What you need to keep warm & look stylish in winter

As most of you know I am a born and raised Iowa gal which means cooooolllldddd winters and hooooottttt summers!! With the changing seasonings come beautiful landscapes but also firgid temperatures, and I mean cold. Cold there your North Face coat crinkles.....they don't do that unless it's freezing. Cold as in your can't sniffle it's so cold your snot has already froze. Cold where we wear 4 layers and are still chilly. Lastly, cold that I won't even brave an outdoor mall.....and we all know I am a shopping addict.



My quest for this post was to show all the readers that you can look stylish and stay warm in these frigid temperatures and still stay on a budget and look fabulous! So here goes nothing!!



First, my greatest finds this season thus far have been some hats for my nogin. The first one is from Gap and is now on sale..wooohoooo!

This hat is great and I've actually worn it quite often, but on those really cold days I would opt for this. This little lady is $30 and well worth every penny. I love bargains but when it comes to cold weather, you pay for what you get. These hats really keep your nogin warm!

Next would be scarves. Now I know there is great looking scarves out there this season but I have and will swear by pashminas as scarves. I don't think I will ever purchase another "winter" scarf again. I don't know what it is but it has something to do with the silk in the pashminas=really warm! seriously try it! You can get them at Target in a variety of colors at $12.99.

Ok, now you all know I am a bargain diva but again you get what you pay for and most winter coats that are a bargain, will leave you freezing and wishing you had spent that extra $40. Now when itmes go on sale....go for it! Here's a few pieces that make their home in my closet and on my back.

A little tip for you winter snow bunnies to get great discounts B and I registered as REI members and we now get coupons once a month and get first dibs on their sale items. We've purchsed almost nothing from REI at full price.

Each of these jackets come in a variety of colors and can be found at North Face. I tend to purchase jackets in black and or brown so they can be as versitile as possible.

Now, on to the boots. I swear by Uggs, there are plenty of knock-off ones, I'm sure they are warm but I will be wearing these long after the tend has ended.

As for clothes to keep you warm in the winter, I try to spend the least amount of money on these items and spend more on the outerwear. You can always layer your under layers. So this season I've found some great pieces at Forever 21.

Bunddle up this winter, stay warm and look fabulous darling!

I'm working 9-5

No, not really, but I am going to be working from 7:45-2:15pm. If you haven't gotten my drift I got a new jobby job! I couldn't be happier and I start Jan.6th! I will be working at my old high school as an academic advisor!!! It seems right up my alley! Man I like exclamation points in this post but you get the dirft of how excited I am!

I can upon this position from B's receptionsit and her hubby had told her about it and thought of me! Now he hubby was my history teacher in high school. So then I called the assistant principal one day had an interview set up for that next Monday and was offered the position on Tuesday! great early Christmas gift! There were 5 others that interviewed and I thought they were just giving me a interview because I am going to be a coach there. I will get to that in a minute! Anway, needless to say I was shocked and excited all at the same time! Instead of a 45 minute commute I will now have a 2 minute commute and have summers off.

For those of you who don't know I have all of my education in teaching secondary education except for student teaching! I had one semester left, this is after my first bachelor's degree and I said this isn't for me! I didn't want to do curriculum! So this position will be perfect for me! I will responsible to interacting with the 3 major universities in the state to set up college visits, and speakers coming to the school to speak to students. I am all responsible to communicating with students about where they are currently and where they want to go in their future! It's a long way from working with at-risk youth, but I couldn't be happier!

Ok, on the coaching. A few months ago, actually the day after I accepted my current position I was offered a soccer coaching position with the local high school. I new that it wouldn't work with my current position but I wanted to see where things were in a few months. So this situation has really worked out ideally and this spring yours truly will be the girl's soccer coach! For those of your sporty ladies out there, I have been a soccer player since I was 5 and have coached a variety of sports including swimming, dance team and now soccer!



Ok, one funny tidbit, as I've already stated I accepted this position at my high school. Well, when I was in high school I was a state champion track runner. When you accomplish this in my high school you get your picture taken and hung with the rest of the state champs.....Guess where my pictures rests??? No joke right above my office door....and I mean directly above the entrance.....funny huh!! now you can see my smug mug 8 years ago.....go through the door and presto chango, new hair and I'm now the authority....hehe! So there's where I am in a nutshell! Hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas!

Merry Christmas

Wishing everyone a blessed and wonderful Christmas!
Love, B,A & Ruby

Thanks Cora Grace!

The other weekend my grandparents called and said that they had something for B and myself. I had no clue what it could be! They said they would drop it by....I thought maybe a bread box, maybe a cookbook. No and no! It was a beautiful glass Christmas tree that my Great-Grandmother made in ceramics class a long while ago.

I love keeping things in the family and having pieces around my house that remind me of my family members past and present! The tree is now in our guest bedroom....Fits the green and white decor perfectly!!

