Thursday, June 30, 2011

Thursday Recipe Swap Meet ~ Cinnamon Swirl Bread

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OK... we know you have all these recipes that you love to make. You got them from your mother, your grandmother, a magazine, or maybe you made it up, perhaps you don't even remember where the recipe came from. Well, how about sharing them with all of us? We are going to share ours with you every Thursday!


My good friend and (according to her husband) excellent cook, Dolly over at XmasDolly and I are now doing a recipe swap; we want to share ours with you and wold LOVE to get some of your favorites as well... So, Welcome to Thursday's Recipe Swap Meet, here is all you have to do:



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Post a recipe on your blog, sign the linky on either blog (they will be linked), grab our new button - isn't she cute - hubby says she looks like me... TeeHee? (above, on my sidebar and on my Co-Chef Dolly's blog) and check out the recipes. Don't forget that each week you actually will be getting at least TWO for the price of ONE because both Dolly and I will post a recipe on each of our blogs. How simple is that??

Cinnabon Cinnamon Swirl Bread


I usually like to make things from scratch, but this box mix is just SO good that it's not worth the effort to make it from scratch. All the ingredients are in separate packages and all you need to add are eggs, water and oil.


Preheat oven to 350 degrees F; spray 8" or 9" loaf pan with cooking spray.






Add the oil, water, and eggs to the bread mix and mix well (I used whisk first to break up any lumps); then sprinkle Cinnabon cinnamon mixture on top of bread mix and stir into bread mixture about 7 times until swirled into bread mixture - DO NOT MIX COMPLETELY.




Spread mixture into prepared pan.



Sprinkle brown sugar crumb mixture on top of bread. Bake in oven for 50 - 60 minutes until toothpick inserted into center of bread comes out clean. Let bread cool in pan for 15 min. the remove and let cool on rack for at least 30 minutes; after massaging glaze packet 15-30 seconds, cut the corner off and drizzle over top of cake.
Slice and serve warm...  I couldn't believe that this got 6 out of 6 puppy tail wags - they all loved everything about it, especially the glaze on top. Bill and I loved it, too, it was gone in two days.

So now all you have to do is sign our linky so we all can find your recipes. You check out all ours and we will check out all yours. If you don't want to write it all down and you know of one on line just post a link to it on your blog or leave it in a comment if you prefer!


For more recipes, head on over to Ms.BiBi at Daily Organized Chaos.


Let's get cooking..... Bon Appetit!


Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Wordless Wednesday: What? I Didn't Do Anything!

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WEDNESDAY


Welcome to Wordless Wednesday..... I'm looking forward to to seeing all of your photos, so if you leave a comment, please leave your email address so I can come on over and take a look.



For more Wordless Wednesday posts, head over to the WW Hub, leave your link, check out the other participants, and don't forget to leave a nice comment - you know you like comments, they do too!!


And don't forget about our recipe sharing meme tomorrow: "Recipe Swap Meet Thursday" - have you got your recipe ready??? Don't forget to grab our button and play along... Happy cooking.



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Monday Mingle: June 27th ~ All About the Fair

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“Mingling with you since August 2009!”


"Welcome to Monday Mingle! Each week three questions are asked, and you can answer via a written post, or a vlog post. If you have always wanted to try vlogging, Monday Mingle vlog meme is a fun way to try vlogging. If you’d like to join in the fun, answer the 3 weekly questions in short vlog on your blog, or a written blog post, then link up over on Eighty MPH Mom in the linky. Please post the above button within your post and link to Eighty MPH Mom, so readers can easily find other participants. Visit the other participants, learn about them and have fun! It’s not too late you can link up anytime during the week."



Questions for the week of June 27, 2011:

1. Do you like going to the county fair? Are you going this year?
2. What is your guilty pleasure food at fairs or amusement parks?
3. Finish this sentence… “It never fails – every time I go to the grocery store, _________________”.



Well, that's it for this week, hope you all had a great weekend and you got to spend lots of time with the ones you love.


Now it's your turn - come on, want to get to know you better.... we won't bite. :) Don't forget to link up with Jen at Eighty MPH Mom. Please at least visit some of the other participants and leave a comment - we all love comments... :)


Plus, help us get more players... Tweet the meme by either hitting the retweet button or tweeting this phrase:

"Join Eighty MPH Mom for #mondaymingle- a fun meme to learn about you! http://eightymphmom.com"


Have a great week everyone!!

