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Spring Wreath Revamp

May 5, 2010 3 Comments
I’ve seen so many cute wreaths on other blogs and in the future I want to make my own completely “from scratch” but for the sake of saving money, I created this one using stuff that I already had.
The wreath was actually given to me by dad.  It was on his front door for a while, and then it got transferred to the attic.  And rather than selling it at a yardsale for $2 or something, he asked me if I wanted it.  Of course I said yes!  And since then the wreath has adorned our front door for the past 2 springs and summers.  But I really wanted something a little different for spring…something to add a  little more color, so I simply added some pink flowers and voila! 
Here’s a picture of what the wreath looked like before.  I love the berries, but some of them are starting to fall off.  (Actually we got a glass door installed last year, and before it was installed the wreath was “exposed” to the outside, and birds frequently landed on it and tried to eat the berries, so I’m not surprised that they’re falling off.)  And again, I felt that it needed some color.
I had these two flower springs on hand. I believe these were 94 cents at Wal-Mart.  I added these to the wreath using the easiest method ever! 
I thought I might want to do something different with the wreath in the future, so I didn’t even use glue. I simply cut the flowers, leaving about 3-4 inches of the stem. (You’ll need wire cutters for this.) And then I wove the stems in through the wreath. Very easy!  And it looks so great from the outside!

-Jerri

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I’m posting a link to this post at:
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

Filed Under: crafts, decorating, Home/Garden, Wreaths

Spring Gift Guide

May 4, 2010 Leave a Comment
Just in time for Mother’s Day and Graduation, here is my Spring Gift Guide!  I love sharing great products and shops with you guys, and this is a great opportunity to do that.  And it’s also a great way to give back and say thank you to my wonderful sponsors and to other shops that I’ve had some affiliation with.
Unfortunately I only have time to feature one product from each shop, so please visit all these places to see everything they have to offer!  You will not be disappointed!

For moms on the go, check out the coffee cozies available at Ahmelie.  She also has a vast collection of baby blankets, towels, and burpie cloths.  And if the mom in your life likes to sew, Ahmelie has a line of sewing patterns for toys, pin cushions, bags, and clothing!

I don’t know a single mom out there who doesn’t love a good handbag!  Nancy’s Bags Etc. has colorful, chic, fun, and stylish bags to help you or your favorite mom make a bold fashion statement this spring! 
Isn’t this lovely? Along with her adorable baby items and household products BassWoodStitchery has several cute shawls, ponchos, and slippers for the ladies.

This Rustic Butterfly necklace is one of many unique pieces in the Tree Candy jewelry line at Rock Candy Vintage – A lovely shop stocked with handmade jewelry and vintage clothing!

If you want to get Mom something sweet, try these Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Truffles from Millie’s Place.  And while you’re looking for something to munch on, you can check out some of the lovely hand stitched items up for sale!
If you want to make Mom smile with some stunning jewelry, check out My Handmade Crafts. This piece is called Romancing Spring. Beautiful! And I think you’ll love her other pieces as well!
I love antiques! (probably because my mom loves antiques!)  And I especially love pitchers like the one featured here.  If you’re mom likes antiques too, check out Mom’s Antiques N Things for some unique one of a kind gift items!

Don’t you love these Light Rose Copper Earrings?  You’ll find these and more beautiful jewelry, beads, gemstones, and more at Tamsy Trends. You can also get Free Shipping for Mother’s Day!

Charm bracelets are always a favorite of mine, and this one is so enchanting! If you like this Secret Romance Princess Charm Bracelet, check out Burning Moon for this and more jewelry, beads, hair clips, etc! 
The Little Black Dress Bracelet is the latest listing in my shop! You can purchase bracelets, earrings, and keychains at, Simply Sweet Creations, and I’m now featuring a 10-25% sale on select items for Mother’s Day, and Super Deals at 50% off! 

I hope everyone finds something great for their Mom this year!

-Jerri
Filed Under: Misc Holidays, shopping, Sponsors

Poppy Seed Cake

May 2, 2010 9 Comments
If you wish to bake up a special surprise cake for Mom this year on Mother’s Day, here’s a new recipe to try.  I got this recipe from my good blog friend Charlene.  Charlene writes at Secrets of a Southern Kitchen, where she shares fabulous recipes & tips for Southern Cuisine.  Being a Southern girl myself, I always look forward to seeing what she’s whipping up each week! Be sure to go by and give her a shout!
Charlene usually makes this cake with a bundt or tube pan, but as you can tell from the pictures, I used a 9×13 pan (proving once again that I’m not good at following instructions—at least not in the kitchen!)  The cake turned out delicious, although I must admit Charlene’s cake looks much better than mine!  If you wish to see what the cake is supposed to look like, check it out at her place! 

