Mandii's Muse

I'm linking up with Andrea today to share some favorites with you! The first favorite is that I am on my way to Erie, PA for their annual wine festival! Last year was my first time, and I am hooked! The wineries are beautiful, and they have so many fun events going on throughout the region. (I'm sure I'll be Instagramming a lot, so be sure to check it out throughout the weekend!) Another favorite has been my new iPhone. I got the 8, and so far I am really liking it. It is definitely a significant upgrade from my 5s that I had. Something that hasn't been a favorite has been searching for the third book in a series that I am reading. I have read the first two books of Karen Kingsbury's Above the Line series. I found the 4th book at Ollie's for $2.99. I have not been able to find the third book, so I figured I'd try Amazon. Um, are the joking? This book better be written in gold for that price! My final favorite has been watching my Grandma throughou...

Let's face it, coffee is essential. I prefer to drink my coffee lazily in the afternoon, or on a slow morning. I'm also really lucky because there is a Dunkin Donuts about 30 seconds from where I work. I prefer iced coffee, and always tried to make it at home. Huge disappointment. It just never turned out right. I saw that Dunkin was sending out samples of their Cold Brew packs to try, so I signed up to get one. First of all, this could not be easier to use. All you have to do is get a pitcher and fill it with 3 cups of water. Then you put two of the cold brew packs in the pitcher and let it steep overnight. In the morning, take the bags out, and add one more cup of water. That's it! Friends let me tell you, this was the most delicious tasting iced coffee! I made mine with some vanilla syrup, cream, and ice in my tumbler. It tasted like I had just come from Dunkin! So, so good! These Cold Brew packs must be popular, because every time I go to my local Wal-Mart, they are...

With this school year, there are a few things I'd like to do to keep myself productive, and streamlined. I think I read somewhere that it takes 21 days to form a habit, so I'm willing to commit to that. Here are a few things that I'd like to do to make this year more smooth! I am so not a morning person, but I also don't want to take time after work to workout. So I'd love to start my mornings with a quick workout. (As much as I can do with my neck being the way it is!) If that means waking up a half hour earlier, and being done with it before I get my day started-I'm willing to give it a try! I'm willing to fire up the iPad and sleep in my workout gear if I have to! I also would like to try taking some healthier snacks and lunches. I'm usually so good with it the beginning of the year, but by November I'm done. Especially after work, when it seems like I am ravenous! If I can pack an extra snack in my Yumbox to eat on the way home from work, t...

You guys! Today is my 600th blog post! It took a crazy thought to start this blog, numerous brainstorms, hours of work, and several hiatuses but here we are! I just want to say THANK YOU to my followers and readers for sticking with me, and reading this little hobby of mine. You are all seriously the best! So, since this is a big milestone I'm going to share some of my favorite blog posts! This post on Celtic Thunder's new CD is the first "official" blog post! I still absolutely flip for this vegetable lasagna recipe! So good y'all! Unfortunately the " Mandii Buys Your Jersey Curse " is still going strong. I'm doomed. One of my favorite outfit posts I’ve done was when I had you all vote on which dress I should wear to two weddings! I love to travel, and one of my favorite trips was my trip to QVC and West Chester, PA. I’d love to be able to do that trip again! The sports lover in me just about peed my pants when I went to the N...

If you've read my post on my rosacea diagnosis , you know that I changed my skincare routine pretty dramatically! This post is a followup to show you what I use on my face to wash, and moisturize it. The first piece of the puzzle starts at night. I only wash my face at night. I wash my face with baking soda. Now if I am having some breakouts, I will add one drop of tea tree oil to the baking soda, make a paste with water, and wash my face. If I'm not breaking out, I just make a paste with the baking soda and water and scrub a dub dub. The baking soda balances the pH level of your skin, is a gentle exfoliant, and the tea tree oil is superb for breakouts. After I've washed my face, I will tone with TN Dickinson's witch hazel. This next cream is crucial. I use the Derma E Skinbiotics Treatment Creme with tea tree and oregano. This has been the key to curtailing the breakouts. And no, you don't smell like an Italian garden after using it. Haha! (Although, what would...

I'm pretty sure I was the last person to get Netflix. To be 100% honest, I got it a couple of years ago to have something in my "back pocket" for the days I'm in a classroom. I use it during snack time, or on test day once everyone has completed their test. I'm not a huge Netflix watcher, because I have cable, but I can see where this would be a great alternative if you didn't. I have found some great programs on there, so I wanted to share with you! The one show I absolutely LOVE is The Crown. I’m such a “Royal watcher” anyway that the British monarchy absolutely fascinates me. I don’t binge watch anything usually, but this I definitely did!I have 4 episodes left of season 2, but I just can’t watch them yet because I’d have to wait until 2019 until season 3 comes out. Another show that I was so glad Netflix had was The People vs. OJ Simpson. This show I absolutely binge watched. I remember watching this story unfold as a youngster, and these 10 episodes w...

