Ice Age 4 giveaway

Now that we have little ones in our family old enough to go to school we of course want to give them the neatest items we can find for them. Well they loved the Ice Age Movies and now Ice Age 4 is here and along with the movie came awesome items. The blog Trying To Stay Calm is hosting a giveaway where the prize of $25 Visa gift card to see the film. PLUS an Ice Age Backpack, lunch box, beach towel & tote will go to the lucky winner. Giveaway ends 7/15/12

Happy Day Flashback

nearly 5 years ago our family gained a new family member. The great thing is that he and my daughter now share their lives and have gifted our family with 2 great children. Praise God!! For wonderous adventures such as these

linking up here

Zutano Giveaway win a $75 gift card

Last week I shared a review of  Zutano Company clothing line with you. You can read that review here Following that review Zutano decided to reward one of Annies Home readers with a $75 gift card to Zutano. So let me remind you of some of the super looks available at Zutano

this adorable bunny jumper would be something that all little girls will love to wear. Moms will love it because it keeps their little ones looking so adorable.

This cute little lion outfit is adorable as well. Love the colors and all the fun.

To enter to win a $75 gift card to zutano simply enter the giveaway below

Mandatory Entry: Visit Zutano and tell me what item you would love to have! Please remember to leave your e-mail address if it’s not visible in your profile.

Want or need extra entries? Check out how to grab em’ below! (Mandatory Entry must be complete for these to count)

1. Become a public follower of my blog (current follower count too)
2. visit the original review post and leave a comment
3. follow me on twitter @shopannies
4. Follow Zutano on Twitter
5. tweet about this giveaway including @shopannies and @zutano (do this daily for 2 extra entries a day)
6. follow me on facebook
 7.  Like” Zutano on Facebook
8. Blog about this giveaway with a link to this post and to Zutano be sure to leave me a link (5 extra)

Giveaway ends July 27, 2012 @ midnight CST. Winner will be chosen at random, using random.org and contacted by e-mail and has 48 hrs to respond before a new winner is chosen.

This review is based strictly my opinion. Others may have a different opinion with the product listed above. I did receive the outfit mentioned above complementary for this review. No monetary compensation was received.

Garden Recipe : Stuffed Zucchini

2 medium zucchinis
1 c. mushrooms, finely chopped
1 c. grated Cheddar cheese
3 slices wheat bread, torn into pieces
1/2 c. onion, chopped
1/4 t. chicken bouillon granules (I would probably use a 1/2 t. next time)
1/3 c. chicken broth
1/4 t. garlic powder
1 lb. ground turkey, browned and drained
2 tomatoes, diced (optional)

Cut zucchini in half lengthwise. Scoop out seeds and pulp, leaving 1/4 inch shell. Discard seeds. Chop pulp in medium bowl and combine remaining ingredients. Fill each zucchini shell with 1/4 of the mixture. Wrap stuffed zucchini in 2 layers of foil. Place on grill over hot coals and cook for 15 minutes. Or you can bake (uncovered) at 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes, depending on how big your zucchinis are.

recipe source here

shared at
friday flair
I'm Lovin It

Crispy Cheddar Chicken

Oh this looks so yummy come see how they take chicken breast and make into this delicious recipe

Peanut Butter Bars

1 cup butter melted
2 cups graham cracker crumbs
2 cups confectioners' sugar
1 cup + 4 tablespoons peanut butter
1 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

Directions
In a medium bowl, mix together the melted butter, graham cracker crumbs, confectioners' sugar, and 1 cup peanut butter until well blended. Press evenly into the bottom of an ungreased 9x13 inch pan. In a metal bowl over simmering water, or in the microwave, melt the chocolate chips with the peanut butter, stirring occasionally until smooth. Spread over the peanut butter layer. Refrigerate for at least one hour before cutting into squares.

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Serinity Saturday

Kids In The Kitchen Banana Snack

Spread a banana with peanut butter, slice into bite size pieces, roll in rice krispie cereal (cocoa krispies would be great too!)

