Hellmann's Mayonaise

I found this clipping in one of my mother's cookbooks a while back and I wanted to share it with you. She always dated things and for years I didn't "get it" but then I started dating recipes as well. It's fun to look back and remember people you knew way back when, I promise there will be times when you look at the date and say to yourself.....No Way can it be that long ago I got this recipe from, Celine, Linda, Rae, or Heather,  or sister Judy or....from my mom.
I love all the recipes I have gotten over the years from family and friends....who are actually one in the same for me. 
I have never made this potato salad recipe but I think that I will now have to try it this summer.

Neutrogena Overnight Lip Treatment Update

Thank you Susie for letting me know you couldn't find Neutrogena Overnight Lip Treatment, that I mentioned in a previous post, in stores near her.

I contacted Neutrogena customer service and it has indeed been discontinued . 

Rats!

I am going to try the lip balm below and I'll let you know if this works as well as the lip treatment.

Fingers crossed!

Vintage Quilt Pieces

My theory is always let people work for you when it's their area of expertise. 

My DIL is an expert when it comes to finding amazing items when she is out thrifting. 

Take a look at her current score.....

Also she usually gives them to me at cost. Nice girl...right?

I probably had that look of 

Oh please...Oh please can I have them.

Neutrogena Overnight Lip Treatment

I have a small container of Neutrogena Overnight Lip Therapy which I love

In the winter when alot of us get dry or cracked lips it's a perfect solution.

however.........

I also have a continual problem with "raggy cuticles". If you have experienced this you know it not only looks bad and I bet you hate it as much as I do. I have tried Vaseline, a cuticle product and lotion. They worked, but they never seemed to resolve the problem. So one night, in absolute frustration, I put the lip treatment on my cuticles and what a shock in the morning. They were better and after using it for a couple weeks....just at night...my "raggy cuticles" are a thing of the past. 

 Amazing

Wonderful

Whew......I'm so grateful I found a solution!

~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Robins~~Welcome Back

In my neck of the woods I can't think of many people that don't let you know when they have seen their first robin for the year. It's a red letter day for us. Who cares about the first day of spring! It's all about the robin for me so I have to let all of you know that I saw that lovely bird today!

There is now hope that warm weather is right around the corner.

However robins start singing at the top of their little lungs around 4 am for about an hour. Regardless.....I'm still thrilled they are back.

Land O Lakes Butter

I have brands that I love and won't use anything else. 

Land O Lakes Butter is one of them.

I won't lie...I have tried other brands over the years and always go back to my favorite. 

I never gave much thought to checking out "ingredients" for recipes. 

Think about it.... who would have better recipes with butter in it than Land O Lakes!

Check this one out..... it is absolutely delicious!

Chicken with Tiny Biscuits. 
Oh Yum!

http://www.landolakes.com/recipe/3346/chicken-with-tiny-biscuits

AND total prep time in 20 minutes!

Cashmere

Confession..........I love scarves. 

I know there are millions of you out there like me.

No matter what store I'm in I have to look at the scarves despite the fact that I don't need any more 

I always want more.

If they carry Cashmere scarves I  gravitate toward them. I have to go and run my hands over them and soak in the beautiful colors and feel. 

Some day I will throw caution to the wind and buy one......

No, you're right I won't, but I will continue to dream of being wrapped in Cashmere one day.

This is where it starts. Cutest ears (and eyes) ever!

One of each please

Sigh...........

Double sigh.........

Walking

I love to walk. It's very therapeutic for me.

I am finding that I'm walking more and more to relax and cope with the job search. 

I put on music and sing my heart out despite who's around to hear me!

Try it, I bet it will work for you too.

On my treadmill

In a park in my village

In Europe

Not necessarily written in order of importance!

Lavender Seeds

This year since my life is going in a new unexpected direction I decided to go with the flow and try something new with my February / March seed starting routine. 

I'm going to start lavender seeds inside. 

It not only gets me thru the upcoming cold months

but gives me hope that Spring will arrive despite the freezing temperatures.

It will look fabulous in front of  a wall of morning glories !

Throw in some colorful (and easy) Zinnia seeds and Voila! 

Fabulous

Yankee Candle~~~~Lemon Lavender

 My daughter in law wanted this candle for Christmas. 

It turned out to be "one for you & one for me".

I find myself walking by the candle, even when I don't have to, just to enjoy the aroma.

You really do need to go get one or two...or more!

I opted for the 2 below

Heavenly scent

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Garrett Popcorn

Though I have lived outside of Chicago for my entire life I never tasted Garrett Popcorn. 
I know, I know but I rarely go to the city much less know where I'm going when I get there! 
So finally we were there with my city savvy son and girlfriend and there it was....

I couldn't believe I was actually right there by Garretts.

Hey Miss Susie I finally made it!

The line was long and it was cold but we were in and out in about 15 minutes and we had our popcorn!

Garrett Mix

Oh my is all I can say....I am looking forward to going again...soon I hope!

Vintage Apple Core Quilt

My Kindle DIL found this beautiful vintage apple core quilt top in a thrift store recently. She was going to resell it but I convinced her (it wasn't very hard) to keep it for herself and get it quilted. 
The colors are beautiful and it is in wonderful condition.
Anyway she had it machine quilted and I put the binding on for her.
I have never seen this pattern is all my years of sewing and my limited years of quilting. She will be taking it home soon to put with all her wonderful stash of vintage quilts that she has found over the years.

Isn't it just lovely? 

.

Tribune Tower in Chicago

We spent a lovely Saturday in downtown Chicago with my son and girlfriend a couple weeks ago. They know the city so well and it makes getting places a breeze!
We were walking by the Tribune Tower and Sarah mentioned that they had inlaid stones from all over the world on the outside of the building. 

Right up my alley!

So incredibly interesting. Here are a few of them.

Fresh Fruit

Right after the first of the year I decided to make a special trip to the store. 
I wanted and needed to get away from all the food of the last several weeks. 

The heavy meals and all the sugar!

It was delicious and I enjoyed each bite but I started craving normal meals, fruit and vegetables.

Since dear husband won't eat fruit, silly man, I just bought a small amount for myself.

Correction: He will eat strawberries if they are dipped in chocolate first!

Winter Solstice

Each year as Christmas and the New Year approaches I reread Winter Solstice by Rosamunde Pilcher. I love curling up under warm covers with something hot to drink and settle in for awhile. I love reading about Elfrida  & Oscar's trip to Scotland in the wintertime. They talk about snow, sleet and gale force winds and you learn to love all the characters as the plot is revealed. I have never been able to visualize very well the house they occupied in Creagan but I think that I could sit in the parlour just as comfortably as I could at home.
It's hard to imagine that there will be no more books from such a extraordinary writer. I will cherish all of her books and continue to reread them.