Simply Designing

Simply Link {Party}

2012-01-27T07:58:00.000-05:00

So sorry the Link Party is late going up!

Link Away...

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Conversation Heart Ring

2012-01-26T06:00:00.000-05:00

I am so excited to start showing you a few Valentine's Day ideas I have been working on!

If you are looking for a simple, inexpensive Valentine's Day project for you and your little girl, check out this conversation heart ring!

You Will Need:

Conversation Hearts
Ring blank
Hot glue (for a less permanent fixture if you want to reuse your ring blanks) or E6000/Gorilla glue etc (for a more permanent fixture)

How To:

Use glue of your choosing to adhere the conversation heart to the ring blank
Let set

Wouldn't this be so fun for your little girl to wear on Vday? Or for girls to give to their friends. Or for a little boy to give to a little crush. :) Or even for a grown boy to give to his sweetheart.

This is sure to melt hearts of any ages :)

Happy Valentine's Day!

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S'more Pies with babycakes Pie Pop Maker

2012-01-25T07:00:00.024-05:00

I know you all know how much I love babycakes...but I am seriously having so much fun making yummy, simple treats with babycakes Pie Pop Maker!

The other day I made S'more Pies and they are yumm-o!

You will need:

babycakes Pie Pop Maker
Pre-made Pie Crust
Mini Marshmallows
Chocolate chips

First you will take your pie crust and roll it nice and thin with a rolling pin. Then, using your circle cookie cutter that comes with the pie pop maker and cut circles out of the pie crust.

Place one pie crust circle in the preheated pie pop maker's crevices. Add 3 chocolate chips and 1 mini marshmallow. Cover chips and marshmallows with a second pie crust circle. Close the pie pop maker and let them cook for a few minutes.

Yum. Yum. Yum!

You can find out more about babycakes Pie Pop Maker from my previous review here, or on babycakes website here.

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Winter Front Porches: How to Decorate to Make a Lasting Impression

2012-01-24T07:00:00.002-05:00

Jessica Phan is a designer for Balsamhill.com a purveyor of high-end artificial Christmas Trees. Living in the San Francisco Bay Area is perfect for her because she has a wide range of interests, including Art & Design, Fashion, Photography, Painting and Thrift Store Shopping.

The front porch is the first thing anyone sees upon visiting your home and if you want to leave a lasting impression, you have to make a statement that guests will never forget. Winter is the perfect time to transform your porch into an inviting space.
How you decorate your porch is also indicative of your taste in design. Below are some tips on how to decorate a front porch that makes a statement all throughout winter.

Think of a theme. No matter how beautiful your Christmas decorations are, you have to take them down once the holidays are over. Pick a theme – shabby chic, urban oasis, country cottage, and woodland forest are just a few.

(Source)
Decide on a color scheme. Bold hues look best in winter. Think of deep reds and glossy blacks. A good rule to follow is to not have more than three kinds of color in a space so that it doesn't look scattered and all over the place. Of course, this still depends on your preference. If you want more than three colors, go right ahead. Just make sure everything ties well together.
Don't leave your porch bare. A lone wicker chair looks sad and depressing. Find some accessories around your home that you can bring out to the porch. Your attic or basement may have hidden treasures like old ceramic vases, flower pots, or vintage gas lamps.

(Source)
Liven up your porch with plants and flowers. Winter may be harsh to plant life but there are plenty of winter blooms that thrive through the season. Ask your local garden shop for camellias, snowdrops, berry bushes, and evergreens. You may also incorporate herbs like sage and rosemary. Use an assortment of pot sizes and place them in different spots. You can line up flowers contained in small pots by the railings or arrange them on the steps.

