The Socially Stunning Giveaway

Socially speaking, what can I say... a best friend is better than any diamond in the world. I promise you that. She let's you cry, whine, nag, be silly, make a fool of yourself, and she never judges. She tells you how it is, and you tell her back. It is a love that never fails. I have two wonderful best friends. One of which lives LITERALLY across the country and it pains me each day I have to accomplish something without her, endure something without her, or experience something without her. We can go days or weeks without talking, and pick up right where we left off when we get to talk again. We've gone years without seeing each other, and recently, she came here to see me get married. It was as if we had never been apart. She recently opened a business, and I am happy to support her in this endeavor, and let you all gain from this accomplishment of hers! Maybe you want something pretty for your hand or around your neck, or maybe you send this as a special gift to your best friend. But either way...

....Are you ready to win some more pretty little things? Somer Chic Boutique and Wonderful at Home have gotten together to give out some beautiful pieces of jewelry! Entering this giveaway is as easy as clicking that mouse.... All you have to do is follow the instructions below, and you could easily have 6..... YES folks, that is 6 entries to win one of these fab pieces! Check them out below - you won't be disappointed!

Entry-Form

“True friends are like diamonds – bright, beautiful, valuable, and always in style.” 
― Nicole Richie

The Most Creative Week Linky Party!

Thanks to all those who participated in this weeks linky party! Here are the featured stories from this week!

First, we have this beautiful china cabinet re-do by PJH Designs. It is just too beautiful for words!

Next, we have this amazing "Awkward Entry re-do" by Girl in the Garage. This mirror is enough to catch your eye with its amazing color and vivid detail, but check out how she did this!

Last, but not least, we have these "to drool for" coookies by The Cottage Diaries. I have to admit, this week I did not have time to make them due to being ill - but they ARE on my list to make soon!

Again, thank you for the love and support you all sent our way. Please don't forget to enter the giveaway that is going on RIGHT NOW at: http://wonderfulathome.blogspot.com/2013/02/the-socially-stunning-giveaway.html

ENJOY!


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Welcome folks! Here we are at Wonderful at Home's FIRST linky party! It's where DIY, crafts, decor, antique lovers, giveaways, guest posts, inspiration, or anything else related goes to party! The party will be up Saturday through Saturday. Monday, we will feature the top three visited links!

Here is what we ask:

1. PLEASE do not put the same link up more than once, but feel free to add as many links as you want!

2. PLEASE be kind and become a follower through at least one of the following ways:

• Google Friend Connect (GFC) - Found on the sidebar of my blog
• Facebook for Wonderful at Home
• Pinterest for Wonderful at Home

3. PLEASE find your favorite post by Wonderful at Home and comment, as well as check out other links in the party!

By linking up, you are agreeing that you either own the photos you linked up, or you have permission to use them. You also agree that we may use those photos to feature your project in a blog post, on Facebook, or Pinterest, with a link back to your blog.  Any inappropriate content will be removed immediately, as this is a family friendly, and conservative blog. Spam will also be removed ASAP.
Most of all - HAVE FUN!

"I'm so crafty, I sweat glitter"

Ice Cream without the guilt! - Pinterest recipe review

Who doesn't like ice cream? Well, I should say I "like" it, not LOVE it. I always feel so full and fat and just go into a sugar coma when I eat it, probably because of my insulin resistance.  This recipe is great for Mothers who want to limit their children's sugar intake, or their husbands! So, when I came across this "No guilt" Ice Cream, I knew I had to try it. Let's get started! 

Here's what we need:

• 4 Bananas cut into slices and frozen
• 2 t of dutch process cocoa powder (use regular cocoa powder if you have trouble finding the dutch process like I did - it will be ok)
• 2T of peanut butter
• Food processor
• spatula 

After you have frozen the banana slices, put them into the food processor and start grinding them up. DO NOT FREEZE WHOLE BANANAS - you wont be able to grind them up that big! You will notice that it becomes kind of gravely (which is ok). You may have to open the food processor up and scrape the sides several times.  Keep running the food processor until you have a whipped mixture.

Put in the cocoa and the peanut butter and keep mixing until it is all mixed together. You can eat it right away, or put it in the freezer so it becomes more frozen. 

I would give this a definite thumbs up!

Suggestions:

• Use a larger food processor. I only have a small one (I've had a big one on my list to pick up, but keep forgetting). It was hard to fit everything in the small one, and the bananas on top kept getting stuck on top. That's why you can see my ice cream has some lumps and bumps in it, although I won't mind, I love bananas!

