Christmas Library

I am so ready to get out my collection of Christmas books for the kids! I love reading to them at bedtime, and I especially enjoy reading holiday-themed books this time of year. Here's a list of our family favorites.

Fancy Nancy: Splendiferous Christmas - Nancy is a family favorite, and this book doesn't disappoint. This book is heavy on family and traditions, and the illustrations are delightful. It always fun to look closely at the pictures and see what we can discover

Merry Christmas, Curious George - I have loved Curious George as long as I can remember, and this book is a favorite in my collection. George is as adorable as ever.

Mater Saves Christmas - Such a cute story- Santa is a car of course, and his reindeer cars use special fuel that helps them fly. Chick Hicks is stealing the fuel, in hopes of using it to finally beat Lightning in race. Mater saves the day!

How the Grinch Stole Christmas! - Such a holiday classic- and Dr. Seuss stories are such fun to read.

The Night Before Christmas - I've already got a more traditional copy of this story, but I just ordered Mary Englebreit's illustrated version today- it looks beautiful!

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever - Of all our Christmas books, this is my favorite. The story is funny, easy to read, and touching. Some of the references are dated, but my kids still enjoy it. We also got the movie last year and they absolutely love it.

Do you have a favorite book we need to add to the Sasha Family collection?

Disclosure: This post contains Amazon referral links.

Yay for Christmas Music!

Last night we noticed a house in our neighborhood had their Christmas lights not only up, but on, and the kids were so excited. I think that means it's time to pull out the Christmas music!

If you have been a Sasha Says readers for a while, I am sure you know about our love for the Suzy Bogguss song "Two Step Around the Christmas Tree". I actually have to hide this CD in January every year because I really think the kids would listen to it year-round if I would let them! Suzy's entire album, called Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas, is a great holiday offering.  

A favorite of mine is Michael Buble's album Christmas. That dreamy voice! Amazing.

  

And of course I own Blake Shelton's Cheers, it's Christmas. The whole family loves Blake, and there's even a special shout-out to Oklahoma beer on one song: "I've even got a six pack of 3.2". Ha!  

New for us this year is Duck the Halls: a Robertson Family Christmas. It should arrive at our door today and I'm excited. It's got great reviews and since my family loves the Robertsons, I am sure this will be a big hit.

  

I think no matter how old the kids gets, Curious George will always be a favorite. Curious George: A Very Monkey Christmas is absolutely darling and the songs are so fun! Back in 2009, we were having trouble figuring out some lyrics, so I left a comment on George's Facebook page, and they posted the words for us! The kids thought that was pretty neat!

I think I will get Kelly Clarkson's Wrapped in Red. Does anyone have this? It looks like it has great reviews.

GDA: Complete Full House Series for $55

Amazon has the complete Full House series for $55! Wish I had gotten it for that good of a deal! We love this show and especially love that we can watch it as a family. I love me some Uncle Jesse. This would make a great Christmas present!

Sasha Goes Gluten Free

Well, I got some test results on Monday that I'm certainly not excited about..... looks like I have Celiac Disease. It actually explains a lot.... I haven't felt right since I got an infection in my liver 4 years ago, but it was still a diagnosis I was hoping not to get.

Any info you can share would be great- favorite gluten-free foods, places to eat, books to read, etc. Bring on the info!

I'm Running Again! Review: THORLO Experia Crew sock

The kind folks at THORLO recently contacted me to see if I wanted to try out their newest product- The Experia Crew. Although I'm not known for being on-trend with style, I did note that they said their Experia Crew was taller than their other offerings- specifically made for fashion-forward trend setters now wearing lengthier sock products. And then, like when you learn a new word and immediately hear it in 5 conversations and TV shows, I noticed longer socks were all over- especially with the pre-teen boy set. Almost all of P's friends are wearing the taller socks with their shoes these days. (I was going to throw in a joke referencing the episode of Friends where Ross tells the pizza girl he *likes* 12 year old boys, but I thought it might fall flat.)

I was familiar with THORLO from my college days spent working in a Athletes Foot store. They were always good sellers and I've worn the shorter Experia socks myself for running thru the years and always liked them.

