The 44th Pillsbury Bake-Off® Contest

The 44th Pillsbury Bake-Off^® Contest´s new
You Be the Judge! voting

The contest´s entry period ended in mid-April 2009, but now we invite you to help with the judging. For the first time in the contest´s 60-year history, you and your readers can help determine 10 recipes among the final 100 that will compete for the $1 million grand prize!

How does the You Be the Judge! voting work? Judges will select 20 recipes to be placed online at www.bakeoff.com in pairs for a period of two weeks for each pair. Consumers can vote for their favorite recipe in each pair. The recipe from each pair that wins the most votes will earn a spot in the final competition, April 11-13, 2010, in Orlando, Florida.

Voting is limited to one vote per person per each pair of recipes. Voters must be registered members of www.pillsbury.com and 18 years of age or older as of May 1, 2009, to participate.

The first pair of recipes was posted on May 14, 2009 and a new pair of recipes will be posted every two weeks (namely, May 28, June 11, June 25, July 9, July 23, August 6, August 20, September 3 and September 17, 2009). The voting period for the tenth and final pair of recipes will close at 11:59AM CDT on October 1, 2009. Visit www.bakeoff.com for the official rules.
(I know a little late here, but you can still vote on the ones that are left!!)
Go check 'em out and see all the great recipes entered.
Come back here and tell me your favorite recipe. Either from the site or your own.
We are camping this weekend and are gonna be cooking up a storm! Today we baked a pecan pie, strawberry cupcakes, brownies and smores bars. We will definitely have plenty of sweets! In fact, the Mystery Pecan pie came out of the magazine of past Bake-Off^® recipes you will get as a prize pack if you are one of the two lucky commenters selected!! It has a cream cheese layer in it and is Oh so yummy!! I bet we have to bake another one to take to the campsite this weekend. There are lots of excelent recipes in here and the doughboy doll is so so so cute!! I had to fight the girls off of him so I could keep him in my kitchen. Many many thanks to MyBlogSpark and Pillsbury for letting me host this giveaway! So go, now and remember to come back and leave me a comment. I will select two random comments to recieve a prize pack. Also remember I need your email addy so I can contact you. Contest ends next Wednesday July 1st, and winner will be announced on Thursday.

Winner

Congratulations to Debbie for winning the Cheerios Spoonful of Stories giveaway!!

Debbie happens to be a fellow scrapper, and has some cute quickpages on her blog!

And thanks to MyBlogSpark for letting me do these great giveaways for y'all!!!

Another giveaway coming tomorrow... :o)

Soft Denim Alpha

Hello All!!
Not too much goin' on here. Just a slow easy week, catchin up on some house work, getting close to getting the laundry caught up, close that is. Really just a lazy week of not doing much. Tara came home on Wednesday evening. She had a good time in Dallas with her friend. We are getting Chayce ready to go to summer camp with Scouts next week. They leave Sunday morning. I will miss him, but I know he will have a great time.
I am all caught up on the True Blood series, can't wait for season 2!! Anyone else watch? I haven't read the books, but they are on my list now. Great show! Also got caught up on Harper's Island the other night. I had missed the last 2 episodes. I am liking it too. So I am psyched to see the rest, now that I am caught up. As you can tell, I really have been lazy, catchin up on some TV! LOL!
We are really enjoying our summer break, nothing too pressing going on right now, so laziness is the plan! :o)
On to scrappy stuff! ----
I have the Soft Denim Alpha I promised you.

Click the preview to snag it.
I have more goodies on the way. Look for those after the weekend. Have fun!!

Later....

Cheerios Spoonfuls of Stories

Over the past seven years, Cheerios Spoonfuls of Stories has given away more than 35 million children's books by distributing them free inside cereal boxes and has donated nearly $3 million to First Book, their non-profit partner, which provides books to children from low-income families.
In addition to encouraging children to read, Cheerios is looking for anyone interested in writing children's books. Now in its third year, the Cheerios Spoonfuls of Stories New Author Contest is a way to encourage previously unpublished, up-and-coming children's book authors and to continue to nurture a love of reading. Entries are being accepted March 16 through July 15, 2009 and will be judged on appropriate story and content for children ages 3-8, emotional connection, writing quality, uniqueness, and read-aloud potential. More details on the contest can be found at www.spoonfulsofstoriescontest.com.

