Blog Angels February Reveal

I am unforgivably, horribly crazy late with this post.  All I can say is Opps. February completely got away from me (and March is threatening to do the same.  So forgive me Rosie and all my fellow blog angels for my very tardy post and link up.

This should be no reflection whatsoever on the wonderful blogger I've been secretly supporting this last month.....

If you don't know what Pink Cake Plate is all about, you've got to head over now.

Well, not right now, you can finish reading this first...

Laura has the most amazing recipes, I mean, come on, don't you just want to eat all of this, right now?

          

I spent the month commenting on her blog posts (as you can see from above, totally not at all challenging... well, except for when the drool got the keyboard all slippery...)

Since Laura is active on pretty much all the social media networks, it was easy to promote her awesomeness all month long with likes, tweets and +1's.

So NOW it's time for you to go visit her at Pink Cake Plate and check out her amazing blog for yourself!

So go...

Biscoff Buttercream Frosting

It seems like I keep hearing about how amazing Biscoff spread is, but I hadn't had a chance to try it until just this recently. I gave this the spoon test -


What?

Life you've never done that?

Well, ahem, as I was saying, I gave it the old spoon test and decided it would make a pretty incredible frosting.  Since I  had just whipped up a batch of Chocolate Cupcakes, there was no time like the present to give it a whirl.

Biscoff Buttercream Frosting

Ingredients:

 1 cup unsalted butter, softened

1 cup Creamy Biscoff spread

3-1/2 cups powdered sugar

2-3 tablespoons milk

Directions:

Cream together the butter and Biscoff spread, then gradually add the powdered sugar.  Add the milk one tablespoon at a time until the frosting takes on the consistency you like.

I took a serrated butter knife and cut a small cone shape out of the top of the cupcakes, which I then filled with the Biscoff Buttercream.  Pinch the tip of the upside down cone off, then gently push the remaining cake back into the frosting-filled hole.  Pipe the frosting on the top of the cupcakes and decorate with mini chocolate chips for a whimsical presentation.

Once I started piping the frosting on, I'd wished I'd added one more tablespoon of milk so the frosting would be a bit creamier - but regardless this frosting is so yummy!

An Oldie But a Goodie Link Party

Good morning Blogger Friends! Today I''m co-hosting the An Oldie But a Goodie link party over at Small Things with Love, with a new bonus Pinterest hop!  Join if you choose, this is totally optional! 

 

 

I just love this link party, since it gives you a chance to get a little extra love on an older post, so I hope you'll join in with us!

Check out these cute features from last week's party:

Pink Polkadot Creation's Photo Block Tutorial

A crocheting pattern for a very hungry caterpillar from Hollywood Cerise

Roasted Veggies and Sausage and Pasta from My Turn for Us

Creative Khadija's DIY Stud Ear Ring

How the Sun Rose's Story Dice

Great stuff!  If you were featured, please feel free to grab a button from the tab above!  Thanks again to all those that linked up last week!


And now, onto the party!  As always, just a few requests:

• You can link up anything, NEW or OLD, just make sure it is new to this party.
• Please link back to this party, by posting either the button or a text link on your blog.
• If you'd like, I've love to have you follow along here.
• Please, visit other's that have linked up and leave some nice comments!

Thanks--are you ready to party?

TUTORIAL - Simple DIY Decorative Pinwheels

I'm in full planning mode for Olivia's second birthday, which is next month.  If you've seen any of my Instagrams (I'm new to it - follow me!), you've probably seen some of the things I've been working on for the party. 

I adore paper crafts, but it never seems like I have the time to scrapbook anymore.  I've always wanted to learn to make those cute little pinwheel decorations I see on Pinterest all the time - but honestly, I was a little intimidated. 

But, I'm here to tell you that they are soooo easy.  I mean, in their simplest non-functioning form...

I chose two different papers to make my pinwheels, one solid, and one with a design on one side, and solid on the back.  I found a few pretty do-dads in my stash - some buttons and flatback pretties that work perfectly.

Here's my simple tutorial so you can get started on making your own decorative pinwheels:

TUTORIAL:
Simple DIY Decorative Pinwheels
Materials:
Card stock
Glue gun
Craft knife
Paper cutter
Ruler
Wooden stick


Instructions:

Start by cutting your paper to your desired size.  I found that 6x6 was good for starters, and your can get 4 pinwheels out of a piece of 12x12 scrapbook paper by using that size.

Next, find the center of the paper, and mark it with a small X.  (It doesn't have to be exact, it's just a marker for you as you'll be cutting and folding.

Now take your craft knife and place it about 2 fingertip lengths away from the center, then carefully cut a straight line diagonally toward the corner of the paper and repeat until you've done all four corners.  You'll end up with something that looks like this:

I like to gently bend the pieces in toward the middle (like you see above) before securing them with the hot glue.  You just need a little thin smear of glue in the center, and you want to work quickly since it dries fast. 

