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Blogiversary Giveaway Winners

October 12, 2009 3 Comments
I have some winners to announce in a few of my blogiversary giveaways. All winners will be contacted by email in the next day or so.

First off, there was the Greeting Card Giveaway from Uprinting. Congratulations to Cindi from Tally’s Place. She has won 250 greeting cards!

Next we have a winner in the Nature Valley Granola Nut Cluster’s Giveaway. The prize pack included all four varieties of the Nut Cluster Snack, along with a water bottle, flashlight, binoculars, and backpack.

Our winner is JC at http://tcarolinep.blogspot.com/.

And we have four winners in our O’Charley’s Kids Giveaway. Each winner gets 5 Kids Eat Free passes to O’Charleys. The winners are:
Janet from The Money Jar and Life in Focus
Amy from Those Funny Little Girls
Christie from Divine Calling
Liz from The Halton Mom

Thanks to everyone for entering! And don’t forget to enter the other giveaways we have going on right now!
-Jerri
Filed Under: Uncategorized

Miss Bonnie’s Sweet Bread

October 11, 2009 4 Comments
In honor of my blogiversary celebration, I made husband’s favorite: Sweet Bread. When I first started dating my husband, he traveled down to Mobile to have Thanksgiving with his family, and he brought a loaf of Sweet Bread back with him. It was yummy!

My husband’s mom (a.k.a. Miss Bonnie) has been making this recipe for years. The “official” title for this recipe is “Aggie’s Sour Cream Pound Cake,” but my husband calls it Sweet Bread or Nut Bread. And it actually reminds me a lot of Amish Friendship Cake (or bread), which my dad used to make a lot, (exept with this recipe you don’t have a starter, and it doesn’t take weeks to make, which is a really good thing!) Whatever you choose to call it, it is delicious!


Recipe for Miss Bonnie’s Sweet Bread:

Ingredients:
2 3/4 cups sugar
3 1/4 cups all purpose flour
6 eggs
2 1/2 sticks margarine
1 8 oz cup sour cream
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp baking soda
2 tbsp flavoring (any kind) **I used vanilla.
1 cup nuts (optional) **I used walnuts.

Directions: Cream margarine and sugar together. Add eggs one at a time, beat after each. Add flour, salt, and baking soda. Mix. Add sour cream and flavoring and beat for 2 minutes. Add nuts and fold in till evenly distibuted throughout batter. Pour into large tube pan. Preheat oven to 325 degrees and bake for one hour and thirty minutes.



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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.
Homemaker Mondays is hosted by 11th Heaven’s Homemade Haven.
Tasty Tuesday is hosted by Balancing Beauty & Bedlam.
Ultimate Recipe is Swap is hosted by Life as Mom.
Friday Feasts is hosted by Momtrends.
Works for Me Wednesday is hosted by We Are THAT Family
Hooked on Fridays is hosted by Hooked on Houses

-Jerri


Filed Under: desserts

Apron Giveaway from Happy Find

October 11, 2009 213 Comments
Isn’t this a lovely apron? Happy Find offers a collection of the most beautiful aprons I’ve ever seen, as well as some other handcrafted items that you’re sure to love.

This Apron is called “hello Delilah.” There’s a version of it available in pink right now in the Happy Find shop which sells for $40. And today I’m happy to be giving away the “hello Delilah” in aqua to one very lucky Simply Sweet Home reader. The hello Delilah in aqua has never been featured in the Happy Find shop before, so this is a very exclusive giveaway!

Here’s a little info. on the apron that’s up for grabs:

So sweet and demure. Delilah is a lovely host! A lovely piece that is light and soft. Tailored halter top with empire waist, long straps to tie either in the front or back, generous pockets and a ruffle detail. 100% pre-washed cotton fabric. Fully lined. Fits sizes 6-16. Quality made!

This giveaway is now closed. Winner to be announced.

-Jerri

Filed Under: Giveaways, Sponsors

Happy Blogiversary to Simply Sweet Home!

October 11, 2009 6 Comments
I’m so happy to be celebrating my 2nd blogiversary today! What a milestone for me and the blog!

Thanks to everyone for stopping by here every week to read and comment, and thank you to all the advertisers and giveaway sponsors who have made my second year of blogging such a success!

For the Grand Finale of my Blogiversary Celebration, we’ll be having special blogiversary cake! (To be posted tomorrow). And later today I’ll be having a very special and exclusive apron giveaway sponsored by Happy Find. And later this week I’ll be announcing our winners in the rest of the blogiversary giveaways.