Thanks to MyBlogSpark, I was given the opportunity to receive books written by past winners and samples of books Cheerios gives away. I have always loved to read, and when I had kids it became harder to find time to read for myself. I am always reading kids' books these days. Recently I decided to take time again for myself to read because I do enjoy it so much. I always enjoy reading to and with my kids. As they get older it is a great joy to sit with them as they read to me, just like I have read to them. It makes me hugely proud to know that my children get enjoyment out of reading like I do. Well, Allison does anyway. :o) Tara and Chayce aren't ones to read for enjoyment recently. But I still hold out for that to change, and I still have Katherine coming up. She loves to be read to, and is starting to learn to read as well. She and Allison immediately snatched up the Spoonfuls books when they came in the mail.
These are great little books for young readers. They are the perfect size to tuck in a bag for taking in the car, and the stories are attention grabbing, but not too long. I also loved ( and so did the girls ) that some of the books are in Spanish as well. We sat for a while just comparing the English and Spanish words in the books. It really is amazing all the things you can learn just from reading a book!
Do you want to win the four books pictured above? These really are great little books for your kiddos, and even as a gift. Just leave me a comment, and tell me your favorite children's book. Either from your own childhood or that you read to your own children or grandchildren. Is it the same book/story? My children and I love Wind in the Willows. We have read it more times than I can count!!
Next Wednesday June 17th I'll pick a random winner from the comments and you'll get a prize pack from the Cheerios Spoonfuls of Stories!
***Remember to leave me your email address so I can contact you if you win.***

Soft Denim Fairie

Back home from a super long weekend. We went down to Shreveport for the horse races Saturday and Sunday. I love going to the races. I always have a good time. Hubby had to fly out for work Sunday morning so he didn't get to go to the races with us on Sunday. We had a great time Saturday night hangin out with friends. I only stayed for 4 races on Sunday, then headed home to the kiddos, well three of them anyway. Tara is still in Dallas 'til later this week. She'll be home Thursday. I may have to drive down and meet them to get the girls back cause Christy has to work Thursday morning. It's not a big deal, just a drive I don't make, and I don't like being out of my comfort zone, especially not driving somewhere I am not familiar with. But if it's got to be done, then it's got to be done. Maybe Mom will ride with me if I have to go. :o)
No big plans this week, just super summer laziness, and that is just fine with me. I am thinking that I will just be hangin around the house most of this week and weekend. Going down to Shreveport and partying all day and night Saturday is enough for me for a while I think! LOL
Ok on to scrappy stuff ---
I made yall another fairie to go with this month's collab kit again.

You can click the preview to snag her. Let me know what you think. I have an alpha to match this set too, and I hope to get time to finish up a doodle alpha this week too, so watch for that.

Later....

Cluster Frames

Well, we are heading into a busy weekend here in our house. We have been spending a lot of afternoons at the pool at the country club, and we plan to do that again today. It's overcast and a little drizzly out this morning but should clear up and be nice this afternoon. I really really really want a pool in my backyard, but I will settle for the club pool for now. It's not been crowded yet when we have been up there. We are only going in the afternoon during the week. I am sure a Saturday would be a lot different. In fact Tuesday the kids and I had the pool all to ourselves for over an hour, and could have for longer, but it was time for us to go. 3 hours out in the heat and sun is enough. The last thing I need is a sick kiddo from being out in the sun too long. We use sunscreen, but I still have little ones, and I would feel just awful for them to get sick over it.
Today I have to get Tara packed up cause she is going with her friend to Dallas for a week. We are lucky cause Tara is best friend's with my best girl friend's daughter, so I am completely ok with her going off for a week with her friend to visit her grandmother in Dallas. It's funny cause the girls buddied up at the same time that Christy and I did, and it was all just by chance. It's incredibly convenient for us most of the time, cause we can throw the girls together to do stuff, and share sitters alot of the time. :o) It's also nice to have a mom I can talk to frankly about the craziness that comes with a preteen daughter! LOL!!!
The boy is also leaving tomorrow to go for an Order of the Arrow Brotherhood weekend. It's a scout thing. He has to go and work for the weekend and pass a test of sorts. Nothing too difficult, mostly ceremonial and symbolic things. It's all about work ethic, self sufficiency, and public service. Goes right along with the scouts. The two little ones are gonna go to Grandma's for the weekend, and Hubby and I are gonna go to the horse races on Saturday and stay overnight cause he has to fly out Sunday morning. But I am gonna stay for the races on Sunday too, cause Christy and Bobby and gonna come down Saturday eventing and they are staying a couple of days. So I will hang with them on Sunday. Part of the day anyway, then head home to gather most of the children and start off another week of NO SCHOOL!!! I absolutely love summer break. I am looking forward to going to the races, it'll be fun. We haven't been in a while, and I really love going. I never win much money, but it's fun to bet a couple of bucks on a horse or two and cheer 'em on. Not that I would mind winning tho, but you have to bet alot to win alot, and I just can't bet that much! :o)
Ok so enough of my rambling, on to your goodies. Today I want to give you some cluster frames to match my Melon Twist kit.

