tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-42064227218058585282024-03-21T18:33:51.531-07:00Everything's Coming Up DaffodilsA cheery place about pretty, tasty and savvy.Morekelkelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04459548900611314182noreply@blogger.comBlogger45125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206422721805858528.post-11710443540489695852012-02-18T10:18:00.000-08:002012-02-18T10:23:12.470-08:00Mini Sunglasses Necklace<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">It was like my inner nerd, librarian, and beach babe all needed to express themselves through jewelry, and this is the sparkly little bauble that they agreed on. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSJuXh6XuGHGAVpWrtU5WLLhlLterq0yFpXUN9bVBYA7G-_D0kOZAtTI4cGqnE4j7pFtv5Irx7vykdd_NaPO1N3OuCew9iHEVxe-x-_7wK0U1HLdEqeCnoa26gog2u51BQfv3zCIiHoJ8/s1600/sunglassesngold_close3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSJuXh6XuGHGAVpWrtU5WLLhlLterq0yFpXUN9bVBYA7G-_D0kOZAtTI4cGqnE4j7pFtv5Irx7vykdd_NaPO1N3OuCew9iHEVxe-x-_7wK0U1HLdEqeCnoa26gog2u51BQfv3zCIiHoJ8/s320/sunglassesngold_close3.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Light, mini sized, and made from either a 14K gold fill/gold vermeil combo or solid sterling silver. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhosTYczSUa-b1e6pwcc5Tx4LUm2pkYA0Le_TkcOtzgZ-RY1HrelNEzouQivrozTPiZou5eHV2OjdlquNTCjcJMxOdYk8nt43Qmw3NBowlFVhlVZ7sJvVQF7DQA7w2GqF8XjF1ERK4xRYk/s1600/sunglassesngold.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhosTYczSUa-b1e6pwcc5Tx4LUm2pkYA0Le_TkcOtzgZ-RY1HrelNEzouQivrozTPiZou5eHV2OjdlquNTCjcJMxOdYk8nt43Qmw3NBowlFVhlVZ7sJvVQF7DQA7w2GqF8XjF1ERK4xRYk/s320/sunglassesngold.JPG" width="255" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">And it's here in time to enjoy some summer sun. Find it with many other treasures at the <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/daffodilboutique">Daffodil Boutique</a>.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwF4GOwQbH1w6-bNlh3mwl-eyTzdmXdNu_KLZCcr16ez_358MtB9VIoEr1QENUav8JAspSBlxK-tY86CR5rnWpypFiLE58StqYf2kEmX5GOaOxR4fjzwINg8n1NuqdbFev6zF19UkXYJg/s1600/sunglassesnsilver_close.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwF4GOwQbH1w6-bNlh3mwl-eyTzdmXdNu_KLZCcr16ez_358MtB9VIoEr1QENUav8JAspSBlxK-tY86CR5rnWpypFiLE58StqYf2kEmX5GOaOxR4fjzwINg8n1NuqdbFev6zF19UkXYJg/s320/sunglassesnsilver_close.JPG" width="314" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><img alt="post signature" border="0" class="centered" id="signature" margin="0" padding="0" src="http://i41.tinypic.com/jb5v05.jpg" /></div></div>Morekelkelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04459548900611314182noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206422721805858528.post-29052228011626903692012-01-21T15:43:00.000-08:002012-01-21T15:54:20.632-08:00Easy Shoe Storage<a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=http%3A%2F%2Feverythingscomingupdaffodils.blogspot.com%2F2012%2F01%2Feasy-shoe-storage.html&media=http%3A%2F%2F4.bp.blogspot.com%2F-MMONMC6kTdk%2FTxtHZ5l_5FI%2FAAAAAAAABHI%2FJYIkLRN1vPc%2Fs400%2FShoestorage1.JPG&description=Easy%20kid%20shoe%20storage" class="pin-it-button" count-layout="horizontal">Pin It</a><br />
<script type="text/javascript" src="http://assets.pinterest.com/js/pinit.js"></script><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Next stop in the <a href="http://everythingscomingupdaffodils.blogspot.com/search/label/Organizational%20Bliss">Organizational Bliss series</a> is shoe storage. And it's definitely a hot topic based on the amount of activity about it on Pinterest. But few of those ideas are as easy and cheap as the solution we found at Ikea today. <br />
<br />
Like everyone else, we have a shoe avalanche to contend with. We also have a tot who loves her shoe variety and can be forgetful about putting them away. Of course we cut her some slack because she is only two, and, more importantly, there isn't any place designated for her shoes - until the Ikea "Kusiner" wall pockets came on the scene. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6V6e4C7icrnGH0hxJPux75AESI9sR0fUJgAPNAmh4KjM_fD2hFLzYX-jKU69_Pah-yFh3IoqK1JdXShTBQ9vfUjYmCzluKDrlwY2UArj_dui2m2Q35xyOcJCIdq1PcKKmwhbnQ7eqad8/s1600/Shoestorage1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6V6e4C7icrnGH0hxJPux75AESI9sR0fUJgAPNAmh4KjM_fD2hFLzYX-jKU69_Pah-yFh3IoqK1JdXShTBQ9vfUjYmCzluKDrlwY2UArj_dui2m2Q35xyOcJCIdq1PcKKmwhbnQ7eqad8/s400/Shoestorage1.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">A couple of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FCES6K/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=everyscomi-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B000FCES6K">Command Hooks</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=everyscomi-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B000FCES6K" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important;" width="1" />keep it secured to the wall.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7nlsKRN-7HI6p9ozXSeTRyh1AqGVQyVfhPX7ScjR9MRAdIGG5hhyw1ywKGHIXp9fMUC6v5YlEWO3UJPe9ojlChZPV2AaMK_t-k14mog1W4rsLVslnE42i7U8yUYfnHXcQuMWLtM96I80/s1600/Shoestorage2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="374" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7nlsKRN-7HI6p9ozXSeTRyh1AqGVQyVfhPX7ScjR9MRAdIGG5hhyw1ywKGHIXp9fMUC6v5YlEWO3UJPe9ojlChZPV2AaMK_t-k14mog1W4rsLVslnE42i7U8yUYfnHXcQuMWLtM96I80/s400/Shoestorage2.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The total for this sweet little set up?</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Ikea Kusiner Wall Pockets: $3.99</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">A package of Command Hooks: $5.63</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
$9.62 for shoe storage that's compact, off the floor, non-damaging to our walls, and easy to access for our tot? That's a little slice of organizational bliss for sure.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipG9nuQunvx1uih_PbcGzT853DSKDOkYWp4IVAqZ64dJFCiLU4sYvTt1Batqllr8hNklOA91aiZEnX21aW-UtmuR8XUqTzsFQkpCz-N0a-C6BEwDP1pLYAfWXWynsHXzG4i9czxXrJcRg/s1600/Shoestorage3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipG9nuQunvx1uih_PbcGzT853DSKDOkYWp4IVAqZ64dJFCiLU4sYvTt1Batqllr8hNklOA91aiZEnX21aW-UtmuR8XUqTzsFQkpCz-N0a-C6BEwDP1pLYAfWXWynsHXzG4i9czxXrJcRg/s320/Shoestorage3.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><img alt="post signature" border="0" class="centered" id="signature" margin="0" padding="0" src="http://i41.tinypic.com/jb5v05.jpg" /></div></div>Morekelkelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04459548900611314182noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206422721805858528.post-74630380174512380702012-01-08T12:29:00.000-08:002012-01-08T21:10:12.746-08:00Peanut Brittle Biscotti<a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=http%3A%2F%2Feverythingscomingupdaffodils.blogspot.com%2F2012%2F01%2Fpeanut-brittle-biscotti.html&media=http%3A%2F%2F1.bp.blogspot.com%2F-9vIRbbBko34%2FTwn5_bj5OSI%2FAAAAAAAABGg%2FvGPMVn09tSM%2Fs320%2Fbiscottipeanutbrittle_cutlogs.jpg&description=Peanut%20Brittle%20Biscotti" class="pin-it-button" count-layout="horizontal">Pin It</a><br />
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<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGWpH1E7Q9C14pi8QShD4oODDQFb2RalK_28Ct341AR-1A_D_dni4tc8Pc2JlIKvJ_A2CgVMxfWGXc8zr8OKwIDpek69I_KY-kZ446Y4DsrYHUbrC9fGtjyjGE8sQ2h7f55BVBkHLYNZs/s1600/biscottipeanutbrittle_cutlogs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGWpH1E7Q9C14pi8QShD4oODDQFb2RalK_28Ct341AR-1A_D_dni4tc8Pc2JlIKvJ_A2CgVMxfWGXc8zr8OKwIDpek69I_KY-kZ446Y4DsrYHUbrC9fGtjyjGE8sQ2h7f55BVBkHLYNZs/s320/biscottipeanutbrittle_cutlogs.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Peanut brittle is a candy from another generation. Considered "Olde Tyme"-y, it's found usually during the holidays because of its association with nostalgic Christmas candies and confections. But the carmelized nutty sweetness of peanut brittle deserves a second glance. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I've been making peanut brittle for years for someone very special to me, my Grandpa Missy. "Missy" was the name of their adored family cocker spaniel that predated me and the other grandchildren by at least 10 years. But the name still stuck and so did my Grandpa's life long fondness for peanut brittle. Peanut brittle for him as a kid must have been the equivalent of my Snickers and Starburst. Because of distance, I couldn't see my grandpa very often. But I'd try to shorten those miles by sending him packages of homemade peanut brittle as often as I could. One day, while on a biscotti-baking binge, I added a handful of crushed peanut brittle that was left over after the care package I'd packed for him couldn't fit any more. The jagged little nuggets folded into the biscotti batter and cooked up like the two treats were meant to be together along. My grandpa agreed. He loved the peanut brittle biscotti too. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaybNx97sL0PIKfT3tm9Zes3vfsS5e99FVBdSBD09nHsIV301pGTXYZBLipdkub9JvVhrbVIlW8Qq_AVTzJHx5uRg-zHNiYgEG2JZ1XlA8gbadg1xHN2aJn7Ky7knC7cIIr0IQpUR1j_g/s1600/biscottipeanutbrittle_grandpa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaybNx97sL0PIKfT3tm9Zes3vfsS5e99FVBdSBD09nHsIV301pGTXYZBLipdkub9JvVhrbVIlW8Qq_AVTzJHx5uRg-zHNiYgEG2JZ1XlA8gbadg1xHN2aJn7Ky7knC7cIIr0IQpUR1j_g/s320/biscottipeanutbrittle_grandpa.jpg" width="271" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Grandpa and Great-Granddaughter meet</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">This past November, the kindest grandpa a granddaughter could ask for passed away peacefully and quietly into the presence of Jesus and the company of my Grandma Missy and their eldest son. I miss my grandpa very much. But I know he is with his Savior. He is probably enjoying an arm-locked stroll with my grandma through heaven's greenery right now. They might even be nibbling on some peanut brittle too. Below is the recipe I created for him, and I hope you'll enjoy it too.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjORnOFsNdtIYX6xQLrOjn-Uy-p588as568t73-qe72bQ0SZfrunpjwL591CPBuy0FHPyydIH6nxR-mPNQyRt_t2gvZ2zDLl3Y6ynlphpZWEsmDwc_vt8vVGvkuWnGzR6ko2Z1cHaoIoMA/s1600/biscottipeanutbrittle_cutlogs2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjORnOFsNdtIYX6xQLrOjn-Uy-p588as568t73-qe72bQ0SZfrunpjwL591CPBuy0FHPyydIH6nxR-mPNQyRt_t2gvZ2zDLl3Y6ynlphpZWEsmDwc_vt8vVGvkuWnGzR6ko2Z1cHaoIoMA/s320/biscottipeanutbrittle_cutlogs2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Peanut Brittle Biscotti</b></span><br />
<i>makes approx 28 long biscotti</i><br />
<br />
<b>Ingredients:</b><br />
2 cups flour<br />
1 teaspoon baking powder<br />
1/4 teaspoon salt<br />
1 cup granulated sugar<br />
6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) unsalted butter<br />
1 egg<br />
1 egg yolk<br />
1 teaspoon vanilla</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">3/4 cup crushed <a href="http://allrecipes.com/recipe/moms-best-peanut-brittle/">peanut brittle </a></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b>Directions:</b><br />
Preheat oven to 325 Fahrenheit. Line a baking sheet with a silpat mat or a piece of parchment paper to prevent sticking.<br />
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In a medium bowl, whisk flour, baking powder and salt. <br />
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In a mixer, cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Scrape down and beat in the egg and egg yolk. Beat in the vanilla extract.<br />
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Add the dry ingredients to the creamed butter. Mix until all ingredients come together into a moderately stiff dough. Divide the dough in two mounds on the baking sheet. Shape each half of dough into a 9-inch by 3-inch rectangle. The dough will spread considerably so give yourself ample room between the logs. If you prefer, you can brush an egg wash (one egg beaten with 1 tablespoon water) over the biscotti logs. But I haven't done that here. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Bake for 20 minutes. Rotate the cookie sheet for even baking and bake for 20-25 more minutes until golden and firm to the touch.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Remove from the oven and let the biscotti cool until able to handle. Using a serrated knife, cut logs into 1 inch wide diagonal slices. Try to cut each biscotti in one smooth motion. This will give your biscotti nice clean edgeswithout snagging the sides.<br />
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Place biscotti cut side down on baking sheet. Because of the now melted peanut brittle inside, handle with care and prop them up on their sides up gently. Bake again until pale golden, about 10- 20 minutes. Check every 5 minutes to ensure that they're not too browned. If desired, flip biscotti half way through.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div dir="ltr" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><img alt="post signature" border="0" class="centered" id="signature" margin="0" padding="0" src="http://i41.tinypic.com/jb5v05.jpg" /></div></div>Morekelkelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04459548900611314182noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206422721805858528.post-66033303315743702572011-12-28T16:29:00.000-08:002012-01-15T16:27:10.866-08:00DIY Cleaning Solutions<a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=http%3A%2F%2Feverythingscomingupdaffodils.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F12%2Fdiy-cleaning-solutions.html&media=http%3A%2F%2Fcn1.kaboodle.com%2Fhi%2Fimg%2F2%2F0%2F0%2F13b%2F8%2FAAAAAgrMJ5QAAAAAATuGhw.jpg%3Fv%3D1219775644000&description=Homemade%20Cleaning%20Solutions" class="pin-it-button" count-layout="horizontal">Pin It</a><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://cn1.kaboodle.com/hi/img/2/0/0/13b/8/AAAAAgrMJ5QAAAAAATuGhw.jpg?v=1219775644000" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://cn1.kaboodle.com/hi/img/2/0/0/13b/8/AAAAAgrMJ5QAAAAAATuGhw.jpg?v=1219775644000" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Christmas is over. But this will not be a glum post about missing the holidays. Instead I'm excited for the new year. Packing away the decor leaves fresh, open spaces and loads of possibilities. My guests have gone home and I'm imaging ways to hostess next year so that opening up our home will be more fun, seamless, and welcoming. I do love Christmas, but it is time to move on and embrace what's ahead. <br />
