School Days ...

This is a picture of my old elementary school. Such a cool place to me. Made so many awesome friends and memories at this old school including my first kiss, the first time I learned to write my name or say my ABC's, the first time I learned how to add, subtract, multiply or divide. The first group of school mates that I met and share memories with and talk to event til today. I am so proud of the time I spent here even with all the breakdowns, bats in the attic and other problems it held you see it was my school and I loved it.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Milkshake

Chocolate Milkshake Day takes place the 12th day of September. What a better time than to enjoy a delicious chocolate milk shake. To honor this special day I decided to share a delicious recipe for a yummy milkshake.

• 6 generous scoops chocolate ice cream
• 1 cup milk
• 5 tablespoons peanut butter, use smooth peanut butter
• 2 tablespoons chocolate syrup, (optional)
• Garnish of whipped cream, (optional)

1. Place the chocolate ice cream in a blender.
2. Pour milk on top.
3. Add the peanut butter and chocolate syrup. I don't recommend crunchy peanut butter because the nuts tend to get stuck in the straw.
4. Blend until smooth.
5. Pour into glasses and top with whipped cream if desired.
6. Enjoy!

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All Things WIth Purpose

National Make Your Bed Day

At my job I make plenty of beds and some of those that live at the facility even make their own. My hubby makes our bed most days as he is the last one out of it. Do you make your bed. Perhaps today National Make your bed day is a great time to start a new habit.

Hot Cross Buns

Hot Cross Buns Day


Hot cross buns! Hot cross buns!
One a penny two a penny - Hot cross buns
If you have no daughters, give them to your sons
One a penny two a penny - Hot cross buns
 
September 11^th is also Hot Cross Buns Day.
Fresh-baked sticky yeast buns, filled with currants or raisins and topped with white crosses of sweet icing, are the order of the day.
Although Hot Cross Buns are traditional fare for the Christian Good Friday (at the beginning of the annual Easter Weekend each spring), these delicious pastries are resurrected each September 11^th as well.

• 4 packages (1/4 ounce each) active dry yeast
• 3 cups warm 2% milk (110° to 115°)
• 2 cups canola oil
• 8 eggs
• 4 eggs, separated
• 1-1/3 cups sugar
• 4 teaspoons ground Tone's® Ground Cinnamon
• 3 teaspoons salt
• 2 teaspoons ground cardamom
• 13 to 15 cups all-purpose flour
• 2-2/3 cups raisins
• 2 teaspoons water
• ICING:
• 3 cups confectioners' sugar
• 2 tablespoons butter, melted
• 4 to 5 tablespoons 2% milk

 

In a very large bowl, dissolve yeast in warm milk. Add oil, eggs, egg yolks, sugar, cinnamon, salt, cardamom and 10 cups flour. Beat until smooth. Stir in enough remaining flour to form a firm dough. Stir in raisins. Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, about 6-8 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease the top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1-1/4 hours. Punch dough down. Turn onto a lightly floured surface. Cover and let rest 10 minutes. Divide into 72 pieces; shape each into a ball. Place 2 in. apart in four greased 15x10x1-in. baking pans. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 40 minutes. Preheat oven to 375°. Combine egg whites and water; brush over rolls. Bake 12-15 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool. For icing, combine confectioners' sugar, butter and enough milk to achieve desired consistency. Pipe an "X" on top of each bun. Yield: 6 dozen.

Taste of Home recipe

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I will Never Forget

Twelve years ago seems as familiar as today as it did then, The craziness of all that went on that day on ground zero as well as around the U.S. as we waited to see what would happen next. I personally will never forget what happened and how we all pulled together, The American flags that would don the porches of the porches and the American pride that would shine. Made me then as I am now proud to be an American



For several days following the attack of 9/11 you could hear my daughter out back of this house sing this song as she played. My daughter was in the third grade at the time and I can remember my neighbors tell me that her voice helped to soothe their nerves. I am so happy that little gal sang this song in a voice of pride as she would tell you today that there is no better place to be than in the U.S.A.

What was your life like on 9/11 Ours was a bit hectic, full of pride, togetherness and so much love but also a feeling of not understanding and no way of knowing what was coming next

VTech 2 in 1 Shop and Cook Play Set Review and Giveaway

Ready or not here it comes. That's right we are just a few months away from that time when every little one looks forward to the man in the white beard to bring them every little thing that they dream of. It was just a few months ago I asked my now 5 year old princess what it was that she would want if I was to get her anything. Her reply was a bit surprising, but oh so sweet. She wanted to get some food and a kitchen so that she could make up something for her babies (her dolls) to eat like her mommy and nana do for her. Yes, I do believe that it is every child's dream to do exactly what those that love them do for them every day. I am so happy that VTech makes it so easy and fun to do exactly that with the 2 in 1 shop and cook playset.

The 2-in-1 Shop & Cook Playset™ by VTech® turns your child into a chef extraordinaire with this dual play shopping cart and play kitchen! Your child will shop to sing-along songs and place food items into the cart, eliciting fun, imaginative responses. Then, your little chef will "cook" these items and have fun with the light-up stove and kitchen sound effects. The educational playset includes 20 play pieces and recognizes the utensils and cookware to teach vocabulary and pretend play. Learn numbers and counting by turning the oven knob. With six fun activities, this role-play learning toy teaches food, daily life, colors and music. Shop 'til you drop and cook up learning fun!

• As part of VTech’s infant and preschool electronic product line, the 2-in-1 Shop & Cook Playset encourages pretend play and exploration while teaching about food, colors, numbers, music, following directions and more.
• Transforming from a shopping cart to a kitchen in a few simple steps, the cart responds with fun phrases and sounds.
• When kids are ready to cook their meal, the cart becomes a play kitchen complete with a sink, oven, stove burner and cutting board for an all-in-one imaginative learning experience.

Ages 2-5 years, MSRP: $49.99

Whether for a boy or a girl I can not imagine a little one having any more fun playing pretend and what we used to refer to as house when I was a little girl. I love the fact that everything that you find in the kitchen at home you find in this little pretend play kitchen. The sink, oven, stove burners and cutting board to make sure that every detain in cooking is done. The fact that the 2 in 1 playset allows a little one to take the action of cooking from the pretend grocery store shopping cart to taking it home and cooking it up into a pretend meal is so very important as it follows the path of true life to me. Introducing little ones to the world of colors, numbers and so much fun.

How would you like to win a 2 in 1 shop and cook playet from VTech??

Well, you are in luck as the sponsor of this post has allowed me to give to one of Annies Home readers a set as well

To enter this giveaway first you must tell me who it is that would have fun with this VTech 2 in 1 shop and cook playset if you were lucky enough to win.

Extra Entries:

• follow me on twitter @shopannies
• follow @VTech Toys on twitter
• tweet about this giveaway I just entered to win a 2-in-1 Shop & Cook Playset from @VTech Toys and @shopannies  #giveaway #toys
• friend me on facebook
• like my fanpage on facebook
•  like VTech toys on facebook

Good Luck Giveaway ends September 24, 2013. Email must be included in entry so that I can easily reach you if you are the lucky winner.

We were sent a product to review. The thoughts and feelings in our post are those of mine alone and have not been influenced in any other way. The product we were sent helped in the review process. The VTech product, information, and additional gift pack have been provided by VTech



Snorg Tees Discount

Whether you are shopping back to school or you are getting a head start on holiday shopping Snorg Tees are awesome wear and I have been allowed to offer annies home readers a special savings for 15% off of their order. Simply use the code 15school2013