Be very careful though because you will need to hold the center down a bit and they don't call it hot glue for nothin'!

Fasten your decorative centers on with a dab of hot glue and apply a little pressure until the glue sets (10 seconds or so should do it).

Use a thin line of glue on the back of the pinwheel and gently press the stick into it.

Ta-Da!

I love how easy these are to make, but they're so pretty and trust me when I tell you that they'll impress all your friends! And you don't have to be having a party to make pinwheels - These would be a nice addition to your Easter table, a sweet gift for your Valentine or for Mother's Day.

Smiling Tree Toys Giveaway

Last year, I told you all how much I was crushing on all the beautiful handmade wooden toys at Smiling Tree Toys - in fact, I ordered a few things for my daughter and nephew for Christmas, which were a big hit (check out the teethers, they're the best!)

Now you have a chance to experience the awesomeness (yes, that's a word) that is Smiling Tree Toys for free!  One lucky reader will win an Old School Truck from their Etsy Shop.

Just look at these adorable little trucks!

This old-school truck is handcrafted from sustainably harvested black walnut hardwood. Kathleen and Justin hand-sand each piece silky smooth and finish it with their very own homegrown blend of organic camelina oil and beeswax. 

Seriously, total awesomeness.

Can't you just see your little one playing on the floor with one these?

I love that Smiling Tree Toys is all organic and local all the way. Here's what they say about the beautiful finish on their toys:

Our organic homegrown wood finish is one of the most unique eco-aspects of our family business. The one-of-a-kind blend is made from camelina oil and beeswax, both of which are grown/harvested on our family's certified organic farmland. Camelina is a close relative of flaxseed. Not only is it a nutritious culinary oil high in Omega-3's, but it's also a great natural finish for wood! We blend it with a bit of pure beeswax (to add a nice sheen and a bit of waterproofing), and brush it on every one of our toys (with the exception of our maple teethers, which we leave unfinished). Learn more about our camelina oil/beeswax blend at SmilingTree's blog, and pay a visit to Omega Maiden Oils - our family business that grows, processes, and sells Omega Maiden organic camelina oil.

That's some serious awesomeness, right?  Gotta love handmade toys, with a homemade finish and a great family business!  So head on over to Smiling Tree Toys and check out all their beautiful toys.  

And be sure to fill out the Rafflecopter below for your chance to win the adorable Old-School Truck toy.



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Chocolate Cupcakes with Ganache Glaze GUEST

Today, I'm honored to be over at Wonderfully Chaotic to share with you a very special treat - Chocolate Cupcakes with a Chocolate Ganache Glaze!

Sweet Potato Muffins with Streusel Topping

I just love the morning where I wake up early with an urge to bake while the house is still quiet.  There's something so domestic about whipping up a batch of muffins on a cool morning while my family sleeps.

I like to stock up on sweet potatoes when they're on sale.  They are easy to bake or boil, then freeze the puree for breads (Sweet Potato Bread is one of Mr. Juggling Act's favorites) or muffins for later.  And they are even good for thickening and adding a bit of sweetness to chili or stews.

Sweet Potato Muffins with Streusel Topping

Batter Ingredients:
2/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup butter, softened
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1-1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
2/3 cup milk
1 large (about 1 1/2 cups) sweet potato, pureed
1 teaspoon orange zest


Streusel Topping:
Scant 1/2 cup flour
1/4 cup brown sugar, packed
1/2 stick unsalted butter, softened
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

Directions:

Preheat your oven to 375-degrees.  Grease or line your muffin tins (this will make 12-18 muffins depending on the size of your tins).

Cream the butter and sugar in a small bowl.  In a larger bowl, beat the egg, orange zest and vanilla.

Add in the butter-sugar mixture and stir to combine.  Then add in the dry ingredients, and the milk and mix until well combined.  Fold in the sweet potato puree (and the walnuts if you're using them).

Scoop the muffin batter into the prepared tins - I like to use an ice cream scoop.

To make the streusel topping, pulse the softened butter with the flour, brown sugar and cinnamon until it is a bit crumbly.

If you're a walnut fan, the tiny chopped ones area pretty tasty in this streusel topping, too.  Alas, I'm the only nut lover in my house...

Sprinkle the topping over the muffins, gently pressing down so that you don't loose all that yummy goodness when you unwrap your muffin.     

Bake for 20-25 minutes or until a tester (toothpick) comes out clean. Cool in the pans for 5 minutes, then remove to a rack to cool.

Now, if you want to make this really special, drizzle on a little Orange Glaze (1/2 cup powdered sugar, 1-1/2 tablespoons orange juice, zest of 1 small orange).

