Ducks 'n a Row--the beauty of an organized life.

Sugar and Slice Sunday Dessert Link Party

noreply@blogger.com (Sinea Pies) — Sun, 19 May 2013 21:18:00 +0000

It’s Sunday!

Welcome to Sugar & Slice Sunday Link Party
The only place where you can party on a Sunday and feel fresh on a Monday! ;)

I'm co-hosting Lisa's Sugar & Slice Sunday link party throughout May.
You can visit Lisa over at her blog, Sweet 2 Eat Baking.

In case you missed it, this week I made...

Jam Thumbprint Cookies

This week, in addition to Lisa's banana bread loaf, Lisa made…

Smartie & M&M Oatmeal Cookies.
Orange Swirl Cheesecake bars.
Monster Sized Blueberry muffins.

But sadly she hasn't had a chance to post these recipes. Lisa has severe arthritis all over her body despite being only 31, she's having a huge flare up at the moment so in a lot of pain.
Because Lisa hasn't posted a recipe in a week or two, she didn't want her readers to think that she had neglected the blog. As she can't give an estimation to when she'll be feeling better, she still wants to keep the blog moving in the meantime.

Therefore Lisa would like to invite fellow dessert bloggers to guest post a recipe on Sweet 2 Eat Baking. As long as it is a dessert or sweet treat, it's all good. :)
If you'd like to help Lisa, you can filling out all the details, post title, post content, etc. and submit your guest post here. :)

<a href="http://www.sweet2eatbaking.com/"></a>

<a href="http://www.sweet2eatbaking.com/"></a>

Features:

The most popular submission…

Easy Chocolate Orange Sweet Rolls by Crazy for Crust

And some of our favourites...

{1} Neapolitan Marshmallow Ice Cream Cones by The Partiologist

{2} Coconut Lime Dessert by Everyday Insanity

{3} New York Cheesecake by Bakewell Junction

{4} Red Velvet Cupcakes by Cath's Cookery Creations

{5} Mother's Day Chocolate Shortbread Roses by Pint Sized Baker

{6} Maple Bacon Cookies by The Velvet Moon Baker

If you were featured, grab the 'featured' button code above
and proudly display it on your blog post. :)

Guidelines:

Follow your host and co-host via:

Sweet 2 Eat Baking (Host)
Subscribe via RSS, email or BlogLovin'
Follow on Twitter
Friend on Facebook
Follow on Pinterest
Follow on Google+

Ducks 'n a Row (May co-host)
Subscribe via RSS, or BlogLovin'
Follow on Twitter
Friend on Facebook
Follow on Pinterest
Follow on Google+

Subscribe to your host and co-host via the links above. If you'd like, you can also follow us on our social networking links too.

Link up to your dessert posts only, not the homepage. No giveaways please.

Place the button code (above) either on your specific linked post or on a specific link party page. Link the button back to http://www.sweet2eatbaking.com/

This is a party, let's rock n' roll folks! Spread the love by visiting other links, commenting and if you desire, pinning their creations on Pinterest.

Let's party!!

Loading InLinkz ...

Come back next week and see if you were featured! :D

A Tisket, A Tasket, A Green And Yellow Basket

noreply@blogger.com (Sinea Pies) — Fri, 17 May 2013 23:00:00 +0000

By Sinea Pies

So where do you find a "green and yellow basket" when you need one?

You Google it and come up with this amazing cake creation by Brianna.

Green & Yellow Basket Cake

Yes, this really is a cake!
For more photos: Basket Cake

As I said in my Love Baskets! post, I love baskets. Every shape. Every kind. I used to have a great big one for my dog's multiplied marrow bones but it disintegrated with age. (Could have built our own museum exhibit with them--"This is what a cow looked like, kids".) We threw the bones away and started over.

So, I went on a search, looking for some really great examples of types, uses and styles of baskets. Here's what I found...

Bunny Basket

Wouldn't this make a beautiful centerpiece?

Easter eggs for the holiday.

Fruits or flowers the rest of the year.

Did I hear "cookies"? That's a lot of cookies, kiddo, but works for me!

Nesting Baskets

This is my favorite. I love baskets that fit inside each other and MATCH. I love matching things.

These furry friends are obviously enjoying my favorite baskets, too.

Fruit Baskets

Amazing what some green grapes can do to create just the right look!

And then there are...

CATS in a BASKET

Hey, if they can be "in a hat"...they can be in a basket. :)

Summer Flower Arrangement in a
BIG Basket
video by Pottery Barn
(If you are reading this by email, click on the post title and go to my page to view it.)

This wouldn't fit in my house but it is pretty.
Got a place in your mansion for one?

Hanging Flower Baskets

So, so pretty.
Do you use hanging baskets?
Share your flower basket photos with us on Facebook--CLICK HERE!

Denim Baskets

How to make a fabric basket: DENIM FABRIC BASKETS

Mail Basket

I like this but it needs something....a flower?
What do you think?

And, finally, there is the ever popular
MAKING A BASKET

Got skills?
(nope!)

Of course, we just grazed the surface in the world of baskets. There are laundry baskets, grocery baskets, Easter baskets...what other kinds of baskets can you think of?

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Stop by every Wednesday for

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with specially featured blogs.

A treasure in every click.

Photos:

Green and Yellow Basket Cake from Jared Johnson Family (blog)
Rabbit Basket by Wickerfurniture - Flickr Creative Commons
Nesting Baskets with Stuffed Animals by Wickerfurniture - Flickr Creative Commons
Fruit Basket by Grant Cochrane - Freedigital Photos
Cats in a Basket by Stevep2008 - Flickr Creative Commons
Hanging Flower Baskets by Lackland Hardy - Flickr Creative Commons
Denim Fabric Basket from Threading My Way (blog)

Thumbprint Cookies

noreply@blogger.com (Sinea Pies) — Thu, 16 May 2013 16:18:00 +0000

By Sinea Pies

Jam Thumbprint Cookie Recipe

Adapted from Thumbprint Cookies recipe by Garrett McCord of Vanilla Garlic

Photos by Sinea Pies

TOOLS

Electric mixer

Cookie sheets

Parchment paper

INGREDIENTS

2 sticks salted butter, room temperature

1/2 cup of sugar

2 eggs, room temperature

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Pinch of salt

2 cups of flour

1 cup finely chopped walnuts

3/4 cup jam – any flavor

DIRECTIONS

Cream the butter and sugar using electric mixer for 3 minutes on high.
Separate the eggs. Add yolks and vanilla Place the egg whites in a shallow dish on the side...to be used to dip the cookies before baking.
Add the flour and salt. Mix until just combined.
Place the dough in the fridge for 30 minutes and preheat the oven to 350°.
Whisk the egg whites till frothy.
Roll the dough into balls* about 1 inch in diameter and dip them in egg whites. If using nuts, then roll them into the nuts until covered.
Place the balls on parchment lined cookie sheets.
Press down in the center with your thumb to make a small indent in the center of the cookie. Do not press too hard or the cookie will fall apart.
Fill with 1/2 teaspoon of jam.
Bake for 12-15 minutes or until slightly firm. Allow to cool for a few minutes on the cookie sheet to firm up before moving them to a wire rack to finish cooling.

