Archive for January, 2013

Amy’s Notebook 01.30.13

Wednesday, January 30th, 2013
source: how does she?

I can’t wait to print out these family dinner questions for our Friday family nights (@ How Does She?)

I adore this bunting made from an old dictionary (@ Brooklyn Limestone)

I love this simple yoga mat bag for a beginner sewing project (@ design sponge)

These peanut butter & jelly bars look like a great after school snack (@ Eat At Home)

I love this old sweater turned into a lampshade (@ Unskinny Boppy)

This creamy polenta with roasted mushrooms looks like the perfect lunch for me (@ Two Peas & Their Pod)

source: u-create

I love this thrifty project for turning tights into leggings (@ u-create)

I can’t wait to try one of these ten microwave in a mug desserts (@ Love Stitched)

My kids would flip for this octopus pizza pie (@ instructables)

I love this tutorial for how to make oat milk (@ Oh She Glows)

These homemade black bean burgers look divine (@ Smells Like Home)

source: design sponge

I am dying to knit this adorable chunky cowl (@ design sponge)

I love these stylish ways to display black-and-white photos (@ Centsational Girl)

I love these tips for how to tie the perfect bow (@ my own ideas)

My family would love these whole wheat honey waffles (@ Cooking With My Kid)

I want to try this recipe for two ingredient pancakes (@ Recipe Girl)

I hope you enjoyed this collection of gathered links to DIY crafts, food projects, and thrifty ways to spruce up your home. Nothing brings me more joy then to highlight other fabulous bloggers. Follow me on Pinterest for daily inspiration!

DIY Command Center (For Small Spaces)

Tuesday, January 29th, 2013

Small spaces often come with big organizational challenges. When you don’t have spare closets, only have minimal wall space, and struggle with tiny rooms, creating a DIY command center for your home can be a challenge. Today’s tutorial offers some quick ideas for creating your own DIY Command Center in your home.

Here is what I have been struggling with in this corner of my home. The kids were driving me crazy when they came home from school because they would immediately dump everything in this corner and throw their papers all over my kitchen counter when they got home.

The real question is were they really driving me crazy or was it because they really didn’t have a place that they could call their own?

The coat rack in our entry was too high for them to reach, there was nowhere for their backpacks to go, and the paper situation needed a designated spot other than on top of my kitchen counter while I am trying to prepare the family dinner.

I headed to our local Walmart to see what organizational tools I could find and was excited to discover the perfect solution for our little corner. I found this Mainstays Pub Mirror ($22.96) for our kids to use for their coats over in the home decor section of the store. In the closet organization section, I found a Mainstays Seagrass Basket ($12.99) for storing our magazines and umbrellas.

A seldom used storage ottoman was moved underneath for housing the backpack and briefcase clutter and also offers one of my children an extra little boost to climb up and put her backpack away.

Since paper clutter was quickly becoming out of control, I found an upright file folder organizer and colorful file folders for organizing the whole family. The kids each now have an IN and OUT folder. If they need something signed, they put it in the IN folder for me for signatures and I give it back to them by putting those items in the OUT folder, that they can check before they leave for school. Special memorabilia that is worth saving still resides in their decorative boxes in their rooms.

This small compartment organizer for keys, sunglasses, and other things that seem to get misplaced rests on this half moon table for easy finding and grabbing in the morning. Above this table is our family calendar so we can keep track of important events. Just like every other family I know, the calendar is filled to the brim and we have a lot to keep track of these days.

We moved our clock to the other wall  and I decided to add a frame to this wall with some new art work. I found this awesome free printable (literally) over on the Funky Polkadot Giraffe. I printed it on cardstock at home (free) and then framed it in this Canopy picture frame that already included a matte.  I really love how this turned out and that it adds another fun decorating addition to our walls.

This room has been going through a bit of a transformation now that we are finally figuring out what we really love and are starting to get our own sense of style.  We gave our glider chair to our in-laws, sold our two checked chairs through a community Facebook group, and donated our old couch. We kept the same neutral color on the walls, but decided to update our accessories and add some much needed furniture back into this room.

This is my absolute favorite room in our house. It has replaced my other favorite room in our house (our home office) thanks to the addition of the record player, the comfy chair that I found on deep clearance at a furniture store, and I just love the nautical feel of this room which makes me oh-so-happy!

