Delight Your Husband with These 8, No 9 Things

Posted on 08/09/201601/11/2019 by Kim @ CoziNest

Delight Your Husband for Valentine’s Day

I have been married for 39 years in September and after all this time, I know without a doubt the things that make 007 smile. These are easy things that will bring you closer to your hubby. I would love for you to share what delights your husband, too. Especially now that we are weeks away from Valentine’s Day.

1. First of all, go on bike rides together.

When our kids moved out of the house, the first thing I thought we should get rid of was their bicycles. 007 wanted to wait a few months to see if we might enjoy bike rides together. He was so right! And talk about delight! We felt like kids again. I even let go of the handlebars once!

2. Delight your husband by seeing a play at a neighborhood theatre.

I would have lost a bet if you’d told me when we first married, that there would come a day when 007 would enjoy the arts. But after his first play, Les Miserables, he was hooked. Now we love watching local actors perform in our little theatre on the corner.

3. Equally fun is to picnic on the beach.

4. Occasionally, a visit to Starbucks can satisfy a sweet tooth.

5. As soon as there’s even the slightest bit of boredom, try something new. For us it was kayaking. What a fun day!

6. By all means, pour a glass of wine and look through your wedding album. It brings up such happy memories.

7. If by chance, you are animal lovers, rescue a kitten.

We found Scarlett in a kill shelter. She grabbed my heart immediately. He loved her too.

Before you read any further, pour yourself another glass of wine. This is about to get delicious!

Delight Your Husband with The Wine of the Month Club

When I was only 12 years old, the first and Original Wine of the Month Club®, was founded. While I was drinking Orange Crush in Alabama, there was a completely different crush going on in California. I remember watching a black and white “I Love Lucy” episode on television where she crushed grapes with her feet. I laughed at her funny faces. At first, she was a bit reluctant to put her feet in a barrel filled with that years’ harvest; but once she did, it wasn’t long until she was dancing in the juice.

Meanwhile, in 1972, Paul Kalemkiarian, owned a premier wine shop in Southern California. He began tasting the “juice” for his customers.

Wow, what a man! What a job! What a crush!

The Wine of the Month Club began once he decided to offer the two best values he tasted each month to his customers. And today, all these years later, the tasting, searching and dancing continue. Only now, it is the customers who dance. The quality and value of the wine have collectors dancing to open the door to their monthly shipment. I love to dance.

Check out the following selection. Besides, someone is likely already dancing.

Pinot Noir Series Gift Membership Two curated selections of the best Pinot Noir I can find from all over the world.
Each shipment is accompanied by our full color newsletter packed with information for both the novice and experienced wine taster. It includes winery and winemaker history, recipes, cellaring suggestions, serving suggestions and wine anecdotes to share.

Now it gives me great pleasure to share these values with you just in time for Valentine’s Day. While sipping your second glass of wine, prepare the following deliciousness. During bake time, check out the website, sign up for a membership and and watch to see who’s dancing on Valentine’s Day!

8. Prepare and Serve Husband’s Delight

This is a family favorite. I found this recipe in my mom’s stash of recipes, years ago and tried it to see if it would indeed delight my husband. Added Bonus: The kids loved it too!

Husband’s Delight Ingredients

10 ounces egg noodles

1 1/2 lbs ground beef

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 (14 1/2 ounce) can peeled and diced tomatoes (with juice)

1 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon white sugar

1 1/2 cups sour cream

3 ounces cream cheese

1/2 onion, chopped

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).

Bring large pot of lightly salted water to a boil.

Add pasta and cook for 8-10 minutes, or until al dente; drain.

In a large skillet over medium heat, brown the ground beef. Add minced garlic and cook until fragrant.

Add the tomatoes w/ juice, salt and sugar and simmer for 15 minutes.

In a separate medium bowl, combine the sour cream, cream cheese and onion and mix well. Instead of layering, I cheat here and mix the ground beef mixture with the noodles. I think the flavors blend together better.

Next, in a 9×13 inch baking dish, place half of the egg noodles, then all of the meat mixture, then the cream cheese mixture.

Finally, top w/ the remaining noodles and sprinkle w/ cheese.

Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 25 minutes.

Serve with a salad, garlic rolls and anything sweet. Trust me, he will be delighted!

A Very Delightful Bonus

Tip: Above all, do not serve this dish without wine or with cheap wine. Delight your husband with careful wine choices.

