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Wordless Wednesday

The Diva.

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I'm finding naughty naughty things on Pinterest again.....

I'm pretty sure there have to be at least 9,782 calories in a slice of this bad boy:

I know - shut the front door.
http://artofdessert.blogspot.com/2011/10/chocolate-wasted-cake.html

Look at these!  Super easy and I bet they're awesome.  Hello, they have peanut butter and white chocolate.  Hell yes they're awesome.  I'm so making these.

http://www.getoffyourbuttandbake.com/2009/09/warm-gooey-peanut-butter-marshmallow.html

Ohh, I need to have my breakfast chef (Lucas) try this one...

http://www.bluewillowblog.com/post/5389239383/blueberry-french-toast-sandwich-this-is-a-yummy

Ok, ok, this is the last one because I'm getting hungry....

http://sixsistersstuff.blogspot.com/2011/07/rolo-cookies.html

Yep, good thing this is happening!

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One of my bloggy friends Iowa Girl Eats is doing a 20 day holiday challenge - not counting the weekends there are 20 days til Christmas.  Her challenge is to work out at least 5 of 7 days of the week leading up to the holidays.  Who's with me!?  I want to ENJOY eating good things this holiday season and the only way to enjoy good things AND maintain my weight loss is to be active.  I promise to do the elliptical or Pilates at least 5 out of 7 days of the week.

This is what I looked like 2 Christmases ago vs last Christmas:

Yeah, I'll keep on the elliptical and enjoy my slice of cheesecake!  Who's joining us?!

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Random Stuff I Find on Pinterest:

Ice Proofing the Car Windows with 2/3 Vinegar 1/3 water! Just spray on windows and ice will melt away! - Shut the front door - this is great for someone like me who is too short and can't reach the middle of my front window with the scraper lol.

Clean windows, mirrors and wine glasses with coffee filters. They are lint free and leave no streaks!

Jan. 1, turn all your hangers backwards. As you wear clothes, turn the hanger around. Anything that is still backwards on June 1, toss.

When nasty weeds pop up, don't reach for the weed killer. Douse them with vinegar, lemon juice or boiling water instead. The weeds will likely shrivel in a day or so. Resilient ones rarely withstand a second treatment.

If you aren’t sure how fresh your eggs are, place them in about four inches of water. Eggs that stay on the bottom are fresh. If only one end tips up, the egg is less fresh and should be used soon. If it floats, it’s past the fresh stage.

Don’t store your bananas in a bunch or in a fruit bowl with other fruits. Separate your bananas and place each in a different location. Bananas release gases which cause fruits (including other bananas) to ripen quickly. Separating them will keep them fresh longer. I need to try this!


A cotton ball soaked in white vinegar and applied to a fresh bruise will reduce the darkness of the bruise and help it disappear sooner.  Good to know if you have to wear a bridesmaid's dress or be photographed.

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Tree is trimmed.

My holiday centerpiece creation for the table.

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FIVE QUESTION FRIDAY!


1. Is there a special dish you prepare that you are famous for?

Hmm... I don't think I'm "famous" for anything cooking wise??  Family can chime in, but I can't think of anything.  :)

2. Are you (did you) go Black Friday shopping ?

Online currently.  :)  Bath and Body Works had their wallflowers for $5 per 2 pack vs normal $12.50 AND then I found a 20% off coupon online so I got 8 wallflowers and 5 hand sanitizers for about $30. Woooot!  Right now I'm looking at The Limited's website - everything is 50% off.  That's huge for The Limited - I really love their dress pants but I refuse to pay full price.  

I've gone once in the middle of the night (aka 4 am) - never again. Nothing is worth that much to me.  I've gone in the past later in the afternoon and it wasn't soo bad.  I just still prefer sitting in my comfy clothes, eating pie and shopping on my MacBook. 

3. What are your strangest holiday traditions?

I don't think we have any "strange" traditions?  Lucas' family sings Christmas Carols on Christmas Eve - I thought that was strange when I first experienced it. Now its pretty normal to me.  

4. Pecan, apple or pumpkin pie? 

Oohhh, I've recently started loving Pecan Pie - I don't know why because I don't like nuts in my food.  I've always been a lover of pumpkin pie - in fact Mom whipped out a pretty good one this year.  I just had a piece for lunch.  :)  Apple - eh, I can take it or leave it.  

5. When will you put up your Christmas tree?

I always do it Thanksgiving weekend.  I'm thinking Saturday night or Sunday.  We'll see how motivated we are!