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Sunday, June 26, 2011

Monday's Music Moves Me ~ One-Named Singers

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Welcome to a Monday's Music Moves Me, the fantabulistic music meme hosted by me, Dolly from XmasDolly, Larry from Cakeblast and Callie from Jamerican Spice and our wonderful new co-host Stacy from Stacy Uncorked (WooHoo - welcome Stacy, we're SO happy to have you with us!). This week's theme is Singers With One Name.


I'm not really a fan of Cher's new stuff, but I really like her stuff from back in the 70's so here are two of my favorites:


Gypsys, Tramps and Theives ~ Cher





Half Breed ~ Cher





These next two will definitely show my age, but that's OK.....


Mellow Yellow - Donovan




Dead Man's Curve ~ Jan and Dean (Yeah, I know there are two of them, but they went by their first names only.)





And of course, y'all know that I wouldn't pass up an opportunity to throw in some of the greatest one-named singer of all time..... this is a repeat, but it is my favorite song by him.....


In the Ghetto ~ Elvis





Kentucky Rain ~ Elvis




So, who are the singers you are thinking of? Write up a post and let us know... Here is all you need to do to play along:


First step: Head on over to You Tube, or anywhere you get your music videos and post them on your blog! Upcoming themes are to you LOWER RIGHT of XmasDolly's blog.

Second Step: Grab our "Monday's Music Moves Me" Button, mine is on my right sidebar, or off of any of the hosts' sites.


Third step: SIGN THE LINKY - Follow your hosts, grab their buttons too when you visit them and show them some love by leaving a comment.. (mine is on my right sidebar above the 4M button)


Final step: Go visit the other Rockers on our Linky and PLEASE show them some love by leaving them a comment, you know you like comments, they do too!


 
Once you write up your post, link up with us (on any of the host's blog - they are all connected) and you may be chosen as our SPOTLIGHT DANCERS like this week's lucky couple in our #1 and #2 linky spots.....



Lori from Dollycas's Thoughts ~~ and ~~ Tom from Introducing "Mr. Cool"

CONGRATULATIONS!!

Also we have something new and wonderful, thanks to the great mind of Naila Moon, Dolly had designed a Spotlight Dancer Button!!! So, if you are one of the lucky ones who is chosen for our spotlight dance, please feel free to grab the button from Dolly's right sidebar and proudly display it on your blog... WooHoo, thank you for the great idea Naila Moon!!






Spotlight Dancers



Now, don't forget to sign the linky, visit the participants, and leave a comment - you know you like them, so does everyone else. For more Monday music fun, visit Amanda, Lady Estrogen, and my friend Denise at Run DMT.


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
ROCK ON, MY FRIENDS!
 
 
We're very sorry to say there has been some people not playing along, and just signing our linky so other people will stop by their blogs for giveaways or whatever! Unfortunately, these bloggers will be justifiably deleted without prejudice or notice. Leave a comment, grab our button, or follow us. If you don't want to post a video, you can post a link to a video, or post some lyrics, but please - at least attempt to make it music related. Thank you for your understanding.



*** Just one thing to note... We are family friendly blogs and while we don't want to censor anyone, we do ask that you keep your songs rated PG13 or less.
Thank you very much!***
 

Self-Portrait Sunday ~~ New Sunglasses

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ReesSpace


My friend Maria over at Maria's Space started this meme to get us out from BEHIND the camera and showcase our own lovely faces on our blogs.... We don't want to have a blog full of our family, friends and children and when we go back years later and wonder.... where the heck were we and what did we look like?




I recently got a new pair of sunglasses to keep the sun out of my eyes and help prevent migraines. Bill laughed at me and said they were too big. I think they look great, what do y'all think?




Join Maria by posting your beautiful face and link up with Maria over at Maria's Space, visit the other participants and leave them a nice comment.


Hope you are all having a great weekend.

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Color Carnival ~ Majestic Bird

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Maria's Space
I am joining my friend Maria over at Maria's Space who hosts this fabulous photography meme called Color Carnival where you post a photo you have taken of something colorful and link up to her blog. Then return on Thursday to vote for your favorite photo.


Here is my submission for this week, I took this photo at the Animal Kingdom at Walt Disney World. I love going there to see the exotic animals, it is such a wonderful place to take photographs.





Thank you so much to the person who voted for me last week so that I could win with my flower photo, I really enjoy taking nature photos and it is great to be appreciated for my photography.

Now, let's see your best colorful photo, I know you all are wonderful photographers, and then link up to Maria's Space, then return on Thursday to vote for your favorite.

Have a terrific weekend and don't forget to keep your camera at the ready!

Saturday, June 25, 2011

Friday Food Fight ~ Cinnamon Swirl Bread

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To join the weekly Friday Food Fight, post a picture of your favorite food, meal, snack or drink. Of course, you enjoying your tasty treat would be great, but you don’t need to be in the picture. Then on Friday, post your drool inducing photo and link up with Denise at RunDMT. That’s it!!

