winter is here.

It is officially winter here in Minnesota.  It is a full out blizard outside and we are snowed in.  Shelby had her buddy grace (our unofficial 3rd child) over for a sleep over.   The played outside all evening.  I spent last night curled up in on the couch with my hubby nice hot tea in our hands ,snow falling outside like crazy, lights off, christmas tree on, and a zombie movie on the tv.   When it was over I snuck outside to do this to my neighbors cars..

but it doesn't quiet work when there is this much snow lol. 

Besides that it snowed more over night and you couldn't even tell I did it when we woke up.   I spent the day curled up on the couch watching tv on netflix  At one point I looked over and Fire monster was coming down the stairs not a single stitch of clothing on but a pirate eye patch.  Only in my house sheash.  Once she got dressed the girls were outside all morning.

I am curled up on the couch keeping a eye on a big pot of chilli and getting ready to knit while my hubby watches foot ball in the basement and the girls play up stairs.  I love lazy sundays snowed in with the family.

I guess things weren't as bad in the cities this is a pic outside my sisters house.  Me and the girlies are going to do manicures this afternoon.

This is the view outside my window at 1:37pm.  The girls are fighting like cats and dogs upstairs, from the yells coming from the basement the vikings game seems to be going well and the chilli..

 it is almost done on the stove :)  Yumm.  I am watching some mcleods daughters on netflix like a complete bum. 

Every bellied up to the table to a nice big bowl of warm chilli.  Fire monster in her viking game day outfit my hubby makes her wear every vikes game. 

Here are the two knuckle heads enjoying theirs.  Don't let graces skin and bones look fool you that girl eats at least twice what mine do on a bad day!  She had two bowls of chilli.

Every one needed a nice mani so lined the girls up and painted their nails.  I chose wet and wild I read a good book with ruby pumps over top ,and across from me is grace who chose her green color with ruby pump accent nails and I lined the triangles with silver glitter , then monkey butt did her graces ice magnetic polish (it didn't work for crap), and fire monster chose zebra nails

 This is the l look out our window at 4:33pm

My brother and his fiance are driving from the Wisconsin Dells to the cities and this was what thier drive looked like.  Looks like a ton of fun huh!

 Here is a great pic my friend angel took.  Very beautiful christmas light display!

and here is my friend Jens deck.  These are both in the cities I think we got considerable more snow then up there.

Turns out we didn't buy cat food on the last grocery run and he has no food and my hubby was not successful at getting either car out today after hours of trying!  So he will have to survive on some cat treats (which we have tons of) and some lunch meat until I get plowed out of this place.

Well here is my crowning achievement for the day..

I finished my broken seed stitch socks!!!  I started these sept 7!!  I hated knitting these I was of coarse doing them two at a time and that means I had four balls of yarn that were constantly tangling up and I couldn't set the project down to do anything with out coming back to a huge tangle.  I will not be doing this again lol.  It just tried my non-existent patients too much.  I am in the mood how ever to knit socks so I will be corralling my hubby before we climb into bed to make him help me wind yarn :) He by the way has cabin fever and is cranky and driving me up the wall he can't be pinned in like this! He isn't a sit around and relax and take a lazy day person.

 I suppose I should call it a night I drug this out all day to show you what it is like in our little Minnesotan world right now.  Heres to hoping the cat doesn't try eat us in our sleep ;)

A new family favorite comfort food

My favorite food from childhood on is home made mac and cheese!!  I love it all kinds of ways and can't ever seem to pass it up.  Another comfort food that is my favorite is grill cheese and tomato soup.  So when I saw Tomato soup mac and cheese on pintrest you better believe that I had to pin in right away.  I have made it numerous times since then and it has become a quick family favorite that is asked for by the kids in the family.  

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Here is a pic of m delish left overs the other day.  

 Here is where I got the original recipe.  I have changed it up a bit after some trial and error this is what I found works best for me I use one I make mac and cheese like I typically would which means I use a box of elbow mac but cook it half way then I add at least two cups of cheese ( I prefer mostly sharp cheddar) Then I add a can of tomato soup and a can of evaporated milk then I bake it until it is browning and starting to get just a bit crunchy.  I do find this you have to watch a bit more then regular mac and cheese it will burn easier.  

well I hope you guys enjoy this let me know if you guys try this :)

Mittens

 I have been busy sewing mittens.  I am putting them for sells on my facebook pages. 