(Source)
Hang a winter wreath. Touch up your Christmas wreath and convert it into elegant winter arrangement by simply spraying the traditional evergreens, holly, and pinecones with faux snow. You can also use Epsom salt to achieve this effect.
Select your furniture pieces wisely. You want pieces that will stand the test of time – rain or shine, sleet or snow. Wicker is always a good choice when it comes to outdoor furniture as it gives off that homey vibe. Wood and brass are also classic choices. Throw in some cushions, a thick blanket, and you're all set.

(Source)
Paint your front door in a bold color. Nothing makes a stronger statement than a red door. Not only does it add character to your home, the bold hue makes a lovely contrast against the whiteness of winter.
Add warmth and comfort. Quilts, rugs, thick blankets, and throws add an aesthetic appeal while keeping your guests warm as you entertain them on the porch. Consider a rug made of coconut husk or coir fibers as these materials endure elements like dirt, ice, and snow.
Get a porch swing. If your budget allows it, a porch swing can be the focal point of the space. It doesn't have to be a new one, though. Visit thrift stores or vintage shops and you might score an old swing that you can sand, strip and re-paint.
Choose your lighting carefully. To create a welcoming ambiance, use low-wattage incandescent bulbs that produce a soft glow. Place a pair of lamps atop your side tables and a few electric candles by the window.

With these tips, coupled with some patience and a little creativity, you can change your porch from drab and dreary to cozy and welcoming. Happy decorating!

Thank you Jessica for the wonderful guest post!

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Silhouette Cameo: the "hidden" FREE feature to customize your Cameo

2012-01-23T07:00:00.001-05:00

Did you know that when you purchase the Silhouette Cameo, you will get 51 FREE cuttable downloads!!! How cool is that!?

I wanted to tell you about a "hidden" FREE way to customize your Silhouette Cameo.

Ok. It's not "hidden" but it took me a while to figure it out...so I wanted to pass along my new found knowledge with you!!

Among the 51 Free Cuttable Downloads, there is one called "control panel". The first time I saw it, I had no clue what it was for. It looks like this...

And then I discovered that this gives you the ability to "personalize" your Silhouette Cameo!

All you need to do it pick your favorite scrap book paper, cut this design out, and pop it on your Cameo control panel!

Isn't it so cute!?

I LOVE my Silhouette Cameo !!

Did you know that right now Expressions Vinyl is GIVING AWAY a Silhouette Cameo ?? Click the button below to enter to win!!

Also, if you don't want to wait, or if you don't win the giveaway, you can always purchase the Silhouette Cameo here for an unbeatable price!!

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Winner!!

2012-01-22T15:51:00.000-05:00

The winner of the Windows by Melissa Pillow Case Covers is....

Congratulations!! You have 72 hours to contact me at simplydesigning@gmail.com in order to claim your prize or another winner will be chosen.

Thanks so much to all who participated!!

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Simply Link {Party}

2012-01-20T01:00:00.000-05:00

Thanks for stopping by to this week's edition of my Simply Link Party!

Please link up your latest creations!

You can link up pretty much anything as long as you "created" it (Food, craft, home decor item, a beautiful garden, a photograph, etc. I am really flexible!) Please keep it family friendly. Please no links to shops or giveaways. I reserve the right to delete any links that aren't appropriate. By linking up you are giving me permission to feature or show off your project (I will link back to you of course.)

Also, I would love it if you linked back to my site and mentioned on your blog, facebook or twitter about my link party! Help me spread the word please!

And please visit 2-3 other links and leave them a nice, meaningful comment! Thanks!

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Cinnamon Bun Waffles

2012-01-19T07:00:00.001-05:00

I LOVE to celebrate others, their birthdays, their babies, their anniversaries, but I really don't like a huge fuss about me. With that in mind, today is my birthday. I don't really like a lot of attention on myself, I never try to make a big deal out of my birthday.

Well. Maybe it's just because I am getting older and I am not too happy about this birthday. Hahaha.

In any case, I have sure had a lot of people go out of their way to make my birthday special and I am so humbled by it. Family and friends have both really gone out of their way to make this a special week for me and I am grateful for wonderful family and friends.