I made a cinnamon swirl bread the other day and it was SO delicious, Bill and I ate the whole thing in 3 days - we did have to share a little with the puppies. =)



I will be adding the recipe to my Thursday's Recipe Swap Meet on June 30th and wait until you see the inside....mmmmm! Hope you can join us with one of your favorite recipes.


To join the Friday Food Fight, head on over to RunDMT and link up to her blog, visit the other participants and leave a comment. Also head on over to Karen at If I Could Escape and Kirsten at Gone Bananas to see what they have on the table. While you're at it, how about grabbing Denise's Friday Food Fight Button on her site - I have it on my left side bar. I'd also like to thank Denise for always being supportive of me and my good friend Marie at XmasDolly of our memes on Monday and Thursday ~ she really is the true meaning of a bloggy friend - love ya, girlfriend!!



Happy eating and have a great weekend!

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Thursday, June 23, 2011

Thursday's Recipe Swap Meet ~ Easy Chicken Parmesan

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OK... we know you have all these recipes that you love to make. You got them from your mother, your grandmother, a magazine, or maybe you made it up, perhaps you don't even remember where the recipe came from. Well, how about sharing them with all of us? We are going to share ours with you every Thursday!




My good friend and (according to her husband) excellent cook, Dolly over at XmasDolly and I are now doing a recipe swap; we want to share ours with you and wold LOVE to get some of your favorites as well... So, Welcome to Thursday's Recipe Swap Meet, here is all you have to do:




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Post a recipe on your blog, sign the linky on either blog (they will be linked), grab our new button - isn't she cute - hubby says she looks like me... TeeHee? (above, on my sidebar and on my Co-Chef Dolly's blog) and check out the recipes. Don't forget that each week you actually will be getting at least TWO for the price of ONE because both Dolly and I will post a recipe on each of our blogs. How simple is that??



Easy Chicken Parmesan




3-4 Skinless/Boneless breaded seasoned chicken breasts
6-8 Slices fresh mozzarella
1 Cup tomato sauce
EVOO
Pre-Heat oven to 375 degrees F






Saute chicken breasts in hot EVOO for about 4 minutes on each side until browned. (I didn't take a photo of this as the oil "spits" - HaHa.) Set breasts on paper towel to drain excess oil.






In 2 quart shallow baking dish, layer small amount of tomato sauce on bottom of dish, then chicken, then layer mozzarella cheese and more sauce.





Bake in pre-heated oven (375) for 30-45 minutes depending on thickness of breasts or until center of breast is 160 degrees and cheese is melted.
Serve with salad.







Of course because this is meat, it received 6 out of 6 puppy tail wags - not to mention that they all LOVE cheese. =)  Hubby loved it too. I totally love the Perdue prepared chicken breasts and always get them at BJ's Wholesale club in a large package- they are individually wrapped which is FABULOUS - so I can use as many as I want at a time.  I have also made them with unseasoned breasts and make my own coating with breadcrumbs, Italian seasoning, and Parmesan cheese... then you dredge the breasts in flour first, then egg wash and then the breadcrumbs before sauteing. 


So now all you have to do is sign our linky so we all can find your recipes. You check out all ours and we will check out all yours. If you don't want to write it all down and you know of one on line just post a link to it on your blog or leave it in a comment if you prefer!


For more recipes, head on over to Ms.BiBi at Daily Organized Chaos.


Let's get cooking..... Bon Appetit!

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Wordless Wednesday: Helping Mommy Work ~ June 22, 2011

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Welcome to Wordless Wednesday..... I'm looking forward to to seeing all of your photos, so if you leave a comment, please leave your email address so I can come on over and take a look.




For more Wordless Wednesday posts, head over to the WW Hub, leave your link, check out the other participants, and don't forget to leave a nice comment - you know you like comments, they do too!!

And don't forget about our recipe sharing meme tomorrow: "Recipe Swap Meet Thursday" - have you got your recipe ready??? Don't forget to grab our button and play along... Happy cooking. 

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Monday's Music Moves Me ~ Missing in Action, Sorry!

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**Wanted to let you know that I'm still working on visiting everyone ~ I had no internet service on Tuesday, someone cut our fiber optic cable in town - Oops - and it took all day to correct.**


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Welcome to a Monday's Music Moves Me, the fantabulistic music meme hosted by me, Dolly from XmasDolly, Larry from Cakeblast and Callie from Jamerican Spice. This week is a FREEBIE WEEK!!!

