Jerri at Simply Sweet Home

Hendrick’s Gin Golf Umbrella and $20 Crate & Barrel Gift Card Giveaway

February 7, 2012 7 Comments

Photo Credit
Everybody has their favorite cocktail. Personally I like fruity “chick” drinks like Pina Coladas. But have you ever wondered what winter cocktail fits you? Well, there’s an app for that!

Robb Report presents the Discover Your Winter Cocktail Blog App.

Just answer the quiz questions on the app to find your winter cocktail.

I answered the questions, and the app told me that my winter cocktail is Winter Camouflage:

And here’s another winter cocktail I thought you might like for Valentine’s Day:

Recipe for Berry Sweetheart

Ingredients:

2 oz red cranberry juice

2 oz apple juice

1 oz honey

maraschino cherry for garnish

1 ½ oz Stolichnaya vodka

Preparation: Fill a highball glass with ice cubes. Add the juices and honey to a mixing glass. Stir the ingredients with a bar spoon. Pour the contents of the mixing glass into the highball glass. Garnish with a maraschino cherry.

Giveaway: One Simply Sweet Home reader will win a Hendrick’s Gin Golf Umbrella and a $20 Crate & Barrel Gift Card.

To enter, use the Rafflecopter form below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosoure: I received no compensation for this post and the opinions are my own.

Filed Under: Giveaways

New Ways to Follow Simply Sweet Home

February 6, 2012 1 Comment

In case you haven’t heard Google Friend Connect will only be available to Blogger blogs after February. The way I see it, this affects everyone who’s in one or more of the following categories:

1. A blogger using WordPress or other blogging platform other than Blogger (obviously).

2. A Blogger user who may switch platforms in the future.

3. A blog reader who would like to follow WordPress or other blogs that do not have GFC.

4. A blogger who wants people (including those who are no longer using GFC) to follow their blog in some form.

As for myself, I’m in category 2, 3, and 4. I’m seriously considering a swap to WordPress, and although many people have said that your existing followers will still get your updates, and not to panic, because people can continue to subscribe to your RSS feeds and follow you in other ways, I’d really miss GFC.

And after giving it some thought, I realized that although it seems exhausting to consider building completely new networks from scratch, we should try to make it easy for people to follow our blogs in whatever way they prefer.

As social media seems to be everchanging, there’s no telling what the next big thing will be, but to try and keep up with the trends, I decided to create a profile on Google+. If you’re already on Google+, please add me to your circles. And if you’re not on it yet, please sign up and add me.

And then there’s also a new Linky Follower application, which I just added today. This was created by Brent Riggs, the founder of Linky Tools, and it’s completely free to join. So please sign up for this app, and if you’d like to follow me, let me know that you’ve followed, and I’ll come by and follow you too!

And by the way, if you’re not already following me on Twitter and Facebook, please do so! Links are in the sidebar! Also, please subscribe to my RSS feeds, so you won’t miss any of the great things I’ve got planned for this year!

Filed Under: announcements

Bertolli Meal Soup: A Special (And Easy!) Weeknight Meal

February 5, 2012 3 Comments

This week my husband and I had a very special (and super quick and easy to make) weeknight meal from Bertolli. Bertolli Frozen Meal Soups are hearty and fresh-tasting soups made with vegetables, meats, pasta and herbs individually flash frozen at the peak of freshness.

They are available in four varieties: Chicken Minestrone, Roasted Chicken & Rotini Pasta, Tomato Florentine & Tortellini with Chicken, and Tuscan-Style Beef with Vegetables.

We decided to try the Roasted Chicken & Rotini Pasta. This soup features roasted white meat chicken, pasta, zucchini, yellow squash, carrots and celery in a savory chicken broth.

I was very amazed by the taste and quality of the soup. As soon as I opened the package and poured the contents into the pot, I could smell the ingredients (even though the soup was frozen). It was also amazingly fast and convenient. Just add one cup of water, and then boil and simmer for five minutes. That’s right! Just 5 minutes!

And once cooked, the soup smelled and tasted just as fresh as something you would make from scratch or get at a restaurant. In fact, my husband liked it so much, he inquired about taking it for his lunch!

I served it up with a simple grilled ham and cheese sandwich and crackers. On a cool winter’s day, it made for a deliciously comforting meal!

6 More Tips to Help Make Your Week Night Meals Special:

1. Table Decor – Set the mood with candles, place cards, or just a simple table cloth.

2. Talk & Share – Go around the table and have everyone share something that happened to them that day.

3. Conversation Jar – On slips of paper, write different conversation topics. Then place the slips of paper in a jar and and draw them out of the jar at meal time for fun and meaningful conversations at the table.

4. Restaurant Quality Meals at Home – With convenient entrees like Bertolli Meal Soups, serve a basic salad and a sandwich or bread. Place on the table at the same time or serve in courses.