So today I am taking it a bit easy and showing you the most simple, but still delicious breakfast / dinner.

In my house, we eat cereal for breakfast every morning and about once a week we eat yummy breakfast for dinner. I love breakfast, but just not enough to get up that early in the morning.

Just being honest here. :)

Anyway...here's a simple and yummy shortcut to making delish Cinnamon Bun Waffles

First you will take a store-bought can of cinnamon bun roll dough. You know, right next to those crescent rolls and biscuit cans...

Put one in your waffle iron.

And cook :)

Yeah. It's just that simple!

And they taste like yummy cinnamon waffles! Yumm-o!

Enjoy!

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Grilled Cheese with babycakes Pie Pop Maker

2012-01-18T07:00:00.001-05:00

I know you are wondering if I wrote that title correctly...but you can, in fact, make HEALTHY food with the babycakes Pie Pop Maker!

The other day, I decided to use my babycakes Pie Pop Maker to make Grilled Cheese for lunch!

You will need:

bread (I use whole wheat)
shredded cheese
butter or margarine
rolling pin
babycakes Pie Pop Maker

First you will roll your bread out quite thin with the rolling pin.

Using your circle cookie cutter, cut out 2 circles of bread per sandwich.

Butter the outsides of each circle and place one circle, butter side down, in each of the crevices of the pie pop maker.

Add approximately 1/2-1 tsp of shredded cheese and then place second circle, butter side up, on top of the cheese.

Close the Pie Pop Maker and let your sandwiches for a couple minutes until they are cooked and look like this!

Yum!

These made a fun and special lunch for my kiddos.

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Snowman Pop

2012-01-17T07:00:00.002-05:00

January is such a dreary month most of the time.

No big holidays, lots of cloudy weather and snow and the sun hides behind the clouds most days. There just isn't a lot of fun things to craft for this month. :(

So I decided to make some Snowman Pops with my daughter and a few school friends the other day. They are so simple to make, and yummy to eat!

You Will Need:

1 lolly pop stick
3 mini powdered donuts
6 mini chocolate chips
1 candy corn (is it bad to admit that I have candy corns left over from Halloween? Well, if you don't, many stores actually still carry them in the candy section all year long. I can get them at Krogers.)
1 straw candy (I used a strawberry straw candy I found in a pack by the checkout at WalMart)
2 M&M's or similar candy

Let your kids create, decorate and then enjoy!

Yum. Yum. Yum.

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Silhouette Cameo!!!

2012-01-16T22:23:00.001-05:00

The Silhouette Cameo.

I am smitten.

I loved my Silhouette SD but then I finally got the Silhouette Cameo! (insert squeals of giddiness here) and I fell in love!!

There are so many fabulous NEW features on the Silhouette Cameo that aren't available on any other machine out there!

Come and read my post at Expressions Vinyl Blog here. It is all about my favorite features of the new Silhouette Cameo.

Also, did you know that right now Expressions Vinyl is GIVING AWAY a Silhouette Cameo ?? Click the button below to enter to win!!

And, if you don't want to wait, or if you don't win the giveaway, you can always purchase the Silhouette Cameo here for an unbeatable price!!

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Tria Blue Light

2012-01-15T08:00:00.073-05:00

Tria makes many amazing beauty products! Like, super cool, spa quality products! Love love love them. (You can see my last review of Tria here.)

So, with my next birthday looming around the corner (no I am not planning to disclose how old I will be, but I think I get to start counting backwards here soon :(, I am so sad to admit that the teenage acne I never had, has decided to occasionally pop up. It is so frustrating. I have tried so many different products, I've seen a dermatologist...and I can't seen to totally kick it.

And then I met the Tria Blue Light.

Dermatologists have used blue light therapy in their offices since 2002 to help clear acne. Blue light is a non-UV light that actually goes below the skin's surface to kill the bacteria that cause acne and the Tria Blue Light has been FDA-cleared for this purpose.

