Friday Favorite...a Day EARLY!!

Because I couldn't WAIT to share one of the best kept secrets EVAAH!!

Girls...I'm gonna share a secret with you. I don't have wonderful skin! 'Specially my face. It's getting better...but I'm tellin' ya, I've had zits blemishes off and on since I was like 7! I thought it'd get better when I got older...well, it didn't! In fact, a few years ago...when time started marching by at warp speed, it got WORSE! It's finally calmed down, but I still have to be careful about the soap I get to use on my face. For several years, I've only used Mary Kay Timewise, but I just can't bring myself to pay that price for a BAR OF SOAP for heaven sakes! {I'm thinkin' it's like $9.00 or something crazy like that!} My last Timewise "sample bar" was getting paper thin a couple weeks ago. My mistah was with me when I had to make a Dollar Tree run to see if they had those stinkin' glass vases (which they didn't...and STILL don't!) but my cool hubs decided to make the best of it and perused the aisles while I was busy looking for candles and vases. I got nuttin'...he picked up $7.00 worth of goods! And one of them was this bar of soap! I'm like..."Honey, we don't buy soap at the Dollar Tree!" Okay...lesson learned...AGAIN! He hung his head and slumped away since I was so SWEET and GENTLE...and I was convicted! Right there on the spot! I had to chase him down and apologize and ask him to let me see what kind of soap it was. [Girls...don't embarass your hubbies at the Dollar Tree...or anywhere else! We need to build them up, not tear them down with one sentence that spews out before we THINK! I felt so bad, and still do, but I am married to a very forgiving man and I'm eternally thankful.]

I read the box. "Hypoallergenic Non Comedogenic". Hmmmm...REALLY? Here at the Dollar Tree? They have soap like THAT? Sure do! I figured what did we have to loose? $1? I've tossed away more than that before. A broken out face? Whatev! I figured I deserved it for being such a jerk! Lets give it a shot.

Girls...it's THE BEST SOAP! {listen to your husbands! I almost missed this b/c I thought I knew better!} It's so good, I stopped in last night and bought 5 more bars! They are big...so my soap stash will most likely last me at least a year, if not longer! And they were ONE DOLLAR each!

It smells so fresh...unlike that other soap that's the same color. What do they call that stuff...Neutragena or something like that? I think that stuff smells medicinal, and I like to smell fresh when I crawl into bed, not like a medicine chest. {Winter months are hard b/c I do like to put Mentholatum on my lips before bed. Hubby won't kiss me if I do. Hmmm....DILEMMA!}

One more thing...Isn't this is the CUTEST ways of storing your soap in the guest bath.

I prolly won't do that even though I have the enamelware pan because Ivory soap disappears if you leave it unwrapped. Did you know that? I honestly have no idea WHERE it goes. It's like it just "evaporates" or something. I'm serious! I used to love the way it smelled so I put a bar of it in my sock drawer once. {I'm still serious!} Went to look for it one day and it looked like a "hotel bar"! WEIRD, I tell ya! For that reason, I won't unwrap my Ivory and tie it with rag strips. But it's SURE cute!

Okay...ya'll run over to the Dollar Tree and pick up yourself a bar of Pears. I'm pretty sure you won't be sorry!!!

I've got a few of these Friday Favorites coming up for ya! This one has been something I've been looking for on my list for quite some time, but Amy picked one up somewhere and it prompted me to go a lookin' harder! A few weeks ago, my mistah and I were at Ace Hardware. He needed some Carhartt overpants...what do you call those things??...anyhow...he needed some for the cold Chicago winter that he's getting ready to face on the dock at his new job. Soooo...if you've ever been pant shoppin' with MY MISTAH...you're just happy he's going to do it at Ace Hardware and not Kohl's!! {unless you happen to be Marty. Marty and Dennis are pants shopping buddies. Unfortunately, we don't live close enough for them to go together all the time!} I go b/c I like being with him, but after 30 minutes...I'm moving onto other things. So it was on this day.