Indigo and pink with grey cables and pear green cuff lined in grey fleece.

 Cosby mittens lined in fleece

 purple and grey cabled lined with grey fleece

 Beautiful cream purple and light grey mittens lined in black cashmere!!!!

 purple pink and grey cabled lined in grey fleece

 Purple and grey cabled fleece lined

 Purple and green mittens cashmere outside and cashmere lined

Hope everyone is warm and cozy.  We are under a blizzard warning so I am just hanging out nice and cozy at home with my family all weekend. 

Top 10 lip colors this winter

I wanted to share with you my favorite things I have been using for my lips this winter.  I didn't include lip glosses I was sticking to things in lip stick form for this.  So these are my top 10 things I reach for.  I will swatch them share names and what the pros and cons are for each one. :)  Here we go..

•  1. maybelline  410 blissful berry

•  2. maybelline  015 born with it

• 3. revlon 030 fuchsia

• 4. revlon lip butter 040 red velvet

• 5. revlon lip butter 050 berry smoothie

• 6. revlon kissable balm stain 001 honey

• 7. wet and wild 508a black orchid

• 8. loreal infallible 814 forever frappe

• 9. loreal infallible 337 refined ruby

• 10. maybelline baby lips

 Here is how each color swatches in same order

 Here is the break down on why I love each and when I wear it.

 1. maybelline  410 blissful berry This is a great nice berry lip color for the fall.  I love this!  I bought it recently and have reached for it more then any since then.  It is creamy and great if you do a lip liner under you can get decent wear but isn't a long wearing so have to reapply.

 2. maybelline  015 born with it .  This is my go to nude lip color.  I love it for days when I have a super smokey eye and don't want the over whelming lip.

3. revlon 030 fuchsia  This is a great fun bright lip color.  I love to wear this on a day out when I am in a super girly mood and want something bright and fun.

I love lip butters I have found I like the non glittery ones better (just like the way the sit on the lip better ) They are moisturizing shiny and great color pay off  (btw forgot pink truffle wear it all the time)

4. revlon lip butter 040 red velvet this color is a great for a red lip if you aren't worried about long wear and just want a quick swipe of a great red lip.  Perfect for the winter and holidays

5. revlon lip butter 050 berry smoothie  This is a great every day wear color.  I can see this being good any time of year Its just a great one to throw on with any look.

6. revlon kissable balm stain 001 honey  This is a great one for throwing on with any look also. It is a color that will do good with  any skin tone.  They aren't dry looking like normal stains I want darker colors to try but haven't bought any yet.

7. wet and wild 508a black orchid  This color is great it isn't as scary dark as it looks in the tube. It isn't a long wearing and have a great dark berry wine like tone to it.  I love this when I want a nice dark lip.

 

These infallible Lip sticks are great long wearing formula.  They aren't drying and will stay on for long long time.  I use these when I will be out and about and know I wont' have time to reapply and don't want to worry about smears.

8. loreal infallible 814 forever frappe  This is a great every day color good on most skin tones

9. loreal infallible 337 refined ruby  This is a amazing lip color.  Great red lip good for all skin tones wears for ages and won't smear and get messy so low maintenance red.  Will be perfect for holiday parties or any time you want that great classy glamorous red lip but not to worry about touching up constantly or it getting all over the place.

 

10. maybelline baby lips  There are more of a tinted balm and have tried lots of the colors but this one is my favorite out of all the colors I have tried.  I received this as a Christmas present last year and have repurchased quiet a few since then.  I love the subtle color it leaves and they are super moisturizing I put this on daily.

I hope you guys enjoyed this and it was helpful to some of you.  :)  I am off to make my self a cup of french press and get my day started :)

Help katie by purchasing a Donate life charm

This is Katie and her beautiful family.

Katie has been fighting a rare disorder called Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC) in May 2012 her illness took a turn for the worse and sent her into liver failure. When PCS develops into liver failure it moves much more rapid compared to other diseases of the liver and becomes terminal. Katie has a very short time to live if she does not receive a liver transplant.
Katie is loving daughter, sister, wife and friend. Katie and her husband Clayton have dreamed for years of being parents.

Unfortunately, due to PCS Katie was unable to carry children herself. In 2010 they were blessed with adopting a beautiful baby boy. Now, 2012, Katie is fighting for her life.  

