Mandii's Muse

I wanted to share with you some Christmas treats today that you might want to share with your family! I've blogged about these before, but I figured I would just post them all in one area so you can see them! I just made my Italian Butter yesterday. This is better as it sits a day or two. So make it today and it will have plenty of time to marinate and get delicious! If you want something sweet for breakfast, you can make these Cinnamon scones , or sticky buns ! If you are craving something sweet, go ahead and try my Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Pie ! Such a delicious combination! I hope that these recipes find themselves on your table this Christmas season! If you make one of these recipes, I'd love to hear about it! Please leave me a comment and let me know!!

"Lift up your eyes. Your Heavenly Father waits to bless you in inconceivable ways to make your life what you never dreamed it could be." Anne Ortlund God's blessings come in many shapes and sizes. We fail to recognize them at times. Today's world is consumed with ourselves. It is all about me, myself, and I. This saying is telling us to "lift up our eyes!" God will bless you beyond measure to make your life the best it could be.  I will admit, trying to find the blessings is hard. For example, this fall, our house was attacked with bees. They were coming in our house through the cracks in the doors! My dad tried to spray them, and ended up falling off a ladder and irritating his hamstring. (We thought he might have tore his knee up!) My dad and I are allergic, and at the time I was thinking, "why is this happening to us?" We didn't plan on having to spend money to have an exterminator come out and get rid of them. Looking back on it,...

Last Tuesday, I went to hear Celtic Thunder! They were playing with the Pittsburgh Symphony for their Christmas show. It was a lovely evening, and Heinz Hall is decorated beautifully for Christmas. The lads were in perfect form, and it was a great jump start to the holiday season. I wasn't allowed to take pictures of the concert, but I did snap a picture of my outfit before I left! It's Wednesday, so I am linking up with the Pleated Poppy! I went a little dressier to this event, because the concert was in a fancier location! My dress is from Forever and I wore my DIY scarf! You can find out how I made it here ! My boots were from Fashion Bug, and they are surprisingly comfortable! I just grabbed some plain black tights to complete the look! This look was perfect for the evening. It was a chilly night, and this look was warm and dressy. I was plenty warm walking from our parking spot to Heinz Hall. If you ever get a chance to go to Pittsburgh at Christmas, definitely do so...

Why not start Christmas early, and show you my December Ipsy bag?! This month had some great samples, and ones I will definitely use!! There is nothing like getting samples in the mail at Christmas time, to help you get pretty for any parties you may be attending! Here is what was in my bag this month! Bumble and Bumble- Bb Repair Blow Dry Sereum in Creme: That was a long name huh? This is said to help repair your hair from blowouts, and help you style last for 3 days. I just recently bought a flat iron, so I know that I will need this for my hair to repair any damage that the flat iron may cause. Cailyn- Just Mineral Eye Polish: I received the color Orchid. This is a light champagne color with some sparkle, that will look great on the lid, with a light taupe matte crease, and matte highlight. This has a sponge applicator, that deposits just the right amount of color. My LOUSY attempt at pictures by the Christmas tree. Sorry this is SO bad! Nourish Organic- Renewing Eye Cre...

"God has a reason for allowing things to happen. We may never understand His wisdom, but we simply have to trust His will." Anonymous I know that in my lifetime, I have questioned God's Will many times. Usually, I was questioning His plan for my life. Why does He allow people to hurt, or get ill, or go through any form of difficulty? We don't have to understand it, but we have to trust in His timing and His will . When I was in college, I failed the Math Praxis 6 times. This is an important test to pass in order to be a teacher. I was always within three points of passing. I was angry at God. Why did He let me fail this test six times? Did He think I wasn't meant to be a teacher? I definitely had that thought cross my mind.   To this day, I don't know why He had me fail that test six times. Maybe it was a test to let me practice patience and waiting. I trusted that He would guide me in the direction that He wanted me to go. If it wasn't the ...

