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Friday Favorites – Week 17

June 17, 2010 8 Comments

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Welcome to another edition of Friday Favorites.  If you’re new to my blog, I invite you to join the party by linking up your favorite post(s) for the week! Before we get the party started, I have a couple of announcements to make.  First off, I’d like to remind you that the Sweet Thursday Pie & Cake event will be posted next Wednesday night! I already have several yummy treats to share with you, and I invite you all to stop by and link up your own recipes.  Also, if you’d like to be featured in the post, you have until Tuesday to email your submission in. 
Also, please check out my current giveaways. I’m running my $30 Kroger gift card giveaway a little longer than usual because it’s for a good cause.  So there’s still plenty of time to get lots of entries for tweeting and so forth. 
I’m also giving away a spool of craft ribbon.  This giveaway ends next week, and as of this writing, there’s only about 30 entries, so there’s a good chance of winning!  Also, I launched a new Canvas Print Giveaway.  We gave one of these away back in April, and there were a ton of entries.  So if you entered last time and didn’t win, you should definitely try again!
And last but not least, I will be guest posting on Sunday for the Cupcake Carnival at Attempting Creative, so stop by over there and say hi!
Okay!  I think that’s everything!  Now it’s party time!  If you’re blog is featured, please grab my “featured” button for your blog.  Thanks!

I just love Toy Story! So glad they finally made another one! Check out these Toy Story Activites from Something About Katie.

Lemon Pie is one of my childhood favorites.  Needless to say, I’m finding this Pink Lemonade Pie from Pumpkin Tart very tempting!

I love all the owl stuff that’s out right now.  The little owls are so cute, including this Owl Purse frm Something About Katie.
Another lemon recipe to tempt me!  This Lemon Freeze came to us from Recipe Corner.

If you’re looking for a unique way to give money as a gift, take a look at this Money Box tutorial with printables from Pittypat Paperie.
I can’t wait to see you’re posts for this week!  To help me promote this event, please include a link to my blog somewhere in your post or in your sidebar.  I really appreciate it!  Thanks so much for linking up with me!
-Jerri

Filed Under: Friday Favorites

Kitty Cat Treat Canister Tutorial

June 16, 2010 7 Comments

After seeing so many great mod podge projects last year, I finally starting trying it out this year.  So far I’ve only done a few projects, but I know they’ll be more to come soon.
For one of my first projects, I decided to make a treat container for my kitty cats. By placing the treats out on the counter, I figure it would save me a little cabinet space and also serve as a reminder to give the cats their treats. And I was right! Plus, I now have a cute container to go along side my canister set. (And it’s color coordinated. Yay!)
And even though Rebel and Dixie cannot read, they know exactly what’s inside!  I simply have to hold the canister up and give it a shake, and the excitement begins.  And since it generally means that they get treats more often, they kitties give this idea 2 paws up!

What You’ll Need:
An old container (I used an oatmeal canister, which can hold 2 pouches of the treats we buy, more if I took them out of the pounches, but I keep them in to maintain freshness.)
Scrapbook paper
Stickers
Mod Podge
Paint Brush
Ribbon (optional)
Instructions:  Choose two sheets of scrapbook paper that go well together.  Next lay your canister (or other container) down so that you can decide how much paper you’ll need.  I used 12×12 sheets.  And my container was 6 1/2 inches tall, so I made the strip of paper for the bottom about 4 inches tall., and the strip for the top about 2 1/2 inches tall.  Just be careful not to cut it too short.  (You can always trim some off or allow the papers to overlap if it’s too long, but if it’s too short, you’ll have to start over, use additional paper or trim.)
Before wrapping the paper around, make sure it will go all the way around.  My paper lacked about a fifth of an inch from going around all the way, so I had to mod podge a very thin strip of paper on first before wrapping the paper around.  (I put this towards to the back, but in fact it actually doesn’t look too bad.  However, it does blend in better with the plaid paper than with the solid.)
Apply a thin coat of mod podge to your paper with your paint brush.  Then wrap the paper carefully around the container.  (It doesn’t really matter which order, but I chose to mod podge the top piece first.  Smooth out any wrinkles or air bubbles.  Also be sure that the edges (seam) of the paper are well coated with the mod podge.  I used the tip of my brush to light press on the seams.  Allow mod podge to dry.
Next add your stickers.
Now wrap your ribbon or trim around the container for measuring purposes.  Cut off the amount your need.  Apply a coat of mod podge to the ribbon, and place the ribbon around the container.  Again smooth out any wrinkles, and make sure the ends of the ribbon are well attached.  All to dry.
Finally take your paint brush and apply a light coat of mod podge over all the surfaces of your container.  Allow to dry. And you’re done! 
Now place your treats inside, give it a rattle, and watch the pets go crazy!
 


