Jerri at Simply Sweet Home

Guest Post: Hot Chocolate Floats from Keri at Shaken Together

December 6, 2012 10 Comments

Today we have another fun guest post! This one is from Keri at shaken together, and she’s made us a yummy treat: Hot Chocolate Floats. Take it away Keri!

Hi there, Simply Sweet Home friends! My name is Keri and I blog over at shaken together!!

It’s my home away from home where I share recipes, easy crafts/DIY projects, giveaways, a weekly link party and snippets of our life with 12 years of marriage and counting, two kids and two cats … you know, our life, shaken together! I would love to connect with you at my blog, on Facebook, Twitter or Pinterest!

Today, I am so excited that Jerri invited me to share one of our family’s favorite holiday treats …

There is nothing better than a rich mug of hot chocolate on a cold night, right?! Well, unless it is topped with a scoop of ice cream, sprinkles and maybe a drizzle of hot fudge!

Whip up a batch of hot chocolate – you can use instant mix, I won’t judge – but there are tons of easy recipes for homemade hot chocolate that will probably rock your socks off 🙂 I am dying to try this hot chocolate mix from Something Swanky!

Anyway, gather your mugs and fill about 2/3 full with your hot chocolate. Add a scoop of ice cream (we used peppermint!) and sprinkle on your favorite toppings. I added a drizzle of warm hot fudge and festive holiday sprinkles!

This is seriously the best of both worlds … an ice cream sundae and a sweet steamy mug of hot chocolate!!

Jerri, thanks so much for the opportunity to share this sweet treat with your readers! Hope to see you all again soon! And happy, happy holidays!

Thanks again to Keri for posting here today!

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

Filed Under: Christmas, desserts, drinks, Guest Post, recipes Tagged With: chocolate

Fun Ideas for Holiday Duck Tape®

December 6, 2012 Leave a Comment

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

If you love to craft and get creative, you love the new holiday prints of Duck® Brand duct tape. The prints include cute polka dots, reindeer, candy cane stripes, snow men, and more!

My favorite print is the polka dots. I love the bright colors in red, pink, and green, and polka dots are always fun!

This would be great to use in your holiday shipping, whether you need to seal an envelope or box, or even give your box some extra flair. You can even use Duck Tape® instead of ribbon in your gift wrapping, or use the tape to make fun bows for your packages.

Printed duct tape is also a great crafting supply. One fun and easy project that I would like to take on, using the Duck Tape® is to make a wreath. You can find a foam wreath form online or at your local craft store starting as low as $3. Then just wrap the Duck Tape® round and round the wreath until is wreath is covered. Then just add ribbon to hang it by. You could even mix and match two or three different prints on the same wreath.

The Duck Tape® website also has some really cute ideas for making your own Duck Tape® fashion accessories like bows, headbands, bracelets, and even bags! These would be great projects to work on with your kids over the holidays, and the great thing is, the Duck Brand® site has projects for all sill levels: beginner, intermediate, and Advanced.

For product information, including updates on all the newest prints, contests, and more project ideas. becoe a fan of Duck Tape® on Facebook.

Filed Under: Uncategorized

ChapStick Seasonal Varieties Review

December 5, 2012 Leave a Comment

As a kid, I loved getting ChapStick at Christmas time. And okay! Now as an adult, I STILL love getting ChapStick at Christmas time!

This year just in time for the holidays Chapstick is introducing three Seasonal varieties. They are Apple Cider, CandyCane, and Chocolate Truffle.

Featuring a convenient gift tag on the back of each package, ChapStick takes the hassle out of gift wrapping, making it easy to drop into a stocking or you can attach it on top of a gift.

I recently had the chance to review the new flavors, and I think you will love them! My favorite of the three is the Candy Cane. It has a great scent and taste, and it gives your lips a nice, cool sensation that is very soothing for chapped lips.

You can find the seasonal varieties in the cough and cold aisle at food, drug and mass retailers for the suggested retail price of $1.01 to $1.99. Also, Connect with ChapStick on Facebook.

Disclosure: I received samples for review purposes but received no other compensation. The opinions are my own.

