Jerri at Simply Sweet Home

10 Easy Tips to Reduce Water Consumption with Pennington Smart Seed

May 8, 2013 Leave a Comment

On behalf of myself and my readers I want to thank Pennington Smart Seed for sponsoring this two part series on lawn maintenance! I also want to thank everyone who participated in our giveaway. You guys shared some great lawn care tips here on the blog and on my Facebook page, which I’ve enjoyed reading. By the way, one of my favorite tips came from Courtney. She wrote, “Get your husband to help you out. Work goes by so much faster with 2 people!” Yes, I agree! Haha!

And for those of you wanting to know who won the $50 Amex giveaway. Your wait is over. Please congratulate our winner, Kimberly Bauer! [Read more…]

Filed Under: Home/Garden Tagged With: environmental, gardening, lawn care

Banana Cake Mix Cookies

May 7, 2013 2 Comments

I love cake mix recipes, and I especially love cake mix cookies! Over the weekend I had a couple of ripe bananas that needed to be eaten, so I decided to look up a recipe for Banana Cake Mix Cookies! I used a recipe I found over at Best Ever Cookie Collection, making just a couple of slight changes. And their recipe was based on one found in Cake Mix Cookies by Camilia V. Salisbury.

My cookies turned out absolutely sweet and delicious, and I’d definitely make them again! If you love banana, you should give them a try too! Hope you enjoy!

[Read more…]

Filed Under: cookies and candy, Recipe of the Week Tagged With: banana, cake mix cookies

Wood Staining Made Simple

May 5, 2013 1 Comment

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Flood® Wood Care for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Are you working on any staining projects this spring and summer? Whatever project your working on, whether big or small, Flood® Wood Care has all the products you need to make your indoor and outdoor wood items look great.

To help you with all of your do it yourself projects, Flood® has a Staining Made Simple. Simply choose the type of project you are working on: a deck, fence, siding, outdoor furniture, or playset. And from there you will select the type of wood your item is made of: pressure treated lumber, cedar, redwood, hardwood. Then select from there you will go through a menu of items, answering questions about the shape that your wood is in and what you want for your finished product to look like. At the completion of the survey, you will be given a list of suggested products to use for your project.

My front door is actually in end of a good sanding and staining. Here is what the outside of the door currently looks like:

And when stained, it should look something more like the inside of the door shown here:

Flood® is currently holding a Flood Better Backyard Sweepstakes where you could win a $1,500 gift card or one of 12 $10 gift cards given away daily! All you need to do is like Flood® Wood Care on Facebook to enter, and share the sweepstakes for more entries!

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Legal residents of the 50 United States of America and (D.C.) 18 years and older. Ends 5/17/2013. To enter and for Official Rules, including odds, and prize descriptions visit www.facebook.com/flood. Void in Puerto Rico and where restricted or prohibited. This Sweepstakes is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook. You understand that you are providing your information to Sponsor and not to Facebook.

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Creating a Stylized Outdoor Space – Part 1 #Digin

May 4, 2013 3 Comments

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of The Home Depot.

A few weeks ago I introduced you to The Home Depot Garden Club and The Home Depot Spring Blogger Campaign. Throughout the month of May, bloggers from all over the country will be sharing how-to videos, tutorials, and ideas on everything from grills to gardening, and I am very excited to be a part of this project!

Be sure to follow The Home Depot on all their social networks so you can catch all their tips and all of the great blogger projects: Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest |YouTube [Read more…]

Filed Under: Home/Garden Tagged With: furniture, gardening, outdoor living, The Home Depot

Friday Favorites – Week 165

May 2, 2013 20 Comments

Hello all! Welcome to Friday Favorites! Don’t forget to enter my Pennington Smart Seed giveaway after you’ve linked up. You could win a $50 Amex Card! And of course, I hope you enjoy these yummies from our friends! [Read more…]

Filed Under: Friday Favorites Tagged With: breakfast, cupcakes, pastries

Freshen Up Your Home with the Air Wick National Park Collection

May 1, 2013 Leave a Comment

As I clean house, I love to freshen things up with a little fragrance. I was recently contacted about reviewing some new limited edition scents from Air Wick. They have partnered with the National Park Foundation to craft fragrances inspired by the natural elements found in our national parks. The new limited edition scents introduced this spring are: Grand Canyon, American Samoa, Denali, Hawai’i, Virgin Islands and Gulf Islands.

Currently I’m using the American Somoa scent in my kitchen. Since coconut is one of my favorite scents, I really love this fragrance. It is a very clean scent and has a tropical island appeal too. And because it is coconut, that also makes it great for the kitchen, although I think it would be perfect for any room.

I’m also using the Denali scent in my main bathroom. It has a fresh linen scent, and it really gives your bathroom a “just cleaned” scent. Because it has cotton/linen scent to it, it would also be great for your bedrooms if you use fragrances in those.

