Owl Fall Wreath from Lauren Inspired
Rosette Halloween Wreath from Blissful and Domestic
Snick-er-Treat Conesfrom LizzieJane Baby
Ribbon Pumpkin Clips from Delicate Construction
I can’t wait to see your posts! Link up below!
Archives for 2011
Friday Favorites – Week 85
October 13, 2011 7 Comments
Pumpkin Wall Hanging
October 12, 2011 4 Comments
During the summer I shared a couple of projects made with embroidery hoops. And here’s another! This Pumpkin Wall Hanging is very easy and very budget friendly!
I made with it with a couple of sheets from scrapbook kit that I got at the Dollar Tree and (believe it or not) the fabric from an old shirt.
What You Need:
One embroidery hoop (mine was 12 inches)
Fabric (14 x 14 inch square)
2 pieces scrapbook paper or fabric scraps if you prefer
Glue Stick or Mod Podge
Hot Glue Gun
Scissors
Ribbon
Directions: Cut fabric square into a circle (to fit hoop). Wrap fabric around the outside of the inner hoop. Put the outer hoop in place. Make sure the fabric is pulled and stretched tight. Then tighten the hoops to secure the fabric in place.
Apply hot glue to the inner frame of the embroidery hoop and wrap and press down the excess fabric.
Using a piece of scrapbook paper or fabric, cut out a pumpkin shape and a pumpkin face. Use glue stick or mod podge to add a face to your pumpkin. Then use hot glue or mod podge to place the decorated pumpkin on your fabric.
Cut out a 6 inch piece of ribbon, loop it through the top of the hoop and tie for hanging.
Blogiversary Giveaway #3: Everyday Lettering
October 11, 2011 6 Comments
Our next giveaway is from Everyday Lettering, your place for custom word and name art, made from photographs of everyday things.
This shop is owned by Heather: “I’m a stay-at-home mom to one fantastic little two-year old boy and I’m a photographer based in Brigham City, Utah. I have been doing photography for over three years and have loved every second of it. I have met tons of great people and I have gotten to be a part of some of the biggest moments in their lives. It has been wonderful.
About two years ago I saw some photo letters in a store and fell in love. But at over $150 for my little last name (Jones), I knew I couldn’t afford it and there must be others who couldn’t too. So I searched for a way to make it more affordable. Then I spent over a year collecting pictures of everyday objects and editing them to make them beautiful. I hope you enjoy Everyday Lettering as much as I do.”
You can choose from 3 different options:
The Block: This option features each picture in your word/name on an individual block. Each block measures approximately 5.5 inches high X 3.5 inches wide X 1.5 inches deep.
The Board: This option features your entire word/name together on a single board. The piece measures 5.5 inches high X 1.5 inches deep and just over 3 inches wide per letter.
The Single: For this option you are ordering just the photographic prints of the letters you choose for your word/name. Then you can do what you want with them. You could get your word/name custom framed or possibly find a frame with the correct number of openings in a store. Frame them individually or in some cute vintage frames. The sky is the limit.You can order in either 3.5X5, 4X6, or 5X7-inch prints.
And each letter of the alphabet comes in a variety of fun styles.
Want to make your own? Heather also gives you the option to order her letter prints as well as the wood, so you can make your own custom creations.
Buy It: Visit Everyday Lettering and find out How to Order.
Connect: Follow Everyday Lettering through the Everyday Lettering Blog and Everyday Lettering on Facebook. You can also follow Heather through Joy Photography Blog and Joy Photography on Facebook.
Win it! One Simply Sweet Home reader will win a $15 gift certificate to Everyday Lettering.
How to Enter: Please use the Rafflecopter form below. The answer to the mandatory entry question should be left on the form (not in the comments). After you complete the mandatory entry, the optional entries will be unlocked. Giveaway will be open through October 25.
Disclsosure: I received no products or compensation for this post. Prize is provided by Everyday Lettering.
Orange Dream Parfaits
October 10, 2011 12 Comments
Since orange is the quintessential fall and Halloween color, it seemed like the perfect week for me to share these Orange Dream Parfaits. Previously I’ve shared my Orange Dream Pie, one of my husband’s favorite desserts. This is basically that same recipe in parfait form, and it’s super delicious!
Recipe for Orange Dream Parfaits:
Ingredients:
Nila Wafers or Graham Crackers
2/3 cup boiling water
1 pkg. (3 oz.) orange gelatin
1 package (8 oz) Cream Cheese
1 tub (16 oz) Whipped Topping
Directions: Heat water to boiling. Pour into a bowl. Add gelatin mix. Stir 2 minutes. until completely dissolved. Cool for 5 minutes. Pour into blender. (You must use a blender. A mixer will cause mixture to splatter.) Place softened cream cheese in blender, and blend well. Pour into large bowl. Slowly add 8 oz of whipped topping. (The other half of the container will be used to layer with in the parfaits). Blend well.