<br />
So this brings me to the <a href="http://everythingscomingupdaffodils.blogspot.com/2011/11/organizational-bliss-series-kickoff.html">Organizational Bliss</a> project. As I took down that decor, I got an eyeful of some spaces that need a good cleaning. I could blow the equivalent of dinner and a movie on cleaning products, but there are simple homemade alternatives. I recently checked out Tsh Oxenreider's book, <i>Organized Simplicity, The Clutter-Free Approach to Intentional Living</i> from my local library. The most valuable part of it for me was the bevy of cheap, natural cleaning solution recipes for just about every stain or mess in the house. And I'm going to share them with you.<br />
<br />
<i>In a few places I've noted that <b>washing soda is not the same thing as baking soda</b>. Washing soda, sometimes called soda ash or soda crystals, is a cleaning agent that works well on oil and alcohol based stains. It is not interchangeable with baking soda. Substituting baking soda will reduce the effectiveness of the solution. Washing soda can be purchased at your local market and at Soap.com. If you buy on Soap, remember to shop through <a href="http://www.bigcrumbs.com/crumbs/profile.do?r=EverythingDaffodils&m=EverythingDaffodils">BigCrumbs</a> to get cash back. Read <a href="http://everythingscomingupdaffodils.blogspot.com/2011/10/dont-forget-big-crumbs.html">here</a> for more details about how </i><i><a href="http://www.bigcrumbs.com/crumbs/profile.do?r=EverythingDaffodils&m=EverythingDaffodils">BigCrumbs</a> </i><i>works.</i><br />
<br />
And now the recipes.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i716.photobucket.com/albums/ww162/jburnich/Carpet%20Cleaning%20Websites/CarpetCleaningTips.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://i716.photobucket.com/albums/ww162/jburnich/Carpet%20Cleaning%20Websites/CarpetCleaningTips.png" width="156" /></a></div><b>Carpet Cleaner, Heavy Duty</b><br />
1 part salt<br />
1 part white vinegar<br />
1 part borax<br />
<br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Mix the ingredients into a paste and rub on the affected area. Let it sit for a few hours. Then scrub away with a brush or damp cloth. Make only as much as you need because it doesn't store well.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://kingdomfirstmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/IMG_2272-1024x768.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://kingdomfirstmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/IMG_2272-1024x768.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><b>Dishwasher Soap</b> <br />
1 part borax<br />
1 part washing soda (*not baking soda)</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
Mix the ingredients and substitute in equal measures as you would for your regular dishwasher soap. If your water is particularly hard, increase the amount of washing soda.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKEfpEcrwxuViiKQCYZnkKiUhp7IaTR1RBAhsNEqnmskE4d_VdOorN36nZlkc9aBpgoxmJMZhTqtysP27xUf2ISQaTOY5Yx74A-mKNPbkdB2-WuuJ97QyM0pR5n4soT6AOdE3MSrmMCcY/s200/435110-53217-32.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKEfpEcrwxuViiKQCYZnkKiUhp7IaTR1RBAhsNEqnmskE4d_VdOorN36nZlkc9aBpgoxmJMZhTqtysP27xUf2ISQaTOY5Yx74A-mKNPbkdB2-WuuJ97QyM0pR5n4soT6AOdE3MSrmMCcY/s200/435110-53217-32.jpg" /></a></div><b>Furniture Polish </b>(for <i>unvarnished </i>furniture only)<br />
1/4 cup olive oil</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">4 Tbsp white vinegar</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">2 Tbsp lemon juice</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Combine all ingredients in a spray bottle and shake well before each use. Store any extra in the fridge because lemon juice can spoil. </div><div dir="ltr" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.orderwindowsonline.com/pub/images/CleanReplacementWindows.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="171" src="http://www.orderwindowsonline.com/pub/images/CleanReplacementWindows.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><b>Glass Cleaner</b><br />
<b> </b>2 tsp white vinegar<br />
1/4 gallon water<br />
<br />
Combine in a spray bottle. Works best when used with crumpled newspaper to wipe down the surface. <br />
<br />
<b></b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.motherearthnews.com/uploadedImages/articles/issues/2009-06-01/MEN-JJ09-clothesline1_resized400X266.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="140" src="http://www.motherearthnews.com/uploadedImages/articles/issues/2009-06-01/MEN-JJ09-clothesline1_resized400X266.jpg" width="200" /></a><b>Laundry Soap</b></div>1 cup unscented, dye-free soap (such as Ivory), grated or ground with a food processor<br />
1/2 cup washing soda (*not baking soda)<br />
1/2 cup borax<br />
A few drops of essential oil for scent, optional<br />
<br />
Combine and store in a labeled container. Use 1 tablespoon for lighter loads; 2 tablespoons for heavy loads.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.rodale.com/files/images/mold-cleaners-window.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="175" src="http://www.rodale.com/files/images/mold-cleaners-window.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><b>Mold Remover</b><br />
1 part hydrogen peroxide (found at drugstore)<br />
1 part water</div><div dir="ltr" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: left;" trbidi="on">A few drops of essential oil, optional<br />
<br />
Mix the ingredients in a spray bottle. Let the cleaner sit on the stain for about an hour before scrubbing off.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://thevividedge.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/green-home-made-oven-cleaning-products.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://thevividedge.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/green-home-made-oven-cleaning-products.jpg" width="156" /></a></div><b>Oven Cleaner </b><br />
3/4 cup baking soda<br />
1/4 cup salt<br />
1/4 cup water<br />
<ul style="text-align: left;"></ul>Mix the ingredients into a paste and apply over a dampened area. Let sit overnight. Then scrape off and rinse clean.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.your-lifestyleonline.com/images/toilet1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="134" src="http://www.your-lifestyleonline.com/images/toilet1.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><b>Toilet Bowl Cleaner </b><br />
1/4 cup baking soda<br />
1 cup white vinegar<br />
<ul style="text-align: left;"></ul>Combine all ingredients and pour into the toilet. Let it sit for a few minutes, and then scrub with a toilet brush and rinse.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://images.doityourself.com/sequoia-images/450x300/85/bathroom-cleaning-tips-85.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://images.doityourself.com/sequoia-images/450x300/85/bathroom-cleaning-tips-85.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><b>Calcium, Lime and Rust Remover</b><br />
1/4 cup white vinegar<br />
1 Tbsp borax<br />
1 Tbsp liquid dish soap<br />
2 cups water<br />
<br />
Combine in a spray bottle and spray on affected areas and then scrub. For tough spots, apply baking soda the area to add extra scrubbing power. (Recipe courtesy of this <a href="http://makingdowiththenotsonew.blogspot.com/2009/03/homemade-heavy-duty-cleaner.html">page)</a>. </div><div dir="ltr" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
Tsh also runs a smart little blog, <a href="http://thesimplemom.com/">The Simple Mom</a>, with lots of inspiring ways to down-size, declutter, and live life more thoughtfully. I recommend a browse when you need a break from cleaning or maybe a post-Christmas pick-me-up.<br />
<br />
Happy cleaning and happy new year!<br />
<br />
<img alt="post signature" border="0" class="centered" id="signature" margin="0" padding="0" src="http://i41.tinypic.com/jb5v05.jpg" /></div></div><br />
Image sources <a href="http://cn1.kaboodle.com/hi/img/2/0/0/13b/8/AAAAAgrMJ5QAAAAAATuGhw.jpg?v=1219775644000">|</a><a href="http://i716.photobucket.com/albums/ww162/jburnich/Carpet%20Cleaning%20Websites/CarpetCleaningTips.png">|</a><a href="http://kingdomfirstmom.com/2011/01/homemade-dishwasher-detergent.html">|</a><a href="http://ourjourneytoasimplerlife.blogspot.com/2010/10/crafty-friday-1022-homemade-furniture.html">|</a><a href="http://www.orderwindowsonline.com/blog/Simple-Steps-to-Cleaning-Windows-like-a-Professional.htm">|</a><a href="http://www.motherearthnews.com/Do-It-Yourself/Convenient-Sturdy-Outdoor-Clothesline.aspx">|</a><a href="http://www.rodale.com/">|</a><a href="http://thevividedge.com/">|</a><a href="http://www.your-lifestyleonline.com/images/toilet1.jpg">|</a><a href="http://www.doityourself.com/stry/bathrooms">|</a></div>Morekelkelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04459548900611314182noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206422721805858528.post-73262106626229607602011-12-01T16:26:00.000-08:002011-12-01T21:30:08.774-08:00Swagbucks Explained<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsBgn3QJiwMbtJI3l44lZIt_bvNZ4_WvdpF1Mj1KELy6xS_55gEESKfD4xvr1AmuY43omMiekawyEEJDe299tkuV96t_b32DQEl6HpLvLwFqFe601p6LNlXu_p_ttjzgilztSFrFxSQ5M/s1600/Amazon+%25245+gc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsBgn3QJiwMbtJI3l44lZIt_bvNZ4_WvdpF1Mj1KELy6xS_55gEESKfD4xvr1AmuY43omMiekawyEEJDe299tkuV96t_b32DQEl6HpLvLwFqFe601p6LNlXu_p_ttjzgilztSFrFxSQ5M/s1600/Amazon+%25245+gc.jpg" /> </a></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I don't do full retail price very well. As a deal seeker, a coupon code scavenger, and a shipping fee dodger, paying sticker price almost physically hurts. <a href="http://www.swagbucks.com/refer/ECUDaffodils">Swagbucks</a> is one of the ways I avoid full retail price pain. If you're not "swagging", here's a tutorial on how simply browsing the internet can send cash your way.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">What is <a href="http://www.swagbucks.com/refer/ECUDaffodils">Swagbucks</a>?</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.swagbucks.com/refer/ECUDaffodils">Swagbucks</a> is a search engine just like Google, Yahoo!, or Bing. But when you enter a term to search, "cute baby animals" for instance, you'll earn points, or "Swag bucks", toward gift cards and other items. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJiWFt0KgFD70P9AdRuNi1VZKk1jDKot2Ovp70cMXrn04kYLcq8GUrtYtVyy2x6oJYqtI4K3C8Imsn4klGwdDAHsh9POjBiHougcS5MVES5oKfJjRg6NU8T84yVG9DkqHREf_LciyKemA/s1600/Sb+win+screenshot_search+term.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="103" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJiWFt0KgFD70P9AdRuNi1VZKk1jDKot2Ovp70cMXrn04kYLcq8GUrtYtVyy2x6oJYqtI4K3C8Imsn4klGwdDAHsh9POjBiHougcS5MVES5oKfJjRg6NU8T84yVG9DkqHREf_LciyKemA/s400/Sb+win+screenshot_search+term.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCzwb29J4oHy19LJO_YPEXfZmITSTNZgJV0J1K20eX6FuUh9u6GeCUVcibYwuL9JajRjo6mkKGYRbblnGpCwXhZeg7fRiZ4PRGnZcinh9ekW8hzIGenVFCIcTahuxOnE_LbpLUuf8AgGk/s1600/Sb+win+screenshot_9+swagbucks.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Here's what happened when I hit enter after typing in "cute baby animals". </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCzwb29J4oHy19LJO_YPEXfZmITSTNZgJV0J1K20eX6FuUh9u6GeCUVcibYwuL9JajRjo6mkKGYRbblnGpCwXhZeg7fRiZ4PRGnZcinh9ekW8hzIGenVFCIcTahuxOnE_LbpLUuf8AgGk/s1600/Sb+win+screenshot_9+swagbucks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCzwb29J4oHy19LJO_YPEXfZmITSTNZgJV0J1K20eX6FuUh9u6GeCUVcibYwuL9JajRjo6mkKGYRbblnGpCwXhZeg7fRiZ4PRGnZcinh9ekW8hzIGenVFCIcTahuxOnE_LbpLUuf8AgGk/s400/Sb+win+screenshot_9+swagbucks.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Score 9 Swag bucks for me! These Swag bucks are automatically totaled at <a href="http://www.swagbucks.com/refer/ECUDaffodils">Swagbucks.com</a> and can be redeemed for some very useful things such as gift certificates or other prizes, such as electronics, jewelry, toys, housewares and more. If you're thinking, "Eh, the gift cards are probably to places I never shop at", may I offer the following as a mere snippet of the sites where Swagbucks offers gift cards:</div><ul style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: left;"><li>Amazon</li>
<li>PayPal</li>
<li>Barnes & Noble</li>
<li>Travelocity</li>
<li>Starbucks</li>
<li>Sears</li>
<li>Lowes</li>
<li>KMart </li>
<li>Dominoes Pizza</li>
<li>Fandango</li>
<li>CVS</li>
<li>GAP</li>
<li>JCPenney</li>
