Giveaways!!!!

 

Monday, December 22, 2008
Kick Off to Christmas Giveaway 29 - Loom


Four weeks of giveaways has made this elf a little tired! It's been so much fun to hold this event and really fun emailing people to let them know they won! Christmas is almost here, can you believe it?

The final review and giveaway of the Kick Off to Christmas Event comes to you from Loom! Loom is a company, started by Johanna Leestma LeFleur in 2003, that makes smart, functional, and colorful gear for families. As the site explains, Loom products are as fabulous and they are functional. How could I not review a bag that is promising to be fabulous?

I had the opportunity to review the Loom Marsupial bag in antique pink! It is described as a full service diaper bag and really does have everything a mom would need! 



~durable and secure magnetic closures
~adjustable strap
~no-slip shoulder pad
~cushioned changing pad - 14" x 21"
~drawstring waterproof stuff-sack
~reinforced base with metal feet
~carabiner key clip
~dedicated baby wipes pocket
~insulated exterior pockets
~18" wide x 11" tall x 5.5" deep 



The details above are from the site, so I'll translate them here in mommy-speak! The magnetic closures are awesome. My old diaper bag (I'll admit here that I was using the same one I used for my son, an ugly plaid one that matched my stroller at the time) had a zipper closure which was always a pain to open with one hand (nearly impossible to open with baby in one arm). I love that there's no zipper to mess with on this bag, and the magnetic closures (which are safely inside the fabric) are super strong!

The adjustable strap and no-slip shoulder pad are little features that go a long way for comfort. If you want to keep the diaper bag close at hand, you can adjust it so it is higher up, more like a secure purse than a bag. The no-slip shoulder pad is so wonderful to have, after dealing with my old diaper bag slipping off my shoulder constantly. The Marsupial bags also come with a cushioned changing pad and a matching drawstring sack that is perfect for little messes while on the go. 

Extra features about the bag that make it fabulous are the 2 insulated exterior pockets for bottles or cups, and several inside pockets for all the everyday essentials that we need to carry with us. I was pleasantly surprised at all the room inside. Once you feel your way to the bottom and the reinforced base, it's like extra room opens up. The best thing ever? After I packed the bag full this weekend, it still closed effortlessly with the magnetic closure (the magnet is so big that even if the bag is full, it's not going to 'miss' its spot to match-up).

I absolutely adore my new Loom Marsupial diaper bag and am so happy to be able to share Loom with all of you. Johanna at Loom has offered Feisty Frugal and Fabulous readers a 40% discount on her regular-priced diaper bags! To get the discount, just email Johanna here with your order and put FABULOUS LOOM SALE in the subject header.

Wait, it gets even better. You all also have the chance to WIN your very own white Loom Marsupial bag that I have in my hot (ok who am I kidding, it's freezing here) little hands! 

To enter, go to Loom and have a look around at their selection. Come back here and comment, telling me your favorite bag design and color. Both have to be included in your comment for it to count!

For extra entries:
~ Post my NEW fabulous button on your blog
~ Follow me (link on the right hand column)
~ Subscribe to my email updates (Link on the right hand column)
~ Post this giveaway on your blog, and leave me the link.


Please make sure your profile is set to PUBLIC or leave your email address in your comment if it is not. If there is no way to contact you, I will choose another winner. This contest will end on December 29th at midnight CST. I will use Random.org to choose a winner, email the winner, and post the win here. Contest is open to Canadian and US addresses.
Posted by Feisty Frugal and Fabulous at 11:17 AM 
Labels: Giveaways and Reviews

baby contests!!!

My cousin Gina has me now hooked on blogging for goods!  i'm a freebie kid so it's right up my alley especially with 2 kids!!!   i've entered 3 so far.  twoon christmas eve and one today with CBK aka Cool Baby Kids.  they are giving away a neat personalized blanket.  who doesnt love those? !?!? so i'm getting used to all of this blogging business since i'm not working and i'm getting to love it even more!! so come make me feel popular and post and suvscribe!!!   

joanne fluke cookies

Cocoa Snaps

-Dough must chill before baking

1 ½ c melted butter 3 sticks
2 c cocoa powder (unsweetened)
2 c brown sugar
3 large eggs beaten
4 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
2 tsp vanilla
3 c flour not sifted
½ c white sugar for later


melt butter and mix in cocoa until blended
cool slightly and add in eggs.
Add soda, salt, and vanilla and stir
Add flour and mix thoroughly
Chillin in refridferator for 1 hour
Preheat to 350f middle rack
Roll into walnut-sized balls
Roll balls in the shite sugar
Place on a greased cookie sheet and bake for 10 minutes
cool on sheet for 1 or 2 minutes and remove from cookie sheet
 
