Cold Weather Essentials, Because Baby It's Cold Outside

It was a rude awakening leaving the house this morning for work,and facing a negative temperature!  Winter has finally set in, so much for hoping for a mild winter right?  Cold dreary Minnesota winter days make me long to stay inside, preferably curled up in warm blanket, a cup of hot chocolate (with lots of marshmallows, but not the itty bitty kind that come in the hot chocolate mix) and of course with the fire place going.  Since I left the house this morning looking slightly like an Eskimo... yes I had multiple layers on, I thought it would only be suiting that I share some of my must have cold weather essentials!  Oh and a link to the most glorious chocolate chip cookies!

Nothing helps beat the harsh winter weather like these fabulous finds!

Cold Weather essentials by hwolfe44 featuring wrap scarves

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

And now as promised, that glorious chocolate chip cookie recipe! Because tis the season for delicious baked goods!

PS sub in coconut for the walnuts you won't be sorry!

Ghirardelli Chocolate Chip Cookies

Happy Friday Everyone!

What I am Loving-Christmas Movies

Do you have a list of Christmas Movies that you just have to watch year after year?  I know I do, and once Thanksgiving hits I am all about the Christmas movies!  I would love if  I could stay home curled up in a blanket by the fire watching one of these Christmas movies instead of going to work!

I would even bake these,

Source: eatingwelllivingthin.wordpress.com via Janelle on Pinterest

to enjoy while sipping on this! 

Source: foodgawker.com via Chryz on Pinterest

a perfect treat to accompany any Christmas movie!

So here is a list of my all time favorite Christmas movies in no particular order!

Miracle on 34th Street, I don't care if I am watching the old version or the new one I love them both!  

I once made my sister watch this movie 14 times in one day, she now cannot stand that movie!  She always tries to hide the DVD before we can watch it!  

White Christmas, 

It's a wonderful Life, another classic and family favorite!

Elf, cannot forget about this one!

The Grinch!

How cute is this Bulldog, the called him The Grinch!

And lastly I just have to throw a chick flick into the mix!

The Holiday, great cast, and fabulous plot!

I am one of those people that will watch The Holiday year round, I just love it!

What are your must watch Christmas Movies?  Any classics that I missed?

A Tree Full of Memories

We have made it to the middle of the week my friends!  Friday is insight!  I have a special treat for you today.  Hannah From Culture Connoisseur is here to share some holiday spirit, by sharing  a few her favorite ornaments with you, and the wonderful stories and memories behind them!  I think the stories/memories that a single ornament can conjure up is just one of the many things I love about this Holiday Season.  If you have not checked out Hannah's blog I encourage you to do so after reading her lovely post.  You will love her down to Earth personality, stories of traveling the globe, and yummy recipes!  So at this time I am going to hand the floor er blog over to Hannah!

Hello Happily Ever Healthy readers! I'm tickled pink (red and green?) to be guest posting here today. Thank you, Hilliary, for having me! My name is Hannah and I blog over at Culture Connoisseur. If you've ever read my blog you know I love an object with a story behind it. I collect things throughout my travels and from my friends around the world and there's nothing that I love more than sharing those stories with my readers. 

Today I'm here to share some stories from our Christmas tree. This is our second Christmas together as man and wife and John and I always have a great time re-telling our ornament stories to one another on the night we deck the halls. I'll introduce you to some of my favorites...the ones nearest and dearest to my heart.

This little beauty may not look like much, but they are antiques from my mother. They are blown glass with little angels on them. We used to have a set of 9 or 10, but over the years they have gone broken or missing and I cherish the few I have left in my possession. I love the way they come together at the top like a little tear drop. 

This is the very first ornament I bought on my own. Every year my mom would buy me a new ornament growing up. The idea was, I would get a new one each year, so that by the time I moved out I had enough collected to decorate a small Christmas tree of my own. One year, when I was 16, I took my very first trip overseas...to Europe! I bought this ornament when I visited the Neuschwanstein castle in Germany. Every time I hang it I think back to the person I was then and the way that trip opened my eyes to the world.

This little sheep has to be one of my favorites. He's such a loner, poor thing. When I was an infant an old lady at my church growing up sewed together an entire nativity scene for my first birthday. This little sheep is all that remains of the set. Sometimes, when I put him back in his box come New Year's, I imagine he "baa's" for his other friends that were no doubt torn to shreds by the family cat or ingested by a greedy dog. 

This little cherub is actually my mother's. She gave it to me when I moved away. It has a lot of sentimental value as it's an ornament my grandpa bought for my mom when we all visited the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina when I was just a little thing. It's the only thing I have from my dear grandpa, who passed away on my ninth birthday. 

