I've Been Featured!

I've been featured over at Women Who Do It Well for my 3 Ingredient Mango Chicken.  Thanks Jill!!  Go check out her site!

3 Ingredient Mango Chicken

You know you wanna try it!

Makeup Primer on the cheap!

Stick with me here.....

Using a primer before my foundation is something new to me, but with new wrinkles showing up and other imperfections, it sounded interesting.  I did a review on a Korres Face Primer over a year ago and do like that one.   Most reviews state the the best on the market is the Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer but the price ranges from $28 to $49.  No thanks!

So how shocked was I when I saw several reviews for a product you can buy at Walmart for under $7?  Same ingredients as the Smashbox primer......so.....I went on the hunt.  (Didn't find it at Walgreens or CVS, but had success at Walmart).  Here it is:

Yes, you read that right - 

Monistat Chafing Relief Powder Gel.  

Now, it IS over by the other Monistat products for yeast infections, but this product is technically for thighs that rub together and the bikini area?  I think?  But someone noticed the ingredients and thousands have tried it on their faces, including me.  You have to try this!!  It is a clear gel, but feels very powdery....hard to describe.  You will love how it feels.

I've been using this for 2 weeks and LOVE it!!!

If you want your foundation to go on smoothly, greatly decreased lines/wrinkles.......this is your product!  you make up will last all day and look good as new.

I Was Featured

My Fingerless Crochet Gloves were featured over at Craft Envy - Thanks so much!!  Take a moment to check out her great site!

Crochet Convertible Cowl Adventures

Well, I'm here to share another journey with my new love of crochet and stitch gauge.  Stitch gauge is very important....if someone is a loose or a tight crocheter, then the pattern won't be the right size.  Most patterns will give you a gauge to go by - you then stitch a sample to see how your gauge matches up with the pattern.  If larger, I pick a smaller hook, and vice versa.  Also, the choice of yarn makes a difference.

I ran across this neat convertible cowl that can be worn around the neck or up over the head and I LOVE it.  Except my first was was too small....and I'll be sending it to a petite friend of mine.  lol  The next one was perfect. 

My first attempt:

With this lavender version, I used my acrylic I had on hand and used a smaller hook than recommended because I crochet "loose".  Not a good idea for this.  Usually is, though.  Go figure.

So on my next attempt, I purchased bulkier yarn and used the recommended hook size.  Imagine that!

Wanna see the difference between the stitch gauging?

Here is the pattern, if anyone else would like to try this.  Remember, I'm one month in to crocheting, so this is a nice beginner pattern!

Convertible Cowl Pattern

I may be linking to THESE parties.

3 Ingredient Mango Chicken

Lookie over here!!  3 ingredient chicken dish!  How easy is that?

I saw this recipe over at Ask Anna - Mango Chicken.    I immediately thought my guys would love this.  But here is a funny, slightly amazing story:

We ended up going to the W*almart my husband does NOT prefer to go to, but it was late and the closest to us.  This particular store is always super busy and is not in the greatest area.  Not a good idea to go there at night, frankly.  (We live in the 8th highest crime area in the country....'nuff said.)

I'm looking all over for the "Pineapple Salsa" and cannot find it - not in the salsa section, not in the produce, not anywhere.  I stop and ask a guy who has come out with a rack of frozen items to stock the store and he stares at me confused.  Thinks I said "Pineapple Sauce".  

Long story short, no less than 6 (SIX) W*almart employee males decide they are GOING to find this salsa for me.  Did they want a distraction from their stocking job?  I have no idea.  But it was hysterical.  These men were on a mission.  We went everywhere - they were determined.  The frozen foods manager just KNEW he had seen this but couldn't find it either.  He got the produce manager out and he swore it was never in the produce section.  After 15 minutes, they told us to go ahead and finish shopping but they WOULD find it and find us.

So 15 minutes later, we are in the yarn section and Carl, the main guy on the hunt yells, "Here she is!!  I KNEW I'd find you!!" and he handed us the elusive Pineapple Salsa, telling me it was on the salsa aisle but ACROSS from the other salsa. Paul Newman makes it.  We needed to check to see if it had onions, but after all THAT much work, we couldn't not buy it.  lol  

I was super duper impressed.  Those guys didn't stop - amazing customer service.  As we checked out, I asked for a manager....always gets eyebrows from the checker.....and told the manager how impressed I was, how great they were, I named names.  She lit up....so NOT expecting such a compliment.  I'm sure they mostly get complaints.  lol  

Now guess what is our favorite W*almart?  Guess that taught the hubs a lesson, eh?  

So here I am making this dish (it DID have onions after all....poor hubs can't read that small print I guess....so only Holt will be enjoying this dish (onion allergies).  

Mango Chicken

2 chicken breasts

1 jar Pineapple Salsa

1 1/2 cups chopped mango, frozen (I didn't remember frozen and got fresh)

Preheat over to 350 degrees.  Spray a baking dish with cooking spray.

