Time to Relax!

When we are looking for a place to relax we go no further than Door County, Wisconsin! I must admit when I first heard of Door County it did not sound appealing! I mean come on.....I've been to a few places up north and "ruffin it" in the woods was what came to mind! "Ruffin it" is actually the exact opposite when it comes time to pack up our bags and load up the car for a fun road trip up north! You betchya........DontChyaNo! (hehe-had to add that in there with the best Sarah Palin impression that I could do!) Anyway, today Kelly over at kellyskornerblog.com is doing a "Show Us Your Life" post and it's all about your favorite vacation spots ( including favorite places to stay, eat, and play)! Since we've been to Door County a few times over (in fact we went there for our honeymoon and will continue to go as a yearly tradition), I can definitely share with you some of our absolute favorites!

If you are wanting a weekend getaway and are leaving the kids at home with the sitter, Ashbrooke hotel is the place to stay!!

 

 

The hotel is located in Egg Harbor and is adult only.  Yes I said adult only.......if that doesn't say peace and quiet.....I don't what does!! It's actually the only place we've ever stayed, but once we have children we will have to find another great hotel to stay at!  I cannot say enough about how wonderful Ashbrooke truly is! We always get a hot tub room......its the only way I'll go now! Ha! The rooms are always clean and the beds......Oh my word how I love their beds! The bed is actually what keeps us coming back for more.........it is THAT comfortable!

The rooms are decorated a bit lot country for our taste, but that doesn't really bother us whenever we stay! I mean it is SO comfortable we barely even notice!! AND.... did i mention the Aveda products they provide?!?!.....yes ladies (and men....my husband gets very excited too...he'll never admit it though).....I said AVEDA!! I love me some Aveda! I stock up on those bad boys and hide them in my bag as soon as we get there! Ya don't you raise that eyebrow.......you all know you do it too! Ha!

As soon as we arrive, we love to sit by the harbor and just watch all the beautiful boats sail away into the sunset! We just sit there and enjoy each others company while listening to the water crashing beneath us and watch the sea hawks fly around us! This is my favorite part! It is just soooo peaceful! I hold onto these special memories so tightly......I never ever want them to fade!

 

 

 

Of course whenever we go to Door County we have to get our fish boil fix.....and if you go you must try it! They are fun and oh so yummy!

 

And you must also go to Al Johnson's Restaurant for there Swedish pancakes! Oh and they have real live goats on their roof! Don't believe me......see for yourself:

 

 

There are many other things to do in Door County such as visiting many beautiful state parks, wineries (they're everywhere!), taking a cooking class (we went to a dinner show once.....so worth it....food was amazing), golfing (great amazing golf courses), fishing, eating all things cherry (cherries are there thing), shopping at small quaint boutiques, etc.......!

Here are a few things we enjoy each and every time we go:

Visiting School House Beach at Washington Island

buying gifts from my favorite little Christmas boutique, Pipkas:

 

Swimming in our the pool (there's never anyone in it besides us every time we go!):

 

 And this is my husbands absolute favorite thing to do:

It wouldn't be

Door County

without a

CIGAR!

The sunsets are what makes these relaxing getaways complete:

And that's all I have.....Congrats if you made it this far!! HA! Cant wait to plan or next trip this summer...but i would really like to see what its like during the fall! Hope this post helped a lot for those of you who are planning a trip to Door County! We always come back home feeling refreshed and rejuvenated! This place truly defines mother natures beautiful work of art!

xoxo Joanna D

Have any of you ever vacationed in Door County?  If so, are there any kid friendly places to stay that you would recommend? What are your favorite things about to do?  Are any of you cigar lovers just like my husband...haha?  Perhaps you enjoy beautiful sunsets just like I do!  Would love to hear all about it.....leave it in the comments below!

 

Happy Birthday D!!!