TIP: the dough will stick to your hands, big-time Leave your water faucet running slightly so that you can get your hands damp before each ball. The ball will smooth nicely and the stickiness will be greatly reduced.

Makes 2 dozen cookies.

For more, visit our RECIPES PAGE.

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Stop by every Wednesday for

Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop

with specially featured blogs.

A treasure in every click.

Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop #21

noreply@blogger.com (Sinea Pies) — Tue, 14 May 2013 22:50:00 +0000

By Sinea Pies

Selecting posts to feature is not an easy job. You all make such delicious food and present such exciting DIY projects that I would love to feature each and every one. Alas, that is not possible. :(

This week we will be shining the spotlight on:

A Lime Coconut Icebox Cake by Paula of Call Me PMc
Painted Tray inspiration from Ruth of Living Well, Spending Less
The Frugal Girls Magnetic Craft Supply Organizer...every mommy's dream (no spills). Heidi thinks of everything!
The Happy Housie's Krista presents a Bedroom Remake that she did for pennies on the dollar. We'll see BEFORE and AFTER.
And Kavitha of Foodomania offers up a totally healthy, picturesque Stir Fry Potatoes recipe that is amazing.

And you?

Let's see what you have for us this week in our

Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop!

Lime & Coconut ICE BOX CAKE by Call Me PMC

A Painted Tray

Magnetic Craft Supplies Organizer

Almost Free: Create A Bedroom You Love On A Budget

Stir Fried Potatoes

Welcome to Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop on

Ducks 'n a Row

♥

Simple Guidelines:

Please follow Ducks ‘n a Row.
In addition, like us on Facebook and Pinterest (Twitter and Google+would be nice, too, if you are in a “liking” mood!)
Add as many of your family-friendly posts as you would like,
no giveaways please.
Visit others. Let them know you've been there!
If you are new, be sure to let me know in the comments. I will definitely reply and would love to visit you. ♥

With Love,

Love Baskets!

noreply@blogger.com (Sinea Pies) — Mon, 13 May 2013 23:00:00 +0000

By Sinea Pies

What is your favorite organizing tool? Mine has to be baskets. I love them. Wicker. Plastic. Wooden. Wire. All types of baskets.

We just recently renovated our home and we opened up the kitchen big-time There was a wall between our kitchen and dining-room that had to come down. On holidays, especially, we were cramped for room. We have a wonderfully large family. Four of our five children now have families of their own. Ten of them, with spouses, plus twelve grandchildren and three great-grands. We were bumping into each other!

So, we took down the wall between the kitchen and the dining-room and put a peninsula where the wall had been. The counter-space is wonderful but, as counters do, it attracts more clutter. The mail collects there. Dishes that are "moving" from the table to the sink can get hung upon that counter. Whoa, can it get messy!

This isn't the worst it has looked but it's close!

As you can see, a lot of it is mail and magazines.

So, I kept my eye out for a brown wicker basket that would be large enough for magazines, but not ridiculously large.

I found this one at Target. It's perfect!

And, as you can see, I accomplished my goal of "just big enough for magazines" and a little more.

What is your favorite organizer?

Previously on Ducks 'n a Row (and other places) ...

Like Us on Facebook

Google +

I'm partying here.

Stop by every Wednesday for

Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop

with specially featured blogs.

A treasure in every click.

Photo Credits:

Hanging Flower Baskets by Lachland Hardy / Flicker Creative Commons
Cats in Laundry Basket by Oskay / Flickr Creative Commons
Grapes in a Basket by Grant Cochrane / Flickr Creative Commons
Assorted Wicker Baskets by Wickerfurniture / Flickr Creative Commons
Other photos by Sinea Pies

Sugar & Slice Blog Hop

noreply@blogger.com (Sinea Pies) — Sun, 12 May 2013 18:16:00 +0000

It’s Mothering Sunday!

Welcome to Sugar & Slice Sunday Link Party
The only place where you can party on a Sunday and feel fresh on a Monday! ;)

With all our love to the moms, grandmas, aunties and adopted-moms

Happy Mother's Day

♥

Moms, you are the best.

You are loved.

You are our heroes!

I'm co-hosting Lisa's Sugar & Slice Sunday link party throughout May.
You can visit Lisa over at her blog, Sweet 2 Eat Baking.

In case you missed it, this week I made...

Chocolate Marble Cheesecake

And Lisa {Sweet 2 Eat Baking} made...

A deliciously moist banana bread loaf

(But she hasn't had a chance to blog it yet. Stay tuned.)

<a href="http://www.sweet2eatbaking.com/"></a>

<a href="http://www.sweet2eatbaking.com/"></a>

Features:

The most popular submission…

Funfetti Cake Batter Dip by A Peek Into My Paradise

And some of our favourites...

{1} Sweet Popcorn by Smart School House

{2} Flower Garden Cupcake Cookies by The Partiologist

{3} Double Chocolate Microwave Mug Cake by Sensual Appeal

{4} Chocolate Rose Biscuits by Cath's Cookery Creations

{5} Star Wars Cookies by sugarkissed

{6} Triple Lemon Buttercream Cake by Red Cottage Chronicles

If you were featured, grab the 'featured' button code above
and proudly display it on your blog post. :)

Guidelines:

Follow your host and co-host via:

Sweet 2 Eat Baking (Host)
Subscribe via RSS, email or BlogLovin'
Follow on Twitter
Friend on Facebook
Follow on Pinterest
Follow on Google+

Ducks 'n a Row (May co-host)
Subscribe via RSS, or BlogLovin'
Follow on Twitter
Friend on Facebook
Follow on Pinterest
Follow on Google+

Subscribe to your host and co-host via the links above. If you'd like, you can also follow us on our social networking links too.

Let's party!!

Come back next week and see if you were featured! :D

Like, Like, Like! Facebook now favors LIKING more than ever.

noreply@blogger.com (Sinea Pies) — Fri, 10 May 2013 12:00:00 +0000

By Sinea Pies

Facebook is changing the way they evaluate fan pages and these changes favor us, the fan page owners.

FACEBOOK IS ON OUR SIDE!

Their new method is being beta tested right now in Australia and New Zealand. Parts have already begun elsewhere. The whole thing is due to be rolled very soon. I have to say that I am just getting my feet wet at understanding all of this but it is important enough to share what I have learned so far.

You may have been seeing new features already. Ever gone to someone's page and have clickable photos of several OTHER sites come up? They are presented as something you might like. FREE ADVERTISING FOR THEM ON OTHER PEOPLE'S PAGES. Want to be one of them? Of course you do! Me, too!

So, all of us need to understand the basics now.

We must not consider our Facebook pages as an afterthought. We should tend to them like a precious garden producing lots of traffic for our blogs!