Now that we have a Command Center, albeit a small one, this room now makes me even happier and renews my commitment that even if you have a small home, you can make any space a functional space for your family. As our reminder to our commitment to enjoy living small, I added this print to our wall. It makes me happy every time I come down the stairs and reminds me of what is important.

Small homes do come with challenges, but they also come with many rewards!

Do you have a command center in your home? How do you organize the after school chaos? Feel free to share here!

 

 

 

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Valentine’s Dinner Date At Home: Peanut-Ginger Chicken Noodles

Tuesday, January 29th, 2013

I can’t remember the last time my husband and I went out for Valentine’s Day. My favorite thing to do for Valentine’s Day is to plan an elegant feast for us at home and wow my husband with my cooking. Valentine’s Day dinner dates at home are something that I look forward to every year and I can’t wait to showcase some ideas for you.

We stopped dining out for fancy meals after my husband lost his job and we found ourselves lacking the income to indulge in such a luxury. After the birth of our children, we knew that paying for a sitter and a dinner out were both far out of our budget reach.

As I became more acquainted with the kitchen though, we soon realized that dinners out just lacked that pizzazz that we could easily get from home. The food was a bit better, (if the house was relatively tidy) the atmosphere was better, and we could spend a whole heck of a lot less and get a whole heck of a lot more.

It is funny, now even when we have help to watch our kids, we still gravitate towards eating at home. I remember having a gift card for a fancy restaurant in town and we ended up spending $75 on dinner.

I looked across the table at my husband and he said,

“It was good, but…I like your tilapia better.”

Yeah, the tilapia that I buy for $4.99 a bag and prepare at home tasted better than the $25 of one fillet of tilapia plated in front of my hubby… sickening, isn’t it?

Dining at home doesn’t have to feel like a chore. First begin with the scenery. Can you relocate to a different location in your home? An elegant picnic on the floor? A folding table elegantly set with your finest table linens?  What about that dining table that only gets used for special occasion? How about dusting off that wedding china that seldom gets used? When you use and eat in spots in your home that are seldom visited, it can feel a lot like dining out. 

Don’t make it the same old dinner that you usually do, but make it a delicious experience that you can treasure. I think having great ingredients and new recipes to indulge in makes cooking feel like fun instead of the same old dinner routine that I have to perform.

Walmart challenged me this month to spend $35 and showcase some ideas that you could incorporate in your own feast. I wanted to show a mix of homemade and store-bought ideas that any couple could try. This is a feast prepared with your budget and time constraints in mind.

My store-bought choices included fresh strawberries, an angel food cake, a bag of frozen edamame sprinkled with kosher salt, chicken & vegetable dumplings from the P.F. Chang’s frozen food line, and bottles of fine wine priced at $10.

Even these homemade Peanut-Ginger Chicken Noodles were an easy creation thanks to those rotisserie chickens in the Deli department. The best part is that you can find those for under $5 in the coolers in the deli. I love that these are already chilled so that I can make fast work shredding my chicken for my favorite dishes.

I am sharing our delicious menu that was absolute perfection for us that I hope will inspire a deliciously wonderful date night with your significant other. I was able to purchase all of this food plus two bottles of wine priced at $10 each for a mere $35. If you skip the wine, this meal can be created with about $15 in food supplies. If you dine out, that is about the cost of two glasses of wine or one dinner (with no appetizers or drinks). Did I mention my meal offers leftovers for an entire week? You don’t even have to to tip the waitress (unless you want to give her a smooch).

I think the savings speaks for itself! 

Peanut-Ginger Chicken Noodles
Recipe Type: Main
Author: Adapted from the Picky Palate Cookbook by Jenny Flake
Prep time: 5 mins
Cook time: 10 mins
Total time: 15 mins
Serves: 6
These Peanut-Ginger Noodles can be found in the new Picky Palate Cookbook by Jenny Flake. The best part about these is that they can be served warm or cold, making them the perfect choice for a nervous chef who might be worried about timing everything perfectly in the kitchen. Full of peanut and ginger flavor with a crunch from red bell peppers and sesame seeds, these are a treat you can enjoy all week long.
Ingredients
  • 1 pound thin spaghetti
  • 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
  • 1/4 cup reduced-sodium soy sauce
  • 2 tablespoons packed light brown sugar
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons peeled and grated fresh ginger (I bought the kind prepared in the tubes in the herbal section)
  • 1 tablespoon minced garlic
  • 1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar
  • 1 cup hot pasta water
  • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1/2 cup chopped red bell pepper
  • 2 cups shredded cooked chicken breast (I used a rotisserie chicken)
  • 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds (optional)
Instructions
  1. Cook the spaghetti according to the package directions, drain, and run under cold water to stop the cooking. Be sure to reserve one cup of pasta water for your sauce before draining.
  2. Add the peanut butter, soy sauce, brown sugar, ginger, garlic, and vinegar to a blender and blend until smooth.
  3. Slowly add the hot water and blend until smooth.
  4. Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the bell pepper and cook, stirring, until tender, about five minutes.
  5. Add the chicken, cilantro, salt, pepper, cooked spaghetti and peanut sauce and stir to combine.
  6. Reduce the heat to low and cook, stirring, for 5 minutes.
  7. Serve warm or chilled, topped with toasted sesame seeds, if desired.

