Category: Blog

What’s the Tea? Thursday

.Reading time 10 minutes.

First let me say, HAPPY THURSDAY! I hope this blog will get you through the day to make it to Friday and the glorious weekend! This blog is where I answer your most asked questions about anything! These topics were picked by you and I will answer them! Usually 3-5 Subjects with 3-5 answers depending on the week.

This is going to be a very fall themed Tea Thursday revolving around all things fall.

3 Date Night Ideas

I am going to give you 3 Date nights but in a different way, not just date night with your significant other but also one with your friends and one with yourself (yes, its important to date yourself). This theme is going to carry through to the rest of the questions as well. You all asked some great questions and I thought they would go well together!

Date night with your honey. Jared and I are quite simple. We like to go out for a nice meal, get dressed up and drink wine… but that’s a pretty standard date night and really not that original. So, to spice things up, so to speak, we’ll go to the food truck carnival or pick a restaurant we’ve never been to before, for an entirely new experience. I really want to play the grocery store roulette/isle game! You know the one where you run around the store and your partner tells you to stop in the middle of the isle? That looks silly and fun! We have also been wanting to try that Axe throwing! Jared is really excited about it and I’m excited to drink a beer and laugh with him!

Last year on our 4th anniversary

Date night with your friends. My friends are adventurous and we love to try new things but they are also down with the classics. We love to par take in the seasonal festivities and because its fall, we suggest going to the pumpkin patch! Pick out the perfect pumpkin and carve them together! With everything going on, its a great way to get outside, social distance and spend some much needed time with your girls! 

Self Care Night is something I highly believe in. Spending time alone is very healthy and important! Every day is different and what you need from one day to the next is different so, check in with yourself and ask yourself what you need. Sometimes, I want to go see a really girly movie so, I go. If I’m craving a certain dish from a restaurant, I go. Theres this place down the street from me that makes THE BEST chicken pasta salad!!! Its literally a caesar salad, with cold noodles tossed in and a grilled chicken breast on top with parmesan cheese and if you ask really nicely, they’ll give you garlic bread! (My local downtown crew knows exactly what I am talking about! If you’re new to Anchorage, you have to check out F Street Station. I believe they are closed for the foreseeable future though.) Let’s just say, as a type 7, I don’t limit myself and no matter what enneagram type you are, you shouldn’t either. Indulge a little, live a little. We’ll never get the time back so why not show yourself in the process.

Self care night during quarantine

3 Fall Outfits

Date Night with your person. As any woman, I like to look good and I am sure you’re the same! I always try to be comfortable! I want to show a little off while still feeling great! I usually go for a dress. It will probably have sleeves because you know, Alaska is cold! Add some accessories and cute boots and bam! Good to go!

Girls Nights. I ALWAYS without a doubt, ask my friends what they’re wearing. I don’t want to wear jeans if everyone else is in dresses but, I’d probably still wear a dress even if they were in jeans and make the dress a little more casual. To make any outfit a “fall outfit” just add a cute over sized scarf and a longer jacket like the ones below.

Self Care Night really depends on what I’m doing and where I’m going. Obviously, 2020 has been the year of loungewear and joggers but, I MISS being able to co exist, causally. I think, one of my go to pieces is a pair of stretchy leggings and I’m really loving the Spanx ones. Paired with a flowy shirt/sweater and cute boots. The spanx could even be switched for jeans, if you’re feeling it. When you have found the right leggings and perfect pair of skinny jeans, its like hitting the lottery! I liiiiiiiterally haven’t bought a new pair of jeans in at least a year. I am obsessed with the KUT from Kloth brand. Great quality, great fit and a great price (Not cheap but not designer prices either).

3 Fall Cocktails

For date night, no matter the season Jared usually reaches for a bourbon. He may have a beer but usually bourbon. When I was talking about this category, his ears perked up and then I had the idea of including his ideas and answers too. I asked him for a fall recommendation for bourbon, like what bourbon would you drink with the fall season and why. Let me tell you, I got quite the answer. Bourbon is a classic spirit. Just like wine, bourbon is just as unique. There are many ways to drink it, some neat, with ice and as a cocktail. He recommends for fall: Clydes May, it’s steeped with apples and is slightly sweeter. If you’re not into sweet, Buffalo Trace is a touch stronger but not so strong it needs ice so, it’ll keep you nice and warm as the temperatures shift. For winter: Elijah Craig barrel proof because this one is a winter warmer and is nice and strong. For summer: Kentucky Vintage because it makes a nice front porch drink. For spring: Four Roses Small Batch, this is my favorite because of how subtle and smooth it is.