Oh and to make sense of the title of this post, my Great-grandmothers name was Cora Grace. I love the name of rour future daughter, I mean in like 10 years....B still isn't sold on the name!

Making cookies for Christmas

This past weekend my wonderful grandparents came over for a cooking lesson for B and myself! For years and years they have made the most wonderful sugar cookies and cereal mix. I would put them up against anyone else's cookies and mix and I'm sure they'd win out! Anyway, B and I went to the store got all the items we needed, then welcomed Gram and Gramps that afternoon.

We started with the mix and it turned out AMAZING!!!! We only had 6 one gallon bags, not nearly enough!!! We served it yesterday at our extended family Christmas, we have just enough we can serve it again next year! Just kidding!!! Here's the wonderful melt in your mouth mix......

Next it was on to the best sugar cookies in the world! Oh my mouth is watering just thinking about eating one! First you mix the batter...duh! Then you roll the batter into small balls and roll in white sugar. Smash with a flat bottom cup. Here's the kicker you spray the bottom of the cup with pam, the cooking spray and then dip it in colored surgar, we use green and red. Anyway, then you bak them. Here's some pictures of our cooking adventure!

My adorable grandparents

Little Betty Crocker stiring the mix

What???

Just to let you know, I've eaten two cookies while typing this post! Oh and they're best when frozen!!mmmmmm!!! Happy baking!

Our Elf Dance

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

What I'm wearing today..

Today here in good ole Iowa it's a whopping -2 below zero for the actual temperature. The windchill is a lovely -27 degrees. When I was getting my gear on I thought oh my goodness, I must have just put on 10 pounds of clothing. So here are the items I put on this morning. I will spare you any actual pics of moi!

First, would be the long underwear, just the bottoms, I will spare you another picture.

Next would be the two pairs of socks, the first layer is tube socks...

The second layer is a thick pair of wool socks...

Next were my Dojo jeans....warm in most cases, not in this one!

Then a tank and sweater....

Next is the ugg boots....I know, I know they're considered "out" but I live in Iowa, the frozen tundra and they are the warmest things on the market....Trust me after living here for 26 years, I've dont plenty of research!

and don't forget the scarf..

A little bit to go along with the scarf...I've learned a trick living in te frozen tundra over the years, pashminas make AMAZINGLY warm scarves! They are huge, and can go from the bottom of your neck all the way up to your chin. The silk in them insulates like no bodies business...seriously, try it!
Ok on to my next layer...

Ok, you know it's cold when your coat that's supposed to keep you super warm up to -25 degrees starts to harden on the outside. This is a double layer coat and when the outside does that, that means it's DAMN cold!
And to top off my outfit for the day....

and this little number to keep my nogin warm.

After all that, I was still freezing my butt off when getting gas this morning....BRRRR, I need to move to the tropics.

Ruby wants to show off her new fashions!

I swore I would never be THAT person tat buys clothing for our dog.....Well with the wind chill creeping down and the snow blowing like it's the north pole I broke down and bought Rubes a sweater, a cute Christmas t-shirt and a pink sweater in which she chewed a hole through....ahhh the puppy years! Here are a few snapshots of my little cuddle bug in this seasons most fashionable dog wear.

Her new pink sweater...which now has a hole in it!

Her teal/aqua sweater that was a steal at Wal-mart! Only 5 bones for this one!


Lastly, her snowman/Christmas t-shirt! A whopping $4.99 at Tar-Jay!!!

I'm creating a fashionista in my dog...uhhhh ohhh!!!

Answers to your burning questions.

Last week I told you to ask me anyting, and you did just that! Now it's time that I answer your questions you asked! So here goes nothing....

1. Describe your perfect Saturday.

My perfect Saturday would consist of waking up late and in late I mean 9am, getting ready for the day, playing outside with Ruby, shopping, or being outside with B and Ruby. Then ending the day with a date night!

2. What's your favorite book and why?

My Favorite book is Escape by Carolyn Jessop. She escaped from the FLDS in 2005 and took her 8 children with her. She is now doing remarkably well and details her journey through life in her book. I have always been interested in different lifestyles and why people choose to live that way. When I heard about the FLDS in the news I was immediately captured by their lifestyle, beliefs and traditions. Now I will say that I am in no way thinking of adopting that religion or lifestyle, it just intersts me.

3. What made you choose your profession?

Do you have all day?? I majored in sociology and psychology in college. I then went back to school to get my education degree. After doing all this I came upon a job that was dealing with at-risk teenage boys. From the first day I knew that is where I belonged. These kids were there because they had offended in someway shape or form. When I really got to know these kids, they were great kids, they just needed a lot of guidence, love, and structure. Most of the kids I deal with have NO structure, mom and dad probably don't want them and to recieve attention these kids act out. If I can be that one person in their life that gives them that stability and structure, then my job is done. I want to change as many lives as I can. I want to shape the next generation so the cycle doesn't continue.