So I was really excited to get to try this cool device out.

The Tria Blue light comes with a cartridge for 300 minutes. When the time runs out you can simply replace your cartridge but keep your device.

So here are my embarrassing photos...I hope we will still be friends after this post...

You use the blue light in small areas at a time. It comes with these little blue patches to designate areas to treat. See that area inside the blue square...this picture doesn't even show how bad it was...must have been flattering light.

Then you just touch the blue light to your face, the light automatically goes on and you move the light around the designated area for 5 minutes.

After 2 weeks...the acne was gone. GONE! GOOOOOOONE!!!! Gone.

Insert jumps for joy here.

Not bad huh!? I love the Tria Blue Light.

I love how simple it is to use. I sit and do it most nights when I am relaxing and watching tv, I don't have to go to an office to get treatments. I love that it works so well. I was really so impressed with how well it works. I started seeing results within 4 days actually! But by 2 weeks, it was fully clear. Amazing.

If you suffer from acne, if you are young or old, I would suggest you look into the Tria Blue Light as a safe, simple alternative.

If you want to find out more about the Blue Light, you can read all about it on their website here.

I was not compensated for this review. I was however sent a Tria Blue Light for review purposes.

All opinions are 100% mine.

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Features!

2012-01-14T07:00:00.000-05:00

I love getting to feature a few links from each week's link party!

Here are a few of the most visited links from last week:

15 Organizing Ideas

Denim Bracelet Tutorial

Homemade Bailey's

(I don't personally drink, but I love how she dressed her bottles up!)

New Year's Resolutions

DIY Dishwasher Detergent Packets

(I wonder if this would work with my Dishwasher Detergent??)

DIY Countertop re-do

If you haven't had a chance to check these out, here's your chance! These are all fabulous posts!

Thank you so much for linking up last week. There is still time to link up at this week's link party here.

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Simply Link {Party}

2012-01-13T01:00:00.001-05:00

Thanks so much for stopping by for this week's Simply Link Party! I can't wait to see what you link up!

Please link up your latest creations. You can link up pretty much anything as long as you "created" it (Food, craft, home decor item, a beautiful garden, a photograph, etc. I am really flexible!) Please keep it family friendly. Please no links to shops or giveaways. I reserve the right to delete any links that aren't appropriate. By linking up you are giving me permission to feature or show off your project (I will link back to you of course.)

Also, I would love it if you linked back to my site and mentioned on your blog, facebook or twitter about my link party! Help me spread the word please!

And please visit 2-3 other links and leave them a nice, meaningful comment! Thanks!

I participate in the link parties found here.
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GIVEAWAY: Decorative Pillow Cases by Windows by Melissa

2012-01-12T01:00:00.000-05:00

Hosting Giveaways always makes me giddy!! I rarely win anything, so having the opportunity to give things away just makes me so happy!

The other day I introduced you to my latest sponsor, Windows by Melissa!

Windows by Melissa is a custom window-covering business. If you can dream it, they can make it! They make curtains, roman shades, valances etc and they also make super cute pillow case covers!

Here is a little bit more about their shop:

"We are currently a team of three, soon to grow as business is growing.

We do custom orders and enjoy a challenge.

If there is something you like that you see a picture of you can send it to us and we will recreate it!

On our Facebook Page, we do weekly giveaways on Tuesday. We give away pillow covers, coupon codes and even curtains!

We pride ourselves on the highest quality products at reasonable prices and with an efficient turnaround time."

You can find Windows by Melissa on Etsy, their Blog and Facebook!

Today, Windows by Melissa has offered to give Simply Designing readers a chance to win these two, super cute pillow case covers:

Ooooohhh! I love this fabric!! So pretty!

This fabric is a Robert Allen Gate Citrine fabric that is part of the Dwell Studio Collection. It is a wonderful linen blend with a crisp White lattice design against a dark Maize background.

