Firmoo Glasses

I am relatively new to the world of eyeglasses.  I have one pair that I wear all the time.

So when Firmoo contacted me to try out a pair of their prescription glasses for free, I figured I had nothing to lose!!!

I decided to go a little wild and choose a frame that was fun and a bit of a departure for me.  Black cat eye.  If nothing else, I could wear them at home!

But they arrived.  And I LOVED them.....

They got the prescription right!  I wasn't sure about ordering prescription glasses online.  But they are legit.  I can see!  And the fit is perfect too!  The glasses are comfortable!  They even came with a hard case and cleaning cloth.

 
I would not hesitate to order from Firmoo again in the future!  In fact, I am considering the cat eye frames in tortoise because the prices are so reasonable!

Now here's the fun part.  Firmoo is offering five readers a $30 voucher code!!!  Thirty bucks to spend on any pair of glasses in their Classic Series line!!!!

Here's how it will work......the first five folks to comment on this post will receive the $30 code via email!  Leave your email address and tell me which pair you would order from the Classic Series line!  Simple, right?

Just be one of the first five people to comment!  Which glasses would you choose?

Ready, set, go!!!!!!!!

What I Wore (Pinterest Inspired)

While thrifting over Christmas break, I came across a Burberry-esque scarf!  I've always wanted one, but the price tag of a legit Burberry?!  Not in the cards.

Anyway, I immediately went to Pinterest to look for ways to style it.  This pin caught my eye.......

Pinterest link

I would not have thought to pair it with gray!  I wouldn't have to shop for anything.  All the elements of this pin were in my closet......

riding boots  ///  Gap elbow patch sweater

But wait!  It gets better.

The elbow patches of the sweater match the scarf perfectly.........

I had wanted an elbow patch sweater forever.  I found this one online (on sale) awhile back.  Now I wish I'd purchased every single color.

But there's that New Year's Resolution to simplify.  Not be a hoarder.  Save money.

Blah, blah, blah.... 

Linking up with The Pleated Poppy, 
 Rolled up Pretty, Two Thirty-Five Designs and

Influenster VoxBox

I received another great VoxBox from Influenster a few weeks ago.........

I love getting products for free to try out!  Especially when it's a product I've been curious about.

The Clean Freak dry shampoo was one of those items.  I had been dying to sample this product, so I was very excited that it was included.  This stuff.  I love it.  I hate washing my hair, so on day two (and three) I used this.  It totally works!  And I feel like it gave my hair volume too.  I will be purchasing this product in the future.

The SoyJoy cranberry bar was the item I was least excited about, however, it surprised me.  While I probably wouldn't go out and buy these, I did eat the entire bar.  I liked the cranberry flavor, but it was a little on the dry side.

The Goody Athletique Reversible Headwrap would probably come in handy at my next hot yoga class as it's made of moisture-wicking fabric.  Until then, I will use it to hold my hair back when I'm washing my face.  I do like how snug it is and how it doesn't slip around.

I enjoy a good face mask.  The Red Earth Clay Spa was a departure from the kind I've used before in that it was a literal mask.  With eye holes, a nose cut-out, and a mouth hole.  The mister said I looked like Hannibal Lecter.  Nevertheless, the mask left my skin feeling very soft and didn't dry it out like some do!

Lastly, you can't go wrong with nail polish.  I love getting nail polish........even when it's a color I might not buy.  The Sally Hansen Triple Shine (in Reef-Raf) is a bright summery pink.  It is a thick, shiny polish.......dries quickly.........and my favorite part was the brush!  It's really wide!  It's holding up pretty well!  I would buy this polish!

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So thanks again to Influenster for letting me try out some fun new-to-me free products! 

Influenster has offered me FOUR invites for folks who are interested in signing up and linking their social media accounts in hopes of also getting free goodies.

Sooooo to the first FOUR folks who leave email addresses in the comments, the invites are yours!  You need to have an active FB, Pinterest, and Twitter account to link up once your invite arrives!!!