Things I've Done Thursday

Baked Sweet and Sour Chicken

Baked Sweet and Sour Chicken

The chicken coating:

3-4 boneless chicken breasts

salt + pepper
1 cup cornstarch
2 eggs, beaten
1/4 cup canola oil

The sweet and sour sauce:

3/4 cup sugar
4 tbs ketchup
1/2 cup distilled white vinegar
1 tbs soy sauce
1 tsp garlic salt

Start by preheating your oven to 325 degrees. Rinse your chicken breasts in water and then cut into cubes. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Dip chicken into the cornstarch to coat then dip into the eggs. Heat your 1/4 cup oil in a large skillet and cook your chicken until browned but not cooked through. Place the chicken in a 9x13 greased baking dish. Mix all of your sweet and sour sauce ingredients in a bowl with a whisk and then pour evenly over the chicken. Bake for one hour and during the baking process you will need to turn the chicken every 15 minutes

recipe source here

This Week In History and a great Lane Cake Recipe as well

This week in history in 1960 the book To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee was published. In honor of one of my favorite books I want to share this great recipe

recipe source here

Lane Cake
Cake:

• ¾ cup vegetable oil or butter
• 1 ½ cup sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 2 ¼ cups sifted flour
• 3 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp salt
• 2/3 cup water
• 1/3 cup brandy or whisky
• 3 beaten egg whites

Four 9-inch pie tins, oiled and floured
Cream together oil, sugar and vanilla. Sift together flour, baking powder and salt. Add to creamed mixture and mix until blended. Add water and brandy and mix for 2 minutes on medium. Gently fold in egg whites until mixed in, but don’t over mix or the eggs will deflate. Use ladle to evenly pour into 4 9-inch pie pans. Bake at 325 degrees for 30-35 minutes, until center springs back. Cool thoroughly on racks.
Filling:

• 8 egg yolks
• 1 cup sugar
• ½ cup melted and cooled butter
• 1 cup chopped raisins
• 1 cup chopped pecans
• 1/3 cup brandy or whisky
• ½ tsp vanilla

saucepan
In saucepan mix together eggs and sugar over medium heat, stirring constantly for 6 minutes. Do not let boil. Add chopped pecans and raisins and cook for 1 minute. Add brandy and vanilla, cook another minute. Set aside to cool.
Frosting:

• 1 cup butter, melted and cool
• 3 to 4 cups powdered sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 tbsp brandy or milk (add more as needed)

Mix until smooth and fluffy.
Assembly:
Once cake is fully cooled, place on layer on the serving plate. Add 1/3 of the filling, spread evenly. Repeat for remaining layers and then frost.

shared at

They Make Them With Sprite

Can you believe these delicious biscuits are made with sprite? Sprite my favorite drink of choice you should check the recipe out here

Simply Delicious

Pull-Apart Cinnamon Sugar Pumpkin Bread with Buttered Rum Glaze

Ingredients
Bread2 Tbsp unsalted butter
1/2 cup milk
2 1/4 teaspoons (1 envelope) active dry yeast
3/4 cup pumpkin puree
1/4 cup white sugar
1 tsp salt
2 1/2 cups bread flour

1 cup granulated sugar
2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp fresh ground nutmeg
2 Tbsp unsalted butter

Buttered Rum Glaze
2 Tbsp unsalted butter
1/8 cup brown sugar
1 1/2 Tbsp milk
3/4 cup powdered sugar
1/4 t rum

In a saucepan over medium-high heat, brown 2 tablespoons of butter, letting it bubble up and turn a dark golden brown but being careful not to allow it burn (turn black). Once browned, remove the pan from the heat and carefully add the milk, return to stove and heat through.**** Pour the milk and butter into the bowl of standing mixer (fitted with a dough hook) and allow to cool so it is no longer hot but also not cool (about 100-110 degrees F). Once it has reached a warm but not hot temperature add the yeast and 1/4 cup of sugar and allow to proof (this can take up to 8 minutes, the top will look foamy and the liquid cloudy). Then add the the pumpkin, salt, and 1 cup of flour. Stir until combined then add the rest of the flour 1/2 cup at a time and knead for 6 minutes, until the dough is smooth and elastic and just slightly sticky. If the dough is too moist, add extra flour 1 tablespoon at a time.

