I feel a draft, and a GIVEAWAY! [closed]

We argue about the temperature quite often in our house. I am always a tad too cold, and the hubs is, well, always blazin' hot (ow ow!). Since the addition of our wood burning stove, however, I've been feeling warmer and thus happier. A warm wife is a happy wife. While I'm still wearing sweaters and leggings at night, hubs strips down to his skivvies to sleep (too much information? sorry bout that.). For now we seemed to have reached a compromise with the temperature which is fantastic....but then why am I still chilly?? I just cannot put my finger on why I'm still cold. I wear wool sweaters to bed for crying out loud! Do you think I'm getting sick? Quick, someone put their lips on my forehead!



Sweater: Macy's, last year. Pants: Target. Boots: JCPenney. Purse: Vintage Dooney and Bourke, Annie Laurie's Antiques. Necklace: The Buckle, over 7 years old.



Then, I had an epiphany (yes, I wiki'd that.)





I never wear socks.

Maybe it's the rebellious teenager in me who says "No, Mom! I can wear flip flops in the snow!" Or maybe I just don't have any of those fancy little short socks that don't show in your booties. Either way, I'm just glad I'm not running a fever after all.


Now, for the moment you've all been waiting for....it's GIVEAWAY TIME!
Christmas is exactly 12 days away! Today's gift is brought to you by the adorable Bloom Studio and Gifts!

This lovely Voluspa candle smells delish, and comes with an adorable box of matches that would look chic left out on a fireplace mantle. This prize would make a great stocking stuffer, and don't forget about those lovely ladies in your life that deserve a special treat---teachers, stylists, babysitters and dog walkers!

The ladies at Bloom are very dear to my heart. Michaelyn's shop is filled with unique treasures, and tons of handmade finds! Shop local this Christmas with Bloom Studio and Gifts!

All you have to do to win is "LIKE" BLOOM ON FACEBOOK and write on their wall and tell them Life Told By Leslie sent ya! If you already "LIKE" Bloom, just comment here on the blog why you like them so much! Giveaway ends at midnight and I'll announce the winner tomorrow. Good luck!

*** The only way I'll be able to tell you've entered the giveaway is if you comment on BLOOM's FACEBOOK wall, or if you already "Like" Bloom and prefer to just comment here I'll accept that too. Just show Bloom some love! Merry Christmas!

What to wear? To a chili supper.

I want to share my chili recipe with you guys because (not to brag) everyone usually loves it and it's SO easy to make, as long as you know how to use a can-opener you're good to go! The only thing is, I hate taking pictures of my chili-making process because it honestly looks disgusting. Just trust me on this one guys, it's delicious.

Leslie's Crazy Throw Everything In To Make It Taste Good---Chili.

INGREDIENTS:
1 Crock Pot
1 LARGE can of Chili Beans or two small cans (I use the hot variety, but mild is good too)
1 can of corn (yes, I said corn. Remember, I said trust me!)
1 can of low sodium black beans
2 cans of diced tomatoes
1 can of tomato paste
2 chopped up jalapeno peppers
a few dashes of Tobasco Sauce (DON'T SKIP THE TOBASCO!)
a few dashes of chili powder
a few dashes of cumin (for those who don't know, a few is about three and a dash is one "shake")
1 pound of ground TURKEY OR VENISON, browned in a skillet.

DIRECTIONS:
Toss everything in the crock pot. Cook on high until bubbly and warm, about 2 hours. OR cook on low heat all day if you want. Garnish with guacamole or sour cream---enjoy!

I'm telling you this recipe never fails for feeding a crowd. You can also use beef if your wary of any other type of meat. I use turkey and deer because it's heart healthy and WAY leaner than beef. I did snap a quick pic of the chili so you could see the finished product. Be warned, it's kind of ugly.

We had chili Sunday evening at Daniel's aunt and uncles house, and here's what I thought would be appropriate to wear to a chili supper.

The boots look a bit western with this floral print dress, and I love the mix of navy and maroon with the tights.




Dress: MNG by Mango for JCP. Tights: Target. Boots: Target. Belt: Thrifted, Annie Laurie's Antiques.

Don't forget, TOMORROW starts the 12 Days of Christmas Giveaway!!! I can't wait!!

Christian Siriano is my home boy.

If I had cable TV, I'd definitely watch me some Project Runway. Unfortunately, we do not pay for television, we have an antenna that receives approximately 15 channels. That's 9 local news channels, 3 Jesus channels, one country music video station, one alternative rock music station (Cool TV all the way!) and one Retro TV station. So the only time I can watch Project Runway is when I'm visiting friends, so invite me over! Please?

 I'm sure you can imagine when Payless Shoes launched their "Christian Siriano for Payless" line, I totally went into Justin Bieber fan mode and pushed a few teenage girls out of the way to snatch up these babies.

Alright alright! Before ya'll get in an uproar over the addition of yet another pair of leopard print shoes added to my collection; hear me out. I recently gave a pair away that were a tad too small on me and thus hurt my toesies, so there was a ballet-flat opening that needed to be filled. Not that I need to explain myself to you, I do what I want. So there. (I'm sticking out my tongue, in case you were wondering)



Blouse: JCP. Lace Skirt: JCP. Tights: Target. Shoes: Christian Siriano for Payless.

 I wore this Saturday to the Ladies Dessert Banquet at church. Of course my favorite dessert wasn't technically a dessert--it was bacon bread. Mmm bacon is delish on everything.

