Name: Just Dance Wii Where do I get ?www.amazon.com Cost: about $40 Why I love it: We spent our Turkey day dancing away with our nieces and nephews. This game is a total blast. It is easy enough for the little kids to do, and hard enough to make the adults break a sweat. There is a nice collection of songs to pick from, a little something for everyone. This was just plain fun, it got us off the couch and moving and lots of giggles ensued. I hope Santa brings this to our family this year.
Name: Goodwill Where do I get ?www.Goodwill.com Cost: pretty cheap compared to new Why I love it: I dig Goodwill. Always have, always will. There are so many great items just waiting to be re-used and re-cycled. Whay pay for new when you can have the same thing for a fraction of the price? Get creative, buy a can a spray paint and see what you can make. This lamp cost me $4 and some red paint. And the bonus, it's a three way lamp. Take in your old stuff and come out with something new to you. I'm so happy this lamp has found a new home here!
Name: Dove Daily Moisture Therapy Shampoo and Conditioner Where do I get ?www.Walgreens.com Cost: about $3.00 Why I love it: I have tried so many different brands of shampoos and conditioners on my hair. It takes a great product to get my hair shiny, soft and bouncy. I tend to like the brands that are sold at the salons, but they are so expensive. And when I rinse, I just think about the money that I just sent down the drain. I tried this on a whim and I am pleasantly surprised! It works great, keeps my hair in check and doesn't cost nearly as much as the high end brands that I favor. Give it a whirl, I think you might be pleased too.
Name: Dial Complete White Tea Scent Where do I get ? Target Cost: about $2.00 Why I love it: There are lots of bugs floating around our community right now, and it was time to stock up on some good old fashioned hand soap. I was strolling through Target and I decided to try this new foaming hand wash. I love it! It smells so pretty, not overwhelming at all and I think the kids like it too. The pump is clear and the soap is clear, so it is sure to match any decor. Hopefully it will keep the nasties out of our home too.
Name: BOC Molasses Where do I get ?www.shoes.com Cost: about $50-80 Why I love it: Yippee, yahoo! I found a super cute, comfy pair of shoes to bomb around in this fall! They have a slight heel, but are full of cushiony goodness. They are black and simple, and let the cutest striped socks show through (did I mention I LOVE striped socks?). I found them at a local DSW for $50, but they don't seem to carry them online. The next best was found at Shoes.com. Born shoes are notoriously well made and look sassy too. I'm a happy kickin' camper!
Name: Chipotle Where do I get ?www.chipotle.com Cost: about $7 Why I love it: I have been questioning the service sector recently with some less than stellar service. Today I had the most pleasant experience at a restaurant and I need to tell you about it. We stopped in at our nearby Chipotle for lunch. The staff were extremely happy, the service was quick and precise and my food was great. The restaurant was very clean too. I love it when the stars and moons align for a great dining out experience! Thanks Chipotle, I'll be back.
Name: UP the Movie Where do I get ?www.disney.go.com Cost: $5 at a theater
Why I love it: Wow. I took my kids to see this movie yesterday and I am still thinking about it's perfect love story. I have thought most of the Pixar movies that I have viewed have been good, but this was the best. My kids loved it, but I swear it was actually a grown up movie modified to entertain kids while sending a very loud and clear message to adults. Go live your life now, before it's over. And bring some Kleenex. Seriously.
Name: Sephora Scent Samplers Best Sellers for Her Where do I get ?www.sephora.com Cost: $50
Why I love it: I just received this as a gift and I have to say it is one of my favorite gifts ever (along with the killer jewelry hubby has bought). It has 10 little sample bottles and then a gift certificate to redeem for a full bottle of your favorite scent. What a great idea!