Move dough to a lightly oiled bowl and cover with a clean towel. Allow to rise in a warm place for 60-90 minutes or until doubled in size.

While dough is rising, brown another 2 tablespoons of butter. Add the sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg and mix well.** Making sure sugar evenly absorbs the butter. Set aside. Next, grease and flour a 9x5 loaf pan and set aside.

When the dough has doubled in size, punch it down and flip out onto a clean floured surface and knead with hands for 1-2 minutes. Roll dough into a 20x12 inch rectangle.*** Evenly sprinkle the dough with the cinnamon sugar mixture and press into dough with palms of the hand. Cut the rectangle into 6 strips. Lay strips on top of each other and cut each strip into 6 even squares (cut in half then each half into thirds). Stack strips vertically into the loaf pan. Cover the pan with a clean towel and let rise for 30-45 minutes.

In the meantime preheat an oven to 350 degrees. After rising in the pan bake for 30-40 minutes (mine took 37 exactly) or until top is a very deep golden brown.

To prepare the glaze, heat the butter, milk, and brown sugar in a small saucepan. Bring to boil then immediately remove the pan from the heat and stir in the rum and powdered sugar

recipe source here

Strawberry Freezer Jam

Prep Time: 30 min
Total Time: 24 hr 30 min
Makes: About 7 (1-cup) containers or 112 servings, 1 Tbsp. each

3-1/4 cups prepared fruit (buy about 2 qt. fully ripe strawberries)

1/4 cup fresh lemon juice

1 box MCP Pectin

1 cup corn syrup

4-1/2 cups sugar, measured into separate bowl

RINSE clean plastic containers and lids with boiling water. Dry thoroughly.

CRUSH strawberries thoroughly, one layer at a time. Measure exactly 3-1/4 cups crushed strawberries into large bowl. Stir in lemon juice. Stir in pectin; let stand 30 min., stirring every 5 min. Stir in corn syrup. Gradually add sugar, stirring until well blended. Stir an additional 3 min. or until sugar is completely dissolved and no longer grainy. (A few sugar crystals may remain.)

FILL all containers immediately to within 1/2 inch of tops. Wipe off top edges of containers; immediately cover with lids. Let stand at room temperature 24 hours. Jam is now ready to use. Store in refrigerator up to 3 weeks or freeze extra containers up to 1 year. Thaw in refrigerator before using. shared at Meatless Mondays

Easy Summer Meal Idea

I love easy to serve light meals in the summer time. This easy tomato meal would be delicious here Check this recipe out here

Aloha Friday

Aloha Friday an easy and fun way to stay in touch with other bloggers. It is a day of rest in Hawaii to prepare for the busy weekend. The blog An Island Life host Aloha Friday where bloggers ask simle questions and fellow bloggers can answer by giving a simple answer. How awesome is this?

Since we are preparing to do a bit of redecorating, roofing, putting new windows in the house etc.. our question today is

If you could redo any room in your house what room would it be and what would you do?

Giveaways We Entered 7/12

When I was a kid I wore bell bottoms and high tops with two different laces. I was in style to me and looked cool as well (at least I thought so) These shoes take me right back to those days and yes I still think the punk look is awesome. You can enter to win a pair of these great shoes on the blog An Island Life. The shoes are from

The giveaway ends 7/26/2012



Princess loves her videos in fact we try to keep her up to date with lots of great new ones. I entered a giveaway to win a DVD that I think her and her brother will both love if we happen to win.