</ul><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: left;">and many, many more.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b>So What's the Catch?</b></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">There aren't any true catches with <a href="http://www.swagbucks.com/refer/ECUDaffodils">Swagbucks</a>. But there are some things to consider to make your swagging experience as rewarding as possible. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><u>Sort of Catch #1</u>: Not every search earns Swag bucks. It's about every 8th or 9th search. The points range from 5 to 50 points each time. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><u>Sort of Catch #2</u>: The first few links to load will be from sponsored ad sites. The rest of the un-sponsored web results are right below those. Like this:</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYlEc9vTUzMEqZ9NaqNblWwYHYqjgZ5vpdDrH2EK-C7aF7QdV7z0kjh4xhK6Z0d5s88bgDCmXkPFJId2dqL4RilVzri_g_PQnJg37ytiIR5RL6zScBvLsYqUGQB3bPEhOP5ZMzwS9jBVo/s1600/Sb+win+screenshot_ad+v+web+results.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYlEc9vTUzMEqZ9NaqNblWwYHYqjgZ5vpdDrH2EK-C7aF7QdV7z0kjh4xhK6Z0d5s88bgDCmXkPFJId2dqL4RilVzri_g_PQnJg37ytiIR5RL6zScBvLsYqUGQB3bPEhOP5ZMzwS9jBVo/s400/Sb+win+screenshot_ad+v+web+results.jpg" width="375" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I'll be blunt; Swagbucks is no Google. If I need to do in-depth searching on a topic, I google it. But if I just want to find something easy like the name of a website, maybe a recipe site, an online store, or email, then I use Swagbucks. And don't tell the Swagbucks folks, but I mentally skip over the ads and go right to the web results, unless what I need turns up in the ads section. Sometimes it does.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b>How do I start?</b></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Just <a href="http://www.swagbucks.com/refer/ECUDaffodils">register</a> at Swagbucks. It takes, like, 2 seconds. Maybe 3. And international deal hunters, Swagbucks is for you too. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b>How Do I Earn Swag bucks as Fast as Possible?</b></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">There are 6 main ways round up the points quick. Number 2 is my favorite. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">1) Install and use the search toolbar. When I need to search for something fast, I don't have to navigate way from the tab I'm browsing on. I pull down the drop down menu and choose the Swagbucks search engine. Here's a snapshot of what mine looks like, </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHczzgmclAnPIxqydA-wbI2IRmGjpr5Kc8YIS87zmy6ruZzn6cDGIcYCycstU3fOpt5ANDOKTcuCWcCyGgr-BDrM-OtezoK2N1Wq0V5nIzGkG_i5W5qmy-Bo6EklbeqdDzjpUdrJTzjdc/s1600/sb+tool+bar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="111" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHczzgmclAnPIxqydA-wbI2IRmGjpr5Kc8YIS87zmy6ruZzn6cDGIcYCycstU3fOpt5ANDOKTcuCWcCyGgr-BDrM-OtezoK2N1Wq0V5nIzGkG_i5W5qmy-Bo6EklbeqdDzjpUdrJTzjdc/s400/sb+tool+bar.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The toolbar can be downloaded from the Swagbucks <a href="http://www.swagbucks.com/refer/ECUDaffodils">site</a>. Look for the "Toolbar" menu item on the main page after you register. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">2) Find "Swag codes" easily on sites like <a href="http://sbcodez.com/">sbcodez.com</a>. These Swag codes are just a combo of letters and/or numbers and can be entered on the main page at Swagbucks for instant points. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">3) Follow Swagbucks on Twitter and Facebook to see the swag codes that they randomly give out. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">4) Rack up on points fast by participating in surveys and watching sponsored videos on their site. Swag bucks can also be earned by making purchases though their site, participating in polls, or playing games there too.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">5) Search with Swagbucks on Fridays. Fridays are "Mega-Swagbucks" days, and the points are even greater on these days.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">6) Download the Swagbucks Search App on your Android phone. Any searches you do on it can also earn points. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">If you found this info helpful or have other strategies for successful swagging, please share by submitting a comment. I love to read your messages.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://i41.tinypic.com/jb5v05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="post signature" border="0" class="centered" id="signature" margin="0" padding="0" src="http://i41.tinypic.com/jb5v05.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
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</div></div>Morekelkelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04459548900611314182noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206422721805858528.post-52121799784103678002011-11-13T20:47:00.000-08:002011-11-13T21:40:22.800-08:00Organizational Bliss: A DIY File Folder<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i666.photobucket.com/albums/vv26/little_lambie/IMG_3111.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://i666.photobucket.com/albums/vv26/little_lambie/IMG_3111.jpg" width="228" /></a></div><br />
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<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">When I started Operation Organizational Bliss, tackling the counter tops was a top priority. I don't need to tell anyone how easy it is for these spots to attract clutter. You already know. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I have one counter top that is a particular mess magnet. It's where our tot's art project supplies accumulate. See for yourself. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i666.photobucket.com/albums/vv26/little_lambie/IMG_3113.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" src="http://i666.photobucket.com/albums/vv26/little_lambie/IMG_3113.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>I could try to train myself to put those things elsewhere, but that would be like trying to force a square peg through a round hole. The craft stuff gets deposited there because it's easy to reach, and the items stay in view so they aren't forgotten. It's a natural place for them. And I'd rather not retrain myself if I don't have to. I don't want to serve our organized spaces. <i>I want our organized spaces to serve me.</i> That's when the bliss happens.<br />
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So the craft supplies need to be in that location, in view, nicely displayed, and done on a dime. It's a tall order. One that will need multiple solutions. This week, I got in gear on the first solution by DIYing a file folder to house the coloring books, loose leaf sheets of paper, sticker sheets, and a few of mom's cooking magazines too. Sure, I could've bought a file folder. But my local HomeGoods store wanted to sell me a cheapy cardboard version with a dizzying paisley print for $14.99. Nuh uh. So I made my own and customized it exactly how I wanted for a fraction of the cost. Here's the play-by-play.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">DIY File Folder Tutorial</span><br />
<br />
You'll need:<br />
<ul style="text-align: left;"><li> cardboard box</li>
<li>duct tape</li>
<li>fabric to cover</li>
<li>Elmer's glue</li>
<li>colored paper or contact paper</li>
<li>white spray paint (optional) </li>
<li>stiff card stock (optional) </li>
</ul><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i666.photobucket.com/albums/vv26/little_lambie/IMG_2954.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://i666.photobucket.com/albums/vv26/little_lambie/IMG_2954.jpg" width="294" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Step 1</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Step 1 </b>- Start with a sturdy cardboard box. The thicker your cardboard, the nicer your final product will be. Cut out the pieces to form the sides and bottom of your file folder. I'm not getting super detailed on this because the pictures tell most of the story. For a rough idea on dimensions, this file folder is approximately 12" h x 9" l x 4" w. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i666.photobucket.com/albums/vv26/little_lambie/IMG_2956.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://i666.photobucket.com/albums/vv26/little_lambie/IMG_2956.jpg" width="268" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Step 2</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<b>Step 2</b> - Tape the sides and bottom of your file folder together using a thick tape. Duct tape is an obvious choice. You can use camo colored duct tape if you want it to look extra tough like mine. Hooah! Another reason to use duct tape? It will help seal the bottom from any spills that happen on the counter top.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i666.photobucket.com/albums/vv26/little_lambie/IMG_3004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://i666.photobucket.com/albums/vv26/little_lambie/IMG_3004.jpg" width="233" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Step 3</td></tr>
</tbody></table><b>Step 3 (optional)</b> - I knew my fabric was thin and that striking green duct tape would show through. So I spray painted my file folder white. Skip this if your fabric provides enough coverage.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i666.photobucket.com/albums/vv26/little_lambie/IMG_3008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://i666.photobucket.com/albums/vv26/little_lambie/IMG_3008.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Step 4</td></tr>
</tbody></table><b>Step 4</b> - Cut your fabric into a rectangle large enough to wrap around the whole file folder. Allow for at least 2" of extra fabric on the top, bottom and sides so that you can tuck and glue it with ease. Glue your fabric to the cardboard. The seam should start and end in the back. And remember to check that the pattern is oriented in the right direction on your file folder. <br />
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At this point your file folder looks like this. (Note that I didn't cut the fabric to along the slanted edges yet. It's easier to trim those pieces after gluing to the sides). <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i666.photobucket.com/albums/vv26/little_lambie/IMG_3056.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://i666.photobucket.com/albums/vv26/little_lambie/IMG_3056.jpg" width="238" /></a></div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i666.photobucket.com/albums/vv26/little_lambie/IMG_3058.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://i666.photobucket.com/albums/vv26/little_lambie/IMG_3058.jpg" width="246" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Step 5</td></tr>
</tbody></table><b>Step 5</b> - Trim the excess fabric, fold neatly inside the corners (pleats work well), and glue.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i666.photobucket.com/albums/vv26/little_lambie/IMG_3081.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://i666.photobucket.com/albums/vv26/little_lambie/IMG_3081.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Step </td></tr>
</tbody></table><b>Step 6 </b>- Take some coordinating colored paper and cut it to fit inside the file folder. I used blue wrapping paper because I liked its glossy finish. But it was also very flimsy. So I taped it around a thicker piece of card stock. And by card stock, I mean a couple junk mail fliers taped together and trimmed to size.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i666.photobucket.com/albums/vv26/little_lambie/IMG_3082.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://i666.photobucket.com/albums/vv26/little_lambie/IMG_3082.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Step 7</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<b>Step 7 </b>- Last step! Glue the colored paper (exposed side of the flier faces the glue) into the file folder. I turned my file folder on its side and laid a heavy book inside it to help the colored paper bond nice and flat to each side of the file folder. You could also use contact paper instead and skip the gluing. <br />
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And the finished product with the world's cutest product model too. Those Barker Beauties ain't got nothin' on this.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i666.photobucket.com/albums/vv26/little_lambie/IMG_3107.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://i666.photobucket.com/albums/vv26/little_lambie/IMG_3107.jpg" width="262" /></a></div><br />
We had a "before" so we need an "after". One more time.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i666.photobucket.com/albums/vv26/little_lambie/IMG_3113-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://i666.photobucket.com/albums/vv26/little_lambie/IMG_3113-1.jpg" width="272" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i666.photobucket.com/albums/vv26/little_lambie/IMG_3116.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://i666.photobucket.com/albums/vv26/little_lambie/IMG_3116.jpg" width="246" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I can see more counter space already. On our way to Organizational Bliss!</div><br />
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><img alt="post signature" border="0" class="centered" id="signature" margin="0" padding="0" src="http://i41.tinypic.com/jb5v05.jpg" /></div><br />