KitchenAid Giveaway Event

My pal Erika from Musings of a Stay at Home Mom and I have put together an awesome Blogger Opportunity -  so are you ready for this?  

KitchenAid Mixer Spring Giveaway Event

Our last giveaway brought in over 150,000 entries and many satisfied bloggers who received lots of page views and new followers. Because really, who wouldn't want a KitchenAid Mixer?  I'm practically drooling over this myself!

Giveaway Details:

Prize:

KitchenAid Artisan 5-Quart Stand Mixer (ARV $349.99)

This giveaway will be open to the US and Canada. If the winner is Canadian, they will receive an Amazon.ca gift card for the value of the mixer.

Giveaway Event Dates:

March 15-April 14th, 2013

Sign-Up:

Cost:

$10 for 2 links + $2 for each additional link

Entry Options:

• Facebook and Twitter for first 2 links.
• Additional links – Pinterest, Google + (I've spoken with G+ directly and they've okayed G+ as an entry option), Instagram, email, RSS feed, Picket Fence vote

Extra Entries:

• Daily Comment - People will have the option to comment on your post for an extra entry each day (Great for pageviews) Cost: $10
• Co-Host - Your blog name and link will be included in the post on every blog (Back links!) and you'll have the chance to host a follow page. Cost: $25 (includes 2 free follow links) - 3 Spots Available

Sign-up today – you don't want to miss out! 

Click here for the SIGN-UP FORM.

Spread the Word!

The blogger who refers the most people will get their entry fee refunded AND be listed as a host!
Pass the word and you could join this awesome event for free!

Classic Zucchini Bread

It always amazes me that Ethan won't eat mashed potatoes or a cheeseburger or a carrot stick, but that he'll eat Zuchini Bread - even when he helps me make it and knows exactly what goes into it.  

Don't get me wrong, I'm incredible grateful that he does eat it, because otherwise he wouldn't let a single veggie pass his lips. 

Ever.

Of course, if he has his choice, he prefers Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bread, but this is a pretty good second choice. One of the reason's I love this bread is that I've cut the sugar, substituted half the oil for applesauce, reduced the white flour and added some whole wheat flour - The result is a bread that is moist and flavorful, and perfect for breakfast, snacking, or even dessert.  Ethan asks for it as 'the green bread' and that's perfectly ok with me!

Classic Zucchini Bread

Ingredients:

3-1/4 cups all-purpose flour

2-1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1 cup whole wheat flour

1-1/2 tsp salt

1  teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg

2  teaspoons baking soda

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

3 cups sugar

2 cups sugar

1 cup vegetable oil

1/2 cup vegetable oil

1/2 cup applesauce

4 eggs, beaten

1/3 cup water

2 cups grated zucchini

1 teaspoon lemon zest

1 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350-degrees. Grease and flour two bread pans.

For the zucchini, I use the grater attachment for my food processor, and I even leave the skins on.

In a large bowl, combine the dry ingredients.  In another bowl, beat the eggs with the rest of the ingredients.  Fold the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir to combine.  Since I often send slices (or cubes) of this bread to school, which is nut-free, I usually omit the walnuts. 

Pour the batter into the prepared pans and bake for 50-55 minutes.  Turn the bread out onto a cooling rack.

It's super easy to freeze one of these loaves for some day when you don't want to bake, but want a tasty homemade treat.  I like to double freezer bag the loaves, then thaw in the fridge overnight.

I hope your family will enjoy this as much as mine does!

$100 Amazon Gift Card Giveaway

Would you like a chance to win a $100 gift card to Amazon?

I know I would love to have some extra room in my budget, and I love the Subscribe and Save options Amazon has on diapers, wipes, fruit pouches and even storage bags

Here's the details:

• Prize: $100 in the form of an Amazon eGift Code that will be e-mailed to the winner.


• Event Dates: Starts at 9PM EST on Saturday, February 16, and ends on March 2 at 11:59 EST.


• This even is open WORLDWIDE.

So what about you? 

Do you love Amazon? Do you use Subscribe and Save?  What would you buy?

Giveaway brought to you by:

The Frugal Batavian

The Frugal Free Gal

Saving with Diana

Life in a Breakdown

Money Saving Lisa

To enter to win, use the Rafflecopter widget below. Good luck!

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My Classmate, The Robot

I'm so excited to share this story with you all - As I have mentioned before, I work at VGo Communications. We made the VGo robot, which is used in healthcare, education, and business.  

Please take a minute to read this story, and share it:

Tweet

Read the Associated Press article in The Washington Post: My Classmate, the Robot

Click here to meet some of the other children with special health needs using VGo today.

Watch the video about Devon using VGo from the Associated Press here.

