This Week's Menu {10/24} + Giveaway Winners

We have a couple events planned for this week, so I don't know how likely we are to keep to this plan, but we'll definitely give it a good try!

Monday - Meatball subs & parmesan roasted potatoes
Tuesday - Chicken tortellini with pesto sauce
Wednesday - Stuffed bread loaf
Thursday - Spaghetti with meat sauce
Friday - Orange pork chop skillet
Saturday - Leftovers

I hope everyone had a fun and productive weekend! I did a little sewing and painting, which I'll definitely share more about soon. Until then, congrats to...


The three of you each won a code for 25 free cards from Shutterfly. Consider it an early Christmas present! Just check your email for info from me. If you don't get anything, it's because I don't have your email address. Send me a note at explanationrequired@gmail.com and I'll get the info your way.

GIVEAWAY: Shutterfly

I realize I just posted our Halloween decorations, but it's never too early to start talking about Christmas. Right?! Right. I've been diligent about sending out Christmas cards since Charlotte was born. It's the perfect excuse to show off the cuteness! This year will be no different. Part of the reason our family road-triped to Georgia the weekend before last was to get photos taken, so be on the lookout for those in the next month or two.

Last year we used Shutterfly for our cards and based on that experience we'll without a doubt be using them again this year. The quality of their photo cards was really fantastic, they shipped quickly and they've got oodles of options. Here are some of my favorites this time around:

I typically opt for a folded card (I like being able to handwrite our names), but these flat cards were too fun not to highlight. Check them out here, here, here, and here. I'm thrilled that I've again been able to take part in Shutterfly's holiday promotion and snagged some cards for free. The cheapskate in me loves a good deal, but rest assured, I wouldn't be ordering from Shutterfly if I wasn't pleased with the result.

Are you a blogger? Want a chance at 25 free cards this holiday season? Register here to apply to get some freebies yourself. And no worries if you're not a blogger. Shutterfly has graciously offered up 25 free cards to three of my readers. So whether you're in the market for cards for the holidays or just photo greeting cards, they've got you covered. Here's how to enter for a chance to win:

Reply to this post with the words "GIVE ME TWENTY-FIVE" --- *Giveaway Closed*

Yup, simple as that. Next Monday I'll draw three names from the hat and three of you lucky ladies (or men, I don't want to be presumptious) will be sent codes to collect your free cards. Just make sure your email is accessible so I can get the code to you.

Merry Almost Christmas!

Giveaway: Celebrate Royally

I'm not sure if you've heard, but there's a Royal Wedding happening tomorrow. You'd have to have been living under a rock to not be in the loop, because coverage is everywhere. From mainstream news to teeny, tiny blogs like this one, the world is abuzz with talk of William & Kate's wedding.

Mark's mum lives in England and sents loads of goodies our way so we could celebrate in style. My friends and I will be meeting together tomorrow night to feast on shepherd's pie, compare homemade hats (cause those Brits are all about hats at weddings, so we must be too) and watch our DVR-ed coverage of the event. We'll have royal wedding-themed cupcake liners, buntings, mugs and toothpicks. Not to mention a handful of other items that were sent our way. We've got so much stuff, in fact, that I set aside a few things for one of you.

Here's what is up for grabs:


First up is a mug made by Hudson & Middleton that features artwork of a horsedrawn carriage with the couple's names and wedding date inscribed on the inside. I love it's quirky style! Also included is an Emma Bridgewater tea towel made specially for the event. It's a beautiful piece, with non-traditional colors of black, red and yellow. And I'll even throw in the small Union Jack flag!

Here's how to win: *** GIVEAWAY CLOSED ***

1. Comment on this post and tell me if you'll be watching.

2. Leave an additional comment if you follow my blog for another chance at winning.

3. Link to the giveaway on your blog (and leave a link to your post here) for a third chance.

The giveaway will remain open until midnight Tuesday and the winner will be announced on Wednesday. Good luck!