The giveaway includes (2) 20" envelope closure pollow covers. These will fit a 20" pillow form (not included). This giveaway is valued at $65!

Here's how to enter to win:

Leave one comment for each of the below entry methods that you complete

Mandatory entry

Follow me (via GFC (see sidebar)) and leave one comment telling me that you follow and what room you would put these cute pillows in if you won them! That's it; easy peasy.

Additional entries

Visit Windows by Melissa Etsy shop here, come back here and leave one comment telling me your favorite item from their store.
Follow Simply Designing on Facebook and leave me one comment here saying that you do.
Follow Windows by Melissa on Facebook and leave them a comment telling them that you hope to win the pillow cases @Simply Designing! Come back here and leave me one comment saying that you did this.
Follow Windows by Melissa's blog and leave me one comment here saying that you do.
Facebook, Blog or Tweet about this giveaway and leave me one comment here telling me that you spread the word!

Extra entry

Follow Simply Designing on Pintrest and leave me one comment here saying that you do.

You can enter a total of up to 7 times, that means you will leave up to 7 comments on this blog post! (Remember to leave a separate comment for each entry method completed.) Seven easy and fabulous ways to win!

The giveaway will end January 19th at midnight EST. I will announce the winner on January 20th so be sure to stop by and see if you've won! The winner will have 3 days to contact me to claim their prize.

GOOD LUCK!

The fine print:

Leave 1 comment per entry method competed for a total of up to 7 entries = 7 comments.

Must complete the mandatory entry first.

Winner will be chosen using random.org. No purchase necessary.

Must be a US Resident with a US mailing address to win.
Must be 18 years old or older to win.

Thank you Windows by Melissa for making this giveaway possible!

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Oreo Bark

2012-01-11T06:00:00.002-05:00

Oreo's are one of my weaknesses and Oreo Bark is oh-so-yummy!

This can hardly be constituted as a "recipe", it is that simple, but here goes:

Oreo Bark

Ingredients:

18 Oreos (I like Double Stuff but regular work fine too)
1 bag white chocolate chips

Directions:

Line a 9x13 pan with wax paper
Coarsely crush 15 Oreos
Carefully melt chocolate (see my tips and techniques for how to melt chocolate here)
Let the chocolate cool in a heat safe bowl for a few minutes
Add crushed Oreos and mix gently
Pour mixture into lined pan and spread until smooth
Coarsely crush remaining 3 Oreos and sprinkle on top
Let cool completely and lift out of pan using the wax paper
Break bark apart using your hands or a fork

And the most important part...enjoy eating this yummy yummy treat!

Happy Baking!

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Say Anything - a great party game!

2012-01-10T06:00:00.000-05:00

On New Year's Eve we had the opportunity to play a great new party game: Say Anything!

Previously I had told you about Say Anything: Family Edition, and I told you how much we loved playing it! Well we loved playing Say Anything (the party edition) by North Star Games just as much!

Say Anything is a really fun party game! To play, each person gets to take a turn being the judge. When it's your turn to be the judge, you pick a card and ask a question from it. And then you get to decide which player has the best answer. Before you reveal which answer you picked, the other players "bet" on which answer you will pick. It can be quite a fun game!

There are many different "strategies" to play the game. Some like to come up with the funniest answer to get a laugh, others like to try to appease the "judge" so that your answer will most likely be picked. My strategy: write down the first answer that came to mind as fast as possible...before anyone else can submit the same answer!

But we did get a lot of funny answers to the questions!

Check out this video to find out more about how to play Say Anything:

I loved how simple this game was for everyone to learn how to play!

And everyone enjoyed playing Say Anything! No one wanted to stop after one round...we had a lot of fun!