</div></div>Morekelkelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04459548900611314182noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206422721805858528.post-27593168530713337702011-11-09T16:23:00.000-08:002011-11-12T22:05:13.541-08:00New Design Sneak Peek<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlISkFpJpqOOsZAalpg6UZXPDX6kkf6g_ooUVWm6T7LH40HbKCzziJs5DlN6cqKtp0TZKj_IqnxPV_wawJimZp3p1PvfwJ5ZlRvv0SOpiiBRAPJxIsfUU3M3NbFLYehsZiOcQh9sKESpo/s1600/sunglassesn_sneakpeak.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlISkFpJpqOOsZAalpg6UZXPDX6kkf6g_ooUVWm6T7LH40HbKCzziJs5DlN6cqKtp0TZKj_IqnxPV_wawJimZp3p1PvfwJ5ZlRvv0SOpiiBRAPJxIsfUU3M3NbFLYehsZiOcQh9sKESpo/s320/sunglassesn_sneakpeak.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">As a treat for the <i>Everything's Coming Up Daffodils</i> followers, here's a first look at a new necklace design coming soon to my <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/daffodilboutique">Etsy shop</a>. Naturally, it's simple, available in gold or solid sterling silver (shown), and a little bit quirky. And in line with all of my other Daffodil Boutique pieces, it will also be very reasonably priced.</div></div><p><image id="signature" class="centered" alt="post signature" border="0" margin="0" padding="0" src="http://i43.tinypic.com/nd5uva.jpg"></image></p>Morekelkelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04459548900611314182noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206422721805858528.post-73308085061357008072011-11-04T05:00:00.000-07:002011-11-12T21:50:07.264-08:00Organizational Bliss Series: A Kitchen Cabinet Overhaul<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXJfifskCuOqF_4hXDEg64ohVn1uom_2DLbMFWP28FaxDdH0S40U3v-Qpi-O1FPrK637Q_k_oSdqXrdRu6aYPnfd56QOdvlqjFDxktNb0v_jDs7kh5qc0tlln4ihlmBbsOIfO0kkNgyzg/s1600/IMG_3071.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXJfifskCuOqF_4hXDEg64ohVn1uom_2DLbMFWP28FaxDdH0S40U3v-Qpi-O1FPrK637Q_k_oSdqXrdRu6aYPnfd56QOdvlqjFDxktNb0v_jDs7kh5qc0tlln4ihlmBbsOIfO0kkNgyzg/s200/IMG_3071.JPG" width="150" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Welcome to the first real post in the Organizational Bliss series. As I begin here, please understand that I'm inviting you into the middle of this madness. I started this project months ago and didn't have the forethought then to take those gnarly "before" shots that look so nice juxtaposed with the "afters". But there's still some eye candy and a helpful tip or two to be had here. Above is one side of a re-organized kitchen cabinet. I'll zoom in on it below and point out some of my prouder moments while I whipped this baby into shape.<br />
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Wait. Wait. You still want the before shot, don't you? I honestly considered undoing all my hard work and putting the cabinets back to their original state of disorder. And then my eye began to twitch at the thought. I couldn't do it. Let's compromise. I'll cartoon one.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i41.tinypic.com/25rfhue.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://i41.tinypic.com/25rfhue.jpg" width="240" /></a></div></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
That captures the general idea I think. Okay, now on with the show.<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">First stop, top level. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i51.tinypic.com/2h31wgp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="115" src="http://i51.tinypic.com/2h31wgp.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Doesn't look like much, does it? That's because you don't see what used to be there. Three very useful stacked serving plates once took up residence on the top of this shelf. I use those plates routinely and getting to them required not only moving out of the way babies scooting around on the floor, but also dragging a chair over as makeshift step ladder to get up to them. <b>Lesson #1 about kitchen organization: The most used items get first dibs on the most accessible places and vice versa.</b> Now my mom's hand-me-down Wilton cake decorating manuals (well loved, but less used) have traded spaces with the plates. The plates are in an easy to access location in another cabinet while the cake manuals do just fine up there. Look at them. They like the view. I think they're even smiling.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Next stop, Level 3. This is a good one.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i52.tinypic.com/nm15s2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="158" src="http://i52.tinypic.com/nm15s2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">It's the dessert decor shelf. I can't overemphasize what a wreck this was before. Bags upon bags of marshmallows hidden underneath birthday cake candles, cupcake liners, food dye and sprinkles. Everything tumbling about. This shelf failed in every way before three neat little bins came to its rescue. Their 11 inch depth is perfect for this shelf, the sloped openings give me easy access, and the clear sides make it a breeze to see what's what. <b>Another perk about bins is that they make cleaning the shelf below a cinch. Just slide them out and wipe down the surface. And they contain any spills or leaks from the items stashed inside.</b> A simple ZipLoc bag now corals Marshmallow Mountain. What was I thinking when I bought all those marshmallows? Oh yeah. I was thinking, "I know I have marshmallows somewhere, but I can't find them in this mess so I'll have to buy more." (Want to know where I scored those bins? Read on for a link and a coupon code). </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Next stop down, it's boxes and bottles on Level 2.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i52.tinypic.com/2cn8ns3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="158" src="http://i52.tinypic.com/2cn8ns3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Sorry for the glare off that box of cornmeal. And yes, we have a mild addiction to Magic Shell and chocolate chips. But judge our eating habits later! Just admire the fourth bin that's nicely housing the dessert chips and shredded coconut. Now that they're not spilling about, the boxes and bottles can be stacked side by side and reached without having hold back the other stuff. And that blue bag? That's Powdered Sugar. He's just gonna hang out there for now. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Grand finale on the bottom floor.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i56.tinypic.com/2yzmq01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="172" src="http://i56.tinypic.com/2yzmq01.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b>Another kitchen organization tip: Group items together that will be used together. </b> For instance, our baking spices, mixer, and measuring cups and spoons are all located in close range to each other in the baking "nook", which is just a cute way of referring to the spot I set aside for them in the cabinets above and below the mixer. During this overhaul, the baking spices got upgraded to stadium seating. But shhh, don't tell them that they're really sitting in the cheap seats because that tiered Mainstays spice rack was less than $5 at my local Walmart. And it's worth every penny. Its three tiers prop up each bottle enough for me to see them, but not so high that I can't fit items on the highest tier. Now the salt, shortening, and cornstarch can relax in peace on the right. Baking soda is front and center. And it can be that way because the spice rack allows you to customize the depths of each tier, giving you exactly as much space as you want on each tier and the space before it. Should I ever want to take the spice rack out and store it, all tiers collapse down into a nice, compact rectangle. Beautiful! </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I believe I promised a link and a coupon code to those bins. Here they are:</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The bins are made by Akro-Mils and can be found at <a href="http://www.zorotools.com/g/00052450/k-G1156531?utm_source=google%20shopping&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=Google%2BShopping%2BFeed">ZoroTools</a>. These bins are quality stuff and well worth the original $14 a piece price tag, but I'm doing this Organizational Bliss project on a budget so that didn't cut it. But this coupon code halves the price to a few cents over $7 a piece. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Enter <b>ZT35H </b>at checkout and you'll get $35 off an order of $60 or more. You need to order five bins to pass the $60 threshold for this discount, which I was happy to do as there is much more organizing in my future. And the site offers free shipping on orders of $50 or more (pre-coupon code) so shipping is free. It's a great deal. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">If you can't buy that Mainstays spice rack, Amazon has four alternatives that I also considered.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=everyscomi-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=B0036OQU56&ref=tf_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=everyscomi-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=B000KG05VI&ref=tf_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=everyscomi-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=B003ZX1C9C&ref=tf_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=everyscomi-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=B001KOTJTS&ref=tf_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe></div><br />
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">One more look at this new space. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXJfifskCuOqF_4hXDEg64ohVn1uom_2DLbMFWP28FaxDdH0S40U3v-Qpi-O1FPrK637Q_k_oSdqXrdRu6aYPnfd56QOdvlqjFDxktNb0v_jDs7kh5qc0tlln4ihlmBbsOIfO0kkNgyzg/s1600/IMG_3071.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXJfifskCuOqF_4hXDEg64ohVn1uom_2DLbMFWP28FaxDdH0S40U3v-Qpi-O1FPrK637Q_k_oSdqXrdRu6aYPnfd56QOdvlqjFDxktNb0v_jDs7kh5qc0tlln4ihlmBbsOIfO0kkNgyzg/s640/IMG_3071.JPG" width="480" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: left;">Organizational bliss? Almost. One day I'll add some light colored paper on the back wall to make the cabinet seem less dark and cave-like. It's not quite done. But it's 100% better.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://i43.tinypic.com/nd5uva.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i43.tinypic.com/nd5uva.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></div></div>Morekelkelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04459548900611314182noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206422721805858528.post-46976929200562330092011-11-02T21:55:00.000-07:002011-11-05T14:43:40.739-07:00Organizational Bliss Series Kickoff<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i-cdn.apartmenttherapy.com/uimages/kitchen/2010_10_14-cure-messy-pantry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://i-cdn.apartmenttherapy.com/uimages/kitchen/2010_10_14-cure-messy-pantry.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Your days are numbered, messy pantry.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">A few months back, I opened the cabinet door underneath our bathroom sink and grimaced. It was a not-so-stacked mess of hair products tumbling over one another, styling tools with cords twisting around each other like a pile of snakes, and q-tips and cotton balls spilling out of their packages, and more. So much more. Right then, I set my jaw and decided enough was enough. I didn't know it then, but I was diving head first into what has now become a bit of an obsession. I became determined to find <i><b>Organizational Bliss</b></i>. It's a term that aptly defines the euphoric feeling I get when a cluttered, dysfunctional space is turned into a lean, mean, functioning zone. And I want you to enjoy it too. I want to invite you to my house and not feel ashamed for what lurks behind my kitchen cabinet doors. More basic than that, I want you to come to my house and not fear for your life because some heap might finally give way from a disorganized shelf and attack you if you were to open said cabinet doors. It's more than just the kitchen. It's the whole darn house. The whole shebang is getting an overhaul one organizational challenge at a time. And I'm doing it on budget which means DIY, DIY, DIY. The tutorials will naturally follow. So tag along on my Organizational Bliss series and be inspired too. It's craziness to live in fear for what's hiding in the cabinets. It could be a lawsuit too. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://stagetecture.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/home-organization.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://stagetecture.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/home-organization.jpg" width="270" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">A girl can dream, right?</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.thekitchn.com/thekitchn/your-kitchen-needs-a-cure-129570">Photo Credit 1</a></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://stagetecture.com/">Photo Credit 2</a></span><br />