Without a doubt, I’m a breakfast person. I love to make quiches, and casseroles. I think these sticky buns would be a huge hit at a breakfast at church, or a brunch baby or bridal shower. They are seriously so easy! Ingredients: 3/4 Cup brown sugar 1/4 Cup honey 1/8 Cup butter (that’s half of a 1/4 for all you math illiterates like me!) 1/2 Cup chopped pecans 1 tube of refrigerator biscuits (I like the buttermilk kind!) Directions: In a saucepan mix brown sugar, honey, and butter until melted and combined. Place mixture in an 8 inch greased round pan. Sprinkle pecans on top. Arrange biscuits on top of mixture. *You should have 1 biscuit left over, I just break it up and put it in any gaps between the biscuits.* Bake at 350* for 13-17 minutes. Here’s where the tricky part comes in: when it comes out of the oven let it sit for a minute or two, then you need to flip it on a large platter so the honey and pecan mixture can be on top. Don’t worry, my heart stops a little every...

Today I'm linking up with Shay and Erika to discuss how we do Fall. I really enjoy fall. I love the cooler temperatures, the leaves turning their beautiful color, the gorgeous fall clothes, and Fall always ushers in the start of the holiday season. Here is how I do Fall! Fall always means cooler weather, so I love to make soup! My favorite is broccoli cheddar, and I love to make it in the crock pot so it is one less thing to worry about! Found the cute football platters at Aldi's! I also love going to some college football games and tailgating! Or, I just like to watch the games at home and eating all the appetizer food! My mom made this!  Fall also means heading up North and going to a wine festival near Erie, PA. It is absolutely beautiful country up there, and the different wineries are so unique. Of course Fall means all the beautiful decorations, and fall festivals! The sports fan in me always hope my Cleveland Indians are playing October bas...

Amazon Prime is a wonderful thing.  Free 2 day shipping? Yes please! I will say that I’m not a huge Amazon Prime person, but I have most definitely been using their service a lot this summer. Now I don’t grocery shop or anything like that on Prime. I will however buy things that I don’t need, or think I need.  (haha!) I used Amazon Prime at the end of the year to buy my school kiddos their end of the year treats. I’ve also used it just recently for Bible school when we needed solar paper for a craft we did. I will occasionally buy some Christmas gifts and stocking stuffers on Prime as well. Here are a few things that I’ve recently purchased on Amazon. I just purchased a Yumbox and a pink Blender Bottle. I’m trying to streamline my breakfasts and lunches/snacks, so those two items were on my list. (Reviews coming in the weeks ahead!) One of my favorite things to purchase from Amazon are books! They are super inexpensive, and of course the selection is great. I’m one of thos...

I hope your Labor Day weekend was relaxing! I'm saying that Summer is officially over, and now I am in full on Fall mode. I wanted to share with you a little bit of what I did over the long weekend, so let's get right on into it! Thursday: My parents and I went to the last Cleveland Indians afternoon game of the season. It was absolutely the most perfect day for baseball. The weather was just right, not too hot or cold. We were able to get into our favorite parking lot, our seats were fantastic, and the Tribe ended up winning! We ended the night at our favorite pizza place. (Because ballpark food is expensive, y'all!) Friday, I went and got a haircut. I love my hair long like it is, but it was time for a little trim. I swear, coming from the hairdresser is like the best feeling. You are relaxed, you look great, it is the best! I got a few highlights, and just enjoyed the "me" time. I finished up some Act 48 hours I was working on, cleaned the upstairs area, an...

Today, I’m linking up with Sarah at Meet the Shaneyfelts ! I’m not sure how I discovered her blog, but I love to read it! I’m linking up with her and sharing my favorite crock pot recipes. To me, the crock pot screams fall and winter food. I’ve used it in the summer a few times, but once Fall hits I love to pull it out! I have an enormous 7 quart one, but a few Christmases ago, my aunt got me a small 2 quart one to have for dips and such. I use that one all the time! I’ve put rice in it for taco night, I’ve put dips in it for get togethers-it is so useful! Here are a few of my favorites that I make every year! I’m showing you my loved recipe cards that I keep in a file. Broccoli cheese soup! The first soup I usually make once the weather gets cooler is broccoli cheese soup! The flavor combination of broccoli and cheese is just the best comfort food. There is some prep work that goes into this soup by making a roux, but it’s only a saucepan. Next with college football and coll...

I'm soaking in the last little bit of Summer and enjoying Labor Day with my family! I hope you are doing the same!