A LOVELY GIVEAWAY with THE FIRST SNOW!

You guys. YOU GUYS! This giveaway- ugh. I can't even. It's so good. It's good enough that I want to come up with a second persona and enter this thing myself. Le Sigh. 

The last time I did a giveaway with the amazing Darah of the First Snow was about 6 months ago- and it got such an overwhelming response that I just had to ask her to do another one. If you've never seen her shop you must- it includes not only the most stunning art prints out there, but also every gorgeous paper goods you could possibly need for your wedding/engagement. I won't go on and on- but you MUST go check it out.

Her stuff is so good that Lauren Conrad featured one of her card sets the other day. Yeah. Believe me now?

Before we get into the giveaway, here are a few of my current favorites from her shop:

This: love the imperfect chalkboard looking background and the hand painted florals....

This: I love this one so much I put it on my birthday wishlist. Yup.

This: could there be a sweeter quote? oh, Aubrey.

So you want to get to the giveaway, right? I don't blame you!

Just in time for Valentine's- you can win this STUNNING print from The First Snow:

I know, it's stunning! Like I said, if I could enter to win one, I'd do it myself!

So how do you enter? Just follow the instructions of the Rafflecopter giveaway below- make sure to do the 2 mandatory entries or else you will not be eligible to win!

Giveaway runs 1/30-2/6

Available for USA Only.

GOOD LUCK!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

xo, lp

** Can't wait to see if you'll be lucky enough to win? Purchase from The First Snow now! 

BAKED POTATOES MADE BETTER WITH KERNEL SEASON'S!

Like I mentioned yesterday, we hosted a Baked Potato Bar dinner at our house this weekend and it was a HUGE hit. I think any time your guests can build-their-own meal, it is going to guarantee satisfaction!

In addition to a ton of toppings available, I had a few of my favorite Kernel Season's available - just to give each combination a little extra flavor! (Yes, KS is technically marketed as popcorn seasoning- but it goes great on any type of food!)

Here are a few combinations I'd highly recommend you try:

TEX MEX: Potato, Bacon, Jalapenos, Co-jack cheese, Kernel Season's Nacho Cheddar (+sour cream if you so choose!)

ONION + GARLIC: Potato, Diced Yellow Onion, Diced Scallion, Parmesan Cheese, Kernel Season's Parmesan Garlic

CHEESE LOVERS: Potato, Parmesan Cheese, Chives or Scallions, Monteray-Jack Cheese, Kernel Season's White Cheddar

What do you throw on top of your baked potato?

I'm a cheese lover for sure...and Michael just puts a copious amount of butter on his. Can you tell we live in the Dairy State?

xo, lp

*this post was NOT sponsored by Kernel Season's- I was not paid to write this, I'm just Midwestern enough to love me a good baked potato, and Kernel Season's are something I actually use to top mine!

3 DAYS LEFT!

Only 3 days left to get 20% off a A MANO! 

No promo code needed, friends, prices are already 20% off on the site.

Get your sweetheart something homemade for Valentine's day! Handmade leather goods, wood cutting boards, ceramics, jewelry, and scarves. Heck, even a tiny white & gold ring dish, if you feel like throwin' a few hints down on 'em.

Here are some favorites in the shop this month:

Which of these sweet (&on sale!) gifts are you going to grab for your sweetheart...or yourself?

I think those wood cutting boards are kind of fantastic, right?

xo, lp

13 KINDS OF PEANUT BUTTER!

Happy FRIGID Monday, everyone!

Just like Wisconsin to change 60+ degrees in temperature in 24 hours. Yesterday we got 6 inches of snow and it was 25 degrees...today the windchill is going to get down to -40 or so. COOL GUYS THANKS.

Anyway, here's what's awesome lately:

1. National Peanut Butter Day! Once again, it was a magical day at work- 13+ kinds of PB to try plus a ton of snacks either made with or paired well with PB. If you don't celebrate it already, start planning for Jan 24th now!

2. Why YES I have already started to decorate for V-day. And this image of some sweet heart ornaments I have is the background of my phone...I'm pretty jazzed. (right click to save & upload as your background image too!)

3. Loving these postcards I bought from The Stationary Boutique! Snail Mail might be coming your way soon, friends!

4. Saturday we had some favorite friends over for a Baked Potato Bar & Beer Tasting night. (Yes, took a page outta Emily's playbook). I don't know why we'd never thought about doing that before...but it's definitely going to be happening again. So. Good.