Name: Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bars Recipe Where do I get ?www.marthastewart.com Cost: about $free
Why I love it: Your whole house will smell like a lovely fall day. These pumpkin bars are the most perfect thing to beat away the cold evening blues. Come on fall, I'm ready for you. I just ate half a pan of these bars, and nothing can bring me down. These are a bit cake like fresh out of the oven, but if you let them sit overnight, they flatten down just so, and then you can eat the other half of the pan for breakfast. Martha must know something, because these are the bomb!
Name: Ghirardelli Double Chocloate Brownie Mix Where do I get ?www.shop.ghirardelli.com Cost: about $4.50
Why I love it: Compliments. Plain and simple. Every time I whip up a batch of these everyone oohs and ahhs over them. They are perfect and fantastic. Easy peasy to make and have never let me down. And, for you bargain hunters, watch your local Aldi shelves, because they sell them on occasion for under $2.00!
Name: Steel-her Heart Nail Color by Revlon Where do I get ?www.Amazon.com Cost: about $4.50
Why I love it: I have always had short little nails, so finding colors that look good on my short little nails has been a challenge. My sister has perfect, long strong nails, for which I am jealous. She showed up with this color on her nails, and I loved it! I decided to bust out of my light pink rut and go dark. And it works! I get so many compliments on my short little silver nails. Everyone wants to know the color, so I share with you my new find. It goes on a little thin, so two coats are necessary. Now, go rock those killer nails!
Name: Bookseller of Kabul by Anse Seierstad Where do I get ?www.Amazon.com Cost: free from your library
Why I love it: Woof. This is one of those books that makes you extraordinarily happy to be born a woman in the good old US of A. This is a wonderful description of a writer's journey as she ended up living with a family in Afghanistan. The vivid imagery is enough to make you believe you are there. I couldn't put this book down. I love endings that wrap up neatly with a big pink bow. Don't expect that here. I am so happy I was born with all of the opportunities that are available in out culture.
Name: Iberostar Paraiso Del Mar Where do I get ? www.Iberostar.com Cost: a couple grand
Why I love it: One of my favorite things in the whole wide world is sitting on a beach, with my eyes closed listening to the waves and feeling warm. Really warm. We recently took a trip to an all inclusive in the Riviera Maya. We chose Iberostar, as we have stayed a the Dominican Republic Iberostars and were more than happy with our trip. This trip was perfect. The food was great, the entertainment was wonderful, the staff incredible, and the beaches were the prettiest, white sand beaches I have ever laid eyes on. The water was lovely, clear and perfect for lounging. I highly suggest and all inclusive deal, the only cash you need is for tips. I can't wait to go back.
Name: The Game of Things... Where do I get ? www.target.com Cost: $24.99
Why I love it: I played this game with all the women of my family (Aunts, Cousins, and Mom). We all laughed like we never laughed before. It is a fun, witty, sassy game that we didn't want to stop playing. Some of our answers were serious, some were naughty. It led to great story telling and sharing between family members that could not have been more perfect. It is my new favorite game. The bigger the group, the better!
Name: Life. Support. Music Where do I get ? www.pbs.org Cost: Free!
Why I love it: Living in a home that does not have cable leads me to watch a very small amount of TV. When I do find myself cuddled up on the couch at night, I usually check out PBS. I stumbled upon this show about this family that is nothing short of a miracle. This is a show about strength, love and support. It is amazing and this family rocks. Jason's story is one I will never forget. Beautiful and incredible. Check your PBS listing and watch it.
Name: Pretty Chicken Marinade Where do I get ? www.allrecipes.com Cost: Free!
Why I love it: This has become my new favorite marinade for chicken. It really is pretty right off the grill. It smells wonderful. I add a little extra hot mustard and go easy on the liquid smoke. If needed, it can be cut up and put in a slow cooker for parties. I always get compliments on this chicken and people want the recipe. So, here it is!