The terminology Facebook is using to describe this new process is called Graph Search.*

*Links to three articles at end of this post.

Graph Search is a means by which Facebook determines who among our fans will get to see our posts.

You mean they don't all see it? No, not all of them do. You may "like" many pages and never see their postings at all.

THIS IS IMPORTANT: The ones you WILL see are other people's pages where you've spent some time. When you "like", "share" or "comment" on a post, it alerts Facebook that you thought it was worthwhile. Facebook assumes you may want to see more of their material so they work it out. That fan page's posts will begin to show up in your news feed again. If you are a frequent "liker", you'll see them a lot more.

From the perspective of you as a blogger with a fan-page, those who write compelling status updates and get active attention from their fans, will go up the ranks in Facebook's estimation of your page's value. You will get more and better positioning among your fans and, someday, your page will get that free advertising on your competitor's pages, as well. Really? Really!

Now, there is more to this and, as a I said, I am just learning this but for the time being, this is what we all should do.

As part of our weekly blogging routine we should:
1. Build our fan base wherever we can. Facebook values us more if we have more fans! We get higher visibility with them and, therefore, more traffic.

2. "Like" others' pages to become part of their following.

3. Participate! Like, share and comment on the fan pages of our fellow bloggers more than ever before. Clicking "like" takes no time at all. Do it! Hopefully they will stop by someday and like some of yours, too.

4. Write our best content including great, copyright free photos so that not only will it get "pinned" but SHARED on FACEBOOK. (If you are not adding every post to your Facebook page, now's the time to do it!)

5. Post great status updates to Facebook 1-3 times per day. Make them good!

Ask a question that your readers will want to answer...or
Take a poll... or
Post a funny picture you know they'll appreciate ...and
Post your most recent blog post or giveaway.
Post someone else's great post (Be sure to let them know. They might do it for you sometime).

6. Do NOT over-post. Fans may "unlike" you if you bug them too much!

More about it:

As I learn more about these exciting developments with Facebook, I will share it with you.

If you haven't LIKED my Facebook page, please do!

♥

Leave a comment for me so that I know to come back to YOUR page and do some liking, sharing and commenting for you.

CLICK HERE to Like DUCKS 'N a ROW on FACEBOOK

With Love,

So much more...

Chocolate Marble Cheesecake

noreply@blogger.com (Sinea Pies) — Thu, 09 May 2013 11:30:00 +0000

By Sinea Pies

I first had this cheesecake at our cousin Andrea's house. We were expecting our babies 6 months apart and got together to share the fun of the experience. Andrea is a great cook and this cheesecake was the dessert she served. I'd never had anything like it and secretly wished I could get a second piece...or maybe even walk off with the whole thing.

Totally rich with chocolate swirls and a hint of lemon in the golden part, it is simply the best! Hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Chocolate Marble Cheesecake

Serves 1-8, depending on whether you want to share!

Ingredients

1 cup granulated sugar

3 pkgs (8 oz) cream cheese--presoftened

5 large eggs

1 T vanilla

1 T lemon juice

4 oz. Baker's™ German Semi-sweet chocolate

Directions

Blend cream cheese with sugar, using an electric mixer.
Add all 5 eggs, blending in one at a time.
Add vanilla.
Melt the chocolate in the microwave. Fold 2 cups of the mixture into the chocolate.
Add lemon juice to the remainder.
Grease a 9-10 inch spring-form pan with real butter.
Pour the mixture with the lemon into the pan.
Add the chocolate batter to the center. Marble slightly, using a knife.
Bake in a preheated oven at 350° for 50-60 minutes till set.
Cool.
Serve with whipped cream or Cool Whip.
Refrigerate the rest.

Stages of the Process:

Do you like cheesecake? What's your favorite kind?

Previously on Ducks 'n a Row (and other places)...

M & M's - "But I Won't Do That!"
Recipes for Cheesecake
Long Term Benefits of Getting Organized
Sandwich Recipes

Like Us on Facebook

Google +

I'm partying here.

Stop by every Wednesday for

Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop

with specially featured blogs.

A treasure in every click.

More:

Like Me on FACEBOOK Hop

noreply@blogger.com (Sinea Pies) — Tue, 07 May 2013 21:46:00 +0000

Welcome to Like Me on Facebook

We would LOVE for you to be our next Co-Host? 3 Months Ad Space up for grabs for every co-host spot in MAY!

Just A Little Something- 3 months

100 x 100 Available now. Small ads will be rotated during the length of your ad time. Sidebar only. Just a little something to get some extra exposure! Your ad will be live for 3 whole months on The Naptime Review!

Influenced- 3 months

200 x 300 Available now. ~ Sidebar Spot. Guest Post option. *Ads will be rotated for maximum exposure. Ad will be live for 3 months on Consider Me Inspired.

(julie_marling@yahoo.com)

We are scheduling NOW!

This is a link up designed for bloggers who want to increase their facebook likes

and share their facebook pages with others.

*PLEASE DON’T LINK UP YOUR BLOG*

Come back for Mom’s Monday Mingle to link up your blog!

PLEASE LIKE FROM YOUR PERSONAL FACEBOOK PAGE ONLY!

**Facebook doesn’t recognize likes from blog fan pages. Please use your personal account to like.

***Please comment on facebook pages so we can make sure to RETURN follows.

Thank you!

Rules:

1. Please follow your Hosts and Co-hosts on Facebook, Twitter & Pinterest.

Naptime Review- Hostess

Consider Me Inspired- Hostess

Ms. MommyHH6- Co-Host

Sarah M Schultz- Co-Host

Home Ec @ Home- Co-Host

Ducks ‘n a Row- Co-Host

Marriage with a Baby Carriage- Co-Host

They are 1-7 on the list.

*Send Julie a message if you would like to be our next co-host!*

2. Like as many facebook pages as you can.

Visit pages and say hi! Leave your Facebook page url so they can return the follow. Don't forget to link up your Twitter and Pinterest for some extra fun!

3. Please grab the button and place it on your sidebar or the end of a post.

Together we can help each other grow.

Thank you for linking up with us. We hope to see you next week.

FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER: FOLLOW ME ON PINTEREST:

Toasty Tuesday Blog Hop

noreply@blogger.com (Sinea Pies) — Mon, 06 May 2013 23:02:00 +0000

By Sinea Pies

You have embarked upon the Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop #20 but, this week only, it has been moved. We are partying EARLY! Very early. It's been moved it up because I will be co-hosting the LIKE ME ON FACEBOOK hop on Wednesday and I want the hops to each have a day of their own. More visibility for YOU!

This week we're mixing things up. A dessert and a main dish for our recipes. Towels re-purposed in amazing ways. Plus three celebratory picks: Birthday Garden Party, Teacher Appreciation Gift Ideas and Mother's Day, of course!

What do you get the teacher whom you prize so dearly?

How do you tell her (or him) that you care?

This Schools Supplies Cake is a totally awesome way.

Day2Day Supermom made it!