"Faith is not believing God can, it's knowing God will."  Anonymous How true is this statement? I am a firm believer in faith and the power of prayer. Like many of you, I know several people who are struggling with illness, and personal problems. I pray for them daily.  I pray for the blessings God hasn't even done yet. I say "Thank you Lord for healing so and so," sometimes, the prayer will be, "Thank you God for the good weather we will be having" if we are traveling.  I do this because I know God will heal that person, or give us traveling mercies.  I have faith knowing that God will direct my path, and any obstacles he puts on my way are there for a purpose. Finding faith in the middle of a storm is not always easy. The Bible says that if you have "faith as small as a mustard seed, than you can move mountains." (Matthew 17:20) A mustard seed, tiny as it is, is all the faith you need. Faith, and knowing God will pull y...

The day that I received my Birchbox, I also got my paycheck. Definitely a winning mail day! This month's theme was Giving. (How appropriate!) They also partnered with RED to help the fight against AIDS. Here is what was in my box this month! Bain de Terre|Argan Oil & Passion Flower Color Therapy Oil: I use a hair oil every day, and I can't wait to add this into my routine! This is said to add shine and nourish the hair. Ellovi|Tinted Lip Butter: This is said to be all natural. This leaves just a sheer wash of color, and will be perfect for wearing around the house and to run quick errands. Juice Beauty|Green Apple Sensitive Peel: This is supposed to be a gentle peel with fruit acids to gently dissolve dead skin. Not Soap, Radio|Joy inducing Body Wash: This is a lemon scented cleanser. I do like lemon scents because they are bright and cheery. I can't wait to take a warm shower and lather up! Tocca| Crema da Mano-Bianca:  This is a hand lotion scented with gr...

I don't think I have mentioned this before, but I absolutely detest wearing coats. They are bulky, you have to carry them in stores, and the list just goes on and on! I love outfits (and weather) where vests can double as my coat! Such was the case the other day. It was still chilly out, but I was able to wear one of my warmest vests and not wear a coat. As usual, I am linking up with the Pleated Poppy ! *I said it when I got this tunic that I would be wearing it all.the.time. I cannot tell a lie! Without Vest With Vest Outfit Details: Tunic: LTD Commodities Leggings: Mossimo (Target) Shoes: American Eagle (Payless) Vest: Old Navy Necklace: Bijuju I think that this would be a great outfit to do some shopping in, you don't have a coat to handle, and are still warm, and are comfortable. The only thing I would change is my shoes. Nobody wears heels to shop in!! I'd love to see your outfits! Leave me a comment and let me know what you wore!

Raise your hand is you are still noshing on Thanksgiving leftovers! To me, Thanksgiving just brings in the Holiday season. I've completed some Christmas shopping already, (still have more) gotten in some quality family time, and did some organizing. I wanted to share with you some of my Thanksgiving with you! The buffet Thanksgiving Day had me eating a boatload of food. We had: turkey, chicken, stuffing, cranberry applesauce, green bean casserole, sweet potato casserole (always with a brown sugar/pecan topping), noodles, mashed potatoes, rolls and I think that was it?! It was delicious! My plate Saturday, my family headed to my aunt and uncle's house to celebrate with my mom's side of the family! Unfortunately, I was too busy eating and catching up with family members to take pictures. We participated in a white elephant gift exchange that is always fun! I ended up with an angel candle holder! Sunday, I lounged around and watched sports. Duke was on, a...

"People can make all kinds of plans, but only the Lord's plan will happen."  Proverbs 19:21 How many times have we planned our day to the exact minute, and we find ourselves mad when things don't go according to our plan? The beauty of this proverb, is that you can plan all you want, but the Lord already has a plan in place for your life. His plan may include some trials and tribulations, but He wouldn't have put them there, if He wasn't going to help you through them.  When I was three years old, I had to have open heart surgery. This surgery was not in my parent's plan for me, but it was the Lord's plan. What if God chose me to have this surgery, so my family could lead another family, or a doctor to Him? When you stop to think about it that way, it's pretty special isn't it?  I take comfort in knowing that the Lord already has my life planned out for me. I know that my plan will include highs and lows. Things may not happe...