Just click the preview to snag these. Leave me a comment and let me know what you think of them.
I am also working an add on or two for the Soft Denim Collab Kit. Including another Fairie to match! Watch for it after the weekend, and some doodle goodies too! :o)

Soft Denim

Wow!! I missed a whole week! Crazy :o)

We spent last week hangin out with the kiddos, getting Hubby home on Wednesday, and going to dance rehearsals all week. We had dress rehearsals on Saturday and recital yesterday. It was a lot of stressing, organizing, runnin around, but everything went off without a hitch, and all the girls did wonderfully!!
Last year was Katherine's first year and she didn't dance! LOL She just walked out there and while the rest of her class more or less did the routine she just swayed back and forth a little. This year she had two numbers, one ballet and one tap, she danced both of them with no hesitation. The tap number was "Yellow Polka Dot Bikini" and it was adorable! Allie did "Going to the Chapel" and "Hit the Road Jack" She has a little boy in her class and the chapel ballet number was really cute. The girls had on wedding dresses, and he was in a suit with top hat and tails. Just stinkin cute! Tara was fabulous of course. She got her 5 year award this year, so now she's got her trophy up in her room. I will pick up pics tomorrow ($$$$$$) so I will show some off :o)
Ok so the Fun Times brag book is down and on it's way to the Store and I'll post when it's up.
Don't forget I've got the Melon Twist kit up and watch for a freebie to match it coming later this week.

Ok so it's ADSD collab time again!!! This time the theme was "Soft Denim" I liked the color scheme, but not sure I really stuck with the theme. I dunno. I like the soft part - that was easy with the colors LOL! Anyway, we are changing up how we do the blog roll a bit this time. No long list here to keep track of, instead we have a central listing. So that should make it easier for you to keep track of where you've been and maybe where you didn't see a posting yet if you beat the designer up this morning, or the time zones have us checking at different times.
Here's my part:

You can pick them up below. I apologise for the three downloads, but this way I can give them to you as direct downloads and they are under 20 MB each so easy peasy even if you are on dial up.

Soft Denim Papers
Soft Denim Papers 02
Soft Denim Elements

To follow the next step in the ADSD Blog Train, please visit our central
hub for the complete list of stops:
http://adsdesigners.com/adsdblogtrain.htm

Later.....

Day 5 - Fun Times

Happy Memorial Day weekend everyone! I hope everyone has a great weekend out there, whether you have big plans with your family, or if you are just enjoying a peaceful weekend at home.
As for us, we don't have any large plans. We went out to my aunt's house today for my uncle's birthday, and another of my aunts is in to visit. We don't get to see her often enough, so it was good to hang out with her for a bit. She will head back to south Louisiana tomorrow. And we will just be hangin around the house not doing much at all.
I am perfectly happy with that :o)
The pool is open at the country club now so we will be spending some time in the pool next week soakin up the sun and letting the kiddos play. I look forward to spending lots of time pool side this summer, just reading a book and soakin up some sun and letting the kiddos tire themselves out in the pool. :o) I desperately want a pool of our own, but it will be a bit before we are able to do that, so we will be at the club pool, and enjoy it for the summer.

Scrappiness....
Today you get the last part of the Fun Times brag book. Pages 9 &10

Sorry these are on their way to the store now!!
Click the preview to snag them.

This will go in the store next week, so snag 'em while you can!
No worries I have more goodies coming to you next week!
Later....

Day four -- pages 7&8

LAST DAY OF SCHOOL!!!!!!!
Wooooo Hooooo!!
I am so very very very happy that they are out of school for the summer!
I will so enjoy not having to set my alarm and get up early every morning. And some of the hectic scheduling will stop. They had a short day today, and we will be going to the senior graduation tonight. Two friends have boys graduating tonight, so we will be there to see it.
Not too much time on my hands, so I am gonna just get to it with your freebies today.
I have got to go and get the kiddos cleaned up for the graduation.
You get the next two pages to the Fun Times Brag Book.Sorry these are on their way to the store now!!
Click the preview to download them.

Later....

Fun Times Day Three

Hello All!!!
I am draggin tired!! Super busy day. I left the house at 7:30 this mornin and didn't get home til after 5 this evenin. That would be fine if I had a full time job, but nope, just 4 kids to run all over creation! LOL!!
So no chatter today, just your scrappy goodies!
Part three of the Fun Times Brag Book, pages 5 and 6

Sorry these are on their way to the store now!!
Click the preview to download them.
If you are lovin this brag book you should jump over to the store and check out the
Brag Book Nook
where there are nothing but brag books for only $1.00 each!!
Go go go go check it out!!