The schollmeiers and my hubby's family were very close they are like brothers and sisters to each other. I adore the schollmeiers.  We are doing a few things to help raise money to help for medical expenses during the surgery in which Ben her brother (one of the most selfless amazing people I have ever met in the whole world) will gladly donates 70% of his liver to her to save his little sisters life.

 Here is a hilarious picture of them I stole off his facebook (sorry guys lol)

 We waited for a long time to know if they would find a match for her and this is what Ben posted on his fb to let everyone know he was a match (how cute was this he had my house in tears!)Roses are red.
My Sister was blue.
I said, "Not to worry, I have a liver for you."
Took some tests, though I've drank with the best.
I passed, with a gasp, and said, "Finally at last!"
It will take some time, but we will recover.
This one is for my Sister, because man do I love her.

Love you Sis, and I'm glad to be there for you in a big way.

~Your Bro Ben
 (cuter then cute right) 
One of the things that we are doing for fundraising efforts is people can purchase these awesome hand stamped necklaces and 5$ automatically goes to them.

This is the boy version.  They can be purchased here

The other thing is a Benefit if you live in the twin cities area and would like to attend or if you have something you would like to donate toward auction the info is here.  I know I will be donating a basket as well as some of my friends and there is also a signed Adrian Peterson photo and some things from the timber wolves and other things.  :)  Keep these great people in your thoughts and prayers and thanks for your time and thanks for any who donate to these great people I am lucky enough to know and call friends ;)

best tea ever!!

I am a coffee drinker I love coffee I drink it every single day.  I love all different forms of it iced, drip, french press (which I make my self every morning) lattes the whole shebang.  but even though I love coffee my first love was tea. While I don't drink tea every single day of the year when I do I love it.  For me it carries with it memories of this amazing women..

My grandma!!  We grew up spending one night a weekend with her.  We always had tea with lemon heads and red hots from the jar on the back of her stove and cinnamon toast for breakfast.  I have mentioned her before on here and how much I love her and miss her and when ever I have a cup of tea and teach my girls to share that love of tea it helps me keep her alive in our hearts. :)  Having a cup of tea is like getting a big hug from that little lady.

Lately I have been drinking allot of tea.  I have added to my tea collection and have some things I have added into my tea ritual that my sister got me hooked on.  It is soo good my husband has me make him a cup every night after we put our kiddos to bed.  I have to share. :) 

Here is every thing I need for my tea. (the tea pot isn't necessary it was just a great find at home goods and too cute not to show off;)

So start with your favorite mug... this is my favorite lately

 

 Grab your favorite tea.  I have a cupboard full of tea this is my favorite lately.  I love all kinds of tea I have fancy expensive ones and I still love the amazing flavor and juiciness of celestial seasonings.  They come out of Boulder Colorado a amazing city I want to go back to some day and they remind me of catch a release which I also love...anyway back to tea.

Now here is the part my sister got me hooked on you take a lemon cut it into little slices throw it in a jar, cover it in honey, toss it in the fridge like this. It keeps for when eve you are ready for your tea.

So I boil my water in my tea pot on the stove. ( I hate water heated in the microwave I always think it tastes funny don't ask) .  Once it is just before a boil I steep my tea for a minute until it looks beautiful and berry like then move my tea bag to a little dish.

 

next comes the lemon heads and red hots.

This is usually what I put in my tea.

Then I scoop out one lemon toss that in.

I pour in a spoon full of the honey. ( I usually toss in a artificial sweetener packet too...don't' judge me)

I squeeze the lemon and there you go the best juicy delicious cup of tea ever. 

I love love love it.  It makes me feel warm and cozy and my whole little world better.

I hope you guys try this and I hope you enjoy it.  Please leave a comment below and let me know if you try this I would love to hear your favorite type of tea.

happy manicure monday !

 Hey guys I am thinking of starting a new things here on the blog.  Manicure Monday.  So for today these are my fun nails.

  The main color is wet and wild mega last in wet cement which is a great purplish grey.  and the glitter is milani gems.  It is a great glitter because it has lots of colors and both big and small glitter with a clear base. 

I love greys and it is hard to find a good one with my skin tone that doesn't make it look like I am a zombie (in a bad way lol)  This one is great and long lasting.  My base ofcoarse was orly bonder and my topcoat the insta dry sally hanson. .  If you follow me on instagram I always post fun pics on there.