Source: Picky Palate Cookbook

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An Apron Full of Giveaways 01.29.13

Tuesday, January 29th, 2013

Source: meyertextileco, $24.50

Welcome to our Apron Full of Giveaways! I hope everyone is having a great week this week! As we do each week, here is our round-up of giveaways for our readers. We hope that this is beneficial to you and your family! Please let us know if you guys win anything- I love to hear the success stories!

Be sure to head on over to my contest for the new Windex Touch-Up Cleaner! I am picking ten winners to receive a sampling of this new product. The contest ends on January 31st so be sure to get your entries in! 

Below are the contest links-if you are hosting a contest please link it up below. Sorry, we are not giving away the aprons just showcasing them! Please put your site name and then what type of contest you are hosting. For example, “MomAdvice (Kid’s Movies).”

Good luck to each of you!

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DIY Rosette Bib Necklace Tutorial: Valentine’s Day Link-Up Party Fun

Monday, January 28th, 2013

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner and today I wanted to show you how to dress up a plain t-shirt with a DIY Rosette Bib Necklace. This tutorial for a DIY Rosette Bib Necklace will help you make a pretty piece of inexpensive jewelry that you can wear year after year to spice up an item you already have in your wardrobe for Valentine’s Day.

Supplies Needed

A simple chain or bead necklace (in the jewelry supplies)

Jewelry cutting tools (if needed to trim the sizing of your chain)
Fabric (you can use scrap fabric or buy inexpensive fabric quarters)
Felt
Hot Glue Gun & Glue Sticks
Scissors
Blow Dryer
Tweezers

Editor’s Note:I found my supplies at Walmart because I was already at that store shopping and they cost approximately $5 (if you don’t count buying jewelry cutting/shaping tools, hot glue gun, or scissors which I already owned).

1. Begin by measuring and cutting 5 strips of fabric into 1 1/2″ strips. The length can be determined by you. I used the length of the fabric quarters that I bought for this size rosette, but you can adjust to the sizing of your choice. I chose two different fabric prints for mine, but you can certainly do all the same color, if you prefer!

2. Add a knot to the end of your fabric to begin the start of your rolled rosette.

3. Begin twisting your fabric, adding small dabs of hot glue to hold the twisted rosette in place. Keep twisting and dabbing with glue until you get almost to the end of your fabric or until you reach your desired sizing.

4. With the end flap of your fabric, add a dot of hot glue to the back of your rosette, and then fold it behind to secure it in place.

5. If you have any gobs of hot glue (which is very easy to see with plain fabrics), use your blow dryer on a low setting to get rid of any hot glue strings or to slowly melt the glue a bit to pull it off with tweezers.

6. Glue your rosettes, in the center,  onto your piece of felt in a necklace arrangement. Make sure you leave the edges of the felt loose to tuck your chain behind it.

7. Use your scissors to trim the felt around the flower. Secure the flowers with a little more hot glue between them to help hold them together into one piece.

8. Secure your chain with hot glue between the layer of the rosette and the felt.

9. Trim your chain to the desired length and add the ends to your chain, if needed.

You can begin wearing your beautiful handmade necklace immediately! I wore mine for our annual Valentine’s Day Bunco night with a black top and red patent leather belt! It’s such a fun way to spice up items you already have in your wardrobe and could be made in a variety of colors, depending on your holiday occasion!

I do love Valentine’s Day around here and here are a few other fun Valentine’s Day projects you can spy on MomAdvice! Tomorrow I will be sharing an elegant Valentine’s dinner you can share on a budget!