Recipe for Poppy Seed Cake
Ingredients:
1 box of Duncan Hines butter recipe golden cake mix
1 8oz container sour cream
1/2 c sugar
1/2 c cooking oil
4 eggs
3 T poppy seeds
powdered sugar
Directions:  Mix all ingredients but the poppy seeds, and beat for 2 minutes on low to medium speed. Mix poppy seeds into the batter. Pour into a greased or cooking-sprayed tube or bundt pan. Bake at 350 for about 50 minutes. If the top seems not quite done, turn off the oven and leave the cake in for about 5 more minutes. Watch for the edges to start pulling away from the pan.  Use a butter knife to loosen the cake from the pan, and remove from pan immediately. Dust with powdered sugar.

-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.
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

Friday Favorites – Week 10

April 29, 2010 7 Comments

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It’s already week 10 of Friday Favorites!  Thanks for making these first 10 weeks a success!

Please keep your posts coming!  This week for linking up, you are eligible for extra entries in my Cuisinart Giveaway and my Marcal Small Steps Paper Product Giveaway.  For more entries, check out the giveaway posts for more details! 

Now check out this week’s featured bloggers.  If you are featured, please grab a “Featured” button for your blog!

 

We start today with dessert! (A great place to start, I’d say!)  This Cookie Dough Pie was posted at Siggy Spice.  Doesn’t it look scrumptious! 

Here’s a cute decor project.  This Star Fish Wreath comes to us from The Country Chic Cottage.  I think this would be so cute if you’re wanting to do a beach theme in a room or just add a touch of summer. It would also go great with other star decor you may have.

If you like birdhouses, you love these Scrappy Springtime Birdhouses from On My Side of the Room. I just love the unique colors and embellishments. 

I love bulletin board makeovers, and I love the colors used in this one from Mary The Kay!
And finally some personalized!  This Personalized Name Plaque came from Sugar Bananas.  There were 3 different ones posted. (I, of course, chose to feature the one with the cupcake!) Go by check out the other designs. They’re all adorable! 
Now it’s time to link up your posts for this week.  Please link up your actual post url so we’ll be able to find your post easily! And please be sure to link back to my blog or post a Friday Favorites button somewhere on your blog, so that others can come participate in the event!
-Jerri
Filed Under: Friday Favorites

New Poll and Giveaway Winners

April 28, 2010 2 Comments

Hello all! I’ve added a new poll in the right hand sidebar.  I’m always curious to know how everyone prefers to get their blog updates.  So the new poll question is: What is your favorite way to keep up with your favorite bloggers? 

Answer selections are:
Twitter
Facebook
Google Reader (or equivalent)
Ning
Blog Frog
Email Subscriptions
Other

I also have a few winners to announce:

The winner of the Uprinting Rolled Canvas giveaway is Angela at Groovy Baby Blog.

The winner of the ecoStore USA $25 giftcard is DEBIJOT who does not have a blog.

And the winner of my UBP – Free Ad Space Giveaway is Imperfection Perfectly. Please stop by this fabulous blog and give her shout!

Please join me in congratulating these winners!

-Jerri

Filed Under: announcements

Marcal Small Steps Review/Giveaway

April 27, 2010 78 Comments
This may shock some of you, but I’m not the most environmentally friendly person.  I do hate it when people litter….it literally drives me up the wall! (No pun intended.) And I do reuse all my plastic bags, and I  recycle aluminum and tin cans at my house.  And I’ve recently started saving glass jars and other containers so that I can use them for crafts or other purposes.  And I generally try to conserve water and electricity so my husband doesn’t faint when we get the utility bill.  Okay…maybe I am environmentally friendly!  However, I must confess, I do not use the term “green.” Though green is one of my favorite colors, the environmental term “green” drives me nuts! (Sorry!! I’m just being honest!)
But I care about environment (as per my examples above).  And I’m always willing to try “environmentally friendly” products.  Recently I introduced you to an environmentally friendly cleaning and personal care product company, and now I have the pleasure of introducing you to a company that specializes in 100% recycled paper products!  
“Marcal Paper Products was established in 1950.  They pride themselves on being the first environmentally friendly paper company.  In 2009, Marcal Manufacturing introduced the Marcal Small Steps line of 100% recycled bath tissue, towels, napkins and facial tissue for both home consumption and to distributors for commercial use. These products deliver strong performance without the typical “green premium” cost. The name Small Steps signifies the small and easy steps toward making a difference in the world that you can make by using these recycled paper products.”
Small Steps line of paper products are:
•100% premium recycled paper
•Hypoallergenic
•Virtually Lint Free
•Free of Dyes and Fragrances
•Manufactured without Chlorine Bleaching
Recently I was given the opportunity to try some of the Marcal Small Steps products. I was excited when a large box was delivered to my house.  Inside was array of products: paper towels, facial tissue, two-ply bathroom tissue, one-ply bathroom tissue, and some napkins.
My favorite products were the napkins and paper towels.  We usually use paper towels for everything, but I think napkins are good for parties or for when you have people over, so I like to have them on hand.  The Marcal napkins were of a good quality, and I liked the texture.
I also liked the paper towels.  Personally I’ve never been very particular about paper towels.  We usually just buy whatever brand is on sale.  I like the thick, cloth-like, paper towels, but sometimes they are very linty, and I just don’t think they’re worth the extra money.  The Marcal Small Steps paper towels did a good job.  They had little hearts in the texture which I thought was cute.  And my favorite thing about them was the small size.  We usually use paper towels at meal time, and I find most of the time, we don’t really need a whole paper towel, so it’s good to have this smaller version, because you can always tear off more if you need it, and you don’t waste as much.  This is also great when it comes to cleaning.  Again, I’d find myself tearing off a traditional paper towel and thinking, “What a waste this is.  I only need about half of this or a third of this!”