Pound Cake Plus
Preheat to 325f

1 ½ cups softened butter 3 sticks
2 c white sugar
4 eggs
1 c sour cream
½ baking powder
1 tsp vanilla
2 c cake flour

must chill for 48 hrs. make it 2 days before planing to serve. Can also be baked, colled, and wrapped in plastic wrap, then in foil and freeze untill needed. Makes 2 cakes, serves 6 people. Butter and flour 2-9 in pans
cream butter and sugar. Add eggs one at a time
add sour cream, baking powder and vanilla.
Add flour one cup a time
Backe for 54-50 mintues
Bake, wrap and chillin in fridge for 48 hrs

windmill cookies

SPECULATIUS COOKIES - WINDMILL 
1 lb. butter
2 c. brown sugar
1/2 c. sour cream
1/2 tsp. soda
4 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1/2 tsp. ground cloves
4 1/2 c. flour
1/2 c. chopped nuts 
Cream butter and brown sugar. Sift together flour, soda and spices. Add sour cream alternately with sifted dry ingredients. Stir in nuts. Knead dough into rolls, 2 inches thick. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for a few hours or overnight. Cut into slices and bake at 375 degrees for 10 to 12 minutes.

ginger snaps

  

GINGER SNAP COOKIES  

Mix:

3/4 c. shortening
1 c. sugar
1 egg
4 tbsp. molasses

Sift together:

1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. cloves
1 tsp. ginger
2 tsp. baking soda
2 c. flour

Mix shortening, sugar egg and molasses. Sift together cinnamon, cloves, ginger, baking soda, flour. Mix into egg-sugar ingredients. Form into balls the size of walnuts. Dip one side into sugar. Bake 350 degrees, approximately 18 minutes. 

Double flake Cookies

Double Flake Cookies

Joanne Flukes-Cherry Cheesecake Murder

Do not Preheat oven-dough must chill before baking

1c melted butter (1/2 lb, 2 sticks)
3 eggs 
1 ½ c white sugar
2 tsp cream of tartar
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 tsp cocount extract or vanilla extract
1 ½ c flour (no need to sift)
2 cups instant mashed potato flakes
1 cup coconut flakes, firmly packed
¾ c finely choped pecans or walnuts (measure after chopping)
½ c white shugar in a bowl for later

melt the butter and set aside to cool. Crack the eggs into a mixing bowl and whip for a minute. They don’t have to be flufy just mixed. Pour in the sugar and stir. Add cream of tartar, baking soda, and extract (coconut or vanilla). Mix well. Stire in the melted butter and add flour. Mix until flour is throuhly incorporated

measure out 2 cups of mashed potato flakes and mix them in. Add the coconut flakes (chop up if you do not like stringy coconut) stir in chopped nuts and mix thoroughly.

Cover the dough tighly and refridgerate for 4 hours. Overnight is even beter

Preheat for 350F when ready to bake

Form balls of dough 1 in in diameter. Roll in sugar and placed on a greased cookie sheet. Flatten with a metal spatula.

Bake at 350F for 10-12 mincool on sheet for 2 min and transfer to a rackand cool




 
Aunt Grace's Breakfast Muffins
taken from: Joanne Fluke's Sugar Cookie Murder

1 ½ c flour
2 tsp baking powder
½ tsp salt
½ tsp nutmeg
½ c white sugar
1/3 c butter melted
1 egg beaten
½ c milk
1 ½ c apples cored, peeled, and shredded

sift or stir flour, baking powder, salt, and nutmeg

in another bowl blend the sugar and melted butter together and cool to room temp

add egg, milk, shredded apples to melted butter mixture. then mix in dry ingredients

fill well gresed muffin tins with 2/3 batter. bake at 400 F for20-25 min.

 
Mrs. Knudson's Seasoning salt
Joanne Fluke's Sugar Cookie Murder

½ c salt
1 tsp celery salt
1 tbsp garlic salt
1 tbsp paprika
1 tsp dry mustard
1 tsp onion powder
½ tsp cornstarch
½ tsp ground oregano

yields ¾ c seasoning salt
 
Tortilla Roll-Ups (easy & Sooo Good)

1 dzn Flour Tortilla
2 8 oz. Pkg. of Cream Cheese
2 sm cans Diced Green Chili's
3 pkg's Thin Slice Ham (i use smoked)

1st thing lay out your tortilla's, spread Cream Cheese completely on them(thin) then sprinke Diced Green Chili's all over top of that(keep chili's from ends or they won't stick) then i put 3 to 4 thin slices of Ham on each one. Roll them up as tight as you can and slice in 1 inch slices!!
Hint-They taste best if you make them the morning or night before you serve them!!! Everyone loves these!!

 
Creamy Chicken & Pasta Rated 

Makes: 4 servings Prep: 10 minutes Cook: 12 minutes
8 ounces penne 
3 small carrots, peeled and sliced into coins 
2 cups broccoli flowerets 
1 medium-sized zucchini, sliced 
1 cup frozen peas 
1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces 
½ tsp. salt 
¼ tsp. black pepper 
1 Tbs. canola oil 
¾ cup heavy cream 
1 cup shredded Parmesan cheese 
Pinch nutmeg 
Directions 1. Cook penne in boiling salted water for 12 minutes. Add carrots, broccoli and zucchini for last 4 minutes of cooking time. Add peas during the last minute. Drain; transfer to a large serving bowl. 
2. Meanwhile, sprinkle chicken with ¼ teaspoon of the salt and 1/8 teaspoon of the black pepper. Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Cook 8 minutes, or until cooked through. 
3. Add cream, cheese, the remaining ¼ teaspoon salt and 1/8 teaspoon pepper and nutmeg to skillet. Boil for 2 minutes, until thick. Toss with pasta and vegetables.
 
Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta
  ==========================
  2 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into thin strips
  4 ounces linguine, cooked al dente
  2 teaspoons cajun seasoning  
  2 tablespoons butter  
  1 thinly sliced green onion  
  1-2 cups heavy whipping cream  
  2 tablespoons chopped sun-dried tomatoes  
  ¼ teaspoon salt  
  ¼ teaspoon dried basil  
  1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper  
  1/8 teaspoon garlic powder  
  ¼ cup grated parmesan cheese  

  Place chicken and Cajun seasoning in a bowl and toss to coat. In a
large skillet over medium heat, saute chicken in butter or margarine
until chicken is tender, about 5 to 7 minutes.

  Reduce heat add green onion, heavy cream, tomatoes, basil, salt,
garlic powder, black pepper and heat through. Pour over hot linguine
and toss with Parmesan cheese.

Red Velvet Cake

Thi is from Bobbly Flay's Throwdown; Cake Man Raven's famous Red Velvet Cake

Yields: Three, 9-inch layer cakes Baking Time: 15-20 minutes, 325 degrees pre-heated oven Level of Difficulty: Moderate.

Dry Ingredients: 2-1/2 cups of cake flour, 
1 1/2 cups of granulated sugar, 
1 teaspoon of baking soda, 1 teaspoon of fine salt 
and 1 teaspoon of cocoa powder. 
Wet Ingredients: 1 cup of buttermilk, 2 eggs, 1 teaspoon of vinegar (white distilled), 1-1/2 cups of vegetable oil, 1 oz. of red food coloring and 1 tsp. of vanilla extract. Frosting: 4 cups of Confectioners Sugar, 1 lb. of cream cheese (room temperature), 1 lb. of butter (softened) and 2 tsp. of vanilla. extract.
 
Sift together all dry ingredients. Add liquid in an electric mixing bowl and beat on medium speed until well incorporated. Slowly add dry ingredients to bowl, until all ingredients are combined. 
Bake @ 350 degrees for 20-30 minutes.
Frosting: Mix together the cream cheese and the softened butter. Gradually add confectioners sugar until it reaches desired sweetness and smoothness. Add 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract and frost the cake. 
Serves 10-12 
Enjoy a traditional Southern treat. 

Banana Bread

from food network.com

 
Ingredients
• 1 cup granulated sugar 
• 8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature 
• 2 large eggs 
• 3 ripe bananas 
• 1 tablespoon milk 
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 
• 2 cups all-purpose flour 
• 1 teaspoon baking powder 
• 1 teaspoon baking soda 
• 1 teaspoon salt  
Directions
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Butter a 9 x 5 x 3 inch loaf pan. 
Cream the sugar and butter in a large mixing bowl until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. 
In a small bowl, mash the bananas with a fork. Mix in the milk and cinnamon. In another bowl, mix together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. 
Add the banana mixture to the creamed mixture and stir until combined. Add dry ingredients, mixing just until flour disappears. 
Pour batter into prepared pan and bake 1 hour to 1 hour 10 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Set aside to cool on a rack for 15 minutes. Remove bread from pan, invert onto rack and cool completely before slicing. 
Spread slices with honey or serve with ice cream. 

my new home for recipes

i love to cook; so this is my recipe holder lmao!

i have decided..

Men are asholes. simple as that. End of Post!! LMAO!

My Family!!!!

So, I'm at my mom's house for Thanksgiving. I am completely positive that I may not be their child. I don't know where I learned how to cook, but it can't be from them!!! I'm standing in the kitchen looking, I see bluebox macaroni, cans of yams, cans of greens, cans of green beans, cans of peas, etc. WTF??? what happened to sitting in the kitchen cutting up greens? soaking beans? making cakes? Why is everyone so lazy!

I just confirmed with my mom that the macaroni isn't for tomorrow. I am very grateful.

I'm thankful and all but I wanna cook!!!!

Introduction

I am Smoo. The name Smoo comes from I am 25 years old, born and raised in Columbia, SC. I married my highschool sweetheart, whom we will call Bear (lol). He's 24 years old and enlisted in the US Air Force as a Security Forces Alarm Systems Monitor. 3We have been stationed at RAF Mildenhall, England, Minot AFB, ND, and will be stationed at Charleston AFB, SC. We have two children: Monkey who was born the day after christmas and will be turning 4 and turkey who was born just last Monday November 17th. I am currently staying in West Columbia, SC until Bear comes back from Minot.

The main reason I'm blogging is because I think alot, and now with a new baby, i feel myself starting to head in a different direction in life. This is going to be my venting spot because I'm still not too good with expressing my true feelings.

Well, Happy Thanksgiving!

TTFN!!!

Hello All!!

Right now, i'm just creating my world so that everyone can see it through my eyes. i'll make an actually blog later on though!! TTFN!!!