For Girls Night, when we aren’t drinking wine and white claws, this summer, I made coconut rum slushies. They were coconut popsicles, coconut rum, lime white claw and some extra ice. Blend them up and yay! you have a yummy drink! For fall, I highly recommend, a hot buttered rum but with pumpkin spice. There is a restaurant here that makes their own syrup for the hot buttered rum and its so good!!! (I swear I’m not a rum drinker, it just happens that 2 of my favorite drinks have rum in them)

For self care night. I make a delicious Mulled Wine. It’s like warm sangria but better and more festive! It has taken me several years to figure out and I think I’ve done it! The trick you ask?? Don’t add sugar… Sugar makes it so sweet. 2 bottles of a red blend (or 2 bottles you haven’t drank in the last year because their questionable), 1 orange, 1 cup of frozen cranberries, 3-6 cinnamon sticks, 1 cup apple cider. Throw it all in a pot, LIGHTLY, BARELY simmer the wine, you don’t want to cook out the alcohol!!! and once its warm transfer it to a small crockpot and keep it warm. Serve and enjoy.

Well, THATS THE TEA!!!

Thank you for waiting SO long for this blog! I hope to continue to make it monthly! If you have any questions, please ask! I LOVE hearing from you!!!

XOXO,

Johnnie

Taylor

.Reading time 3 minutes.

I want to talk about Taylor today. My little snuggle nugget. My bestest friend for the past 11 years. Taylor is a long haired chihuahua. She was born at my moms house when my mom was breeding chihuahuas. I saw her when she was only a few days and didn’t have her eyes open, then a few weeks later when she did and then I finally decided I needed a little pup of my own and I picked her out of the litter. If you don’t know, chihuahua puppies are smaaaaaaalll. Like tiiiiiny. She was so small and so cute. She couldn’t even jump on the couch!

Taylor at 8 weeks old

Taylor isn’t your typical chihuahua. She’s always been quiet, shy and reserved. She doesn’t bark, growl or run off. She’s extremely loyal and listens very well. I have always tended to have a more mellow and calm animals. Even with my horses, they were always easy going. Taylor is just the same. She is always down to hang out and she is always on her best behavior. She’s just little lady. That was almost her name. It was between Lady, Claire, Taylor and Poppy. I grew up mushing dogs and my moms favorite lead females were named Lady and Claire so, it was an honor when my mom suggested those names but I just couldn’t get Poppy and Taylor out of my head. One day, I was driving with Taylor on my lap, and a Taylor Swift song came on and I just thought to myself ” Wow, yeah, Taylor suits her” and that was that. ALL, and when I say all, I mean ALL my friends think I named her after Taylor Swift… I am a huge fan but that wasn’t the reason but I guess you could say that in a way, they’re right.

I am lucky because Chihuahuas tend to lead a pretty long life for dogs. If you keep their health up and teeth cleaned. Not keeping their teeth clean can lead to many, many health complications. One big one is heart disease. Taylor gets her teeth cleaned once a year and because of that, she still has all of her teeth, which is rare in small dogs. I have a sneaking suspicion that she’ll lose a couple this year, just due to age and what not.

It was Taylors birthday on August 9th and my little puppy is 11. She still acts like a puppy. She still runs in the grass, tries to chase the birds, even though most of them are bigger than her and jumps on the couch like its no big deal.

XOXO,

Johnnie& Taylor

Get to know me

.Reading time 2 minutes.

To start the blog off, I wanted to start by introducing myself and telling you a little bit about me, other than the introductory paragraph on the home page.

I was born, raised and still live in Alaska. My name, Johnnie, came from my Dad’s mother. I didn’t get the chance to meet to her. My middle name, Kathryn, is my Mom’s mother’s middle name. I was able to know her, my Grandma Joanne, and we were thick as thieves, she was my favorite. So, I thought it was special to use my name to start the blog.

I have a sidekick, her name is Taylor. She is a long haired chihuahua and will be 11 this August! I picked her out almost as soon as she was born and took her home 8 weeks later. She is the sweetest, snuggliest and well mannered pup I’ve ever owned.

Taylor at 8 weeks, 5 years and camping at 10 years old.

A few more general things about me: I love travel so, you can expect lots of that on here! I’m obsessed with London so, I’ll probably share all sorts of London content. I love baking and make a killer apple pie! Harry Potter=Life. I’ve been to “The Making of Harry Potter” Studio in Leavesden, London twice, Universal Studios twice, a Harry Potter tour around London, Tour in Scotland and I’ve eaten at the White Elephant Cafe.

I LOVE clothes!!! I color coordinate my closet too. I’m apart of LIKEtoKNOW.it so you can shop my daily looks for inspiration!

Oh! And I love a good beer! Going to local breweries is one of my favorite things to do!

Thanks for stopping by and “slowing your scroll”. If you have any questions, comments or suggestions send me a message. In the mean time, subscribe so you don’t miss any posts! Cheers!

XOXO,

Johnnie