{my cold weather beauty products}

Cold Weather Beauty by mrsrjdean featuring ojon

Fresh lip care / Face care, $12 / Body cleanser / Aveda beauty product, $44 / Ojon / Carol's Daughter carols daughter / Shea moisture / Ojon , $29 / The

Cold mornings, cold nights...add these yummy products and a warm drink (my pick is I'm cider at the moment), your body will thank you!

Here are my beauty picks to combat these chilly days.

Soothing baths, creamy washes, hydrating hair fixes, and soothing balms.

I just discovered this new product at Trader Joe's and I must say it smells delightfully and at only $4.99 it sure beats it's $20.00 cousin.

(via)

What are your cold weather beauty must haves?

xoxo,

Ronita

We're Going to New Orleans

New Orleans Mardi Gras by mrsrjdean featuring sequin dresses

I can not wait until Thursday, the boys myself, my mom and stepdad are heading to the Crescent City to celebrate Mardi Gras with our family! Although I will miss Scott I am glad to be sharing Mardi Gras with the boys.

Here are some of the things I plan on doing while down there.

1. Catching parades- between the Endymion, Bacchus and Zulu I know the boys will love seeing the bands and the ornate floats.
2. I picked up
3. Jay-Z's Decoded from the library and plan on digging into it on the road.
3. Special request from Scott- stock up on Zapp's potato chips  and of course I will stock up on my Camelia's beans.
4. I'm hoping to get a couple pounds of some boiled crawfish. I hope they are in season!
5. I can't wait to hit up the Zulu Ball at the convention center with some of my cousins. This dress reminds me of the one I will be wearing.
6. Special request from Tre'- he wants to ride the street car again. This time we will do St. Charles route to see all the fancy houses.
7. KING CAKE and pralines- sugar overload!
8. A second line- I love second lines and know the boys will love to dance to the music.

Laissez les bons temps rouler

xoxo,

Ronita

Simply Stated: Holiday Gift Guide- For Your Foodie Friend/Family

In the days to come I will be bringing you some budget friendly ideas for gift giving this year! Stay Tuned!

Up First!!!

I took a little field trip (not that I wouldn't normally be here) to Trader Joe's to scope out some fab and budget friendly gift ideas for the foodie friends/family in your life.

Here are some of my top picks all under $15

They have a wide selection of festive cookies and candies.

They are great just by themselves or a couple different picks in a basket!

My favorite is the dark chocolate sea salt caramels!

You could make a gift basket with three or four different butters all just $2.29 each.

Add some preserves and a box or two of crackers! Viola 

Their mini Christmas trees with silver glitter are so cute. Perfect for someone who lives in a small place or to help liven up someone's office space (think work Secret Santa)!!!

The gift that keeps on giving: For the true foodie: a rosemary tree! Fragrant and festive!! Something they can use after the holidays are long gone.

Wow!! How fun, a special edition four pack of specialty sea salts.

Chili Garlic and Smoked Sea Salt, Edible Flowers Sea Salt, Tropical Pepper Sea Salt and Thyme Lemon and Bay Sea Salt! All for just $7.99!

And of course any holiday wouldn't be complete without a little bubbly!

I have never tried sparkling red wine. I picked up a bottle and look forward to cracking it open.

***

How cute are these packages wrapped in Trader Joe's holiday brown bags?

Simple and festive!

(via)

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!

xoxo,

Ronita

Getting me through these cold days of Winter...

Even though our family activities have died down a bit since it's so stinky cold outside I still have to keep the family organized. This wonderful Vera Bradley agenda came to me right on time. Thanks Mother in Law!!

Can you say dessert in a cup!!! This dark chocolate is so decadent it's melts into the milk and is superbly delicious. Perfect for a cold winter day.

My skin always gets a little drier during the winter. I always have to switch out my products. This creamy concoction was the perfect gift from my Secret Santa!!!

My Gourmet Handmade Betina Pepper Berry Soap...it's sweet and spicy. The spicy is perfect for warming me up in the shower. Fab gift from my boss!

******

And...my new favorite online mag just launched this week and I just love it!!! It's so funny because the description of a Matchbook Girl well...describes me...lol

Love Matchbook Mag!!! Check out the first issue here.

Happy Winter!!!

xoxo,

Ronita

Cold Winter Weekend

What else is there to do when it's freezing outside....?

sip on a cup of tea

read a few chapters out of the new book I picked up at the library

enjoy a warm bath with LUSH's Cinder Bath Bomb

and just be...

Hello Winter

xoxo,

Ronita



Chicken and Dumplings Part 2: I made it!!

The chicken and dumplings turned out amazing!! My mom's recipe was quick and easy to follow.

(fresh chopped celery, onion, and carrots)

(I followed the dumplings recipe on the side of the box)

(bag of frozen broccoli)

(combined everything with chicken thighs and cream of celery/chicken soup)

(a glass of wine while I was cooking)

Everybody's insides were warmed on the cold and snowy night and now we are all ready for bed!!

xoxo,

Ronita

My Mom's Bisquick Chicken and Dumplings

(photo via)

Well... the weather forecasters are expecting snow, rain-ice, and more snow. This cold weather has my stomach yearning for my mom's easy chicken and dumplings. This recipe is so quick and so yummy, it's a staple around my house this time of year!!!

Ingredients:

1 pack of chicken thighs

1 onion, chopped

2-3 cans of cream of celery soup

1 bag of frozen broccoli (you can add other veggies according to your taste- carrots, peas, corn, etc)

2-3 cups of water

salt

pepper

Dumplings recipe on Bisquick box

1. Boil chicken in 2-3 cups of water

2. Once chicken is cooked, remove from water and separate chicken from bone (set aside)

3. Keep water simmering

4. Sautee onions in a little olive oil and add to pot

5. Add cans of cream of celery, salt, pepper bring to a boil and simmer for 15 minutes

6. Make dumplings according to Bisquick box

7. Add chicken, veggies, and then drop dumplings one by one

8. Follow Bisquick recipe after they have been dropped in soup

I hope this warms you up!!

xoxo,

Ronita