<a href="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/341/52AC24E10310587524AE1E13726C2D13.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/341/52AC24E10310587524AE1E13726C2D13.png" /></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></div></div>Morekelkelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04459548900611314182noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206422721805858528.post-24164413098453442872011-10-22T22:26:00.000-07:002011-12-08T09:58:46.731-08:00Don't forget Big Crumbs!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Maybe you've seen my <a href="http://everythingscomingupdaffodils.blogspot.com/2010/08/ebates-vs-shopathome.html">post</a> earlier comparing the big three cash back sites <a href="http://www.shopathome.com/?IAFCG=QR6b7qxzovXvuPI9NFGawg==">Shopathome</a>, <a href="http://www.ebates.com/rf.do?referrerid=240jXbYP2XnsShkel0u5OQ%3D%3D">Ebates</a>, and <a href="http://www.mrrebates.com/?refid=451471">Mr.Rebates</a>. There's one missing from that group that trumps them all. It's <a href="http://my.bigcrumbs.com/EverythingDaffodils%20">Big Crumbs</a>, and I like the way they do business. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">You remember how a cash back site works, right? You visit the cash back site, click the link to the online retailer you want to shop at, and then you shop at that retailer as you normally would. Everything looks the same from that point on. In the background, a percentage of your order total is tracked and sent back to you in the method you choose as free, easy cash. That's it. It's so easy, you are throwing away money if you don't use one when you shop online. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Now back to <a href="http://my.bigcrumbs.com/EverythingDaffodils">Big Crumbs</a>. <a href="http://my.bigcrumbs.com/EverythingDaffodils">Big Crumbs</a> is better than all the rest all for these reasons:</div><ul style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: left;"><li>Large selections of online retailers to choose from. </li>
<li> Their percentage of cash back is generally among the highest out there.</li>
<li>Coupon codes are prominently featured for even more savings. </li>
<li>Cash is paid out every month compared to bi-monthly or quarterly for other sites.</li>
<li>The minimum cash back balance to have for payment is <b>only $1</b>. </li>
<li>You don't have to do anything to initiate your monthly payments (unlike other sites, eh hem, <a href="http://www.shopathome.com/?IAFCG=QR6b7qxzovXvuPI9NFGawg==">Shopathome</a>, I'm talking to you). Once you've chosen your payment method, the money comes automatically, the way it should.</li>
<li>You can opt to receive your cash back through your PayPal account or through their BigCrumbs Prepaid MasterCard. (Note that the email address you sign up using is where they'll send your cash if you choose to receive through PayPal). </li>
<li>It's not just for US shoppers. Australia, Canada, Ireland, and United Kingdom, this site is for you too!</li>
<li>And even more love for the international shoppers - you can earn cash back on eBay.ca, eBay.com.uk, and eBay.com.au.</li>
</ul><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">And while I rave about <a href="http://my.bigcrumbs.com/EverythingDaffodils">Big Crumbs</a>, no site is perfect. Here are my honest critiques.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></div><ul style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: left;"><li>In rare cases, your cash can take up to 60 days to appear in your account. That rare case happened to me on a big purchase. Maybe the big purchases take longer? Nevertheless, I followed their instructions for contacting them through the Help Link, and I learned that the Help Link is incorrectly named. It should be the <i>No-Help</i> Link, or the <i>Link-That-Does-Nothing</i> Link, or maybe the <i>We-Ignore-Inquiries-From-This-Link-So-Don't-Bother</i> Link. That pretty much tells the story. In the end, my nice sizable cash back amount was credited to me; It just took the full 60 days (while I wondered and wondered and wondered where it was. Not cool guys).</li>
<li>No option to receive your cash back via paper check.</li>
</ul><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">But still, a whole lot more pros than cons. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Every month I see a nice little deposit in my PayPal account from <a href="http://my.bigcrumbs.com/EverythingDaffodils">Big Crumbs</a>, and it's welcome sight. I hope you get to see it soon too.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
<a href="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/341/52AC24E10310587524AE1E13726C2D13.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/341/52AC24E10310587524AE1E13726C2D13.png" /></a></div></div>Morekelkelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04459548900611314182noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206422721805858528.post-84148202718292281132011-10-21T21:15:00.000-07:002011-11-05T14:44:26.369-07:00Returning from Hiatus<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">So how exactly does a writer reintroduce herself after essentially dropping off the face of the earth? </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">That's what I'm fumbling around with here. I guess I just cut right to the excuses. Life got crazy (not an excuse it really did), it got really, really crazy (I wasn't exaggerating there either), and something had to give. Sadly, it was the blog for a time. But I'm back and here to breathe some life into this creative outlet. You'll notice that I'm changing directions on it a bit. I still love a great deal, and I'll post those from time to time. But I'll be featuring more happy stuff, the things that really make me tick. Lately, that's getting organized, creating new jewelry designs, and loving up my husband and two kiddos.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">So thank you for taking the time to nose around here again. I hope you'll find many things that are pretty, tasty, and savvy. </span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/341/52AC24E10310587524AE1E13726C2D13.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/341/52AC24E10310587524AE1E13726C2D13.png" /></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> </span></div>Morekelkelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04459548900611314182noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206422721805858528.post-19354426207605044132010-10-13T21:30:00.000-07:002010-10-13T21:30:55.639-07:00New Photos of a Classic Piece: Gold Tiny Signature Circle NecklaceI love crossing things off my to-do list, even if that list is a mile long and only exists in my head. This week I checked a big item off: re-photographing the <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/46794861/gold-signature-baby-tiny-circle-necklace">Gold Tiny Signature Circle Necklace</a>. During my first time around with this necklace, I was a wee bit obsessed with those super crisp, white backgrounds in professional jewelry photography. For a novice photographer (who doesn't want to bother setting up a light tent), they're almost impossible to achieve unless you want to devote hours to the highly tedious task of editing out less than pristine white backdrops by hand - which I used to do however is completely out of the question now. Here is the first round of photos.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPPoWaOx0JzBgKh_vgZEGOYZF5uisCBhsymARaOXwSTyt3MbvYXuSbh6NJJj_UhGhX3e7zLsppnF6NyoljHV3bJN_STZL8H1PFwQapNk4CYiM1C93QO2pzg3zNiS19M5BQysmodDCDP9U/s1600/circlebabygold.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPPoWaOx0JzBgKh_vgZEGOYZF5uisCBhsymARaOXwSTyt3MbvYXuSbh6NJJj_UhGhX3e7zLsppnF6NyoljHV3bJN_STZL8H1PFwQapNk4CYiM1C93QO2pzg3zNiS19M5BQysmodDCDP9U/s200/circlebabygold.jpg" width="188" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_qhOknoWN6K9jFDJlfoOjZhEcBzqxzOVxWgW3LVzlDq_HUdWYAo9XY5HOg25xuR13qPdaEEtHnuL3SW3xEWOSogGajfkL788mlpz3TufwsmwAABmySEyeInUFUoAepnibZ1YhF7n7p84/s1600/circlebabygold_big2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_qhOknoWN6K9jFDJlfoOjZhEcBzqxzOVxWgW3LVzlDq_HUdWYAo9XY5HOg25xuR13qPdaEEtHnuL3SW3xEWOSogGajfkL788mlpz3TufwsmwAABmySEyeInUFUoAepnibZ1YhF7n7p84/s200/circlebabygold_big2.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
<br />
Let's critique the obvious. They're small, the quality is grainy, the color looks flat and dead. Ugh. I could go on and on. And it's such a shame because this is a beautiful necklace. It's whisper light and elegant, and the combination of shapes and lines beautifully accentuates these qualities. And because of these awful photos, it never sells. Except for last week when an Etsy customer saw something captivating beneath that photo quality disaster and took, from their perspective, a risk and clicked "Buy". Making the necklace again gave me new impetus to do it justice. And here's the result.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGKS9JVEouiTr3JugsZOI6L9IJvenkoYzQBk_X2GA5HnaTIfFy_XXqco6mJ57UkgogkwxsdV3D5RkVipHpvOY5FHfG7PvGCva2STS5aoj3R6d6rwL1x25MCi1J9qgfC0uwZYOUF82kvR0/s1600/circlegoldtiny_close.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGKS9JVEouiTr3JugsZOI6L9IJvenkoYzQBk_X2GA5HnaTIfFy_XXqco6mJ57UkgogkwxsdV3D5RkVipHpvOY5FHfG7PvGCva2STS5aoj3R6d6rwL1x25MCi1J9qgfC0uwZYOUF82kvR0/s320/circlegoldtiny_close.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCVKCmb29IudkKQlQV6uNbok3vQJocZyPl73hsjUi8diX3CeeYYlYk-a_GyGlz-UtfmmFgrGc3t2UNIu_9iydv7jO1VLcJDisZu4tPb-eyxQ7NKMxzEBicneh2sqxbqDgF-nx8nSuq1kw/s1600/circlegoldtiny_master.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="309" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCVKCmb29IudkKQlQV6uNbok3vQJocZyPl73hsjUi8diX3CeeYYlYk-a_GyGlz-UtfmmFgrGc3t2UNIu_9iydv7jO1VLcJDisZu4tPb-eyxQ7NKMxzEBicneh2sqxbqDgF-nx8nSuq1kw/s320/circlegoldtiny_master.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">You can see that I'm definitely over the pure white background. Ah, who knows. Maybe I'll jump back in there one day and edit it out because I love how it makes golds and silvers pop. But gray isn't bad either and if <a href="http://www.saksfifthavenue.com/main/ProductArray.jsp?FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374306438207&PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524446237824&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=1408474395222441&bmUID=1267473724718&use_parent=1&SECSLOT=MN-4-Best+Sellers&site_refer=360i+G&kw_refer=saks+jewelry">Saks</a> uses it, who am I to thumb my nose at that?</div><br />
One more, this time with a gradient and shadow. I can't help getting a little fancy here and there.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsAYX7r19L9fe4P90-lblRdRD2B7amEYZ7imSM_iuN8ulIknrzruvn40H37RrPWEfFLr5nwwoj8KkyAZohFyjDA57_PQ2crMUCMLo4leAeJbd_Sj05sRxFSmDJYjxB_zJTIACDOMi7E7Y/s1600/circlegoldtiny_with_shadow.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="309" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsAYX7r19L9fe4P90-lblRdRD2B7amEYZ7imSM_iuN8ulIknrzruvn40H37RrPWEfFLr5nwwoj8KkyAZohFyjDA57_PQ2crMUCMLo4leAeJbd_Sj05sRxFSmDJYjxB_zJTIACDOMi7E7Y/s320/circlegoldtiny_with_shadow.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/46794861/gold-signature-baby-tiny-circle-necklace">This necklace</a> retails for just $26 and is available for sale with many other eye-pleasing jewelry pieces at the <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/daffodilboutique?ref=seller_info">Daffodil Boutique</a>. Thanks for taking a moment to check out my shop.Morekelkelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04459548900611314182noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206422721805858528.post-46370221893762123742010-10-08T11:21:00.000-07:002010-10-08T11:23:00.332-07:00Are you Swagging?<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://swagbucks.com/content/denos/SwagBucks11.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="140" src="http://swagbucks.com/content/denos/SwagBucks11.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo: Swagbucks.com</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">If not, Fridays are a great day to start! Fridays are mega-Swagbucks days! The normal searches you do on the internet can earn you <i>even more</i> dividends today.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Not using <a href="http://swagbucks.com/refer/ECUDaffodils">Swagbucks</a> yet? <a href="http://swagbucks.com/refer/ECUDaffodils">Sign up</a> because,</div><ul style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><li>It's Free</li>
<li>It's Easy</li>
<li>It <b>pays</b> you for something you already do - perform internet searches.</li>
</ul><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I'm just a few points away from my next $5 Amazon gift card. Awesome! </span><br />
