Aunty Ollie $100 Gift Card GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!

Aunty Ollie $100 Gift Card GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!

This is a super cool giveaway that you all may be interested in entering

Saturday 9

1. What was your favorite subject in high school?

english I loved the plays, and writings

2. Do you watch reality shows? Which ones?

yes most all of them except like the reality shows around celebrities lives

3. What's your favorite all time reality show?

top chef or project runway

4. Do you feel "reality" shows are real or are they faked?

well they are exciting and I they seem pretty well so I would say real

5. What did you look like when you were a teenager?

I was alot thinner and a bit prettier I would say

6. Whose advice do you listen to?

my husbands, friends who I respect I used to seek advice from dad and grandma but they are gone now

7. How often are you sick?

try not to get sick much

8. Do you like or dislike change?

dont do good with change

9. How many times in your life have you had a broken heart?

several too many to count

Sweet Shapes cookie cutter giveaway

Sweet Shapes is the place to go if you ever need a cookie cutter for a holiday, celebration or just a special occasion. I have shared my thoughts with you about Sweet Shapes before and you can read the previous review here Sweet Shapes offers the perfect cookie cutters for this holiday season from turkeys to snowflakes whatever you need Sweet Shapes can help you. You can purchase Sweet Shapes cookie cutters on their website located at http://cp32.heritagewebdesign.com/~swshapes/cart/

Once again, Debra from Sweet Shapes would love to offer a giveaway of some wonderful cookie cutters. This time not only one (1) winner but four (4) will be able to win some lovely cookie cutters.

First Prize to be given would be the 5pc Fall Set 5pcs include Squirrel, acorn, apple, oak leaf and maple leaf

Three other winners will each receive a turkey cookie cutter Perfect for Thanksgiving.


To enter this contest visit Sweet Shapes and let me know what cookie cutter you would be most interested in
Extra Entries:

• follow my blog
• subscribe to my blog
• place my button on your blog let me know the link (5 entries)
• follow me on twitter and tweet about the contest (1 entry per tweet) link in comment
• blog about the contest linking to my blog (5 entries) link in comment

Good Luck All are eligible to enter. Email must be in comment or on blog Contest ends November 20, 2009

win a $100 visa card

The Frugal Rhode Island Mama is hosting giveaway for a $100 visa card The contest is sponsored by Scotts tissues and runs through November 16. I know everyone could use a bit of extra christmas cash so head over and sign up.

win a bit of fun

Does your little one love Wubbzy? Do you love to have fun with that special little one? Well you are in luck as She Scribes is hosting a giveaway where 3 lucky people will win a copy of the
Wow! WOW! Wubbzy!: Wubbzy's Christmas Adventure. So if you are interested in getting in on this giveway hurry over to She Scribes before November 14, 2009

Pearl Distribution Giveaway @ PB and Pickles blog

There are so many great blogs out there that I have trouble getting to all of the ones I love. I went back and visited a lovely blog named PB and Pickles (dont you just love the name) and found a cool giveaway. They are currently hosting a giveaway sponsored by Pearl Distribution where the winner will receive a pearl necklace of winners color choice. This is super cool but you have to enter by November 10, 2009.

Bummas Wipes review and Giveaway

Bummas wipes are 100% cotton woven velour terry cloth that eliminates the use of talcum powder. Bummas wipes are available of variety of colors and sure to fit most nursery themes. Bummas wipes are the perfect hand size measuring 5" x 7" and are durable to last simply throw them in the washer and use again and don't worry Bummas wipes will not pill, shrink, or fade. Bummas wipes can be used over and over and last through months of wear and tear possibly out lasting the time your child is in diapers.

Besides being used to change babies bottom Bummas wipes are great for burp and feeding cloths, perfect for that quick emergency clean up, perfect for those little red runny noses, or for the babies bath. Whatever you need a small soft wash cloth Bummas has the wipe for the job.

Buy: you can purchase Bummas wipes directly from their website

Win: One lucky Annie's Home winner will receive their choice of Bummas Wipes.

How To Win: Tell me a color choice or theme that you think would be great for Bummas Wipes

Extra Entries:

• follow my blog
• grab my button and let me know where you put it (5 entries)
• follow my blog on twitter
• subscribe to my blog
• tweet about the giveaway (1 entry per tweet) link in comment
• blog about the giveaway (5 entries) link in comment

Contest starts today and ends December 1, 2009. Good Luck and all are welcome to enter. Please have email in comment or on blog.

