This winter we are working on a few house projects. One that I am super excited about is our half-bathroom remodel!
I thought I would share a few pictures of the new pieces that are going in the bathroom! I can't wait to show you the final result!

Olive Branch Wallpaper from Magnolia

Lavendon Farmhouse/Country Distressed Accent Mirror from Wayfair

Hildred 2 - Light Dimmable Vanity Light from Wayfair

Valle Single Hole Single-Handle Bathroom Faucet in Oil Rubbed Bronze

Rectangular Bathroom Ceramic Vessel Sink Art Basin in White

I'm SO excited for this vanity! It is being custom built for the bath and I think that it will complete the room perfectly and also provide enough storage!
I can't wait for the half-bath to come together and show you the final results!
Happy Monday!
Can you believe that January is almost over? I feel like it flew by! I wanted to share with you some things I’ve been loving in our home this month!
New Stools for the Kitchen: I recently bought these bar stools for our kitchen. They are metal. I had to choose metal because the wood options chip too easily with cleaning the stools 5 times a day with kids!
Plastic Toddler Dining and Utensil Set: I recently bought these for the kids to have a more clean look and not so many different plates and bowls! I love not having mismatched dishes, even for the boys!
This is a round up of a few things I’ve been loving to use for myself and the boys this month! Tell me, what have you been loving in this new year?
This past weekend, I made this new recipe and we all LOVED it! It was so delicious and incredibly easy.
For the ingredients list you need —
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1 lb. lean ground beef
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4 tsp minced ginger
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6 cloves garlic, minced
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1/2 cup low sodium soy sauce
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1/2 cup of beef broth
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1/2 cup brown sugar
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6 tbsp hoisin sauce
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1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
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1/2 tsp black pepper
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4 green onions diced
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Toasted Sesame Seeds
INSTRUCTIONS
- In a medium skillet with high sides on the stovetop, brown the ground beef along with the ginger and garlic until beef is cooked through. Use the back of a wooden spoon to make sure meat is broken up well. Drain any fat and return the pan to the stovetop.
- While the ground beef is cooking, get a pot of water started for your pasta noodles. Be sure to salt the water well so that your noodles soak up that flavor.
- Combine the remaining ingredients -- the soy sauce, beef broth brown sugar, red pepper flakes, pepper, and hoisin sauce in a small dish and pour into ground beef mixture.
- Let them saute in the pan for about 3 minutes to allow the ground beef to absorb the flavors.
- Once your pasta is done cooking, transfer the noodles to the mixture. Mix thoroughly and allow to cook for a couple of more minutes to allow the sauce to thicken.
- Top with green onions and toasted sesame seeds for the perfect noodle dish!
This recipe and picture is from https://jenaroundtheworld.com/mongolian-ground-beef-noodles/. I’m saving it to our recipe book for future, easy meals!
I hope that you try it and love it as much as we do!

One of my favorite soups to make for winter is Tortellini Minestrone Soup! It was so chilly and rainy this past weekend, so it was the perfect meal to warm us all up!
Ingredients:
- 1 Tablespoon Olive Oil
- 1 Yellow Onion, Diced
- 2 Garlic Cloves, Chopped
- 4 Large Celery Stalks, Diced
- 2 Large Carrots, Peeled & Diced
- 2 (14-ounce) Cans Diced Tomatoes with Juice
- 2 (14-ounce) Cans Kidney Beans, Rinsed and Drained
- 1 Teaspoon Salt
- 1/2 Teaspoon Black Pepper
- 2 Teaspoons Dried Oregano
- 2 Teaspoons Dried Basil
- 4 Cups Chicken Stock
- 1 (9-ounce_ package cheese tortellini
- Grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions:
- Set a large pot over medium-high heat with olive oil. Once hot, add in the onions and garlic and cook until soft and translucent, about 5 minutes.
- Stir in the diced tomatoes with their juice and the beans.
- Season with salt, black pepper, oregano and basil.
- Add the chicken stock and bring to a simmer. Cook until the veggies soften, about 10-15 minutes.
- Add the tortellini and cook until they float, about 3-5 minutes
- Serve the soup with a sprinkling of cheese on top.
This recipe takes just around 50 minutes to make and is so delicious! Tell me, what’s one of your favorite soups to make for winter?
Happy Fall from Mackinac Island!
I have been blown away by your support of the shop and our island this fall. It has been wonderful to see you in the shop showing up for small businesses like mine online and in person. Every sale matters, so thank you for supporting Little Luxuries and Mackinac Island tourism, especially this year.
Every fall, we welcome a group of women to the island for Women’s Wellness Weekend. Jenna Kator brings tour busses of women from all over Michigan (and more states, too!) and so many of you drive yourselves and come up for the festivities too! Past years, we have had workshops on wellness, a silent auction and plenty of time for shopping!
During the weekend, we hosted the women in the shop for a Jenna Kator Handbag Trunk Show. Since this year’s festivities have been canceled, we have decided to take them ONLINE!
What does this mean?
On Friday, Saturday and Sunday, October 16th, October 17th and October 18th, ALL Jenna Kator Handbags will be 25% OFF! Then, 15% of the sales will be donated to the Mackinac Island Cancer Fund!
We can’t wait to celebrate the weekend (virtually) with you! Be sure to follow along on Facebook and Instagram, because there will be some fun giveaways that you don’t want to miss out on!
Each year, I am amazed at the amount of money we are able to donate to the Mackinac Island Cancer Fund. You and your friends always show up in BIG ways for this cause and I appreciate it so much!
We can’t wait to celebrate this Jenna Kator Trunk Show virtually with you - so grab your girlfriends and mark your calendars for next weekend, October 16th, October 17th and October 18th!