Say Anything is recommended for ages 13+ and 3-8 players. The age recommendation, in my opinion was mainly because some of the questions require some basic knowledge that a young teen and up would likely have. This game includes questions like "What is the best tourist attraction" which do require a bit of world knowledge. In addition, by the example on the cover on the box, I got the impression that some of the questions could be a bit "leading"...however, we never ended up with any questions like that. It was quite a fun game!

However, if you are looking for more of a family game, Say Anything: Family Edition is a wonderful game as well. You can read my full review on the family edition here.

So if you are looking for great new party game to add to your collection, check out Say Anything!

You can find this game at Target, Toys-R-Us, Barnes and Noble and other retailers. To find a retailer close to you go here.

If you live in Indiana, you can also find both versions of Say Anything at Saltire Games, The Game Preserve, and Earth Explorer Toys (only the family edition).

I am so happy that to have found a fun and enjoyable party game!!

I was not compensated for this review, however I was sent Say Anything the party game for purposes of this review. All opinions expressed are 100% mine. You can find out more about Say Anything Family Edition and Say Anything here, follow North Star Games on FB or follow them on Twitter @NorthStarGames.

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Windows By Melissa

2012-01-08T22:03:00.002-05:00

I am so excited to introduce you to my newest sponsor: Windows By Melissa!

Windows by Melissa is a custom window-covering business. They make curtains, roman shades, valances and any other window covering that you can dream up!

Here is a little bit more about their shop:

"We are currently a team of three, soon to grow as business is growing.

We do custom orders and enjoy a challenge.

If there is something you like that you see a picture of you can send it to us and we will recreate it!

On our Facebook Page, we do weekly giveaways on Tuesday. We give away pillow covers, coupon codes and even curtains!

We pride ourselves on the highest quality products at reasonable prices and with an efficient turnaround time."

Here are a few of my favorite items they have listed on Etsy right now:

I love how stylish their fabrics are! I love the clean lines and the fun colors. And I love that they do custom work for a very very reasonable price!

So if you are in need of new window-coverings or just want to take a look at more of their great work, you can visit Windows by Melissa here.

And remember to like their Facebook Page here (they hold giveaway's every Tuesday!)

Also, Windows by Melissa is hosting a GIVEAWAY later this week on my blog, a fabulous giveaway! So be sure to stop by on Thursday to enter to win!

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Winner!!

2012-01-08T18:22:00.000-05:00

Because I didn't hear back from the previous winner, I get to pick another winner of Mark Montano's Big A** Book of Crafts 2!

And the new winner is...

Congratulations! You have 72 hours to contact me at simplydesigning@gmail.com in order to claim your prize. After 72 hours a new winner will be chosen!

Thanks to all who participated!

And in case you didn't win but still want his book, you can purchase it here: The Big-Ass Book of Crafts 2.

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Guacamole and a chance to WIN an iPad 2

2012-01-08T03:00:00.001-05:00

This post brought to you by Avocados from Mexico. All opinions are 100% mine.

I didn't always like Guacamole. Crazy, I know!?

But over the last year or two of my life I have grown to really like it! Especially guacamole with lots of tomatoes in it! Yum yum yum!

But I never realized how healthy guacamole was until I made it for the first time this week! Like most dips, I assumed it wasn't very good for you. But with all the fresh ingredients and veggies, plus with how healthy avocados are, this stuff is amazing!

So when I heard that Avocados from Mexico was having a Guac-Off Recipe Contest (and the winner could win an iPad 2) I knew I wanted to enter to win! And you can too...

If you want to enter the Avocados from Mexico Guac Off Recipe Contest, you will need to go to Avocados from Mexico on Facebook page between January 5th and January 15th and submit your favorite Guacamole Recipe using Avocados from Mexico.

Three winners will receive an iPad 2 plus an autographed cookbook by Chef Roberto Santibanez.
Seven runners up will receive $200 on a grocery gift card plus an autographed cookbook by Chef Roberto Santibanez.
Ten winners will also be chosen to win $100 on a grocery gift card!

