Cabin Fever

Lack of posts lately is solely due to my CABIN FEVER.  

I cannot wait for Spring in the worst way!!!

We've been dealing with ice storms and this morning blizzard like conditions.  

"When will the icicle melt, the icicle icicle" 

This is Lake Erie- one of the huge Great Lakes that goes across to Canada (you cannot see the other side).  It was snow covered and frozen.  

Not sure where the beach ends and the water starts.  

Magical, like you are in Alaska.

Lighthouse!

This is the path along the beach that we love to walk during warmer months.  

One of my favorite places to be.  Soon...soon!!

Happy Valentines Day

Happy Valentine's Day!

Have a good weekend and a sweet Valentine's Day on Monday!

Here are some cupcakes I've made on separate years in the past.

The frosting recipe is here:

And if you want something chocolate, then I suggest cake balls:

The funny thing is I won't be making anything for Valentine's Day since my sister-in-law volunteered to make the weekly Sunday dessert this week.  I may make some chocolate chip cookies for my husband's work though, we'll see!

Valentine's Day Dessert Idea II

Vanilla Cupcakes with Raspberry Cream Cheese Frosting

The frosting is adapted from Martha Stewart's Cream Cheese Frosting recipe.  

Double the recipe and add 3/4 cup seedless raspberry jam.  Easy!

Healthy Lunches

Last week I decided to experiment with trying to eat healthy lunches.  I decided taking a picture each day would help hold me accountable and help me to really think about my choices.  It worked.  So here is what I ate last week for lunch for four days.  I tried to focus on adding fruits and veggies and cutting back carbs.

Day One:  Gourmet light turkey mini sub (these are salad plates)
with tomatoes, carrots and hummus,
grapes and pineapple and half a strawberry C monster drink
+ 1 dark chocolate truffle

Day Two:  Hard boiled egg, gouda cheese, carrots, tomatoes,
crackers, hummus, grapes, pineapples, chocolate discs.

Day Three:  Apple turkey sausage, hummus, crackers,
hard boiled egg, carrots, banana, half a blueberry B monster drink.

Day Four:  Mini bagel with peanut butter
and nutella, handful of nuts, and grapes.

Tag: Your It

1) What is your dream job?
Definitely a travel writer.  But more realistically what I did get to do for two years, elementary school librarian!

2) What is your favourite fragrance for Winter?
Dolce and Gabanna The One

3) How do you take your tea/coffee?
I put agave nectar in my tea and milk, and coffee I must have flavored coffee creamers.  I like the new International Delight made with real cream variety.
4) What is your most important beauty secret?
You can use baby wipes to wipe your makeup off before properly washing your face.  Also, L'Oreal Telescopic Carbon Black mascara is the BEST.
5) If you had an all expenses paid vacation, where would you go?
I would go back to Australia!  

6) If a genie popped up in your lap right now and offered you three wishes, what would you ask?
Well 1: Health and happiness for my family, friends and myself.   2:  Have millions of dollars.  3: This ones a secret.

7) If you could only have breakfast, lunch, dinner or desert foods for the rest of your life, what would you pick?
Breakfast!  

8) If you were Hello Kitty what colour hair bow would you wear?
Pink

9) What is your biggest makeup pet peeve?
When people don't wear any makeup!  I don't get it. 

10) If you could wear only one piece of jewellery for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Earrings

11) What one talent do you wish you had?
I wish I could play the piano
12) Which product will you continue to purchase?
Dove Sensitive Skin Soap

13) If you could look into the future, would you? And what would you like to know?
Hmm.  I think I like the unknown.  The only thing I would wonder is when will I get my teaching job back?

14) Who is your biggest celebrity crush? Include a picture!Probably Jude Law's character from The Holiday specifically, or Ewan McGreggor

15) What made you start a blog?
I've been reading blogs since about 2001, time to start my own!

January Favorites

My Favorite products of January!

1.  Tree Shea Body Butter - Almond & Honey 

2.  Tree Hut Shea Sugar Body Scrub - Almond & Honey

3.  Revlon Just Bitten Lip Stain in Passion

4.  Rimmel Lasting Finish Lipstick in Paradise

5.  MAC Lipgelee in Sin-tillation

6.  MAC Eyeshadow in Woodwinked

7.  MAC Paint Pot in Bare Study

8. Smashbox Blush Rush in Flush

9.  Tresemme Dry Shampoo  - on sale this week at Ulta!

10.  Aveda Light Elements Smoothing Fluid

11.  Aveda Volumizing Tonic

12.  Trader Joes Vanilla & Cinnamon Black Tea