DIY Tissue Paper Pom Poms
Red Velvet Cake With Cream Cheese Frosting
Red Velvet Cake Batter Ice Cream
Valentine’s Day Yarn Wreath
DIY Coffee Filter Flowers
Rolled Rosette Rings (to match your necklace)
Peppermint Marshmallows (cut them in hearts!)
Be Mine Fluffy Cake Doughnuts

Today I also happen to be  helping host the 2nd Annual Valentine Week Party! Last year’s week long event ended in a great party with 275 Valentine’s Day projects added!

This is really HUGE my friends! You can add your Valentine’s projects on any of the blogs and be seen on ALL 9 of them! That’s over 100,000 readers that will see your projects!


Meet your hostesses…

Now, it’s your turn to showcase your Valentine’s Day Ideas to the Party, simply click on the little blue button where it says “add your link” and your posts will show up on ALL NINE BLOGS! How cool is that? I can’t wait to see what projects you have been working on for Valentine’s Day!!



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Giveaway Closed: Introducing Windex Touch-Up Cleaner

Friday, January 25th, 2013

Sorry! The giveaway is now closed! Thank you to everyone who entered this giveaway! We would like to congratulate Comment # 18, 44, 8, 37, 20, 19, 43, 7, 14, & 21 on winning these samples of the new Windex Touch-Up Cleaner! 

Today I am excited to announce that I am partnering with Windex® to share exciting information (and offer giveaways) featuring a fun new product called the Windex® Touch-Up Cleaner. I happen to already be a big fan of their products and couldn’t wait to see the latest product from their line and share it with you here.

In my home, I love products that are fast and convenient, and Windex® Touch-Up Cleaner is an easy multi-surface solution you can use to quickly clean and sanitize both your kitchen and your bathroom with a simple press of the button. With this product, you need only to add a dab of cleaning solution to your paper towel, microfiber towel, tissue, etc. to get right to cleaning up the small messes your family has created. With two messy kids, this is just the type of quick product I look for when doing my cleaning around the house.

Windex® Touch-Up Cleaner can be used on sinks, countertops, toilets, appliances (exterior), stovetops, sealed granite, sealed marble, glass, glazed porcelain, chrome, glazed ceramic tile, finished wood and more. It is available in two varieties, for your bathroom or kitchen and it comes in two scents (fresh or a glistening citrus) for all of your household needs.

For the germaphobe in me, the most impressive thing about this cleaner is that it kills 99.9% of common household germs. It also happens to appeal to my frugal heart, at $3.99 (suggested retail price) for 240 dispenses. That is a fantastic deal compared to many one-use wipe products on the market!

Be sure to look for Windex® Touch-Up Cleaner on your store shelves this January and visit our site for more posts and fun giveaways for our readers! Thank you to, Windex®, for giving me the opportunity to partner with them on this fun new project!

Best of all, to kick things off I am giving ten (10) lucky readers a sample of both varieties!

1. Please leave a comment below by January 31st, 2013, answering the question, “What or who is the biggest contributor to the messes in your kitchen and/or bathroom that Windex Touch-Up Cleaner will help?”

 *If you are a winner, please leave a testimonial here once you’ve tried it out!*

Visit the official Windex® Facebook Page at www.Facebook.com/Windex or visit www.Windex.com to learn more about the Windex® Touch-Up Cleaner.

Disclosure: I have partnered with Windex® and am being compensated for my posts. However, my opinions are my own.

 

OFFICIAL RULES

 

NO PURCHASE OR PAYMENT POST OF ANY KIND IS NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. A PURCHASE OR, PAYMENT WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING.

 

1. Eligibility: Mom Advice’s Windex® Touch-Up Product Giveaway (“Sweepstakes”) is open only to legal residents of the fifty (50) United States (including the District of Columbia) who are at least eighteen (18) years of age.  Employees of Mom Advice (“Sponsor”), Daniel J. Edelman, Inc., and SC Johnson & Son, Inc. and any of their parents, subsidiaries. affiliated companies and their advertising and promotion agencies, as well as the immediate family (spouses, parents, siblings and children and their respective spouses, regardless of where they reside) and household members, whether or not related of each such employee are not eligible to enter or win. The Sweepstakes is subject to all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations.