5. The “Good Kid” Plate – When one of your kids has been exceptionally good or accomplished something great in school, sports, or the like, bring out the “good kid” plate. This could simply be a plate that’s different from everyone else’s at the table. Or perhaps it might include a special surprise. You could also serve that child’s favorite meal that evening.

6. Don’t forget the dessert!

Connect with Bertolli on Facebook, Twitter, and on their Website.

Disclosure: I was compensated by Bertolli to participate in the Weeknight Meal Special Challenge.

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

Filed Under: casseroles and quick meals, soups

Friday Favorites – Week 101

February 2, 2012 9 Comments

Hi everyone! Welcome to Friday! And can you believe that we are already in to February? I can’t believe how time flies sometimes!

Well, I think I mentioned at last week’s party that I would be sponsoring some Valentine giveaways from my shop. I actually announced and linked to them earlier this week, but in case you you’re just coming by for the party today, here’s the links to those giveaways.

I have a Valentine set that I’m giving away over at Free & Frugal Mommy of One. And then I’ve got a set of bird jewelry that I’m giving away over at Savey Spender. Please go over and check them out! And thanks for supporting me and my shop!

And then I also launched a new giveaway this week from FertiBella. If you’re thinking of getting pregnant this year, please check out this prize pack!

And now let’s take a look at our featured bloggers:

Lemon Curd Tartlets from The Kitchen is My Playground

Pennant Dress from Sunny Tuesday

Lego Party Favors from Crystal & Co.
My Pinterest Picks:

Bunting Cake from Florals and Stripes Blog

Mini Valentine Banner from Holiday Crafts and Creations

Can’t wait to see your posts! Link up below!

Filed Under: Friday Favorites

Freshen Your Home with New Glade® Expressions™

February 2, 2012 Leave a Comment

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Triad Retail Media for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Walmart.com - Glade Expressions Air Fresheners

Having an older home that is completely lived in, the house can’t help but get a little stuffy, especially in winter time, so around this time of year I always look forward to a little spring cleaning. One way we always freshen up our home is with a few air freshener products.

Some products I’m considering are the new Glade® Expressions™ fragrance mist and oil diffusers.

Glade® Expressions™ fragrance mists breathe new life into your home in just a squeeze, with their long lasting, fresh scent. And their holders are stylish and sleek to blend in with your decor. Once your fragrance is empty, simply purchase a refill bottle and replace. It’s very easy and convenient!

There’s also a line of new Glade® Expressions™ oil diffuser. I find oil diffusers to be great in small rooms like bathrooms but would also recommend them for your living room and other areas of the house.

Glade® Expressions™ oil diffusers are designed to fit any decor. They last up to 30 days and do not require electricity, which is great if you’re tired of air fresheners taking up your plugins. And best of all, they have a no-spill design, so their safe to have around kids and pets.

The new Glade® Expressions™ come in the following scents:

Pineapple & Mangosteen
Cotton & Italian Mandarin (only available in Fragrance Mist form)
Fuji Apple & Cardamom
Spice Lavender & Juniper Berry

Don’t these sound lovely? I think I would like to try the Pineapple & Mangosteen scent first. I always like something that smells a little tropical. Which scent would you like to try?

Save $1.50 on this product at Wal-Mart. Go to new Glade® Expressions™ to get your printable coupon.

And Glade® is so sure you’ll love the product that they are even offering you a satisfaction guarantee. Simply fill out this form and mail the original UPC and purchase receipt within 30 days if you are unsatisfied.

I’m really excited to go and check out these new Glade® Expressions™ products, and I hope you are too!

Already tried them out? Leave a comment telling us what you think.

Filed Under: cleaning, Home/Garden

Free Valentine Printables & Scrapbook Freebies

February 1, 2012 5 Comments

At the beginning of each month, I’m planning to bring you new freebies. For February I, of course, had to share some free Valentine printables!
Today we’ve got subway art, Valentine cards, a great party pack, and some scrapbook kits! Visit the links below to download.

Valentine Subway Art from Little Birdie Secrets

Party Pack from Catch My Party

Valentine Cards from Junelily

Another set of Valentine Cards from Kate.net
Looking for more Valentine printables? Hani at Craftionary did an awesome post featuring 75 Free Valentine’s Printables! Check it out!
Also, this week I’ve got some freebies this week from My Memories. Don’t forget that you can use my code: STMMMS63042 to get $10 off their awesome scrapbooking software, which you can use for digi scrapping, blog design, printables and other projects!

This Valentine Kit includes 2 Digital Papers, 3 Page Elements, 2 Quick Pages

This Shabby Chic kit includes 2 Digital Papers, 1 Page Elements, 2 Quick Pages.

And this Plaid Kit includes 2 Digital Papers,2 Page Elements, 2 Quick Pages.

Disclosure: I’m an affiliate for My Memories but am not affiliated with the other sites listed in this post.