I love hardware stores. I could own one! But I won't. Anyhow...I began to meander. {don't cha love that word?...MEEEAAANNDER.} Okay...back to my story. I meandered up and down every aisle at that big ol' store when I happened to run across the cleaning aisle. Now...Ace has cleaning supplies that your regular grocery store doesn't have. Like Mrs. Meyers cleaning agents. I think they are the organic type...but the scents are so pretty. Lavender counter top cleaner. Now WHO wouldn't like that?? They also have other DELIGHTFUL scents like:

Basil
Lavender
Lemon Verbena
Geranium
Baby Blossom
Scent Free
Holiday

Here's what that looks like:

They have liquid pump soap, bar soap, All Purpose Cleaner, Dishwasher Soap, Surface Scrub and other soaps. (I'm sounding a little like Bubba from Forrest Gump, aren't I? Wonder if they have SHRIMP soap? Ha!) Soo....this isn't my Friday favorite today, but it might be someday!

BUT THIS IS!!!

Girls...if you have stubborn spots/lime buildup or whatever on your toilets...go grab buy yourself one of these pumice stones and put some elbow grease to it...and it'll be so shiney you can eat off of it! {okay...don't eat out of your toilets...but you get the picture!} That lime buildup and stain is G-O-N-E!

The price of this little diddy was a mere $3.99 and it was SOO worth it! As you can see...there are many uses for it. I saved my box incase i ever want to use it on something else! Ha!

So that's what I got for ya today! Go find yourself one. Tell 'em I sent ya.

Nevermind...they don't know me!

But tell your hubby that you got the idea off of an "ode laties" blog...and he'll hug you for buying it! At least he'll hug you for wanting to go to the hardware store with him!! ; )

Speaking of "ode laties"...I ran across this sweet picture not long ago. Thought a "couple of ya's" would get a good giggle out of this one! Sweet little Lane is going to marry the love of her life on Dec. 19th in Topeka, Ks. Doesn't she look like a "bride to be"? Congrats Lane Elizabeth...praying for you as you get ready for your big day!!! Pretty soon you will be like your "ode laty" friend, Amy...shopping for pumice stones to clean your toilets!

Ya'll have a wonderful day!!

My Friday Favorite

I know it's been awhile...but I have a new FAVORITE blog. Here it is...and when you have some time, you'll wanna check it out. That is, iffin' ya like primitive things. She has some SWEET ideas! That's all. Just a short note today! : 0

FRIDAY FAVORITE!!!

I've not done a very good job of keeping up with this fun idea! Sorry Natalie...I just keep forgetting or don't have anything favorite going on except my new grannybabies and I never wait until Fridays to put their mugs on my blog!! Anyhow, my sweet friend Leslie (I'll have to feature my friends from time to time so you all know who I'm talking about!) Anyhow..Leslie does some marketing for companies and gives out coupons and a little "schpeel" about how they work and what it is and I happened to get one for Cover Girl Lip Stain. Now...I'm not much of a make up person...less is best for me, BUT...I'm certainly not opposed to a little fussin' up for my honey! Hey, if the barn needs a paintin'.....!

I'm just sayin!

So...this afternoon, I headed up to CVS for a quick stop BECAUSE....I saw in their flyer they had these little diddies buy 1 get one free! AND...I had the coupon for $1.00 off that Leslie gave me!! This is what they look like.

I've just gotta tell you girls that this stuff is GREAT!! It gives a light touch of color, isn't gooey like normal lipstick, and stayed on throughout my meal and still, after brushing my teeth and ready for bed...there is STILL a hint of color! Here's the writeup about it on the Cover Girl website:

The water-based colorants of Outlast Lipstain give lips a beautiful, lightweight flush of color that won't come off, lasting for hours without the heavy look or feel of an ordinary lipstick. Its pen-like precision applicator makes it easy to define your lips-just draw on color without any hassle!

The colors I got were:

#435, Flirty Nude
#425, Plum Pout

I'm not getting paid for this "commercial"...just passing along one of my new "Favorite things"! If you're interested...make sure you get yourself to a CVS by Sat...b/c it is only in this weeks flyer! (or wait until the next time they offer it buy 1/get 1. I hear they do that every whipstitch!

FRIDAY FAVORITE

Wouldn't ya like to come visit me if I lived here?? I'm thinkin' this might just be my mansion in Glory! A couple horses, some sheep, a few roosters...ahhh....life so simple! Click on it to see those darling geese that welcome you in the drive!