My mom is the creative genius in our family. She does all the decorating around the house. She has a great eye for colors, and how things should look. I only hope that when I get a place of my own I can decorate my home as well as she can! I wanted to show you our decorations, in case you haven't started to put yours up yet! We always have several trees. There is one in our upstairs living room, one downstairs, and one in my room. This year, my mom got a tree and added all of her Wendell August ornaments to it as well. All of them are decorated beautifully, and match to the decor in the particular room. There is something so pretty about a nicely decorated mantle. We have a few in our house, so I wanted to show you those as well! My mom collects snowmen, and considering we have long winters these guys stay up long after the decorations have been put away! Let's take a minute to step outside into our entryway. How stinking cute is that snow-woman? I can't stand th...

There is a saying that goes something like this: Image "What if you woke up today, with only the things you thanked God for yesterday?" What would you wake up to? Thanksgiving is a time to reflect and look back at what we truly have and are grateful for. For me, I am thankful that I have family and friends who have their health and who love me. I have a roof over my head and food on the table. As we enter this upcoming season, let us all take a minute to reflect on what we are thankful for. Big or small, there is something in each day to be thankful about. Happy Thanksgiving, Friends.

So, it is November 26 and we've already had some snowfall. WHAT?! I'm basking in the light from the Christmas tree, with my Christmas scents burning in my wax warmer. I think it is safe to say that fall has been bypassed and I'm in full on Christmas mode! Since it has been cold here, my outfit needed to follow suit. I needed to be warm when I was outside! I'm linking up with the Pleated Poppy to show you my outfit! Outfit Details: Jeggings: Mossimo (Target) Boots: Mark Fisher (QVC Outlet) Top: Original TY Wear (This is SO old!) Earwarmer: Bijuju This outfit is simple, classy and perfect for a wintry day! What do you love to wear on a cold winter day? Leave me a comment and let me know! I'd love to hear from you!

Two things before we start. First, I'm sorry that I have neglected this blog so much these past 2 months. I came home from vacation and life kicked into full gear! Let's try to get this back on schedule shall we? Second, I took very few pictures during this trip. I was too busy getting my shop on! Last weekend my aunt, her bestie, and I took a bus trip to West Chester, PA. We had to be at the tour company at 5:45am. Yes, I had a cup of Jingle Bell Java coffee that morning! (From a local store, it is delicious!) We boarded the bus and tried to catch a few minutes of shuteye before the sun came up. We passed the time watching 27 dresses, and pretty soon we were at Rockvale Square! This is a cute outdoor shopping area that has the QVC Outlet store. I went into the weekend wanting something from Isaac Mizrahi, and bought nothing of his.  :( I did find the most ADORABLE pair of blue suede wedge booties of his, but decided against those. (One of the regrets I have of this weekend....

Have you ever heard, or saw a quote or saying and it was just what you needed at that specific moment? I have had that happen several times, and it is always a comfort. To me, it is like God saying, "I'm here." I was out shopping the other night, and had such an occurrence. I was walking through an aisle that had a plethora of signs. One in particular caught my attention, and I just stopped, and read it several times. "Don't worry about tomorrow, God is already there." I always get amazed with God's creation as I look out into the ocean. Wow! How profound and perfect is that? How many times have you worried about tomorrow? I have! Have you worried about what will happen in your job? What about waiting for a test from a doctor to come back? Worrying if you will have enough money to pay the bills.  The beauty of this saying is, that God is telling us not to worry. He has our days planned out for us already. Hard times and good times. Don...

Can you believe that one week from today is Black Friday? I don't participate, and I'm so glad. I'm more of a Cyber Monday kind of gal! Alas, today is Friday and I am doing what I usually do: Link up with Lauren . 1. I have begun to plan what I am making for Christmas Eve. I like to be well prepared! Who am I kidding? I make the same things every year! 2. This scene appeared outside. There is something beautiful about a fresh fallen snow. 3. I am probably the last person to have tried this but, Starbucks Peppermint Mocha- DELICIOUS! 4. I'm in full on Christmas mode, and it isn't even Thanksgiving yet! Trees are up, and my Nutcrackers are out, so I am good to go! 5. Posts are written and scheduled for next week! Time to get this blog back on track! What did you love about this week? Leave me a comment and let me know! I know this is my first post in a while! That problem will be fixed on Monday with new posts!!