-Jerri

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I’m posting a link to this post at:
Homemaker Mondays at 11th Heaven’s Homemade Haven
Tackle it Tuesday at 5 Minutes For Mom
It’s So Very Creative & It’s So Very Thrifty hosted by It’s So Very Cheri
Make it for Monday hosted by Cottage Instincts
Made it Mondays hosted by The Persimmon Perch
Making the World Cuter Monday hosted by Making the World Cuter
Make Your Monday hosted by Twice Remembered
Metamorphosis Monday hosted by Between Naps on the Porch
DIY Day at A Soft Place to Land
Market Yourself Monday is hosted by Sumos Sweet Stuff
Marketing Mondays and Sharing Ideas Wednesday is hosted by The Trendy Treehouse
What Your Working with Wednesday is hosted by Me and My Bucket
Show & Tell Wednesday is hosted by Blue Cricket Design
Tip Me Tuesday is hosted by Tip Junkie
Week End Review is hosted by Tator Tots & Jello
Star on Saturday is hosted by Craft-Werk
Penny Pinching Party is hosted by The Thrifty Home
Show & Tell Friday is hosted by Romantic Home
I’m Loving it Fridays is hosted by Tidy Mom

Filed Under: crafts, Pets

Rolled Canvas Print Giveaway

June 15, 2010 56 Comments
Have you ever seen a print on canvas?    Large Format Posters offer professional quality canvas prints.  I recently ordered a canvas print of my favorite wedding photo, and it turned out beautiful! 

This month everyone has the chance to win a rolled canvas print of a photo of your choice.  Your print will be a 16×20, and your photo will be printed on a thick, high quality artist canvas with a matte finish. Poly-cotton blend makes this canvas ultra durable.

This would be a great chance to get a professional canvas print of your wedding photo, a family photo, or a photo of your children.  Or it would make a fabulous gift for someone.
Win it!  One Simply Sweet Home Reader will win one 16×20 Rolled Canvas with FREE shipping included.  To win, simply leave a comment telling us how you would use this prize. 
Giveaway Closed. Congrats to our winner Stacia at The Domestic Engineer Blogs!

-Jerri

Full Disclosure: I was not monetarily compensated for this post.  For hosting this giveaway I will recieve a free 16×20 canvas print.

Filed Under: Giveaways, Sponsors

Mahi Mahi – The Catch of the Day!

June 13, 2010 12 Comments
Believe it or not, I’m not real big on seafood!  It just wasn’t something we ate a lot in our home growing up (except for Captain D’s! lol.)  But in the past few years, I have grown more open to it.  But still my favorites remain shrimp or just a simple white filet.  But Mr. Simply Sweet Home grew up in Mobile, right near the gulf, so he’s just the opposite of me! He loves seafood, and he’s probably tried just about everything.  In fact he tells me the fried catfish sold in resturants “up here” is not real seafood.
One of his favorite restaurant “down there” is Wintzell’s Oyster House.  (If you ever take a trip to Gulf Shores or Mobile, you should definitely check it out. They not only have great food, but they have fun sayings written all over the wall, which you can read while you wait for your food.  They also have other locations in Alabama, one in Mississippi, and one coming to Pensacola, Florida soon.) 
Anyway, my husband always gets a platter of oysters for an appetizer and Mahi Mahi for his meal.  Mahi Mahi is very similar to tilapia.  It’s also known as dolphin-fish, but don’t worry!  I’m happy to report that it has nothing to do with the dolphins (which are mammals),  that we typically think of when we hear dolphin.  
Several months ago  I was looking at the fish in the store, and I just happened to run across some fresh mahi mahi. Admittedly mine looks nothing like the stuff at Wintzell’s.  They put all kinds of stuff on top of it. (I’ve only seen it a couple of times, so I can’t remember what).  But hubby likes mine too (as he should, since he’s the one that told me how I should make it when I had no idea). And even I, the “non-seafood lover” like it!  So that should be a good endorsement! 
This post was featured for the People’s Choice Award at Tuesday Tastes.