 

2. Agreement to Official Rules: By participating in the Sweepstakes, entrant fully and unconditionally agrees to and accepts these Official Rules and the decisions of the Sponsor which are final and binding in all matters related to the Sweepstakes. Whether an entrant receives a prize is contingent upon fulfilling all requirements set forth herein.

 

3. Timing: The Sweepstakes begins on January 24, 2013 at 12:00 a.m. Pacific Time (“PT”) and ends on January 31, 2013 at 5:00 p.m. PT (“Promotion Period”).

 

4. How to Enter: During the Promotion Period, there is one way to earn an entry: 1. Leave a comment on this blog post answering the question, “What messes are constantly in your house?”

 

All online entries must be received (comments posted) by 5:00 p.m. PT on January 31, 2013 to be eligible.  Limit one (1) entry per person, per email address and per household, regardless of method of entry. Entries received from any person, email address or household in excess of the stated limitation will be void. Entries generated by script, macro or other automated means and entries by any means which subvert the entry process are void. All entries become the property of Sponsor and will not be acknowledged or returned. In the event of a dispute over the identity of an online entrant, entry will be deemed submitted by the authorized account holder of the e-mail address associated with the blog post and he/she must comply with these Official Rules. Authorized account subscriber is the natural person who is assigned the e-mail address by the Internet Service Provider (ISP), on-line service provider, or other organization responsible for assigning e-mail addresses.

 

Entrants must comply with guidelines provided by Sponsor. An entrant’s failure to comply with the terms and conditions and/or guidelines, as determined by Sponsor, may result in disqualification and all associated entries will be void. By submitting your name and email address, you agree to receive relevant promotional emails and contest follow up communications from Sponsor.

Blog posting must (i) be entrant’s own original work and reflect the true opinions and experiences of the applicable entrant,  (ii) be in English, (iii) cannot be previously published or submitted in connection with any other promotion, (iv) be in keeping with the Sponsor’s image and (v) not be offensive or inappropriate, as determined by the Sponsor in its sole discretion, nor can it defame or invade publicity rights or privacy of any person, living or deceased, or otherwise infringe upon any person’s personal or property rights or any other  third party rights. Sponsor reserves the right to remove any blog post and void the associated entry that it determines, in its sole discretion, is offensive or inappropriate, not in keeping with Sponsor’s image or that is otherwise not in compliance with these Official Rules.

 

By posting a blog post, each entrant acknowledges and agrees that Sponsor may obtain blog posts under this Sweepstakes or have developed on its own or through other third parties’  ideas and material and blog posts that may be similar or identical in theme, idea, format or other respects to others submitted under this Sweepstakes and/or other promotions sponsored by the Sponsor or submitted for other reasons on the website, and entrant waives any and all claims he/she may have had, may have, and/or may have in the future, that any other blog post accepted, reviewed and/or used by Sponsor may be similar to his/her blog post.

 

5. Winner Determination: Potential winners of prizes will be chosen from all eligible entries received in a random drawing to be held within five (5) business days after the close of entries by Sponsor whose decision is final and binding in all matters. Odds of winning depend on the number of eligible entries received.

 

6. Winner Requirements: Potential winners will be notified by email on or about twelve (12) days from January 24, 2013. The inability to contact the potential winner within a reasonable time period, the return of the prize or prize notification as undeliverable or non-compliance with these Official Rules will result in forfeiture of prize.

 

Winner, by acceptance of prize, except where legally prohibited, grants permission for Sponsor and its designees to use his/her name, address (city and state), photograph, voice and/or other likeness and prize information for promotional purposes without further compensation, in all media now known or hereafter discovered, worldwide in perpetuity, without notice or review or approval.

 

Winner, by acceptance of prize, agrees to review the product received in the prize package and post a product testimonial on Windex.com (click on the link to be directed to the review webpage).

 

7. Prizes: A prize package including one bathroom Windex Touch-Up Cleaner and one kitchen Windex Touch-Up Cleaner. Approximate Retail Value of prize is $7.98 USD and will be given to ten (10) selected winners. Prize is non-transferable and no substitution or cash-redemption is permitted except by Sponsor, in its sole discretion, which reserves the right to substitute the prize (or portion thereof) with one of comparable or greater value. Winner is responsible for all federal, state and local taxes (including income and withholding taxes) and any other costs and expenses associated with prize receipt and/or use not specified herein as being provided.  Prize is awarded “as is” with no warranty or guarantee, either express or implied by Sponsor. All prize details are at Sponsor’s sole discretion.

