Love & Toast handcream

I wanted to share a recent fave of mine. It's a hand cream that comes in a tube by Love & Toast (cute name) and I can't get enough of it.

I spotted it surprisingly at my fave grocery store Harmon's. It has it's own little display and not with the other lotions.

The price is $9.99 and it is worth every penny. Easily carries in your purse and I don't have to worry about the lid flipping open, like I've had happen before. YUCKY!

I tried every single sample and seriously loved them all.  You can buy them online on their website or even amazon has them.  When I'm done with my current one I'm ordering the Collection set and it's only $45.90 which is cheaper then buying them as a single tube.

Hand cream - http://loveandtoast.com/t/classic-collection/hand-cream
Main site - http://loveandtoast.com/

More info- Paraben free, Phthalate free, Never animal tested, No animal ingredients, No artificial colors, Packing paper sources come from 100% annually renewed resources. YAAAAY!!!

Also they have been featured in People, Better Home & Gardens, Good Housekeeping and Organic Spa just to name a few.

Red Pepper Alfredo sauce

While visiting a friend last weekend her husband shared a recipe he came up with.  I was eager to try it and I'm so glad we did because it's amazing (an easy)!!!

What you need:

-Homemade fettuccine noodles OR Buitoni noodles

-Buitoni Alfredo sauce (small container)

-15oz jar of roasted red peppers

-1/4 cup freshly shredded Parmesan Reggiano cheese. (More for garnish)

In a blender or Magic Bullet combine the Alfredo sauce and red peppers - Mix for about 30 seconds, until it's a nice pink color - Pour into a sauce pan and let it cook over a medium heat - Stir in 4 tablespoons of Parmesan cheese and stir frequently till the mixture boils, then remove from heat. 

For the noodles follow the instructions on the package but always remember to add the olive oil. This separates any type of noodle, and who likes sticky/clumped noodles? Nobody. 

I used 1/4 pound of Italian chicken sausage I got from Harmon's grocery store. I added some pepper, garlic flakes and fresh basil while it was cooking. 

Serve up your meal with the sauce first, meat and then more cheese. Enjoy!

NOTES- fresh pasta is always the way to go, but if you do have to buy pasta I highly suggest getting the Buitoni brand. It's a bit pricier than the bagged pasta but so worth the extra cost. The pasta and sauce is found in the refrigeration isle. 

You do have to use real shredded cheese for this. Apparently the green container kind clumps when cooking. 

This sauce has a very overpowering red pepper taste which I love, however if you are wanting more of an Alfredo taste I would do half the bottle of the red peppers. 

My friend's husband uses this sauce for cheese ravioli. I'll think I'll try that next time. 

AND this makes a yummy dipping sauce for garlic bread or cheese pizza. :)

Sorry for the crappy pics.  I had my HDR on and just our under the cupboard lights. I'll update the pictures next time I make this, which will be soon.  ;)

Birchbox!!

I finally signed up for Birchbox and after my 1st box I'm loving this service.

For those that don't know what it is, it's basically a beauty sample program. You create your beauty profile and each month they send you out a box with a few deluxe size samples for you to try out. 

The cost is $10 a month and includes shipping. You can cancel at anytime which is a key reason to why I decided to try it out. 

I loved all the stuff in this months box and I can't wait for my cute pink box to be delivered next month. :)

If you want to try it out let me know and I can send you an invite. There is a waiting list, but internet rumors are if a member sends you an invite you can get in faster. 

Pumpkin ideas

Cool pumpkin decorating kits from Target. All kits were $3 except for the last one and that was $5.

Upcycle - Wood tower

Found this at a thrift/antique store liquidating sale and it was $2, so I got it. Had no idea what to do with it, then I thought it would work as floor wine rack.
 
I wiped it down and sanded a couple of edges and used some spray paint I already had on hand.
 
I did 2 coats of metallic silver and let it air dry outside for a day. TADA!! New wine rack.

Upcycle - School desk

I came across this desk at a liquidating sale and it was 10 BUCKS!!!  I didn't know what I wanted to do with it yet, but I knew I had to have it.

I also picked up this little step stool ladder for $10 along with a few other things. In all I spent $42 and got 5 new projects to do. 

I decided I would use the school desk as a nightstand in our guest room. I found a retro lamp online at Target and picked up some old book classics at a thrift store. (The Peter Pan, Wizard of Oz and Where the Wild Things Are were already in our book collection)

Add a notebook and some pencils and you have some cheap and retro decor. The step stool was painted yellow and matches the lamp on the other side of the bed. I added a sleep mask for our guests.

Don't mind the missing base board, I hated the one in there and we decided to remove it. Now time to choose if we want a large or small one. Oh the choices we have at Lowe's and Home Depot.


 

Upcycle magazine racks

I found these 2 magazine racks at the Good Will and paid $1.99 each.  I took them home, wiped them down and did a couple of coats of spray paint on them.

I let them air out for a couple of days and then brought them upstairs into our living room and added some vinyl. They look awesome and we get lots of compliments and questions on where we got them.

Upcycle and recycle projects are always the funniest.

Tomato soup & Smoked Gouda croutons

I was craving tomato soup the other day and to my surprise my hubby said that sounded good. Now why I was surprised is because he hates tomatoes...with a passion!
 
Well I went to the store and got the ingredients along with stuff to make grilled cheese and dinner was a success.
 
Things you'll need:
1 t minced garlic
2 T extra virgin olive oil
2 T minced onion (or puree)
1/2 cup heavy cream
1 1/2 cup chicken broth
1 - 28oz can chunky style crushed tomatoes (Delallo)
Salt & Pepper
 
In your food processor, blender or your magic bullet add the can of tomatoes and puree - set aside.
 
In a medium skillet add the olive oil and when hot add in the chopped/puree onions. Cook until softened and a little brown. (only takes a couple of minutes)
 
Add the garlic and continuously stir for 1-2 minutes, or till golden. Add chicken broth and tomato puree. Turn stove to low and let simmer for 15-18 minutes while stirring frequently. If you need salt and pepper now is the time to add it. I used a garlic pepper.
 
Slowly stir in the cream and cook for 8 minutes. Make sure not to boil the soup or the cream and tomatoes will separate and will not bond again. If you need any seasoning now is the time to add it.
 
Grilled cheese-
 
I shredded some smoke gouda and buttered some bread and used my George Foreman as a panini press. I let them cook until they were brown and crispy. When cooled I cut them into squares and added them to the soup. It was HEAVEN!
 
NOTES:
If the soup is too acidic you can add up to 1 tablespoon of Splenda. 
I use Swanson Chicken Broth 33% less sodium and Delallo chunky style crushed tomatoes.