And look! They sent me the PINK! I LOVE them! With cool weather finally here, I know I will put these to good use for my morning runs. I have worn them three times so far and they felt amazing. They wash well too- I washed with my normal loads and laid them out to dry. 

I wear a 6.5 in running shoes and was sent the size made for womens 5-6.5, and they fit perfect. It looks like there is one size smaller than that, sized for kids sizes 3-4.5, and all of the unisex sizes retail for approximately $17.

Experia is known for its aero-dynamic fit as well as its “protection without weight.” Because it’s made with a higher percentage of COOLMAX® than any other sock product, feet remain cool and comfortable, as moisture is wicked away from your skin.

The new product—“the Experia Crew” -- is a part of The Jet Black Collection, a set that includes 8 black crew padded socks, each differentiated by highlighted accents in your choice of pink, white, red, green, orange, turquoise, berry, and royal blue.

I Hope This Is Still Funny in 2022

L to R

1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th

If you don't know the backstory, we accidentally dressed P in the same shirt for 1st and 2nd grade pics. We decided to run with it and keep doing blue and white striped shirts for school pics. He actually asked about it this year to make sure we were going to continue!

Hoping our silly sense of humor is still funny when he is a senior!

20 Year Ago

We are headed to our alma mater's Homecoming celebration this weekend- they are recognizing the 1993 football team that Mr. Sasha played on because that was the year they won the National Championship in our division! So excited for him to get to see all his friends and re-live the glory days! It was an amazing season!

This pic is labeled Homecoming weekend in October 1993 and I am pondering the fact that I am wearing earmuffs and gloves! So strange....

#TimeForACure!

Today I did my morning run with pink lipstick on, just for my friend Danica (Chic Runner)! She's hosting a giveaway in honor of her mother, who passed away 7 years ago after battling breast cancer.

Visit her blog today to find out how to enter to win a PINK Timex Easy Trainer GPS watch.

It's Fall Y'all!

Although it's still getting up in the 80s during the day, our mornings are SO nice right now! Fall is here and I am loving it.

Last night I made Taco Cornbread Waffles, a twist on a recipe I saw from Mix and Match Mama. She put chili over her cornbread waffle, but I decided that taco meat would be divine.

I mixed the cornbread mix as directed and cooked it in my waffle iron, topped it with taco meat and cheese. Mr. Sasha added some salsa to his and commented that it would be good with shredded lettuce and tomatoes too. If you've never had the combo of taco meat and cornbread, you don't know what you are missing! It's so good together!

Taco Cornbread Waffles

She's Crafty!

Hold on to your hats.... look what I made!

On Saturday I went to a fun fall-themed Pinterest Party where we all made the cutest fall letters for our front door. I cannot do this party justice- it was amazing! My friend Brianna is so creative and talented- you'll have to visit her blog to see how she set this party up.

Reading Material

This week I finished the newest Sophie Kinsella book, Wedding Night, and it was so good! Kinsella writes excellent brain-candy chic lit, and I'm a sucker for anything British. This is another stand-alone, non-Becky Bloomwood book, and although I do love Becky, Kinsella's other characters are my favorites.

My love for the Brits is probably why I am so excited for Helen Fielding's upcoming Bridget Jones installment, Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy. I am sure it will be VG.  

But back to my roots..... I'm also excited about the new cookbook from Oklahoma's own Ree Drummond. The Pioneer Woman Cooks: A Year of Holidays: 140 Step-by-Step Recipes for Simple, Scrumptious Celebrations will be out in late October. And let's just be honest, but I just *read* these. Like keep them on my nightstand and look at the pictures and read them. Isn't that funny? Her books are beautiful.

I also ordered the next book that Proverbs 31 Ministries has chosen for their next Online Bible Study. I absolutely loved doing the last OBS and cannot wait for the one on Renee Swope's A Confident Heart, Learning to Live in the Power of God's Promises to begin.

What are you reading these days?

LOTD #76 and Reese vs. Magic Jinn

 

Today I'm wearing another IT Cosmetics Vitality Lip Flush, this time in the shade Love Story (this shade changes color once applied like Je Ne Sais Quoi does). Rose Flush is a nude shade in the tube, but once on your lips it turns to a pretty pink shade.

