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Friday Favorites: Week 69

June 23, 2011 13 Comments

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Hey guys! Thanks for stopping by for this week’s linky party! To say thanks to all of you for your participation every week, I’ve got a coupon code for my shop.  It is for 15% off, and the code will be valid now through July 4!  The code is: FridayFaves15
Also, please check out this week’s giveaways featured in my sidebar!  
Now let’s get the party started!  Here’s this week’s featured posts!

Father’s Day Cupcakes from Cookin’ for my Captain

Hazlenut Rolo Cookies from Shugary Sweets

Patriotic Wreath from The Creative Imperative

Sweet Shoppe Party from Evelyn Kate Designs

4th of July Yarn Wreath from Directions Not Included

I’m looking forward to seeing your posts from this week. Link them up below!

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Filed Under: Friday Favorites

Country Style, Shabby Chic 4th of July Wreath

June 22, 2011 6 Comments
My mom gave me this wreath. Isn’t it cute?  I have this on my door right now for 4th of July, but I really love decor like this year round because I adore the country style!

To make this wreath, you start with a vine wreath.  Next a string of garland featuring small metal stars was added.  Also strung on this garland are some small bells, which are painted red or blue.  I’ve seen similar garlands sold at decor retailers (perhaps Pottery Barn or Current), so I’m sure you could find something similar with a simple internet search.  Or you could go the less expensive route and buy some wire/foil type garland from Wal-mart or the dollar store.
Next wooden hearts and stars were painted and added to the wreath using hot glue.  The ribbon at the bottom can be tied and then added also using hot glue, or you can loop the ribbon through the vine and then tie it in lieu of glue.

Finally the star and welcome sign are suspended down the middle using a simple wire wrapping technique.  And another wire is wrapped around the top for easy hanging.

I’m linking up at these parties.

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Filed Under: crafts, decorating, Misc Holidays, Patriotic, Wreaths

Aurora – Are We There Yet? Review and Giveaway

June 21, 2011 1 Comment

If you’ve been visiting my blog for a while, you know that I love the products at Aurora World.
Aurora World is celebrating its 30th Anniversary this year and is helping parents gear up for summer travel with a line of plush accessories based on one of the company’s top selling characters, Cheeky Charlie™. Developed particularly for boys and girls ages three to seven years old, Aurora’s “Are We There Yet” collection features Cheeky and his jungle buddies as plush, backpacks, neck rests and even “My Name Is” ID tags.
“This will be Aurora’s top travel and destination collection. It was designed to keep kids comfortable, safe and happy before, during and after their trips in the car, bus, train or airplane,” says Michael Kessler, Aurora’s SVP of sales and marketing. “The initial response following the winter gift shows was overwhelming. We are already working to develop new ‘Are We There Yet’ collections for later this year and 2012.”

The collection features Cheeky Charlie and Gerome the Giraffe bean-filled plush(11.5”, MSRP: $11); Cheeky and Gerome “Keep Me Comfy” Neck Rests (10”, MSRP: $13); and four fully functional “By My Side” Backpacks (Cheeky, Gerome, Lion and Panda; 12”, MSRP: $17). Kessler says, “Parents will appreciate the precious ‘My Name Is’ ID Tags (MSRP: $6), available in a six style assortment including monkey, giraffe, lion, shark, panda and gator. “Each has a clip for hanging on a belt loop or backpack for example.” 

I received the Giraffe Neckrest.  This little guy is super cute!  He’s made of a soft fabric and features the cute detail work I’ve come to expect from Aurora products.  I think these will offer kids great comfort on long road trips, and I think kids will love the fun animal shapes!
Another product that I didn’t actually receive but that I absolutely love is the “By My Side Leads” (or kid leashes, as I like to call them.)  I think these are very useful, not just on vacations but anytime you’re out in a  crowded place, and Aurora World has some really cute choices available!

And finally, the Are We There Yet? line includes these My Name Is ID Tags.  On the back of each of these cute animals is a place for your child’s name and your contact information.  Simply clip this on your child, and it will be easy for someone to contact you in the event that you get separated from your child.  Brilliant!
On the Aurora retail site, check out the Cheeky Charlie page to see all the products from the Are We There Yet line. And don’t forget to “like” Aurora World  on Facebook.
Win it!  One Simply Sweet Home reader will win a My Name Is ID Tag.

How to Enter:  To Enter, please follow the instructions on the Rafflecopter Form.



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Disclosure: I received products from Aurora World for review purposes. I was not otherwise compensated for this post. The opinions are my own.