{Friday Favorite}

Thank you Leslie for making this sweet lil thang for my bathroom! I don't know if this is where she had in mind, but the colors are perfect and who isn't looking for something to pretty up their TOILET for heaven's sake? The dark soap was made by my BFF Carolyn! Those were favors that she made for Amy's shower at Sweet Annies almost a year ago and I have just gotten the nerve to start allowing people to use it! Smells sooo good! The pear soap I found at the T.S. (NIB) and the pewter I also got at the T.S. for .60! I smile now when I go into the bathroom...something I can't say that I've ever done before!

HomeMade Kit Kat Bars

Homemade Kit~Kat Bars
Makes about 2 1/2 dozen bars

Ingredients:

75 club crackers
1 cup butter
2 cups graham cracker crumbs
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup whole milk (or half/half)
1/3 cup sugar

2/3 cup creamy peanut butter
1/2 cup semisweet chocolate morsels
1/2 cup butterscotch-flavored morsels

Directions:

Line an un-greased 13x9 inch baking pan with 1 layer of crackers, cutting to fit if necessary; set aside.In a large saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Add cracker crumbs, brown sugar, milk, and sugar. Bring to a boil, and boil for 5 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat, and pour half of butter mixture evenly over cracker. Place another single layer of crackers evenly over butter mixture, cutting to fit if necessary. Pour remaining butter mixture evenly over crackers. Top evenly with remaining crackers.

In a small saucepan, combine peanut butter, chocolate morsels and butterscotch morsels. Melt over medium-low heat, stirring constantly. Spread evenly over top of crackers. Cover, and chill for a least 1 hour. Cut into bars. Store in refrigerator.

Enjoy!

Friday Favorite

I didn't make this little precious up, but saw it on someones blog....so i went huntin! Yep...found that wreath for TWENTY cents and the frame for FORTY cents. Hmmmm...that gives me...ummmm....SIXTY cents! Now...today happens to be 1/2 price on housewares so that means it's all mine for a smooth THIRTY cents! Can't beat that! I just love it for .30! Don't you?

Friday Favorite~~ Fancy Pants Whipped Cream Maker!

Remember when I told you that I had something I wanted to share with you that makes beautifully perfect whipped cream?? WELL....Thanksgiving happened and whipped cream was MADE! My Mom got this for me for Christmas 7 or 8 years ago and it's one of my most favorite kitchen gadgets in the world! It is fairly pricey, but this is what I used my Christmas money on that year and although I don't use it often, when I do, it's so much fun! It also keeps the cream fresher than if you just leave it in the carton...since it's pressurized. I got mine at Williams Sonoma...and you can get the replacement cartridges there as well.

First you assemble all you'll need. I forgot the WATKINS vanilla for this picture, but you always put a good vanilla (or better yet, scrape out a vanilla BEAN) into your cream!

Pour your heavy cream into the container. I usually fill it 1/2 full, then add about 1 t. vanilla and 4-5 T. powdered sugar. Screw on the lid and give it a little back and forth motion to mix the sugar into the cream well.

Below is the little Co2 cartridge that goes into the top. You buy a box of 12 I think...and they keep them behind the desk at the store b/c apparantly some naughty teenagers like to inhale them for a high? I dunno....I'd rather get high off of whipped cream myself!

Screw the cartridge into the top adapter until you hear it spewing into the canister. Then, unscrew it, toss the empty cartridge and screw on the right size dispenser for whatever you are doing. I normally just use it for pies and cocoa, but you can decorate things with it too!

Here it is...whipped cream is made and the adapter is in place and ready! No beaters and somehow...just putting the Co2 into the dispenser makes it froth up nice!

KEY....hold the canister completely upside down or you loose Co2 with no cream coming out! Oh...it's sooo creamy and perfect for topping pies and hot cocoa!!

Anyone wanna piece??

Friday Favorites...

Sorry I didn't post my whipped cream maker this week. I've decided to do it right would require making it! Since I re-joined WW this week, I didn't think that would be a good idea! (okay, here's the point you can let me have it on the above feature!!) Ha! Anyhow...these are my NEW FAVORITE cookies! If you love peanut butter cookies and Reeses Peanut Butter cups, then these little morsels will be a hit at your house! 1 cookie will satisfy your craving and it seriously tastes like candy! OH...that's right...it IS candy! SO easy to make. I found the recipe on some blog, sorry I didn't save the blog, only the recipe! ENJOY!!!