And then I also got the Hawai’i scent. I haven’t used it in the house yet, but I think it is going to be great. It has a tropical fruit smell to it, almost like a Hurricane drink. I’d probably use this in any room except the bedroom.

And then the Grand Canyon has a very sweet, floral fragrance to it. It’s so nice! And I think it would be great in an entry hall, bathroom, or living area.

For more updates and information, follow Air Wick on Facebook.

Disclosure: I received product samples for review. The opinions are my own.

Filed Under: cleaning, Home/Garden Tagged With: air freshener

Accelerating Muscle Recovery So You Can Stay Active

May 1, 2013 Leave a Comment

If you’ve recently started a rigorous workout routine and your muscles are already feeling fatigued and sore, you might want to take it easy. Research says that your muscles take more time to repair themselves if you’re not allowing enough time for recovery in-between strenuous workouts. Attending high intensity classes are excellent for your health, but they can be hard on your muscles. Allow enough time for recovery by eating the right foods, resting, and taking supplements such as L- glutamine and your muscles will be able to handle your workout routine in no time.

Enough Time to Recover

Are you providing your muscles enough time for recovery in between each workout? If you’re not, this should be important, especially if your workouts are rigorous or you are feeling some extra tightness in certain muscle groups. Resting in-between high intensity workouts will allow your muscles time to heal, as opposed to causing an ongoing injury.

Add L Glutamine to Your Supplement List

If you’re currently not taking L glutamine supplements now is a good time to add them to your daily vitamins. Since glutamine is one of the most common amino acids found in the body and more specifically muscle tissues, it is a pertinent fuel that assists with muscle contraction. Many sports trainers will recommend that you take L glutamine supplements before and after working out so that your glutamine levels don’t drop low. If your levels drop low this could mean muscle injury or not allowing your muscles enough time to repair. Add glutamine to your daily vitamin list and allow your muscles to recover daily.

Stretch Sore Muscles

Another key to muscle recovery is stretching muscles that are sore. Most trainers will tell you that you should not stretch unless you have warmed up at the gym or wherever you are working out first, which is generally the case. Stretch your muscles after you exercise if you know some muscle groups tend to get tighter than others. Begin with shallow stretches and increase to a deeper stretch depending on how your muscles are feeling that day. Taking certain precautions daily will allow you to maintain a great workout schedule without causing injury to your muscles.

Sierra is a freelance writer who enjoys working out without causing harm to her muscles. She stretches and takes L glutamine so that she can stay in great shape.

Filed Under: health Tagged With: fitness, supplement

Growing Your Garden with Scotts Florida Select

April 30, 2013 1 Comment

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Scotts Miracle-Gro for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

photo 6d50af2c-aba7-44e2-b0ed-d3510804d726_zps3aae88a5.jpg

As we continue to talk about the spring gardening season, it is important that we have the proper gardening supplies to grow and maintain our yard and garden. I have some beautiful Encore Azaleas growing in front my house. They have really grown a lot since we planted them back in 2009 and are thriving, but I am in need of new mulch to keep the grass and weeds from from around them.

Scotts Florida Select Natural Eucalyptus Mulch is great option for this. It is natural, made from 100% plantation-grown Eucalyptus trees and is free from waste materials. It is also considered a sustainable, renewable source, which regrows 4 times faster than Cypress. And it prevents weeds naturally while helping to conserve soil moisture.

And for those of you with an eye for design, you can check out Scotts Nature Scapes mulch. It comes in three different colors to fit your unique tastes: Classic Black, Sierra Red, and Deep Forest Brown.

Here's a list of supplies that we used to create our flower beds. Instructions are in this post.

-A tiller or – to till up the soil.

-Potting soil – to spread around the flower bed area.

-A post-hole digger – to dig the holes which the plants will be placed in.

-Plants – We used Azeleas because they require virtually no maintenance and are so pretty, but anything you like is fine.

-Landscaping paper and landscaping staples – These are used cover the soil and protect it while the plants take root in the ground.

-Mulch – After the landscaping paper is down, you top it with mulch.

-Border – Next you need a border to prevent runoff and keep the grass/weeds from spreading in to your flower bed.

And after your garden's had time to grow, it should look something like this:

Photo Credit

And if you prefer a mix of flowers and plants, here's a great example:

Photo Credit

And then here's a fabulous example of a backyard garden:

Check out Scotts Website for more information on their products and tips for sustainable gardening.

Filed Under: Uncategorized

A Look At The AIRbrush Makeup System 2.0

April 30, 2013 Leave a Comment

Women dream of radiant skin free of blemishes. The AIRbrush Makeup System 2.0 is making their dreams come true. This airbrushing makeup system helps women achieve that flawless look they have always wanted. What will women love about the AIRbrush Makeup System 2.0?

