My Favorite Things...Softlips In The Polar Vortex

If there is one thing that I've noticed about this neverending and frozen winter season, it is how dry the air in my house is from the heat being on an endless cycle of fighting Polar Vortex after Polar Vortex.

My humidifiers can't keep up.

Between a stuffy and dry nose and chappedr lips, I feel like the Sahara Desert has nothing on my humble abode. Searching endlessly and trying everything from vitamin e oil, to coconut oil, to plain old vaseline,and Sugar Lip Moisturizer (Blistex and I do not mix), I finally found a lip moisturizer that works, and doesn't break the bank.



Softlips Intense Moisture...just what this mommy who has less than two weeks for baby boy number two to make his arrival needed. Because really, who, at ten days from their due date wants to dish out forty bucks for lip scrub and moisture rich expensive lip balm from Sephora? I'm lucky if I change my yoga pants at this point. And, yes, I have totally been using Pinterest to make my own various products, but, again...yoga pants and showers take precedence. Especially with a two and a half year old.

Did I mention they are $1.99...for two? LOVE. My husband and lil man even use it.

Mint or Very Berry? Hmmm, I'll take both. I mean, I need at least one for my purse, one for my night stand, one for the boys, and one for the hospital bag.

posted from Bloggeroid

You Have To Complain The Right Way

Ever since I've had my lil man, an entirely strange thing has happened.

Time has someone gotten shorter for me. Time to shop (even a quick trip to the grocery store), time to sleep (the horror!), even shower. Which means if I do take the minuscule moment I have to actually attempt to purchase something, there needs to be minimal to zero issues with excellent customer service. Unfortunately, this really hasn't been the case for me lately.

Understandably, it is Holiday/post crazy season for retailers, and having had fifteen years of my life spent in the glorious halls of consumerism (sarcasm but with a smile!), I get that there may just be a few bumps in the road.

For example, take my Teavana experience. Now, expecting my next bundle of joy (who will, with no doubt, make time even more precious) I've taken a serious look just as I did before at what I drink and eat. So, no caffeine and I'm very aware of herbal and food items.

So, no coffee. Or tea.

But, just because I have two months to go, doesn't mean my husband has suddenly stopped partaking of my tea stash. Enter Teavana's Heavenly Sale.



I quickly make my choices, knowing I can store and hide a few favorites, while the daddy can have his tea and drink it, too. I order on my mobile, while the two year old shows me all his new vehicles (with sound on!!), missing the free shipping with $50! At $42, I totally will spend $8 to get $12 more...especially on sale.

I frantically call the customer service line to add to my order...and sit on hold for half an hour. Again, I get it, sale and holiday time. But, I'm also keeping the two year old occupied. Oy!!!

Thankfully, the customer service rep helps a mommy out, and adds on to my order. This is last Friday...I receive the original email confirmation, but nothing else. I put my faith (mostly due to the lack of time to be put on hold) in Teavana. And wait (I've been warned my order probably won't get sent over the weekend).

Wednesday, I call back...no email saying the order has shipped. Again, I am on hold. This time, I request a call back. Time being short. Thursday, no call. Again, I call and request a call back after being painfully on hold, plus email my order number with concerns (most of the items I ordered are no longer available) and receive the automated reply.

Friday, still nothing. During nap time (the hour and a half I sometimes get to try to do sometimes!!!), I jump on Twitter, and mention a short tweet about my situation.

Voila!!!

DM, requesting my order number. Within the hour, I receive an email stating my order has shipped. Then, confirmation with all items listed!

Evidently, social media is the way to go. Customer service at its finest...

Thanks for the help. Hopefully, the rest of our road isn't as bumpy ;-)

(Update...a week and three days later, my order is set to arrive today. Hopefully. I did succumb to temptation and picked up a few more treasures in store before the sale ended. Downside? Was told by two different locations that there is a four/eight ounce minimum required for loose leaf tea purchases. Hmm?)

Mommy Time...Cherry Chocolate Scones

There are days, even weeks, that I need mommy time even more than others. My husband works long hours, sometimes ten hour days seven days a week. Which, of course, makes my time with my lil man overwhelming, especially five months into the little brother baking time.

Not everything is easy, and I understand that better than most people. Does that mean that I don't get Tina Fey's character in Date Night when she tells her husband about her fantasy? You know the one...a hotel room all to herself with a can of Sprite. Because I do.

But, sometimes I need to do something, and challenge myself. Some of my happiest memories involve being in the kitchen with my mom. Not having her around and being a mom has been incredibly hard....I miss her terribly, and there are days when I need to feel her around me.

So, this week, I took nap time to try something new. Scones.



I found this recipe in a catalog for my local grocery store, and thought chocolate and cherry scones from scratch? Oh yeah!

I tweaked the recipe a bit, substituting fat free half and half and adding dark chocolate chips. And, in reality, there was so much icing, that next time, I'll definitely cut that part in half...unless I have a few cookies just begging for something special...