P.S. The giveaway is open to residents of the US and Canada only.

Quote to Remember #23

"A three year old child is a being who gets almost as much fun out of a fifty-six dollar set of swings as it does out of finding a small green worm." -Bill Vaughn

Happy Birthday to my favorite three year old (circa October 2008)!!

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And now, for the winner of the giveway... congrats to Mallie!!! You can expect an email from me soon.

Giveaway: American Pickers

I'm back from the holiday break, feeling refreshed. Well, maybe slightly refreshed. Ok, no more refreshed than normal, but raring to go for a new year nonetheless. And what better way to start off 2011 than with a giveaway?!

After reading about my then-newfound love for The History Channel's American Pickers, the kind folks at their marketing agency sent their entire first season my way, to give to one of you. Yay! Here's a bit more info about the show, in case you haven't seen it yet:



Part sleuths, part antiques experts, and part cultural historians – Mike and Frank’s adventures bring them to small towns across the country in search of weird and wonderful Americana. Each treasure hunt leads them to fascinating, quirky characters – everyday people with stories that open a window onto American life. As professional “pickers,” these childhood buddies comb through memorabilia and artifacts, hoping to find treasures among the trash. Sometimes they make a few bucks; and sometimes they walk away with little more than the history of an item.

If you want your own copy of the first season, in its entirety, just enter the giveaway. Here's how: *****GIVEAWAY CLOSED*****

* Comment on this post for one entry into the giveaway;
* Become a follow of this blog for a second entry (leave a comment to say that you are); or
* Blog about the giveaway for another entry (share the link in a separate comment).

That's three easy chances for you to win!! Entries will be accepted through midnight EST on Thursday, so be sure to check back on Friday to see who the winner is!

This Week's Menu {Oct 4} + A Winner

Last week I began posting my menu for the week, in hopes that it'd get me in the kitchen and out of the drive-thru line. I'm happy to say that we were pretty successful. Only one meal was skipped in favor of fast food, and that's only because at the last minute a friend needed a ride somewhere. The only way to oblige was to skip dinner and stop at the Golden Arches. All in all though, a pretty good week.

Here's the plan for this coming week:

Monday - Spaghetti & Roasted Cauliflower
Tuesday - Leftovers
Wednesday - Grilled Ham & Cheese, Tomato Soup and Salad
Thursday - Stuffed Chicken Breast, Long Grain & Wild Rice and Broccoli
Friday - Waffles, Eggs & Ham
Saturday - Creamy Chicken & Dumplings


Doesn't that soup look delicious?! If you want the recipe check out kevinandamanda.com for it and tons of others, including a recipe for Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cupcakes that I'll need to try soon!!

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And now, for the real news of the day... the winner of last week's giveaway.

Congrats Sandy! Expect an email from me soon requesting your address.

Giving It Away

Much time at my house has been spent sorting through what to keep, what to sell, what to donate and what to toss. Putting your house on the market is definitely a good way to force yourself to do some spring summer cleaning! I'll pitch just about anything if it means freeing up space, which my mom can certainly attest to (we took carloads of stuff to Goodwill). My motto is, "If in doubt, throw it out." But some things are too good to just put in the trash. Enter my first giveaway!

While organizing my craft room I came across the bunting that I painstakingly made (well, there really wasn't any pain involved, just a lot of time) for Charlotte's 2nd birthday party. I love it, but certainly don't need nearly 72 feet of it. I'll be keeping half of it (three lengths) for myself, but the other three lengths can all be yours!!


Here are the ways you can enter: {*****GIVEAWAY CLOSED*****}

1. Leave a comment on this post.

2. Become a follower of my blog (leave a separate comment saying you are).

3. Blog about this giveaway (leave a separate comment with a link to your post).

Entries will be accepted until midnight EST on Sunday. Check back Monday for the winner!

*Prize can only be shipped to the good ole USA or our friendly neighbor to the north.