(Contest date are 1/2/2012-1/20/2012)

That's a ton of fabulous prizes! I would be happy to win any of them!!

So I grabbed two avocados from Mexico and started making my first batch of guacamole ever! And it turned out great!

Here's my recipe:

Guacamole

Ingredients:

2 avocados
½ jalapeno, stemmed, seeded and minced
¼ t crushed or minced garlic
1 Tbs sweet onion, chopped finely
1 small tomato, seeded and chopped finely
1 Tbs cilantro, chopped finely
1-2 tsp fresh lime juice
3/8 tsp salt, plus more to taste

Directions:

In a bowl, mash the avocado flesh with a fork until it reaches the consistency that you prefer.
Gently stir in all other ingredients.
Cover with plastic wrap and push the plastic wrap down into the small bowl so that the wrap touches the surface of the guacamole.
Refrigerate for at least 2 hours to allow the flavors to develop.
Season with additional salt if desired.
Serve with tortilla chips.

This would make great party food for a game day, a girls night out or even for the Super Bowl!

This is my entry:

Remember to go here to enter to win!

Features!

2012-01-07T08:00:00.001-05:00

Come and join this week's link party here!

Here are a few of the most viewed links from last week:

Best of 2011 from A Pumpkin and a Princess

Egg Nest Necklace

Favorite Projects of 2011 from Elizabeth & Co.

How to Crochet a Magic Ring

Thanks to all who linked up last week!

Remember you can join this week's link party here.

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Simply Link {Party}

2012-01-06T01:00:00.001-05:00

Thanks so much for stopping by to join my weekly Link Party! I can't wait to see what you've created!

Also, I would love it if you linked back to my site and mentioned on your blog, facebook or twitter about my link party! Help me spread the word please!

And please visit 2-3 other links and leave them a nice, meaningful comment! Thanks!

I participate in the link parties found here.
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Best of 2011: THRIVE

2012-01-05T06:00:00.004-05:00

I have been anxiously awaiting posting my "Best of 2011" post!!

2012 has started off on an incredibly good path and I am hopeful that it continues that way!

So. I made a few goals for 2012 and I want to share them with you because I need someone to be accountable to in order to ensure my success. So. Here they are, laid out in black and white, permanent for the whole world to see, my GOALS FOR 2012:

Tone my body back up - I am embarrassed to admit that I haven't consistently done regular exercise since before I was prego with my son...yes...that was about three years ago! I am not saying I have a lot of weight to lose, but I would like to re-tone my body to pre-baby #2 shape. I am happy to admit though that I did 1 hour of power yoga yesterday and it kicked my butt. (Don't make fun of yoga until you've done it, at least not power yoga...I've seen power yoga bring ripped, athletic men to their knees after only 10 minutes. It can be really hard stuff and an amazing work out if done correctly.)
Blogging/business goals - I have a couple of them. But these, I can't share with you quite yet. I am shooting for the stars this year and I just can't share with you yet. But hopefully when I get closer to where I want to be, I can share these with you. :) In the mean time though I am shooting for 2,000 followers by July 1st! So help me out won't you? Please take a minute and share with 1 or 2 friends who you think might like my blog!
Serve more - I would like to serve more this year. Serve my family, serve my friends, serve anyone I can that is in need of help.
Organize - I can be a little OCD when it comes to cleaning and organizing. However, this year, I want to organize my life a bit better. I plan to enact a doable schedule so that I can productively and effectively accomplish my goals while still spending lots of quality time with my family!

That's all. I am thrilled about my goals this year and will definitely keep you posted on them. And feel free to comment/email and ask me how I am doing on my goals as well. A little motivation never hurt anybody!

Also, I found someone who instead of setting tons of crazy goals, chose a Word for 2012! So, I too am going to pick a WORD OF 2012: Thrive. I don't want to just exist, or survive, I want to THRIVE! I think my goals for 2012 will help me to Thrive this year!