Most importantly, this is a great gift because you get to enjoy it, too!

Now…. Go forth and delight thy husband!

In addition to all the dancing, I’ll be partying with these fabulous ladies this week:

Old 27 Grill

Posted on 05/06/201501/22/2018 by Kim @ CoziNest

Nights were cool. The bug zapper would bzzzzt an unlucky mosquito now and then and laughter would echo across our smoke-filled carport. These are my childhood memories of summer nights spent sitting outside with our next door neighbors. I wish I could say that the smoke came from a BBQ grill, but it did not. Every adult seemed to smoke back then, so us kids never considered that we weren’t breathing in the fresh night air.

Forty-five or so years later, I truly enjoyed the fresh night air with our neighbors at local restaurant, Old 27 Grill. Monday night, there was no smoke in the vicinity, but the smell of freshly grilled burgers and sausages kept mouths watering and eyes wandering for the freshly cooked meal. The only thing missing was the sound and sparks of a bug zapper in the background and I could have been 10 years old again enjoying a night of neighborhood fun.

Neighbors being Neighborly

If my fellow-Fairhopers are searching for a new local hangout, I have a great suggestion. If it’s been a while since you’ve visited the Old 27 Grill on Highway 181, may I suggest that you meet a neighbor there in the near future?

27 Sign

Lori Stitt

In March, my bloggers’ group was fortunate enough to be hosted by this unique local landmark and Monday night I had the pleasure of dining there again with another group of friends. As most of you know, I also write for Creekside Living, the local magazine for our neighborhood, and we were blessed with the opportunity to do a restaurant review for Old 27.

Fun times at Old 27 Grill

William Stitt is the owner and we were also introduced to his lovely bride, Lori, last night. It was like going home for a family backyard cookout. The menu included sliders, sausage dogs, different salads like pimento and chicken and homemade brownies.

Sliders

Salad Tray

A new love for Mr. Cozi and I was the homemade German Mustard for the sausage dogs. Two different mustard seeds are soaked in beer from the Fairhope Brewery and to say it has a unique taste does not do it justice. I had a sausage dog with sauerkraut and the German Mustard Sauce and it was pure discipline to stop at one! It was suggested that William sell this sauce to the public!

Sausage Dogs

Picnic Food

Mr. Cozi and Mr. Stitt

The bar was open, the patio lights strung above our heads kept the ambiance festive and many friends and neighbors were in attendance. Children were playing nearby, but were often seen grabbing another brownie or two. This is a great place to enjoy a burger and a beer, have shakes for the kids and on occasion hear the music of a future star. On Tuesday and Thursday they have musical groups who play only original music – no covers! One night you just might hear a song at Old 27 Grill that is playing on the radio next week. Such a fun place to hangout!

Kids Table

One of the things I love about our neighborhood is the diversity of ages. We were breaking bread with 8 year olds as well as those who were my age. (A lady never tells.) It was a fabulous evening. I made lots of new friends and let me tell you… a southern girl can never have too many of those! Combine that with sliders, sausage dogs and adult beverages… what more do you need to form a favorite local hangout? In these southern parts, I can think of only one more thing… bzzzzzzt!

Picnic at Old 27

Boys Being Boys

How to Rock a Wine Festival

Posted on 05/01/201502/06/2018 by Kim @ CoziNest

“When you wear a hat, it is like medicine for the soul.” Add to that the medicinal properties of wine and a perfect weekend at the San Destin Wine Festival was born. Also known as the “Kentucky Derby of Wine Festivals,” Mr. Cozi and I were so excited to attend this event in April. As you all know, I love fashion, people watching and a good glass of wine, so this event has made our calendar two years in a row. So, on this Fashion Friday, I am happy to share how to rock a wine festival with a flirty hat and a sober head.

Two Straw Hats

With hundreds of wines being poured over a four-day event, if you aren’t careful you may end up drinking out of your hat and sitting beneath your wine glass, so it’s a good idea to go with a plan. Mr. Cozi is the “Prince of Planning” so we were able to have a great time and keep our legs sturdy at the same time.

