1 Year Blog Birthday and a Giveaway

Can you believe it’s been one year already since I started this adventure?  I can’t.  The time has flown by so fast.

When I started this journey a year ago I never would have thought that I would have the privilege to call some pretty amazing people my new friends.  I have met bakers, cooks, crafters, DIY’ers, and techy tip givers.  You are all amazing and I feel honored that you would call me your friend.

I am still amazed every day by the thoughtfulness of others, who don’t really know me, (but it’s okay, I really am quite normal) but talk to me as if we are old friends.  You give advice when asked and sweet comments when you visit.  I would love to meet each and every one of you in person one day.  We would be the best of friends I’m sure.

Please join in the celebration with the wonderful giveaways I'm hosting this week.

We will start the celebrating with an awesome giveaway from Downtown Tape, a new Washi Tape company that has AMAZING prices on their tape.  If you can believe this, ALL their washi tape is just $1.99 a roll with a FLAT shipping price of $2.95 no matter if you buy 1 or 25 rolls.  WooHoo!

I ordered some a few weeks ago and this is what I've been doing with it.

Wrapping gifts and making tags

Holiday cards and Birthday cards

 Important numbers to pin to the fridge

 Busy books for little ones on the go

I could have played with this stuff until I had none left!  It’s that fun.  My very favorite thing about washi is that you don’t always need scissors because it tears really easily.  Oh, and all the fun patterns it comes in too!  Downtown Tape has washi for any occasion, celebration, or holiday.

Downtown Tape is offering up 10 rolls + 25 tags for this first giveaway. YEA!

 Thank you again to Downtown Tape for their wonderful donation for this giveaway :)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This giveaway is only open to US residents
I'll see you back tomorrow with another wonderful giveaway :)

Creative Thursday Link Party No. 26

Happy October!

We finally made it!

I am so ready for this stinkin' heat to LEAVE California!  How about you?  How's the weather in your neck of the woods?

Wanna know a secret?

Saturday is my one year Blog Anniversary.

I can't believe it's going to be here so fast, the time has flown by.  I will be kicking off the Anniversary celebration on Friday with FREE STUFF! So be sure to stop back by and check it out.  I'll have several days of giveaways.  

You guys outdid yourselves last week with the biggest link party yet!  We had 171 shared posts last week.  WooHoo!  Give yourselves a pat on the back.  Thank you SO much for your new and continued friendships. I KNOW I have the bestest group of blogging buddies out there!

Here are last weeks most view posts

1.  Burlap Halloween Crafts from Confessions of an ADD Housewife cute projects for the kiddos.

2.  Pumpkin Pie Cookies from Cooking Morning NooNight pie and cookies together, YUM!

Featured Favorites 

1.  Fall Garland and Banners from Tales of the Scotts super cute fall decorations.

2.  Homemade Oreo's from Babblings and More delish!

3.  Apple Crumble Pie from Life's Simple Measures perfect fall pie!

4.  DIY Candy Jars with Chalk Labels from The Crafty Blogstalker super cute way to use mason jars.

5.  Lunch Box Smoothies from A Casarella Brilliant way to perk up the kiddos lunch box while keeping their lunch cold at the same time.

6.  Simple Meatballs and Pasta from Simple Living with Diane Balch best looking meatballs I've seen.

7.  Fall Hutch Decorations from Kathe with an E best looking hutch ever!

8.  Pumpkin Pie Spiced White Hot Chocolate from Chocolate, Chocolate and More go make this now, YUM!

Congrats to all who were featured ~ Don't forget to grab a button from the sidebar

Now on to the party!

Here’s the nitty gritty:

 Link to the specific post for something YOU have created – recipe, DIY, craft, idea.  Link to a specific post NOT your main blog page.

 Please NO ETSY shops or giveaways.

 Please link back to me somewhere in your post or post my button on your blog

 Party runs through Monday night each week so link up as many times as you like.

 Be sure to spread the love and visit other posts and leave a comment.

Funfetti Donuts

Well I finally hopped on the donut bandwagon.  I bought two large and one mini donut pan and have been trying baked donut recipes like crazy.  My favorite to make (and my hubby and Shelley's favorite) are by far the Funfetti ones I came up with a few weeks ago.  If you love donuts, you'll love these.

Here's what you need:

2 cups flour
3/4 cup sugar
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
3/4 cup buttermilk or whole milk
1 egg
1/3 cup canola or vegetable oil
2 tsp. vanilla
1/4 cup sprinkles

Glaze and topping

1 cup powdered sugar
1-1/2 Tbs. milk, whole
1 tsp. vanilla

3/4 cup sprinkles

Pre heat oven to 375 degrees.  Spray two large donut pans with cooking spray and set aside.