Crush half a box of Nilla wafers (or other cookies of your choice). Layer cookies, orange mixture, and whipped topping into cups. Garnish with additional cookies and serve.
Harvest Halloween Sponsor #4: Posh Props
October 9, 2011 3 Comments
The Harvest Halloween Blog Hop is just days away! I hope you’ll all stop by on October 14 and enter this fabulous giveaway I’ve got in store for you!
Today I’m highlighting my 4th and final sponsor for this event. It’s an adorable Etsy shop called Posh Props.
If you haven’t figured it out by now, Posh Props is a shop that sells crochet hats for babies and children. These are both fun and fashionable. And they have some lovely selections available for the fall season! A couple of my fall favorites are the Sunbeam Hat and the Fall Pumpkin Hat with Patches.
The hats at Posh Props come in a variety of fun designs, from flower adorned to hats with tassles, as well as animal hats with ears, and even stocking hats. They come in newborn size, but can be created in larger sizes upon request, and each hat is made to order unless otherwise noted.
One unique thing you should know about Posh Props, is that the profits from the shop go to a very worthy cause. All proceeds go toward creating beanies for babies who are in local hospitals and NICUs.
So if you’re shopping for crochet hats for your child, why not buy from Posh Props and support this cause?
One of my favorite items in the whole shop is this Ladybug Critter Cape. So cute! And they also have these critter capes in variety of other animals, including monkeys, elephants, and bees.
And since I love bright, rainbow colors, I’m also a fan of the fuzzy wuzzy beanie and the Curly Q Beanie.
Connect: Please go by and “like” Posh Props on Facebook.
Win it! Posh Props is offering their Fall Pumpkin Beanie (pictured above) for the Harvest Halloween Hop.
How to Enter: The Harvest Halloween event begins on October 14. Please come back at that time to enter the giveaway featuring Posh Props and three other Etsy shops!
Freschetta Proud to Support Pink Program and Giveaway
October 8, 2011 9 Comments
As many of you know October is National Breast Cancer awareness month, and many companies are getting on board to support this cause. Freschetta is joining the effort with their Proud to Support Pink Program.
From September 25 through October 31, when you purchase specially marked-packages of Freschetta pizzas and Artisan pizza crusts you will be helping to suport the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.
All you have to do is visit www.proudtosupportpink.com and enter the codes found on the specially marked packages. For each code entered Freschetta will donate $1 to this cancer center, up to $50,000.
Freschetta also encourages you to share your own personal journey with breast cancer or the journey of a friend or loved one. These stories will be displayed at www.proudtosupportpink.com and promoted on the Freschetta Facebook page.
In October Freschetta is also giving away 50 iPod Shuffle players each week to encourange participation and sharing of this program. And they’ll also be donating 50 iPod Shuffles players to four cancer centers around America to be enjoyed by patients during their treatments.
To learn more about this program, please visit Proud To Support Pink and the Freschetta Facebook page.
This week, we had a Southern BBQ Chicken Simply Inspired Pizza. These are so incredibly delicious, from the flavorful chicken to the savory sauce! If you haven’t tried these yet, you really should! It makes a really great lunch, dinner, or late night snack.
Win it! One Simply Sweet Home reader will win a Freschetta Proud to Support Pink prize pack, which includes one full value coupon for any Freschetta Pizza and two pairs of Proud to Support Pink earphones (one for you to keep one to share with a friend of family member).
How to Enter: Please use the Rafflecopter form below. Giveaway will be open through Oct 21.
Blogiversary Giveaway #2: Ramen to the Rescue Cookbook (with Review)
October 7, 2011 6 Comments
I’ve always loved Ramen noodles. I can’t tell you how many packages I’ve eaten of these over the years. Let’s just say, it’s a lot! Today I’m sharing a new book that shows you new, creative recipes that you can make with Ramen. It’s called Ramen to the Rescue.
Ramen to the Rescue, written by Jessica Harlan, contains 120 recipes. Here’s a little information on the book:
“Ramen to the Rescue Cookbook shows those millions of noodle slurpers innovative new ways to enjoy beef, chicken, pork and shrimp ramen-flavored dishes that are so much more than soup. The ultimate collection of comfort-food-noodle recipes, Ramen to the Rescue includes a wide array of mouth-watering treats from Pesto Ramen with Chicken and Hamburger-Noodle Bake to more exotic Asian-inspired dishes like Spicy Basil Ramen Stir-Fry and Soy Sauce Ramen Cabbage Salad. Packed with step-by-step instructions, time-saving tips, and fun illustrations, this book will amaze readers as it demonstrates in a beguiling number of ways how to start with a 10-cent pack of noodles and end with a meal packing a million dollars in scrumptiousness.”