 

8. Release: Entrants agree to release and hold harmless Sponsor,  Daniel J. Edelman, Inc., S.C. Johnson & Son  and their respective subsidiaries, affiliates, suppliers, distributors, advertising/promotion agencies, and prize suppliers, and each of their respective parents, subsidiaries, affiliate companies and advertising and promotion agencies and their respective officers, directors, employees and agents (collectively, the “Released Parties”) from and against any claim or cause of action, including, but not limited to, personal injury, death, or damage to or loss of property, arising directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, out of participation in the Sweepstakes or receipt or use or misuse of the prize.

 

9. Ownership/Use of Blog Posts: By submitting a blog post, each entrant agrees Sponsor shall own the blog post submitted (including all rights embodied therein) and that it and its designees (including S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc.) may exploit, edit, modify, and distribute the blog post and all elements of such blog post, including, without limitation, the names and likenesses of any persons or locations mentioned therein (including the use of the blog post for promotional purposes in connection with this Sweepstakes and for the promotion of Windex® products, except where prohibited by law), in any and all media now known or hereafter devised, worldwide, in perpetuity without compensation, permission or notification to entrant or any third party.

 

10. General Conditions: Sponsor reserves the right to cancel, suspend and/or modify the Sweepstakes, or any part of it for any reason, including if virus, bugs, worms, unauthorized intervention, or any fraud, technical failures or any other factor impairs the integrity or proper functioning of the Sweepstakes, as determined by Sponsor in its sole discretion.  In the event of cancellation, Sponsor reserves the right to select the winner from among all remaining non-suspect entries received as of time as such cancellation. Sponsor, in its sole discretion, reserves the right to disqualify any individual it finds to be tampering with the entry process or the operation of the Sweepstakes or to be acting in violation of these Official Rules or those of any other promotion or in an unsportsmanlike or disruptive manner and all associated entries will be void.  Any attempt by any person to deliberately undermine the legitimate operation of the Sweepstakes may be a violation of criminal and civil law, and, should such an attempt be made, Sponsor reserves the right to seek damages and other remedies (including attorneys’ fees) from any such person to the fullest extent permitted by law.  Sponsor’s failure to enforce any term of these Official Rules shall not constitute a waiver of that provision.  Twitter and Facebook are not affiliated in any way with the Sweepstakes.

 

11. Limitations of Liability: The Released Parties are not responsible for: (1) any incorrect or inaccurate information in any Sweepstakes-related materials, whether caused by entrant, printing or typographical errors or by any of the equipment or programming associated with or utilized in the Sweepstakes; (2) lost, interrupted or unavailable network, server, Internet Service Provider (ISP), website, or other connections, technical failures of any kind, including, but not limited to malfunctions, interruptions, or disconnections in phone lines, or failed computer, satellite, telephone, cable, or network/computer hardware or software, or jumbled, scrambled, delayed, or misdirected transmissions; (3) unauthorized human intervention in any part of the entry process or the Sweepstakes; (4) technical, mechanical, network , electronic, computer, human or other errors which may occur, including any errors that may occur in connection with the administration of the Sweepstakes, the processing of entries or blog posts, the announcement of the winner or in any other Sweepstakes-related materials; or (5) late, lost, incomplete, misdirected, delayed, garbled, illegible, postage-due, undeliverable, damaged or stolen entries or blog posts or mail.  Released Parties are not responsible for damage to any computer system resulting from participation in, accessing or downloading information in connection with this Sweepstakes. Released Parties are also not responsible for any incorrect or inaccurate information, whether caused by site users, tampering, hacking, or by any equipment or programming associated with or utilized in the Sweepstakes.

 

12. Winner’s Name: Winner will be available after twelve (12) days from January 24, 2013 at http://momadvice.com/. The winner’s name will be available until on or about February 5, 2013.

 

13. Sponsor: Amy Clark

 

Amy’s Notebook 01.23.13

Wednesday, January 23rd, 2013
source: the 36th avenue

These ice cream hearts on a stick look like an easy Valentine’s Day treat to create (@ The 36th Avenue)

Who knew you could make such beautiful party confetti? (@ Aunt Peaches)

I wish I had this how to turn tie shoes into velcro shoes tutorial when my kids were small (@ A Lemon Squeezy Home)

I love this chunky cable knitted hat (@ The Purl Bee)

This love nest breakfast would be a cute way to wake up your kids on Valentine’s Day morning (@ One Charming Party)

source: how about orange?

