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Watch Giveaway from The Trendy Boutique

November 30, 2011 9 Comments

Today I’m excited to share a review and giveaway from my amazing sponsor The Trendy Boutique. If you’re shopping for females this holiday season, The Trendy Boutique is your one-stop shop!  They have everything from scarves and handbags to watches and a TON of jewelry!

Whether you’re looking for something simple and cute or something fun with flair, they’ve got something to fit your style and personality!

Their jewelry lines include hand-stamped jewelry, photo jewelry, cabochon rings, beaded bracelets and earrings, charms, personalized jewelry, and more!

The Trendy Boutique sent me one of their silicone fashion watches for review.  Their silicone watches come in a variety of hot colors and styles.  You can choose everything from the color to the face size and shape, which makes these a perfect holiday gift.

My Review: I chose a petite watch in grey.  These petite watches are the perfect size for ladies and kids.  And I chose the grey color, because I thought it would go great with any outfit, which it does!
Another great thing about the silicone watches is they are durable and have a great look for casual wear, but I think if you choose certain colors and styles, the watch could well with some of your business casual and more dressy attire.

Again, they have many colors, styles, and sizes available, but here are just a few that I decided to showcase for you:

 
I know my niece would love this fun flowered face!

As many of you know, I love pink, so I, of course, love this hot pink watch!


And here’s an example of one of their square face watches.  I also love this burgandy color.  I think this would go so well with jeans or a black outfit.


And I, of course, had to add a Christmas watch.  This watch featuring a cute snowflake on the face comes in both white and black bands! Cute!

Connect! Follow The Trendy Boutique on on Facebook and on Twitter and through their blog.

On Sale!  For the holidays, The Trendy Boutique has all their watches on sale for just $9.99!!

Win it!  One Simply Sweet Home reader will win the watch of their choice!

To enter, please use the Rafflecopter form below!



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Filed Under: fashion, Giveaways, shopping

Guest Post and Giveaway for A Crafty Creative Christmas

November 29, 2011 Leave a Comment

ME MAKING DO

This week I’m participating in A Crafty Creative Christmas over at Me Making Do, and I’m excited to not only be guest posting but also to be sponsoring a giveaway!

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For my guest posting I’m sharing a tutorial on how to make these Christmas Pillow Boxes!

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And I’m also giving away a pair of my 3-Bead Earrings! (Winner chooses color!!)  Go here to enter!



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I’m linking up at Tidy Mom and these parties.
Filed Under: Christmas, crafts, Giveaways, jewelry, Simply Sweet Creations

Bauble Pops Recipe and Crazy for Cake Pops Review and Giveaway

November 22, 2011 19 Comments
Photo: Present Pops

If you’re in to the cake pop craze, you are going to love today’s review and giveaway!  It’s for the brand new book Crazy for Cake Pops!  And I’ve also got a super fun Christmas recipe for Bauble Pops! 

Cake pops are the hottest trend in baking and it’s easy to see why. With creative shapes and delightful flavors, they’re as fun to make as they are to eat. Crazy for Cake Pops teaches you the secrets for creating these mouthwatering mini treats like a professional baker. Packed with over 75 color photos, Crazy for Cake Pops leaves nothing to chance as it guides you step by step through each part of the process including baking, crumbling, shaping, frosting, and decorating.
My Thoughts: This is an awesome book!  There are so many fun ideas! It features cake pops for any and all occasions for the entire year: Christmas, Thanksgiving, Valentine’s Day, Easter, and Halloween!
There’s also a bunch of ideas for birthdays, baby showers, and other parties.
It’s also the perfect book regardless of your skill level. The book explains all the different equipment and ingredients you’ll need to create these fabulous creations.  Then it includes recipes for the different cake and frosting flavors featured in the book,  followed by step by step tutorials or each design.
And you’ll be so inspired by all the fun colored photos, you’ll want to get started right away creating your own cake pop creations!