BTW...homeschooling parents are teachers, too.

They would LOVE to receive a gift like this.

Inspiration For Moms has come up with 6 new uses for dish towels that will make you smile.

Check 'em out!

Discover 6 New Uses For Dish Towels

Sophie just had her 3rd birthday and this is how they celebrated it.

Mommy, creator of Night Owl Corner, is a super-star garden party planner!

BIRTHDAY GARDEN PARTY

Lisa of Sweet2Eat Baking makes the best cookies!

The lovely creations in the photo are

STRAWBERRY ROASTED HAZELNUT DARK AND WHITE CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES.

Now, that's a mouthful. And would you like to have a mouthful about now!

BTW...I am so honored to be co-hosting with Lisa on her Sugar & Slice Sunday Link Party for the whole month of May. Please stop by that hop, right on this page, before you leave. It's still live and filled with great posts!

Mothers Day will be oh-so special for the mom or grandma who receives these DECORATIVE PAPER & PHOTO TILE COASTERS by Megin of VMG206.

Doesn't this look GOOD?

Beth of the First Year Blog made it.

CHEESY SPINACH PARMESAN PASTA

♥

Welcome to Toasty Tuesday Blog Hop!

Simple Guidelines:

Please follow Ducks ‘n a Row.
In addition, like us on Facebook and Pinterest (Twitter and Google+would be nice, too, if you are in a “liking” mood!)
Add as many of your family-friendly posts as you would like,
no giveaways please.
Visit others. Let them know you've been there!
If you are new, be sure to let me know in the comments. I will definitely reply and would love to visit you. ♥

Welcome to our party. Please add as many family-friendly posts as you like. DIY, crafts, decorating, fashion, how-to, recipes, organizing, gardening, pets, kids .... whatever you loved enough to write about. No giveaways please but you can always tell us how to find yours in the comments. ♥

With love....

Sugar & Slice Sunday

noreply@blogger.com (Sinea Pies) — Sun, 05 May 2013 23:07:00 +0000

It’s Sunday!

Welcome to Sugar & Slice Sunday Link Party
The only place where you can party on a Sunday and feel fresh on a Monday! ;)

Hi! I'm Sinea from Ducks 'n a Row and I'm thrilled to be co-hosting with Lisa for the month of May!

In case you missed it, this week I made...

Cheesecake Berry Parfait

And Lisa (Sweet 2 Eat Baking) made:

Strawberry, Roasted Hazelnut, Dark and White Chocolate Chip Cookies

And Sinea made...

Peach Cobbler

<a href="http://www.sweet2eatbaking.com/"></a>

<a href="http://www.sweet2eatbaking.com/"></a>

Features:

The most popular submission…

Luscious Lemon Mousse by Red Cottage Chronicles

And some of my favourites...

{1} The Best Moist and Fluffy White Cupcake Recipe by The Alchemist

{2} Mini Peanut Butter Cheesecakes by A Taste of Madness

{3} Halva-Caramel Nut Bars by Something Sweet

{4} Flower Box Peanut Butter Filled Brownies by Hoopla Palooza

{5} Shortbread Dulce de Leche Bars by Pint Sized Baker

{6} Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars by Teenage Cakeland

If you were featured, grab the 'featured' button code above
and proudly display it on your blog post. :)

Guidelines:

Follow your host and co-host via:

Sweet 2 Eat Baking (Host)
Subscribe via RSS, email or BlogLovin'
Follow on Twitter
Friend on Facebook
Follow on Pinterest
Follow on Google+

Ducks 'n a Row (May co-host)
Subscribe via RSS, or BlogLovin'
Follow on Twitter
Friend on Facebook
Follow on Pinterest
Follow on Google+

Subscribe to your host and co-host via the links above. If you'd like, you can also follow us on our social networking links too.

Let's party!!

Come back next week and see if you were featured! :D

Cheesecake Berry Parfait

noreply@blogger.com (Sinea Pies) — Fri, 03 May 2013 14:00:00 +0000

By Sinea Pies

This delicious creamy dessert has the look of elegance and is so easy to make.

Cheesecake Berry Parfait

Ingredients

1 pkg. cream cheese, softened

1 ½ cups cold milk

1 pkg Jell-O vanilla instant pudding

1 cup COOL WHIP, thawed

Graham crackers, coarsely chopped

Fresh raspberries and blueberries

Reddi-wip whipped cream in a can

Directions

Mix softened cream cheese with an electric mixer.
Add in milk, gradually.
Pour dry pudding powder into the mixture and blend.
Whisk in Cool Whip.

Chop graham crackers into very small pieces.
Layer as follows:
Graham Cracker pieces
Berries
Cream Cheese mixture
Repeat

Top decoratively with Reddi-wip whipped cream topping.
Serve immediately.

Tip: be sure that your cream cheese is truly softened before you begin. If the cream cheese is solid, the mixture will be lumpy.

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I'm partying here.

Stop by every Wednesday for

Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop

with specially featured blogs.

A treasure in every click.

Google+

Leave A Clickable Link In Your Blog Comment

noreply@blogger.com (Sinea Pies) — Thu, 02 May 2013 14:00:00 +0000

By Sinea Pies

Are you a frequent commenter on blogs and websites? I love to visit various sites and leave a note of appreciation.

Most of us who leave comments also add the URL of our own site so that others can stop by. Do you? Me, too. But, I was finding that not every blog had a field where my URL could be entered. Of course, I could always leave my URL right in my note.

This is how it would look:

Blessings,

Sinea from http://www.ducksnarow.com

But that’s not how I wanted it to look. I wanted to leave the name of my blog as a clickable link.

If no one could do it, that was one thing. But I was seeing that some were and some were not. That’s when I decided to hunt around on the internet to find instructions for HOW to do it. Again, it takes a little bit of html, just like setting up links to open in a new window*. But we're learning that we can do a little html, can’t we. Of course we can!

For how to get links to open in a new window, and why it's important: Readers How To Keep Them

Here is what I've learned about creating clickable links in the comment area.

You simply have to add this code in the location where you want it to appear and, when you submit the comment, 99%* of the time it will translate into a clickable link to your page. (*There is one format I've encountered that doesn't change it but that is rare.)

This is what mine looks like:

Insert YOUR blog URL and the title of your blog in the areas that I've highlighted above.

Now, type your code onto a Word documents and save it to use when you are in commenting mode. Copy and paste it in each time you comment. Simple!

For More Blogging Tips Visit

Blog Help

With Love,

Like Us on Facebook

Google +

I'm partying here.

Stop by every Wednesday for

Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop

with specially featured blogs.

A treasure in every click.

Photo Credit: Stuart Miles "Young Woman Browsing the Internet" from Freedigitalphotos.net

Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop #19

noreply@blogger.com (Sinea Pies) — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 22:50:00 +0000

By Sinea Pies

Ever think you'd see so much talent on one screen? Last week's blog hop was rich with amazing ideas and tasty recipes --I'm still visiting them. We had over 120 links! A dream come true.

