Sephora is the only distributor of Philosophy’s Cinnamon Hot Dots body wash. This is the only cinnamon based body wash I have found in a while. My husband loves it!
Fresh’s Sugar Lip Treatment
I hate chapped lips and I have tried just about every lip balm, chap stick, lip gloss etc. out there without a clear winner. I had a great coupon for Sephora during the Christmas holiday, so I used it to buy this lip treatment that had been recommended. Fresh’s Sugar Lip Treatment with SPF15 has kept my lips in perfect condition this winter. It is expensive at $22.50 for a tube but there is no denying the end results!
Progressive Magnetic Measuring Spoons
I love my new Progressive Magnetic Measuring Spoons. These spoons are magnetic, so they snap together for storage and the best thing is that each spoon is level on the bottom, so you can measure out a spice and set it aside until you need it. No SPILLS! They make these in the above color or in stainless steel. I found them on sale for $5.99 on Macy’s before Christmas. The best price I can find now is $7.95 on Amazon.
Ina Garten is a genius! I made this bacon as part of Christmas breakfast. I did not make enough. This would make my top five of favorite foods. I don’t have a picture of the finished product because it didn’t stay on a plate long enough for me to get a picture. Make sure you use center cut bacon and real maple syrup when making Maple Roasted Bacon.
I have been away from blogging as I handled a lot of personal things. Our first IVF cycle failed, my mother has been ill, I had a flu/strep throat combo, my 13 year old cat has been sick and the holiday season just came out of nowhere! Pete and I are charging forward with our second IVF attempt. I am very nervous and trying really hard to balance a sense of hope with a sense of absolute dread. My doctor performed a test to check my anti-mullerian hormone. The test results suggest that I have a small egg supply. This means that I won’t produce as many eggs as most women going through IVF. On the 8th of January I start my stimulation medications. My hips and shoulders are already aching in anticipation of the shots that I have to have have each morning and evening. I am just praying for a chance and trying my best to keep my spirits up. The Christmas season has been a blessing because it has given us a chance to step back and to give thanks for all the wonderful people in our life. It is so easy to concentrate on what you think is missing versus embracing what you have.
Merry Christmas to everyone. I wish everyone peace and joy! (Except for the jerk who hit my husband’s car in the CVS parking lot today and didn’t bother to leave a note. At the end of the video Beeker has a special message for you.)
I am so excited about the coming snow! I love having snow during the holidays. I am going to stay in and bake cookies and enjoy my Williams-Sonoma hot chocolate!
I am not sure if I have shared this before, but I only have the poverty plan for cable television. We decided that paying $60 a month for channels that we never really watched was not a smart choice. We pay $15.00 a month for basic service. I really miss Food Network but I found a PBS cooking show called Everyday Food. Everyday Food is produced by Martha Stewart Living. The show has a theme and five different chefs create dishes that fit into the theme. The other day they had a show called Meat and Potatoes. One of the dishes highlighted was Prosciutto Wrapped Pork Chops. I decided to try the recipe tonight for dinner. My husband and I really enjoyed the dish. It is really easy to do and it only took about 20 minutes to prep and cook the dish. Do not skip the lemon wedge. There is just something delightful about fresh lemon over pork. Trust me!
Ingredients:
4 Boneless pork loin chops
Coarse salt and ground pepper
2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme (I used dried thyme.)
4 slices prosciutto
2 teaspoons olive oil
Lemon wedges, for serving
Directions:
Season pork chops with salt and pepper. Sprinkle thyme leaves over each, pressing, to help them adhere to the meat. Wrap 1 prosciutto slice around middle of each chop, like a belt; press ends to seal.
In a large nonstick skillet, heat oil over medium-high. Cook chops until golden brown and cooked through, 4 to 5 minutes per side. (Cook in two batches, if necessary, to avoid crowding.) Serve chops with lemon wedges.
I haven’t written on here in a while. In my defense during the past month I have relocated to a new home, had a failed IUI, started a new IVF protocol, and I have been dealing with the usual family drama. I love summer, and I can’t stand to be inside when I could be outside taking in the sunshine. I have been enjoying the beach! I started reading Atlas Shrugged, which I highly recommend reading as long as you have the time to read a 1000 page book. I have also become horribly addicted to teen vampire books. I have read the Blue Bloods series by Melissa de la Cruz, the Vampire Diaries by L.J. Smith, the House of Night series by P.C. Cast, and I have reread the whole Twilight series again. You have to balance a very serious, 1000 page piece of literature with something light! Well I hope you all are enjoying your summer and I hope to be better about posting. Tschüs!
Yesterday marked five years since my grandfather passed away. Each year as the date gets closer, I spend quite a bit of time reflecting on him and the special times we shared. I do tend to get a little depressed but generally being around family and friends while celebrating the 4th helps pass the time. This year we planned to spend the 4th with my sister and her family and a group of good friends. The day started with my sister and her family needing to cancel because they were all still recovering from some stomach virus. This bummed me out a bit, but I didn’t want to catch anything. I knew my friend’s kids would be a bit disappointed but I figured we could keep them busy enough to not notice my nieces and nephew didn’t attend. We drove over to our friend’s house with the five pounds of potato salad I had made for the occasion. Everyone at the party was a little down. One of our best friends has accepted a job a few states away. He stopped over at the party to say farewell and all I could do was cry. It is not as though I won’t see him again but I could not control the sadness that overcame me. Feeling like a big baby, I dried the tears and tried to take part in the conversations going on around the house. As the evening was winding down, my husband and I decided to stay and help clean up. In the confusion of all the guests leaving, I had noticed our friends, who had hosted the cookout, were upset. I went to check on them and discovered that their 14 year old Scottie dog had died during the party. They had found their dog passed away in his bed. Luckily another friend had not left and between the group of us we were able to keep their five year old busy, so that he would not realize the dog was gone. They wanted to wait till morning to talk to him about the dog’s passing. My husband went with the his friend to bury the dog. Our other friend kept their son busy playing and I tried to comfort my best friend as much as I could. Later my husband drove me home. He held my hand and we both agreed that the day served as a reminder to love and appreciate your family, friends, and devoted pets at every opportunity. Life is just too short.
We love cooking out for the 4th of July. Every year our family makes large batches of Bourbon Slush to aid in the celebration. I highly recommend this drink for hot summer days and relaxing with friends and family!
Bourbon Slush
6 ounce can of frozen orange juice
6 ounce can of frozen lemonade
1 cup sugar
6 cups cold water
2 cups water with 2 to 4 tea bags steeped
1 1/3 cups bourbon
Mix well together orange juice, lemonade, sugar and 6 cups cold water. Then add 2 cups of tea and bourbon. Pour into a bowl and place in freezer until slushy. Serve by itself or half slush with ginger ale or lemon/lime soda.