Thousand Word Thursday

Autumn has entered the neighborhood

Peanut Butter and Butterscotch Chips

I found another super recipe on the myrecipes.com website this one is for

Peanut Butter and Butterscotch Chips

1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 1/2 cups chunky peanut butter (not "all natural")
1 cup sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 11-oz. package butterscotch morsels
Preparation
1. In a large bowl, mix flour, baking soda and salt.

2. Beat butter and peanut butter until smooth. Gradually add sugar, beating to blend. Beat in egg and vanilla. Stir in flour mixture and butterscotch morsels. Form into a large disk and wrap in plastic. Chill for 2 hours or overnight.

3. Preheat oven to 375°F; line 2 baking sheets with parchment. Use hands to form dough into 1 1/2-inch balls. Place balls about 2 inches apart on cookie sheets. Using a fork, press balls flat, then press again to form a crisscross pattern. Bake cookies until lightly browned, about 15 minutes. Cool on sheets for 10 minutes, then transfer to racks to cool completely. Repeat with remaining dough

Bean Burrito Casserole

Guess Who's Coming to dinner is a meme hosted by THe Krazy Kitchen where guest share their recipes and ask you to do so as well.

Bean Burrito Casserole


1 onion, chopped fine
4 garlic cloves, minced
3 tablespoons olive oil
two 1-pound cans black, pinto, or pink beans, rinsed and drained
1 cup tomato sauce
2 teaspoons ground cumin
4 fresh or pickled jalapeño chilies if desired, seeded and chopped (wear rubber gloves)
1/4 cup chopped fresh coriander if desired
twelve 7- to 8-inch flour tortillas warmed
1 1/2 cups grated Monterey Jack (about 6 ounces)
guacamole and tomato salsa as accompaniments

In a large heavy skillet cook the onion and the garlic in the oil over moderately low heat, stirring, until the onion is softened, add the beans, and mash about half of them coarse with the back of a wooden spoon. Add the tomato sauce, the cumin, the chilies, and salt and black pepper to taste, simmer the mixture, stirring, for 3 to 5 minutes, or until it is thickened slightly, and stir in the coriander.

Working with 1 warmed tortilla at a time and keeping the others covered, spread about 3 tablespoons of the filling down the center of each tortilla and roll the tortillas, enclosing the filling but keeping the ends open. Arrange the burritos, seam sides down, in one layer in a baking dish, sprinkle them with the Monterey Jack, and bake them, covered with foil, in the middle of a preheated 350°F. oven for 10 minutes. Serve the burritos with the guacamole and the salsa.

shared on blogs

• 
  
  The Krazy Kitchen


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Kids Thanksgiving Recipe Snack Mix

Kids Thanksgiving Recipe Snack Mix:

In a bowl mix:

Bugles, horn shaped snacks
Pretzels (that symbolize arms folded in thanks and pray)
Candy corn (see the gratitude tradition further on)
Circle shaped cereal (circle of unity)
Dried fruits (represent fruits available at harvest time)
Seeds or Peanuts (represent planting new crops)
Goldfish Crackers (fish was available and part of the first thanksgiving dinner also is resemble for christian faith)

This snack can be used to teach your child a lesson of thanksgiving to your children as well.

I listed this at:

• Feels like home
• Me and lu blog

Two Blue Peas featured on Oprah

Two Blue Peas was featured on Oprah Magazine. Yeah. Currently there is a contest on this blog sponsored by Two Blue Peas. Check out the 12 days of socks as featured in the magazine or any of the other lovely goodies at Two Blue Peas by visiting their website.

Sleepy Wrap review and giveaway

I am a mother of six and grandmother to 1 and have 2 special nephews that I have cared for since birth. I have to tell you that I love the special times of cuddling together with the little one.
The Sleepy Wrap was created in 2003 when a mother was looking for a healthier and more natural alternative to baby strollers. Since holding a little one seems to comfort, provide safety and is the natural thing to do then why would one ever decide to use a stroller with their little one? The problem was that with all the baby carriers on the market which one is the perfect one? You want one that distributes weight evenly on back and shoulders as well as the material needs to be sturdy enough to provide support for the baby. The sleepy wrap provides both of the first needs and also offers a soft material that helps provide comfort to the little one. As with any wonderful product word began to spread and soon the decision was made to make the sleepy wraps available to everyone.