These heart-shaped origami bookmarks would be a cute craft to do with the kids (@ How About Orange?)

This diy ruffled no-sew burlap table runner is too cute for words (@ Liz Marie)

These heart-shaped donuts are so adorable! (@ Sugar & Cloth)

I want to try this recipe for soft batch style chocolate chip cookies (@ Picky Palate)

Who knew you could make your own diy american cheese (@ Brown-Eyed Baker)

 

I adore this tablecloth play tent for the kids (@ Centsational Girl)

I love these strategies for organizing the paper piles (@ i heart organizing)

I love this magnetic car mural for organizing your child’s toys (@ Honest to Nod)

These Italian Sloppy Joes look delicious (@ skinnnytaste)

I want to try this recipe for homemade chicken chow mein mix (@ $5 Dinners)

I can’t wait to read these recommendations for the best Bota Box Wines (@ Serious Eats)

I hope you enjoyed this collection of gathered links to DIY crafts, food projects, and thrifty ways to spruce up your home. Nothing brings me more joy then to highlight other fabulous bloggers. Follow me on Pinterest for daily inspiration!

 

Join Us For Our Next Book Signing

Tuesday, January 22nd, 2013

We just wanted to say a quick thank you to everyone who came out to our very first book signing at the Barnes & Noble in Mishawaka. We felt so blessed to have each of you there and we were overwhelmed at the outpouring of people who showed up to have their books signed.

We were so excited to hear that our signing had the most successful signing at their store since Dave Ramsey came to town. We are honored to be among such company and are so thankful for friends, family, and even readers I had not yet met, for coming out on a Saturday afternoon to see us. We sold an incredible amount of books in two hours and we are so thankful for your book purchases! 

This Saturday we will be doing our next book signing in the Michiana area. You can catch us over at Better World Books in Goshen from 2-4PM. I have set up a Facebook invitation for that event, so please head over there to RSVP if you will be able to make it. Here are some directions if you are heading out to the store! 

Lots of people have been asking if we will be visiting any other areas for signings. I am trying to organize a couple of additional cities so please stay tuned on that!  You can visit our Book Page to see what is happening, sign up for a newsletter for updates, and find retailers who are carrying the book!

Thank you again for all of your love and support for this project. We wouldn’t be here without you!

(Dress & Necklace: Flourish Boutique– our site sponsor! Use web code WEB25 for 25% off your purchase!)

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Guest Post: Peppermint Candy Cane Ice Cream

Tuesday, January 22nd, 2013

The holidays seem like so long ago already.  The Christmas lights are down, the ornaments packed away, and we’re charging ahead into the new year.  If you’re like us, the only remnants are a handful of candy canes leftover from the too many boxes we bought in a fit of holiday spirit.

In hindsight, the candy cane excess was the best decision ever made because it led to what may be the tastiest homemade treat I’ve made all winter:  Peppermint Candy Cane Ice Cream.

Super minty and winter fresh, this ice cream is the stuff Frosty the Snowman’s dreams are made of.  It is downright delicious.  You may even find yourself clearing out the boxes of candy canes left at the store just to make more batches of this ice cream.  Good move!  They’re probably on sale!  You win at life.

This recipe starts with Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream Base – a tried and true method that may seem slightly unconventional, but results in creamy dreaminess.  Jeni’s method for making her famous scoop shop ice cream at home uses a bit of cream cheese and cornstarch rather than egg yolks to achieve a wonderfully dense and creamy texture.  Best of all, it doesn’t require the fuss of making a custard base with all that tempering, and careful heating, and straining.  Less time fussing, more time ice cream eating.  Words to live by.

To our sweet cream blank canvas, all that’s left to do is add a few teaspoons of peppermint extract and crushed candy canes, and wait for that ice cream maker to do its thing.

Prepare to be quite pleased with yourself.  This Peppermint Ice Cream will become a perennial favorite.  Here’s what I’m dying to do…are you ready?  I can’t wait to try topping a mug of hot chocolate with a scoop of this stuff!

Full of sweet cream and minty winter freshness, this peppermint ice cream is the perfect way to polish off those candy canes.  It is so good, I guarantee it will become a perennial favorite, holiday season or not.