Filed Under: Beauty, health, product review

Sleepwear and More for the Holidays with Dearfoams

December 4, 2012 Leave a Comment

One of my favorite things about winter time is getting to wear my pajamas and slippers around the house! Dearfoams carries a great collection of robes, homeshoes, and sleepwear, which are perfect for a relaxing day at home, snuggled up and lounging on the couch. And they are also perfect for holiday gift giving.

I think house shoes and sleepwear are great gifts because everyone uses them. You can buy everyone in the family the same or similar gifts, which makes the gift giving process very easy and convenient for you, and everyone will enjoy having something cozy to wear around the house.

I especially love their ankle booties! I love wearing fuzzy slippers in the winter time, and these look like they would be very warm. They also come in some great colors and designs. And they would be a great gift choice for kids and women of all ages.

I also love their blue bowtie pajamas. I love the sweet pattern and the soft color, and they look so cute!

They also have some great gift selections for the men in your life. I love their microsuede sherpa clog. They look very nice and seem like they would be quite comfortable too.

Dearfoams also has a lovely assortment of hats, scarves, and gloves. Not only will they help keep you and your loved ones warm on a cold day, but they are very cute and stylish!

One of my favorite items is their Zig Zag Scarf! I just love zig zag patterns, and this scarf has some really pretty colors. I would look great with a sweater or wool coat, and they also have a cute hat to match!

Filed Under: fashion, shopping

Poppin. $25 Gift Certificate Giveaway

December 4, 2012 1 Comment

Although everyone is overwhelmed with the holidays right now, I can’t help but think ahead to organizing for next year! That’s why I am excited to bring you today’s giveaway, which can help you to get your home office stocked up and organized. Poppin is an online office supply store that offers an array of bright, items that really pop, to get you working happy!

Poppin everything from gel pens and writing pads to binders, clipboards, scissors, and more, to help you to get to work in your home office or send you child back to school in style. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Giveaways, organizing, School/College Tagged With: office

Holiday Baking and Sugar Cookies with Truvia® Baking Blend

November 30, 2012 Leave a Comment

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Truvia® Natural Sweetener for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

As you get ready to bake this holiday season, you may be wishing there was an alternative to the sugary snacks you usually make. Perhaps you’d like an alternative for yourself or maybe for someone in your family who is on a diet. Or perhaps someone in your family is diabetic and you’d like to create some treats that are a little more diabetic friendly for them. If you fall in to any of these categories, consider trying Truvia® Baking Blend in your holiday baking!

Truvia® Baking Blend is a blend of Truvia® natural sweetener and sugar. Unlike other products, Truvia® has a a sugar-like taste and texture, but it has 75% fewer calories and twice the amount of sweetness than sugar.

And unlike other sweeteners, you can use Truvia® Baking Blend in your cookies, pies, and cakes, and they will bake and brown like recipes that are made with sugar and have the sugar-like texture and moistness you are looking for.

Today I’m sharing a holiday recipe that has been recreated using Truvia® Baking Blend: Sugar Cookies!

Recipe for Sugar Cookies with Truvía®

Ingredients

1 cup unsalted butter

1 cup Truvía® Baking Blend

2 eggs

2 tsp vanilla extract

1 Tbsp skim milk

4 cups all-purpose flour

1⁄2 tsp baking soda

1⁄2 tsp salt

Directions: In a large bowl, cream together butter and Truvía® Baking Blend until smooth. Beat in eggs, vanilla and milk.

Combine flour, baking soda and salt in a separate bowl. Gradually add the flour to the creamed mixture, beating well after each addition.

Place dough on a lightly floured work surface. Divide dough in half; pat each into a circle and wrap with plastic wrap. Chill cookie dough for 30 minutes or until slightly firm.

Preheat oven to 350° F. Roll chilled dough to 1⁄4 to 1⁄8 inch thickness on a lightly floured surface.

Cut with a cookie cutter and place cookies 1 inch apart on lightly greased cookie sheets.

Bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until edges of cookies are lightly browned.

Allow to cool 5 minutes on pan, and then place cookies on wire rack to cool completely.

Visit the Truvia® website for more tips and information on Truvia® Baking Blend.

Do you havea favorite holiday recipe that you’d like to recreate using Truvia?

Filed Under: cookies and candy, product review

Introducing Mrs. Smith’s Signature Deep Dish Pies and a Giveaway!