Recipe for Mahi Mahi:
Ingredients:
Mahi Mahi filets (I always eat one, but most people would probably want 2.)
Italian Dressing
Lemon Pepper Seasoning
Directions:  Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Dip filets in Italian Dressing.  Top with additional dressing if necessary. (After dipping, I always take any dressing left in the bowl and pour it on top of the filets.  Place on baking sheet.  (I usually line mine with tin foil for easy cleaning.) Spinkle with lemon peper seasoning. Bake for 20 minutes or until done.

Crazy Daisy Button

-Jerri
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I’m posting a link to this post on the following sites:
Tempt My Tummy Tuesday is hosted by Blessed With Grace.
Delicious Dishes is hosted by It’s a Blog Party
Tuesday Tastes is hosted by Crazy Jayz Place
Homemaker Mondays is hosted by 11th Heaven’s Homemade Haven.
Tasty Tuesday is hosted by Balancing Beauty & Bedlam.
Works for Me Wednesday is hosted by We Are THAT Family
Tip Me Tuesday is hosted by Tip Junkie
Tackle it Tuesday is hosted by 5 Minutes for Mom
Sharing Ideas Wednesday is hosted by The Trendy Treehouse
Friday Food is hosted by Mom Trends
Friday Foodie is hosted by Designs by Gollum
Finer Things Friday is hosted by Amy’s Finer Things
I’m Lovin It Fridays is hosted by Tidy Mom
Show off Your Stuff Thursday is hosted by Fireflies and Jellybeans

Filed Under: casseroles and quick meals, Recipe of the Week

Friday Favorites – Week 16

June 10, 2010 10 Comments

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It’s week 16 of Friday Favorites!  This week I have a couple of fun craft tutorials and some sweet summer treats to share with you.  Hope you enjoy them!
Don’t forget that you can get an extra entry in all my giveaways just for linking up!  I have a few posted this week, including a $30 Kroger giftcard! You can find links to all my giveaways at the top of the blog.
Also, if anyone’s interested in guest posting on Simply Sweet Home, please send me an email.  Sometimes I have things going on that keep me from posting as much as I’d like, and it would be great to fill the void with a guest post every now and then. I had planned on doing a special post about this, but I thought I’d let my Friday participants have the first chance to volunteer.
Now on with the party! If you’re featured this week, please grab my “featured” button!

If you’re looking for ideas for a healthy treat this summer, you could try this Strawberry Granola Parfait fromWith a Grateful Prayer and a Thankful Heart.
I just love this Kid’s Art Folder from Just Sew Sassy. Go check out the great tutorial!
Here’s a cute summer cupcake idea! Heather from Twin Dragonfly Designs made these Pink Lemonade Cupcakes.  Yum!

 
I’ve seen some lovely individual silhouette wall hangings and even pillows in the last few months. Now here’s a project for the whole family (literally). This Silhouette Art idea is from Cannary Family.

And another yummy treat for the summer! Learn how to make your own watermelon cookies at Amanda’s Cooking.

Join the party by linking up your post below! Please leave a link to your actual post rather than your blog so that we can easily find your post. And please help me advertise this event by including a link to my blog in your posts. Thanks for stopping in this week!

-Jerri

Filed Under: Friday Favorites

Venus Ribbon Review/Giveaway

June 8, 2010 61 Comments
Here’s another fun giveaway for all you crafty chicks! Venus Ribbon offers a variety of fashionable ribbons for all your crafting projects.  Their stock includes ribbons of all colors, patterns, styles, and motifs.  These include polka dots, stripes, animal prints, sports themes, patriotic, checkered, plaid, solid colors, and more!  If you’re thinking ahead for the holidays, they even have ribbons for Christmas, Halloween, and Valentines.
I received a 10 yard spool of ribbon in the pattern of my choice.  I chose the reversible hot pink and white polka dot ribbon.  I was impressed with the quality of the fabric and its vibrant colors. I plan to use this ribbon on at least one fashion project, which will be a pair of flip flops.  And I’ll also be using this for other craft projects and possibly for some fancy gift ribbons.
I would definitely recommend this ribbon to anyone who makes hairbows or likes to add ribbons and bows to children’s fashions.  It would also be ideal for home decor and craft projects or your homemade gifts.  Here are just a few of the fun patterns available.  Be sure to check out Venus Ribbon for more cute and colorful ribbons for your projects!



One of my readers will win a 10 yrd spool of ribbon in their favorite style.  To enter, please visit Venus Ribbon  and leave a comment on this post with your favorite pattern and what you would make with the ribbon.


Giveaway Closed. Winner: Birdie of Birdie Says.

