Things I am grateful for...

It's officially Thanksgiving! Happy Gobble Day!!

On Facebook this year many people were doing the 25 days of thing they are thankful for and though I didn't participate, I think it is really important to take some time out and think of the things I am thankful for.

Here are a few things I am thankful for this year...

1. Family. All of it. Every single person. We are blessed with wonderful parents and siblings, grandparents, cousins, and aunts. Not everyone is lucky enough to have such a great support system!
2. My Husband, Andy. Even though he is the one person that literally makes me want to bang my head into the wall sometimes, he is also the guy who will make me laugh when I have had a bad day and loves me despite all of my quirks
3. Capone and his silly face that makes me smile. The way he cuddles up to me on the couch. The excitement he has when I walk in the door.I am thankful that he is such a good big brother to Dill as he tries to enforce the rules and keep his little bro out of trouble.
4. Dillinger and his spunky personality. I am thankful that he reminds me that I need to wake up to each day with excitement. I don't know what I would do without all the hugs he gives me.
5. My job and the company I work for. I have been provided many wonderful opportunities to grow within my career this year and I am thankful that I work for such a great company that treats its customers and employees like they matter.
6. My Friends. I am grateful for those near and far... I am thankful that I have people in my life that I could trust under any circumstances
7. I am thankful to those in the military who serve our country and make this a safe place for me to live.
8. One word. Siri. How would I ever know what the temperature is, or when I should wake up from a nap without Siri.
9. Books and the people who write them. I am thankful for the places they take me when I need to escape the real world and the characters I meet along the way.
10. I am thankful for all of the people who read the garbage I write on here. :)

Vanilla Brown Sugar Scrub

We are expecting snow tomorrow. This makes me sad. As magical as the first snowfall is, it is the start to a very looooong season.

I guess it is officially winter and with winter comes dry skin. I am a huge fan of pampering myself. As wonderful as the spa is, this girl is on a budget and cannot afford some of the pricey services a spa can offer. This recipe is something that makes your skin so soft that it even rivals on of those pricey scrubs... and only for pennies with things you already have in your kitchen!!

Here's what you need:

• Brown Sugar
• Vanilla
• Olive Oil
• Vitamin E Oil (optional)

Start by adding your brown sugar. This is your base so it determines how much scrub you will be making. I used 1 cup.

Next, add a teaspoon of vanilla and a teaspoon of vitamin E oil if you are using that. The vitamin E oil is not necessary but it will add another layer of softness to your skin.

Lastly, you will add the olive oil. I used about 1/4 Cup of olive oil for this scrub. You can add as much as you like based on the type of consistency you are trying to achieve.

Stir this all together until the brown sugar looks like it is wet.

Put this mixture in a pretty jar and use it when you feel like you need some pampering, or give it as a gift, or use it every day to ward off the winter scales!

The scrub should store up to 3 months if you don't get any water in the mixture. Also, the oil will separate from the brown sugar while in storage so it will need stirring before use. ENJOY!

Fall Fest

I linked up at Fall Fest and I thought maybe I should post a few of the reasons that I love fall...

1.I love cinnamon. I love that its socially acceptable for my house to smell like cinnamon because my house smells like cinnamon all year.

2. Starbucks has the most yummy drinks this time of year... and though I have always been a fan of the pumkin spice latte, this year I haven't had a single one. I tried the new salted caramel mocha. 3 words. TO DIE FOR. I will never look back.

3. I love pretty leaves. I even don't mind raking them up.

4. I love being able to wear jeans and hoodies again.

5. I like to start shopping for Christmas. I like to start early. I am not ready though to see Santa in October. Can we wait until at least mid-november to start that shenanigans?!

6. People are generally happier. I think they may be coming off the summer high and the realization that 6 months of winter is around the corner hasn't quite them yet.

7. Fall is cheaper for us generally... no summertime trips, only a few birthdays, less itchy to get out of the house and do something.

8. You don't have to mow the lawn anymore and unless you live on the east coast, you don't have to shovel any snow either. (for the record, I don't do either of those things anyway. Andy does. I do the laundry... which isn't seasonal)

I wish I could've gotten to 10.... but I'm losing focus and ideas... so you only get to read 8

Happy Deviled Egg Day

It is national deviled egg day! SOOO in honor of this amazing holiday, I made my first ever batch of deviled eggs and brought them to work!

Not gunna lie... they are craptastic. But my co-workers are eating them (I think they don't want to hurt my feelings!) The next time I make deviled eggs I will allow the eggs to cool completely, using measuring utensils, and be a little more careful with the paprika.