Thanks again for reading and following Simply Sweet Home!

-Jerri
Filed Under: announcements

Not-So-Scary Halloween Giveaway

October 8, 2009 15 Comments


Is everyone busy getting ready for Halloween? You Can Make This has a ton of projects and ideas for Halloween and all occasions!

And this week I’m happy to announce that you can win a $50 bundle of Halloween downloads from You Can Make This! This is the perfect prize for all you crafty ladies out there, and if you’re a little crafty-challenged, then you could pass it on to the crafter in your life!

Your $50 Bundle of Halloween downloads will include the following books:

Fancy Filled Tutu with Bonus 40 Tutu “Recipes”

Pumpkin Polly Patterns

Paper Piecing Project: Pumpkin Patch Pillow

Frayed Applique: Too Cute to Spook!

Little Miss Spider Applique Patterns

How to Applique the Easy Way

Hocus Pocus Patterns

Just a Little Something for a Happy Halloween Table Runner

One Simply Sweet Home reader will win this $50 bundle of “No So Scary” Halloween ebooks from You Can Make This. To win visit You Can Make This and leave a comment on this post, telling us an idea or project that you would like to try.

Giveaway Closed. Thanks for entering!

-Jerri

Filed Under: crafts, fall, Giveaways, Halloween, Sponsors

Pinto Beans

October 5, 2009 7 Comments
I just love pinto beans! I can’t tell you how many pots of pinto beans were eaten in my house as I was growing up, but I can tell you that they always got eaten, and we never got tired of them! They are the ultimate country food and my favorite bean to eat. And they are so delcious with chicken & dumplins, fried potatoes, and corn bread. Yum!

Recipe for Pinto Beans:

Ingredients:
1 lb dry pinto beans
10 cups water
3 or 4 pieces of bacon, a ham hock, salt pork, or a little oil

Soaking Instructions:

Quick Soak Method: Rinse and sort beans. To 1 lb of beans add 10 cups hot water. Bring water to rapid boil for 2 minutes. Remove from heat. Cover and let stand for one hour. Drain soak water and rinse beans.

Overnight Soak Method: Rinse and sort beans. To 1 lb of beans add 10 cups cold water. Let stand overnight or at least -8 hours. Drain soak water and rinse beans.

Cooking Instructions:

Stove Top Instructions: Add 6 cups of water to drained and rinsed beans. Simmer gently until desired tenderness is reached, about 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Add salt and pepper to taste. Salt pork, ham, bacon, or oil may be added during cooking for extra flavor.

Crock Pot Instructions: Add 6 cups of water to drained and rinsed beans. Add oil/ham/bacon/pork. Let cook all night on high. (If you have a fast cooking crock pot, you should check your beans in the middle of the night and give them a stir. You could also start your crock pot in the morning so that your beans will be ready by dinner time.

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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.
Homemaker Mondays is hosted by 11th Heaven’s Homemade Haven.
Tasty Tuesday is hosted by Balancing Beauty & Bedlam.
Ultimate Recipe is Swap is hosted by Life as Mom.
Friday Feasts is hosted by Momtrends.
Works for Me Wednesday is hosted by We Are THAT Family
Hooked on Fridays is hosted by Hooked on Houses

-Jerri


Filed Under: breads and sides, Recipe of the Week

Hand Stamped Jewelry Winner

October 4, 2009 2 Comments

Congratualations to Janine at Life Unscripted. She is the winner of the $25 gift certificate for RHB Designs Unique Hand Stamped Jewelry. Thanks to everyone who entered. And thanks again to Rosaylnn for hosting this amazing giveaway! I hope you will all go by and see her. Her shop has so much to offer!

-Jerri
Filed Under: announcements

Tablespoon.com Pass The Inspiration Giveaway

October 1, 2009 104 Comments
Need a little inspiration in the kitchen? Thanks to MyBlogSpark I had the opportunity to learn about a new website called Tablespoon.com. This website was launched by General Mills, and it features more than 25,000 recipes!

And that’s not all! You can also share the recipes from tablespoon.com on places like Facebook and Twitter, and you can add your own recipes to the the site and create your own versions of the featured recipes. If you add your recipes to Tablespoon, you could even be featured in the Tablespoon newsletter. And you could save up to $80 every month with printable coupons from the brands you love!

As someone who loves to cook and try out new recipes, I was very pleased to find this site. I frequently visit the websites of different name brand companies, looking for stuff to try, and I was happy to find that a lot of the name brands I love were all brought together on this one website. This is a definitely a place that everyone should bookmark!