Name: Worx GT 18 Volt Grass Trimmer Where do I get ? www.qvc.com Cost: around $98.00
Why I love it: I do the majority of the yard work around our home. I actually like mowing the lawn, but cleaning up the edges with my old gas trimmer was wearing on me. I took the plunge and ordered myself this shiny new Weed Whacker. It is electric, so it starts with the push of a button. It has enough gusto to get my whole yard finished in one round. It by no means is as powerful as my old gas hog, but it does the job brilliantly, is very easy to lift and adjusts on the fly. I'm digging it, and it's digging me.
Name: Ed Emberley's Drawing Book of Animals Where do I get ? www.amazon.com Cost: around $7.00
Why I love it: I have always wanted to be able to draw. We love to sit down at the table and create our own pictures, and with this book as a tool, we are making some great new animals. It has super simple step by step instructions to follow and the animals created are just awesome. We just ordered a whole library of books from this author, can't wait to spend lots of time in the back yard this summer perfecting our hidden talents!
Name: Little Read Bookstore Gift Certificates Where do I get ? www.littlereadbook.com Cost: Free
Why I love it: In an attempt to keep the little kids in our lives literate, we have been giving gift certificates to this store as our family birthday gift for friends. I love that this store is quaint, well stocked, and up to date on all the latest great books. It has a perfect little children's area and my kids love to browse. We love to keep it local and support our nearby businesses.
Name: Cheesecake Factory's Louisiana Chicken Recipe Where do I get ? www.recipezaar.com Cost: Free
Why I love it: We order this when we go out to dinner at the Cheesecake Factory. It is always more than enough to serve two people and is ridiculously scrumptious. I tried this recipe and it is a very close match. It has a kick, so tone down the crushed red pepper if you don't love it spicy.
Name: Pottery Barn Josephine Organic Bedding Ensemble Where do I get ? www.potterybarn.com Cost: $239
Why I love it: I am a self admitted lip gloss junkie, but I have another little addiction as well. Duvet covers. I can't ever get enough of them. Our bedroom is small and quaint and a lovely duvet cover can make or break the mood. I love everything about this room, the bed, the linens, the colors on the walls, everything. Unfortunately, I don't have the cash to drop on this duvet cover or the entire bedroom contents. I will just covet the picture and pretend that when I wake up every day, this is my view.
Name: AngelsGrace Hospice Where do I get ? www.angelsgrace hospice.org Cost: sliding scale based on what you can afford
Why I love it: Well, life some times takes turns we don't see coming. My Dad passed away earlier this month. We decided that his last days would be spent at AngelsGrace Hospice in Oconomowoc, WI. This place was a blessing for our family. The room was lovely, the staff were incredible and his final days were filled with dignity and grace. Please keep this place in mind for charitable donations. And if you ever find yourself in need of an inpatient hospice facility, please check out AngelsGrace Hospice. They were wonderful.
Name: Turano French Rolls Where do I get ?www.turanobaking.com Cost: around $ 4.00 for a pack of 6
Why I love it: This is a treat in our house. These French Rolls are a little pricey, but oh so worth it. We toast them up making the best tuna melts and garlic cheesy bread. They are light, soft and perfect. Stick them in the freezer and take one out at a time. Delicious.
Name: La Merenda Restaurant Where do I get ?www.lamerenda125.com Cost: around $50 for table for 2 (wine included)
Why I love it: I get excited when I find a new (to me) place that has great service, incredible food and a lovely atmosphere. It is the grand slam for me! This casual tapas bar makes me really happy. While out with 3 girlfriends, we tried 9 different items and had a bottle of wine. Our bill was less than $100 not including tip. It was the best food I have had in a very long time, and everything about the service was top notch. Did I mention that Monday nights bottles of wine are 50% off? Go, please.
Name: Slumdog Millionaire Where do I get ?www.fandango.com Cost: $10 or so
Why I love it: I don't go to movies often, and when I shell out money at a theater, it is usually for a movie that has good reviews. This is the best movie and I have been to in a very long time. The acting is brilliant, the plot thickens with every minute and the ending was perfect. Grab someone you like and head off to see this flick. This is one of those movies that you will never forget.