<ul style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></ul>Morekelkelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04459548900611314182noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206422721805858528.post-51529778042921552702010-10-04T12:25:00.000-07:002010-10-12T11:57:29.107-07:00Real Vanilla Infused Coffee Grounds<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: left;">It's National Coffee Day! Let's celebrate with a recipe for a great cup of vanilla-infused coffee.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglF1zeqZ5Crb2doUqeP6J8OYEpg6zqEMjQzzTVf24LoJG1sO1hyro6ETcsb6DtWkgl8VfPS8s5kwwWJnnbrAkLCTjxBkUy1KjxwcAXq960EYIdsyMlxfQmby3soVtBg5vy_ng2_0GS5j0/s1600/vanillacoffeebeans_final.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglF1zeqZ5Crb2doUqeP6J8OYEpg6zqEMjQzzTVf24LoJG1sO1hyro6ETcsb6DtWkgl8VfPS8s5kwwWJnnbrAkLCTjxBkUy1KjxwcAXq960EYIdsyMlxfQmby3soVtBg5vy_ng2_0GS5j0/s320/vanillacoffeebeans_final.JPG" width="317" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcRq7X6rOLmPJjNjbXSsR1EfF2IrJn9ZqmBIGJRQ93UD99uzzN-muvySIOqXz_1APpQGQ2tkVmbEV8IHR428uxHOec1DVIYnIrVcYIzNIbC648iFY0XaCXf0gPMkYysaqO2_Rt6UPnEt8/s1600/vanillacoffeebeans_beanspods.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Doesn't it seem an awful waste to toss that vanilla bean pod in the garbage or compost after you've scraped away the fragrant seed paste? Especially when you consider that that slim bean cost $7 on average, tossing the rest of that rind still pungent with vanilla seems incredibly wasteful. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Well waste no more. Those empty pods can turn regular coffee beans into a subtly vanilla scented cuppa joe. And it's delightfully easy. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Just take your empty vanilla pods (dried if they were steeping in liquid before) and grind with whole coffee beans to produce the grounds. A ratio of 1 empty pod to 1 cup of whole coffee beans will produce a mildly vanilla scented batch of coffee grounds. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq0RyzkhN-shc3s7l1QT60yDsog5YXu2QuNcq0om2IzfhyphenhyphenFUwO4xT3oETN-1Vc1RDjAs6NSepMcdVvRnUrFY7w57yAQWMcHRG-cbUPAQMQVVbYQFhTULLkn0Ueno-4l2b_u2gGZpy9Q1g/s1600/vanillacoffeebeans_whirl.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq0RyzkhN-shc3s7l1QT60yDsog5YXu2QuNcq0om2IzfhyphenhyphenFUwO4xT3oETN-1Vc1RDjAs6NSepMcdVvRnUrFY7w57yAQWMcHRG-cbUPAQMQVVbYQFhTULLkn0Ueno-4l2b_u2gGZpy9Q1g/s320/vanillacoffeebeans_whirl.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">My coffee of choice is french press, and I crudely grind my beans using a cuisinart. Coffee sacrilege? Perhaps. But the french press works best with a coarser grind, so I don't mind the uneven chopping that a few whirls in the cuisinart gives my final grounds. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Then for some simple coffee math. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;">This</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeYnMx4VoXflJREGF3h5UCa12wBCiiQfISXI5UWyeF39GOMExA_UZXNN6oZAdv05Rf2yQDuDu6t7A5A5wBd6d4GoxB8ijaAZfD0nW78vop2xdxJbTRA4F2YghvZuEnB3PdtRJCVTmnVBM/s1600/vanillacoffeebeans_ground.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeYnMx4VoXflJREGF3h5UCa12wBCiiQfISXI5UWyeF39GOMExA_UZXNN6oZAdv05Rf2yQDuDu6t7A5A5wBd6d4GoxB8ijaAZfD0nW78vop2xdxJbTRA4F2YghvZuEnB3PdtRJCVTmnVBM/s200/vanillacoffeebeans_ground.JPG" width="200" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;">plus this </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijEu0nfLbIzNyOAoMpzq7D6lZMZPcthSb3OBDiSDH7qCDwTqFwG4Mp8AWMS-6Ivo0X2E03AC7f_kLNWdhXAbJPWjapUXn0g4cEQwEHqAhQa_tRYbF3f0Bfvs9Y8AovgUN9qIK51GxVF4I/s1600/vanillacoffeebeans_frenchpress.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijEu0nfLbIzNyOAoMpzq7D6lZMZPcthSb3OBDiSDH7qCDwTqFwG4Mp8AWMS-6Ivo0X2E03AC7f_kLNWdhXAbJPWjapUXn0g4cEQwEHqAhQa_tRYbF3f0Bfvs9Y8AovgUN9qIK51GxVF4I/s320/vanillacoffeebeans_frenchpress.JPG" width="198" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;">equals this </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA1S6awe4UKnhrJvksqrmeeugUMPdhhxvXp396ejKmPt4SVkrGZYsuTYoXRi0WemvhR8kZElvgZ-sOvolRY7V2YWgoa4sKvznnP6cwYsGmvcig9WvCgfaJ8o9Y05Y1NKzk6hS-BiGZ4PI/s1600/vanillacoffeebeans_coffeecup.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA1S6awe4UKnhrJvksqrmeeugUMPdhhxvXp396ejKmPt4SVkrGZYsuTYoXRi0WemvhR8kZElvgZ-sOvolRY7V2YWgoa4sKvznnP6cwYsGmvcig9WvCgfaJ8o9Y05Y1NKzk6hS-BiGZ4PI/s320/vanillacoffeebeans_coffeecup.JPG" width="305" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
Ah, pure coffee delight. Now your turn. </div>Morekelkelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04459548900611314182noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206422721805858528.post-13668872808507972132010-09-30T11:51:00.000-07:002010-10-05T21:13:35.153-07:00Daffodil Boutique Necklace Giveaway at Fantabulously Frugal<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">A big thank you to the lovely Liz at </span><a href="http://fantabulouslyfrugal.com/2010/09/celebrity-look-for-less-aly-michalka/" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Fantabulously Frugal</a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> for featuring </span><a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/daffodilboutique?ref=seller_info" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Daffodil Boutique</a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">! Head over to her style-savvy blog for a great scoop on how to get Aly's celebrity look on the new hit CW tv series, </span><a href="http://www.cwtv.com/shows/hellcats" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Hellcats</a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">. </span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://fantabulouslyfrugal.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/00589200d9b-300x240.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo: CWTV.com</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://fantabulouslyfrugal.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/00589200d9b-300x240.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Liz has parsed together some great fashion steals to come up with a look that is spot-on Aly but also very you and me too. I have a real weakness for fashionable, comfortable and <i>washable </i>(I am a pratical girl at heart) clothing, and this ensemble certainly fits the bill.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
Now this look needs a finishing touch. Our fearless heroine has something sparkly around her neckline. What would complete her style? <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://fantabulouslyfrugal.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/005892209f2-300x199.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo: CWTV.com</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://fantabulouslyfrugal.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/005892209f2-300x199.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>Nothing other than the much acclaimed Large Wishbone Necklace in <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/56016390/large-gold-lucky-wish-bone-wishbone">Gold</a> or <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/54850149/large-sterling-silver-lucky-wish-bone">Sterling Silver</a>.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://ny-image1.etsy.com/il_430xN.173430825.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="291" src="http://ny-image1.etsy.com/il_430xN.173430825.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://ny-image0.etsy.com/il_430xN.169537244.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://ny-image0.etsy.com/il_430xN.169537244.jpg" width="275" /></a></div>Both versions are for sale now at <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/daffodilboutique?ref=seller_info">Daffodil Boutique</a>, and one lucky winner will nab one for <b>FREE</b>! Just go to the <a href="http://fantabulouslyfrugal.com/2010/09/celebrity-look-for-less-aly-michalka/">post at Fantabulously Frugal</a> and comment, tweet and/or mention on Facebook for your chance to win. The <b>contest ends Wednesday, October 7 at 12:00 noon ET</b>. You can <b>enter once per day</b>, so return and repeat, repeat, repeat to up your chances.<br />
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<span style="color: black;">A special welcome to the <a href="http://www.giveawayscout.com/">Giveaway Scout</a> visitors too! Giveaway Scout is a free site that lists thousands </span><span style="color: black;">blog giveaways, contests and sweepstakes in one place. They scan a large number of giveaway blogs and update every hour on their site and through email. </span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
Thank you again for the spotlight at <a href="http://fantabulouslyfrugal.com/2010/09/celebrity-look-for-less-aly-michalka/">Fantabulously Frugal</a> and good luck to all the participants! </div>Morekelkelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04459548900611314182noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206422721805858528.post-40041734952781798822010-09-26T18:21:00.000-07:002010-09-26T18:24:10.191-07:00FREE Ice Cream at Cold Stone Creamery on Sept 30th<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="http://ny-image3.etsy.com/il_430xN.171947575.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="93" src="http://ny-image3.etsy.com/il_430xN.171947575.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I love a deal that helps support an amazing charity and throws in a lil ice cream too! Mark your calendars on September 30, 2010, because just such an event is happening at <a href="http://www.coldstonecreamery.com/promos/makeawish/index.html">Cold Stone Creamery</a> locations around the nation. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="http://ny-image1.etsy.com/il_430xN.146366353.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://ny-image1.etsy.com/il_430xN.146366353.jpg" width="306" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">All through the month of September, Cold Stone Creamery has been partnering with the Make-A-Wish Foundation to grant wishes for sick kiddos. This is a cause that I love and I support with part of the proceeds from my own <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/47918240/charity-listing-i-medium-gold-lucky">Medium Gold Wishbone Necklace</a>. It's a demure matte gold wishbone just under an inch long and made from luxury, durable materials. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">But back to the FREE ice cream! </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.wishgreaterpa.org/media/FR_CORPSPON_ColdStone_PHOTO-Kate-TastemasterRay%20-%20Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.wishgreaterpa.org/media/FR_CORPSPON_ColdStone_PHOTO-Kate-TastemasterRay%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Now in its charitable efforts, the Make-A-Wish Foundation granted a wish that has very tasty derivatives for all. Kate is an 11 year old girl whose wish was to be an official Cold Stone Creamery TasteMaster for a day. (Nice wish, Kate!)<br />
<br />
From 5 pm - 8 pm on September 30th, the fruits of her labors, titled Kate's Creation, will be served in 3 oz portions to each Cold Stone Creamery patron for <b>FREE</b>. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.coldstonecreamery.com/assets/images/promos/MAW/2010/KatesCreation_MAW.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="310" src="http://www.coldstonecreamery.com/assets/images/promos/MAW/2010/KatesCreation_MAW.gif" width="320" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">And just what is in Kate's Creation? It's a mouth-watering combination of Caramel Apple Ice Cream, chocolate shavings, Graham Cracker pie crust, and apple pie filling. Get a look at this dessert. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Kate, you shouldn't have! </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">And the sweetest part? 85% of the donations acquired during the ice cream giveaway will be donated to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. So while it is free, be charitable and contribute a buck or two or more if you can. Well done Kate, Cold Stone Creamery, and Make-A-Wish Foundation! Can't wait to participate. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">And don't forget to check out the <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/daffodilboutique?ref=top_trail">Daffodil Boutique</a> for a second look at that <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/47918240/charity-listing-i-medium-gold-lucky">Medium Gold Wishbone Necklace</a> and many other sparkling niceties too. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div>Morekelkelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04459548900611314182noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206422721805858528.post-12164871640278494732010-09-20T20:52:00.000-07:002010-09-23T12:14:28.404-07:00Wishbone Necklace Giveaway: Winner Announced!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRJBeCsQXiUC3NKDiuEIdOhBoF33HozvEMRPuLKapWj7-x_KNbYwoRk331mPHV2HF97frhfdcfW2eSlOCM3KotS6wvV9h1zHJ0ZpU7DzwbrYwg13gHW3UekzARjLmzjbEWQUOiCkTre6M/s1600/wishbonegoldn1_close.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRJBeCsQXiUC3NKDiuEIdOhBoF33HozvEMRPuLKapWj7-x_KNbYwoRk331mPHV2HF97frhfdcfW2eSlOCM3KotS6wvV9h1zHJ0ZpU7DzwbrYwg13gHW3UekzARjLmzjbEWQUOiCkTre6M/s320/wishbonegoldn1_close.jpg" /></a></div><br />
The response to the <a href="http://everythingscomingupdaffodils.blogspot.com/2010/09/daffodil-boutique-jewelry-at.html">Daffodil Boutique Wishbone Necklace Giveaway at Fantabulously Frugal</a> was waaaay beyond expectation! With over 70 entries, it was quite an exciting contest and entries continued to come in right until the last hour. The comments posted were so kind and inspiring. Thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone who entered and for making it so fun. <br />
And without further ado...<br />
<br />
The winner of the Gold or Silver <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/56016390/large-gold-lucky-wish-bone-wishbone">Large Wishbone Necklace</a> is entry 41, <b>Nancy Houston</b>!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://fantabulouslyfrugal.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/untitled.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://fantabulouslyfrugal.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/untitled.bmp" /></a></div><br />
Nancy please contact me at sales {at} daffodilboutique {dot} com to confirm your prize and shipping information. I hope you're 100% delighted with your new necklace. It will be a delight to make it for you!<br />
<br />
<div style="color: #4c1130;"><b>And as a special thank you to everyone for viewing, commenting and participating, I'll be offering a <u>25% discount on all <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/daffodilboutique?ref=seller_info">Daffodil Boutique jewelry</a></u> good through </b><b><u>September 27, 2010</u>. Just convo me through Etsy with the piece(s) you'd like, mention the code <i>EverythingDaffodils</i>, and I'll create a custom listing just for you. </b></div><br />