Buy: Want one of the Sleepy Wraps for your self? You can order directly off their website located at http://www.sleepywrap.com/ For the next 30 days you can use the code "shopannies" and save another 10% or locate a store near you by visiting this link.
http://www.sleepywrap.com/shop/index.php?main_page=retailers

Win: I received a Sleepy Wrap of my own to review and would love to pass it on to one of my readers. All that you need to do is follow my blog and place my button somewhere. Then come back here and let me know you did that. Easy as can be I will draw the winner on December 1, 2009.

Thanksgiving Day preperation Place Setting Cards

Whose coming to dinner and where will they sit when they get there? Why not make some super cute place cards and create a lovely place setting where everyone belongs and no one fits out of place. You can find great place card printouts and ideas all over the internet but here are a few I found.



This super cute place card can be found on the website kaboose

you can printable place card holders at About.com as well. Simply print out on cardstock and fold in 1/2.

you and also print off some cute pumpkin place holders at family fun

Mini Pumpkin Muffin Mix

Mini Pumpkin Muffin Mix

3 cups all-purpose flour
4 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 cup raisins, sweetened dried cranberries, or chopped nuts (optional)
1 can (15 oz.) LIBBY'S® 100% Pure Pumpkin


COMBINE all ingredients, except pumpkin, in large bowl. Pour into 1-quart resealable plastic bag; seal. Wrap muffin mix and can of pumpkin in fabric; tie with ribbon or twine.



While Browsing the internet for Thanksgiving tips I found some wonderful post on other blogs that I think you all may be interested in as well. This particular recipe was found on Libby's site

Princess at Childrens Hospital

Princess had a short stay at children hospital and here are a couple of the doctors that took such great care of her

for more special pictures visit 5 minutes for special needs

Two Proud Papas

This is a picture of two proud papas. Picture was taken a year ago when Princess was born.

share your way back when picture or see others at the blog Twinfatuation

Say What Wednesday

I did not think that I would be able to play along with this one but the other day while cooking in the kitchen with my nephew he commented "you have a fat but" to which everyone in the room cracked up.

what has your little one said? Share it at the Two Little Monkeys

Family Pictures at the Park

This is my big boy on the horsie

here is my little boy on the horsie

what about the bunch in the picture with the kids having fun

find more great pictures at the blog A Southern Day Dreamer

Pit Stop Princess - wordless wednesday

Taking a pit stop this is princess in the doorway taking a quick sip before moving on

shared at 5 minutes for mom where you can share yours as well.

Eebees review

Do you have a special little one in your life that you will be buying a Christmas present for? Have you seen the eebees adventures products. From DVDs to Puppets to great books Eebees Adventures has the perfect product you may be looking for. My granddaughter loves colorful items to play with and loves great and fun DVDs.

I believe that early learning and being introduced to books at a young age are great for children. How super cool to be able to introduce your child to reading via a fun friend Eebee. I can tell you that Princess loves her Eebee puppet and the DVD's that we received as well. The DVDs are all about a toddlers life and how great they would be to watch with your preschooler.

Eebee's Adventures are designed to not only entertain you and your child but also to educate your toddler by allowing them to learn through playing. The lessons that can be learned are letters, numbers, colors and shapes

Buy: All of the Eebee products are available on their website located at http://www.eebee.com/

Random Thought Tuesday

Random Thought Tuesday is a valid meme for me to participate in today. I am trying to recall all my parenting experiences of the past. I have started to care for my two nephews and this is proving to be quite challenging. If you have any tips please share

Beautiful fall weather is what we have been experiencing as of late. I just love to see the beauty in Autumn. The leaves changing the apple season and the memories I have for both.

What are your random thoughts today? Share them at the blog The Un Mom

Kitchen Tip: Cleaning your Garbage Disposal

One area that you don't want to overlook when cleaning the kitchen would be the garbage disposal. A simple way of cleaning the garbage disposal would be to sprinkle baking soda liberly over the inside of the garbage disposal. Then pour white vinegar over until it bubbles. Let set ten minutes Rinse with hot water and pour two or three ice cubes in the disposal and grind. Rinse again with hot water. As simple as that your disposal is clean and odor free and you have sharpened the blades as well

share your tip on TammyRecipes blog and We Are That Family

Top Chef make it at home

Do you love the show Top Chef as much as I do? Well one of the recipe that always seems to come up is Coq au vin. So when I recieved the My Recipes newsletter I was gladly to find that a simple recipe was Coq au vin was included. I wanted to share it with you my readers and my friends

Coq Au Vin

2 cups red wine
1 cup chopped yellow onion
1 cup chopped carrot
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary, crushed
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 (8-ounce) chicken breast halves, skinned
2 (4-ounce) chicken thighs, skinned
2 (4-ounce) chicken drumsticks, skinned
1/2 cup all-purpose flour (about 2 1/4 ounces)
3 bacon slices, chopped
1/2 cup pitted dried plums, quartered
2 bay leaves
Chopped fresh parsley (optional)
Preparation
Combine first 10 ingredients in a large bowl; cover and marinate in refrigerator at least 4 hours or up to 24 hours.

