Annette Lindquist designs

Day Trip to Cannon Falls, Minnesota

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My husband, Erik is a military collector. Last weekend there was a military show in Cannon Falls, Minnesota just south of the Twin Cities metro area.

We decided to travel to Cannon Falls for a day trip to check out the show and the town.

Cannon Falls is a town with a population of about 4,200 residents and has a wonderful little downtown area.

At the military show, there were about 30 vendors selling and trading patches, uniforms, knives, and personal documents from families of soldiers. If you are a collector of military memorabilia, you’ll want to check out the show next year.

After attending the military show, we decided to check out antique stores in the area.

The first one we went to was Countryside Antique Mall located just off of Hwy. 52. It has over 50 dealers and two floors of antiques and collectibles.

Visit their website here: http://www.csamantiques.com/

The second antique store is Antiques on 4th in downtown Cannon Falls. This store is smaller but still has lots of antiques and collectables. Currently, there is a nice selection of cow bells that I was drawn to as I just returned from an amazing trip to Switzerland and Austria.

Link to their Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/canfalls/

While your in town, make sure to have lunch at Nick’s Downtown Diner. The staff is friendly, and the food is amazing.

This cute little diner is open just for breakfast and lunch. The day we were there, they closed at 2:00pm. You may have to wait for a table as they are busy and do not take reservations.

Breakfast is served all day and the special of the day was stuffed French toast. Although, stuffed French toast sounded amazing, we both decided to have lunch.

Items on the menu you must try are fried potato salad, jumbo tater tots, and the Award-winning chili.

Fried Potato Salad – baby red potatoes, onions, and a spicy cream sauce.
Jumbo Tater Tots – hashbrowns, cheese and seasonings coated in breadcrumbs and fried to perfection.

Follow them on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cannonrivercatering

11 Gifts for the Man in Your Life

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Disclaimer: I may receive a commission if you make a purchase through the links in this post. I appreciate you helping my small business. All images are from the selling company and not my images.

It’s almost Father’s Day! Time to start thinking about what to get for the man in your life. Whether that’s your father, husband, son, or significant other, below are 11 unique gifts your special man will love!

1. Longaberger Skin Care

I know what you’re thinking!

My man doesn’t use skin care products. Well, he has skin, doesn’t he? Why should women be the only ones taking care of their skin?

Longaberger’s large skin care basket set has everything your man needs to keep his skin clean and soft. The set includes a cleaner, eye perfecting solution, hyaluronic serum, face shrub, moisturizer, night cream, purifying mask and a beautiful, handcrafted basket. Smaller sets available as well.

The jars and bottles of the skin care are a dark color with a simple white label. No pink or frilly labels. So when his buds come over, they’ll never know that it’s his skin care products. The basket is handcrafted in Dresden, Ohio and comes in four color options (Whitewashed, Light Grey, Pale Grey, and Light Brown).

The entire set (basket and skin care products) are made in the United States.

Longaberger Large Skin Care Basket
Shop Longaberger Skin Care Products

If you would like more information about the other products available through Longaberger, click the link in my bio: www.onamission.bio/annettelindquist

2. Try The World

Try The World is a subscription service sending gourmet foods from around the world. It’s like going on a vacation without having to pack!

Starting at $29, your special person will receive mouth-watering snacks delivered to his doorstep. Or for $49, he will receive ingredients, drinks, and snacks each month.

Past boxes have included meatballs and dumplings from Sweden and tapas from Spain.

Try the World Subscription Service
Shop Try the World

3. Hammock

Who doesn’t like to lay on a hammock on a beautiful summer day!

This natural rope hammock is perfect for a lazy summer day. Hang under your favorite tree or attach to the available hammock stand.

Rope Hammock
Hammock Stand
Shop Hammocks

4. Fifth & Cherry Cutting Board

Fifth & Cherry cutting boards are handcrafted in the USA from 100% responsibly sourced cherry wood and steel reinforced so they will last a lifetime.

Anyone would feel like a chef when they’re using a Fifth & Cherry cutting board!

Each cutting board comes with a lifetime warranty that includes complimentary refinishing for life! Every cutting board is numbered so when you send it to be refinished you know you are getting the same board back.