 

-Jerri

Full Disclosure:  I was not paid for this post. For hosting this giveaway, I received a free spool of ribbon.  The giveaway prize is provided by Venus Ribbon. The opinions here are mine.

Filed Under: crafts, Giveaways, product review, Sponsors

Sour Cream Pound Cake

June 7, 2010 18 Comments
As some of you know, my husband only has two or three desserts that he really loves.  He’ll try other things that I bake, but for the most part, he only gets excited about his faves.  So when I bake something new, I usually have to bake one of his favorites too, or I’ll look for new variations on his favorites to make.
I recently tried this sour cream pound cake for his birthday.  This is a “doctored” cake mix recipe, which I always love!  And I have to say, it was one of the best pound cakes I’ve had!  It’s very moist and has a great taste and consistently!  I added chocolate frosting, but any frosting would be good, and this would be wonderful as a plain cake as well.
Don’t forget the Sweet Thursday Pie & Cake event is June 24!  Send me an email with a link to your post if you’d like to be featured!
Recipe for Sour Cream Pound Cake:
Ingredients:

1 18 1/4 ounce) package yellow cake mix
1 cup sour cream
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup water
1/4 cup sugar
4 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:  Preheat oven to 350° and lightly grease and flour a 13×9 pan. Combine all ingredients in large mixing bowl and blend on low speed of mixer for 1 minute. Scrape down sides with spatula. Increase mixer speed to medium and beat an additional 2 minutes. Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until golden brown and tests done when a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.  Cool on a wire rack and frost as desired.  Serve as is, or frost with your favorite icing.

-Jerri

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I’m posting a link to this post on the following sites:
Tempt My Tummy Tuesday is hosted by Blessed With Grace.
Delicious Dishes is hosted by It’s a Blog Party
Tuesday Tastes is hosted by Crazy Jayz Place
Homemaker Mondays is hosted by 11th Heaven’s Homemade Haven.
Tasty Tuesday is hosted by Balancing Beauty & Bedlam.
Works for Me Wednesday is hosted by We Are THAT Family
Tip Me Tuesday is hosted by Tip Junkie
Tackle it Tuesday is hosted by 5 Minutes for Mom
Sharing Ideas Wednesday is hosted by The Trendy Treehouse
Friday Food is hosted by Mom Trends
Friday Foodie is hosted by Designs by Gollum
Finer Things Friday is hosted by Amy’s Finer Things
I’m Lovin It Fridays is hosted by Tidy Mom
Show off Your Stuff Thursday is hosted by Fireflies and Jellybeans

Filed Under: desserts, Recipe of the Week

Feed America with the Pound For Pound Challenge. Plus $30 Kroger Giveaway!

June 4, 2010 126 Comments
The Kroger Co. Family of Stores, General Mills, NBC’s hit television show “The Biggest Loser” and other key sponsors are partnering to donate up to $1,080,000 to Feeding America this year.
Want to help? It’s easy! Just visit Pound for Pound Challenge to make your pledge to lose weight. Through June 30, 2010, the Pound For Pound Challenge will donate 14 cents to feeding America. That’s enough to deliver one pound of groceries to a local food bank!
I was excited to find out about this program because my husband just started a weight loss program. He is vowing to lose 60 pounds! So I was happy to send him over to the Pound for Pound Challenge to make a pledge!  You should go make a pledge too.  It only takes a minute, and it’s for a great cause!
As the official supplier of the Biggest Loser Ranch and a partner of the Pound for Pound Challenge, the Kroger Family of Stores wants to help you maintain a healthy lifestyle. At the Pound for Pound Challenge website, you can find tools and information to help you with your weight loss goals, and you can learn about many of the products that have been featured on the program, “The Biggest Loser.” These include great foods like Yoplait Yogurt and Smoothies, Total cereal, and Multigrain Cheerios. These products are available at your local Kroger Family of Stores and can help you stick to your weight management plan.

To help you to try these General Mills products and get a start on your weight management goals,  Kroger and General Mills are offering one Simply Sweet Home reader a $30 gift card to the Kroger Family of Stores. 

Giveaway Closed. Congrats to our winner, Leigh at One Day at a Time!

-Jerri

Full Disclosure: For hosting this giveaway and passing along this information, I was given a $30 Kroger giftcard. This information and giveaway are provided by the Kroger Family of Stores and General Mills through MyBlogspark.