Mr. Cozi in his Cap

Wine Festival Collage

Here is our strategy for rocking a wine festival:

Study the festival map. The tables are numbered and labeled with the wines being poured. If you’ve tasted the wines at a particular table before, skip that table and taste only the wines you’ve never sipped before. Mr. Cozi had our tables circled on the map and we were careful to only tip our glasses with new tastes within our price range. Knowing that we’ll never purchase a $200 bottle of wine, it was pointless to taste it. Some may disagree and say these are the ones you should taste. To each his own.
Eat. Drink and be Merry…. in that order. Be sure to eat before the tasting begins, drink plenty of water between tastings and of course, have fun!
Take breaks. We would walk around the perimeter of the event, check out some of the shops of Baytowne Wharf and then my favorite… people watch. This is where the blast begins for me. I love checking out the fashions, the hats and of course the behavior of the attendees. While I never endorse being inebriated, some people are just not quite balanced when they taste wine. Most people at these events are very well-behaved, but every now and then…. (Sorry no pictures out of respect for the drunk and disorderly.) Only kidding here… we didn’t see a single person who appeared to be uncorked.
Limit the number of tastings. If you know that last year you were a bit tipsy after tasting 200 wines, then cut back to 100 this year. (That’s a joke, of course!) We stayed on the property and were shuttled back and forth to our room, but whether you are driving or riding, plan ahead to taste a limited number of wines. Having a healthy respect for the harvest will keep the wine lush and prevent you from becoming one. One rule of thumb is to taste less than 25 in a day. Perhaps 10-12 early in the day and the rest later.
Keep your glass clean. This may seem a little OCD, but it really helps me stay focused on the experience and keeps it fresh and tasty. If you begin to hold your glass by the bowl and not the stem, it might be a signal that you’re getting a little heady. Fingerprints on the bowl are unsightly. There’s water at every table so wash out your glass and wipe the bowl and rim with a napkin. Drink water and eat something before continuing the tasting. Most sommeliers will advise you not to rinse your palate with water as the fluoride can affect the taste of the wine, but I like to rinse my glass first with water and then with the next wine I’m tasting.
Use a dump bucket. Remember that your taste buds are on your tongue. You do not have to swallow every sip. If you are embarrassed by spitting into a dump bucket, consider carrying your own disposable cup.
Finish the experience by taking good notes. We usually rate our wines with grades. A. or B. or X. We purchase mostly A’s and some B’s for cooking. An X means that neither of us liked it.

“The hat is the expression of who you are as a women in every moment! Aqua Dress with Fedora The hat is your dreams of who you can be. Asian Lady It facilitates the different parts of who you are: With the wave of the hat, voila! You are mysterious…no, you are sexy…now proper…now playful.”

Floppy Hat

Monogram

Men can rock a hat, too!

Gentleman's Fedora

Beret

Hat Bands

In the words of Benjamin Franklin, “Wine is constant proof that God loves us and loves to see us happy.” And while I would never drink from a 10-gallon hat, wearing one to the “Kentucky Derby of Wine Festivals” proves that wine and fashion make a very happy couple.

White Hat

Cheers!

Planning for Retirement

Posted on 03/10/201503/01/2021 by Kim @ CoziNest

It amazes me how often Mr. Cozi and I turn to each other these days and say, “that was fun”! In spite of a hitch in our git-alongs, turning into pumpkins at sunset and a pillbox that now looks more like my jewelry organizer; we are truly planning for retirement by practicing fun every weekend. We have a delightful playground here in Fairhope and planning for retirement will be a fun part of life.

This month, we have the 1st Friday Art Walk, a neighborhood dining event at a local restaurant, Arts and Crafts Festival (so sorry Hubby, girls only that weekend), and a possible flower show in Mobile.

Planning for Retirement

February was filled with Coffee Fest, Coco-Cola and Aquarium tours in Atlanta, Valentine’s goodies, and special dinners out for our birthdays. After all of that we had the pleasure of meeting friends at The Grand Hotel to enjoy the sunset over Mobile Bay with wine glass in hand. A week later we had dinner with more friends that have swung wide those retirement doors and learned more about what to expect.

We researched an upcoming Alaskan cruise with our neighborhood for our 35th wedding anniversary and are planning a graduation party for Thing 2 in April. So when I say we are practicing fun over here, we are getting lots of field time!

And that is just how I want Mr. Cozi’s retirement to be. He has worked very hard for 36 years, being on call for most of that time. He wakes up at 4 am to begin his day and lays his head down pretty soon after dinner to start the process again. Don’t get me wrong. He has loved his job, the people he has worked with and the company that has provided his career, but Mrs. Cozi likes hearing, “that was fun,” so it’s time to have some.