Two sizes are available: 14″ and 18″.

Fifth & Cherry Cutting Board
Shop Fifth & Cherry Cutting Board

5. Longaberger Wine

Is he a wine drinker? If so, he’ll love Longaberger’s wine! It’s made with the highest quality grapes selected from the top vineyards in California.

Available in Merlot and Chardonnay.

Variety of barware is also available through Longaberger.

Longaberger Wine
Shop Longaberger Wine

Shop Barware

6. Harley Blueprint

If your man is a Harley Davidson enthusiast, why not get him a framed Patent poster of a 1919 Harley to hang on his garage wall?

Poster comes in a variety of colors and sizes. You can purchase just the print or have it framed for an additional cost.

Harley Davidson Patent Poster
Shop Prints

7. Leather Musk Candle

Give the gift of scent this Father’s Day! This black glass jar from Party Lite is filled with a Leather Musk scented candle. Leather musk is a blend of leather, sandalwood, musk, rose, and bergamot. Burn time is approximately 60-65 hours.

Leather Musk Candle – Party Lite
Shop Candles

8. Swiss Army Knife

Every man needs a good Swiss Army Knife! This wood collection is made from walnut that is very durable.

Swiss Army Knives
Shop Swiss Army Knives

9. Weather Stations for the Home

Whether (no pun intended) he likes to know how much rain fell or is a home meteorologist, you’re sure to find the perfect weather instruments for him at Wind and Weather.

Weather Station
Shop Weather Stations

10. LEGO Set

The kid at heart man in your life could reminisce about bygone days while putting together this 2,207 piece VW Camper Van. Of course, if he is not into retro vans or camping but instead love Star Wars, LEGO has a set for everyone.

VW Camper Van T2
Get the VW Camper Van T2

11. Cocktail Smoking Kit

Complement his whiskey, bourbon or scotch with a smoky favor using this Cocktail Smoking kit. Includes white oak smoker top, stainless steel mesh guard and 4 oz. of culinary smoking fuels.

Cocktail Smoking Kit
Get the Cocktail Smoking Kit

Choosing any one of these products will make it a wonderful Father’s day for your special man.

Thanks for reading,

Annette

Treats and Sweets

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In January 2022, I took the training requirements to become a Minnesota Cottage Food Producer. This means that I can make certain foods in my home kitchen and sell them. There is a limit as to the amount you can sell each year, what products you can sell, and how they are delivered. You can find more information at the Minnesota Department of Agriculture website.

One of the conditions of the Cottage Food Producer registration is the items cannot be shipped. Therefore, they either need to be picked up at my home (Oakdale) or delivered to you (additional fee). I will also be participating in several craft/vendor shows throughout the year. Like my Facebook page Annette Lindquist Designs to be updated on where I’ll be during the year.

All products are made to order and in small batches. I prefer to have a 1 week lead time, however, rush orders can be accommodated on a case by case basis.

Contact me at: contact@annettelindquist.com or 651-757-8485.

UNDER CONSTRUCTION – MORE INFORMATION TO FOLLOW

Working on recipes to add more selections to the lineup!

Current Menu

Cookies – $15/dozen
Soft Sugar with frosting
Oatmeal Raisin
Peanut Butter
Chocolate Chip
Soft Molasses

Cupcakes – $15/dozen
White
Chocolate
Red Velvet

Toffee – $15/0.5 lb.
With Almonds
Without Almonds

Caramel Puffed Popcorn

Rice Krispy Bars

Banana Bread

Spicy Crackers

Birthday Tradition

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When I was a kid, my family had a birthday tradition. It was when it was your birthday, you got to pick what we were having for dinner.

I continued that tradition with my kids. Sometimes they pick having their favorite homemade meal, other times they picked a chain sit down restaurant.

As a kid, my pick every year was Clark’s Submarine Sandwiches. I remember when we sat down to eat them, I was always the first one done eating!

Have you ever had a Clark’s submarine sandwich?

If you haven’t, you missed out. Unfortunately, they are no longer in business. They had the best bread and seasoned oil EVER! I have not been able to find a sub sandwich that comes close to how delicious they were.