Overall, I liked the Marcal Small Steps Products.  I liked that they were virtually lint free, and I was satisfied with the overall quality.  And the fact that they are made from 100% recycled paper is great plus!  Want to check them out?  Find a Store in your area.  You can also see how many trees you and your family can save by looking at this Tree Calculator.

Win it! One Simply Sweet Home reader will win a $25 Marcal Small Steps Starter pack! Your pack will include paper towels, napkins, toilet paper, and facial tissue. 

Giveaway Closed. Thanks for entering!

-Jerri
Full Disclosure:  I was not monetarily compensated for this post.  I was provided with several products from Marcal to review for this post.  The opinions posted here are mine.
Filed Under: Giveaways, product review, Sponsors

Chicken Mutz

April 26, 2010 13 Comments
Usually cheesy recipes are my thing, but this recipe was a big hit with my husband as well!  I’ve seen this recipe on several recipe sites, and I wanted to try it because it not only sounded good, but it looked super easy.  And leave it up to me to find a way to make it even easier!  Today I’m sharing the original instructions with you, and also throwing in my shortcuts, in case you want to use those instead.
Recipe for Chicken Mutz:
Ingredients:
Chicken Breasts, skinless and boneless
Mozzarealla cheese (recipe called for a block, I used shredded)
Mayonnaise
Garlic salt
Italian Style Bread crumbs
Pepper
Directions:  There are two method for prepping your chicken.  You can either cut a pocket into each breast, by slicing in half. (Do not slice all the way through). 
Or you can fold/roll your chicken over and secure it with toothpicks. (If you use the second method (which I use), you may want to put chicken in a ziplock and flatten it out a little bit with a hammer or meat tenderizer first). 
If you’re using a block of mozzerella cheese, slice up your mozzarella into ½ inch thick slices. Place 1 slice of the cheese (or a handful of the shredded cheese) into each chicken pocket and fold over.  If you’re using the second method, place the slice of cheese (or shredded cheese) on top of your piece of chicken.  Then fold/roll the chicken over and secure it shut with toothpicks. (I use about 4 or 5 toothpicks per piece of chicken).
Next generously spread your mayonnaise over your chicken breasts (on all sides). Then season with garlic salt and black pepper. Finally give it a sprinkling of Italian style bread crumbs.
Bake at 350 for 45 minutes. For a crispy topping, turn on the broiler in the last two minutes of cooking.
Tips & Suggestions:
-I also added some cheddar cheese in here, to go along with mozzarella, and it was delicious!
-Very important – Don’t forget to take out ALL the toothpicks, if you’re using the fold/roll method.

-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 Daisy
Delicious Dishes is hosted by It’s A Blog Party
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

10-25% Off Sale at Simply Sweet Creations

April 25, 2010 Leave a Comment
Looking for a gift for Mother’s Day?  Last spring I started making my own earrings.  The first pair I made looked like the ones pictured above.  I took these earrings, along with another clear-colored pair (pictured below)  and gave them to my mom last year for Mother’s Day.  I’m now offering these earrings in my etsy shop, and they are one of several items that I’m including in my Mother’s Day Sale!  Stop by Simply Sweet Creations  this week through May 15 to get these and other items for Mom at 10-25% off!
Also, if you order something between now and Mother’s Day, I’ll send you a coupon code toward your next purchase!
All orders are shipped via First Class Mail, so keep this in mind if you’re ordering for Mother’s Day.  If you need to receive your order more quickly, just let me know, and I’ll get you a price to ship for Priority Mail.  I also do special orders if you see something you like but you want a different color, size, etc.