Filed Under: Giveaways, health, Sponsors

Friday Favorites – Week 15

June 3, 2010 12 Comments

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Greetings! And thanks for stopping in for Friday Favorites!  This week I’m changing it up a little and featuring some of our cupcakes from last week’s Sweet Thursday event.  And then next week’s Friday Favorites post will include posts linked up from last week’s and this week’s FF event.  So if you linked up a post here last Friday, you may still see it here next week.
Also, for linking up this week, you are eligible for an extra entry in my Sense daily moisturizer giveaway and my Yoohoo & Friends giveaway! 

Now let’s check out this week’s featured posts!  If you’re featured, I welcome you to take my “featured” button for your blog.

I just love bees! (At least the bees found in baking and craft projects!)  Aren’t these the cutest?  These Lemon Honey Cupcakes are from glitter to gumdrops. (We also had some more equally delicious looking cupcakes linked up from here, so you’ll definitely want to go by and check them out) 
I always get excited when I see the phrase “Tres Leches.”  These yummy looking Tres Leches Cupcakes came to us from Little Bit of Everything.
 Wouldn’t you love to have these cupcakes at your picnics this summer?  Liz from Hoosier Homemade linked up a post which included these and several of her most recent cupcakes.  If you haven’t been to Liz’s place, it is a must see! Each week she bakes up the cutest cupcakes, and she also hosts Cupcake Tuesday each week!
I finally tried pumpkin pie for the first time last year, and since then I’ve been interested in trying som new pumpkin recipes.  These yummy looking Pumpkin Cupcakes are from Full Circle.

Another cupcake I’d like to try!  We usually see these around St. Patrick’s Day, but when something looks as good as this, it seems silly to only eat them in March.  These Chocolate Guiness Cupcakes are from Siggy Spice.

Let’s get the party started!  Link up your favorite posts below!  Please link up your actual post (not your blog) and include a link back to my blog somewhere in your post.

 -Jerri

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I’m posting a link to this post on the following sites:
Tempt My Tummy Tuesday is hosted by Blessed With Grace.
Tuesday Tastes is hosted by Crazy Jayz Place
Homemaker Mondays is hosted by 11th Heaven’s Homemade Haven.
Tasty Tuesday is hosted by Balancing Beauty & Bedlam.
Works for Me Wednesday is hosted by We Are THAT Family
Tip Me Tuesday is hosted by Tip Junkie
Tackle it Tuesday is hosted by 5 Minutes for Mom
Sharing Ideas Wednesday is hosted by The Trendy Treehouse
Friday Food is hosted by Mom Trends
Friday Foodie is hosted by Designs by Gollum
Finer Things Friday is hosted by Amy’s Finer Things
I’m Lovin It Fridays is hosted by Tidy Mom
Show off Your Stuff Thursday is hosted by Fireflies and Jellybeans


Filed Under: cupcakes, Friday Favorites

Yoohoo & Friends Feature & Giveaway

June 1, 2010 32 Comments
I am pleased to introduce you to Aurora’s Yoohoo & Friends!  This adorable children’s program and line of plush toys are based on animals from around the world, many of which are endangered.
Yoohoo & Friends have a new interactive world on the web.   At the website, visitors can learn about the many animals that Yoohoo & Friends are based on, as well as play games, send e-cards, download wallpapers, calendars and coloring sheets.  They can also adopt and raise YooHoo & Friends.  It requires no activation code and is targeted to children 5 to 12 years old.
Currently there are over 100 different items in the Yoohoo & Friends line.  You can buy their plush toys, keychains, and more online at http://shop.auroragift.com/ or you can check to see if they are available in your area.  And as you can see below, they even have graduation Yoohoos!
I received 2 Yoohoo & Friends toys:  Lora the Scarlet Macaw and Shooga the Sugar Glider.  These little guys are just adorable!  They are very soft and feature bright colors, big tales, and big, bright eyes! And they make cute noises.  Oddly enough, both the cartoon and the toys themselves remind me of Shirt Tales from the 80’s.  (Love them!) These toys are sure to be loved by children and collector’s alike!
One Simply Sweet Home reader will win a 5 inch plush Yoohoo & Friends Toy that makes a noise when you squeeze it. 


Giveaway Closed.  Congrats to our winner, Candice of Penny Pinching Pixie!
Disclosure: Product samples and giveaway prizes are provided by Aurora.  The opinions expressed here are my own.  If you’d like to have your product featured on Simply Sweet Home, please see my PR Page for details.
Filed Under: Giveaways, product review, Sponsors
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