Recipe for Bauble Pops: 

Baubles are beautiful party decorations for any time of year. Make them sparkle with a little edible luster spray.

 Makes 20 pops

Ingredients 
20 medium cake balls, chilled
¼ (14-ounce) bag each green, blue, pink and yellow candy melts
40 grams (2½ tablespoons) white fondant, kneaded
1 can edible silver luster spray

Equipment 
4 disposable piping bags

Directions: 

Make tops of baubles in advance: Split the fondant into 20 pieces and roll into balls with your hands. Flatten the balls slightly and make a hole through the middle of each one using the end of a lollipop stick. Leave to harden for a few hours. 
Once hardened, spray with the silver luster spray. Leave to set overnight. 
Melt each color of candy separately. Working with 5 cake balls per color, dip the end of each lollipop stick ¾ inch deep into the candy and insert a stick into each cake ball. Leave to set. 
Dip each cake ball fully into the candy, shake off any excess and, while the candy is still wet, slide a bauble top down over the stick. Make sure the bauble top sticks firmly to the candy on the ball. Place on a sheet of parchment paper with the stick facing up. 
Working with 1 color of candy at a time, pour each color into a separate piping bag. Cut a small piece off the tip of each bag and pipe designs onto the cake pops. 
 Once the candy has set, spray the cake pops lightly with the silver luster spray.

Photo: Snowman Pops
Buy it! Check out Ulysses Press to find out how to order the book online.
Win it! One Simply Sweet Home reader will win a copy of Crazy for Cake Pops.

To enter, just use the Rafflecopter form below. Giveaway will be open through Dec 5.

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I’m linking up at Tidy Mom and these parties.
Filed Under: Christmas, cookies and candy, desserts, Giveaways, product review

Free Milk and Kroger Gift Card Giveaway

November 18, 2011 11 Comments

Kroger is conveniently located less than 5 minutes from our house.  And luckily they always have great deals and promotions.  As you shop for your Thanksgiving groceries, how would you like to pick up some free milk?  It’s easy! Just buy four participating General Mills products at Kroger.

From November 13th through November 26th, with the purchase of any four participating General Mills products, you will either receive free milk (up to $3; limit of 2) or to receive $3 off your shopping order.

Look for some of your favorite participating General Mills products like Cheerios, Pillsbury Ready to Bake Cookies, Nature Valley Bars and Fiber One Bars.
Promotion varies in different locations. Please be sure to check your local Kroger Co. Family of Stores for specific deals and offers.  The list of stores includes Kroger, Ralphs, King Scoopers, City Market, Dillons, Smith’s, Fry’s, QFC, Baker’s, Owen’s, Jay C Food Stores, Hilander, Gerbes, Food4Less, Fred Meyer, Pay Less Supermarkets and Scott´s Food & Pharmacy.

Connect:  Get updates on the latest Kroger sales and promotions via Facebook and Twitter.

Win it! One Simply Sweet Home reader will win a $25 Kroger gift card.

How to Enter: Use the Rafflecopter form below. Giveaway ends Nov 30.

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Disclosure: The Kroger gift card, information, and giveaway have been provided by Kroger and General Mills through MyBlogSpark.

I’m linking up at Tidy Mom and these parties.
Filed Under: deals and discounts, Giveaways

Uprinting Sticker Giveaway

November 16, 2011 1 Comment

It’s been a while since we’ve had a print giveaway, so here we go!  Uprinting is the go-to place for high quality printing.  They have a variety of print products available for your business and personal needs, from business cards to canvas prints.

Today I’ve got a personalized sticker giveaway for you.  Imagine getting your business or blog logo made into a professional looking sticker to hand out at events, place on product packaging, and more.

Or perhaps you’d prefer some mailing labels or labels for personalizing your child’s things.  However, you choose to use it, this is a great product.
Here are the prize details:

250 Personalized Stickers for One (1) Winner2″ x 3.5″ 70lb Label Matte, Front Only Printing, 4 Business Days Turnaround Restriction: Limited to US residents 18 years old and above only. Free Shipping.