Will you pick a word for 2012 too? Leave me a comment and tell me what your Word for 2012 is!!

Now...on to my favorite part of the day! Here are my TOP VIEWED POSTS OF 2011:

Dish Soap

This stuff works even in hard water! It is amazing and has literally changed our lives around here (like I am not embarrassed to let people see my glasses anymore!!)

Good Moms Have...Plaque

Read my blog posts if you take personal offense to this for any reason...good moms also can have clean floors, clean kitchens, no laundry piles and clean ovens. However, since I am an admittedly crazy lady when it comes to keeping a clean house, this is a gentle reminder to myself that sometimes I need to let the little things go for a few minutes and focus on the important things, like my kids and family!

How to Melt Chocolate for Dipping

Melting chocolate can be tricky! In this post I spell out the best ways to successfully melt chocolate and how to troubleshoot when it goes wrong!

Donut Holes with babycakes Cake Pop Maker

You guys all know how much I love babycakes products! In this post I showed you how to make delish donut holes using their cake pop maker!

Star Topiaries for the 4th of July (or any patriotic time of year!)

Using a star punch, pins and styrofoam balls I made these super easy and super cute 4th of July topiaries!

Nutter Butter Cookie Balls

Need I say any more...yum-o!

4th of July Cake Pops

Again...not much to say except YUM!

Shabby Bird Houses

So cute and so simple!

Halloween Candy Vases

These were so cute and so simple to make using dollar store items and vinyl!

THANK YOU for making these my top posts of 2011!!

I can't wait to see what 2012 brings!!

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Cranberry Pear Sauce

2012-01-04T07:00:00.001-05:00

If you're anything like me, you have two bags of unopened cranberries in your freezer.

I'm not sure why, but when something is so seasonal but yet freezes, I have this compulsive need to buy more then I need. So. I have 2 bags of unopened cranberries in my freezer.

And then I happened to have 3 pears that were on their way out.

By pure chance, I found a recipe that allowed me to use both ingredients and turn them into a yummy delicious sauce that is out-of-this-world-amazingly-yummy.

I could eat it by the spoonful.

Just sayin'...

Cranberry Pear Sauce

(adapted from here)

Ingredients:

· 3 large ripe pears, peeled, cored and coarsely chopped

· 1 cup whole, fresh cranberries

· ¼ heaping tsp cinnamon

· Dash of ground cloves

· Dash of nutmeg

· ¼ tsp ground ginger

· 2 Tbs packed brown sugar

· 3/8 cup water

Directions:

1. Combined the prepared pears, cranberries and all other ingredients in a heavy stockpot on the stove

2. Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally

3. Reduce heat to low and simmer, covered until the fruit is very tender (about 30 minutes)

4. Uncover the pot and continue simmering over medium-low heat until about half of the liquid has evaporated, about 10-20 minutes, stirring occasionally

5. Remove from heat and either mash the fruit with a potato masher for a chunky consistency or put it in the blender for a smooth consistency

6. Cover and refrigerate or serve immediately, will keep for about a week

Would be delicious served over pork chops, French toast, vanilla ice cream etc.

I even put this in small batches in the freezer; we’ll see how it works!

Yum yum!

Enjoy!

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Winner!!

2012-01-01T01:20:00.001-05:00

Sorry this is late going up! I promise I didn't forget about announcing the winner of the babycakes Cupcake Machine prize pack today...it just took me a bit longer then I had hoped to get this actually posted. :)

Well, without further ado, the winner is...

Congratulations Ashley!! I have sent you an email.

You have 72 hours to contact me at simplydesigning@gmail.com in order to claim your prize pack! After 72 hours I will pick a new winner.

Thank you to all who participated!!

Remember, there is still time to enter to win Mark Montano's "Big A** Book of Crafts 2" here!!

I participate in the link parties found here.
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