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| What my daughters really want for Christmas |
Maybe another kitty is in order.
Are you giving a pet as a gift this year?
Maybe another kitty is in order.
Are you giving a pet as a gift this year?
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| Dark Chocolate Chip Cookies
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You are going to love these simple, yummy cookies! Our plate didn't look like that for long.
The very best part is this is a no egg recipe so your kiddies~ and you can eat the dough!
Stir up a batch of fun and happy memories today with your family. Enjoy!
The Basic Chocolate Chip Drop Cookie
Yield: 3 to 5 dozen, depending on cookie size
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cooking Time: 9 to 11 minutes (longer with larger cookies)
Ingredients:
· 2 cups (1 12-ounce bag) chocolate chips
· 2 sticks butter, margarine or shortening, softened
· 1 ½ cups sugar (or brown sugar or both blended)
· 3 tablespoons water
· 3 tablespoons oil
· 2 teaspoons vanilla
· 2 ¼ cups flour
· 2 teaspoons baking powder
· 1 teaspoon baking soda
· 1 teaspoon salt
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 375°.
2. In large mixer bowl, beat margarine and sugar until creamy.
3. Beat in water, oil, and vanilla.
4. Stir together dry ingredients, gradually add to sugar mixture.
5. Drop dough by rounded spoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets.
6. Bake at 375° for 9 to 11 minutes, until golden.
7. Leave on cookie sheets for a few minutes, then transfer to cooling racks. Store in an airtight container.
I've also baked up a few dozen Old Fashioned Oatmeal Raisin Cookies which turned out really well I think in large part because I used dark brown sugar.
What is your favorite cookie recipe? Please share!
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| Email Overload |
I have been a fan of Amy at Blogging with Amy for almost as long as I've been blogging. Her advice is spot on and usually very timely. I have learned many tips and tricks from her and this post was just too perfect for me not to share.
I logged on this morning to over 15,000 emails! That is not a typo... 15K staring at me and I knew I had to do something!
Like a beacon in the night, Amy's post: Increase productivity, Unsubscribe liberally caught my eye, thanks in part to my lame attempt to corral my inbox by setting up alerts so there was a handy yellow arrow drawing my eye to it.
Thanks Gmail and Thanks Amy.
After reading her tips, I'm hoping for a streamlined inbox soon. I am say Yes! To Email Bankruptcy!
Need some inbox help? I invite you to read:
Increase productivity. Unsubscribe liberally.
I hope you find this as helpful as I did. Do you have an inbox tip you'd like to share?
Please leave a comment here!
12/5/11: Update: I did it! I am at ZERO in my inbox! Boy, that feels Good! Go ahead, take the plunge and declare email bankruptcy too! It's liberating and Gmail rewards with this sweet note:
No new mail! Want to read updates from your favorite sites? Try Google Reader
I've been taking it easy the last few days, truly enjoying my dear family and the spirit of Thanksgiving.
I tried reaching out to some of my girlfriends before the craziness of the "holidays" set in, but sadly I found several already too busy, or worse too engrossed in their own " stuff" to really connect with me. I got off the phone wondering if the call was even worth it.
This saddens me, because female friendships can be hard-won and tricky to keep, especially as we get older. I try to value the friends I have, but friendship must be reciprocal to thrive! I wondered why they couldn't see all they had to be thankful for? Was I living in my own rosy little world?
I know my best friend is happy and I am so very thankful for her.
But the rest of my circle? I have doubts.
So when I saw this movie over at Simple Truths I just had to share it. Maybe one or two of my " friends" will watch it and realize that alot of the stuff they " talked " with me about is mentioned within.
Oh, and they might also notice that they never stopped to ask me how I was. Maybe they just figured I was still happy-go-lucky me... but it would have been nice for them to check.
In the end, it's all good because I really care about them and I've learned over the years to lighten up and not take everything personally .. but I am going to keep my heart open to new friends.
I hope you will enjoy
Simple Truths-it's not just me
and remember this little diddy:
Make New Friends
But Keep the Old
One is Silver
and the other Gold
How do to stay connected with your friends? How do you invite new friends into your circle?
Praise rises from thankful hearts, bringing heaven a little closer, making life a little sweeter.
In this bounty of blessings we call family, friends, and home are found the very reasons that hearts can overflow with thankfulness, with happiness, with love.
Wishing you Thanksgiving joy.
I was only too happy to do a review for BzzAgent and Purell considering I buy hand sanitizers in bulk and we use them throughout the year.
I received this Bzz Kit:
I received this Bzz Kit:
4 Jelly wrap carriers with mini oz. bottles of Purell and pass-along coupons that you can win in my 1st ever giveaway!
Do you like dollar off coupons as much as I do? How about ones with no expiration date?
Enter my contest below to win ( 5) $ 1.00 off coupons for Purell products * oz. or larger.
The Review:
Over the years, we have tried a plethora of hand sanitizers trying to find just the right combination of:
Thanks BzzAgent and Purell for giving me the opportunity to review, share and host my 1st giveaway.
Do you like dollar off coupons as much as I do? How about ones with no expiration date?
Enter my contest below to win ( 5) $ 1.00 off coupons for Purell products * oz. or larger.
The Review:
Over the years, we have tried a plethora of hand sanitizers trying to find just the right combination of:
· Scent: my family won’t use overly scented ones, especially my husband who never wants to smell like a scented candle.
· Dry time: Those with Aloe or Lotion are nice, but they take forever to dry! Not good at lunch or snack time at school for my girls, or for a quick squirt after getting back in the car while shopping.
· Ease of Use: A good pump and/or an easy open top goes a long way with us.
I am very happy to say Purell meets all of our needs and I would highly recommend this product!
· Purell is easy and convenient to use: both my girls hooked theirs to their backpacks and use them at school daily before eating lunch or snacks.
I carry mine in my purse and use it all the time! Especially while shopping; after I see a runny nose or a cougher right by what I’m getting ready to pick up.
Hubby put his in his truck so he can quickly stash it in a pocket before he enters stores or meetings.
· Purell has a mild, pleasant scent, gentle on our hands, not over drying with moisturizers and vitamin E and dry quickly without ever feeling sticky!
Thanks BzzAgent and Purell for giving me the opportunity to review, share and host my 1st giveaway.
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| Courtesy of www.bhg.com
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They say: There’s Still Time to Plant Bulbs for Spring!
Don’t hang up your trowel just yet! There’s still plenty of time to plant spring-flowering bulbs. In fact, it’s better to plant them late this year than to try to store them for planting next year."
I am very glad to hear this because I have been itching to do just one more project before Old Man Winter Takes over completely. Are you a gardener too? Here are some BHG links for you:
•Best Tulips for Your Garden
•Deer- and Rabbit-Resistant Bulbs
•Design Ideas from the Dutch
•Add Spring Color to Your Lawn
•Planting Tips
The first link, Best Tulips for your garden is where I discovered the amazing yellow Tarda Tulip above!
While you are there, don't forget to grab a free bulb and perennial plan here. With it, you can plan and dream and have a garden like this next spring.
Isn't that pretty? It helps take the sting out of this blustery morning! I'd like it if you'd come back and let me know which Tulip you loved. I had such a hard time choosing just one.
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