Just wanted to continue on with Birthday week and dedicate this post to my wonderful father in law whose birthday is today!!! Oh and Happy Cinco De Mayo Everyone!! Cant wait to get our margarita on this weekend!
Anyways, I just wanted to wish D a wonderful birthday filled with love, joy, and happiness!  He is truly a hoot to be around and never fails at keeping it real!  In fact he brings the phrase "keeping it real" to a whole new level! I mean he will without fail tell you exactly whats on his mind whether you want to hear it or not!  He is the most honest person I know......I mean common......I could put on my Sunday's best and have my makeup all done and he will take one look at me and say "Your going out like THAT?!?! Haha! He just cracks me up! Oh and wait until you make a comment about someone Else's fabulous shoes/outfit/purse.....he will be right there with you saying, "Oh that's just so darling, I just love it in that color"! HaHa!
Thank you D for allowing me to step into your man cave (even if its just to bring you food), and watch sports with you (even though you get all weird and layer every piece of Bears clothing you own), and even just allowing me to be in the presence of you!  Haha I'm being sooo sarcastic......just like he would be!  So I raise my shot glass to you and wish you the most wonderful day! NAZDROWIE......... your most favorite word in the whole world!  We Love Ya!

 

And I just had to include this one of ya too!  Your welcome!

xoxo Joanna D.

Sweet Dreams

So our next big purchase will definitely have to be a bigger and a much more comfortable king sized bed!! I mean for real......we cannot take sleeping on a our current bed anymore! Lets face it we are both tall people and we fight for every single square inch that bed has to offer....no joke! I'm surprised we haven't measured the half way point and drawn a big line down the middle!!  That day is coming soon......trust me........so we have to come up with an idea pronto!!

 So.......when it comes to the design of our next bedroom I know exactly what we I want (sorry Hun this ones mine)!! I've been fixated about getting an upholstered bed frame for along time now! I love the idea of having the headboard upholstered in a creamy colored fabric and matching it to dark chocolate brown wooden nightstands and dresser!! I want our room to be cozy, clean, serene, dreamy, and of course oh so romantical (it is where the magic happens after all)!! Aww.....I love thinking about designing our next bedroom......think "pottery barnesque" room with a cozy fireplace, dimmed lights, and lots of candles!  Yes a girl can dream! (haha pun totally intended!) This is one of the few rooms that I have already mapped out in my head to a T!  One things for sure is that I'm going to get my upholstered bed! I just don't know how exactly yet!  All I know is that I don't want to buy another 5 piece bedroom suite.  Its just that I love the look of unmatched furniture in every room that much more. It gives it sooo much character and doesn't look to matchy matchy........if you know what I mean!! But going with an upholstered bed frame isn't exactly the cheapest route either! Some of those bed frames can cost you lots of moolah!!  So who knows........ maybe we will end up with a diy progect this summer by trying it ourselves! Should be interesting!  Could be a disaster!  I have faith!  We can doooo iittt!   Here are some bed frames I'm oohing and awwing over at the moment and also a few bedroom inspiration ideas!  Enjoy!

#1: Creamy and dreamy......could get MCsteamy!



#2: Love the idea of a pattern!

#3: Bed got some curves!



#4: Love love with a capital Love!!

Love this rustic dark wood furniture set from PB!!!!

Would look so good with a nail head upholstered head board like this one:

So that's it.....that's whats "getting on" in my head right now!

Here's to no more aching backs........one day!! Hopefully sooner than later!!

Sweet Dreams!!
xoxo Joanna

Any bed recommendations (not looking forward to the bed shopping process.....awkward!)?  Whatdya think of my bedroom inspirations? 

Just One Special Wish!

Hey hey its my birthday.....what!.....what!.....gonna party like its my birthday.....what!....what!! Anybody else start rapping on their own birthday besides me?  No....didn't think so! haha!  So today....(deep breath and long sigh) I turned a quarter of a century years old.........like omg!! For the most part it was a great day.....until I went to work! Ugh.....stressful day! People don't you know you are suppose to be nice to the birthday girl!! Oh well....that's work for ya!  Its all good (in the hood..hehe...im in the rapping mood), it all changed as soon as I came home to a special meal cooked for me by my mother in law and a much needed glass of wine (or 2,3, or 4??)!! Oh did that do the trick! Everyone surprised me with wonderful presents and we had cake and ice cream too!! OoooWeee!! I love my family and friends.....they make we feel so special and all fuzzy inside! Thanks a bunch.....I truly am blessed!

