Obsessions: AKA Things You Need in Your Life

{JOIE POLLINI FAUX-WRAP DRESS}
We have quite a few holiday parties this year and my parents were sweet enough to treat me to a dress for the holidays.  I thought about going all glitzy and glam but decided if they were treating I wanted something I could wear all the time.  This dress is amazing.  I swear it looks awesome on.  What I love about it is you can dress it up or down.  Add a fun jeweled necklace and heels and you are ready for any Holiday party.  I sported mine this Saturday for our girls night out.  Oh and it is on major sale right now- get it before it sales out.  I paired mine with grey tights and booties.  I pictured it with two necklaces below so you could see how it works with all kinds of jewelry!

{HONEY TRUFFLE MUSTARD}

This is the stuff dreams are made of, so good!  I randomly found this at Homegoods and it was well worth the $4.  We served ours spread on fresh pepperoni with cheese this weekend and it was amazing.  I found it online here too- would be a great hostess gift.

{TOO FACED THREE WAY LASH LINING TOOL}

My mom had been raving about this eyeliner forever and I finally tried hers while I was home.  It works great.  It draws a perfect line on top and bottom.  Goes on super smooth and precisely.  I of course had to get one for myself I am always searching for the perfect eyeliner and I think this may be it!
This is how the beauty site describes it (better than I can):

"Lash-Emphasizing: Unique triple tip easily stamps dots between lashes for a naturally thicker lash look instantly!
Tight Lining: Fine points make it easy to line inside of eyes, or at the base of lashes for a more wide-eyed and brighter look.
Eye Lining: 3 tips ensure a triple coating of the blackest black line while they also ensure a smoother, more steady line. Great for cat eyes!"

{GAP STUDIO SWEATER}
This is the softest most comfortable sweater you will ever put on.  I did not want to take it off.  They are made of a blend of wool, acrylic, and nylon which = the most luxurious sweater ever.
  I have the black and blue versions.  They would be great to wear out running errands but I have been wearing mine around the house with my JCrew Saturday pants or leggings.  They are also cute to throw on over workout clothes.  They would make a great Christmas gift for someone plus they are on sale right now!  The perfect lounge wear sweater.

{MAGNOLIA WREATHS}
I have wanted a Magnolia wreath since I saw it in Southern Living a few years ago.  I heard a rumor there is a guy at the Farmers Market who sells them.  You better believe I am headed there Saturday to try and score one before he sells out.  I adore this look for the holidays.  This is probably an easy DIY so if anybody wants to make one for me, I will happily take it:)

{NATE BERKUS METALLIC PILLOW}

I love the idea of adding fun pillows for the Holidays and what better way to spruce up your house than with a few metallic pillows.  I am obsessed with these from the Nate Berkus line.  I know alot the stores are sold out but there is alot of his stuff still online!

Cooking With Crock Pots: Truffled Beef Pot Pie

Ready for yet another confession??   We received a crock pot for a wedding gift 5 years ago and I have never used it, not once.   I have nothing against crock pots, but normally I just cook things in my LeCreuset pots.   So when crock pot contacted me and asked if I wanted to participate in a crock pot cooking contest, I immediately thought, yes!  It was the perfect nudge to inspire me and get me using my crock pot.  

Crock Pot recently came out with 3 new seasoning packets (beef stew, pot roast, and BBQ)  and the challenge was to create a recipe that used one of the seasoning packets.   Easy enough, right?  Let your imaginations run wild.  Best part is the contest is still open and anyone can enter thru November 25th.   If you have a fabulous crock pot recipe,  just submit it here.  The winner gets a years supply of groceries valued at $8500.  I know I would be all over some free groceries. 

My first experience with the crock pot turned out amazing.  Why did I wait so long to use this easy appliance.  I tossed everything in around lunch and come dinner time it was perfectly cooked and I had nothing more to do than sip my wine. 

Here is the recipe Matt and I came up with.  It is a mix between beef stew and chicken pot pie.  Oh and it is truffled.  This one decadent comfort food dish you will love!   We decided to mix it up and use two seasoning packets in our dish.  We loved the Beef Stew and Pot Roast mixes so much we combined them.  I would say it was a genius idea.  Best of both worlds.  This is was so easy to whip together and super delicious.  Here's to hoping I win:)  You should totally make this for your family and enter the contest.

Seriously though if anybody has great slow cooker recipes send them my way.  I loved how easy it was to throw all this in the pot and then dinner was ready!

