Thankful Thursday a day late...

I know I tend to complain about our house and how we are ready to explode right outta there, but a lot goes on in this little house and it's all good......well most of the time!  Like everyone else if walls could talk you'd hear some really good dirt on us.

I am thankful for our house especially after the year some of friends and neighbors have had during the flood.

A peek into our home: 

Here's my baby from when I was a baby-

I love her so......but in our house 

I almost cry when I find her like this

 

And mostly I have her hold my jewelry 

In the morning you can find Maggie waking Karl as they have their morning growl! 

And the people of the house

The Teen 

The Butcher...lol. 

The Human Reindeer

The dog that thinks she human - brat!

  

Getting the tree for our house is always fun 

 Picking it up to take home

Picking it up again- off the road after it tried to escape off the truck

who's that guy

Decorating a small home is nice and easy

My homemade live wreath  - haveing live greens for wreaths and garland is my new favorite thing of Christmas- I LOVED smelling them as I got in the door. 

Some of my favorite books/magazines come out at Christmas time 

I really wanted to bring the outdoors in

I love this little guy I bought at the craft fair this year 

 Rob painted a few rocks from the lake sliver for me   

Tree branches inside

These silver pine cones were adorable- Kmart. 

At our house we get donuts ready for Elf on the shelf 

We make Maggie wears bows 

and the dogs get wrapped presents at Christmas 

 

And at night everything looks more magical -

 Our tree all dressed up

An old school project of Lucas' and truck carrying a glass acorn ornament- I love that!  

 Please don't go

 Yes~ very thankful for our home!

  

Veggie Wedgie Wednesday

Here's a great Italian Tossed Salad

Ingredients:
2 cups romaine lettuce - torn, washed and dried
1 cup torn escarole
1 cup torn radicchio
1 cup torn red leaf lettuce
1/4 cup chopped green onions
1/2 red bell pepper, sliced into rings
1/2 green bell pepper, sliced in rings
12 cherry tomatoes
1/4 cup grapeseed oil
2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
2 tablespoons lemon juice
salt and pepper to taste

Directions

1.In a large bowl, combine the romaine, escarole, radicchio, red-leaf, scallions, red pepper, green pepper and cherry tomatoes.

2.Whisk together the grapeseed oil, basil, vinegar, lemon juice and salt and pepper. Pour over salad, toss and serve immediately.

Speaking of salads- how about this cool bowl???? 

Rockett St George

Oh and I'm loving this: 

NY&Co.

Oh I'm detoxing for 21 days - you can read about that HERE at PlantFoob.

Age-IN

 Iris Apfel for MAC cosmetics

Every time I'm getting ready for my 6 month blood test; I always think about having cancer come back and how bad I wanna live till I'm old and gray with wrinkles and all that stuff.

I never used think so much about getting old - but now I do- In a good way! 

I look at some older people and they look darn good-

I think to myself what makes an older person look good and I came up with these things:

A good sense of humor and fun- grumpy is old and unattractive- think Betty White

Not too skinny- but not heavy

A great haircut with SMOOTH hair- no frizz

Good teeth- Nice white/bright teeth always look good

A wee tan

Good lips stick and painted nails

Stylish clothes without looking like you are trying to dress like a kid- Show off your own style!

I came across some cute images:

I love seeing different generations together!

Now enjoy this film- I LOVE these ladies- I wanna be them- I Do I Do




Well I came across some less expensive ways to treat yourself to some look good feel good stuff~

How about a Salt Bath?

http://www.elle.com/Beauty/Makeup-Skin-Care/Sea-Salt-Benefits

New York dermatologist Francesca Fusco, MD:
“Ordinary salt is largely sodium chloride, which is very dehydrating,” she says, “but mineral salt, such as Dead Sea salt, is rich in magnesium and calcium, which improve hydration by strengthening the barrier function of the skin.” Indeed, those minerals—in addition to zinc and potassium, other components of unrefined salt—are classified by scientists as “natural moisturization factors” for the way they support the skin’s water balance. “An example I give my patients is that when you sit in a non-salt bath, your skin wrinkles and prunes,” Fusco says. “But that doesn’t happen in salt water because salt reproduces an environment in balance with your skin in which your skin doesn’t leak out moisture.”

Yael Alkalay, the founder of natural beauty brand Red Flower:

“It has a sort of instantaneous effect of taking dead skin cells off the surface of the skin. It does it very gently, leaving the skin smoother and more able to absorb moisture and nutrients.” It’s especially effective when combined with warm water, which increases circulation. “One of the best ways to keep skin youthful, energized, and healthy is to increase blood flow while pulling moisture and minerals in.”

Here you can find some less expensive ways to whiten your teeth and smooth out your locks:

http://www.elle.com/Beauty/Makeup-Skin-Care/10-Beauty-Resolutions-Made-Simple#mode=base;slide=0;

Want to save money and skip the dentist? Crest just released 3D White Intensive Professional Effects Whitestrips. With a higher level of hydrogen peroxide, thicker formula, and fitted shape, these strips are the brand’s most powerful whitening product yet.

Having a solid foundation is key—start with a good frizz-reducing conditioner like L’Oréal EverSleek Intense Smoothing Conditioner, and finish by applying a lightweight leave-in treatment like Phyto Phytodéfrisant Botanical Hair Relaxing Balm (use more or less, depending on how coarse your strands are).

here's a blogger review of L'Oreal

 

Oh Iris enlighten us