So I kinda wanted to make this post short and sweet and not go on and on about how its my birthday.....BUT.....I wanted to share a few things!  I wanted to share my birth story......well as told to me over the years by my mother! So here it goes:
So first things first my mother went into labor with me on HER birthday! Can you just imagine?!?! Yes every year she always tells me how I was the best birthday gift she could ever have! Awwww.....isn't that sweet!!  Anyway......so as the day went by with no signs of increased dilating and midnight was nearing closer and closer my mom had told my dad to just go home so he can be with my two older brothers (who were 5 and 4 at the time)!  He insisted that he should stay but after the nurse checked on her it looked like delivering me wasn't going to happen anytime soon!!  So my dad had left the hospital.  (what a mistake...haha)  Not to long after, my mom felt ALLOT of pressure and did not know what to do besides scream (she says she was pretty sure she woke up the whole hospital..haha)! The nurse came running in to check on my mom and could not believe she had dilated sooo quickly in a short period of time......I mean she had JUST checked on her!! Well to make a long story short my mother had given birth to me at that time all by her self.....well not all by herself....of course there were nurses and a Dr helping. She just had no family or friends there for moral support.  There was no one there holding her hand.  No one there telling her to breath.  No one there telling her to push!  She did it all by herself.....wow....independent that one I swear! (maybe that's who i get it from....hmmmm?) Soon after, my dad came to the hospital and he gave her that look.....like....SO what is it?  My mom lied and told him that I was boy! Boy # 3 to be exact! She said the look on his face was priceless! He had that "I'm happy.....but Man I wish it was a girl" face! Oh Boy girl was he surprised when she told him she was just kidding!  He did not believe her! He had to open the diaper just to be 100% sure!  IT'S A GIRL!!
And here i am twenty five years later! Just amazing how time flies by!
So there you have it, little bits and pieces of my birth story that I sure do love to hear every year!!
This year on my 25th Birthday I have just one wish.  A very special wish!  A wish that brings me to my knees every night and fills my eyes with tears!  Its one little wish that would fill my heart with soooo much joy! Like big.....no even bigger....like HUGE! Its one special wish that He can only make come true!  Keeping my fingers and toesies crossed!! I have faith and I am blessed!

Signing off as an old new 25 year old (so long 24.....its been real!) xoxo ~ Joanna


Anyone else like hearing about their birth story?  Or how about rapping "Happy Birthday" to yourself?  (can i get a what! what!) Anyone have any special wishes come true lately?  Would love to hear all about it!

My Favorite Beauty Picks and Spring Wishes!

Ahhh my favorite subject......Makeup! I just love it! It makes me happy and most of all it covers up this face of mine! Ya, you try seeing me first thing in the morning.......eeek! Wow I just scared myself! Um ya not sooo pretty.......but when you have makeup......anything is possible! Yessiryee my friends! Oh thank you thank you!! Thank you coverup for well......coveringitallup! And mascara for making my lashes full and long! Oh and how I love you bronzer for taking five pounds off of my "oh I just ate that whole piece of cake" face! Must I not forget you lipstick for making my pout oh so kissable! Yes "makeup" is the name and "playing with it" is my game! haha! So onto my favorite products that I'm currently in love with and of course some beauty products I'm swooning over! Ahhh....sigh!

My current loves:

Mac cleanse off oil: Love love this stuff!! I've already gone through several bottles of this stuff! It just melts the makeup right off my face and it smells nice too....citrusy! At first I was reluctant about trying an oil formulation on my oily skin (now I have more combination-dry skin) but it never broke me out.....Bonus!!

Nars bronzer-Laguna: I use this stuff everyday without fail! It truly gives me those sculpted cheeks that take pounds off of my face!  At first I thought it would be to dark for my fair skin, but its not!!!