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Happy Thanksgiving friends.  :-)  Hope you had a great day with your families eating lots of good food!  I'm thankful for so many things - a roof over my head, a car that runs, a job that pays the bills, health, JIF creamy peanut butter, fuzzy socks, and most importantly my friends, family, canine kids and the boy I love.

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3 words - American Horror Story.  

OH. MY.

Have you started watching it yet?  If not, get on it!  Its available on iTunes.  

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This is totally random but I love it!  Right down to the details (a shell ring for Ariel, a mouse for Cinderella, etc) - super fun.  You can do stuff like this on Polyvore.com - put together outfits right down to the accessories.  Its kind of addicting....  

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If you are a parent please make sure your kid isn't being bullied OR doing the bullying.  One of my cousins is being bullied.  While I'd like to go smack the bully in the back of the head, I would be better off smacking his parents in the back of his head.  Probably another reason I shouldn't/don't want to have children.  Bullying has become an epidemic as of late it seems - unfortunately to the extreme of some kids committing suicide.....  We didn't have NEAR the amount of bullying when I was in school.   Did some kids call me names in school?  Yeah, they were kids.  Would those kids (who are now my friends on Facebook) remember calling me names in school?  Doubt it.  In fact, I can guarantee you they wouldn't remember it or what they said - however I can remember who said it and what they said.  That never leaves a person.   But I never remember anyone getting physically bullied or extremely emotionally bullied in school.  Technology has only added to bullying - kids like to "bully" via Facebook now - back in my day if you wanted to bully someone it was generally face to face.  Its unfortunate the world is coming to this.  I blame it not only on parents (because let's be real - parenting overall has gone down the toilet too) but even some on teachers.  I mean no offense to the people in my life who are teachers and parents.  You both have two of the toughest jobs in the world and I respect it and you, but unfortunately some of the bad teachers and parents are ruining it for everyone - those select few have kids and pass on their bad values and those bad values get passed on...    Back in my day teachers and parents didn't put up with the shit they have to put up with today - now thanks to "society" discipline has taken a much different meaning.  God forbid you discipline a child.... and it doesn't even have to be a swat on the butt.  It could be taking away their TV, video games, etc.  Get creative people.

Ok off my soapbox - my point was... if you ever hear or see a kid getting bullied DO SOMETHING.

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Holy crap, I need a weekend from my weekend.  Very busy and fun.  After Mom and the sisters headed home Lucas and I went with Julie to see Breaking Dawn and then had dinner at the Convention Grill in Edina.  We're talking old school diner.  Even the waitresses look about 60 (except ours - she was a youngin) and wear all white 50's looking uniforms.   They are known for their malts and fries.  I had their homemade chicken noodle soup and it was pretty good.  We shared the fries and they were yummy.  And this is my Reese's Peanut Butter Cup malt.  Mmmhmm... I know.  

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Lookie what I got at the Guthrie tonight!  Dave Dahl from Channel 5 was giving away Department 56 Guthrie snow globes to the first 25 people.  Of course we were super early because the roads suuuuuucked.

Tomorrow its brunch with Garret and Joe and "Breaking Dawn"!  Mwhahaha!

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Five Question Friday!

1. Do you have a go to song that always puts you in a good mood?

Lately its "Pumped Up Kicks" - I just want to groove when that song is on.  Feel free to groove with me:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDTZ7iX4vTQ&ob=av3e

2. Are you a real Christmas tree kinda person or do you go with a real fake one?

Fake - we've been through this.  I've seen National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation.  Squirrels are no bueno.

3. What are you thankful for?

So much - my husband, my kids, my roof over my head, my job, my family, my friends.  The list goes on. 

4. Which fashion fad from the past do you wish you could wear today?

Mad Men dresses, duhhh! 

5. Do you wait until the "low fuel" light comes on before you fill up the gas tank?

Heck no!  I'm a paranoid freak about running out of gas.  I usually don't go below 1/4 tank.