 5. From Saturday-Sunday we got a hefty amount of snow, which meant naturally M and I went out for a nice long walk...that included snow angels. Yup- we for sure turn 26 in a couple weeks. Oops. #youngatheart

 6. I AM SO EXCITED FOR THURSDAY. You should be too. Why? Because I am giving...well, no, The First Snow is giving away one of her GORGEOUS prints. Eep! I know you've all heard me rave about her shop before- I have one of her amazing Lumineers prints hanging in our bedroom...Okay. Whew. I'll wait until Thursday to go on and on. Just...make sure you come back to enter!

So that's what's fantastic on my radar...

What's great in your week, friends?

Scale of 1-100, how much do you want to win that print?

xo, lp

*we're not instie friends yet? sad day. find me here: @lpodlich

it's my party and i'll cry if i want to.

It's my birthday in a few weeks, and I am fully on the "treat yo'self" train nowadays. 

I don't think there's anything wrong with getting yourself something shiny and new on your big day, so here's what's in the running for a good old gift to myself:

1. New Printstagram Prints from Social Print Studio: These guys & gals are just the best. I have prints, a calendar, heck- even stickers from SPS. I haven't ordered anything in a while, and I think some new prints with new Instagram shots I've taken recently might just be what the doctor ordered.

2. The First Snow has the most gorgeous prints. I have one in my bedroom and this beautiful quote about The Compass would make a great addition!

3. Michael is pretty spot on when it comes to buying me jewelry, but that doesn't mean I can't still grab something for myself- like this ladylike bracelet!

4. I'm a bowl hoarder, I've turned into my mother. But I mean, these West Elm bowls are pretty fantastic, right?

5. DUDES. Have you seen Gap's new line of shoes? Just yes yes yes and yes all over again. I think these would be some pretty nice birthday kicks.

6. When I lived in Peru I read Pablo Neruda's Love Poems over and over in Spanish. They are poetic perfection and I don't own the full book...so this is currently the front runner in my "treat yo'self" birthday gift. I love (hah. punny) how Anthropologie made the cover of this book- just as romantic as what is inside!

7. I love the Pine Sophia studs I got for Christmas, and the Coral version are just as lovely. Loren Hope-you do good work, lady! 

If you feel like sending me something off this list, you just let me know and I'll send ya my new address. Kidding. But seriously.

So tell me: if you were to treat yo'self on your birthday- what would you get yourself?
I expect some fabulous answers here, friends!

xo, lp

candy compulsion and yesterday's shirt

Man, I should keep this blog post title in my back pocket for a book title. Just in case I ever get famous, you know? 

Anyways. To break down that title:

If you've been following me on Instagram for any length of time, you know I have a thing for organizing my candy in rainbow order. I just do. I can't explain it. Makes for pretty pictures, though!

 Sunday morning I got up and had 2 options: 

1. Shower, get dressed, clean the apartment, be productive

or

2. Watch 3 episodes of Scandal back to back before brushing out the previous night's curls, and head out to Target to peruse their Valentine's section wearing the shirt I had worn the night before.

I went with the latter. Don't worry- I wasn't gross or anything, I looked perfectly proper. Oh- and for the record- Target's V-day selection this year is kind of a bummer. 

 Sunday was unreal 34 degrees. In January. In winter. In Wisconsin.

Dude, Gap has their new set of flats out and damn, they're good. Stripes. Polka dots. Camo. All, fantastic.

Tell me something good, friends-

Let's start Monday out right!

xo, lp

* let's be friends: @lpodlich

5 BEAUTIES to get you through WINTER!

Happy Thursday, friends!

I'll keep the intro to this post brief, so you can focus more on the descriptions below-

These are my top 5 winter beauty products, all ones I ACTUALLY use, and can give a full endorsement to! (and no, this is not a sponsored post!)

#1: If you take one thing away from this post, listen to me here: You. Need. Skin. Savior. This product is from One Love Organics and after trying it for a week, I promise you will become a full believer. It is the best moisturizer/makeup remover/magical balm I have ever used. I use it right when I get out of the shower on my face to keep in moisture, use it at night as a makeup remover, and use it as needed for any really dry spots. You can grab it in two sizes 39 mL or 105 mL- let me know which size you got when you thank me later. 