While all these other ornaments do hold a special, specific memory for me, none remind me of my past Christmases growing up like this ballerina. When I was young I could think of nothing I would rather be than a prima ballerina (original, I know...) I remember sitting by the tree long after everyone else had gone twirling her around and winding up the string and letting her whip around in pirouettes. Sitting there, caught in the twinkle lights gave me the tingles and chills of Christmas, the joy of the peace and quiet of winter, and the simple solitude of a little kid and their dreams. 

Now that you've seen all my favorites, tell me all about your favorite ornament! What memories come back when you hang it? 

Thank you for having me here! Please stop by and say hello at my blog (Culture Connoisseur) and from my blog to yours, Merry Christmas!!

BRRR-It is soup weather!

It is officially winter here in Minnesota.  Days are getting colder and colder and filled with a lot more snow!  These cold days leave me longing for warm bowls of soup, a hot cup of coffe and a nice big fire in the fire place!

I made this soup last week for my mom and I!

I have been dying to make this Hearty Chicken Stew with Butternut Squash and Quinoa ever since I pinned it!  It is different, but oh so tasty (not a one pot soup, but worth the dirty dishes)!

Head on over to the Cookin' Canuck for the recipe!

Enjoy, and if your in a cold state like Minnesota stay warm!

Little Weekend Update-Let it Snow

Is it just me or did this weekend seem to fly by?  I feel like I blinked and it was over!

Did you all have a wonderful weekend?  I hope you did!

My weekend was filled with relaxing, shopping some decorating (Christmas treas and garland are up) and this...

Minnesota got their first big snow fall of the year.  And I have to say that now it just feels like the Holidays!  The snow has blanketed everything!  And even though it is cold, at least it is pretty!

Saturday was a bit of an adventure, I guess you could call it that.  My mom, Melinda and I ventured out to shop Grand Ave. in St Paul.

Grand Ave. is made up of quaint little shops, and a few big staples like JCrew, and North Face (just to name a few) and many fabulous restaurants.  Add fresh falling snow, a glorious piece of cake, great company, shopping, Christmas spirit, and well that just sounds like the perfect day to me!

I was really excited when I found the perfect gifts for Mark and my dad!  But you w ill just have to wait and see what I got them (since they both read the blog)!

So for now lets talk this glorious piece of cake!

The three of us enjoyed a late lunch at one of my favorite little cafes on Grand Avenue called Cafe Latte

They have some of the best soups I have ever had, and desserts that are to die for!  A favorite of my family (my sister had this cake recreated for her graduation open house)  is Cafe Lattes Raspberry Tort!

Layers of sponge cake, with raspberry jelly, buttercream frosting, and whip cream!  Does it get any better then that?  Well maybe when you look at Cafe Lattes Turtle cake, 

but in my mind both are equally out of this world good!

And if you are wondering you can find the recipe for Cafe Lattes famous Turtle Cake here!

So now that I have probably made you drool on your computer I suggest that we all take the day off, enjoy a warm cup of coffee, and make this drool worthy cake!

Enjoy your Monday Everyone!

It's Friday!

Because sometimes we just need a little inspiration, or a great pair of shoes!

Source: Uploaded by user via Hilliary on Pinterest 

Who is ready to go conquer the World Today?

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow

Oh the weather outside it frightful... Not really but it did finally snow up here in Minnesota!  It now just feels like the Holiday season, snow just makes the world of a difference.  Plus I feel that if the weather is going to be this cold you at least deserve something pretty to look at right?

But I did just realize something terribly crazy yesterday!  I don't own a winter coat or snow pants, and I am from Minnesota!!  Mark and I were talking about going skiing when I came to this realization.  I honestly cannot tell you the last time I bought snow pants, elementary school maybe? Middle School?  I am really not sure!  I mean yes I have my nice wool winter coats, but it would be nice to have a good down winter coat!  So I decided to do a little online shopping and find some of this seasons styles I love the most!

Here is what I found!

You can't go wrong with a North Face.  I love this trench because it is two coats in one.  I also like that it is longer, that way it will help keep my legs a bit warmer!

Womens Suzanne TriClimate Trench-North Face

My sister bought a jacket similar to this one the other day.  I like it because it does not look as puffy, some down jackets make you look like the Michelin man!  This would be a great jacket for sledding, and well maybe skiing (yes Mark may finally get me out on the ski slopes, funny ski story I will share later)!

Tamba Kosi Jacket

And last but not least just a good old winter coat, sleek and simple!

Inlux Insulated Jacket-North Face

Oh and because a girl can dream...

Burberry Brit Belted Coat

I promise Santa I have been really good this year!!  

Now it is officially time to set the Pandora stations to Christmas music (Michele Buble Christmas Station anyone?), sit back with a cup of this, 

(Starbucks White Hot Chocolate)

Oh yea and finish out the work week!

I hope you all have a fabulous day!

Oh and did anyone watch the lighting of the Rockefeller Tree?

Just beautiful!

New life goal is to go to New York and see the Rockefeller Tree be lit in person!