This week's special features:

Cream Cheese Croissants by Niki of Niki's Sweet Side.
Olive Tapenade Meatball Subs courtesy of Lemontree Dwelling.
A creative teaching tool--magnetic letters on a garage door -- for children by Sugar Aunts.
Olive Garden Breadsticks, country style, from Dear Beautiful You
Nat And Gang's DIY Patchwork Stool.
And, Turtle Thumbprint Cookies artfully made by Mom On Time Out.

Cream Cheese Croissants with Cream Cheese Glaze
This recipe is the easiest ever but no one will ever know! It could pass for a work of art straight from a bakery. Secret ingredient....crescent rolls with LOTS of cream cheese, of course! Niki of Niki's Sweet Side confesses that this is her favorite recipe ever. She makes sure there are always crescent rolls in her refrigerator, just in case she has a yearning. :)
This one could become my favorite, too.

Olive Tapenade Meatball Subs

Cathy from Lemon Tree Dwelling and I would get along great...we certainly have the same taste in food. Though I'd never heard of Tapenade, the moment I saw it I could tell it was wonderful. I love, love, love OLIVES. Every kind. Check out this awesome recipe.

Magnetic Letters On A Garage Door

Such a challenge to keep our kids busy, isn't it? Using alphabet door magnets on a garage door is such a fun idea. Nothing like kids having a good time while practicing their spelling skills. Thanks, Sugar Aunts.
(Now if we could just get them to wash the garage door, it'd be perfect!)

{Country} Olive Garden Breadsticks

When you go to The Olive Garden, what do YOU go for? The breadsticks, right?Me, too!
The lovely sisters of Dear Beautiful You, Christina and Rebecca, hit it right when they chose Olive Garden Breadsticks to mimic.

Now we can make them for ourselves with this great knock-off recipe.

DIY Patchwork Stools

I wonder how many times this post has been pinned.

A zillion? Probably!

The moment I saw it, I HAD to pin it and then share it with you.

Natalie of Nat And Gang is a DIY genius! Don't you just love this stool?

Turtle Thumbprint Cookies

Mom On Time Out, you expect me to have these in my home? Seriously? They have to be the most scrumptious looking cookies I've ever seen. So, if I make them at home....alone...what are the chances that anyone in my family will ever know? They could be gone before anyone ever finds out!

♥

Welcome to the Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop!

Simple Guidelines:

Please follow Ducks ‘n a Row.
In addition, like us on Facebook and Pinterest (Twitter and Google+would be nice, too, if you are in a “liking” mood!)
Add as many of your family-friendly posts as you would like,
no giveaways please.
Visit others. Let them know you've been there!
If you are new to Wonderful Wednesday, be sure to let me know in the comments. I will definitely reply and would love to visit you. ♥

10 Fun Things To Do With Kids for Free (or cheap)

noreply@blogger.com (Sinea Pies) — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 05:30:00 +0000

By Sinea Pies

Parents are always looking for ways to entertain their children. Particularly, things that don't have to do with the internet or TV. We are aware that there are alternatives, but it can be hard to figure out just what.
If you are looking for something to do, here are ten ideas you can try:

Bake

Even box mixes can be fun if you let your little ones measure, pour, mix and lick the bowl! Here’s a tasty chocolate chip cookie recipe that stays a little puffier than the original. Easy to make: Best Toll House Cookies

Crafts

Crafts don’t have to cost much. They should be colorful and fun. The more hands-on the better. Makeyour own play-dough or use seeds or beans to make beautiful 3-D pictures. Or maybe buttons? Button crafts are great!

Cruise through the internet and find some easy, fun projects. A good place to find them is at BLOG HOPS. Check out the titles and click! I found this one at a hop: {Kids Craft} Recycled Mixed Media Paint Project

Kids Project By Bowdabra

How about making some rock animals?

Fort

Forget order for a day and build a fort with your kids in the living-room. If you don't have a little tent, use a bed sheet strung over the ends of chairs. Get right in there with them. Bring special treasures: pillow, blanket, stuffed animals to camp with you, a flashlight (turn off the lights for flashlight fun), music and snacks. What would you include in your fun-fort?

Garden

If your climate is warm enough to plant now, buy some flowers or vegetables, get out there with your kids and dig!

If not, start some seeds indoors. Take a trip together to the garden store to pick out what you will plant. Teach them a little about the types of plants that will or will not work for you. Ask questions from the experts who work there. Put it in terms your kids will understand. Make it a fun, learning experience.

Go Fish -- This is two-fold.

Go fishing! All you need is an inexpensive fishing pole, worms or homemade bait, a pail to put the fish in. (You’ll probably be throwing them back before you leave but give your kids the pleasure of looking at them for a while.)

Play “Go Fish”. Kids cards are cheap. I just bought a set of Old Maid, Go Fish and Crazy 8's for $5. If you have a regular deck of cards, that works, too.

Library

Your local public library will have some great children’s programs. They may host therapy dog clinics, puppet shows, craft time, story time…the sky’s the limit. Get on their mailing list to stay informed.

Parks

Go on a nature hike with your kids. Bring a “treasure hunt” sheet listing things to look for. Older children like to compete. Give them points for the first one to see a bird with red on it, or two squirrels playing together, a special kind of flower, fish in the pond, a tree with moss on it, and on and on. Winner gets to sit in the front seat on the drive home!

Pets

Your little tykes will love a trip to Petsmart, especially if it has a pet hotel. It's like going to the zoo--only cheaper! Call ahead to find out what time the dogs will be in the exercise area. They have a bench outside the window and you can sit and watch the dogs play. Kids love it! Don’t forget to visit the fishies, turtles, hamsters, bunnies and birds before you go!

Playground

Fresh air and exercise is a must. Take your kids to the playground. Remember to bring sunscreen, hats, water and playthings if there is a sandbox (toy trucks, bucket with scoop, etc).
Tip: Put away the cell phone…no talk or texting on outings…this day is for all of you to really be together.

When you hear "Look Mommy!" really be LOOKING and appreciating their fun. Keep the phone near for an emergency but, if you are prone to receiving many calls, turn it off. You'll be OK.

Play-sheets

Commonly called “worksheets”…but what’s fun about work? Call them "play sheets" and let your kids use their intellectual skills as they play.

Practice writing, math, map making…there are lots of fun activity sheets that can be printed right from the web.

What fun and not-too-expensive things do you do with your kids?

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Photo credits:
Bowdabra kids project
Camping Tent and Monkey by Africa freedigital photos
Kid Fishing from flickr creative commons
Kid Gardening from flickr creative commons
Child Drawing from freedigital photos
Baby Dogs from freedigital photos
Little Girl on Playground from sxc.hu

Oven Fried Bacon

noreply@blogger.com (Sinea Pies) — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 20:57:00 +0000

By Sinea Pies

Do you love bacon? I do! Yes, there are varying opinions on how good it may or may not be for you but I can't get around it...I LOVE BACON!