#2: I go in phases of wearing more makeup than just concealer/mascara- winter being one of those times, when I also layer on this Bobbi Brown bronzer. I think I first tried this stuff in college when my sister gave it to me as a gift, and I've been hooked ever since. It gives you a natural, rosy bronze (read:not orange), with a little shimmer (read: not sparkly). It doubles as 5 eyeshadow shades, and the best part about it is it lasts FOREVER. Seriously. I've had 2 of these in the last...5-6 years? So yes, up front it seems spendy, but when you divide out cost per use, it's pennies per use

#3: Ugh. I wanted to avoid posting about this because Miley endorses them shamefully in her music videos...but I can't deny my love for the EOS Organic lip balms. They're cheap, cute, and come in great scents. The sweet mint is my all-time favorite- smells great and keeps my lips from the winter dry air!

#4: I know I've posted about St.Tropez before, but it's good enough to get a second look. It's not something I use daily- but I go to it in the winter when I want a subtle tan look for a special event. It gets you instantly tan, smells good, and makes you look tan and not in the least oompa-loompaish. Win.

#5: This stuff is a must-have for hair in the winter. I actually need to get some more as I'm fresh out. If you haven't used FrizzEase serum, you're missing out. It will banish all the annoying winter dry air frizzies- and keep your hair smooth and static free. It's $10 and you just use a pea size drop, so the bottles last forever. Go get it! 

Now that I've shared mine-

What are your winter beauty favorites?

xo, lp

CROCKPOT SPINACH DIP (so. so. good.)

This recipe will make you popular. Yup. Not empty promises, my friends, it really will.

It's that good.

Ask the friends I made it for at the last Packer game. Ask my coworkers from the last potluck.

They'll agree.

All you need it a crockpot. WAIT. If you don't have a crockpot, you CAN make this in the microwave- but I can't promise it will be this easy or clean!

 What you'll need to make it happen:

- 8oz cream cheese

- 8 oz sour cream

- 10 oz frozen spinach

- 4 large cloves garlic, pressed/minced

- 1 1/2 cups shredded parmesan/mozzarella blend cheese (or just use parm. either way.)

-  2 tsps paprika

-1 Tbsp olive oil

- 1/2 tsp cayenne optional

**also: you will note there are no artichokes in this dish. it's not because i hate them, or that i'm trying to be original, i just happen to like this recipe without them. by all means, add artichokes as necessary!**

How to make it happen:

Hold onto your hats, it's going to be a wild ride:

Step 1: Defrost your spinach in the microwave.

Step 2: Put all your ingredients into the crockpot. Yup. All of it. 

Step 3: Put crock on high for 1 1/2 hours or until bubbling. Enjoy with crackers, chips, or whatever.

Rough, right? That's the beauty of crockpots! 

 So creamy. So delicious.

So let's recap:

If you're looking for a great Super Bowl dip recipe, pin/print this.

If you're looking for a crowd-pleaser to bring into work, pin/print this.

If you're going through a rough week and need some cream cheese in your life, pin/print this.

Have a great CrockPot recipe?

Share it (or a link) in the comments- I'd love to see it!

xo, lp

Looking for more great gameday recipes? 

Try my Baked Cheese Stuffed Jalapeños, Parmesan Garlic Popcorn, Baked Sriracha Cream Cheese Wontons !

pulling over in -35 below weather.

Last week was weird. It was a total whirlwind at work, and the weather got weirder as the days went on.

Monday was -45 below windchill...Friday was freezing rain...Sunday was 40 degrees.

Oh Midwest, I love you. You just keep me guessing.

I took this picture Tuesday, and it was so cold out I probably shouldn't have stopped my car this long on the exit ramp on the highway- but the sunset was too gorgeous to not get an image of. With the amount of overcast days we have in winter, a clear sky like this is a total gift! Enjoy the little things, right?

Speaking of enjoying the little things (in this case literally) - how cute is this sticker? I mean, come on. Genius branding there, Cuties. Instagram worthy.

 The 10 year old in me came out when I saw this make your own bracelet kit. It's like...updated friendship bracelets that are acceptable for 25 year old to wear. Excellent.

For those of you who've been dragging your feet, you still have until the 15th to use code BBB20 to get 20% off everything at The Stationary Boutique! Go get it, girl. 