I recently found Beano’s Original Submarine Dressing at the grocery store. So I thought I would give it a try.

It’s good, but not the same as the oil from Clark’s.

So I’m still on the hunt!

Did your family have any birthday traditions?

Georgia On My Mind

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Each summer I drive from Minnesota to Hudson, Wisconsin to buy a box of Georgia peaches from Tree-Ripe Fruit Co.

Picked in Georgia and trucked overnight so they’re fresh. When you first get them they are firm and you need to leave them sit for a day or two.

Let me tell you, it’s difficult to not bite into one of them immediately!

They’re delicious! However, it’s way more peaches than my family can eat before they go bad.

So, this summer my husband pitted, sliced, and froze them in individual snack bags. Each bag contains one peach.

These bags are the perfect snack on a hot summer day. They are like little peach popsicles!

This morning I sliced them into small pieces and put them on top of my Oikos Triple Zero Greek yogurt. A little summer flavor as the weather gets cooler.

Longaberger hardwood maple cutting board and vitrified pottery bowl can be found on my Longaberger business page – www.longabergerfamily.com/annettelindquist

Enchilada Rigatoni

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If you want a quick meal to make, this is it. You brown ground beef and dump everything else into the pot. This is a recipe that I adapted from the Pillsbury One-Pot Enchilada Rigatoni recipe. My family likes a little more ground beef and corn so I doubled those ingredients.

Enchilada Rigatoni

Annette Lindquist
Easy one pot recipe with only a few ingredients.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Course Main Course
Cuisine American, Mexican

Ingredients
  

  • 2 lbs Lean Ground Beef
  • 1 can Mild Enchilada Sauce 19 oz.
  • 1 can Evaporated Milk 12 oz.
  • 1 box Rigatoni Noodles uncooked
  • 2 cans Corn with Red and Green Peppers 11 oz. each
  • 3 cups Water
  • 2 cups Mexican Cheese Blend shredded

Instructions
 

  • In a Dutch oven, brown the ground beef. Do not drain.
  • Add all the other ingredients (except the cheese). Heat until boiling, then reduce the heat and simmer uncovered (stirring occasionally) for about 15 minutes until the noodles are done. Do not drain.
  • Stir in cheese.
  • Top with tortilla chips, if desired.

Notes

This recipe was adapted from the Pillsbury One-Pot Enchilada Rigatoni recipe. 
Keyword Dinner, easy, Ground Beef, Main Course

Cheeseburger Pie

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This is a quick and easy meal to make after work. The original recipe says it feeds 5, however, with my family it only feeds 4. There is very little carbs in this meal.

Cheeseburger Pie

Annette Lindquist
Quick and Easy Meal
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Servings 4

Ingredients
  

  • 1.5 lbs. Ground Beef
  • 1 Onion
  • 2 cloves Garlic grated
  • 1 cup Sharp Cheddar Cheese grated
  • 1/2 cup Bisquick (TM)
  • 1 cup Milk
  • 2 Eggs

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
  • Spray 9-inch pie plate with cooking spray.
  • Cook beef, onions, and garlic until meat is brown. Drain.
  • Spread in pie plate and cover with cheese.
  • Stir remaining ingredients with a whisk until blended. Pour over cheese.
  • Bake for 25 minutes.

Notes

Adapted from the Betty Crocker recipe.
Keyword Ground Beef, Hamburger

DIY Lavender Relaxing Spray

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Disclosure: I receive a small commission if you purchase something through the links in this post.

Lavender relaxing spray can be used at bedtime to help you enjoy a more restful night sleep. The spray is extremely easy to make with only 3 ingredients.

The first ingredient is lavender essential oil. Lavender promotes relaxation and is believed to treat everything from anxiety, fungal infections, allergies, depression, insomnia, and nausea. When used before bedtime, studies have shown that lavender oil can help you fall asleep and improve your overall quality of rest.

I used Sunleaf Naturals Lavender Essential Oil.

The next ingredient is witch hazel. Witch hazel is a shrub native to North America. It is widely known for its ability to ease inflammation and soothe sensitive skin.

The last ingredient is distilled water. Distilled water is water that goes through a distilling process that removes impurities along with all the minerals. You should always used distilled water with your essential oils, especially in a diffuser.