What I do NOT love is the mess when you fry it. No matter how careful you are, the grease splatters. It takes a lot of time to fry it, too. Add the cleanup and you have taken on a real project!

So, the other day I was visiting my dad and my 20-something nephew, Ian, was lining some baking sheets with foil. When I asked what he was up to he said, "Oh, Aunt Sinea, I'm going to fry up the leftover bacon in the frig before it goes bad." Frying? Baking sheets? Am I the last one to find out?

Oven Fried Bacon is a dream come true. You can bake a whole pound of bacon with almost no effort and little cleanup. And, it tastes so good!

If you like bacon with breakfast, or have favorite dishes where bacon is a component, you'll want to try this technique. Whatever you aren't prepared to eat right away can be frozen, too. That way you have cooked bacon at your finger tips any time you need it!

Here's how you do it:

Line two jelly roll pans (Jelly roll pans are baking sheets with an edge on them to keep the fat from dripping into your oven. Do NOT use a flat baking sheet. The dripping fat will cause a fire.)
Lay the raw bacon out flat on the pans.
Place them in a COLD oven and then set the temperature for 400°.
Set your timer for 18 minutes.
After 18 minutes, if it is not as crisp as you like, reset the timer for 1-3 more minutes.
Remove the pans from the oven.
Carefully move the cooked bacon to a paper-towel covered platter to cool.

Serve immediately or place the cooked bacon in a freezer bag with a clean paper towel inside. Freeze.

Next time you need bacon, either microwave the frozen slices or simply thaw to use in your favorite recipe.

Line jelly roll pans with foil. Lay the raw bacon out on them.

Place in COLD oven. Set temperature for 400°.

When done, place cooked bacon on paper towel to soak up excess grease.

What are your favorite bacon dishes?
I love Chicken Colindron (recipe coming soon), Tortellini Alfredo and Turkey Club Sandwiches.
Oh yes, and Twice Baked Potatoes. Yum.

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Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop #18

noreply@blogger.com (Sinea Pies) — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 22:50:00 +0000

By Sinea Pies

Welcome to Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop #18!

Today we are featuring six great posts:

A very creative basket of flowers by Bonnie of The Pin Junkie.
Adorable DIY pocket purses, fashioned by Connie of Family Home and Life.
Kids chef hats designed and made by Danielle of Busy Moms Helper.
Amazing spinach Parmesan crusted grilled cheese from the kitchen of Lyuba of Will Cook For Smiles.
A very classy black 'n white floral chairs makeover created by Kristy of 3-Peppers Recipes.
And, Lynn of Turnips 2 Tangerines yummy pineapple upside down bundt cake!

Such a lovely display for springtime from The Pin Junkie is one of several amazing floral ideas displayed on her site:
Decorating for Spring With Flowers

Which little girl (or big one) wouldn't LOVE a cute denim purse?
They are made from jean pockets!
♥ Connie, you are one creative lady. ♥
Pocket Purses

This is a particular favorite of mine. A while ago I wrote a post on how to throw a chef party for kids and included links where chef hats could be purchased.

Danielle's DIY Chef Hats are so much cuter and more colorful than the store-bought kind, with the added bonus that it is a project your kids can do with you. I liked it so much that I removed the old links on my post and embedded a link to her post instead.

Chef Party Hats

Love grilled cheese? How much MORE a spinach-feta-parmesan crusted grilled cheese.
Doesn't this look marvelous?
Lyuba of Will Cook For Smiles created it!
SPINACH FETA PARMESAN CRUSTED GRILLED CHEESE SANDWICH RECIPE

Found this on Pinterest, I think.
Has everyone on the planet pinned and featured it yet?
It is very popular!
This is such a pretty - elegant - wonderful redo, everyone MUST see it!
♥ To be sure of that, here it is being featured again. ♥
I would love to have these chairs, wouldn't you?
This Modern Floral Chair Makeover is by 3-Peppers Recipes

Oh yes! Bundt cakes are so pretty. And pineapple upside down?
Just look at it!
Wow!
PINEAPPLE UPSIDE DOWN BUNDT CAKE RECIPE from Turnips 2 Tangerines

How about you?

Time for a great blog hop!
Can't wait to see what you have for us this week.

First, let me ask you...are you on my Blog Hop Email List?
If you are not getting a reminder email telling you the the hop is LIVE and want to get one, ask me.

Just send me an email to ducksnarow1@gmail.com with "BLOG HOP" as the subject line.

You will get an email announcement every Tuesday night.

♥

Welcome to the Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop!

Simple Guidelines:

Please follow Ducks ‘n a Row.
In addition, like us on Facebook and Pinterest (Twitter and Google+would be nice, too, if you are in a “liking” mood!)
Add as many of your family-friendly posts as you would like,
no giveaways please.
Visit others. Let them know you've been there!
If you are new to Wonderful Wednesday, be sure to let me know in the comments. I will definitely reply and would love to visit you. ♥

Photo credit: Email button by Stuart Miles on Freedigital Photos dot net

Photo credit: Smiley Face from Free Extras dot com

Want Your Picture To Show On Google Searches?

noreply@blogger.com (Sinea Pies) — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 01:58:00 +0000

By Sinea Pies

This one was a challenge to me. I am less than an expert in html but I am learning. Definitely learning.

When links were taking my readers off my page, I learned how to get them to open in a new window. Here's how: Readers - How To Keep Them On Your Page

When others were adding their URL to comments on blogs, I had been writing out the whole code. I hated that. Finally, I discovered how to set the code so my blog name, Ducks 'n a Row, became clickable. Wow! I was on a roll. (Tutorial coming soon)

But then I heard about "authorship". Some bloggers were getting extra recognition on Google searches because their picture was showing up with the link to their post. No way! Yes way! Why not me? I wanted it, too. Don't you?

There is a certain clout that a listing on Google has when the author's picture accompanies it. It implies excellence--authority. But how, how, how do you rate such a privilege? Happily, this is not just reserved for an elite few. It is simply a little html and Google+. That's it. So, let's get started!

Now, I am going to give you the link to the post that really walked me through it but I want to break it down for you, first, to get you started.

First, you must have a Google+ account with a completed profile. Even if Google+ won't be your primary social media outlet, do it. Facebook is mine, with Pinterest second.

Use a photo of yourself that you will want to have show up on Google searches. Be sure to do that. It isn't necessary to use the same photo on your About Me page on your blog, but you may want to for consistency. (When I'm 90, there I'll be looking like I do today! LOL)

Now, you will do some linking with html in three different places:

A post from your blog will need to be linked to your ABOUT ME page using rel="author". (That's html.)
Another link has to be set up from your ABOUT ME page to your GOOGLE PROFILE page using rel=”me”.
And then you will be linking your GOOGLE profile back to your ABOUT ME with, again, rel=”me”.

Confused? I found that the best way to do this is one step at a time. If I can do it, you can do it.