Filed Under: Giveaways, product review

Red, White, and Blue Muffins (Quick, Not Homemade)

June 20, 2011 10 Comments
I love things that are homemade, but I also love shortcuts and convenience foods.  One thing that I love at breakfast time is a good muffin, and I must confess, I often go with muffin mixes to save time. Plus, I love the taste!
My favorite brand of muffin mixes has always been Martha White.  I think this is, in part, because you add milk to their mix, rather than water or oil. (or is it just me?)
They also have a great selection of flavors.  The flavor featured in my post today is the Wild Berry, and it’s a mix of blueberry and strawberry flavors.
I chose to share these this week because 4th of July is coming up, and I thought these would be great for a 4th of July breakfast or brunch.  What do you think?
And if this idea is too simple for you, perhaps add a little cream cheese frosting to these and have some 4th of July Breakfast Cupcakes. Yum!  Or if you’re not serving breakfast for the 4th, you could use the mix as a base for one of your 4th of July desserts!

I’m linking up at these parties.

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Filed Under: breads and sides, Recipe of the Week, recipes

Best Price Nutrition Review

June 19, 2011 2 Comments
My husband and I have both taken a number of supplements for various ailments and general purposes. I recently learned about a company called Best Price Nutrition and was given the opportunity to try a couple of their supplements.
The site sells all kinds of vitamins and supplements and has many brands available. The products I received were made by New Chapter, a company so named because they “believe every one of their products delivers a ‘new chapter’ in nourishment, protection or health.”
I’m a very anxious, nervous person and have taken a couple of different supplements for this, so I was interested in finding a new supplemnt to tackle this problem. I got to try the New Chapter Holy Basil and the New Chapter Wholemega.
I’d actually never heard of Holy Basil before this review, but now I’m happy that I did. Upon doing further research, I found that it promotes a positive stress response and an overall sense of well being. It can also help maintain metabolic efficiency, digestion, hormone levels, blood sugar levels, and respiratory health. And it’s an anti-inflammatory.
To see these longterm results, I’d obviously have to take the supplement for more than a week or so, but what I can tell you is that I like the size of the New Chapter product. It is an easy to swallow gel cap, and this is important to me, because I have a hard time swallowing big pills.  And in fact, I do feel that even in the short term it has helped with my stress levels.  So I’ll definitely be ordering this in the future!
I also tried the New Chapter Wholemega, which an omega (fish oil) supplement.  My husband has taken omegas for cardiovascular health, but what I didn’t know is that this supplement can also benefit your immune system and help you maintain brain and digestive health.
Again, I loved the size of this product.  It’s a gel cap as well, and it’s a little smaller than other omega supplements I’ve seen, and you still only need 2 a day, so that’s fantastic.
Check out Best Price Nutrition for more information on these and other supplements.

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Disclosure: I received samples from Best Price Nutrition for review purposes and was not otherwise compensated. The opinions are my own.

Medical Disclaimer: Keep in mind that I’m not a medical professional. Statements about the medical benefits of these supplements has not been evaluated by the FDA and the products are not intended to treat, cure, or prevent disease. Please see your doctor before taking any new supplements.
Filed Under: health, product review

Friday Favorites: Week 68

June 16, 2011 15 Comments

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Hey everyone! Thanks for stopping by for Friday Favorites.  Ever since I was approaching the one year anniversary of this party, I’ve been trying to think of some way to change it up a bit.  I had a lot of ideas, and one thing I’ve decided to do is to create a Friday Favorites Features Board on Pinterest.
My plan is to pin the week’s features onto this board, just to give everyone a little extra free advertising.  And I’ll  also be adding other posts to this board from people who linked up but whom I didn’t feature here on the blog.  I’ve decided to do this because I only have time and space to feature a few people each week here on the blog, and I think this pin board will be a great way for me to highlight some extra folks each week.
And in the future I may make some other changes to the features, but for now I’m going to try this out and see how it goes.

One more announcement, before we get to our features.  This week I’m giving away a $100 Gift Certificate to Ann’s Bridal Bargains. And for the giveaway I’m using the Rafflecopter app, which I think will make the giveaways so much easier for me and for you. Go check it out!

Kids Chocolate Float from Lady Behind the Curtain

Watermelon Wreath from The Crafty Scientist

Hawaiian Haystacks from Jam Hands

Pinwheel Cupcakes from Sweeter than Sweets
 

Watermelon Clone-sicles from Tadka Pasta

Party Favor Surprise from Lady Behind The Curtain

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Filed Under: Friday Favorites

Easy Flag Wreath and Wall Art Tutorial

June 15, 2011 14 Comments

I love 4th of July! I don’t usually do any decorating for it, but I had this flag handkerchief with a couple of paint spots on it, and because I hate to throw things away, I decided to upcycle it into a nice wall hanging.
This is such an easy and affordable project, I just had to share it with you!

What You Need:
embroidery hoop (mine was 12 inches)
flag (mine was about 15 inches wide)
scissors
hot glue gun
ribbon

First you need to position the flag inside the embroidery.  Make sure that the area inside the hoop is the exact area you want display, and then tight the hoop.  (For mine, I did the “up and down” hanging flag as seen in the Olympics, but as you can see in the picture below, it looks great horizontal as well.)