This giveaway is located at the blog An Island Life and you can enter to win this giveaway that ends 7/25/12

I just hate it when the little ones are sick. I love to hold them and cuddle with them and try to make them all better but oh my how sad when they have a fever and the battle it takes to see how high their temp may be. Now it has become easier with a new thermomter method from mothers touch. It simply is placed on childs forehead and the temp is taken instantly

You can win your own by entering the giveaway on the blog An Island Life Giveaway ends 7/24/12

Noxicare Natural Pain Relief

Working as a nurses aide for the past 20 years has left me with a lot of aches and pains. Yes I know some of those could be just naturally getting older but whatever the reason I am always looking for a bit of release. I found that bit of relief through Noxicare. Noxicare™ Natural Pain Relief is a breakthrough natural, patented pain relief formula. Noxicare is made up a combination of

Tumeric

Willow Bark

Ginger

Rosemary Extract

Holy Basil

Boswellia Extract

Alpha Lipoic Acids

Noxicare helps to releave aches and pains quickly and effectively and is available in creams or capsules. Problems such as inflammation, muscle aches, and nerve pain. There are no known side effects and something that I really like is that Noicare is a all natural product and does not require a prescription. Anyone who suffers from chronic muscle and nerve pain would be the perfect candidate for Noxicare. Athletes who are always pushing their selves as well those who suffer from Musculoskeletal pain, arthritis, Fibromyalgia, tension headaches and Neuropathy pain would be among  those who would find great use of Noxicare.


Our Thoughts:
we found that Noxicare was the perfect size to carry in the gym bag or purse so that it could easily travel with you where ever you go. I found the relief that Noxicare offered helped to manage the pain in my knees, shoulders and feet. This was something that I welcomed after a hard day of work. This was something that I welcomed because after working 20+ years at this job the pain that I felt on a daily event was powerful and often sent me to the recliner with my feet up. The Noxicare allowed me to be active and move about. Awesome!!! I love the fact that it is all natural as well.

If you suffer from aches and pains either through hard work or age Noxicare may be able to help you as well.

Visit Noxicare Website

Like Noxicare on Facebook

Follow Noxicare on Twitter

Happy Anniversary Rolling Stones

On 12 July 1962 the Rolling Stones went on stage for the first time at the Marquee Club in London’s Oxford Street

beautiful southern illinois

Crockpot Bacon Cheese Potatoes

I love using my crockpot all year round. In the summer it saves on heating the house up and helps create a yummy meal. I also love the crockpot when I don't have time to fix a meal that can actually fix itself in the crockpot

1/4 pound bacon, diced – I bake it first in the oven so that it is “done” and browned then I dice it and place in the crock pot.

2 medium onions, thinly sliced

4 medium potatoes, thinly sliced (or if you use a new potato then halve)

1/2 pound cheddar cheese, thinly sliced (shredded is fine)

salt and pepper

butter

Green Onions (optional)

1. Line crockpot with foil, leaving enough to cover the potatoes when finished – this will help to not stick and to steam the potatoes.
2. Layer half each of the bacon, onions, potatoes and cheese in crockpot. Season to taste with salt and pepper and dot with (real) butter.
3. Repeat layers of bacon, onions, potatoes and cheese. Dot with butter.
4. Cover with remaining foil.
5. Cover and cook on low for 10-12 hours.

recipe source here

shared at
Beyond the Picket Fence
Show and Tell Friday
Transformation Thursday
Foodie Friday
Time Travel Thursday

Blackberry-Peach Cobbler with Praline-Pecan Streusel

STREUSEL
3/4 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup butter, melted
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup coarsely chopped pecans

FILLING
4 cups peeled and sliced fresh peaches (about 4 large)
1/2 cup granulated sugar
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
2 cups fresh blackberries