Put chicken breasts in dish.

Cover with pineapple salsa.

Put mango on top.

Cover dish with foil.

Cook for 40 minutes or until chicken is done.

How easy is that (after you find the pineapple salsa which might take a while.....)?

 

Verdict:  Holt loved it, said it was a little spicy, and next time could I put more mango, less salsa.

Enjoy!

I may be joining THESE parties.

Where did I hide it? And what was it?

Seriously.  This is RIDICULOUS.  We were walking through Kroger and I saw a box of Pop Tarts.  I don't eat Pop Tarts anymore but it triggered me to remember that I purchased SOMETHING and then brought it home and hid it.  From my 2 teenage "eat us out of house and home" boys.  Only.......where did I hide it?

And.....what was it that I hid?

I can not remember .......either answer!!!  I could go search my room but what am I looking for????  Obviously something yummy and something I think wouldn't last long enough for me to remember we had it.  So what did I do?   Not only hid it so well I haven't run across it, but I can't even remember I did it.  Or what it was.  Was it last week?  I think it would have been 2 weeks ago, last payday.  Or the payday before that.  

ARGHHHHH!!!!  Has this ever happened to you?

Oh yoohoo.....whatever it is I hid.....if I were you.....where would I be???????????

First Fingerless Gloves Crochet

Do you get cold hands but still need your fingers for typing??

How perfect are these fingerless gloves!!  So many different styles to choose from - but these were nice and in my favorite color....lavender.  Shock.

The funny part is.....my love affair with stitch gauging is still going strong....not!  These gloves should fit an 11-12 year old girl BUT fit me fine and I do not have small hands.  lol  

 

Matches my hat from last week!!

So easy!!  (I taught myself to crochet a month ago....gives these a try!)   Here is the pattern:

Fun Fingerless Gloves

I may be linking to THESE parties.

Joining this party for the first time, here are this week's questions:

1. Do you make a budget and keep it, or just fly by the seat of your pants?

Yes, we have a very detailed budget.  We keep our money balanced to the penny.  We have the paychecks automatically deposited into one account that the general bills get paid out of (the fixed bills, mostly).  Then, a chunk of money gets then automatically transferred to another bank where hubby gets cash the Saturday after every payday.  (every 2 weeks)  THIS cash goes in our wallets and is used to pay the following:

Grocery

Walmart

Sam's

Health Food store items/supplements

Any miscellaneous spending

Eating out

If we want to go out to eat, I look in my wallet.  If there is no money, we don't go!  It is very simple. Some folks say that having cash in their wallet gets spent faster.  For me, seeing cash makes me hoard it - I don't like to spend it. 

2. Do you do spring cleaning and if so which month?

No, we clean year round.  This has always been on of OUR issues....both clean freaks.  We move so often that things never get cluttered up.  

3. Are you a yard sale lover and do you have them and go to them?

No!  Will rarely go to one and even more rarely will I hold one.  We hired an estate guy once to operate our garage sale and we made (after his cut) $5000.  He priced things MUCH higher than I ever would have and because he had such a following (folks knew he only took on great sales)...he pulled those prices.

However, we have purchased MUCH of our furniture and other items out of the classifieds or online sale sites.  Many amazing deals to be had - folks moving, getting a divorce, financial distress sales.....can get really great prices and not have to pay full price OR drive around to a zillion yard sales.  lol

4. What do you take when you have a headache?

I take a product called Charcoal, from the health food store.  A holistic MD we had a few years back recommended taking Charcoal for headaches and if you know you just ate something you should not have.  It absorbs whatever it is that is triggering the headache.    Works amazing on me.  Since hubby found out he is officially allergic to Tylenol and cannot have Advil, he is struggling to get on the Charcoal bandwagon.  When he takes it, his headaches go away. 

5. Name 3 things that you feel lucky to have in your life!

I feel lucky to have my family - especially my husband.  We have been through SO much and it seems to never end, but he's a wonderful, faithful guy.  At the end of the day, despite other issues that might cloud things, his heart is golden.   

I feel lucky to have my positive spirit/glass half full mentality.  Wouldn't make it another day with this pain if I did not believe in something greater to come.  If I had known that my future would never have another pain-free minute EVER, I would have stopped and taken in through all 5 senses the relief....the relief I never knew WAS relief.   I now try to live as if I may not have tomorrow so I don't get caught in regret later.  It's tough, but gives me purpose.  I consider this a gift because I CHOOSE it.  It helps me reach out to others who are currently struggling with their chronic pain and haven't found a place of peace yet.

And I am thankful for my dogs - they bring much joy to my mostly reclined/distract from nerve pain life I'm living.  Dogs just have a way of doing that - unconditional love.

 Hop on over to Night Owl Crafting and meet other women!