To enter, use the Rafflecopter form below. One of the optional entries is to Google+ the Uprinting Sticker page. You can do that via the button below.

 

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Disclosure: This giveaway is sponsored by UPrinting. For more information about online printing please visit UPrinting,com.


Filed Under: Giveaways

Apple Chai Recipe and Mini Pies Book Review and Giveaway

November 14, 2011 20 Comments
Photo: Spiced Cranberry Pear

The fall and holiday seasons are such great times for baking!  And there’s nothing like freshly baked pies to satisfy your guests’ sweet tooth (err…teeth) and make them feel right at home.
By the way, come join Love the Pie with TidyMom sponsored by Cherokee USA, Le Creuset, Wilton, Bags by Bloom and  Harvard Common Press.

New from Ulysses Press, Mini Pies is a cute full-color guide to creating America’s hottest new dessert—cupcake-sized mini pies. 
Offering step-by-step recipes along with tips, tricks, and techniques for mini pie success, this book teaches how to make flaky crusts and luscious fillings that will combine into mouth-watering petite pies. Readers learn how to capture all the delicious flavor of a traditional pie while gaining the adorable look and eat-out-of-your-hand convenience of a cupcake. From beloved favorites like pumpkin, apple, and pecan, to more creative flavors such as Raspberry Rhubarb Whiskey, Chocolate Chipotle, and Cranberry Almond Pistachio, Mini Pies presents recipes to please any palate. Also included are savory recipes for quick snacks and appetizers like mini veggie pot pies, plus vegan and gluten-free recipes to ensure that everyone can enjoy these delightful delicacies.
My Review:  I think this is an excellent book! I love pies and I love cupcakes, so the idea of a mini, cupcake-sized pie is right up my alley.  And I was impressed by the variety of recipes included.  The book has everything from my favorite Chocolate Cream to my dad’s favorite Custard, and my mom’s favorite Lemon Meringue!
It also has the classic holiday favorites that everyone loves: apple, pecan, pumpkin, and cherry!
And along with the pies themselves, you’ll also find great recipes for pie crusts and pie toppings, as well as a great tutorial for making Pies in Jars!

And all the color photos are so beautiful and inspiring!  They will definitely make you crave the pies!

Before we get to the giveaway, I’ve got a sneak peak at one of the recipes from the book!  It’s Apple Chai! Hope you enjoy!


Recipe for Apple Chai

“An apple chai a day keeps the doctor away.” 
Ingredients:
2 apples peeled, cored, and diced into ¼-inch pieces (we like Granny Smith for this pie) 
¼ cup brown sugar 
¼ cup granulated sugar, plus extra for sprinkling 
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon 
⅛ teaspoon ground cardamom 
¼ teaspoon ground allspice 
1 teaspoon vanilla extract 
1 tablespoon lemon juice 
Perfect Pie Crust (recipe in book)
 ¼ cup soy milk 
Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Generously grease a 12-cup muffin tin with butter or cooking spray. 
2. Combine the apples, brown sugar, granulated sugar, cinnamon, cardamom, allspice, vanilla, and lemon juice in a large bowl. Let sit for 10 minutes to allow the flavors to blend. 
3. On a thoroughly floured surface, roll out the pie crust to a thickness of 3∕16 inch. Using a 4-inchdiameter round cutter, cut 12 crusts. Re-form and re-roll the dough as necessary, keeping plenty of flour on your work surface. 
4. Using the mini cookie cutter of your choice and leftover pie crust, cut out 12 shapes to use as pie toppers. (We like stars for Apple Chai pies.) 
5. Carefully shape the crusts into the wells of the muffin tin, crimping the edges with your fingers. 
6. Fill each mini pie with 1½ tablespoons of the apple mixture. The filling will settle while baking, so it’s best to fill the pies higher than the top of the muffin tin. Top each mini pie with a pie topper. 
7. With a pastry brush, lightly brush the pie crusts with soy milk, then sprinkle with sugar. 
8. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until the crusts are golden brown. Allow to cool for a few minutes in the muffin tin, then carefully remove the pies from the tin and place on a wire rack to finish cooling. To remove, first try to spin the pies in the muffin wells. If they need a little extra help, run a butter knife along the edge of the crusts to pop them out of the tin. 
9. Serve, or store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days.Sweet tips : Be sure to dice the apples to a fine ¼-inch dice to minimize settling during baking.
Photo:  Aunt Jimma’s Chocolate Cream 