{TRUFFLED BEEF POT PIE WITH PUFF PASTRY CRUST}

- 2 LBS BEEF STEW MEAT

- 2 CARROTS SLICED

- 2 PARSNIPS SLICED

- I PINT SLICED WHITE MUSHROOMS

- 4 YUKON GOLD POTATOES DICED

- 1 CUP FROZEN PEARL ONIONS

- 1 CUP FROZEN PEAS

- 1 CREAM OF CELERY SOUP

- 1/2 CUP RED WINE

- 1/2 CUP WATER

- 1/2 BEEF STEW SEASONING PACKET

- 1/2 POT ROAST SEASONING PACKET

- PUFF PASTRY SHELLS (IN FREEZER SECTION)

-  3 TABLESPOONS TRUFFLE OIL

- 3 TABLESPOONS FLOUR

- PARSLEY FOR GARNISH (OPTIONAL)

SPREAD THE MEAT IN BOTTOM OF YOUR SLOW COOKER AND SPRINKLE WITH 1/2 PACKET BEEF STEW MIX AND 1/2 PACKET POT ROAST MIX.  LAYER ON NEXT 6 INGREDIENTS.  IN A SEPARATE BOWL WHISK TOGETHER CREAM OF CELERY, RED WINE AND WATER.  SPREAD MIXTURE OVER BEEF IN CROCK POT.  COOK ON LOW 8 HOURS.  WHEN MEAT MIXTURE IS DONE STIR IN 3 TABLESPOONS FLOUR AND 3 TABLESPOONS TRUFFLE OIL.  

PREHEAT OVEN TO 425 DEGREES AND COOK PUFF PASTRY SHELLS 20 MINUTES.

SPILT SHELLS INTO 2-3 PIECES.  LAYER SHELLS IN BOWL AND SPOON BEEF POT PIE MIXTURE OVER THEM.  DRIZZLE WITH TRUFFLE OIL AND GARNISH WITH FRESH PARSLEY.

Blog Sale

Email me at nataliemason24@yahoo.com if you are interested in anything!  Shipping is $5 for shirts and $7 for jeans and purses and I will combine if you purchase more than one item.

Thanks!

JOE'S JEANS THE SKINNY HIGH WAISTED VISONAIRE IN BURGUNDY

SIZE 28

WORN ONCE AND WASHED, MINT CONDITION

$75
SOLD

DIANE VON FUSTENBURG BLOUSE

SIZE= 2

100% SILK

$80

JOIE RUFFLED BLOUSE

NEW WITH TAGS

RETAILED FOR $218

SIZE = SMALL

100% SILK

$80
SOLD

T-BAGS DOLMAIN SHIRT

SIZE= MEDIUM

$50

JOIE BLOUSE

SIZE SMALL

100% SILK

$65
SOLD

JBRAND JEANS

SIZE 28

6 INCH LEG OPENING

MINT CONDITION, NOT SURE I EVER EVEN WORE THESE

$65
SOLD

JBRAND JEANS

SIZE=28

7 INCH LEG OPENING

ONE END IS A BIT FRAYED BUT OTHERWISE EXECLLENT CONDITION

$60
SOLD

TIBI SHIFT DRESS

SIZE= 4

$90

BANANA REPUBLIC LARGE BRONZE TOTE

RETAILED FOR $25O

SHIPPING IS $9 BECAUSE OF ITS WEIGHT

$55

SOLD

COACH LOGO PURSE

8 X 11 (WITH STRAPS 8 X 15)

$50

HYPE SNAKESKIN PURSE

15 X 13 INCLUDING STRAPS

$50

COACH PURPLE PURSE

7.5 X 10 (10X13.5 WITH STRAPS)

$40

REBECCA TAYLOR SNAKESKIN/FLORAL BLOUSE

SIZE=0 (RUNS SUPER LARGE MORE LIKE A 4)

$70

Confessions Part 2: Keeping it Real

Ok, ladies I loved your comments so much the last time I did my Confessions Post, I am back with part two.  Hope you enjoy and as always please share your confessions to make me feel less like a weirdo:)

- I have had a fungus toenail for 10 years now.  The big toe on my left foot looks disgusting it is so thick.  I have tried several remedies including having part of it removed but the fungus always comes back.  It is so gross that is why I usually keep my toenails painted.

- I can't stand Rachel Ray.  Her voice is like nails on a chalkboard to me.  The terms EVO and Yumo will always annoy me.

- I used to work at Abercrombie and Fitch and so did Matt (don't worry he wasn't the shirtless guy at the door at least not to my knowledge)

- I hate Riesling, Moscato,  and any sweet wines.  They make me want to puke.

- I don't really enjoy plays.  Go ahead and judge me but I get bored during them.  My favorite part is usually the intermission.  Guess I am not cultured.

- I hate the menswear trend for women.  It bothers me to see a woman in a suit.

- I talk to my mom probably 10 times a day (at least).  I call her about any and everything!

- I can't think of one single food I hate.  I pretty like all food.

- I am weird about meat.  Especially chicken and deli meat they both can really gross me out.  However oddly enough I love me some chicken livers, pate, and liverwurst.

- I pretty much don't like sports.  Definitely hate playing them and don't enjoy watching them either.  Only thing I like about football is tailgating.  I could happily tailgate and then not even go in the game.

- I drink 3-4 sparkling waters a day.  I love them.  Ever since I gave up sweet tea and soft drinks they are my jam. (I will occasionally have a coke,  real never diet,  and most often when I am hungover).

- I can't stand beach music or oldies.  I only like to listen to current music.  Same with movies I don't like old ones.

- Tulips, Hydrangeas, and Peonies are my favorite flowers.  I despise sunflowers.

- I have a strange crush on Andy Samburg.  I am crazy attracted to really funny guys.