It’s not your birthday or Father’s Day or Valentine’s; but I have to tell you, Mr. Cozi, you have taken excellent care of your family, been man of the year on the cover of my life and remain a very fun date after nearly 35 years of marriage. Bring on the fun. Swing wide those doors of retirement and let’s waltz or better yet, salsa right through them. And on the other side, let’s tell each other, “that was fun!”

Disclaimer: Retirement has now happened. It’s been nearly 3 years now and other than a year off for a pandemic, it’s been a blast.

Lord, Teach Me to be Generous

Posted on 02/01/201502/25/2019 by Kim @ CoziNest

I am blessed with many friends, but I received a double dose of generosity from two special ladies this week. Joan Moore and Pat Dupre are two friends that I love spending time with. They each give of themselves in different, but the sweetest of ways and I am blessed to know them both. The Prayer of St. Ignatius of Loyola describes it best in his prayer for generosity:

Lord, teach me to be generous.

Teach me to serve You as You deserve;

to give and not to count the cost,

to fight and not to heed the wounds,

to toil and not to seek for rest,

to labor and not to ask for reward,

save that of knowing that I do Your will.

First, Joan came by my house at my request to help me make a few decisions with our current Decorating Project. The gift she gave me was to spend most of the day helping me see our house from a different perspective. Joan is classy, is one of the most stylish people I know and has a heart that is as kind as she is beautiful. She reminded me that architecture and lighting can be the focal point of a room. Art painted by a child can be more valuable than a gilded mirror, and if there was one single thing that Joan didn’t like in my house, I still don’t know what it was. She makes suggestions without an ounce of criticism. Because of my friend, Joan, changes are ahead and they are much less costly than expected. She gave and did not count the cost.

Lord, Teach Me to Be Generous

The only picture I have of her was made by a cell phone.

The next day, I traveled south to Foley to have lunch with Pat. We met at the cutest little tea room and had a delicious lunch with tea and scones.

Copper Kettle Tea Bar

The Copper Kettle Tea Bar in Foley, AL

Hot Tea

Lemon & Lavender Scone

In the course of our conversation, she shared with me that a neighbor had to have open-heart surgery the day before. She dropped off chicken salad to the family that morning before meeting me. After lunch, she tried again, to pay for my lunch. Next time, Pat. Maybe. Instead, she graciously went with me to take pictures of Cozi Rosie. It can be a little intimidating the first time you do this, because people want to know why in the world you are photographing a dress form. But, she was a trooper. She even let me take her picture with Rosie.

Double Dose of Generosity

As we were leaving she said she needed to get home to meet a neighbor who’s dog she was keeping. Pat has a heart of gold and is always helping someone. She has likely been a giver her whole life, but I can’t help but wonder if she learned best by receiving. A few years ago when a F5 tornado ripped through Hueytown, AL, she lost everything but her car. She still talks today about the generosity she received during that time.

With these two ladies as examples this week, I can only pray:

Lord, teach me to be generous…

Generosity in American Sniper

Posted on 01/18/201501/22/2018 by Kim @ CoziNest

Mr. Cozi and I decided to see a movie over the weekend and as a result witnessed something so generous that it made me proud to be an American. We heard rave reviews about the movie, American Sniper, so we headed over to the Premiere Cinemas in Spanish Fort, AL. After getting our popcorn and drinks, we settled in to watch the previews.

Movie Popcorn

In the middle of mostly mediocre trailers, the lights turned up and the sound was turned down. A gentleman introduced himself as the manager of the cinema (to a sold out theatre) and thanked all of us for choosing Premiere. I assumed he would ask us all to move toward the center to make room for other patrons, but no. He did something that I’ve never seen in a movie theatre. He began to tell us just how popular this movie is and how it is selling out across the country.

He then asked all military to stand for recognition and A FREE BOX OF CANDY. I know you may think that’s not such a big deal, but have you priced candy in a movie theatre, lately? The audience began to applaud the military and the applause went on and on. It was like we couldn’t clap long or hard enough and we had not even seen the movie yet.

Once the movie was over, there was total silence. Not a word was spoken as we exited the theatre. The candy was a generous act. Serving in our military… there are no words. I won’t spoil anything here, just go see it.