What a weekend! The weather was crisp and cold, a perfect weekend for snuggling under the blanket while watching movies, sipping on some hot chocolate, and trying out some new recipes in the crock pot. But of course, this is real life and I had things to do. I did spend a good deal of time indoors, doing laundry, cleaning, and doing some cooking, so it wasn’t a completely rush-around weekend.

In between grocery shopping and folding loads of clean clothes, I wanted to get some cooking done so I didn’t eat junk all weekend. I used the new Orgreenic Frying Pan to make a Green Chili Frittata. The Orgreenic pan is oven safe, so I could start the frittata on the stove and then place the pan directly into the oven. The aluminum core helps the pan heat evenly, so the eggs were cooked perfectly. I also used the pan to make salmon. The non-stick ceramic surface kept the fish from sticking so I didn’t have to use any extra butter or oil to keep it from sticking. I love this pan and can’t wait to make more meals with it!

Yesterday was a very rainy day! I don’t really like rainy days–not sure that I know of anyone who does. But I know that I’d prefer a few inches of rain over a few feet of snow, so I’ll try not to complain. While I knew it was supposed to rain and I planned for it by bringing my rain boots along, I neglected to bring my umbrella. So my feet were dry and my jacket was soaked. No big deal though because as soon as I got home, I pulled out my collapsible bamboo drying rack and I hung my coat and wet clothes to dry. If it were laundry day, I would have just tossed everything in the washer, but it isn’t and I don’t want those clothes going in the hamper soaking wet and getting mildewed. Everything was dry this morning, so I collapsed the drying rack and tucked it back in the closet beside the washer. How handy!

Luckily, today is a sunny day so far…but I’m bringing my umbrella just in case!

One of my resolutions this year was to cut back on unnecessary spending. There are some things that I won’t give up entirely, I just have to find a way to make it reasonable. I’ve mentioned several times before that I am making my coffee at home instead of buying it on my way into work. Over the course of a year, that will be about a $400 savings!

I would also consider some beauty regiments a necessity. One of those is a pedicure. I can’t stand to have rough, dry, cracking skin on my feet! I haven’t had a pedicure since the summer…and it shows. I don’t want to spend the money to go to the salon and have a full pedicure done. It’s great to feel pampered, but it costs money.

That is why I’m investing in Pedi Spin. For a fraction of the cost of a salon pedicure, I can give myself countless pedicures at home. Pedi Spin uses gentle abrasion to remove the rough skin on my feet and leaves me with soft and smooth skin. I can cut, file, and polish my toenails by myself.

An added bonus; I don’t have to walk outside in the cold with those flip flops the salon provides you with!

Happy Monday! I hope you had a nice weekend. Wherever you’re located, you probably had decent weather this weekend. Over here, on the east coast, we are having a crazy winter. One day it is 20 degrees and the next day it is in the mid 50’s! I’m enjoying the warm days as they come.

This weekend, I made every effort to be outside. Most of my errands were within a 3 mile distance, so instead of spending an hour indoors on the treadmill and I took a hike in lieu of Pilates. I’ll be back to using the indoor equipment this week when it’s cold or too dark outside before and after work, but it felt really great to take advantage of the nice weather and fresh air!

What a great spring weekend in the middle of winter!

How is your New Year’s resolution coming along? Have you stopped smoking, started eating healthier, paid off that lingering credit card debt, been to the gym at least three times this week? Probably not.

We’re only one week into the New Year and you might be feeling as if you’re behind your goals already. It’s easy to feel that way when you have a big goal to meet. It’s always a good idea to break your goals down into smaller manageable tasks. If you’re trying to eat healthier, start with focusing on cutting out one snack a day, or be prepared with a yogurt or almonds instead of grabbing whatever chocolate-coated candy bar is calling your name from the vending machine.

Maybe you’re doing all the right things but still not seeing the results you want yet. We all need help with our goals. If you have a few extra inches around your midsection that just aren’t budging, Slim Away will instantly show off the slimmer, trimmer you. It not only helps you look trimmer right away, but locks in body heat to help stimulate weight loss around the waist while you wear it! Slim Away is thin enough to wear under your clothes, so no one will know your weight loss secret, and it’s fully adjustable so as the inches melt away you tighten and continue to lose weight.

Keep trying to meet your New Year’s resolutions and goals. Small steps are the key. How are you all doing with your resolutions after one week?

Yesterday I walked outside and for the first time this season it actually felt cold…winter cold. Now, please understand, I am not happy about this sudden change in temperature, I love warm weather and would take 50 degrees all winter long. Not only was it cold, but there were light snow flurries. Needless to say, yesterday I was cold shock to my system.