Here is the link to the specific instructions, by AJ Kohn on Blind Five Year Old:

How To Implement rel="author"

Another really cool gizmo that you will want to use to test this out is Google's
Rich Snippet Tool. This tool will allow you to plug in the URL of a blog post and see if it is set up to show your author picture with the search results.

This is what my preview in the Rich Snippet Tool looked like:

It will take a week or two before your photo will actually show on Google searches but, at least, you will have the pleasure of seeing what it will soon like as you test it out with the snippet tool. Is this cool or what?

Blogging is fun!

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Photo credit: Website Design by KROMKRATHOG freedigital photos

Pretty Party Punch

noreply@blogger.com (Sinea Pies) — Sun, 21 Apr 2013 20:30:00 +0000

By Sinea Pies

The featured photo is actually step number 2 in the Pretty Party Punch process.

To me it's the prettiest so that's why it's first.

This punch is so perfect for baby or bridal showers, birthdays, graduations and other special occasions.

There are only three ingredients.

Sherbet

Cherries

Gingerale (cold)

That's it!

Everyone loves it. Simple as it is, people will ask you for the recipe. No one can believe that it is this easy to make.

First, soften a carton of your favorite flavor of sherbet.

I chose orange. Many people like rainbow.

Next, place maraschino cherries in the bottom of a Bundt Cake Pan.

Now, dollop the sherbet on top of the cherries and then smooth.

Put another ring of cherries on top, slightly pressing them into the sherbet.

Cover it with plastic wrap and freeze.

On the day of the party, remove the pan from the freezer and place it in warm water in the sink (careful to not get water on the sherbet). Now that it is loosened, turn the pan over into a punch bowl. It should easily release into the bowl.

Pour cold ginger-ale over the ring and it's done.

Previously on Ducks 'n a Row (and other places)

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Linking up with Menu Plan Monday on Organizing Junkie

Monday Grilled Cheese Sandwiches and cream of tomato soup.
Tuesday Fried Chicken with biscuits.
Wednesday "Breakfast for dinner" Make Eggs in a Basket with sausage or bacon on the side.
Thursday Lite night. Mediterranean Salad with couscos as a side dish.
Friday No cooking. Get a great Pizza Hut pizza!
Saturday Little Cheddar Burgers with mashed potatoes and corn on the side. (Save the remaining ground beef for tomorrow night's lasagna)
Sunday Baked Lasagna with spaghetti, tossed salad and Italian bread

Yummy Low-Carb Fudge Bar Sundae

noreply@blogger.com (Sinea Pies) — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 12:00:00 +0000

By Sinea Pies
Finally, a way to cut back on carbohydrates and have our ice cream, too! You see, I have this romance going on with ice cream. I won't give it up for very long. That's why I'd start a low-carb regimen and do really well, only to quit a few days later. I didn't want to do without ice cream. Now, I don't have to.

A sugar-free fudge bar/peanut butter combination may sound familiar, if you've been a South Beach Dieter. They have a version of it that tastes very good but all of the ingredients are blended together. I've adapted the recipe to be more like an ice cream sundae.

Yummy Low-Carb Fudgsicle Sundae

Ingredients

1/2 No-Sugar Frozen Fudge Bar

1 heaping Tablespoon Natural Peanut Butter

1/2 cup Ready Whip whipped cream

Drizzle chocolate syrup

Directions

Let the fudge bar sit out on the counter for 2-3 minutes till soft enough to cut.
Cut the bar in half.
Re-wrap half of it and put that back in the freezer for the next day.
Cut the other half in chunks and place in a bowl along with the peanut butter.
Blend with a spoon.
Top with Reddi-wip whipped cream.
Make it pretty by drizzling with chocolate syrup.
Serve immediately.

Carbohydrate Count: 10 carbs per serving

Got any good low-carb dessert recipes?

Previously on Ducks 'n a Row (and other places) ...

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Go Very-Green With Your Blog Posts

noreply@blogger.com (Sinea Pies) — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 16:24:00 +0000

By Sinea Pies

In the context of blog content, "green" posts are posts that will be as fresh to a new reader a year from now as they are today. Many articles can be "timeless." When teaching about making a nifty craft or sharing a scrumptious recipe, your audience will never think your piece is "old" unless you tell them that it is.

Why should your posts be "green"? Well, they don't have to be but it is wise to make them as delightful to readers weeks, months and years from now as they are today. You worked hard on them!

Ever come across a great post, notice the date and feel less excited because it was "old"? That's what we're trying to avoid. We work too hard to give our articles a short shelf-life.

Keepin' It Fresh

Tip #1: Don't share prices on supplies or ingredients, unless yours is a couponing/deals blog. The prices will soon be old-news and your post will be, too. Instead, suggest where your readers can get what they need and give them a link to the website where they can find it.

Tip #2: Holiday posts can't help but "expire." They are calendar-sensitive. Don't you love reading Thanksgiving posts in late October through Thanksgiving Day? After that, not so much. It's just the nature of that kind of post. Holidays come and go. Some retailers have tried to create "Christmas in July" but Christmas is not what I want to read about in July.

Keepin' them fresh? You could re-tool a great holiday post and run it again next year. Write new material, too, but great posts should be seen again. Do a "blast from the past".

Big Tip #3: Get rid of the date on your posts. At this time, Blogger doesn't allow for that but there is a way around it. Make everything WHITE. That's what I did!

Go into the advanced settings (after backing up your blog, of course) and set the background of your posts AND the text for the date to white. Though the date is there, no one will see it. That is why my entire site is now white. It was that important to me. You don't have to change your whole look, though. Just the background of the actual post and the date. Here's how you do it in Blogger...

Instructions:

Click on "Template"
Back up your blog (upper right corner)
Now, click on "Customize"
Select "Advanced" from the menu on the left
Click on "Background" and turn everything to white
Click on "Date Header" and make that white too.
Click "Apply To Blog" and you are done!

More blogging help:

How To Blog - great for those who are just starting out
Free Photo Websites - don't break copyright laws. Get great photos copyright-free.
Set Bloglovin' Up Right - keep your readers on your page!
Get Facebook Fans For Free - tips on how to build your Facebook following.

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Photo Credit: Butterfly on Purple Flower by SOMMAI on Freedigital Photos

Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop #17

noreply@blogger.com (Sinea Pies) — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 22:54:00 +0000

By Sinea Pies

This week's blog hop features warm seafood pot pie with puffed pastry, delectable skillet chocolate chip cookies, cowboy spaghetti for all of your little cowhands, super organizing system for preschool moms and DIY nail art that you'll love! Take some time to visit our features, pin them and let them know you stopped by.

Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop: please add your wonderful links.

If you are new to the hop, be extra sure to leave a comment and let me know.

This seafood pot pie, enveloped in delicious puff pastry, is a real winner!

Can't you just imagine it appearing in a premiere periodical for haute cuisine?

This beautiful dish comes from Ali at Jam Hands.

This week Just Dip It In Chocolate featured a skillet chocolate chip cookie of gourmet proportions.

You can just taste the chocolate LOOKING at it, can't you? Mmmm.