Peanut Butter Cup Cookies

1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 egg, beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoons milk
48 miniature chocolate covered peanut butter cups, unwrapped

DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
Sift together the flour, salt and baking soda; set aside. Cream together the butter, sugar, peanut butter and brown sugar until fluffy. Beat in the egg, vanilla and milk. Add the flour mixture; mix well.
Shape into 48 balls and place each into an ungreased mini muffin pan. ( I used my small Pampered Chef scoop...no getting messy of the hands this way!!)
Bake at 375 degrees for about 8 minutes. Remove from oven and immediately press a mini peanut butter cup into each ball. Cool and carefully remove from pan.

Update: If you prefer chocolate and peanut butter, simply use a brownie mix and place a dallop of brownie mix in the mini tart pans instead of the peanut butter cookie dough. Follow the same instructions!

Friday Favorite

With gutsty winds and blowing snow right around the corner, I pulled out one of my trusted handy-dandy "tools" for Fall and Winter cooking! It's a microplaner and I got it at one of the kitchen gadget stores in an outlet mall. I've watched Ina Garton, Martha Stewart and a few other fancy pants chefs use it so I guess I thought if I were to be a good cook, I needed one in my drawer too! I have not been disappointed! Perfect for grating fresh nutmeg (and there IS a difference girls!) and freshly grated cinnamon. (used with cinnamon sticks, but I'm sure you figured that one out!) I've also used it for parmesan cheese for very fine powder and lemon and lime zest. You know me...when I pay over $10.00 for anything, I'm going to find more than one use for it! Ha! It's so pretty to serve Pumpkin Pie with fresh whipped cream and a light dusting of freshly ground nutmeg or cinnamon on top! Same goes with Hot Cocoa...just that little extra touch that makes your guests think they are being treated oh so special! Next week, I'll show you my favorite whipped cream maker! Get ready to say..."oooohhhh"!!!! ; )

Friday Favorite

I cleaned my house today, picking up tiny dollhouse decorations and taking toys back to the basement and found many "favorite things" leftover from B, A and R's visit, BUT....I took the most pleasure today in rearranging a corner of my kitchen countertop! It's an often overlooked corner b/c it's behind a door. I've had it the same for almost 8 years now and after a thrift store run yesterday, there was a new lamp that found it's way to my little corner! ($6.00!!) I love Fall...the colors and sounds of the seasons changing is so comforting to me, but there is a part of me that longs for Spring again too! This is THE perfect lamp! Toile, which is one of my favorite decorating fabrics with a tiny birds nest nestled on it's branches which reminds me that Spring will return after the cold days of winter! So...now, as we are headed towards the blustery season, I will be reminded of the warm days ahead. In the meantime, I'll have a lamp on to keep my kitchen cozy as the days get shorter and the snow flies!
Graphics: dknapp_loveromance

Starting my Day RIGHT...

Thank you Natalie for starting this sweet "trend"! It's going to be so neat to see what all our other bloggies love! I've been thinking about this since you posted the idea earlier this week and I love so many "things"! It's challenged me in my thinking, I will say that! Some of the first things that came to mind were the "treasures" I 've gotten as gifts and have picked up at thrift stores or garage sales. Then my mind switched to pictures of people...and how much they mean to me. Of course, if you follow my blog at all, you know I love to cook and take pictures of the food. I'm a visual person and it gives such a boost to see snaps, don't ya think? So...then I had to start honing down the choices. Of course, when I evaluated what I treasure the most there is nothing that compares to my old torn and tattered Bible! I would give up EVERY stinkin' material treasure in this universe before I'd give this book up! So...this is my 'Favorite Thing' for this Friday.
That, and of course a cup of coffee. Todays blend is "Icing on the Cake" Regular! With a tiny splash of REAL 1/2 & 1/2. Give me this combination and I'm content and settled in for 30 minutes or so! Maybe in a couple of weeks I can put on here a picture of my treadmill. Oh...I'd LOVE to say that that was one of my favorite things!

Can't wait to see what you all put on your blogs today! I'm off to check em out!!