It’s easy to use. Simply connect the Flex AIRhose, plug in the AC adapter and it’s ready!

It’s quicker than applying traditional makeup with sponges and brushes. A flawless, radiant finish is completed in just minutes.

The coverage is light and sheer. Traditional makeup can appear cake-like and sometimes streaks. The airbrushing makeup system provides total coverage that looks like your own skin.

It’s affordable. The AIRbrush Makeup System 2.0 is less than $250. There are a wide range of AIRpod makeup products to match any complexion. The products for the airbrushing makeup system include foundation, blush, bronzer, highlighter, powder, concealer, primer and body/tan. There is a shade match guarantee so if the shade purchased is not perfect, it can be returned for the right one. The AIRpod Makeup System 2.0 comes with a one-year warranty so buyers can be assured of its quality. This airbrushing makeup system is the easiest way to get that Red Carpet glamorous look without needing a Hollywood makeup artist.

Filed Under: Beauty Tagged With: makeup

Chicken Stuffing & Vegetable Rice Casserole and #CountryCrockStars Contest

April 28, 2013 2 Comments

I LOVE casseroles! With just a few ingredients (and just a dish or two), you have got a complete meal that is quick and easy to make! Right now Country Crock is celebrating casseroles with their Country Crock Stars contest! For this contest, they want to see YOUR casseroles!

Simply follow this link over to the Country Crock Facebook page. Then just share a photo of your favorite casserole, and share in 100 words how you demonstrate creativity and resourcefulness in the kitchen.

Twelve finalists will be featured on the Country Crock Facebook page. Then those 12 finalists will be voted on by and the public, and the top 3 cooks will win $5000 and a trip for two to New York City!

Besides the fact that casseroles are fast and easy to make, here are a few more reasons I love them!

1. They are so versatile and really allow for you to get creative! Just add an extra ingredient, or substitute an ingredient or two, and you’ve got a completely different recipe.

2. They easily allow for you make a meal that has servings of vegetables, meat, dairy, and a starch.

3. You can cook them for any size gathering. If it’s just you and your spouse, you can cut a recipe in half or have left overs for the week. And if you have a large family or a party to cook for, you can double your recipes.

4. Casseroles are also great leftover meals and most can easily be stored in the freezer for you to enjoy later.

To show you how easy it is to get creative in the kitchen with casseroles, today I’m sharing a recipe that I just invented for this assignment. I used my favorite casserole recipe, which is Chicken Poulet, and I just added a couple of ingredients to it, namely a package of chicken flavored rice and a can of mixed vegetables. And I used these in place of the bottom layer of my Poulet Recipe (which is usually stuffing mix). And I also threw in some Cream of Chicken Soup, instead of the usual Cream of Mushroom that goes in my Poulet. The result was an absolutely fabulous tasting meal, if I do say so myself!

Recipe for Chicken Stuffing & Vegetable Rice Casserole

Ingredients:

1 5.6 oz package flavored rice (I used Knorr, in the chicken flavor)

2 cups water

1/2 cup and 1 tablespoon Country Crock

1 can mixed vegetables

3 cans chicken, drained

6-8 spoonfuls mayonnaise

1 box stuffing mixed

1 cup chicken broth

2 cans cream of chicken soup

1-2 cups cheddar cheese

Directions: Using 2 cups of water and 1 tablespoon of Country Crock, make the rice according to directions on the box.

While the rice is cooking, open three 10.5 oz cans of white meat chicken. Drain the broth off the chicken and in to a measuring cup. Set broth aside.

Pour chicken into a small bowl. Spoon mayonnaise into chicken and mix with a fork, mashing chucks of chicken into shreds. The consistency should be like that of a chicken salad. Set aside.

Once your rice is done, drain the water off your can of mixed vegetables and add vegetables to rice mixture. (You may also use frozen or fresh veggies if you prefer.) Pour rice & vegetable mixture in to 11×13 casserole dish. Spread chicken mixture over rice.

Open package of stuffing mix. Add one cup of chicken broth and a 1/2 cup (or one stick) of Country Crock. Stir till all bread crumbs are moist. Pour into casserole dish, over the chicken layer.

Next open two cans of cream of chicken soup, and spread over stuffing layer. Finally cover with shredded cheddar cheese.

Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes. Serve and enjoy!

*Great for a make ahead meal and leftovers set up great in your fridge!*

Do you have a favorite casserole? Tell us in the comments! Or better yet, submit it to the Country Crock Stars Contest.

I’m linking up at Tidy Mom and these parties.

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective, and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

Filed Under: casseroles and quick meals, Giveaways Tagged With: casserole, chicken, country crock, rice, stuffing, vegetables