Thank you again to everyone who entered. Let's do this again soon! In fact - take a look at the <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/daffodilboutique?ref=seller_info">Daffodil Boutique collection</a> and comment below about the piece that you'd like to see featured in the next giveaway.Morekelkelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04459548900611314182noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206422721805858528.post-81219811734586645602010-09-17T18:00:00.000-07:002010-09-18T08:46:01.947-07:00Mint Biscotti Dipped in Bittersweet Chocolate<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil0a-VT002laZTAOaRHZGHCeKWnSmm5Ap20xih5MWIg31zEtRp7xmgwpQmTQiSCUp7rT9DL9w82EDUAHy5id0GHmck9Erx28Wv8dZtJabExoL9VRs8mayxh0lma2KafFBFOq8IBBwfg-U/s1600/biscottimintchoc_final.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil0a-VT002laZTAOaRHZGHCeKWnSmm5Ap20xih5MWIg31zEtRp7xmgwpQmTQiSCUp7rT9DL9w82EDUAHy5id0GHmck9Erx28Wv8dZtJabExoL9VRs8mayxh0lma2KafFBFOq8IBBwfg-U/s320/biscottimintchoc_final.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Biscotti is too often pigeonholed into two dull categories: almond or chocolate. But this is too limiting for the elegant biscotti. I searched the interwebs for a recipe that was equal parts minty and chocolatey, but nothing turned up. So I created this one for Mint Biscotti Dipped in Bittersweet Chocolate. Yes, the recipe title is a tad wordy, but I wanted to be clear that this is not a run-of-the-mill, bland biscotti with a dunking in mint chocolate (though that wouldn't be too terrible), rather it's biscotti - infused with cool mint - and then coated in rich, dark chocolate. It's the perfect way to anticipate the winter months when Mint and Chocolate traditionally come together in peppermint mochas, mint chocolate brownies, and the like. Now biscotti gets in on the fun too.<br />
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This recipe skips the phony flavorings and cleverly gets its brisk mint taste from a couple of tea bags. Just break them open and pour in! Add more or less to get your desired level of mint flavor.<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Mint Biscotti Dipped in Bittersweet Chocolate</b></span><br />
<i>makes 24 biscotti</i><br />
<br />
<b>Ingredients:</b><br />
2 cups flour</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">1 teaspoon baking powder<br />
1/4 teaspoon salt</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">2 1/2 teaspoons of dried mint leaves (from about 2 mint tea bags)<br />
1 cup granulated white sugar</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">1 tablespoon brown sugar<br />
6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) unsalted butter<br />
1 egg<br />
1 egg yolk</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">1 1/2 teaspoons lemon juice<br />
4 oz semi-sweet baking chocolate<br />
<br />
<b>Directions:</b><br />
Preheat oven to 325 Fahrenheit. Line a baking sheet with a silicone mat or a piece of parchment paper to prevent sticking.<br />
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In a medium bowl, whisk flour, mint tea leaves, baking powder and salt. <br />
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In a mixer, cream the butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Scrape down and beat in the egg and egg yolk. Beat in the lemon juice.<br />
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Add the dry ingredients to the creamed butter. Mix until all ingredients come together into a moderately stiff dough. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtLGISbx212ktC4upAszQUI6dftiQZ5cswQ7bC5yKJFdetg5v1IVMWvh-tuuYfRP-gmDuM3Ju4Ok0k-l_mn_26sSliyXQkIgXkLKRUyiXfawWsN3FymZ_1ss3wcMPGE1DgdHDPWzG3lcQ/s320/biscottimintchoc_doughmixing.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The dough will be somewhat crumbly</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtLGISbx212ktC4upAszQUI6dftiQZ5cswQ7bC5yKJFdetg5v1IVMWvh-tuuYfRP-gmDuM3Ju4Ok0k-l_mn_26sSliyXQkIgXkLKRUyiXfawWsN3FymZ_1ss3wcMPGE1DgdHDPWzG3lcQ/s1600/biscottimintchoc_doughmixing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Divide the dough in two mounds on the baking sheet. Shape each half of dough into a 8-inch by 3-inch log.<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> Bake for 20 minutes. Rotate the cookie sheet for even baking and bake for 20-25 more minutes until golden and firm to the touch.</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Remove from the oven and let the biscotti cool until able to handle. Using a sharp knife, cut logs into 3/4-inch wide diagonal slices. Try to cut each biscotti slice in one smooth motion. This will give your biscotti nice clean sides without the edges snagging on the knife.</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh_kYMQACkaGS993rAXhKfLycUMQVNmQIo7ljaghLcWVPVIu3rh1NI_m211_2a_xQJDRmUAjMFX-D14DTmKLxhuuA1K1c6MFIfO3apD_cF8pNOb0gRWSX1Hq2QfdUUhd85jLX0NAH55xw/s1600/biscottimintchoc_cut.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh_kYMQACkaGS993rAXhKfLycUMQVNmQIo7ljaghLcWVPVIu3rh1NI_m211_2a_xQJDRmUAjMFX-D14DTmKLxhuuA1K1c6MFIfO3apD_cF8pNOb0gRWSX1Hq2QfdUUhd85jLX0NAH55xw/s320/biscottimintchoc_cut.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Place biscotti cut side down on baking sheet and bake again until pale golden, about 10- 20 minutes. Check every 5 minutes to ensure that they're not getting overly browned. </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Let the biscotti cool to room temperature. They will crisp up as they cool.</span> <br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">In a double boiler or microwave, melt the baking chocolate and dip each biscotti in. I like to dip the bottom side of the biscotti so that you get a little chocolate in each bite. </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH6FEsYCNepiSjBTYKRSWtvDz6kMVXBKt2-_43EtkFEz_nRvDq4ol87EJW4FTW-bniH6Btb62KumakT4iJLvyD_zIn6Zp_Hr5XtKlG85EpCDpUvFDdWVzfu7IvFXo-x5fKsHa43GPPSts/s1600/biscottimintchoc_dipped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH6FEsYCNepiSjBTYKRSWtvDz6kMVXBKt2-_43EtkFEz_nRvDq4ol87EJW4FTW-bniH6Btb62KumakT4iJLvyD_zIn6Zp_Hr5XtKlG85EpCDpUvFDdWVzfu7IvFXo-x5fKsHa43GPPSts/s320/biscottimintchoc_dipped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Place the dipped biscotti on a parchment lined surface out of direct sunlight to allow the chocolate to harden. Brew a fresh pot of coffee or cup of tea and enjoy. </span><br />
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</span>Morekelkelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04459548900611314182noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206422721805858528.post-21342194728850354432010-09-15T12:14:00.000-07:002010-09-15T14:47:17.709-07:00New Design: Secret Garden Key Necklace<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Remember the scene where Mary Lennox finds the key in the novel, <i>The Secret Garden</i>? This is what I imagine it looked like.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPeY0Xg-b62HYR4JAv-JTtlU07szfNIox8HYdOoDehripbvAUBmXXuZRaW-HcgdNmK0BgZ2Z69Hp_c3fTQjXLZmbL85mFN5GkGmIsU-BEgZAJcLt-WDP4mKWzSUQMhxaolmU4bxQCUH7A/s320/keysecretgardenn3.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPeY0Xg-b62HYR4JAv-JTtlU07szfNIox8HYdOoDehripbvAUBmXXuZRaW-HcgdNmK0BgZ2Z69Hp_c3fTQjXLZmbL85mFN5GkGmIsU-BEgZAJcLt-WDP4mKWzSUQMhxaolmU4bxQCUH7A/s1600/keysecretgardenn3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>I liked the size and weight of this solid sterling silver key when I found it. And it looks just right on the patterned sterling silver chain. At 18 inches in length, this necklace rest just right on the neckline and looks every bit as polished as <a href="http://www.tiffany.com/Shopping/CategoryBrowse.aspx?cid=573050&mcat=148204">much more expensive versions</a>. You'll be able to find it on <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/daffodilboutique">Etsy</a> soon.<br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL38R6HyLiDjdrUCtOmKvJ2V39_wist-3rTvGDLYM787Kwt7VL9LpQZHyCzUd105Q8-Ao7V8QFS5N9VEdbYY75O-1E1mPi9Fa5RlgLQ9E6jwikQzGD7_nEYpuYRq5Z3i2YJlJlSKllQoY/s1600/keysecretgardenn2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL38R6HyLiDjdrUCtOmKvJ2V39_wist-3rTvGDLYM787Kwt7VL9LpQZHyCzUd105Q8-Ao7V8QFS5N9VEdbYY75O-1E1mPi9Fa5RlgLQ9E6jwikQzGD7_nEYpuYRq5Z3i2YJlJlSKllQoY/s320/keysecretgardenn2.jpg" /></a></div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ2u78Go9CskNCiXDore1NCKxEtOf_kJjSHEYk0w81c6AEtBIeR__0xm0W1z2KgrZQ5R35Ff2faaBiRQ3TZpx28pbEF-_ghKzxz6Zz-yiU1Xt7xi4_Xr0yXH5Zfr4-tdea_m5ST8tS7pg/s1600/keysecretgardenn2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ2u78Go9CskNCiXDore1NCKxEtOf_kJjSHEYk0w81c6AEtBIeR__0xm0W1z2KgrZQ5R35Ff2faaBiRQ3TZpx28pbEF-_ghKzxz6Zz-yiU1Xt7xi4_Xr0yXH5Zfr4-tdea_m5ST8tS7pg/s320/keysecretgardenn2.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">All images are property of <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/daffodilboutique">Daffodil Boutique</a>.</div>Morekelkelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04459548900611314182noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206422721805858528.post-42321685138325607262010-09-14T21:34:00.000-07:002010-09-15T14:28:45.227-07:00Rebate Sites for Canadian Shoppers<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Purchasing online from our friends to the North pays its dividends too! Here's a comparison of two well known Canadian cash back sites.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://canada.mrrebates.com/?refid=451471">Mr.Rebates Canada</a></b>:</div><ul style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><li>A great selection of over 2000 participating online sites to choose from.</li>
<li>Coupons for your shopping destination site are easy to find on the site. The terms and conditions for those coupons are displayed too. </li>
<li>Mr.Rebates promises not to offer your email address to third parties.</li>
<li>Cash is paid out every month. </li>
<li>Can elect for your cash back payment through cheque (your address must be on file) or PayPal. </li>
<li>Must earn 10 CAD in cash back before you qualify for a cash back payment.</li>
<li>Gift card purchases are not eligible for cash back.</li>
<li>Earn 20% cash back on each of the Mr. Rebates purchases that your friends make when you refer them. </li>
<li>Earn <b>2.50 CAD just for signing up</b>!</li>
</ul><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.greatcanadianrebates.ca/register/127308/"><b>Great Canadian Rebates</b></a><b>:</b></div><ul style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><li>Accepted by 300 Canadian merchants</li>
<li>Earn 10% cash back on your friends' purchases when they credit you as their referrer</li>
<li>You must turn off '<i>Ad blockers</i>' before clicking on their links</li>
<li>Can't use coupon codes from other websites when making your purchase</li>
<li>Cash is paid every 2 months</li>
<li>Must earn 3 CAD in cash back before you qualify for a PayPal cash back payment and 20 CAD for a cheque payment. Referral or Signup Bonuses do not count towards the minimums.</li>
<li>Can elect for your cash back payment through cheque (your address must be on file) or PayPal. </li>
<li>This site promises not sell or give away member information to third parties. </li>
<li><b>Earn a free toonie</b> (that's a Canadian 2 dollar coin for the non-Canadians out there) just for registering!</li>
</ul><ul style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></ul>Morekelkelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04459548900611314182noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206422721805858528.post-81410445390156169632010-09-10T07:28:00.000-07:002010-09-10T07:28:10.186-07:00Happy Mega Swagbucks Friday!<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><iframe allowtransparency="true" class="twitter-share-button twitter-count-none" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" src="http://platform0.twitter.com/widgets/tweet_button.html?_=1284128815234&count=none&lang=en&text=Everything%27s%20Coming%20Up%20Daffodils%3A%20It%27s%20Mega%20Swagbucks%20Friday%21&url=http%3A%2F%2Feverythingscomingupdaffodils.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F08%2Fits-mega-swagbucks-friday.html&via=DaffodilBtq" style="height: 20px; width: 55px;" tabindex="0" title="Twitter For Websites: Tweet Button"></iframe><script src="http://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" type="text/javascript">
</script> </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://swagbucks.com/content/denos/SwagBucks11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="140" src="http://swagbucks.com/content/denos/SwagBucks11.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo: Swagbucks.com</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Remember Fridays are mega-Swagbucks days! The normal searches you do on the internet can earn you <i>even more</i> dividends today.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Not using <a href="http://swagbucks.com/refer/ECUDaffodils">Swagbucks</a> yet? <a href="http://swagbucks.com/refer/ECUDaffodils">Sign up</a> because,</div><ul style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><li>It's Free</li>
<li>It's Easy</li>
<li>It pays you for something you already do - perform internet searches</li>
</ul>Morekelkelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04459548900611314182noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206422721805858528.post-85634469310017317022010-09-07T14:36:00.001-07:002010-09-10T07:42:50.894-07:00Daffodil Boutique Jewelry at FantabulouslyFrugal<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">It's always hard to come back after a three day weekend, but this time it was a tad bit easier. OK, it was a A LOT easier! </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">This morning I got an email from guest blogger Megan that <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/daffodilboutique?ref=seller_info">Daffodil Boutique jewelry</a> is being featured on <a href="http://fantabulouslyfrugal.com/2010/09/etsy-monday-giveaway-daffodil-boutique/">Fantabulously Frugal</a> today! What a treat and an honor!<br />