4. Where did you get that awesome red bag?

First, thanks for thinking it's awesome! Second I bought it in Chicago at a small boutique called Francesca's. It's a great little store with reasonably priced items and pieces that you won't find everyone else wearing. The best part, the clutch was only $30!

5. Why did you choose the name Ruby for your dog?

First, miss Allie, I do remember you and your Ruby is simply precious! My stepmom actually came up with the name. The day after we adopted Ruby we took her to Chicago for a wedding. The hotel said that we could pay an extra fee and she could stay there. So we packed her up along with her crate and headed to Chicago. This is all before we knew she was very, very sick. Anyway, we were originally going to call her Whitley because we saw a doggie on petfinder that was named that and we liked it. At dinner, after a few glasses of wine my stepmom leaned over and said what about Ruby? We looked at each other and loved it! So from then on, Ruby had her name. Funny little tidbit, my sister found out she was pregnant for the 3rd time a few weeks after we got Ruby......Her girl name....RUBY!!! Not any longer! I guess great minds think alike!

6. What is your favorite movie?

My favorite movie would have to be wedding crashers. It's like a train wreck you don't want to look, but you can't look away! If you haven't seen it, rent it, it's hilarious!

7. Any favorite quotes?

"Courage is not the absence of fear, it's going ahead despite the fear".

8. Favorite recipe to make?

This would be my grandma's hamballs.....YUUUMMYYY!!!

9. Favorite item of clothing?

This is tough one. I am a clothes hound and love all things fashion. I would have to say my favorite item of clothing would be a shirt dress from j crew. It's blue and I can wear it year round! In the summer I pair it with my silver flat gladiator sandals and my aviators, and I'm ready to go. In the winter I layer it with a chunky long sweater over the top or a funky long sleeved shirt under it with tights and possibly knee socks over the tights that stick out the top pf my boots.

Thank you to all who asked questions! Happy Tuesday!

I think I'm addicted...

To Christmas decor that is! I have always been a huge fan of the Christmas season, but now as an adult I am even more addicted. I know my house will never look like these in the pictures, but I love the ideas and a girl can always dream!

Today I found some really great and creative ideas, that seem like I could tweak them a little and have my very own DIY projects for some chic new Christmas decor. See what ya think.

Not only do I want B to built me a piece like this but I also want to make a wreath like the one hanging and use some fabulous ribbon similar to the one in the pic.

I have some old wood frames that are natural wood color and I think I could paint and destress them, add some garland, berries and Christmas cheer and....VIOLA!!! A Christmas display.

This read tree caught me eye, and I saw one at Crate and Barrel for about $40....I think I could make one for way cheaper. Yay or Nay??

I am in love with my new gold glass balls and I just can't put them enough places....now I just need this little number!


Happy Holidays!

A dancing princess Stella

This past week we were over at my sister's house having Wild Turkey night. This is the Wednesday before Thanksgiving we get together at my sisters house, drink Wild Turkey and have a good ole time. For the first half of the evening Noah and Estella joined us in the basement and after a little boredom Miss Stella came down with this get-up on.

After us raving over the outfit she showed us her dance moves! She recently has started taking dance and absolutely loves it! Everytime I'm over we have to play dance class where I'm the teacher and she's the student. It really only consists of me saying "point together, point together" you get the point. This particular evening she was all on her own and she did a few routines and everytime she would pose she would jump in Noah's red chair. Watch and see!

Stella was perfectly fine after the spill and got up and started dancing all over again! Yes she is dancing to big band music and that's me laughing and woowing in the backround! Have a wonderful weekend!

Ask me anything.....

I've noticed a few of my blogging friends doing this and I thought I would give it a try....So here goes nothing, you can ask me anything......It can be about my life, my job, my blog, the Rubes, nothing is off limits...Hit me up with a comment and I will post the answers early next week....now if no one leaves any comments, I will be deleting this post to save my own pride!

Ask, ask away!!! Happy Thursday!

I will leave you with a picture of your faithful blogger friend....me gettin my groove on!

Please let me introduce....

Miss Zoe Marie!! She was born November 23rd and weighed 6 pounds 2 ounces and is absolutely precious! This past weekend B and I had the chance to go and meet the little princess! She has lots of dark hair, ten tiny toes, ten tiny fingers and is sweet as can be! She made her arrival two weeks early, and thankfully her parents were ready! This is my sister in law and brother in laws first baby and they are doing exceptionally well adapting to parenthood! Without further a do....I present Miss Zoe Marie!

Big yawn

Hanging out with her auntie





She loved sleeping with her uncle

Sleepy little girl!

We had a wonderful time visiting Zoe and can't wait to spoil her rotten!