In a bowl whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt; set aside.

 

In a large bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer whisk together oil, sugar, egg, vanilla, and buttermilk until combined.

 

Next, dump in the flour mixture and stir until smooth.

Pour in the 1/4 cup of sprinkles and stir to combine.

Scrape the dough into a zip bag (I used a quart size) then zip closed, forcing the air out as you go.

Snip off a small corner piece and fill each well almost all the way full.  It should make 12.

Bake for 9-11 minutes for regular size and 6-8 minutes for the mini size.

When the donuts are done they will spring back when gently pressed with your finger.

Remove from oven and turn out onto a wire cooling rack to cool.

 

While donuts are cooling mix the glaze by pouring the powdered sugar into a bowl and adding the vanilla and milk and stirring until completely smooth.  If too runny add a Tablespoon more of powdered sugar at a time until the right consistency.  If too thick add a teaspoon more of milk at a time until the right consistency.

 

In another dish pour the remaining sprinkles and set aside.

First dip the donuts into the glaze (wiping off excess on the bowl) and then into the sprinkles (about half way up the donut) giving the donut a slight twist to coat well.

 

Set on wire rack while finishing the rest.  Here are both sizes of these cutie donuts.

 

Enjoy!

Serves - 1 dozen regular size and a whole bunch mini :)

Here is the handy printable - Funfetti Donuts 

You can find me each week linking up to these wonderful blogs

Crock Pot Applesauce Pork Chops

The other day while on Pinterest I found this recipe from Frosted Bake Shop and adapted it slightly to make this delicious crock pot dinner for my family.  I was a little skeptical at first because of the ingredients but it was DELISH!  I hope you'll give it a try and let me know what you think.

Here's what you need:

4-6 Boneless pork chops
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
16 oz. can tomato sauce
1 cup applesauce
1/4 cup. apple cider vinegar

Salt and pepper each pork chop on both sides and place in the bottom of the crock pot.

 

Pour applesauce over the top of the pork chops.

Next mix the brown sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl then pour over the applesauce.

 

Pour the apple cider vinegar over the brown sugar mixture.

 

Next add the tomato sauce and stir a little to combine the sauce.

Cook on high for 4-5 hours or low for 8 hours.

Super easy and extremely tasty weeknight crock pot dinner.

Enjoy!

Serves 4 - 6

Here's the handy printable - Crock Pot Applesauce Pork Chops 

You can find me each week linking up to these wonderful blogs.

Creative Thursday Link Party No. 25

Welcome to Creative Thursday No. 25

I hope everyone had an amazing week!  Mine was pretty normal around here.

  I actually got a couple of crafts made and posted this week,  Yea me!

I am off for the weekend with my girlfriends for a much needed trip to the mountains. Woohoo!  I will keep you posted via Twitter and FB on all our shenanigans :)

You guys have been linking up some amazing crafts for the Fall and some wonderful recipes and DIY's too.  I am finding it harder and harder to find featured favorites each week because everything is so wonderful!

I can't wait to see what you all share this week, but first, we have our weekly most viewed and featured favorites (in no particular order) to see.....

Pumpkin Carob Protien Donuts from Sensual Appeal a vegan recipe with lots of YUM!
Baked Apple Pie Tortilla Rolls from Sweet Little Bluebird.  Let me tell you these are AMAZING!  I know, I made them yesterday!

1.  Book Page Podge Shoes from Salt Tree I want to do this to all my shoes!
2.   Samoa Brownies from Flavors by Four no more waiting for Girl Scouts to sell cookies :)
3.  Jewelry Organization from Three Kendrick Blessings every woman needs this!
4.  Chicken Enchilada Lasagna from Go Ahead...Take A Bite! mouthwatering wonderful!
5.  Glittery Pumpkin Cookies from Lizy B beautiful Halloween cookies and a cute joke
6.   Pumpkin Maple Waffles from Sweet Boutique do I really need to say anything?  Just go make these!
7. Chicken Parmesan Meatloaf from What's Cooking, Love? looks delish!
8.  DIY countdown calendars from Tales of the Scotts I want one for every holiday.

Congrats to all who were featured ~ Don't forget to grab a button from the sidebar

Now on to the party!

Here’s the nitty gritty:

 Link to the specific post for something YOU have created – recipe, DIY, craft, idea.  Link to a specific post NOT your main blog page.

 Please NO ETSY shops or giveaways.

 Please link back to me somewhere in your post or post my button on your blog

 Party runs through Monday night each week so link up as many times as you like.

Be sure to spread the love and visit other posts and leave a comment.