot. 

Here is a google image of his new baby....so we live in the country, now drive a pick up.....what's next? John Deer hat, start listening to country music!!! 

Katelyn did a little fishing while visiting our friends over the 4th!  She caught four fish...I love this picture my hubby took....it's true happiness and excitement on her face. I said to her I didn't know you like fishing...she said that's because we never caught any and it's boring when that happens. Hubby said they caught 4 fish using the same worm. 

Hope you have a wonderful weekend! 

Stop by Mrs. 4444's at Half -past kissin time for more Fragments! 

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. What is the most useful book in your house?


My first thought was my Mac Book Pro...maybe my cook books! Every night would be boring dinners without them to spice up.

2. What's worse-being too hot or too cold?


Too hot...I get really cranky when I'm too hot! I really don't know how people survive in humid climates without A/C

3. Share something that made you smile this past weekend.


We were out of town crashing a childhood friends family reunion. Her brother has 6 year old twin boys, seeing them help each other out and play together made me smile and possibly ahhh a few times too. I love that kind of sibling love. 

4. How do you like your hamburgers? Or don't you?


Not burnt and certainly not raw....somewhere in the middle. I like ketchup and mustard, lettuce and tomatoes in it. 

5. What's your summer beach read? If it's not summer in your part of the world then tell us what book you're reading in front of the fire while sipping hot cocoa.


I haven't started my summer read yet, I'm actually heading to the library today. I'm getting Saving Cee Cee Honeycutt and Two Kisses for Maddie and a whole slue of others. We are heading to the beach in 10 days and I plan on reading a lot. 
6. How was your birthday celebrated when you were a kid?


My birthday is the day before Halloween so I seem to always have a Halloween themed party and cake. Always house parties with cake, games and goody bags....when older I had sleepovers. My favorite part was the scavenger hunts and telling stories ( i think that is called gossiping now!)

7. What's something that is totally uncool that you love anyway?


I can't think of anything but it my teenage daughter was awake she would have a whole list of things...! 


8. Insert your own random thought here.


I'm joining Joyce in pet peeves department...We stayed at a hotel while out of town this weekend and on our last morning you know the one morning you decide to not set the alarm or wake up call....our neighbors decide to check out at 6 am slam the doors and than have a loud conversation outside our door and slam the door again. Why are people so rude and inconsiderate while staying in hotels! 

Stop by and see Joyce at From this side of the Pond

Happy 4th of July

Happy 4th of July

This is one of my favorite holidays....I have such fond memories of the 4th growing up in a small town. We would be awoken by a loud cannon going off in town starting the day off with a BANG!

Everyone would head to the main ball field and we would have sack races, water balloon tosses, potato on the spoon races etc...The Mom's would do rolling pin throwing contest and the Dad's would play horseshoes. The afternoon would end with the all-star baseball game and a day of hot dogs, soda and candy, swimming! I think there was a parade in there somewhere....and a firework display to dazzle us all.

Today is also a day to celebrate our country, to stand tall and wear the colors of our nation. To honor those who fight for our freedom and remember those who lost there lives for our freedom. It's a day where your Patriotism is abundant and proud. 

Have a safe, fun and glorious fourth of JULY!
What is your favorite 4th of July memory?

Sunday in My City-July 4th!

Today we are leaving our tiny town to head to another even tinier town. We are  celebrating  the 4th of July with a friend I've had for over 30 years. She grew up in this tiny town until 5th grade when she moved to NJ and we became best friends forever.

This picture was taken the last time I visited her in Dallas two years ago. I'm so excited for our families to get together. We are crashing her family reunion...and celebrating the fourth with them all.

I can't wait to see this tiny town we are traveling to it's on a lake and suppose to be very quaint. So I will be celebrating the 4th small town style....parade in the morning, BBQ and fireworks at night.

Have a wonderful Sunday and 4th of July! 

Stop by and say hi to UNKNOWN MAMI and others this Sunday! 

Friday Fragments...Happy July

Happy Friday and Happy July!! Oh and since we live so close to Canada now it's Canada Day so Happy Canada Day EH!

It's been gorgeous these last several days, really enjoyable out....almost cool in the 70's feels so good out.
If you were to come in our back yard right now your first thought would be wow these people really don't like bugs! We have a japanese beetle aka June bug trap, a wasp trap and a mosquito magnet trap....okay maybe we are freaks....enough said!

Katelyn and I have been playing a mean game of cards daily.....never knew we both were so competitive, we both love to win.  We also have been playing each other in Words with Friends. Do you have that app on your ipad or iphone? So fun.....I have to say I've never really been a scrabble playing girl but I love this game. I suck at it and am limited on my word knowledge apparently. It's addicting....

So happy it's Friday and July 4th weekend...my hubby is off next week so today I'm making the HONEY DO list....!

Hope you have a great long weekend all! 

Stop by Mrs. 4444's Friday Fragments and say Hi!