Get Cookin’ Giveaway!! ~ Win Fab Must-Haves for Spring Cooking!

Get Cookin’ Giveaway!! ~ Win Fab Must-Haves for Spring Cooking!

To celebrate the birthday of my cute blogger friend, Carrian of Sweet Basil, she’s hosting fabulous giveaways this week, one of which I’m happy to be a part of! Let’s waste no time and get right to it. This giveaway is all about spring cooking, so how about some must-have kitchen items, like a new set of pots and pans, Wusthof knife set, and microplane grater?!? Awesome!

Mojito Trifles (Non-Alcoholic) | Baking a Moment

Non-Alcoholic Mojito Trifles (she: Allie)

Hello again, friends! It’s Allie here, from Baking a Moment. Has it warmed up yet, in your neck of the woods? I’m happy to say, Spring has finally sprung here in the Philadelphia area. Yay! It’s about time 😛 Today is balmy and bright, and I just returned from a leisurely morning spent at the little league fields. Bliss!

How was your weekend? I hope you got in lots of relaxation, and good food, and maybe even a cocktail/mocktail or two. Today’s dessert recipe is super-simple, and incorporates all the sweet and citrusy flavor of a mojito. It’s perfect for a backyard barbecue. It’s basically just angel food cake, cubed up and drenched in a minty simple syrup. Just sprinkle with more fresh mint, add a few dollops of lime curd, and top it off with swirls of whipped cream. Lime zest and a sprig of mint make it pretty and amp up the mojito mojo.

washi tape toppers
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2-Minute Washi Tape Toppers (she: Mel)

Hello there, Or So She Says readers! My name is Melissa, but you can me Mel. I blog over at So Festive!, a blog featuring all sorts of simple ideas to make your holidays, parties, and life more festive. I’m super excited to be a new holidays and party contributor here. My entire goal is to share real ideas for real people and inspire you to make life more festive. Because life is to be enjoyed, right? I’ll show you how, simply. I certainly don’t have an endless budget, nor do I always have the time to run to the store to get a last-minute supply. And heaven knows half of my festive ideas come about 15 minutes before the party starts. So I have to improvise. You’d be surprised at how many things you can do with the stuff you already have. My post for today is all about that: using up something you probably have in your craft drawer. Or room. (Whatever type of person you are.) Today’s idea takes just a few minutes, and I think you’ll love it.

Starting Today ~ April 2014 Inspiration
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Starting Today ~ April 2014 Inspiration

I’m sure you’ve heard it said that the hardest part is ‘getting started.’ Isn’t that so true?!? Whether you’re going on a diet, wanting to exercise more, tackle a big project, or draw closer to God… the hardest part is getting started. It really does get easier from there. Something that I’ve learned in life is that it doesn’t matter if you fail, what matters is that you keep trying. We are expected to fail, we are imperfect. It doesn’t make you any less than anyone else. It makes you human. But, by actively trying, we prove that we are anxious for a better life, we exhibit gratitude, we become worthy of His assistance, and we attain blessings. Starting over, trying harder… it’s worth it.

‘Because of Him’ & Photo Challenge ~ April 2014 Inspiration
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‘Because of Him’ & Photo Challenge ~ April 2014 Inspiration

Hope you’re having a wonderful Sunday, my friends. With Easter upon us and swarms of bunny crafts, Easter egg ideas, and savory ham recipes surrounding us, I think it’s always nice to take some time and come back to what Easter is all about: Jesus Christ. I know it’s definitely something I need to do. When I stop and remember Him, what He did for me and why He did it for me, it put the rest of my life in perspective… My troubles seem manageable, I feel humbled, a greater desire to serve others, and comforted, knowing that there is a plan for me and that I, individually, am loved by God. I want those feelings every day. I NEED those feelings every day!

overnight chocolate waffles
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Overnight Chocolate Waffles with Strawberry Syrup (she: Jana)

Hey there Or So She Says readers! It’s Jana from Double the Deliciousness. I’m so excited to bring you one of my favorite, easy and amazingly delicious breakfast recipes today. Overnight Chocolate Waffles….yes, you read that right! And to top that off (literally) I have some delightful freshly made strawberry syrup. Chocolate and strawberry; a match made in heaven.