Vitality Lip Flush 4-in-1 Natural Anti-Aging Lipstick Stains take the place of four products; your lipstick, anti-aging conditioning lip balm, ultra-hydrating lip gloss, and lip stain all in one!

This shade was part of a special holiday gift set offered by QVC last fall that included 6 different shades of Vitality Lip Flush for around $60 including tax and shipping. It is available by itself on the IT Cosmetics website for $20.

IT Cosmetics Vitality Lip Flush in Love Story

I love how this changes color and it does leave behind a nice stain and doesn't run into the lines around my lips and feels amazing on.

 

Reese vs. Magin Jinn

 

Reese have I have been having fun with the Magic Jinn that BzzAgent sent us to try. I filmed her the other night and it is so cute. (But OMG I am such a hick! Don't laugh at my voice.)

 

 



LOTD #75 and Toffee Bars

I'm a little embarrased to tell you this, but I recently reached Sephora's VIB Rouge status. Which means I have spent enough there to warrant free shipping on anything I want to order. I don't even have to reach the $50 minimum. Don't ask how much I have spent to reach this status, because I won't admit it.

In my VIB Rogue welcome kit was the cutest little mini lipstick created just for us makeup crazies. It's Bite Beauty's Luminous Creme Lipstick in the custom color VIB Rouge.

Bite Beauty's Luminous Creme Liptick in VIB Rouge

(this shade is not available for sale, but other shades are $24)

I LOVE it! So creamy and long-lasting. I applied at 8 and it still looked fab when I left for lunch. Keeper!

Toffee Bars

Last night I needed to whip up something for a work birthday celebration  and I decided on using Mix and Match Mama's recipe for Chocolate Toffee Bars, but modifying it a bit. I subbed applesauce for oil, and egg beaters for eggs. I also used the toffee chips in a bit of a different way. They turned out great!

Toffee Bars
(recipe adapted from Mix and Match Mama)

Ingredients:

1 box yellow cake mix

1/2 cup liquid egg substitute

1/2 cup applesauce (2 small individual containers)

1 1/3 cups toffee candy pieces (one bag of Heath's Toffee Bits)

1 can Eagle Brand Sweetened Condensed Milk

1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Spray your 9X13 glass baking dish with Pam.

Combine cake mix, egg substitute and applesauce with an electric mixer.

Pour roughly 2/3 of this cake mixture into the bottom of your baking dish. Bake 15 minutes.

Pour 1/2 cup of toffee Bits into remaining cake mixture and mix by hand and set aside.

In a separate bowl, combine remaining Toffee Bits, Eagle Brand Milk, and chocolate chips in a small bowl.

After bottom layer is done baking for 15 minutes, pour Eagle Brand Milk mixture on top and spread evenly. Top this with the remaining 1/3 of cake mixture.

Bake 25 more minutes. Cool on counter and store in refrigerator.

LOTD #74 and Gone Girl



Today I'm wearing another IT Cosmetics Vitality Lip Flush, this time in the shade Rose Flush (this shade changes color once applied like Je Ne Sais Quoi does). Rose Flush is a nude shade in the tube, but once on your lips it turns to a pretty rose shade.

Vitality Lip Flush 4-in-1 Natural Anti-Aging Lipstick Stains take the place of four products; your lipstick, anti-aging conditioning lip balm, ultra-hydrating lip gloss, and lip stain all in one!

This shade was part of a special holiday gift set offered by QVC last fall that included 6 different shades of Vitality Lip Flush for around $60 including tax and shipping. It doesn't look like this shade is available by itself right now.

IT Cosmetics Vitality Lip Flush in Rose Flush

I love how this changes color and it does leave behind a nice stain and doesn't run into the lines around my lips and feels amazing on. I believe I shall keep it!

 

 

Gone Girl

 

Last Christmas, Amazon ran an awesome promo where they offered popular hardback books for dirt cheap. I had heard great things about Gone Girl, and it was just $3 so I ordered it. And life being life, I just now got around to getting to it.

 

I have to say, it's amazing. An absolute page-turner, with twists and turns and you can't put it down because you are dying to know what happens next. If you haven't read it, you simply must. You can borrow mine if you are local!