November 30, 2012 20 Comments

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Mrs. Smith’s for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

You can’t have holiday get togethers without dessert! Now with Mrs. Smith’s Signature Deep Dish pies making dessert just got easier, and it is just as delicious!

Mrs. Smith’s Signature Deep Dish pies come in 4 varieties:

-Signature Deep Dish Dutch Apple Pie with Caramel Sauce
-Signature Deep Dish Cherry Pie with Butter Fudge Sauce
-Signature Deep Dish Peach Pie with Cream Cheese Icing
-Signature Deep Dish Pumpkin Pie with Cream Cheese Icing

The pies go straight from your freezer to the oven and bake up in 80 to 100 minutes (plus a 2 hour cooling time before serving). This is such a great time saver! Without having to make or bake crusts or mix ingredients, you can have a dessert that tastes like homemade! And you’ll be ale to spend that valuable time making your other dishes, getting ready for the party, or just having holiday fun!

Beyond their convenience and great homemade taste, these pies are also easily customizable with their yummy toppings. Use the topping that comes with each pie to decorate and add flavor, and also mix and match your pies and toppings!

I recently had the opportunity to try these pies. Today I’m sharing the Pumpkin Pie with you. This pie fills your home with the fresh aroma of cinnamon as it bakes. And the taste is just like homemade! You will love the creamy blend of pumpkin and cinnamon, and to top off this pie, it comes with cream cheese icing! I think you will love the sweetness the icing adds to this classic dessert so much so that you may never want a slice of pumpkin pie without cream cheese icing ever again!

Mrs. Smith’s Pies are available at most Wal-mart Supercenters nationwide. Look online to find retailers near you.

Connect with Mrs. Smith’s Pies on Facebook and Pinterest.

Giveaway! One Simply Sweet Home reader will win a full value coupon for a Mrs. Smith Signature Deep Dish Pie (up to $8.99 value) and a $50 William-Sonoma card.

To enter, please leave comments letting me know which of the four pies you’d most like to try and tell us how you would use this gift card. Then use the Rafflecopter form below. You can also gain extra entries by following Mrs. Smith’s on Facebook and Pinterest.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Filed Under: Christmas, desserts, product review, Thanksgiving

Tech Lover’s Christmas Giveaway

November 30, 2012 Leave a Comment

I’m excited to be participating in a fun Tech Lovers Christmas Giveaway event! This one has some great prizes that I KNOW I would love to win, and I’m sure you would too! Check it out!

And a Special Thanks to our Co-Host:

First Place Winner

Xbox Bundle:

Xbox 360 4GB Console

Xbox 360 has blockbuster games, HD movies and controller-free fun for everyone
Built-in Wi-Fi for easy connection to Xbox LIVE
Super quiet with sleek new design plus matching controller
Ready for the controller-free fun of Kinect

Microsoft Xbox Live Gold Subscription Card

Boaderlands Game: In a distant future, the planets at the outer edges of the galaxy have become a beacon to fortune seekers and those yearning for a better life off world.

2nd Place Winner

Google Nexus 7 Black Wi-Fi 16GB Tablet – ASUS-1B16

The Google Nexus 7 tablet computer is the world’s first Android tablet that combines the latest Android 4.1 mobile operating system with a powerful quad-core processor for high-performance computing on the go. An eye-catching 1280 x 800 high-definition display is your touchscreen interface for this Google tablet. The Google Nexus 7 tablet computer’s LED-backlit IPS panel is made from scratch-resistant glass to offer crisp images, wide viewing angles and 10-finger multi-touch support.

3rd Place Winner:

Blue Hue” Laptop Bundle with optional matching accessories:

Blue Laptop
Case/Bag
Mouse
USB Flash Drive
Headphones

The event dates: 11/30 – 12/10 Open World Wide. If the winner is outside the use they will receive and online gift card in the prize amount in place of the physical prize. NO EXCEPTIONS.

For a chance to win one of these three amazing prizes enter the Rafflecopter below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Filed Under: Giveaways Tagged With: entertainment

Friday Favorites- Week 144

November 30, 2012 17 Comments

Hey everyone! Welcome to Friday Favorites. I’m running a little late this week, so let’s go ahead and get on to this week’s parties, starting with our features! [Read more…]

Filed Under: Friday Favorites Tagged With: beauty, recipes