My Ipsy bag was the second piece of mail I opened after I came home from vacation. Getting makeup in the mail is definitely better than bills and credit card statements. Can I get an amen? The items in my bag this month were exactly what I needed to cheer me up from leaving the beach. Here is what was in my bag! iEnvy|False Lashes: This lashes look natural, and will compliment any looks I throw together for the upcoming Holiday season! Jesse's Girl|Mineralized Baked Powder Eyeshadow: This is a pretty shimmery purple shade. I think this will look beautiful on the lid with a matte purple in the crease. This is huge and will last me forever. City Color|Be Matte Lipstick: Ipsy knows of my obsession. This color is a perfect MLBB shade! This will look great with a smoky eye where I want my lips to be neutral. From what I have tried so far, this applies nicely, lasts a while. I received the color Cappuccino. Rose Berry|Hand Cream: With cold and flu season approaching, I will...

When I got back from vacation, the first thing I wanted to do was open this little pink box. I bypassed all of my other mail, and opened this first. #Priorities. This month was a great month, lots of products I need, and will use for sure! Here is what was in my box! The theme this month was Fanfare. So, they want to know what your favorite TV shows, music, movies are. For me, it is Chicago Fire, Chicago P.D. and How to Get Away with Murder. Plus, now that hockey has started, college basketball is starting, and college football is underway Mandii is definitely happy! Dr. Brandt| Pores No More Vacuum Cleaner: I SO needed this! Coming home from the beach, my pores are clogged from putting sunscreen on multiple times a day. I cannot wait to use this and clean out my pores! Essentiel Elements| Wake Up Rosemary Shower Gel: This smells delicious! There is a perfect blend of rosemary and mint that will wake you up and get you ready for the day. Another bonus, I think the packaging is ...

Fall can sometimes be hard to pick outfits. You still have some warm days, but the next day could be rainy and cold. On this day, I was heading to my grandparent's house to celebrate my Grandma's 89th birthday! It was about 68 degrees, and I wanted to be warm for outside, but cool for inside my grandparent's house. (They like to keep the thermostat VERY high!) Outfit Details: Tank: Wal-Mart Shrug: Marshalls Capris: Chico's Shoes: So that was my outfit! As usual, I linked up with the Pleated Poppy ! Do you struggle with picking outfits for those fall days? Leave me a comment and let me know! I'd love to hear from you!

Any vacation that involves an ocean, sand, and sun is a vacation I will enjoy! Earlier in October, I spent two glorious weeks in Myrtle Beach, SC. Leaving PA the weather was awful! We (mom, dad, and myself) ran in rain the whole time. We made our traditional stop at the New River Gorge in WV, and I still get amazed every time I see it! After arriving in Myrtle after dark we were exhausted! We got our keys to the condo, made our beds, and crashed! We didn't even unpack! The next morning, we got ready and went to Dino's for breakfast. Dino's is a local hot spot, that is only open for breakfast and dinner, and boy are they busy until closing time! The rest of the time we did this. At night, we watched sunsets like this. In the evenings, we would go out and stop at our favorite shopping centers: Barefoot Landing, Broadway at the Beach , and the Market Common . I highly recommend you stop at a store that is located in all of these areas. It is an acc...

How many times have you said this phrase: "On my bucket list, I'd do this____." I know that I most certainly have! Who wouldn't love to pick things to do if money or time wasn't an issue?  This gives us just the right reason to dream! I loved writing this post as a link up with Andrea ! I guess you could call my bucket list random to say the least. There are places I'd love to travel to, sporting events I'd love to attend, and people I'd love to meet. So let me share my bucket list with you! They didn't play UNC here.  1.) Attend a Duke/UNC game at Cameron Indoor Stadium: If you are a Duke fan, this should be number one on your list! Getting a tickets to this even is tough, Cameron only seats 9,314 people! Oh, but one day I'd love to shout and cheer during the Battle of Tobacco Road! 2.) Go on a Humpback Whale watching cruise: Ever since my 4th grade teacher taught a unit on whales, I have wanted to go on a humpback whale cruise. Th...

