Giveaway - Stuff I Love

 -Giveaway Closed-

Winner:

#16 Chelsea

Please email me for instructions on how to claim your prize :)

I have another AWESOME giveaway for you today!!!

First, I want you to meet Cat:

My name is Cat and I have a little blog called Stuff I Love.  It's a place to offer up product reviews, book reviews, recipes, giveaways, parenting info and more!  We also have a forum where you can give each other advice and offer your own opinions.  In my 'spare' time I keep a couple of etsy shops at Mimi Baby Boutique and Big Red Kite.  Today I'm pleased to be offering you one of my items!

Cat is offering these gorgeous, silver chandelier earrings to the winner!

Do you want to know what else I love about Cat?

Her shop, Mimi Baby Boutique, gives 50% of all proceeds to charity.

Isn't that amazing?!!

The charity this month is The Shine Project.

You can also find Cat here:

http://www.voicemyopinion.weebly.com/

http://www.mimibabyboutique.weebly.com/

http://www.etsy.com/shop/BigRedKite

http://www.mamacatskitchen.weebly.com/

So, here's how you enter:

1.  Like Stuff I Love on Facebook
2.  Follow Stuff I Love via Google+
3.  Follow on twitter @mimibabyb
4.  Like Mimi Baby Boutique on Facebook
5.  Follow Mimi Baby Boutique via Google+
6.  Like Big Red Kite on Facebook

7.  Follow Cait. Create.

8.  Follow Cait. Create. on Facebook

9.  Get my button

10.  Blog/Facebook/Tweet about this giveaway

  10 ways to enter!  That gives you 10 different chances to win these darling earrings!  Good luck!  Giveaway ends Thursday, December 22nd at midnight.  Winner will be announced on the 23rd.

Reindeer Poop Craft - Tutorial

For Saxon's preschool class party yesterday, we had to bring a "treat or trinket" for all of the kids in the class.  Last year we brought hot chocolate packets with candy canes.

This year...

Reindeer Poop

 

Reindeer Poop Poem

I woke up with such a scare when I heard Santa call...
"Now dash away, dash away, dash away all!"
I ran to the lawn, and in the snowy white drifts,
those nasty reindeer had left "little gifts".

I got an old shovel and started to scoop
Neat little piles of "reindeer poop."
but to throw them away seemed such a waste,
So I saved them, thinking you might like a taste!

As I finished my task, which took quite a while,
Old Santa passed by and he sheepishly smiled.
And I heard him exclaim as he rose to the sky~~~
"Well, they're not potty trained, but at least they can fly!"

We found the free printable HERE.

And HERE is a link if you would prefer SNOWMAN POOP instead.

Saxon was SO EXCITED to give his friends "Reindeer Poop."

He giggled the whole way to school.

I also found this online:

 (Living on a Dime)

I thought it was a cute and inexpensive way to give someone a fun, holiday gift.

Reindeer Poop: Malt Balls

Snowman Poop: Marshmallows

Elf Poop: no idea?

What I Wore...Thrifted

This summer I went thrift-store shopping with my sister.

She has a great eye for unique pieces.

I don't.

I'm sure I made a face at everything she handed me...including this one...

This shirt is a size B8.  I don't really know what size that is, but it's too big on me.

My sister's advice "just belt it and it will look fine."

And here's my attempt:

Shirt: thrifted

Jeans: hand-me-down

Belt: thrifted

Feather Earrings: forever 21

Shoes: Jessica Simpson from Nordstrom

I did my hair in a twisted side pony with a braided headband.

It's easier than it sounds.

First I took a piece of hair from behind my ear and braided it.

Then I wrapped it over my head and secured it with a clip.

Then I started on the side of my head and just twisted my hair until I reached the other side and I put a hair tie in.  My favorite hair ties: Lizzie Starr.

I love them, and my sister Brooke is the model in some of the pictures :)

The best part of my outfit?

Candy Cane toes :)

This is the other set that Jacilynn from Dashwood Shoppe gave me to review.

Aren't they fun?

They last forever too!  I just pulled off the black and white checkered set today.

Pumpkin Waffles and Buttermilk Syrup

This is what we made for breakfast on Sunday morning...

The Best Ever Pumpkin Waffles and to-die-for Buttermilk Syrup

I got this recipe from a girl I used to work with.

She is an amazing cook and this is one of my favorites that she used to make:

PUMPKIN WAFFLES:

In a large bowl combine:

2 C flour

2 Tbsp. baking powder

1 Tbsp. cinnamon

1/2 tsp. nutmeg

1/4 tsp. salt

In another bowl combine:

4 beaten egg yolks (save the whites for later in the recipe)

1 1/2 C milk

1 C pumpkin

3/4 C melted butter

1 Tbsp. vanilla

Mix the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients.

Then, beat the 4 egg whites until they form stiff peaks.

Fold the egg whites into the batter.