Peppermint Candy Cane Ice Cream
Recipe Type: Dessert
Author: Adapted from Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams at Home by Jeni Britton Bauer
Prep time: 5 mins
Cook time: 25 mins
Total time: 30 mins
Serves: 1 quart
Don’t throw out those leftover candy canes after the holidays! Reinvent those candy canes into a fun frozen treat that the whole family will love!
Ingredients
  • 2 cups whole milk
  • 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon cornstarch
  • 1 1/2 ounces cream cheese, softened/room temperature
  • 1/8 teaspoon fine sea salt
  • 1 1/4 cup heavy cream
  • 2/3 cups sugar
  • 2 tablespoons light corn syrup
  • 2 teaspoons peppermint extract
  • 4 crushed candy canes (pulse in a food processor)
Instructions
  1. IMPORTANT NOTE: 24 hours (or more) BEFORE you want to make the ice cream, make sure to wash the canister, dry it well, and place it in the coldest part of the freezer. Do not remove it until you are ready to pour the chilled ice cream mixture into it.
  2. In a small bowl, mix about 2 tablespoons of the milk with the cornstarch to make a smooth slurry.
  3. In a large bowl, add the salt and room-temperature cream cheese and whip until smooth.
  4. Make an ice bath (heavy on the ice) and set aside.
  5. Pour the cream, sugar, corn syrup, and remaining milk into a 4-quart saucepan. Bring to a rolling boil over medium-high heat, set a timer for precisely 4 minutes and boil for exactly 4 minutes—the timing is critical. Remove from the heat and gradually whisk in the cornstarch slurry. Return the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat and cook, stirring until the mixture is slightly thickened, about 1 minute. Remove from the heat.
  6. Gradually whisk the hot milk mixture into the cream cheese until smooth. Do this a little bit at a time so that you can whip out any lumps of cream cheese. Mix in the peppermint extract.
  7. Pour the mixture into a 1-gallon Ziploc freezer bag, seal, and submerge the bag in the ice bath. Let stand, adding more ice as necessary, until very cold, about 30 minutes.
  8. Set up your ice cream maker and pour the chilled base into the frozen canister. About 10 to 15 minutes into the churning process, sprinkle in half of the crushed candy canes. They will mostly dissolve, turning your ice cream a pretty pink color. The ice cream is finished when the machine isn’t freezing the ice cream anymore; the ice cream will begin to pull away cleanly from the sides (about 25 minutes).
  9. Eat right away, sprinkling the remaining candy cane bits on top of your scoop – there are few things better than freshly churned ice cream – or if you’re storing for later, press a piece of parchment paper directly against the surface and seal in an airtight, freezer-safe container. When you remove the ice cream from the freezer, let it sit and relax until it is scoopable. Once you’ve scooped it, be sure to return any remaining ice cream to the freezer. If the ice cream has melted too much at room temperature, refreezing it will result in an ice cream that is too icy.

Adapted from Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams at Home, by Jeni Britton Bauer

I would like to say thank you to my fabulous guest blogger, Stephanie Hua,  today for sharing this fantastic guest blog entry with our readers! You really must head right over to see Stephanie’s blog.  I am SO darn proud of my friend because she is out there pursuing her dream to start culinary school and kicking butt at it already. Read about her first day at culinary school and visit Lick My Spoon for fresh takes on delicious & healthy dishes. She even has t-shirts!! I wear mine proudly and my husband can attest that this is one of my favorite shirts to wear!

Now hurry over to her blog! 

Stephanie Hua is the creator of Lick My Spoon, a place for all things delicious. So far she has learned that she very much enjoys salted caramel anything, a good soup dumpling is worth a scalded tongue, and a barrel of cheese balls never ends well.  Follow her on Facebook and @lickmyspoon.

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An Apron Full of Giveaways 02.22.13

Tuesday, January 22nd, 2013

Source: lover dovers clothing, $29.99

Welcome to our Apron Full of Giveaways! I hope everyone is having a great week this week! As we do each week, here is our round-up of giveaways for our readers. We hope that this is beneficial to you and your family! Please let us know if you guys win anything- I love to hear the success stories!

Below are the contest links-if you are hosting a contest please link it up below. Sorry, we are not giving away the aprons just showcasing them! Please put your site name and then what type of contest you are hosting. For example, “MomAdvice (Kid’s Movies).”

Good luck to each of you!