- I make a cup of coffee every morning but never finish it.  I sip it the whole morning and keep reheating it.  Too much caffeine makes me spacey and anxious so I try not to drink too much.

- I am a cookbook hoarder.  I own at least 50.  Some of them I have never even used before but I love looking at them.

- Technology doesn't excite me. Don't get me wrong I love my Iphone and Ipad and I love having them but I would never wait hours for a new piece of technology.  We still have an old school DVD player, might never upgrade to Blueray.

- When I was in high school I was obsessed with Tornadoes.  I even did my senior exit project on them.  I wanted to go to the Midwest and be a storm chaser.  Crazy because now they scare the sh*t out of me.

- Sometimes I love online shopping more than shopping in person.  I get so excited when a package is delivered to my house, it makes my day.

- Matt and I dated for 6 years before we got engaged.  He proposed on New Years Day 2007.

- I am not adventurous at all.  I have no desire to scuba dive, bungee jump, or do anything remotely crazy.  Heck I even hate roller coaster rides.  They just make me so nervous.  I know supposedly they are safe but if I got stuck on one of those I would lose my sh*t.

- I never in a million years thought I would live in Charleston.  I always pictured myself living in Charlotte near my parents raising my family there.  Now that I am in Charleston I don't want to ever leave:)

- My favorite things to shop for are blouses and dresses- in case you can't tell.  I am not really a shoe person and I love purses but I only like to invest in a really good one every few years.  I carry my purses for years before I retire them.

- Christmas is my favorite holiday.  I get so giddy about it.  I love the lights, the trees, the music, the parties,  everything about it.  Having a child has had it even more special to me.  No lie I think I believed in Santa Claus til I was in high school:)  I wanted to keep the magic alive.

-  I don't like cats (sorry to my friend with pet cats) but they weird me out.  I don't like that they can jump on things and walk on counter tops.   True story when I met Matt in college he had a pet cat and it was almost a deal breaker (I mean what single guy has a cat).  He also served me box wine out of a coffee mug the same night I learned about the cat so that was two strikes against him- obviously I got past the two, but we will never have a cat.   I am much more a dog person.

- I don't like light versions of anything( ie sour cream, cheese, mayo, coke).  The real version is always better.  I believe you should just eat the real version but less of it. 

- My favorite drinks at Starbucks are an iced green tea or a green tea latte- both unsweetened.  I may be the only person who doesn't drink the coffee drinks from Starbucks.   They are so many calories, I would rather eat than drink my calories.  I will occasionally get a cappuccino or Carmel Machiato but I prefer the green tea drinks.

Alright, that 's it for Confessions part two!  Now I am off ot get ready for a fun weekend.  Hopefully I will have some pictures next week of our girls night!

Thursdays Ramblings

Can I get a what what??  One day til the weekend, which means two days til a much needed ladies night out Saturday, these two (Katherine and Julia) lovelies are coming in town and I could not be more excited. 

What are our thoughts about Channing for sexiest man alive??  I am pretty sure I whole heartedly agree with this decision. and pretty darn sure I need to rent Magic Mike this weekend.  He and his wife are the most attractive couple ever.

I am so happy Million Dollar Decorators is back on.  A few thoughts, I love in the beginning when Martin Lawrence Bullard says "decorating is delicious."  I also love that Kathy took Jacqueline wine tasting with her.  I feel like I would like to sip wine with them.  and is it me or does Mary look different this year?  Skinnier and her face looks different.  Adore this show.  How crazy was the lady who changed her mind about $10,000 wallpaper- ridiculous.

I hit up Costco this week for some Thanksgiving essentials and came across the most amazing Pumpkin Seed Tortilla Chips.

The chips are delish dipped in greek yogurt with a little honey.  They are also great with salsa or spinach dip.

I used them last night to make Butternut squash nachos that were off the hook.  And Yep Matt was working late hence my vegetarian meal. 

I have been loving my JCrew Floral Chiffon Blouse.  It is pure perfection.  I highly recommend.  The colors are even more vibrant in person.

I certainly don't need another blouse but I just saw it is now online in leopard and hot pink.  Love them both!!

I just finished reading Happier at Home.  I really loved The Happiness Project so of course I wanted to read the sequel. 

 It was a good read but not as good as the first just seemed a little similar to me.  A few things I did take away.

1) Don't Over React.  I have really been practicing this one and it works.  Matt spilled eggs all over our rug Saturday morning and I calmly said nothing and got a cloth to clean it.  Normally I would have freaked the F out.

2) Happy people make people happy, but you can't make someone be happy, and no one else can make you happy.

3) Make time to get things done that are looming.  Just set aside 15 minutes a day and tackle part of a looming task.  15 minutes adds up.

We have officially busted out our Christmas PJS.  Why not get two months wear out of them.  I asked Sterling if he had been naughty or nice.  I would say by this look, he is guilty of something:)

 I am normally a traditional gal when it comes to nail polish.  I like nude, red, pink, and dark maroon.  Those are my go-to colors.  I decided to branch out and tried Essie's Da Bush.  I actually quite love it.  Our TJMaxx has been getting in some great Essie nail polishes for $3.  That is where I found this such a steal!

From my lady Oprah. Happy Thursday!