My Thoughts: I love Ramen because it’s super inexpensive; it’s very easy to make, and it’s so flavorful. But this cookbook takes Ramen to a whole new level. There’s some great sections in the book, including every course from Snacks and Starters to Desserts and Sweets. And no matter what your tastes and cooking style, you’re sure to find something that your family will love, whether you enjoy home-style comfort food, meatless means, or Asian-Inspired Classics.
Some recipes that I’d most like to try include: Ramen-N-Cheese, Ramen Alfredo, and Chicken Pot Pie.
I’m also intrigued by some of the breakfast options like the Bacon, Egg, and Noodle Scramble and the Crispy Potato Pancake.
And I can’t talk about the book without mentioning the dessert section. The recipes include Ramen-Mallow Treats, Ramen Noodle Pudding, and even Pineapple Upside Down Cake with Candied Noodles.
I think this would be a great book for students and newlyweds, as well as experienced cooks, looking for creative and economical recipes.
Buy it! You can buy the book online at any of these sites: Amazon, Amazon Kindle, Barnes and Noble, and Barnes and Noble – Nook.
Win it! Five (5) Simply Sweet Home Readers will win a copy of Ramen to the Rescue.
How to Enter: Please use the Rafflecopter form below. Giveaway will be open through Oct 21.
Disclosure: I received a copy of Ramen to the Rescue for review purposes. I was not otherwise compensated. The opinions are my own.
Friday Favorites – Week 84
October 6, 2011 10 Comments
Happy Friday! Thanks for stopping by to link up with me. Before we get to the party, I want to remind everyone that I’m celebrating my blogiversary this month with a series of giveaways. The first one was posted earlier this week. Here’s the link to it: Blogiversary Giveaway #1: $35 GC to Little Miss Missy Boutique.
The second one will also be up on Friday. It’s for the new Ramen to the Rescue cookbook, and there will be 5 winners! Woohoo!
Now check out our features for this week:
DIY Bat Garland from Henry Happened
Pepperoni Pizza Puffs from Crumbs and Chaos
Apple Crumble from A Season for All Things
Apple Cider Donuts from Hun What’s For Dinner
Linky time! Please share your posts below!
Bulbs. Dig. Drop. Done. And Win a $5,000 Yard Makeover
October 6, 2011 1 Comment
This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Bulbs. Dig, Drop, Done.. All opinions are 100% mine.
I love flowers! When I was a kid my favorite color was yellow, so of course my favorite flower was daffodils (or buttercups as we call them around here). When I was very little, my brother used to put me in our red wagon and he’d pull it over to where the buttercups were growing, and we’d pick a few for our mom.
Today they are still my favorite flower. Any time I see them in bloom in someone’s yard or on the roadside, I’m wishing I could run over and pick a few. They’re just so bright and colorful, and they have this simple beauty and charm that I love.
I’ve never planted my own daffodils because I’m not a very skilled gardener. But now that I’ve browsed through Bulbs. Dig. Drop. Done. I see that they are actually quite to easy they are to plant.
This site has all sorts of information, planting charts, and tips to help you grow the most beautiful flower beds in the neighborhood. And the site also features three women. Each has her entertaining and inspirational videos on planting your bulbs. My favorite of the three is Marcy the Supermom.
Even though I’m not yet a mom, as a housewife who loves to do fun and creative things. I can really relate to Marcy. Plus, she’s got a fun and quirky personality, and as I watched the videos I laughed, thinking, “this could be in five or ten years.”
After you check out the tips here, you can also head over to Curbside Chaos. They’ve got a really cool garden guru tool that can help you decide when to plant your bulbs in just a few clicks. You simply click the location on the map where you are located, click the month in wish you want your flowers to bloom, and then choose which flower you want to plant, and it gives you a full report and instructions. Here’s an example:
In an effort to get women excited about the simple beauty of flower bulbs, Dig. Drop. Done. is giving away a $5,000 yard makeover plus a visit from Taniya Nayak (@TaniyaNayak on Twitter), who will give you tips to update your garden! All you have to do is submit a photo of your yard. Please visit www.digdropdone.com to learn more.
Free Halloween Printables
October 5, 2011 12 Comments
Halloween Party Printables from Party Planning Center
My Free Fall Printables post was my most viewed post last month, so for this month I’ve got some Halloween printables for you. As always you’ll find links to the sources where you can download these beneath the photos. Happy Downloading!
Halloween Versions of “Keep Calm and Carry On” Wall Art from A Southern Accent
Halloween Drink Labels from It’s Written on the Walls
Halloween Subway Art From That’s What Che Said
TREATS Sign from Dittle Dattle
Witch Sign from RainyButterfly05 on Photobucket