Image It is Friday! Whoo! :) A beautiful Fall Friday! I'm linking up with Lauren like I usually do! Here is what I loved about this week! 1. Today I am going out to dinner with one of my old college roommates and her fiancee!! I cannot wait, because I haven't seen her in FOREVER!! 2. My teaching schedule is going to be crazy the next 2 weeks so I have been busy writing posts ahead! 3. I had a conversation with one of my other college roommates about Nick Jonas. We were amazed at how well he's..."aged." You get what I'm saying? 4. I have been back from vacation for 1 week today, and I think I have seen 2 days of sunshine since then. I think the weather is preparing me for the upcoming winter season. 5. I need to get back to my healthy eating ways. I start a 5 day clean eating challenge on Monday. How has your week been? I'd love to hear from you, leave me a comment and let me know!

Look! I'm actually wearing shoes! Ever since I came home from the beach, the weather has been rainy and cold. Um, someone please transport me back there ASAP! So because I haven't switched over my clothes from Summer to Winter, I have to work with what I have out now. I should also mention that there was a 30-40 degree difference from where I was, to Pennsylvania, so I have been cold ever since I came home. ( I promise I will be doing a vacation recap soon!) My outfit was pretty monochromatic, and so, so, so comfortable! I threw my hair into the "princess roll" hairstyle, and I was instantly chic and ready to go! My booties  I have wanted for years, and finally found the perfect pair last year! Mildly uncomfortable, but so cute! Close up of the leggings and booties Outfit Details~ Tunic: LTD Commodities Leggings: Bisou Bisou (JC Penney) Shoes: American Eagle (Payless) As usual on Wednesday's I am linking up with the Pleated Poppy !

Image I am a firm believer in mascara and lipstick. Both can be found very cheap, or on the higher end. Being the frugal gal that I am, I tend to prefer the cheaper items, and I have had great results. Since I have been receiving my subscription boxes, I have had the opportunity to try some new samples of higher end mascaras and lipsticks, good for my beauty routine, bad for my wallet. One of my most recent samples of mascaras that I have been trying is the Urban Decay Perversion mascara. This mascara has been making its way into my daily rotation. It has a drier formula, and I find that I can apply several coats and it won't clump or give me spider lashes. It holds a curl well, and doesn't flake or make my lashes hard or break off. The brush is on the larger end and I sometimes have trouble keeping the mascara on my lashes. Honestly, that is the only con I have of this mascara. If I had some extra spending money, I would probably repurchase this mascara. You can find...

There used to be a time where I had to wash my hair every.single.day. Until I trained it to go every other day. It has been wonderful! Not only does it speed up my get ready time, but it also improves the health of my hair. A crucial aspect of helping my hair be grease free is dry shampoo. One of my favorites is Suave, but I have been trying out a higher end version as well! The Amika dry shampoo is a great option! First of all, this dry shampoo smells AMAZING! If Amika ever came out with a perfume of this scent, I would be first in line to buy it! So, so, so good!! As far as being able to soak up excess oil, this does a great job. Some dry shampoos can get too powdery, and this doesn't. It sprays just enough powder to get an even coat, and doesn't leave your hair looking white. Plus, when you fluff your hair, you still get a whiff of that amazing scent. This dry shampoo would be great for brunettes, because of it not leaving a white cast on the hair. How I use this: I li...

Image Last week when I was at the beach, I was fully immersed in the beach. I had sand, saltwater, and chlorine in my hair. Great for my mental health, not so great for my hair. My tresses needed some extra TLC. I shampooed and conditioned almost daily, and used this Number 4 Hair Care Prep and Protect Spray. This review would not be made possible without getting this sample from Birchbox! (See why it pays to get samples in the mail?) How I used this: I applied this after I unwrapped my hair from my towel. I flipped my hair upside down and sprayed it from the midshaft down to my ends. Then I sprayed the tiniest amount on my hair once it was flipped back up. Then I combed it out, and applied my Argan Magic hair oil as usual. Why I like this: I like this spray because first of all, it detangles my hair. I can comb it out with no problem. Second, it has a UV blocker, so if I wanted to I could spray this on before I go out to the beach. Lastly, I like that it repairs any...