Now who wants free stuff!? 

Lately (in Instagram)

Happy New Year!!!!

Three weeks of blog neglect!  EEEKKK!  Time to catch up.

2013 ended with:

~A super cold football game up in Kansas City.........

~The yearly visit to Silver Dollar City to see the Christmas lights.....

~Nancy's first cave experience.......

~The viewing of a "classic" for the first time at the prompting of quite a few friends.......

~And a super fun mug exchange with my favorite girls.........

Instead of buying Christmas gifts for each other, we started having exchange parties. 

We each brought a wrapped mug.....and then drew numbers to see who got to choose first.  Stealing was encouraged.

We've also had a scarf exchange!  Next up, we're exchanging doormats!

Those will be challenging to wrap!

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Follow me on Instagram @thisvintagegrove!!

Linking up with......High Five for Friday, Friday Favorites, and Insta-Friday.

Snow Days (via Instagram)

It's not even officially winter yet.  And yet the snow day count has risen to four.

You know how I feel about snow days.

Love.

But wow.  Four already?!  (Good-bye summer.)

Anyway, I make good use of my time off.

I take way too many pictures of Gizmo in order to capture the perfect one.......

It was his first snow!  And he loves it.

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I bake......

And eat.

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I build fires.........

The first one of the season needs to be documented.  Especially when the tree is up and school closings are scrolling across the bottom of the t.v.

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I huddle in front of the fire with my pups.........

They love it too.

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And I take time to watch the snow fall.....

It really is magical this time of year.

Now to begin snow day number four........

Cookies, cleaning, and reading await.

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Follow me on Instagram @thisvintagegrove!!

Linking up with......High Five for Friday, Friday Favorites, and Insta-Friday.

White Chicken Chili

Southwest Missouri was hit with some winter weather this last week.  And I got my first snow day of the school year!  Yippppeeeee!!!!

There's something about a snow day that makes me want to cook.  Specifically, warm comfort food. Like soup!

A favorite around here is white chicken chili.

I first tried this at a school food day and begged for the recipe.  It's been on rotation at home ever since.

WHITE CHICKEN CHILI
(via Andrea Prevo and her old Methodist Cookbook)

2 1/2 cups of cooked, shredded chicken

2 (15 oz.) cans of Great Northern beans, rinsed and drained

1 (14 oz.) can of chicken broth

2 (4 oz.) cans of chopped green chilies

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. ground cumin

1 tsp. dried oregano

1/2 tsp. pepper

1 cup of sour cream

1/2 cups of whipping cream

shredded cheese

tortilla chips

In a large pot, add shredded chicken, beans (drained and rinsed), broth, green chilies and seasonings.  Bring to a boil.  Reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, for 30 minutes.  Stir in sour cream and whipping cream until well blended.  Simmer for about five more minutes, stirring often.  Sprinkle shredded cheese over the top, and serve with a side of tortilla chips!  Makes about 6 servings  (depending on serving size).

*I've even frozen the soup before........it's thaws perfectly!!!

*I've adapted this recipe from the original just a tad.  See the original HERE (in a photo).

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Perfect for those cold winter nights.

And speaking of cold winter nights, I'm looking at my second snow day tomorrow!!!!!

I feel some baking come on......

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Linking up with:   The Chicken Chick and....

Christmas on the Porch

A few weeks ago, I purchased some vintage ice skates.

(They happened to be my size.  But they wouldn't be for skating.)

That same weekend, my mother in law gave me a sled that belonged to the mister's grandparents.  A sled he'd spent plenty of time on back in the day.

(But it would no longer be for sledding.)

I had plans for these two things.  Front porch plans.........

After a trip to a local nursery for the berry bush, a stop at Ace Hardware for the rosemary, and some fun finds at Dollar General for the ribbon and bells, I was able to get my craftiness on.

I won't tell you how long it took me to position the skates and tie the perfect bow.

And it's a good thing I hoard.

Otherwise, I wouldn't have two matching crocks to put the plants in.