1. Prepare Streusel: Stir together first 3 ingredients in a large bowl; add flour and pecans, and stir until blended. Let stand 20 minutes or until mixture is firm enough to crumble into small pieces. 2. Meanwhile, prepare Filling: Preheat oven to 375°. Stir together peaches and next 3 ingredients in a large saucepan; bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium, and boil, stirring occasionally, 6 to 7 minutes or until juices have thickened. Remove from heat, and stir in blackberries. Spoon mixture into a lightly greased 9-inch square baking dish. Crumble streusel over hot peach mixture. 3. Bake at 375° for 30 to 35 minutes or until bubbly and golden brown.

recipe source here

shared at

Thursday Treasures

Baby Banz Provides Safety In The Sun

I love the sun as well as the person next to me but I also have first hand knowledge of the dangers the sun can do. We all love to be in the sun from time to time and well we should it is our first source of vitamin D. We all need vitamin D in our diet as it helps us to absorb calcium to ensure we have strong healthy bones. Kids love to be outside in the summer time riding bikes, swimming and simply playing and while we sould encourage them to go outside and have a bit of fun we want to make sure that they are well protected from the dangers of the sun. Repeated unprotected sun exposure and its ultraviolet rays can cause skin damage, eye damage, immune system and suppression and skin cancer.  Kids can rack up a lifetime of sun exposure before their 18th birthday and therefore as parents we should teach our children how to enjoy fun in the sun as well as practice safety.

Baby Banz has developed a few new products that will help us to ensure our children are safe from those dangerous uv rays. Since the products are classy and easy to use kids should love them as well.

Baby Banz Suncreen Combo! - SPF 40 Sunscreen 4oz - Cherry Lip Balm SPF 30. The Perfect Pair for Summer Fun in the Sun! Before going out in the sun be sure to don a bit of sunscreen to protect your skin. Baby Banz has developed a ultra broad spectrum sun ray protection for young sensitive skin that offers maximum protection lotion for 8 hours of waterproof protection In the water or not your child will be protected. Offering longer protection that other sunblocks with an aloe vera formulation that moisturizes sun sensitive skin. Sunscreen Active Ingredients:Octinoxate 7.5%, Benzophenone 3.6%, Octisalate 5.0%, Octocrylene 8.0% Inactive Ingredients: Water, Glycerin, Stearic Acid, DEA Cetyl Phosphate, VP/Eicosene Copolymer, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Cetyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Imidazolidinyl Urea, Carbomer, Triethanolamine

	Baby Banz sent us this awesome travel pack so that no matter where we go we will be ready. The Baby Banz Sunscreen Travel Kit! Contains: -One 1.5oz tube of SPF 30 Sunscreen -One 2oz Aloe Gator After Sun Lotion -One 2oz Hand Sanitizer with Moisturizing Beads -One SPF 30 Cherry Lip Balm with Carabiner   The sunscreen is Aloe Gator SPF30 sunblock and is oil and PABA free. Easy on yours and your childs skin. THey will enjoy the fact that the sunscreen is both non greasy, water resistant and also dries quickly. Whether in the water or not the sunscreen will help protect your child. A bonus is that the travel size clip bottle that is great for travel and all the activities that your are busy doing.    The lip balm is tasy cherry flavor that helps to moisturize and protect lips from dryness and sun damage. The balm is PABA free and has added aloe and vitamin E. We all feel a bit out of it after we have had a day in the sun. That is where the Aloe Gator After Sun Lotion comes in  with a soothing moisturizing that helps after the sun and offers a great protection against the effects of exposure to sun and wind. Softens the skin with 9 botanical etracts while the aloe vera and vitamin E helps to restore moisture, promote healing and help prevent peeling.  Baby Banz hand sanitizer moistens hands using Jojoba beads. Cleaning and softening hands at the same time. Our thoughts: The bundle is an awesome package that offers protection from the sun, the effects of after sun and even bacteria. We believe that a package like this is something that is important to have whether you pack it in the suitcase, beach bag or car compartment it is meant to be taken on vacation, pool or any where that your child will be in the sun. You can purchase this Baby Banz travel pack from their website for an awesome price of $19.99