I hope I'm not the only one that has this trouble, but I have terrible luck with shoes. I get blisters easily, and my feet hurt most times I wear shoes, no matter what pair! Terrible, terrible luck. I'm linking up with Andrea for her What's On series! I love her blog, please check her out if you don't already! I am going to use this as a shoe wishlist, and hopefully my family will use this as a Christmas list!  I bought a pair of black wedge boots, and have been on the lookout for brown ones. These are perfect, and go with everything, and scream fall to me! Since I have been on a health kick, I have been walking a lot! I need to invest in a good pair of walking shoes . I've put a lot of miles on mine this summer, and it is time to break some new ones in!  I think these wedges are absolutely wonderful! First of all, they would go with anything, and would be comfortable. I must be on the lookout for these! What types of shoes are your favorites, or are...

So, so, so glad it is Friday! I felt like this week would never end!! What about you? I am linking up with Lauren like I always do on Friday's! Here is what I loved about this week! 1. The Pirates unfortunately lost in the Wildcard game. However, it was really neat to see how excited everyone was about playoff baseball in the 'Burgh! 2. The QVC trip is all paid for and ready to go! I CANNOT wait!! I'm obsessed with that channel! Image 3. I ordered some items online, and one of them is a tunic. I can't wait to get this because I have several outfits planned around this one top! Do you do this too? 4. The Fall TV lineup has been on point lately! Chicago Fire, and Chicago P.D. have been incredible , and I really like How to Get Away with Murder. 5. Lastly, the series finale of Farm Kings is tonight. :( However, just because they won't be on my TV screen, they have the chance to be on my computer screen. They started an indiegogo campaign to continue thei...

The weather is changing, and Fall is definitely here! It is such a wonderful time of the year, and I found this tag so you can see some of my favorites! Image Favorite  Autumn Lip color:   I LOVE Revlon's Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Crush! It is a beautiful cranberry color, and I love pairing it with a golden metallic eye!   Favorite  Autumn nail polish:   There are so many that I love! You can check them out here! Favorite  Starbucks drink for Autumn:  I have made it my goal to try the Caramel Apple Spice this year!  Favorite  Autumn Candle:  You can find my favorites here! Favorite  Autumn scarf or accessory: Oh man! This is a hard question! I love my leopard scarf, and my high boots! Haunted house, Haunted hay ride or haunted corn maze?  I am not a fan of haunted anything, so I am going to go with a nice hay ride, or fall festival! Favorite  candy fo...

Image Some mornings I wake up and go to work. Some mornings, I don't. On Monday I could be at School A, and Tuesday, School B. One morning I can be in kindergarten, and the same afternoon 6th grade. I could have recess duty, or lunch duty. I am a substitute teacher. For the past 3 years I have been substitute teaching. I have had numerous interviews for a full time job, but nothing has panned out yet. Throughout my years subbing, I have had countless experiences. I have been a learning support teacher, over saw an in school suspension (the worst!) , and participated in evacuation, fire, and lockdown drills, and gave PSSA tests to 8th graders. I wanted to show you what my typical day could look like! 5:40am: Wake up time! (I shower the night before) 5:45 Wash my face, and begin applying my makeup 6:15 Begin curling my hair 6:30 Finish my hair and grab breakfast 7:40 Get dressed, make my bed and gather items for the day ahead 8:00 Leave for the school 8:15-8:20 arrive a...

I'd like to dream that I have perfect blemish free skin and not have to use concealer. That's just what that is, a dream! I have begun to notice a need to use some concealer, for random blemishes, broken capillaries, and the dark circles under my eyes. I'll keep on dreaming! Image I have not used liquid foundation in years. I have always used powder. However, when I would use my powder foundation to cover up any blemishes I had, I didn't like how it looked. I received the Boo Boo Cover Up concealer in my Ipsy bag, I was excited to try it! This concealer is a perfect match for my skin tone. I was so impressed that it was so spot on. The formula is not too thick, but it isn't runny either. Believe me, all you need is a little dab of concealer and blend it out. This concealer has not made me break out, or have any adverse effects on my skin. I apply my regular powder foundation first. Then, I take a little dab of concealer, and blend it out with my fingers. T...