What do you look for when you’re cold? When you get into the office from the cold outside what’s the first thing you do? Before I even take off my jacket I grab a hot cup of coffee, and then slowly but surely, after I turn on my space heater, I defrost and take off my coat. When I get home from work, I immediately turn on my Cozy Air Panel Heater and change into my warmest sweats. I put on my slippers and come up with the warmest meal I can think to make that is comforting but also healthy.

Some people tell me I am always cold and that I am weak to the cold weather. I am okay with it. I do not like being cold and I try to find every way possible to stay warm. Yes, I have a space heater at work, a Cozy Air Panel Heater at home, mittens, gloves, hats, and earmuffs, but at least I know I’ll be cozy this winter. What do you do to stay warm?

Where I live, it’s that time of year; time to get ready for snow. We can really never be too prepared. The worst part is when your car gets stuck in the snow, and there is no shovel to help dig out the car. A new item I found might be just what I need to add to my snow emergency kit that I keep in my car, Tread Ahead.

Have you used the Tread Ahead yet? What do you think? How much easier would life be if we didn’t have to chip away the ice that forms under our car tires anymore? With Tread Ahead, all that has to be done is to place the Tread Ahead beneath the front of the tire stuck in the snow, and the car will out! The Tread Ahead could really help out in tricky situations if the car gets stuck, like mud, snow, ice, plus there is a built in handle and ice scraping edge to clear your windows.

The Tread Ahead can be used in more than just snow situations. You can use the Tread Ahead to help get out of mud and up ice as well. The Tread Ahead might be just what we all need just in case this winter.

One of my favorite New Years resolutions is getting organized. I love buying storage boxes and closet organizers to rearrange my things and kind of start all over – new year: new organization.

Don’t worry about me though. This year, if getting organized is your New Year’s resolution, I have the perfect information for you to look forward to. In honor of getting organized in 2012, I have put together a list of my top 10 favorite organizing products (in no particular order). I hope you enjoy them. And if you have some favorites, please leave me a comment and let us all know what you use to get organized.

1. Christmas Ornament Storage Box2. Spice Stack3. Over the Toilet Space saver4. Soft Grip Hangers5. Clear Shoe Boxes6. Document Boxes and Files7. Stainless Steel recycle Containers8. Foldaway Mobile Workcenter9. Roll Top Wood Desk Organizer

…and last, but certainly not least…the COOLEST way to store your waffles…

10. Eggo Pop Up Waffle Storage

Do you ever see something in a store that reminds you of something from when you were a child? I feel like most of the time I do not remember much of my childhood (sorry mom, I know this makes you sad), but there are some items that will spark a memory, or at least trigger a past moment that makes me smile.

Recently I have had two moments just like these. Both of my moments made me think of my grandfather. When I was in the grocery store ice cream isle the other day, I saw black cherry ice cream. Usually impossible to find, it brought me right back to having ice cream with my grandfather on a hot, sunny day. Then when I was in line at the pharmacy I saw candy orange slices. I don’t like them, but they, too, remind me of my grandfather as they were his favorite candy.

When I brought these moments up to a friend of mine, she told me she always remembers seeing the clear plastic gumdrop trees during this time of year. They are these little Christmas tree servers that get decorated with gumdrops. Apparently, she remembers the gumdrop tree at parties when she was younger. I have never seen a gumdrop tree, but now that I learned about them, I wouldn’t mind having one.

Is anyone else in holiday shopping panic mode? As of today there are just 9—count them, NINE—shopping days left! I have just realized there are people I’ve forgotten to buy gifts for, gifts I somehow thought I purchased but did not, and I still need host/hostess gifts for holiday parties and some stocking stuffers. I would like to get all of these things online as I have limited time and the malls are crowded. And if they were all in one place online, that would be even better!

All this week on Live With Kelly, they are sharing great gift ideas on the Holiday Gift Giving Guide. A few of the products they showed are exactly what I need! On Tuesday they shared gift ideas for guys, you can see the entire video here. Two items really piqued my
interest; the Rip 60 Training System (shown at 0:25). And a Portable Grill (shown at 1:37). This isn’t the same grill as shown on Live With Kelly, but it’s the same price and has the side tables!

On Wednesday, they showed some great stocking stuffers. They showed a wine bottle cover that looks like a Sock Monkey! (see it at 5:20). They said it was $12 on the show, but Taylor Gifts has it for just $9.98. This is such a great hostess gift…I’m getting a couple to have on hand!

After ordering a few of these items, I’ll be almost done my shopping!

Then I have to start wrapping…