Next take your scissors and cut out the excess fabric, leaving about 1/2 an inch to an inch all the way around.  Your cut doesn’t have to be perfect because you won’t see any of the excess after you’re done.

After you’re done cutting, take your glue gun and glue your excess fabric to the inside of your embroidery hoop.  Finally take a piece of ribbon (about 8 inches long).  Loop the ribbon through the hoop.  Tie the ribbon in a knot.  Hang on your wall or door and enjoy!
I’m linking up at these linky parties.

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Filed Under: crafts, decorating, Misc Holidays, Patriotic, Wreaths

Relieving Pain and Saving Money with Walgreens Brand Health & Wellness Products

June 14, 2011 1 Comment
This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Walgreens. All opinions are 100% mine.

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Previously I’ve mentioned that I suffer from frequent headaches, which means that I always have to have over-the-counter medicines on hand.  One place that I  shop for pain relief products is Walgreens.  I like shopping at Walgreens because they are conveniently open 24 hours a day, and they have a great selection of products, including their own brand of health and wellness products.

Walgreens Brand Health & Wellness Products are pharmacist recommended, and they are a great value, allowing families and individuals to save money without sacrificing quality or trust. With the rising cost of health care, saving money on over-the-counter medications can really benefit a family’s budget. And most products contain the same active ingredients as other national brands.
And every purchase of Walgreens Brand Health & Wellness Products supports bringing preventive health tests and wellness services to local communities through the Walgreens Way to Well Fund™.

One product that I like at Walgreens is their Extra Strength Headache Relief.  The product contains acetaminophen, aspirin, and caffeine.  The results are comparable to that of the leading brand, but it costs about $2 less.  This may not sound like much to some people, but the savings definitely add up over time.  Walgreens also offers this product in Quick Gels, which I prefer over the tablets offered by other companies.
There’s also a line of heat patches and heat wraps offered by Walgreens Brand Health & Wellness Products. I really love using heat patches for muscle pains, but the leading brand is very expensive, considering each patch is a one time use product. So I love that I can save money by purchasing the brand offered at Walgreens.

Do you love to shop at Walgreens? Several bloggers are hosting  giveaways for Walgreens gift cards this week!  Go check it out! Go check it out!
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Filed Under: health, product review

Ann’s Bridal Bargains Giveaway

June 14, 2011 17 Comments
“Goin’ to the chapel and we’re gonna get married.”
I’m really excited about this week’s giveaway! It is for a $100 gift certificate to Ann’s Bridal Bargains, an online retailer of wedding essentials and supplies.  They have everything you need, whether you’re throwing a bridal shower for a friend or loved one or walking down the aisle yourself.
They have wedding napkins in just about every color and design you can imagine.
They also have a variety of decor, including aisle runners and table centerpieces.
And they have everything you need for the perfect reception, including cake toppers and serving sets.

And since cupcakes are my favorite, I was really excited to see these adorable wedding cupcakes picks.  Aren’t these the cutest?

And they also have all the “little things” that make your wedding complete like favors, invitations, and programs.

But since I’m already married, I had to see if there was anything at the site for us married gals.  And I was pleased to find these adorable initial necklaces.  If I was eligible to win this giveaway, I’d definitely want one of these!

And I also liked these wedding albums.  We had a TON of pictures printed from our wedding, so I know that you can’t ever have too many photo albums!

Win it!  One Simply Sweet Home reader will win a $100 Gift Certificate to Ann’s Bridal Bargains.
How to enter: You must be a follower of Simply Sweet Home, and use the Rafflecopter form to tell us something that you’d like from Ann’s Bridal Bargains. 

(Note: I’m testing  Rafflecopter this week.  So no need to leave comments, however, comments are always welcome! If you have any problems using the Rafflecopter application, feel free to submit your entries via the comments section, or email me for assistance! Thanks!)


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Filed Under: Giveaways, party ideas, shopping

Orange Cream Shakes

June 12, 2011 17 Comments
It’s super hot and humid here!  Lucky for me, I’m an indoor girl! hehe. But I still like to eat my cool summer snacks!  And I’ve had a super craving for ice cream lately.  Maybe it’s because the ice cream man drives by our house every day!
This week I’m sharing a wonderfully yummy recipe that came to me via my lovely bloggy friend Chaya of Chaya’s Comfy Cook Blog. Seriously, I made this almost immediately after I saw it!
If you love Orange Dreamsicles, Push-ups or anything like that, you’re sure to love these Orange Cream Shakes!

Recipe for Orange Cream Shakes:

Ingredients:

4 cups vanilla ice cream or frozen yogurt
2 cups orange juice
4 tablespoons milk
6 tablespoons sugar or agave
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

Directions:  Place all ingredients in blender.  Blend until smooth.



I’m linking up at these parties.

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Filed Under: desserts, drinks, Recipe of the Week, summer
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