Sunday's Small Things- Wk 2

I am a wanna be foodie.

A large part of my childhood memories revolve around meals and food. My 2 small treats this week that I'm so happy for are: Trader Joe's Almond Butter and Abita Beer's Purple Haze.

Peanut butter is a big fave in our house and in my parent's. We ate it, and still eat it by the jar. Slather it on an inch thick on sandwiches, donuts, waffles, fruit, ANYTHING! This week I took a leap and tried Almond Butter.

Trader Joe's Creamy Unsalted to be specific and it is AMAZING. I've been gobbiling it up on English Muffins all week. Creamy with a little nutty grit, it melts into the nooks and crannies of a muffin.

http://www.traderjoes.com/

I am not a big beer girl. Yet, my love for New Orleans and fruity drinks drew me to Abita Purple Haze. I first saw it in Everyday with Rachel Ray Magazine and had a heck of a time finding it locally. It is a sweet satisfying drink. Abita is EVERYWHERE in NOLA. It tastes more like fruit than beer and instantly transports me to the streets of the French Quarter.

http://abita.com/brews/our_brews/purple-haze

I pick it up locally at Oliver's Beverage Center http://www.brew-crew.com/ .

These 2 taste bud vacations brought a smile to my face this week- what made you smile?

Sunday's Small Things is a weekly feature begun by Pugnacious Vegetarian.

Wordless Wednesday- Ball Unwinder

Sunday's Small, Good Things

My good friend Pugnacious Vegetarian has begun chronicling Sunday's Small, Good things : http://thepugnaciousvegetarian.com/2013/01/a-new-feature-sundays-small-good-things/
And I've decided to do the same! If you'd like to as well, make sure you link back to her blog :)
2 things I've been especially thankful for lately are:
Green Mountain Coffee's Columbian Fair Trade. Medium Bold Heaven!! It keeps me going every day- 2 cups are necessary daily.
And the 2nd is really the first- Jackson's toothless smile. I dare you to look at this face and be in a bad mood!

Boot Tights?! Where have you been all my Life?!

These are one of those products that you say - why didn't I think of that?!

I always put socks on with my tights- it makes my boots more comfy and keeps my toes toasty. Well some smart cookies must do the same thing because they invented a tight that has a sock attached!

The pics above are from the main boot tight website http://www.bootights.com/


As soon as I saw these I needed to try some. I picked up a pair at yellow Boutique in Saratoga http://shopyellowboutique.com/ - I sell my jewelry there and am a frequent shopper.

They are true to size and were super comfy all day (Christmas Eve to boot *pun intended*). The socks wicked away moisture without getting gross. And they haven't been washed multiple times yet but I had no rolling of the top or discomfort all day.
I'm psyched and plan on picking up more!

Have you found any great fashion inventions lately?

Handmade Holiday

Hopefully everyone had an amazing holiday filled with lots of love, family and food!

It will come as no suprise that handmade gifts are my favorite and my son received a very special one this year.

My grandfather made each of his grandchildren a toy chest with their name on it for their first Christmas. And this year Jackson received his.

I still use mine almost 30 years later to store blankets and I know my little man will cherish his as well! What's your favorite handmade gift? (Given/received)

Twist on No Bake Cookies

Ingredients
2 cups sugar
4 tablespoons cocoa
1 stick butter
1/2 cup skim milk
1 cup chunky peanut butter
1/3 cup Nutella
1/3 cup flax seeds
1 tablespoon vanilla
3 cups oatmeal
Waxed paper
Directions
In a heavy saucepan bring to a boil, the sugar, cocoa, butter and milk. Let boil for 1 minute then add peanut butter, nutella, flax seeds, vanilla and oatmeal. On a sheet of waxed paper, drop mixture by the teaspoonfuls, until cooled and hardened.
Devour!!!

Mug Rug

There are rings from my coffee mug all over my desk. Eek! In an attempt not to show the world how bad my caffeine addiction is I crocheted "mug rugs."

These will be joining me in Troy in December as well! Would you like them in pairs, sets of four, or singles???