<br />
I'm just thrilled with the response and the kind words from each commenter - Each of you is honestly making my day. A few of the readers' favorite pieces mentioned are the <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/15651136/sterling-silver-modern-key-necklace">Modern Key Necklace</a>,the <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/30538436/gold-organic-tree-branch-necklace">Gold Branch Necklace</a>, and my personal fave the <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/33953038/ethical-diamond-in-the-rough-sterling">Ethical Diamond in the Rough Necklace</a>.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuA5Wh1RRr38fSyo1rNUZnc17K9DPUWCaLsBZ5B7bPPF8N6Uk1pXVPxbj1vb2vSLPZ7qEnCCzax-t7HZ5bNzb9FqGLywBKShwgW9BmzSPO4NM03amhFEMYPKwjfQmhzDZ9PiTlDpHwMow/s1600/diamondintherough_close.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuA5Wh1RRr38fSyo1rNUZnc17K9DPUWCaLsBZ5B7bPPF8N6Uk1pXVPxbj1vb2vSLPZ7qEnCCzax-t7HZ5bNzb9FqGLywBKShwgW9BmzSPO4NM03amhFEMYPKwjfQmhzDZ9PiTlDpHwMow/s320/diamondintherough_close.jpg" /></a></div>As part of the spotlight, <b>there will be a FREE necklace offered </b>to one reader.<b> </b>The lucky winner will have the choice of a gold or silver <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/51979691/large-gold-lucky-wish-bone-wishbone">Wishbone Necklace</a>. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRJBeCsQXiUC3NKDiuEIdOhBoF33HozvEMRPuLKapWj7-x_KNbYwoRk331mPHV2HF97frhfdcfW2eSlOCM3KotS6wvV9h1zHJ0ZpU7DzwbrYwg13gHW3UekzARjLmzjbEWQUOiCkTre6M/s1600/wishbonegoldn1_close.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRJBeCsQXiUC3NKDiuEIdOhBoF33HozvEMRPuLKapWj7-x_KNbYwoRk331mPHV2HF97frhfdcfW2eSlOCM3KotS6wvV9h1zHJ0ZpU7DzwbrYwg13gHW3UekzARjLmzjbEWQUOiCkTre6M/s320/wishbonegoldn1_close.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">This is one of the most raved about Daffodil Boutique pieces, and it could be yours! Go to the <a href="http://fantabulouslyfrugal.com/2010/09/etsy-monday-giveaway-daffodil-boutique/comment-page-1/#comment-6140">blog post on Fantabulously Frugal</a> and comment/tweet as described here to win.</div><br />
<blockquote><div style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Comment about what your favorite piece is in Daffodil Boutique’s collection. Also, tweet about this giveaway for an additional chance to win. Don’t forget to leave a separate comment that you tweeted! You can comment and tweet once per day. Oh, and the contest ends Sunday, September 12 at 12:00 noon EST.</div></blockquote><div style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">As an aside, Megan from </span><a href="http://krazythinker123.blogspot.com/">Everyday Nonsense from a Nonsensical Gal</a> <span style="color: black;">offers some great reads with heart-to-heart sentiments on life as a newly wed, more giveaways, and some pretty darn cute sewing projects. I highly recommend you check her out. </span></div><div style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">Thanks again to <a href="http://fantabulouslyfrugal.com/2010/09/etsy-monday-giveaway-daffodil-boutique/">Fantabulously Frugal</a> and Megan from </span><a href="http://krazythinker123.blogspot.com/">Everyday Nonsense from a Nonsensical Gal</a><span style="color: black;">. Everything about this experience has been superb!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;">A special welcome to the <a href="http://www.giveawayscout.com/">Giveaway Scout</a> visitors too! Giveaway Scout is a free site that lists thousands </span><span style="color: black;">blog giveaways, contests and sweepstakes in one place. They scan a large number of giveaway blogs and update every hour on their site and through email. </span></div>Morekelkelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04459548900611314182noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206422721805858528.post-5181610767838811182010-09-03T12:44:00.000-07:002010-09-03T12:45:11.711-07:00It's Mega Swagbucks Friday!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://swagbucks.com/content/denos/SwagBucks11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="140" src="http://swagbucks.com/content/denos/SwagBucks11.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo: Swagbucks.com</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I just used a $5 gift certificate to Amazon that I earned from Swagbucks!</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">And I'm looking forward to earning more today because Fridays are mega-Swagbucks days! The normal searches you do on the internet can earn you <i>even more</i> dividends today.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
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</ul>Morekelkelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04459548900611314182noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206422721805858528.post-15503090482077177572010-09-02T09:16:00.000-07:002010-09-02T09:16:30.589-07:00Up to 15% off at Soap.com<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://c3.soap.com/Images/AboutUs/pic_AboutUs.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://c3.soap.com/Images/AboutUs/pic_AboutUs.gif" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo: Soap.com</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">If you're looking for an alternative to the other online drugstores, consider <a href="https://www.soap.com/">Soap</a>. This is the new offshoot of <a href="https://www.diapers.com/">Diapers</a> and they have some great perks. For one, they have <b>fast shipping</b> - like just a couple days to most locations fast. They have a <b>great selection</b> of items and, as I like best of all, they offer <b>coupon codes</b>. In fact here's tiered set of them that are good right now.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">$5 off $50 - use coupon </span><strong style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Laborday5</strong><br style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">$10 off $75 - use coupon </span><strong style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Laborday10</strong><br style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">$15 off $100 - use coupon </span><strong style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Laborday15</strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> </strong></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><strong><span style="font-weight: normal;">And if this is your first order, use code <b>KLXR8877</b>, for <b>15% off</b> your entire order regardless of amount. </span></strong></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><strong><span style="font-weight: normal;"><i>Plus </i>get an <b>additional 7% off </b>your order when you visit the Soap site through </span></strong><a href="http://www.mrrebates.com/?refid=451471">Mr.Rebates</a><strong><span style="font-weight: normal;">. </span></strong></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><strong><span style="font-weight: normal;"><b>Special Bonus: </b>Orders of $25 or greater qualify for Free 2 Day Shipping. </span></strong></div>Morekelkelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04459548900611314182noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206422721805858528.post-22379408953525617762010-09-01T13:16:00.000-07:002012-01-08T21:12:59.757-08:00Homemade Ranch Seasoning Mix<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><a class="pin-it-button" count-layout="horizontal" href="http://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=http%3A%2F%2Feverythingscomingupdaffodils.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F09%2Fhomemade-ranch-seasoning-mix.html&media=http%3A%2F%2F2.bp.blogspot.com%2F_RQyW5YfK3co%2FTH65p0Z6PEI%2FAAAAAAAAA80%2FYb_UjUlqf_Y%2Fs320%2Franchseasoningmix_final_close.jpg&description=Homemade%20Dry%20Ranch%20Seasoning%20Mix">Pin It</a><br />
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<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixEEgAhG7nEIZYVOmUM3R7-wuz8BsRFGy0KOb6-HjaC7KVZVyckrESijvqCfy-XL0nZ_g4Vh-Zgpm7hWlczhGtChzbGHM05KLNOKHac_93YASv91-bfepu0NZEZGu3JcTSXyck0AR1ng0/s1600/ranchseasoningmix_final_close.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixEEgAhG7nEIZYVOmUM3R7-wuz8BsRFGy0KOb6-HjaC7KVZVyckrESijvqCfy-XL0nZ_g4Vh-Zgpm7hWlczhGtChzbGHM05KLNOKHac_93YASv91-bfepu0NZEZGu3JcTSXyck0AR1ng0/s320/ranchseasoningmix_final_close.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span class="ingredient"><span class="name">Hmmm, ranch seasoning. Tangy, versatile, and goes with everything. I could eat cardboard if you slathered it in enough ranch. </span></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="ingredient"><span class="name">So the other day I tootled into my kitchen to make my version of Baked Ranch Crackers, the perfect snack for anyone wanting a handful of something savory, and I happened to flip over the packet of ranch seasoning mix and took a peek at the ingredients list. <i>Let's see here....Sodium, sodium, and whoa that's a lot of sodium...Monosodium Gluta-what? Is that MSG? The dreaded MSG?! Do I want to read on? Hydroxypropyl - Ok I know I cleaned our bathroom counters with that yesterday...Oh, oh - parsley, finally something I recognize!</i></span></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="ingredient"><span class="name"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="ingredient"><span class="name">Add on the cost of that tiny packet of ranch at more than $2 per ounce (gold is probably trading for less) and it's clear we need an alternative. </span></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="ingredient"><span class="name"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="ingredient"><span class="name">Thankfully making your own ranch seasoning is not just an experiment for chemists. You probably have all the ingredients in your pantry right now. Well maybe all except for this one.</span></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdojg1wnaZnT8nuFjFt__kRgb6XbA-fjaIM9IkkZGMrnhsEAm9zUXtdx7Cs0AJTF6b_Udmizg9dUuDWq4Yoe7n092yWhDFC-RPhVjE8qhDd2FwSziTlg1jIWfHhdgJG7vHdR_GoFeqGpo/s1600/ranchseasoningmix_drybuttermilk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdojg1wnaZnT8nuFjFt__kRgb6XbA-fjaIM9IkkZGMrnhsEAm9zUXtdx7Cs0AJTF6b_Udmizg9dUuDWq4Yoe7n092yWhDFC-RPhVjE8qhDd2FwSziTlg1jIWfHhdgJG7vHdR_GoFeqGpo/s320/ranchseasoningmix_drybuttermilk.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Check the spice section at your grocery store.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span class="ingredient"><span class="name"></span></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">But even dry buttermilk is easy to find. A quick trip to the supermarket and you can make ranch seasoning for pennies on the dollar. Here we go.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSMXYciYl2Nsdk5cLnkziW5gLvHuwVl2Q0qV2REE3y-xhZV8VGlZjmg4EtPiFC6YlUu271TO1tbsyYsqKv5jldHX3g7k-4gCJ-v_q4E_K5_thmIUbT2ipTNJcQv-0nO7ECJcQZhel58bc/s1600/ranchseasoningmix_unassembled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSMXYciYl2Nsdk5cLnkziW5gLvHuwVl2Q0qV2REE3y-xhZV8VGlZjmg4EtPiFC6YlUu271TO1tbsyYsqKv5jldHX3g7k-4gCJ-v_q4E_K5_thmIUbT2ipTNJcQv-0nO7ECJcQZhel58bc/s320/ranchseasoningmix_unassembled.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All the ingredients ready for a quick mix</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b>Ingredients:</b></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
1/3 cup dry buttermilk<br />
1 tablespoon dried parsley flakes</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">1 and 1/2 teaspoons salt <br />
1 teaspoon dried dill<br />
1 teaspoon onion powder<br />
1 teaspoon dried onion flakes <br />
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder <br />
1/4 teaspoon ground pepper</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b>Directions:</b> Place all ingredients in your food processor and whirl for a minute just to blend and crumble those parsley and onion flakes. Store in an airtight container. Mason jars work great.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVAzAQQa1k8s4__wqqnw5th966VdBXUMpAc48aGno0h07SuaZM5iHKiTamIhdzMpinNMY4c_ZswLyMBCAUgBNuhYg8NqDJn3WiXU1rinOaFdOo55dWjES6G80l4CfDUtjwaoV4k9dtPiw/s1600/ranchseasoningmix_final_250px.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVAzAQQa1k8s4__wqqnw5th966VdBXUMpAc48aGno0h07SuaZM5iHKiTamIhdzMpinNMY4c_ZswLyMBCAUgBNuhYg8NqDJn3WiXU1rinOaFdOo55dWjES6G80l4CfDUtjwaoV4k9dtPiw/s320/ranchseasoningmix_final_250px.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Light, garden-y and so easy</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Now I warn you, the finished seasoning won't be the knock-your-socks-off salt bomb that most commercial ranch powders are. But you can tweak the salt if you want that. This is a subtler, fresher, more garden-y and less chemical-y seasoning. Use it to <b>season chicken breasts</b> as a rub or as part of a marinade, add it to your own baked cracker recipe like I did, or mix it with mayo and milk for a fresh, <b>sugar-free</b> and <b>gluten-free</b> salad dressing. You're sure to enjoy it. </div><ul class="clr" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></ul></div>Morekelkelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04459548900611314182noreply@blogger.com33