Buy it! Check out Ulysses Press to find out how to order the book online.
Win it! One Simply Sweet Home reader will win a copy of Mini Pies.

To enter, just use the Rafflecopter form below. Giveaway will be open through Nov 27.




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I’m linking up at the Love the Pie Party at Tidy Mom and these  parties.

Disclosure: I received a copy of Mini Pies for review.  The opinions are my own.
Filed Under: desserts, Giveaways, product review, recipes, Thanksgiving

World’s Best Cat Litter Review and Giveaway

November 8, 2011 9 Comments

As you do a little fall cleaning for the upcoming holidays, consider freshening up your cat’s litter box with World’s Best Cat Litter.

As many of you know, the resident cats of Simply Sweet Home love trying out new products, and I knew this was one that they would really “dig.”
World’s Best Cat Litter comes in three varieties: Clumping Formula, Multiple Cat Clumping Formula, and Scented Multiple Cat Formula.
World’s Best Cat Litter is the only litter made from whole-kernel corn. That means it has a naturally microporous structure that keeps nasty odors and smells inside the litter. It traps the liquid and limits the wetness from seeping, sinking to the bottom or sticking to the sides of the box.
With its patented formula and quick-clumping abilities, World’s Best Cat Litter is easy to scoop. And cleanup is a breeze! Quick clumping keeps the rest of the litter dry. As a result, one 7-lb. bag of World’s Best Cat Litter™ may last one cat more than 30 days. That saves you time and money!
And because World’s Best Cat Litter™ is made from all-natural ingredients—with no added chemicals—it’s safe for cats. And unlike clay litters, there’s no silica dust for you or your cat to breathe.

My Thoughts: We tried the Multiple Cat Clumping Formula.  I liked that I could pour the litter in the pan without a lot of dust flying up.  And I also liked the fine consistency of this litter.  The cats quickly accepted the change of litter after a little sniff or two.

And this litter did a good job of covering up odors. The litter clumped up very well for easy scooping. Plus, with this litter, I didn’t have to deal with that ammonia smell that can sometimes take your breath away when scooping.

All in all, I’d say this is a good product.  And if you’re interested in trying a litter that’s a litter more environmentally friendly and lacks chemicals that can be harmful to your and your cat children, you should give World’s Best Cat Litter a try!

Buy it! World’s Best Cat Litter is sold at a number of local and online retailers including Petco, Pet Smart, and Amazon. Check here for a full list of retailers.

Win it! Three Simply Sweet Home readers will win a bag of World’s Best Cat Litter.
How to enter: Use the Rafflecopter form below. Giveaway will be open through Nov 22.


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I’m linking up at Tidy Mom and these parties.
Filed Under: Giveaways, Pets, product review

Ice Cream Happy Hour Review, Giveaway, and a Recipe

November 6, 2011 9 Comments

Eggnog with Brandy and Rum

The holiday entertainment season is upon us, which means lots of excuses for drinking and desserts. What better way to impress your guests at the end of a dinner party or holiday festivity than with boozy ice cream.