Variations:

• After you have mastered this, I would suggest trying different variations like: adding flaxseed, adding other fruit to go with the bananas like berries, adding Greek yogurt, using crunchy peanut butter and other mix ins.
• Tell me what mix in's you look forward to trying!

Pinterest link:

http://pinterest.com/pin/505458758148149047/

“Without ice cream, there would be darkness and chaos.” 
― Don Kardong

Cream Cheese Monkey Bread - Pinterest Recipe Review

When I found this on Pinterest... I drooled all over my computer screen. It was an instant HIT in my head.... But, there have been other Pinterest recipes that I have made, which made me question my judgement, so I couldn't vouch for the cream cheese monkey bread if I didn't actually make it. Which is exactly what I did.

Here is what we need:
2 Cans of refrigerated Pillsbury Buttermilk flaky biscuits (out of the can)
8oz block of cream cheese
2/3 cup of brown sugar
2/3 cup of granulated sugar
1 table of cinnamon
3/4 cup of butter
Bundt pan (spray with cooking spray)

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.  Mix together in a medium bowl, both sugars, and the cinnamon, then set aside
• Separate the discs of biscuits so that you have 20 total discs between the two cans, and lay the discs out on a cookie sheet
• Cut the cream cheese into 20 small cubes, and place into the middle of each disc, and scrunch up the sides around the cream cheese
• Melt the butter on the stove or in the microwave, and set aside
• Place 10 of the discs, cheese side up around the bundt pan. sprinkle half the sugar mixture and half the butter over the discs
• Place the other 10 discs on top, cheese side down. Sprinkle the rest of the sugar mixture and pour the rest of butter over the top

Bake for 40 minutes. Invert onto a serving dish and serve warm. Refrigerate leftovers for up to 3 days.

Suggestions: I used a rather large bundt pan, and I felt it didn't cook through as well as it should have. You may want to experiment with the size bunt pan, and how thick your discs on the bottom were. 

Two thumbs up from Wonderful at Home!

Pinterest link:
http://pinterest.com/pin/505458758148137754/

One of the very nicest things about life is the way we must regularly stop whatever it is we are doing and devote our attention to eating.  ~Luciano 

Enjoy!

This was linked up at


And also

• The Farmhouse Porch

"No Bake" Apple Bars

Well... I was on my "no bake energizing and not too fattening recipe kick", when I found this Betty Crocker gem and thought - hey! Might as well try it! I am glad I did. My husband actually LOVES them and he has been having them as his "dessert", which makes me so happy!

Here is what we will need:

• 1 1/2 of dried apples - finely chopped
• 1/2 cup chopped pecans
• 3 cups whole grain Total cereal
• 1/3 cup of honey
• 1/4 cup of golden raisins
• 1 T. of packed brown sugar
• 1/3 cup of peanut butter
• 1/4 cup of apple butter
• 1/2 t. of ground cinnamon
• 1/2 cup of old fashioned quick cooking oats
• 1/4 cup of dry roasted sunflower nuts

1st step:

Line bottom and sides of 8-inch square pan with foil; spray foil with cooking spray. Sprinkle 1/2 cup of the apples and 1/4 cup of the pecans over bottom of pan. Place cereal in resealable food-storage plastic bag; seal bag and coarsely crush with rolling pin or meat mallet. Set aside.

2nd step:

In 4-quart Dutch oven, heat 1/2 cup of the apples, the honey, raisins and brown sugar to boiling over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat to medium. Cook uncovered about 1 minute, stirring constantly, until hot and bubbly; remove from heat.

3rd step:

Stir peanut butter into cooked mixture until melted. Stir in apple butter and cinnamon. Stir in oats and sunflower nuts until well mixed. Stir in crushed cereal.

4th step:

Press mixture very firmly (or bars will crumble) and evenly onto apples and pecans in pan. Sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup apples and 1/4 cup pecans; press lightly into bars. Refrigerate about 2 hours or until set. For bars, cut into 4 rows by 3 rows. Store covered in refrigerator.

Suggestions: I highly suggest that you chop up or crush the pecans to VERY small pieces, or you may find them falling all over the place instead of sticking.

One of the very nicest things about life is the way we must regularly stop whatever it is we are doing and devote our attention to eating. -Luciano Pavarotti

Here is the link on Pinterest:

http://pinterest.com/pin/505458758148136700/

Enjoy!