Monday, January 24, 2011

Good Finds : A Much Needed Warm UP :)



Do you see this ... can you read the temperatures !?! I will be traveling to sunny Los Angeles, CA for the next week (leaving wednesday) for work.  I enjoy work travel most of the time, and when I saw this forecast ... my smile spread clear across my face !!! I know I shouldn't brag ... but gahlee, did this business come at the right time or what !?! I can stand much more of this bone chilling cold !


Yes I will miss my husband and the comforts of home, but PRAISE THE GOOD GOOD LORD for the warm weather ! You see that, no snow, no rain, SUNNY WITH A HIGH OF THE MID 70's ... just what my soul needs :)  

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Good Finds : Dry Shampoo War

Yep, I'm one of those gals who doesn't wash their hair everyday ... or every other day.  Ehhh it's more like everyother other day :)  No there are not flies buzzing around my head, nor is my hair plastered to my head with greasiness ... I'm blessed !

I use to use this (before all of these fancy dry shampoos came out )

Just a little bit on the roots of your hair soak up the oil, but the smell isn't my favorite.


Boy was I excited when this came out ! But it was/is way too expensive !

While browsing at Walmart the other day I saw this ... Yes I am a Suave kinda girl :) I love the expensive shampoos/conditioners but I have found Suave works just fine, and the price is right !


Half the price of Tresemme, smells better, AND works better !

Tresemme was too wet, it left my hair feeling stiff and it didn't give me any body, it didn't smell good and for my darker hair, I had to work really hard to get it to brush in.  Haha I thought I was getting gray hair and I had Charles come over to look and he said it was just the dry shampoo :) What a good hubby ! (but seriously I think he's right !)

Sooo Suave, has a smell similar to Aussie products, you know the really sweet smell (it takes a little while to get use to) BUT it works really well, not too wet, not to white and easy to blend into my hair !

Once again... the "cheap chic" wins !!! Seriously girls, stop spending money on expensive beauty products, they are a waste of money :)

See :) Looks good eh ? Oh yeah and I think I washed my hair yesterday... but it may have been the day before ?
Eh, who cares :)


Friday, January 14, 2011

Good Finds : AMAZING COUPON

http://jimmydean.socialtwist.com/?taf_c=61pl

Follow this link and you will get an amazing coupon ! All you have to do is email it to 2 people or just post on facebook !!!

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Blog Browsing : Toilet Paper Tubes ?!

HA husband ... HA ... you keep wondering why I'm saving paper towel rolls and toilet paper tubes ...  Well I was waiting for someone to do a tutorial to make something with it and this is it !!! I had heard of folks doing this before but hadn't seen a tutorial.  No excuse now ... I have a tutorial and tubes :) Fake iron decorative elements to come soon !!! Happy girl :)

http://www.suzyssitcom.com/2010/12/feature-friday-faux-metal-wall-art.html


I'm so excited !!!

Monday, January 10, 2011

Good Finds : Mr. and Mrs. Wuf and Marriage

This clip is so special to me b/c of my past as a former Ms. Wuf :)  And I just love it ... hope you enjoy !!!

Thursday, January 6, 2011

From our kitchen to yours : Christmas Cookies

Sorry for the late post :( You may not think this is relevant now ... but it is !!! These cookies are AWESOME and you can make them anytime of the year for any occasion, mine just happen to be decorated in Christmas themes.



I make the sugar cookies every year for our many family events and this years were a simple, clean design.  Enjoy !

A new trick I learned this year that I will use EVERYTIME I MAKE ROLL OUT COOKIES !!!


Explanation :  Wax paper on counter top, dough on the wax paper, another layer of wax paper on top of the dough.  Go to Lowes and buy 2, 1/4 in wooden dowels in the trim section (less than 75 cents a piece).  Set the dowels beside the dough, this will be a track for your rolling pin to follow.

This process will ensure a uniform thickness to your cookies and ... here is comes ... my favorite part ... NO FLOUR NEEDED !!! Say whatttttt !? Yes, seriously, your cookies will have full flavor because no messy flour is needed !!! Make sure your dough is nice and chilled (I even pop my cut out cookies in the freezer for 10 mins or so before popping in the oven to ensure a nice shape).




Recipe for Vanilla-Almond Sugar Cookies

3 c unbleached, all-purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 c sugar
2 sticks (salted) butter, cold
1 egg
3/4 tsp pure vanilla extract
1/2 tsp pure almond extract

Preheat oven to 350.

Combine the flour and baking powder, set aside. Cream the sugar and butter. Add the egg and extracts and mix. Gradually add the flour mixture and beat just until combined, scraping down the bowl, especially the bottom.

The dough will be crumbly, so knead it together with your hands as you scoop it out of the bowl for rolling .
Roll out and cut into shapes. Place on parchment lined baking sheets (I recommend freezing the cut out shape on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before baking) and bake for 10-12 minutes. Let sit a few minutes on the sheet, then transfer to a cooling rack.

Recipe from Bake at 350



Recipe for Icing
2 C Powdered sugar - Sifted ... do it, I know it's a pain but it makes a big difference
1 Tbsp Light Corn Syrup
1/2 Tbsp vanilla
a few drops of lemon
1 Tbsp Milk
Gel food coloring

Yeah, I never really do this small amount, but use these ratios and you can always make more icing while you're decorating :)

To start your decorating process, your icing needs to be thick.  You will "outline" the cookie design with the thicker frosting and then go in and "flood" the outlined area later.

.




 Once outline has hardened (30 mins) dilute the current icing with milk or water to a fairly thin consistancy, it will pour in a thick stream off of a spoon.  Fill in the open areas of the cookies with a thin layer of icing, let dry and enjoy !  Feel free to add sprinkles or other decorations at this point so they will set into the cookies







These cookies are great for baby showers, birthdays, valentines day, or just because :) Enjoy !!!

Monday, January 3, 2011

Good Finds : Tribe Origins Hummus $2 off 1 !!!

Soooo being the 1/2 Greek gal I am ... I love me some good hummus ! Not too garlicy not to lemony but just right with some pita bread or a whole wheat sandwich round ... yum ! So to start the new years off eating healthy, I googled hummus coupon today and look what I found !!!

http://moneysavingmom.com/2010/12/walmart-free-athenos-yogurt-and-tribe-hummus-for-0-98.html  (yeahhh just follow on the link, you'll be happy you did !!!)

So I ran to walmart and it was on sale for $2.98 ... with this $2 off coupon it was 98 cents for some delicious hummus !!! The coupon is good until 4/30/11 so I will be stocking up (they says it freezes well too) ! 

Lunch today :

Soo yummy !

There are many flavors but I stick with the original

Delicious grapes

Finished it up with a nice tall glass of water :) Happy eating in 2011 ... delicious, full of flavor and healthy !