Scones:

Double Chocolate Muffin Mix
1/2 Cup Flour
1/2 Teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
1/2 Teaspoon Ground Ginger
1/2 Teaspoon Ground Nutmeg
1/4 Cup Unsalted Butter
1/2 Cup Dried Cherries
Zest of 1/2 Orange
1/4 Cup + 3 Tablespoons Fat Free
Half and Half
1 Tablespoon Baking Cocoa
1/2 Cup Dark Chocolate Chips

Glaze:

1/4 Cup Fat Free Half and Half
Zest of 1/2 Orange
2 Tablespoons Baking Cocoa
Pinch of Salt
1/2 Cup Powdered Sugar

Preheat oven to 375. Spray baking sheet with cooking spray. Combine first five ingredients, then add cold butter in cubes with flour. Use a fork or pastry knife to mix while making butter into small pea-sized pieces. Add cherries, orange zest, and dark chocolate chips. Then, add half and half, dough will seem dry.

On flat surface (I used wax paper so that I could also flip an edge over to help kneaded the dough), dust with cocoa powder then knead for a few minutes. Shape into a circle, then cut into wedges (6-8, depending on how big you'd like). Place two inches apart on greased sheet, bake for eighteen to twenty minutes. Cool.

For glaze, combine ingredients and whisk until smooth. Once scones have cooled, drizzle on scones.

This recipe works with any muffin mix (blueberries, anyone?), and you can change the additions to suit your taste (crushed peppermint candy canes, white chocolate chips, dried raspberries)...

Tis The Season For Hostess Gifts!

I always have a secret stash of ready to go gifts at my fingertips. Alright, maybe not right at my fingertips, but at least in a convenient place. You never know, especially during the holiday season, when you'll need a little something.

Traditionally, hostess gifts have been things such as a bottle of wine. While I still like the idea, I know that not everyone enjoys a glass or they may serve it that evening (if it works with the food!). For me, I like the gift to last beyond that night, to remind the person that I appreciate the effort they put in.

I have a friend that has a cute guest bathroom that she has recently renovated, so before heading over to her pre-holiday very mini shindig, I searched my stash...and found the perfect little gift.



Bath and Body Works Anti-Bacterial Hand Soap looks stylish and has a wonderful fragrance that fills the air even after...I picked Heirloom Pear from the Fresh Picked line not only because I adore the scent, but it could work for the remainder of fall and into winter when and if she doesn't want to use her holiday soaps! Plus, the foam version doesn't clog up the nozzle like the other versions.

It was just a little something to say thank you. And I may have brought cake balls. Because who doesn't love a little cake and chocolate?

Things I Love...Hot Apple Cider

A steamy hot mug in your grasp, warming your fingers and filling your senses with delicious aromas. Especially on a morning with first snow covering the ground. Sigh.



And, since caffeine is out of the picture for a few more months (no Ho Ho Mint Mochas...caffeinated, anyway), this was a perfect opportunity to visit a happy memory of my mom. Hot Apple cider (in fact, this exact brand!!) was our special treat, and only in late fall/early winter.

A season full of warm fuzzies and happy memories. All from a simple mug.

Christmas Time Is Near...Oy!! Need Presents Soon!!

Not to complain, but it suddenly hit me that it is almost Christmas time. And I have a two year old. Oy.

Sadly, the place that has been my second home for fifteen years has...well, not grown with me. Unfortunately, my former full time turned part time job isn't as mommy/pregnancy friendly as I had hoped. Which translates to no extra (though incredibly tiny!!!) spending mula.

What's a stay at home mama to do? (Besides teaching bellydance twice a week, of course.) Sell her extra clutter on eBay.

Truthfully, I've thought about a yard sale, but 1.) It's way past the season, and 2.) Most of what I have may just be above yard sale price. I know this, because I occasionally hit a few myself, and know that most people are intense bargain shoppers. Plus, who doesn't like shopping in their nice warm home with a steamy mug of goodness either on their phone or computer?

I'm a creature of comfort.

So, officially today, I am attempting to sort through the office that has become more storage than office/practice space, and seeing how much holly jolly I can find.

Wish me luck.

Things I Love...Cake Mix & Pudding Cookies

I admit it. Maybe, just maybe my awesome red velvet cookies are made from...cake mix.
Usually, I stick to funfetti or red velvet. Today, in honor of the crisp falling leaves decorating my front walk way and hot apple cider, caramel apple cookies it is.



I may not be the first person to try this...because I was definitely was the last person to know how yummy cake mixes are when you add a box of pudding (even when it's already in the mix)! So, why not try this trick with cookies, too?

Tips and tricks: Mix one box cake mix, one box pudding mix, two eggs, one third cup oil together and chill in refrigerator for half an hour (or in the freezer if you're impatient like me!). Bake at 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes. I used the dulce de leche sweetened condensed milk recipe to top them off.



Yummy, soft cookies, perfect with a mug of hot apple cider!