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

Filed Under: Freebie, party ideas, Printables, Valentine's Day

FertiBella Review & Giveaway

January 31, 2012 1 Comment

Are you tryingto conceive? Or are you thinking about? A few months ago I mentioned that my husband and I have been talking about having children for a while, so I was really happy to learn about ConceiveEasy.

FertiBella Advanced Conceptions is a patent pending complex scientifically formulated to enhance your body’s own natural fertility and help you conceive up to four times faster.

It has been featured in magazines such as Marie Claire and Baby.

The Trying to Conceive Starter Kit includes months one and two of the supplement. And with the kit also comes one of three bonus gifts of the customer’s choosing::
-Bonus gift #1: 20 Early Result Pregnancy Tests
-Bonus gift #2: 20 One-Step Ovulation Tests
-Bonus gift #3: 10 Pregnancy & 10 Ovulation Tests

I received a starter kit with bonus gift number one. The supplements are very easy to take. You take just one tablet daily with meals. The tablets are not oversized or hard to swallow like a lot of other supplements that I’ve taken. And they have only a minimal vitamin-taste, which isn’t nearly as bad as other supplements I’ve taken.

And the people at FertiBella recommend that you allow 4 to 6 weeks for best results with the supplement, but I must say I am intrigued by the concept, and I hope that this product can help those who wishing to conceive.

Buy it: Right now you can get your own TTC Kit for just $39.95. Also, like them on Facebook.

Giveaway: One Simply Sweet Home reader will win a Fertibella Trying to Conceive (TTC) Starter Kit (Months 1&2), and will be able to customize their kit with one of the bonus gifts listed above. (a $152 value!)

To enter, use the Rafflecopter form below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I received the TTC Starter Kit and was compensated for this review. The opinions are my own.

Filed Under: Baby, Giveaways

Cookies & Cream Lollipops

January 29, 2012 28 Comments

Over the holidays my Oreo Balls were very popular. (Both on the blog and at home!) Last week I made another batch for my husband, and I bought an extra package of Oreos so that I could experiment with some other recipes.

Over the weekend I made these Valentine lollipops. Aren’t they cute! And you won’t believe just how easy they were! I have to admit, they aren’t quite as good as the Oreo Balls. (But then again, what is?) However, I expect you’ll like them just the same!

Make these in minutes with the kids for an after-school Valentine’s treat, serve for your kid’s Valentine parties, or even hand out to coworkers and friends. (Candy-Gram anyone?)

Recipe for Cookies & Cream Lollipops:

Ingredients:

8 blocks Almond Bark

8-12 Oreo Cookies, crushed

lollipop molds
lollipop sticks

Directions: Crush cookies. Place crumbs in candy molds, completely covering the bottom of the mold. Put your lollipop sticks in place. Melt chocolate in microwave, in 15-20 increments, stirring in between to prevent scorching. Pour chocolate into molds, one lollipop at a time and then cover the lollipops with remaining cookie crumbs. Lollipops should harden in a few minutes. Refrigerate for faster hardening. Remove from molds when ready to serve. Makes about a dozen lollipops

Hint: If you don’t have any lollipops, use other candy molds or a even mini muffin tin.

PS – I’m hosting a couple of giveaway this week from my shop! The first one is at Free & Frugal Mommy of One. Go check it out!

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

Filed Under: cookies and candy, Recipe of the Week, Valentine's Day

Valentine Shopping at Julian & Co

January 28, 2012 Leave a Comment

My amazing sponsor Julian & Co has a fine selection of jewelry available for your loved ones this Valentine’s Day! The shop is known for it’s fine, heirloom quality jewelry, especially its personalized, parent and grandparent pieces. But it’s also a great place to shop for friends, family, teachers, and your significant other.

If you’re looking for something classic, check out their Heart of Gold Insignia necklace. This is cute and simple piece would be great for ladies of all ages, and like other jewelry at Julian & Co, you can have it personalized with names or dates on the back.

Or you can say, “I Love You” with their LOVE Insignia necklace (which also can be personalized.

And I personally love their Friendship Insignia. This charm features the Native American symbol for friendship and peace. Since my husband prides himself on being part American Indian, I think he would like this.

Be sure to place your orders with Julian & Co by January 30 for Valentine’s Day delivery!

For updates and new product info, please follow @JULIANandCo on Twitter and like the Julian & Co Facebook page!

Filed Under: jewelry, shopping, Sponsors

Friday Favorites – Week 100

January 26, 2012 19 Comments

Hello all! Welcome to week 100 of my little party! To celebrate, I originally planned on adding a giveaway to this week’s party, but I had a super busy week and a busy day today and got a late start working on the post, so rain check on that giveaway!

Till then please check out the giveaways in my sidebar. I personally recommend the one from Purex and Jockey (a $35 value!) And I’ve also got a couple of giveaways coming up from my Etsy shop. I’ll post the link to these when they are posted!

This week’s features are an array of Valentine creations! Hope you enjoy!