Name: To Die For Blueberry Muffins Where do I get ?www.allrecipes.com Cost: free
Why I love it: Let's hypothetically say I were to stumble upon the best muffin recipe ever. Would I really make two batches in two days? The answer is, oh yes I would! These are the most wonderful blueberry muffins I have ever eaten. They are the perfect blend of sweet and tart. The crunchy crumbly topping is just perfect and each batch makes a dozen. Six for me, and six for hubby!
Why I love it: We don't have fancy everyday dishes, just plain white functional simple plates. I saw this bowl online and knew I had to have it. I love the simple elegance of this bowl. It is perfect for oatmeal or soup. This is Mama's special bowl. I did buy two, just in case I need a back up. And if you have not yet visited an Anthropologie store, I highly recommend it. Beautiful!
Name: Flight of The Conchords Video Where do I get ?www.youtube.com Cost: free
Why I love it: We don't have cable, and at times it sure seems like I am missing out. Thankfully between Hulu, Youtube, Netflix and other web based streams I can watch things that I like. And I really like FOTC.
Name: Mobi Tyke Light Where do I get ?www.amazon.com Cost: about $20
Why I love it: We have entered the phase of "I'm scared of my room at night!"Enter this little magical glowing dude. He charges all day on a base, and then is ready to be on duty all night long. He can go wherever the kids want him, in the bed, on the table, under the covers, you know, everywhere! He never gets hot, and he provides a nice warm glow in a dark room. You can program him to shine in different colors, or be really crazy and have him cycle through the rainbow. I like him, my kids like him and he will be staying in our house for a long time to come.
Name: Amazon.com Where do I get ?www.amazon.com Cost: Free to Browse
Why I love it: I love shopping online. And I love Amazon for it's tremendous selection and great deals. I completed most of my Holiday shopping on Amazon and saved at least 30% from in store prices. I love that most things ship free, and quick. I don't have to spend money driving around, I can shop from home in my pajamas and know that if I don't like it, I can ship it back. My life just got easier!
Name: Cuisinart Chef's Classic Stainless Steel Cookware Cost: about $130 Where do I get ?www.amazon.com
Why I love it: The last time I purchased new cookware was in Y2K. Our old Calphalon was looking tired and old and I was on the hunt for something shiny and new. I found it! This set cooks so evenly without the use of high heat. Yes, I really want a set of All Clad, but I'm trying to be fiscally responsible. This set will at least last me another 10 years if I play my cards right. I'm just so excited to cook AND see my reflection when I do dishes!
Name: Just Dance Wii
Name: Goodwill
Name: Dove Daily Moisture Therapy Shampoo and Conditioner
Name: Dial Complete White Tea Scent
Name: BOC Molasses
Name: Chipotle
Name: UP the Movie
Name: Sephora Scent Samplers Best Sellers for Her
Name: Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bars Recipe
Name: Ghirardelli Double Chocloate Brownie Mix
Name: Steel-her Heart Nail Color by Revlon
Name: Bookseller of Kabul by Anse Seierstad
Name: Iberostar Paraiso Del Mar
Name: The Game of Things...
Name: Life. Support. Music
Name: Pretty Chicken Marinade
Name: Worx GT 18 Volt Grass Trimmer
Name: Ed Emberley's Drawing Book of Animals
Name: Little Read Bookstore Gift Certificates
Name: Cheesecake Factory's Louisiana
Name: Pottery Barn Josephine Organic
Name: AngelsGrace Hospice
Name: Fail Blog
Name: Turano French Rolls
Name: La Merenda Restaurant
Name: Slumdog Millionaire
Name: To Die For Blueberry Muffins
Name: Pixelated Paradise Bowl
Name: Mobi Tyke Light
Name: Amazon.com
Name: Out Of Character Blog
Name: Cuisinart Chef's Classic Stainless Steel Cookware