Nars blush-Orgasm:  Ok....Ok....I know what you are thinking! Blush in the color Orgasm.....(GASP)! Its kinda hard talking about this blush without well......blushing! haha!  Especially when you ask for it for Christmas! Haha! Scott: "So what do you want for Christmas?" Joanna: "Orgasm..........blush........orgasm blush!"  Sheesh!......you need to be specific with men! But no, really, I thought it was all hype too just because of the name but it truly is a pretty coral color and will work on just about any skin tone!

Maybelline great lash mascara:  Its just a great, inexpensive mascara that I tend to go back to all of the time!! Have been through countless tubes.  Which reminds me.....I need to pick one up ASAP!

Sigma makeup brushes:  I got these brushes for my birthday last year and they are awesome! They are very comparable to mac brushes but at pocket friendly price! Love the eye brushes more than the face brushes...but still very good!

Revlon colorstay foundation:  When it comes to foundation I've never really stuck with one brand! I'm always looking for the next best thing and its usually crazy expensive. But when it comes to drugstore foundation I only use this stuff and it works just fine! Actually, I'm using this right now and I'm loving it!

Wet n wild eyeshadow: I got one of these palettes in a hurry one time and I must say I was very impressed! Allot of the colors are of good quality for such an inexpensive price! I got most of the pallets and find myself using them often!

Mac paint pots: I only have a few of these, but I use them almost everyday! They help my eyeshadow last longer throughout the day! Which is a plus during the work week!

Now for my wish list items:

Clarisonic mia: I know its pricey but I've heard nothing but great things!! Must save my pennies....asap!

Urban decay naked palette:   You would think this stuff cured cancer or something.......it is IMPOSSIBLE to find anywhere! Oh well, that's why its on my wish list! It has all of the right colors and would be great for traveling!

Spring 2011 Essie Collection: I just love essie nail polish! They have fun and bright colors! This collection is sooo pretty!



Dior mascara: I guess its suppose to do amazing things! Maybe I'll bite the bullet and buy this the next time I go to sephora!



Kiehls Eye treatment: Need to start using better eye creams!



Spring 2011 trends:

• Bright lips:

• Natural makeup
• Luminous skin
• Nude nail polish
• Bright eyeshadow (greens, purples, and blues)

Well that's all I have for now! (Thought I would cut myself off right now because its 1. it's getting to be late and 2. I don't trust myself to stop anytime soon! haha!) Maybe I'll try some of these spring beauty trends and do a makeup face of the day showing you how I would do it! I would love to see your thoughts on what your spring beauty picks are! Leave a comment below if you have any questions!

One makeup lovin wifey! xoxo Joanna!

Happy Birthday Mom!!!

Happy Birthday to my wonderful mother who turns 50 today! Oh mom how i wish i could age as gracefully as you have!  To me you will never look your age! You still look the same!  You will always look the same! 

Today is YOUR special day mom!  Even if it doesn't feel like it!  To you its just an ordinary Tuesday and you've had such a long, hard day at work!  But that's what you think, mom! Today is NOT just an ordinary Tuesday! Today is a wonderful day because on this day fifty years ago God created a wonderful daughter, sister, friend, aunt, wife, mother, and now grandmother!! And I thank my lucky stars above each and everyday for being blessed with such a great mother who I love oh soooo unconditionally!!  Thank you for being a great teacher to everyone around you! You have thought us all so much about love, hard work, faith, religion, our nationality, kindness, loyalty, laughter (I can go on and on)!!  My wish for you today and forever is for many great years to come filled with nothing but great health, laughter, kindness, maybe more grandchildren (haha), joy, peace, and even a whole lotta wealth!!!  We love you mom.......I love you mom! Happy Birthday! 

P.S. Its your surprise birthday party this weekend......and you don't even know it! We are going to have so much fun!  

(my mom doesn't read my blog but eventually I will show her this post!)

xoxo My mommys daughter ~Joanna