These are so great for busy mornings, or lazy mornings in my case…I’m so NOT a morning person! I’d way rather stay up an extra 10 minutes to make the batter and then sleep in an extra 10 minutes! In the morning heat up your waffle iron and cook away. The strawberry syrup can be made ahead of time as well, and can also be frozen. So when you find some strawberries on sale, stock up and make a whole bunch of strawberry syrup to freeze. Trust me, you’ll want a lot! These would also be a great Easter morning breakfast. One your whole family will love!

no sew pillow
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DIY No Sew Pillow (She: Carmella)

Hi there! It’s Carmella and I am happy to be back and I’m excited to share this super easy spring project with you all! You only need a few things to make these pillows… and you can leave your sewing machine in the back of the closet where it’s safe from its user, {oh, wait… am I the only one scared of her sewing machine??}. That’s right, this is a no sew pillow you can whip up using a few craft supplies.

White Chocolate Bunny Fudge
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White Chocolate Bunny Fudge (she: Gina)

Easter will be here in just 10 short days & I have the perfect quick treat for you & your Easter guests. When it comes to holiday entertaining- for me quick is key. With so much to do in preparation for gatherings on top of everyday life – I always gravitate to things that come together with minimal prep. This White Chocolate Bunny Fudge certainly fits that requirement & yet they look so great on the buffet table. With just 3 ingredients – you can’t beat it.

Pecan Blondies with Browned Butter Frosting
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Pecan Blondies with Browned Butter Frosting

Wassup, my friends. Okay, these Pecan Blondies with Browned Butter Frosting are soooo good. It seems pretty rare that I’ll try a recipe and know that it’s more than a keeper, it’s a CRAVER! I keep walking past my pan of these, telling myself, ‘Don’t to it. Don’t…. do… it.’ And, then I do it. I snag one more little piece. Then I walk past again like 5 minutes later.

So, I found this recipe in this huge Pillsbury cookbook I’ve had kicking around for years. It was taking up so much space in my cookbook cupboard, that I decided to go through the whole thing and pull out just the recipes I wanted to try.

what's hot in southern california this summer

What’s Hot in Southern California This Summer (she: Kimberly)

Hey all, it’s Kimberly from Get Away Today. I know it seems like spring has just sprung, but before you know it, it will be summer! The kids will be out of school and it will be time to hit the road for the all important summer vacation. Southern California is a happenin’ vacation destination year-round and there’s always something new and exciting going on. This year is no exception, so I wanted to share what’s hot in Southern California this summer at what I call the Big Three – the Disneyland Resort, Universal Studios and SeaWorld. I hope it helps in your summer vacation planning!

Fun Easter Egg Spelling Scramble for #Easter morning. www.orsoshesays.com #games
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Easter Egg Word Scramble – A Spelling Game for Kids! (she: Brooke)

Happy spring Or So She Says readers! It’s Brooke again and I’m happy to be visiting you today from Blissful Roots. Don’t you love this beautiful, refreshing time of year? It’s one of my favorite seasons. Come to think of it, I say that at the beginning of every season, and then by the end of some seasons I’m complaining a bit. But never with spring! Spring could last forever in my book!
Today I have a fun, easy educational holiday game for you to do- an Easter egg word scramble.
When I taught first grade, we did a lot of great activities for our literacy centers. This was always a hit with my students during the weeks leading up to Easter. When I taught, we didn’t use Easter words, we used our spelling and/or high frequency words, but since Easter is just around the corner I think Easter words are perfect for this activity!

easter place setting
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Easter Place Setting Idea … using simple craft supplies (she: Maria)

Hi Everybody! This is Maria from Shopgirl, and I’m excited to be here again to share a fun Easterplace setting idea with you! Can you believe that Easter is just around the corner?! With as long as winter has lasted this year, it’s hard to believe that spring is finally here! I love this time of year; I love that after months of cold, dark and dreary weather (especially this year!) the world all of a sudden becomes beautifully colorful as trees turn green and flowers begin to bloom! You may already be planning your Easter menu and decor (and if not, you still have time!) and I have a fun place setting idea to share with you today! All you need are a couple of craft supplies and you have these cute little Easter egg place settings for your holiday table! Here’s what you’ll need and how you can make these…