Distilled water can be purchased at grocery stores, drug stores and mass market retailers like Target and Walmart.

The only other thing that you’ll need is a fine mist spray bottle. I used one that I already had, however, they can be found on Amazon.

  1. Add 1 cup distilled water to the spray bottle.
  2. Add 2 teaspoons witch hazel.
  3. Add 12-15 drops of lavender essential oil.

Shake well and spray in your bedroom before going to bed each night. Keep out of direct sunlight.

Celebrating Women Makers and Artisans

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This post contains affiliate links. I may earn a small commission if you use the Amazon links. Thanks!

In honor of International Woman’s Day yesterday, I thought I’d share 5 of my favorite woman artisans on Amazon.

Click on the image to view more information and to purchase.

Wunderkid Cards
A portion of each card sale goes directly back to the young artist who created it.

Garage Girls Jewelry
Jewelry for the girl who likes off-roading.

Art of Plants
Hand bent wood sculptures.

BYKET
Hand embroidered cosmetic bags and coin purses

The Yarn Kitchen
Felted plant holders

To see more amazing work by women artisans, click here: Celebrate Women Makers & Artisans

How to Wear Treasured Brooches

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This post contains affiliate links. I may earn a small commission if you use the Amazon links. Thanks!

Do you have a few of your Grandma’s brooches in the back of your jewelry box? Do you love them, but know you are never going to wear them as a brooch? Do they remind you of her, but you’re afraid you will lose it?

Well, by the end of this post you’re going to be able to take them out and wear them as a statement necklace!

My first pin was this Mary had a little lamb pin. I don’t remember when I got it or who gave it to me. To be honest I don’t even remember ever wearing it. I just know that it has been in my jewelry box since I was a little girl.

This flag pin was given to me by my grandmother when I was in my early teens. I’ve worn it a couple of times in the last few years mostly on patriotic day like Memorial Day or Veterans Day.

I remember when stick pins were all the rage. You know the ones where you only see the embellishment and the end of the pin with the cap on it. Like this Teapot and tea cup pin.

These are a couple of pins that I wore during the 90s.

Diamond ring because what girl doesn’t like a BIG diamond ring?

The computer pin was always on the lapel of the suit jacket that I wore to work. At that time I was a computer trainer so it fit with my profession. You can definitely tell I worn it a lot.

I also have pins that were given to me by my kids throughout the years. Don’t you just love the handmade bug pin? 😊

I always have had a love of vintage jewelry and have lots of pins. But like you, I don’t really wear them.

My collection really grew when I had a booth at an antique store where I specialized in vintage jewelry. During that time I bought jewelry from estate sales, garage sales, thrift stores, auctions and online.

Besides items that I sold, sometimes the bags of jewelry also contained some broken pieces. I didn’t want to throw them away, so I started to restyle the broken components into new pieces of jewelry.

Here’s a couple of pieces I’ve created. You can shop for restyled pieces that I’ve made in my shop: Annette Lindquist Designs Shop. Check back often, as I add new pieces regularly.

 

Okay, here is what you’ll need to turn your Grandma’s brooch into a statement necklace.

You’ll need a brooch converter. They come in horizontal and vertical depending on how your brooch sits when you wear it.

Because of the size of the converter and the length of the pin, you will also want to place a rubber ear nut on each side of the converter. This will keep it from moving around on the pin.

And of course you will need a chain.

Place one ear nut onto the pin, then convertor, and lastly the other ear nut.

All that’s left is to put a chain into the converter. You are now ready to wear your Grandmother’s treasured brooch!

Now go dig out those treasures and wear them!

The items used can be purchased using the Amazon links below.

Disclosure: I may receive a small commission from any purchase. There is no additional cost to you.

Got Pills?

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The weather in Minnesota is finally getting warmer, so it’s time to pack away the sweaters.

Before I do that, I like to take the pills off of them.

 

Previously, I had a sweater shaver that was battery operated. The problem with it was that it never seemed to have enough power to work effectively.

So this year I found an electric one. WORKS much better.

This is the one that I purchased.

This post contains affiliate links. If you use these links to buy something we may earn a commission. Thanks.

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