Jamie from Love Bakes Good Cakes made this adventurous Cowboy Spaghetti. The adventure? Their family is moving and she is on a mission to clean out the cupboards before they do. With great courage and creativity, she pulled together this Tex-Mex style spaghetti dish that any cowboy would enjoy.

(Or, at least we think so. She doesn't know any cowboys and neither do I. Ssshhh. Don't tell!)

Homeschooling your preschooler? Here is a nifty organizing system to add ease to your day. Monica from Happy And Blessed Home created it and

shares it, along with lots of great teaching ideas, here with you.

Confession: my nails have not been anything to brag about. My granddaughter was getting married this year, so I decided to come to the event with great looking nails. I had them done professionally and I loved it.

It was fun.

My friend, Ange, at Hairspray and High Heels is a beauty expert who teaches how we can have pretty beauty parlor nails at home, for a fraction of the price!

DIY NAIL ART

♥

Thank you everyone for liking my Facebook page.

We reached 700 this week. Yipee!

Looking forward to many more.

If you haven't LIKED my Ducks 'n a Row page, sure would appreciate it.

♥

Welcome to the Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop!

Simple Guidelines:

Please follow Ducks ‘n a Row on Bloglovin’ and/or by email.
In addition, like us on Facebook and Pinterest (Twitter and Google+would be nice, too, if you are in a “liking” mood!)
Add as many of your family-friendly posts as you would like,
no giveaways please.
Visit others. Let them know you've been there!
If you are new to Wonderful Wednesday, be sure to let me know in the comments. I will reply and would love to visit you.

To Do List...pull a weed!

noreply@blogger.com (Sinea Pies) — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 01:34:00 +0000

By Sinea Pies

As I was reading a recent post on The Unclutterer called "Three Easy Projects for a Monday" I was struck by the simplicity of the first point: "Pull a Weed"

How many times have we passed up delving into a project because it was too big for the time allowed? Days, even weeks, could go by with no move toward improving it.

If we would take an extra moment to do something, anything, toward cleaning, shining or clearing, eventually whole rooms would be done.
Pulling a weed is a great analogy!

My favorite examples of "weed pulling" are:
1) shine your kitchen sink or
2) clean a drawer

Others might be:
3) move some stuff to where it belongs
4) make a bed
5) empty a waste basket

There are any number of 5-minutes or less projects that, when done, get you so much closer to peace and tranquility. As I like to say: "The beauty of an organized life."

So, today... if you are super busy, with little time for extras, do that one thing and "pull a weed". You'll feel better!

Got some great tips for us? Organizing? Time saving? Money savings? Inspiration?

Previously on Ducks 'n a Row (and other places)

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Photo credit: warriormindcoach.com

Tortellini Alfredo

noreply@blogger.com (Sinea Pies) — Sun, 14 Apr 2013 01:13:00 +0000

By Sinea Pies

When I first tried Tortellini Alfredo, it was at my best friend Rosemary's house. She is 100% Italian and such a gifted cook. She served it as a side dish at Sunday dinner with homemade meatballs, sauce, linguini, pork (also cooked in the sauce), tossed romaine salad with black olives, cherry tomatoes and so on, and fresh warm Italian bread.

Oh my goodness! What a meal. I had never had tortellini-anything until then. Now I'd met one of my favorite foods. Wow! I walked away with the recipe. I wasn't going to let this one get away.

Creamy homemade Alfredo sauce mixed with cheese tortellini, bacon and peas. Simple!

Caution: everyone overeats when this is served. A great indication of how wonderful it is.

And here is how you do it...

Tortellini Alfredo

Ingredients

2 pkgs (16 oz each) frozen cheese tortellini

¼ cup butter, melted

1/3 cup flour

2 cups milk and/or half & half

Grated Pecorino Romano cheese

6-8 slices bacon, cooked and broken into pieces

½ cup frozen peas

Directions

Fill a large pot of water and bring to boil.

Add frozen tortellini and cook on high for 3-4 minutes.

Tip: you’ll know that they are ready when some of them are floating on the water.

Drain.

Sauce

In separate saucepan, melt butter.

Add flour and whisk in with the butter.

Add milk gradually, while stirring.

Allow to come to a boil (still stirring) till it thickens.

Add Romano cheese and whisk again.

Add bacon.

Add peas.

Pour into tortellini in the big pot and stir.

Combine by adding the cheese sauce to the tortellini in the large pot.

Serve.

Rosemary served her Tortellini Alfredo with meatballs and sauce.
I often serve it along side Belgian Brisket (recipe coming soon).
Cornbread is also a great addition to this meal.

Ever cooked with tortellini? What recipes do you use?

Previously on Ducks 'n a Row (and other places)

Linking up with Menu Plan Monday on Organizing Junkie

Monday Crusty Honey Mustard Chicken and rice
Tuesday BBQ meatballs on sub rolls
Wednesday Bacon Buffalo Mac and Cheese
Thursday OpenFaced Tuna Sandwiches with Avocado
Friday Take Out -- fish fry with cole slaw and fries
Saturday Cheesy Hash Brown Casserole
Sunday Best Chicken French Recipe Ever and rice pilaf

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How Loud Is Your Mess?

noreply@blogger.com (Sinea Pies) — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 05:00:00 +0000

By Sinea Pies

Every day is a gift. We know that. The sun rises and we get 24 more hours to do what we can.

Some of us have extreme time demands without much wiggle-room. Nine to five the office requires your complete attention. Afterward? Children? Husband? Groups? Others may have more flexibility, enviable by the employed but not necessarily fruitfully used. Not necessarily at all!

“Dost thou love Life? Then do not squander time, for that’s the stuff life is made of.” Benjamin Franklin said that. What a guy. Dripping with wisdom and wit. He’s the man that said “Three can keep a secret if two of them are dead.” Now, that’s funny…and he’s got a point.

Another very smart, successful person said “One of the wisest things we can do is to live life on purpose.” Her name is Cynthia Trimm and she is right. We need to live life on purpose. When it’s all over, will it matter whether our kitchen counters were clean?

But messes can be loud. Deafening. It’s hard to set a course and live with purpose if you are surrounded with chaos. We need peace in order to think and plan.

Try a new exercise in freedom.
Find a place of peace.

Silence the clamor by cleaning your space.

Cynthia says, “Dump the distractions!” Create pockets of order in the place where you start your day.

That place should be orderly and clear of clutter. Don’t take a whole day doing this unless absolutely necessary. If it is, YIKES! Clean it! Just take enough time to be able to say “ahhh. This is nice.

Now that you are in your Sanctuary of Neatness…

Consider what is priority.

Consider what is good.

Listen.

Pray.

The thoughts will come and direction will begin to form. Launch out with what you can see and as the day unfolds, more will come as the day moves along. You may want to take a midday break to re-evaluate. You will feel so much better. Try it….you’ll like it!

With love,

Books by Cynthia Trimm
Photo credit: Woman Reflection by adamr on freedigital photos

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