Remove the chicken from marinade, reserving marinade, and pat chicken dry. Place flour in a shallow dish. Dredge the chicken in flour; set aside.

Cook bacon in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat until crisp. Remove bacon from pan, reserving drippings in pan; set bacon aside. Add half of chicken to pan; cook 4 minutes, browning on all sides. Remove chicken from pan. Repeat procedure with remaining chicken.

Remove onion and carrot from marinade with a slotted spoon, reserving marinade. Add onion and carrot to pan; sauté for 5 minutes or until softened. Stir in marinade, scraping pan to loosen browned bits. Add chicken, bacon, dried plums, and bay leaves; bring to a simmer. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 1 hour and for 20 minutes or until chicken is tender. Discard bay leaves. Garnish with parsley, if desired.

All I Want For Christmas

All I want for Christmas is my bedroom made over. My bedroom is host to many special jobs a few of them being:

• special collection place
• computer room
• family tv room
• laundry folding center
• gathering room
• snack storage center
• sleeping center
• coat storage for guest

As I said my room has many functions but the looks of it could use some spiffying up. While we spent allot of money on the kids rooms when we moved in our room is the one that has not been upgraded. All though my room is the room that receives the most attention from all members of the family it is the last to have anything done to it. That is why I all I want for Christmas is my walls painted, new curtains for the windows, some new linens for the bed, a rug to cover the floor and just a bit more to show love to my room. In other words all I want for Christmas is my room made over. You can enter to win a chance to make over your room in the http://www.visionbedding.com/BeddingContest.php sponsored by Vision bedding and Twitter Moms.

Tickle Me Plant review and giveaway

Last spring I reviewed Tickle Me Plants you can read that review here When I was contacted by Larry again to share about the special stocking stuffer tickle me plants he had I just had to fill you all in. Tickle Me Plant is a great project for home schools or anyone looking for a great project to do at home. Tickle Me Plant allows you to grow your own Tickle Me Plant.

Tickle Me Plant products are sold as single plants, greenhouse classroom kits, party favors, painting set, as well as the flower power pellets and other items that help your plant grow.

The tickle me plant can be grown inside the house year round. Part of which makes them so fun. Even when nothing else is green outside your tickle me plant can grow inside the house. The Tickle Me Plant company wants every child to learn to love growing plants by making the Tickle Me Plant such a great beginner plant. Every Tickle Me Plant comes with a set of science projects to do with the tickle me plant which makes it the perfect plant to learn from. How can you go wrong when the Tickle Me Plant is so great?

Win a tickle me plant perfect for stocking stuffer. Larry from Tickle Me Plant wants you to have a great time and give a little gift of excitement to someone special so he would love to give one of Annies Home readers a plant of their own.

To Enter: You must visit the Tickle Me Plant website and let me know what product you are most interested in.

Extra Entries:

• Follow my blog
• Subscribe to Annie's Home
• take my button place it somewhere let me know where (5 entries)
• follow me on twitter and tweet (1 entry per tweet) link in comment
• blog about the giveaway (5 entries link to my blog ) link in comment

Contest starts now and runs through December 2 ,2009. Email must be in comment or on blog

Martha Stewart Black Bottom Coconut Bars

Black Bottom Coconut Bars


FOR CHOCOLATE BASE
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, plus more for pan
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 large egg
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 cup all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled)

FOR COCONUT TOPPING
2 large eggs
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled)
1 package sweetened shredded coconut (7 ounces), 1/2 cup reserved for sprinkling

1.For chocolate base: Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line a 9-inch square baking pan with aluminum foil, leaving a slight overhang; butter bottom and sides of foil (not overhang).
2.Place butter in a large microwave-safe bowl; melt in microwave. Add sugar and salt; whisk to combine. Whisk in egg, then cocoa and flour until smooth. Spread batter in prepared pan.
3.Bake just until sides begin to pull away from edges of pan, 10 to 15 minutes (do not overbake). Let cool slightly while preparing coconut topping. Keep oven on for topping.
4.For coconut topping: In a medium bowl, whisk eggs with sugar and vanilla. Gently mix in flour and coconut (except 1/2 cup reserved for sprinkling).
5.Drop mounds of mixture over chocolate base; spread and pat in gently and evenly with moistened fingers. Sprinkle with reserved 1/2 cup coconut.
6.Bake until golden and a toothpick inserted in center comes out with moist crumbs attached, 25 to 30 minutes. Cool completely in pan. Lift cake from pan, peel off foil, and cut into 24 bars. Store in an airtight container 3 to 4 days.