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Let's talk Thanksgiving dinner.  Do you guys go super traditional or are you willing to try new things?  I just had a conversation with my mom who stated she didn't know what to bring to Thanksgiving yet.  I suggested she make the new sweet potato (covered in marshmallows, mind you!) dish I sent her a couple weeks back.  She said "But I'm not sure if people would like it." - WHO CARES I SAY?  I'm down with the usual turkey, mashed potatoes, pumpkin pie, blah blah blah, but how about some new stuff?  We aren't going to know we don't like it if we don't try it.  And I'm not at all concerned about there being enough food.  Anyone who knows anything about my family knows we NEVER run out of food.   I'm making pie - and guess what?  There is no pumpkin or fruit of any kind in it!  Take that Thanksgiving traditionalists. :)

I challenge my family to bring something new to Thanksgiving this year.   In fact, I dare you.  :-)

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I feel pretty, oh so pretty....  this isn't a blog post for the boys (ok, maybe a couple boys I know, but not most).  I'm a make up whore... I admit it.  If I had endless amounts of cash I would have drawers and drawers of make up.   :-)

These are a few of my favorite things:

Urban Decay Naked Palette - LOVE.  I've been pretty much using this exclusively since I got it last year.  It was sold out EVERYWHERE.  My friend Michelle had to get it for me in NJ and mail it out here, ha.

Urban Decay Primer Potion - your eyeshadow will not move.  I promise.

Essie Nail Polish - I love their colors.  Its more affordable than other salon quality brands.  It stays put.  I'm currently wearing Bobbing for Baubles.

Smash Box Foundation Primer - love this.  I recently bought the Bare Minerals version of foundation primer and its ok, but I'll be going back to Smash Box.  Its not cheap but it lasts quite awhile.

I also recently switched to the Sephora brand eyeliner.  I use to use Urban Decay but its too soft and gets all over.  Sephora is firmer, cleaner and cheaper.  Win.

I don't get all my make up at Sephora, ha!  I use Cover Girl loose powder.  L'Oreal mascara.  L'Oreal for my red lips.  

My wish list includes Make Up Forever HD Foundation - this stuff is $$$ so I'll only get it if I get a Sephora gift card for Christmas.... even then I might think twice because if I love it, I'll be in big trouble.  :)

I'm still on the search for shampoo that tames my hair static in the winter.  I have found that Aveda Smooth Infusion helps but again, its not cheap!  What are you favorite products??

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49 days left in the year.... yikes!

Things on my calendar the next 49 days include:

Shopping with my crazy aunts and mom - yes they dance while playing Rock Band....

A Christmas Carol at the Guthrie.

Thanksgiving with the fam.

Hollidazzle!

Ugly Holiday Sweater day at work!

A Christmas light limo tour ride!  This is an actual tree on Cedar Ave in Minneapolis.  So pretty!

My first monster truck rally - I have to find my Christmas wife beater and trucker hat....

A very special friend's very special birthday!

Christmas and New Years.

Busy, but FUN!

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More things I'm loving from Pinterest (I'm addicted, ok? Don't judge me):

"Vootbeer" - vanilla flavored vodka and root beer topped with whip cream.  Yes please.

http://www.creative-culinary.com/boulder-distillery-happy-hour-friday

Egg Nog Pound Cake..... might have to give that a try!

http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/eggnog-pound-cake-10000001940931/

I bet my furniture designing husband would go for this idea:

Making lasagna in a crock pot seems a little weird to me.... but I'm willing to try it out!

http://creatingthroughlife.blogspot.com/2011/10/crock-pot-lasagna.html

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Happy Sunday everyone.   Another blog about food. :-)  I made the Avalanche Bars that I blogged about the other day.  OMG.  All I can say is its a good thing they're going to work tomorrow for a pot luck.  Lucas and I shared one to taste (and make sure it wasn't gross of course) and wow.   I'll definitely be making these again.  And they're super easy.  Bonus.

Dinner tonight was an old favorite - Taco Soup.  This is a weight watchers recipe that is 1. easy 2. low cal 3. and very filling.  Its a little high on the sodium for my liking but that can be adjusted by using low sodium canned good if available.   Top it with low fat sour cream and low fat shredded cheese and you're set.  Lucas likes to dip baked Tostitos in his taco soup.

Can you believe Thanksgiving is less than 2 weeks away? Me neither!

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First new recipe of the weekend complete.  I made the French Toast Muffins I wrote about yesterday.  They aren't too bad - I would like them a little sweeter though.  Next time if I plan on feeding more than Lucas and I, I will double the recipe (it only made 8) and I'm going to add more nutmeg or cinnamon to the batter.  It called for 1/2 tsp of nutmeg I think.  I think it needs more.  :)

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Favorite Things Friday:

Bailey's No Bake Cheesecake - shut the front door.  I will be making these this winter!

Melted Snowman Cookies - these are so cute and funny!!

Love it.

One week bitches.