Thanks for reading!

-Jerri
Filed Under: Simply Sweet Creations

Friday Favorites – Week 9 (And A NEW URL!!)

April 22, 2010 13 Comments

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Hello! And Happy Friday!  Before getting to this week’s Friday Favorites, I have a couple of quick announcements.  First, I want to let you know that I have a new URL.  You can now find me at https://simplysweethome.com/. The old blogspot address will still be valid, but if you’re like me, you’ll probably want to update your bookmarks anyway. Also, you should still receive my updates if you’re subscribed by email or rss, so there should be no need to resubscribe. (I think!  I’m currently testing to make sure the old feed url and the new feed url are both working and will let you know if any changes need to be made.) By the way, if you ever have any issues with the feeds, please let me know so I can correct any problems there may be!

Also, if you haven’t been by this week, be sure to check out my Dairy Makes Sense Giveaway! The prize pack includes a Cuisinart Smart Stick Hand Blender ($55 value), an apron, hot pad, and other great stuff!  And you can even get an extra entry just for linking up here for Friday Favorites! 

Now on to this week’s featured bloggers! If you’re featured please grab a “Featured” button!

I love Mod Podge Projects!  I just started mod podging myself, so it’s great to see everyone’s ideas.  This Mod Podge Planter comes from Veronica’s Korner.

We love eating Mexican Food!  I was intrigued by this Taco Pasta from Debbi Does Dinner Healthy & Low Calorie.  Doesn’t that look tasty?

Another pretty and colorful plate of food!  This Chicken Salad with Crunchy Vegetables and Sesame Ginger Vinaigrette comes to us from Inspired2Cook.  Delicious!

And of course, I have to feature something sweet.  These Brownie Waffles came from A Little Bit of Everything.  Just seeing the name “brownie waffle” makes me hungry! How about you?     

And I thought these kid’s aprons from The Phillips Fam were adorable!  What a fun project! And there’s a great tutorial. Go check them out!
Now show us what you’ve been working on this week! Link up below!
-Jerri

Filed Under: Friday Favorites

Dairy Makes Sense Giveaway Featuring Cuisinart

April 21, 2010 205 Comments

Did you know that March was National Nutrition Month?  The Midwest Dairy Council has a few facts to share without about the nutritional value of milk.  As you know, milk and other dairy products are good sources of vitamins and minerals. We’ve all heard that milk “does a body good,” but research shows that many people don’t fully understand the whole story of the nutritional value found in dairy! It goes beyond just calcium for strong bones – each serving of dairy provides 8 other essential nutrients, including:
· Vitamin D: Vitamin D (“The Sunshine Vitamin”) promotes calcium absorption and helps strengthen bones. Milk is one of the few dietary sources of vitamin D and just one 8 ounce glass provides 25% of your recommended daily value.
· Protein: Protein builds and repairs muscle tissue while giving you a boost of energy! The protein in milk, cheese and yogurt builds and repairs muscle tissue and can help you feel full.
· Potassium: Did you know that milk and yogurt contain as much potassium as a banana? Potassium regulates the body’s fluid balance and helps maintain normal blood pressure.
· Vitamin B12: Milk and yogurt are also excellent sources of B12, which helps maintain healthy red blood cells and nerve tissue.
Three daily servings of dairy (including low-fat/fat-free milk, cheese or yogurt) deliver exceptional nutrition (for an awesome value) and can contribute to your family’s plan for a healthy diet and lifestyle.
For information, please visit the newly updated Dairy Makes Sense. There, you’ll find more information on dairy’s nutritional benefits and links to several recipes you’ll enjoy for breakfast, lunch, and dinner (located here: http://bit.ly/aBnlVk)!

To promote the importance of dairy products and help you to incorporporate dairy into your life, we have a fantastic giveaway.  The Midwest Dairy Association is giving one lucky Simply Sweet Home reader a special Dairy Makes Sense prize pack.  The prize pack includes 

  • Cuisinart CSB-76 Smart Stick Hand Blender ($55 value)
  • Recipe cards
  • An apron
  • Hot pad
  • Cheese knife
  • Grocery pad
  • Refrigerator magnet.

Giveaway Closed. Thanks for entering!

-Jerri
Full Disclosure: For sharing this information and hosting the giveaway, I was given a prize pack with the same items being given away here.  I was not monetarily compensated for this post. 
Filed Under: Giveaways, Sponsors
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