I want to apologize for not having anything posted for today's meme, but PLEASE don't let it deter you from posting and adding it to our linky..... Bill and I went to a music and arts festival at a local winery yesterday and the sun was way too much on me and I got a horrible migraine. (I only had a lemonade to drink, too, not even any wine.) I went right to bed when we got home and couldn't even LOOK at the computer, let alone think and type.

So.... I will work on visiting you all now that I am up and feeling a little better. Here is all you need to do to play along:

First step: Head on over to You Tube, or anywhere you get your music videos and post them on your blog! Upcoming themes are to you LOWER RIGHT of XmasDolly's blog.Second Step: Grab our "Monday's Music Moves Me" Button, mine is on my right sidebar, or off of any of the hosts' sites.
Third step: SIGN THE LINKY - Follow your hosts, grab their buttons too when you visit them and show them some love by leaving a comment.. (mine is on my right sidebar above the 4M button)
Final step: Go visit the other Rockers on our Linky and PLEASE show them some love by leaving them a comment, you know you like comments, they do too!



Once you write up your post, link up with us (on any of the host's blog - they are all connected) and you may be chosen as our SPOTLIGHT DANCERS like this week's lucky couple in our #1 and #2 linky spots.....


Naila Moon of Just the Stuff Ya Know ~~ and ~~ Amanda of Blogger Broadcast

CONGRATULATIONS!!

Also we have something new and wonderful, thanks to the great mind of Naila Moon, Dolly had designed a Spotlight Dancer Button!!! So, if you are one of the lucky ones who is chosen for our spotlight dance, please feel free to grab the button from Dolly's right sidebar and proudly display it on your blog... WooHoo, thank you for the great idea Naila Moon!!



Spotlight Dancers


Now, don't forget to sign the linky, visit the participants, and leave a comment - you know you like them, so does everyone else. For more Monday music fun, visit Amanda, Lady Estrogen, and my friend Denise at Run DMT.





ROCK ON, MY FRIENDS!!



We're very sorry to say there has been some people not playing along, and just signing our linky so other people will stop by their blogs for giveaways or whatever! Unfortunately, these bloggers will be justifiably deleted without prejudice or notice. Leave a comment, grab our button, or follow us. If you don't want to post a video, you can post a link to a video, or post some lyrics, but please - at least attempt to make it music related. Thank you for your understanding.

*** Just one thing to note... We are family friendly blogs and while we don't want to censor anyone, we do ask that you keep your songs rated PG13 or less.
Thank you very much!***

Sunday, June 19, 2011

Happy Father's Day ~ Dad, Step-Dad, Pop

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I just want to wish all the dads, grandads, soon-to-be dads a very happy Father's Day!!


There is one father in particular that I would like to mention.... my dearest husband Bill.




Isn't he just so handsome?  =)

Generations of Shewbridge Men


Bill raised two children of his own by the time I met him and they are both wonderful people, just like he is... which he got from his father, a super sweet man who wrote the best love letters. I only wish I had gotten to meet him before he passed away.












Then, after having raised his own children, he married me... a single mother with two very young children: Nikolaus was in 2nd grade and Alexander was just starting Kindergarten. He took on all this responsibility without complaining and lovingly helped me raise our boys into the fine young men they are today. They still call him Pop and have shared some great times with him and he was always there for them. He went to every school concert, parents night, ornament night, everything - even when the boys biological father didn't. Bill was there when Nikolaus graduated from Army Basic Training as the soldier of the cycle - top in his class.


Bill and Nikolaus at Army Basic Graduation







Father's Day Tie from Nik, age 7
Bill wore it ALL day at work!



Alex finally got taller than Bill.





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Nikolaus, Lorie & Alexander

I don't know what the boys and I would have done without him.... so to Bill/Pop, thank you for everything you do and for all the love you show us. We love you with all our hearts - Happy Father's Day!!




As always, I ask that you keep in mind those who are serving our country and cannot be with the ones they love so that we enjoy freedom and safety. Remember them today along with their families with hopes that they will ALL return home safe and sound.
 
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Saturday, June 18, 2011

Color Carnival ~ Beautiful Flowers

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Maria's Space


I am joining my friend Maria over at Maria's Space who hosts this fabulous photography meme called Color Carnival where you post a photo you have taken of something colorful and link up to her blog. Then return on Thursday to vote for your favorite photo.

Here is my submission for this week, these are flowers in a neighbor's yard that I photographed one day on my walk with the doggies, hope you like them.....




Let's see your best colorful photo, I know you all are wonderful photographers, and then link up to Maria's Space, then return on Thursday to vote for your favorite.
Hope you are having a great weekend.

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