Pour into the waffle iron.

*Usually I substitute the white flour for whole wheat flour and use low-fat margarine.

I also double the recipe and make a TON and freeze them.  Then I can pop them in the toaster like Egg-o Waffles and give them to my kids for breakfast.  I feel good about them getting the pumpkin and the whole-wheat flour, and I cut out some of the fat by using the low-fat margarine instead.

Buttermilk Syrup:

In a large saucepan, combine:

1/2 C butter (it has to be the real thing...no margarine)

1/2 C buttermilk

1 C sugar

1 tsp. Karo Syrup

Bring it to a boil, remove from heat, and then add:

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. vanilla

The baking soda will make the syrup double in size so make sure you plan ahead and use a big enough pot.

If you need ideas for what to make for breakfast on Christmas morning, this recipe is AMAZING!  Or, if you're like me, and seem to have a lot of canned pumpkin leftover after the holidays LOL :)

Cake Mix Cookies

Happy Monday Everyone!

Was your weekend crazy and busy?

It seems to be that way this time of year...

I spent Saturday battling the mall with my kids.

I love Christmas shopping, but I felt like I was going crazy by the end.  I could hardly push the stroller through the crowds, and every store had a mile long line!  Then my baby peed through his diaper, and I forgot the diaper bag in the car, that was parked about a mile away.  Some lady commented on my screaming baby by saying:

"That child has been screaming for like 20 minutes!  You would think someone would have tended to him by now."

Seriously.

I am giving up on the mall until next year.

Hopefully I can find a few last minute gifts elsewhere:)

Speaking of gifts, every year, I have a huge baking day and make treats for neighbors, co-workers, friends, etc.  It's cheaper than trying to buy gifts, and homemade gifts are always my favorite anyway.  So, I thought I'd share one of my favorite recipes with you:

Cake Mix Cookies (They're soooooo easy!)

 

 1 box of cake mix

1/2 cup oil

2 eggs

(Didn't I say it was easy!)

Then you just play around with the flavors.

This one, for example, is Chocolate Fudge cake mix, with Christmas Mint M&M's.

 Here's some other combos that I love:

Vanilla Cake Mix + oil + eggs + Mini Reese's Pieces

Yellow Cake Mix + oil + eggs + butterscotch chips + heath bits

Spice Cake Mix + 1 can pumpkin + chocolate chips

Triple Chocolate Fudge Cake Mix + oil + eggs = Oreos...then fill with cream cheese frosting. YUM!

Chocolate Cake Mix + oil + eggs + marshmallows + walnuts = Rocky Road Cookies

Chocolate Cake Mix + oil + eggs + peanut butter chips

Vanilla Cake Mix + oil + eggs + chocolate chips = chocolate chip cookies

Chocolate Cake Mix + oil + eggs + candy cane bits/Red & White Andes Mint Pieces

There are a million possibilities, and they are all SO EASY!

I usually wait until Betty Crocker Cake Mix is on sale for under $1 at the store, and then I buy a ton!  If I have cake mix on hand, I can always come up with a quick and easy treat.

Try these out if you need a quick treat one night!

Or, if you already make these, let me know what your favorite combo is :)

The season for giving

 This is the time of year to take advantage of the opportunities for giving and serving!

I thought I'd share a few links with you that may help you get some ideas:

 Afton Jean Charity

I posted about this yesterday.  It's a charity to raise money for a family who just lost their baby girl and still have to pay overwhelming medical and funeral costs.

Season of Service Guest Posts on My Junk Drawer

Everyday this week, Kristen has had a different blogger guest post service ideas.

Simply Enchanted - Make a Difference Monday

Every Monday Ashley has a linky part to invite everyone to post their ideas on how to make a difference.

Festival of Trees

Utah's annual Festival of Trees raises money to support Primary Children's Medical Center.  We've spent time there when Dalton was first born, so it's special place for us.

Heifer International

This is one of my favorite organizations!  You can purchase a flock of geese, or a water buffalo through their site, and the animal will be sent to a developing country and given to someone.  That person will then be taught how to care for the animal, how to use it, and how to breed it.  Then, when the animals reproduce, they are to give 2 away to a neighbor and teach them what they have learned.  It is about developing a sustainable way of life.  Their mission is to end hunger and poverty.  You can buy an animal in honor of someone you know as a gift.  Then, a certificate is issued to that person letting them know that in their honor, a dozen chickens (or whatever you choose) was donated to help end world hunger.  It's a very fun way to give a creative gift.  When I was at BYU and first heard about Heifer, I donated a flock of geese in honor of each of my grandparents and gave them the certificate as a Christmas gift.  They LOVED it!

Service Ideas

When I googled "service ideas for children" this was the most helpful website that I found.  It has some great ideas!

I hope this helps you get some great ideas for how to make this season count :)

I'd love to hear any ideas that you have as well.

Have a great weekend!