If you were hoping for a healthy recipe post this week, you gonna be soooo disappointed. It's a CrockPot recipe that will make you super popular in your friend group- promise. 

What's something little you enjoyed last week?

Share something good with me, friends!

xo, lp

*if we aren't already, let's be friends here.

new favorites: the stationary boutique

Sometimes when I do posts featuring Etsy shops I go on and on about how amazing they are- but this new shop I've found needs very little upsell. The gorgeous images speak for themselves!

The Stationary Boutique is a shop filled with every paper good your heart could desire, almost exclusively in white, black, gold, and blush. Stationary (duh), gold foil prints, calendars, business cards- it's all there and it's all impeccably done. 

Before I go on: No, I wasn't paid or perked for this post...but you all shall benefit from this by the discount code at the bottom of the post. Because Jennifer is awesome. And generous. Boom.

Here are a few of my favorite products:

1.  Postcard calendar- that when you're done with the month- the top half comes off and is a postcard. Yeah. Genius! I seriously need to buy one of these.

2. Polka dot business card stamp: Why keep reordering business cards when you can have a stamp personalized for you that not only looks gorgeous, but is also only $30. WHAT!

3. Circle Dot Address Stamp: Okay I know I said this was a paper shop, but it also has paper accessories...and this one is so. freaking. neat. I love the personal feel of a stamped return address rather than a sticker.

4. Gold Foil Cards: In addition to the handful of gold foil prints, Jennifer also has THE most adorable gold foil cards (perfect for v-day!).

5. Confetti Stationary: For all you snail mail fanatics: HOW CUTE IS THIS SET? Love.

6. Love Stripes Mini Cards: I don't think I even need to put in a plug for these ones. Perfection.

Okay, Okay, I know you're ready for the discount so you can spend all your Christmas money on cute new paper goods, so here it is: Through Jan 15th, get 20% off your ENTIRE order using code BBB20!

Yep. 20% off EVERYTHING.

Tell me loves, which item from The Stationary Boutique do YOU love?

Feel free to send me notes on all the stationary you buy...!

xo, lp

*again, i wasn't paid for this post. i just happened upon jennifer's shop and when i told her i was featuring the shop- she offered the discount to all of you. enjoy, friends!

**all images are from her shop. please give credit if pinning!

LAST ONE.

yes, yes, yes, i promise this is my last post about 2013 nostalgia...

it's just...

i feel like nowadays in society we spend so much time looking forward to what's next-

when's my next raise? when's my next vacation? when's my next big event i can exploit on facebook?

don't get me wrong, i dig looking to the future too- but today i wanted to look back at some of my favorite pictures of 2013.

yesterday on the news they said that researchers have found that you remember things better if you DON'T take a picture of it. i mean- i guess that makes sense- makes your brain work harder to remember rather than relying on the fact you'll have an image to look back on...

but i'm a sucker for pictures. when i was choosing these images as my favorite instagrams for 2013- which was hard to do by the way...35? i have so many!- it was cool to see themes emerge.

my favorite moments were all pretty much things that happened outside, with michael, or travelling to a new place. a good portion of them are all three. triple whammy!

so if those experts are right, and i'll look back at these pictures someday an have no memory what some of my favorite moments of 2013 were, i can come back to this post and remind myself. 

date night madison / drive up mt rainier/ gum wall seattle / bald eagle lake / camping fun with m's family

state fair with dad / fall leaves in madison / sunset waterskiing / christmas in snowy mn / homecoming game

mt rainier / chicago shopping for work / peaceful nights in / walks with m / annual lake bonfire

camping on the island / packers pumpkin / blue mounds hikes / canoe trip with d+j / tacoma glass

pack game in the snow/ colorsbee / bridge back to seattle / concert on the square / st. augustine

pier fishing with badger/ walks with mom/ remembering va / taffy in portland / date night tacoma

new smyrna / pike place / blue mound chert / tree outside our new place / redskins game

I'd love to see some of your favorite 2013 Instagram moments too! 
Leave your handle in the comments, friends!

xo, lp

AGED WHITE CHEDDAR MAC & CHEESE

 The only homemade mac & cheese I liked as a kid was the stuff my mom made with Velveeta. It was just butter, milk, and Velveeta microwaved until melted and poured over noodles. Basic, delicious, salty (as everything with Velveeta is).