“Ice Cream Happy Hour” is the first book of its kind, with 50-plus ice cream recipes based on your favorite classic shots, cocktails and blended beverages – Coffee with Kahlúa, Chocolate Martini, and Strawberry Daiquiri. These 21-and-over homemade frozen delights not only taste amazing, they also serve up a surprising kick – there’s a shot of alcohol in each cup!

I had the opportunity to review this book, and I think it will make an excellent addition to your library of cookbooks!  It has a variety of Ice Creams, Sherbets, Sundaes, Floats, and more to add flavor and fun to your holiday parties.

You’ll find everything from the ever popular Pina Colada to Margarita Ice Cream, as well as Irish Coffee, Mint Chip with Creme de Menthe, Mudslide Sundaes, and even Bar Brawl Ice Cream Sandwiches!

And if the names of the recipes don’t tempt you, the photos will!  Just take a look at this Chocolate Martini, and you’ll see what I mean!


Today along with a giveaway of this book, I’m pleased to bring you an exclusive recipe from the book!  The Recipe is for Butter Pecan with Brandy!  Whenever I think of fall and the Thanksgiving holiday, I always think of Pecan Pie and other Pecan Recipes, so this ice cream seemed like the perfect one to share this week!



Recipe for Butter Pecan with Brandy:
This recipe calls for candied pecans; however, toasted pecan halves can be substituted if you don’t have the time. We recommend going the extra mile though. It gives the pecans a great texture along with the flavor.
Ingredients:
1 cup milk
2 cups heavy cream
½ vanilla bean
4 egg yolks
⅔ cup brown sugar
2 teaspoons cornstarch
1 packet (1 tablespoon) gelatin
⅓ cup cold water
¼ cup cold (refrigerated) brandy
2 cups Candied Pecans (recipe follows)
Makes about 1½ quarts
Directions:
1. Mix the milk and heavy cream in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat. While the milk mixture is heating, split the vanilla bean down the center lengthwise and scrape out the seeds. Whisk the seeds into the milk mixture, then add the empty pod to the pan.
2. Steep the milk mixture and vanilla. Once the milk mixture is scalding, remove the pan from the heat and cover it. After about 15 minutes, remove the vanilla bean pod.
3. Reheat the milk mixture back up to scalding.
4. While the milk mixture heats to scalding, whisk together the egg yolks with the brown sugar and cornstarch in a medium bowl until slightly fluffy. Gently stream about one-third of the hot milk mixture into the eggs while whisking continuously. This is called tempering. It’s important to whisk while streaming the hot milk. If you just pour in the hot milk and then whisk, you may get scrambled eggs.
5. Thicken the custard over low heat. The custard should thicken rather quickly because of the cornstarch. Pour the egg and milk mixture into the rest of the milk mixture in the sauce pan and stir continuously on low heat with a heatproof spatula. Make sure you scrape the bottom evenly while you continuously stir. The custard is thick enough when you can draw a line on the back of the spoon with your finger and the line retains its shape. 
6. Strain, cover, and chill the custard for at least 8 hours. Strain the custard through a fine-meshstrainer into a heatproof container. Cover with plastic wrap so that it’s directly touching the entire surface of the custard and none of it is exposed to air. This prevents a skin from developing. Transfer the container to an ice bath and let it cool for about 30 minutes to stop the cooking process. Transfer the container to the refrigerator. Chill until the custard is completely cold, at least 8 hours.Once the custard is completely cold…
7. Dissolve the gelatin in the cold water. Pour the water into a small saucepan or microwave-safe container and evenly sprinkle the gelatin on top. Allow to sit until the gelatin appears to have absorbed as much water as it can, about 2 minutes. This is called blooming. Gently warm over low heat and stir until the gelatin is completely dissolved into the liquid, about 3 minutes.
8. Spike the custard with the cold brandy and gelatin mixture. Refrigerate the alcohol until completely cold. Do not speed up the process by putting it in the freezer, which may make the gelatin set up too much before it is added to the custard. Pour the gelatin into a medium bowl and whisk in the cold alcohol until combined. Do not attempt to skip this step by pouring the alcohol directly into the saucepan or microwave-safe container with the gelatin. There might be enough residual heat to heat up the custard and prevent it from thickening in the ice cream maker. Pour the cold custard into a large bowl. Stream the alcohol and gelatin mixture through a fine-mesh strainer into the custard and whisk until thoroughly blended.
9. Churn the ice cream for at least 20 minutes. Pour the cold custard immediately into the ice cream maker and churn for at least 20 minutes, or as directed. Due to the alcohol content, you may wish to churn it longer to get the desired thickness. If you don’t want to serve the ice cream immediately or you want a firmer texture, transfer it to a freezer proof container and freeze for several hours before serving.
10. Add the candied pecans. Scoop about one-third of the ice cream into a freezer-proof container and sprinkle about one-third of the candied pecans on top. Repeat the layers twice more with the remaining ice cream and pecans, then gently fold it all together. Be sure to work quickly—if the ice cream melts too much, it will just get icy once it’s in the freezer.