 

February Blog Angels

This month I'm back to participating in Blog Angels - you choose another blogger & you secretly and stealthily show them some bloggy love for an entire month... it's kind of like Paying it Forward for bloggers.

I've been loving my blogger this time around - her blog is wonderfully done and she has interesting posts that I can easily relate to, which makes helping her a breeze.

I've been visiting daily and leaving comments.  Her recipes are awesome, and beautifully photographed - perfect for Pinterest, so I've been pinning up a storm!  I've also been making the most of other social media, too.

I've also offered to have her guest post on my site - something I'm super excited for, since I just know my readers will love her!

Now, this is just the half way link up which means I've got to keep the secret a little longer, but be looking for the my big reveal at the end of the month!

Interested in getting involved with the next round of Blog Angels in April?  CLICK HERE to get more info on the Blog Angels program and to keep up to date with future Blog Angels sign-up dates.

Heart Sun Catchers for Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day, friends!  I hope you're having a wonderful day filled with lots of hugs and smiles and love!  Today I'm sharing a cute little sun catcher tutorial with you.

Have you seen The Artful Parent blog?  Jean has the most creative projects for children on her site - I just love finding new ideas!

I wanted a simple way to decorate a bit for Valentine's Day and had been eying Jean's Sun Catcher project for awhile.  I was putting away dishes one night and came across my little heart pan and had an 'a-ha' moment - Heart-Shaped Sun Catcher's for Valentine's Day!

These were fun and easy to make, and really didn't take any time at all... in fact, it took longer for me to find the fishing line then the whole rest of the project.

Heart Shaped Sun Catchers

Materials:
Clear "pony" beads
heart shaped baking pan
tongs or a large spatula
clear fishing line
drill

Directions:

Layer the beads into your pan so that you have one row (it's best if the beads are all in the same way).  This can be tricky for little fingers, but it's good hand-eye coordination, and you can make a game of finding colors, counting, etc.

Next, we enlisted Mr. Juggling Act's help - partially because we were going to use the grill and I can start it to save my life, and partially because it was COLD out!  Heat the grill up and carefully slide your pan(s) into it.  Cook for about 10 minutes until all the beads have melted.  Doing this outdoors keeps the fumes out of the house, which is the one downside to this project.

Remove the pan from the grill and let it rest until the plastic has hardened - Mr. Juggling Act just left this outside and since it was so cold, it cooled down in no time.  Once the plastic has cooled, you can pop these right out of the pan.  I was worried about how this would affect my pans, but I didn't notice any issues at all, and the heart came right out easily.

Now Mr. Juggling Act was off to the basement to get his drill to make a small hole in the heart so we could hang it up.  We chose to hang all tree on one long piece of fishing line, but these would be pretty strung up separately, too.

That's all there is to it - Ethan though it was "so cool" that the beads melted into the heart shape and Liv loved the sound they made as they clinked against the window.  I'm looking forward to trying this project again with other shapes and colors.

I'm linking up today over at Glued to my Crafts's Crafty Thursday Obsessions link party - come join us!

Shelby's Story

Imagine being a teenager and suddenly you are diagnosed with a terrifying disease, and completely cut off from your family and friends.  

It's the stuff that nightmares are made of... but it's not a nightmare, it's reality for sixteen year old Shelby Huff.  She was diagnosed in November with a condition called 'very severe aplastic anemia.'

Aplastic anemia occurs when the bone marrow stops making enough red and white blood cells and platelets.  People with the "very severe" form face life-threatening infections and bleeding.

In fact, Shelby's case is so severe that within 90 minutes of the official diagnosis she was on a plane to Sanford Hospital in Sioux Falls for treatment. She has remained there since, missing the holidays, parties, and school.

The town of Rapid City, South Dakota is rallying around Shelby, sending her cards and letters and well wishes.

But still, Shelby misses going to school, seeing her friends - being a normal kid.

"I miss every class. I loved being in school," Shelby told The Rapid City Journal for an article that was recently published.

Soon, thanks to the fundraising efforts of her community, Shelby will be attending school again.... this time via a VGo robot.  It's a four foot tall, 18lb telepresence robot.  You may recognize it from the Verizon commercial last month.

Shelby isn't the first student to use VGo - as I've written about before here and here, over the last two years, there are an increasing number of children with special health needs throughout the US using VGo to attend school.  

I'm humbled to be part of an organization that is making a difference in the lives of these kids, and I ask you, my dear readers, to please share this story.

• Like Shelby's Journey With Very Severe Aplastic Anemia Facebook Page
• Learn more about Aplastic Anemia and becoming a Bone Marrow Donor
• Visit Shelby's Fundraising Page
• Learn how to make blood or platelet donations directly to Shelby

Learn more about kids using VGo to go to school here.