In case you missed my announcement yesterday, the 12 Days of Christmas Giveaways will begin in just TWO short work days from now. Get excited!!

12 Days of Christmas GIVEAWAYS!

Hello lovely readers! I'm so excited because starting Wednesday there will only be 12 DAYS UNTIL CHRISTMAS!! This is my first Christmas as a blogger so I want to do something special for all of you!

Starting on Wednesday, December 14th I will be giving away BRAND NEW FABULOUS GIFTS to lucky readers! All you need to do is comment on the daily post that features a gift to be entered to win, and follow Life Told By Leslie on the right hand side of the blog if you haven't already done so. I'll show you the gift in the post, so comment for a chance to win if it's something that suits your fancy. The prizes will be new and unique gifts selected just for Life Told By Leslie readers---so they'll be items that I know you'll love! Share the blog with your friends so they can try to win too--or don't if you want to win all the gifts for yourself haha!

I'll announce each winner the following day on the post, so you'll have to check back to see if you've won! All winners must email me so that I have your address and can ship the gifts. I'll be shipping the gifts daily, so hopefully my friends at the Post Office are ready to see a lot of me!

Ok, does that all sound simple enough? :) Got any questions?

Here's a sneak peak at the first gift for Wednesday, I'm so bad at keeping secrets.

Can you tell what this is?? Look for gifts courtesy of some lovely local shops and sponsors. This is going to be so fun ya'll :) Remember, it all starts this Wednesday, December 14th!!

Baby, It's Cold Outside.

Happy Friday Everyone! I've got a fun weekend planned including Christmas shopping and the Ladies Dessert Banquet Saturday evening. Free Saturday night? Come with me! OR babysit my little man because I'm still looking for a sitter hehe.

This outfit is great for shopping and errands. My boots are nice and cozy and if I get too hot in the stores I can always shed my cardigan. My blue silk shirt (J.Crew) is a bit oversized so I cinched it in with a belt.

Some of you may have seen this pics on Facebook last night, but I can't stop looking at them, they're so darn cute! This year I'm wrapping all my gifts with the pages of old magazines, like my J.Crew catalogue. I always hate throwing out J.Crew because the catalogue is always so pretty....here's a way to give it a few extra miles!



A small gift for the Hubs.



And this one's for Aunt Beth! :) I absolutely love the plaid bow! It was leftover from an old gift.


Got any fun ways to re-purpose or recycle this holiday season?
As you know, I don't usually post over the weekend, but check back Sunday Morning.....I have a surprise announcement!! Have a good weekend! xoxo

My Chistmas Wish List

I've been making a Christmas list every year since I was a kid. Instead of mailing my list to Santa, (seriously though, where do all those Santa letters end up??) here's a run down for you guys on what I'm currently craving. My family and my in-laws are all getting me gift cards (I believe!) so hopefully these little babies will be mine after the holidays (or like the 26th of December)!

1. A new Dooney Bag

Ok so I'm busting out the biggest gift at the beginning of my list. I have one D&B purse, that I carry EVERY day, that I've had for 5 years now! It a beautiful yellow hobo and I love it so much, but I am dying for a new one in this camel color. I'm not particularly picky on the style, it just has to be a hobo shape (one strap only) and in this color. This one from QVC is cute with the little tassels, don't you think??


2. A lesson in the art of silk blouse shopping.

Where are all the vintage silk blouses for under $30?? This adorable option from J.Crew is on mega sale, aka $50 smackers which is still too rich for my blood. I love silk....I want some silk tops. But I want them to be special, vintage, and affordable. Where are all the other silk tops you ask? In thrift stores and antique shops. So, as a gift to me, please text me when you come across an affordable option. I'll love you forever.

3. A pair of black flats---WITH ARCH SUPPORT PLEASE!

This pair of Sperry's is nice because it's real leather, has arch support, and has a reinforced rubber heel in the back so my "driving foot" doesn't wear out the heel of the shoe. I'm not a huge fan of the patent leather toe, so I'm still on the hunt for that perfect pair.

4. Printed Leggings.

I'm kind of obsessed with crazy printed pants. I wouldn't wear these with heels like the model though, I'd wear them with moccasins and an oversized sweater. Hmmm cozy!

5. A new cookie sheet.

Boring, I know. But my only cookie sheet is all burnt and crusty. I hate crusty.

6. A variety of tiny Potted Succulents.

These are from etsy! Delivered right to my door for around $25, you get a variety of 9 different succulents in 2 inch pots. I would transfer these babies to old coffee cups and sit them in my sewing table window.

Ladies Night.

There's just something extra wonderful about having a quiet dinner with a special friend---kid free. There's more time to talk about what's going on in our heads when you're not constantly telling a two year old to stop throwing their food, drawing on the table, or trying to eat the artificial sugar packets.

This outfit is perfect for a night with the girls--just a little bit of cuteness with the butterflies and a little bit rock and roll with the fur vest. And I always take the opportunity to wear heels when I'm not with the little man, mostly because flats are my go-to shoe otherwise.
Hair in a pony tail? Yes please. No need to go the extra mile hair wise when you're with the gals. They understand that freshly washed hair is usually reserved for a night with the hubs. Best part about this sweet top is the sleeves; Check out the cut-outs!

Funny story from Ladies Night: We almost walked out of Olive Garden because it was way too crowded and loud. The manager followed us out the door and asked if we'd give them another shot, and showed us to a more private booth where the noise level wasn't an issue. He was super nice about everything, and then to top it off, he gave us free dessert! Score! Moral of the story; Sometimes it pays to be high maintenence.