Buy It! Check out Ulysses Press to find out how to order your copy of Ice Cream Happy Hour.
Win it!  One Simply Sweet Home reader will win a copy of Ice Cream Happy Hour.
How to Enter: Please use the Rafflecopter form below. Giveaway will be open through Nov 19.

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I’m linking up at Tidy Mom and these parties.
Filed Under: drinks, Giveaways, Misc Holidays, party ideas, product review, recipes

1000th Post and Blogiversary Giveaway: 41 West Designs

November 1, 2011 12 Comments

Today is the final day of my 4th Blogiversary Celebration, and coincidentally this is also my 1000th post! (Not planned at all!What are the odds, right?)  For the final day of this celebration, we’ve got an amazing giveaway from 41 West Designs.

41 West Designs brings you beautiful typography art.  They have a number of unique designs in modern as well as distressed-vintage styles.  And their wall art and decor will make a fabulous edition to any home!
And they have some lovely items for the upcoming holiday season.  You can add charm and class to your Thanksgiving buffet with their Thanksgiving Typography Word Art.

And you can deck your halls this holiday season with their lovely Christmas Typography Art.

41 West Designs also has a number of word signs that are perfect for all year round, including Family Rules signs, Keep Calm art, Quote art, and other fun designs!
Connect:  Follow on twitter and facebook. Also, follow Brittany of 41 West Designs at her blog House of Sorensens.

Win it!  Brittany at 41 West Designs is offering one Simply Sweet Home reader a $50 shop credit!
How to Enter: Use the Rafflecopter below to enter. After you complete the mandatory entry, the optional entries will be unlocked. Giveaway ends November 15.

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I’m linking up at Tidy Mom and these parties.
Filed Under: decorating, Giveaways

Blogiversary Giveaway #5: Ploctopia

October 21, 2011 13 Comments
Today’s blogiversary giveaway is from a super yummy sweet shop called Ploctopia.

Ploctopia has a wonderful selection of sweets and treats to tempt and satisfy your sweet tooth.
They have cake pops, cookies and cookie sandwiches, brownies and cookies in jars, and even homemade marshmallows!

One of my favorite items from the shop is their Reese’s Peanut Butter Cake Pops.

And then I also love the look of their Orange Brownie Creamsicle with Orange Buttercream Fluff in a Jar. Yum!!

Among Ploctopia’s selection of sweets in jars also has a yummy collection of homemade butters like this Caramel Apple Butter (above).

Connect:  Please check out Ploctopia on Facebook for updates and more!

Win it!  Ploctopia is offering one Simply Sweet Home reader a $10 gift certificate to their shop!
How To Enter: Use the Rafflecopter form below. Giveaway will be open through Nov 4.

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I’m linking up at Tidy Mom and these parties.
Disclsosure: I received no products or compensation for this post. Prize is provided by Ploctopia.
Filed Under: Giveaways
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