for more monday munchie recipes visit the blog The Krazy Kitchen

Happy Birthday to my oldest son

In honor of my sons birthday I am posting this picture of my son. He is 21 years old today. Happy Birthday to my son today.

hhm src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3362/3608789834_4d1bac04e0.jpg" width=150 height=150>
The weather in my neck of the woods:
it is a lovely fall day today with all kids playing outside

One of my simple pleasures:
one of my simple pleasures is reading my bible and searching his word there is so much comfort that comes from this


On my bedside table:
my room at this time is a mess and I am rearranging all

On my TV:
Dr. Phil


On the menu for tonight:
Italian meal tonight cheese sticks, spaghetti, meatballs, garlic toast

On my To Do List:
boys baths
straighten room
clean the rest of my house
work in family notebook


New Recipe I tried last week:
fall minestrone soup


In the craft basket:
nothing at this time


Looking forward to:
seeing my children on thanksgiving which is the next time we will all be together

Homemaking Tip for this week:
homemade ice packs.


Favorite Blog Post of the week (mine or other):
Bulldog playoffs

Favorite photo from last week:




Lesson learned the past few days:
life is always change and to expect the unexpected

On my Prayer List:
my brother as he works through a break up with his wife
my husband as we care for my 2 young nephews
my friend who faces heart surgery

Devotionals, Scripture Reading, Key Verses:
I have been reading 1 King

you can share what you are doing at the blog Diary of a Stay at Home Mom

No Cook Play Dough recipe

No Cook PlayDough


3 cups flour

3 cups salt

3 tablespoons alum

Combine ingredients and slowly add water, a little at a time. Mix well with spoon. As mixture thickens, continue mixing with your hands until it has the feel of clay. If it feels too dry, add more water. If it is too sticky, add equal parts of flour and salt.

listed on blog 11th Heaven homemaking Haven

Lenox Drinks of the Season

Lenox & TwitterMoms Drinks of the Season





More Drinks of the Season Recipes

Hot Cranberry Tea

1 bottle (32 ounces) cranberry juice
2 cups sugar
1 can (6 ounces) frozen orange juice concentrate
3/4 cup thawed lemonade concentrate
1/3 cup red-hot candies
1 cinnamon stick
2 whole cloves
Directions
In a 3-qt. saucepan, combine all ingredients; bring to a boil over medium heat. Boil for 7 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove cinnamon and cloves. To serve, mix 1 cup concentrate and 2 cups water; heat through. Store concentrate in a covered container in the refrigerator. Yield: 18 cups (1-1/2 quarts concentrate

Cinnamon Apple Tea

1/2 cup Apple Juice or Cider
1/2 cup Water
1/8 - 1/4 tsp. Cinnamon, ground (adjust to your own taste)

Preparation

Place all the ingredients in a "Pyrex" measuring cup and heat in the microwave oven on "high" for 2-1/2 to 3 minutes until the contents just begins to boil. Pour into a coffee to tea cup and serve.

Here are a couple of great recipes I enjoy during the autumn and holiday season. You can liven the event up by placing a Cinnamon stick in each cup or by tying a colorful ( I love to use plaid) ribbon around the handle of a cup. I love to make a batch up and serve directly out of a large punch bowl into decorated punch cups.

Hope you enjoy the recipes I have listed these as part of the TwitterMoms group and to Lenox who makes some of the most beautiful serving and glass ware. There is currently a contest at Twitter Moms title Lenox Drinks of the season.

Winner Green Cupboards

The winner of the Green Cupboards products was


SandyM204 said...
love Burt's Bees Tips 'n Toes Hands & Feet Kit

Step 2 giveaway @ Two of a Kind Working on a Full House blog

This Christmas will be a lovely one to say the least. The best reason of all is because we have been blessed with a precious princess of a granddaughter and two lil nephews. The blog Two of a Kind Working on a Full House is hosting giveaway for Step 2 Lifestyle Grand Walk in Kitchen. The giveaway is part of the Mistletoe madness that Dee is hosting on her blog Two of a Kind Working on a Full House.