This is a little bit of an upgrade from those days- mainly because the cheese I used was some 4 year aged white cheddar from a local cheese company. I mean, can you do any wrong with 4 year aged cheddar? No, no you can't.

Now before you hightail out of here thinking this is going to be an pretentious post that includes talking about eating this dish with a nice pinot in a room full of aged mahogany- I promise it's not. This recipe is crazy easy, but saying "aged white cheddar" just makes you sound hella fancy.

Here it is, team:

What you'll need to make it happen:

4 Tbsp butter

4 Tbsp Flour

3 cups milk (I use skim)

2 cups Aged White Cheddar Cheese- shredded

1/2 box elbow mac noodles (you can use more if you don't want the noodles as coated)

Salt, Pepper, Paprika to taste

How to make it happen:

Step 1: Cook your pasta about 1-2 minutes less than you usually would, drain, and set aside.

Step 2: Melt your butter on medium-low in a large sauce pan, stirring as it melts.

Step 3: Add in your flour, and whisk until well incorporated. Continue to stir for another 3 minutes, and if your burners run hot- lower to low heat. If your burners are too hot you WILL burn your mixture. And it will smell. And it will make you sad that you have to wash your pot and start again. This definitely happened to me the first time around. ARGH.

Step 4: Add milk and stir until well mixed and thickened, about 5 minutes.

Step 5: Add in 1 1/2 cups of your cheese, stirring until melted. This will probably take a LONG time. Took mine about 15ish minutes to make a full, creamy, thick sauce. Pain in the butt, but worth it!

Step 6: Add salt & pepper (about 1 1/2 tsp each) and stir in your cooked noodles.

Step 7: Pour into a 9x13 pan, top with the rest of your cheese and sprinkle with paprika. Bake for 10-15 minutes or until cheese is fully melted & bubbling.

This mac & cheese is KILLER. It doesn't just taste like your run of the mill mac & cheese, I can guarantee you that. It's thick, creamy, salty, and completely satisfying.

What's one of your comfort food dishes?

It's gonna be cold here for a while, so pass them my way!

xo, lp 

* looking for more comfort food recipes? try my parmesan garlic quinoa, salty & spicy parm pasta, or this gnocchi mac & cheese! 

SPARKS FLY.

 Thank goodness I wrote most of this post Saturday, because it would not be NEARLY as cheery if I were writing it all today. Currently I'm mourning our Packers. So depressing. Not sure what to do with my time until next season starts. UGH. Completely avoiding Twitter and Facebook this week. Okay, okay. Enough Neg Nancy. Here's what's up lately:

-----

You know what, NYE was fab. Michael and I rang in the New Year with some of our favorite people: Dani & Josh. Plenty of champagne, a little VIP treatment, and a photobooth later, it was 2014!

 Me & this girl. Never a dull moment. Long live the Prom Pose!

Other than NYE, not much is new around here. With the cold here M&I have been hibernating mostly, watching movies and cooking. Other than a quick date night dinner on the Capitol Square Saturday, we haven't left the apartment. Which of course leaves plenty of time to organize your candy in rainbow order. Duh.

I'm pretty jazzed about the posts this week, especially for a spotlight on a fave new Etsy shop- this one is one to bookmark, for sure!

Tomorrow's recipe is the ULTIMATE comfort food. So. Good.

How did you spend your NYE?

Anyone else mourning the Packers loss?

xo, lp

let's be instagram buds! find me here: @lpodlich

** also: quick birthday shoutout to the most amazing woman ever: my momma! love you mommy!!

peace out 2013, you were cool.

time to get nostalgic in this here blog. 

let's take a trip down memory lane, shall we?

your favorite posts from 2013:

(clearly y'all love salted caramel and cheese)

no-fail curls tutorial

parmesan garlic quinoa recipe

award winning salted caramel cupcake recipe

salted caramel sauce recipe

baked cheese stuffed jalapeños recipe

baked sriracha cream cheese wonton recipe

society6 phone case roundup

$4 jewelry hanger tutorial

my favorite posts of 2013:

(i love instagram and booze i guess)

herb parmesan crisp recipe

fizzy pineapple lemonade punch

#instasky roundup

DIY prinstagram sticker tray

heidi-braid tutorial

orange ginger mojitos

washi tape holiday cards

thanks to all you cuties for making 2013 a stellar year for b&b

here's to 2014 for being even better!

xo, lp