One Simply Sweet Home reader will receive a Pass the Inspiration Prize Pack courtesy of MyBlogSpark and General Mills. The prize pack includes a set of measuring spoons, a measuring cup, and two terry cloth pot holders. (Very nice!)

To enter this giveaway, just visit Tablespoon.com, and come back here and leave a comment, telling us a recipe that you’d like to try. Deadline to enter: Oct 14 at 7PM Central. (US Residents Only.)

Additional Entries:

–One entry for following me publicly on blogger.

-One entry for joining my feedblitz mailing list, or 2 entries if you are already a member prior to this giveaway.

-One entry for subscribing in a reader.

-One entry if you have my button displayed on your blog.

-One entry for following or subscribing to my new business blog.

-One entry for following me on twitter.

-One entry for tweeting about this giveaway.

-One entry for becoming a fan of Simply Sweet Home on facebook.

-Two entries for writing about this giveaway on your blog and linking back to Simply Sweet Home.

*Just leave comments for each additional entry, and please leave a user name/link or something so that I can verify. Thanks!*

*Don’t forget, if you don’t have a blog or a profile with a visible email address, please include your email address in your comment so that I can contact you if you win. (Can’t stress this enough!)*

-Jerri


MckLinky Blog Hop

Click here to see the entire Blog Hop List….

Filed Under: Freebie, Giveaways, Sponsors

Festive Fall Garlands

September 30, 2009 8 Comments
Fall is such a wonderful time of year. Whenever we go shopping during the fall, I’m amazed at all the wonderful decorations for the inside and outside of the home. The colors are so bright and beautiful. And it really puts you in the mood and gets you excited about all the traditions of the season. Today I’m sharing a collection of fall garlands with you. Below each photo, you’ll find a link that will show you where you can purchase the item or how you can make the item. Enjoy!

Fall Leaves Garland from Plow & Hearth. The front door is the first thing people see before entering your home. A wreath and garland like the one shown here will make a wonderful impression on your guests. The colors add so much warmth and everyone will feel at home as they enter your door.

Fall Garland from Simply Nice Gifts. Look at how much a little garland can add to the look of your table. I love the simple elegance of this! It would be perfect for a Thanksgiving party.

Dried Fall Garland from BHG. Deck the halls with dried fall garland! It looks like this is hanging over a hall tree, wash stand, or dresser. But it would look great hanging over your door way, or hanging in front of a buffet table.



Fall Garland from Williams-Sonoma. This one looks a little more rustic. I love the wreath that goes with it. This would be so lovely on your mantle piece, hanging in the dining room, or hanging on your front door.

Corn Garland from Martha Stewart. Has anyone ever seen corn garland before? I thought this was so unique! And just like with the very first picture, this garland really adds a lot to the doorway and just makes you want to go inside!

For more great ideas visit Hooked On Houses.

-Jerri






Filed Under: decorating, fall

Nature Valley Granola Nut Clusters Snack Pack Giveaway

September 29, 2009 98 Comments
My friends at MyBlogSpark sent me a Nature Valley Granola Nut Clusters Snack Pack with all the items pictured below. While in school, I often ate granola bars and cereal bars in the mornings and in between classes, so I was happy to try out this new Granola Clusters snack.

I received four 5oz packages of Nature Valley Granola Clusters. The four flavors are Nut Lovers, Honey Roasted Peanut, Roasted Cashew, and Roasted Almond. These bite-size snacks are perfect for home, work, or when you’re on the run, and they taste great!

My favorite flavor was the Honey Roasted Peanut. The back of the package says it best: “Imagine a lightly sweet, yet salty combination of honey roasted peanuts gently rolled in Nature Valley granola and a touch of honey. It’s a taste of nature one delicous bite at a time.”

These also passed the husband taste test. I wasn’t sure if he’d like them or not because I don’t really think of him as a granola fan. But when I gave him one cluster to try, he immediately snatched the bag from me and started eating them as if they were chips or popcorn.

I definitely recommend these to anyone who’s looking for a healthy, tasty snack.

One Simply Sweet Home reader will win a Nature Valley Granola Nut Clusters “Snack Pack” prize pack that includes all 4 varieties of the Granola Nut Clusters along with a sling backpack, stainless steel water bottle, flashlight and binoculars!

To win this prize, simply leave me comment telling me your favorite element in nature OR your favorite snack item.
Giveaway Closed. Winner to be announced.
-Jerri


Filed Under: Giveaways, product review, Sponsors
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