{SweetTalk Shop} SweetTalkin' Sunday #3

Thanks for stopping by!!

I would love for you to link up your favorite creative idea, recipe, or post.

SweetTalkin' Sunday Link Party!

Here are the rules:

• Add a direct link to a blog post along with it's title (not the title of your blog). 
• Please no shops or giveaways  
• Visit some links above, below and beside you and spread some SweetTalk' blog love.  
• If you link up, your photo may be used in a follow-up blog post. This link gives me that permission.  
• Again, no Etsy shops or Giveaways

Grab my button and place on your blog to help me spread the word.




<center><a href="http://www.thesweettalkshop.com/"><img border="0" src="http://i908.photobucket.com/albums/ac290/thesweettalkshop/SweetTalkinSundayButton-1.png" /></a></center>

{SweetTalk Shop} I'm Learning

Okay so you all know I decided to take an on-line Blog Designer class.

I have had the privilege of learning from April of The Blog Designers Network.

Well I tried to put that teaching to good use today, but as they say it is hard to teach an old chic new tricks.

So when this sweet gal Kandi contacted me to do some updates to her blog I was quite happy to help,

but also apprehensive of doing something wrong.

Kandi was a real GEM she was very patient and kind. 

Kandi's blog, Gluten Free for Jen, features recipes and such and is dedicated to her daughter Jen.

Both she and Jen have been diagnosed with being Gluten Intolerant.

And after almost 40 e-mails between us we got her

going on something we are both very proud of.

Here is a screen shot of what Kandi's page looked like before.

And here the after screen shot.

I did this as a learning experience. I was not compensated other than she will be giving me a

BIG shout out for my help.

I want to thank Sara of  SaMiE Designs for sharing my blog with Kandi.

It started with an e-mail

I got an e-mail today from my MIL (Mother-in-Law). So I have to believe that whatever she sends me is for real, right???  Well this one sounded like something I had to try, so if you get the e-mail from your MIL or your Mom or any other loved one you can comment wisely with,

"that is a joke" or "I've known about that forever!!!"

The e-mail was titled 3-2-1 Cake!

They had me at Cake!! (right Kim??)

Well it really is for a small snack cake, I think this should be called

Empty Nesters Snack Cake.

When you want cake but don't really want to cook a whole one and eat just one slice.

Like that would really happen!!

Here is what it said to do;

mix 1 cake mix of your choice and 1 Angel Food cake mix (1 of them has to the Angel Food)

it says because it already has the eggs and whatever else you need to make a cake.

blend cake mixes together really good

in a microwave safe bowl mix 3 Tablespoons of the mix

Really that is not a typo, remember it is only a snack!!!

with 2 Tablespoons of water

Cook on high in microwave for 1 minute

this is what it will look like after it is cooked.

remove from bowl and enjoy!!!

As you can see I added a few little goodies. I added chocolate chips.

It wasn't bad for a snack, but nothing really beats the real thing.

side note: this was the second one I cooked. The first one was way too wet, and kinda dull.

That is the reason for the added goodies. 

Mr. B said 2 thumbs down on the first, I said it wasn't bad.

Mr. B gave this one 1 1/2 thumbs up. And I said it was lots better.

You can imagine I still have a ton of mix left. 

Guess who I will be visiting tomorrow!!!

You got it MIL-FIL and my Parents! 

They are Empty Nesters.

3-2-1 Cake

3 Tablespoons cake mix

2 Tablespoons water

1 minute to cook in microwave 

I linked up to Fabulously Flawed



Help Me Grow...Or Really This Here Blog!

And that would be Erika over at Bliss Images and Beyond!!!

Thanks Erika!!



She awarded this here blog with the Liebster Award.

Liebster is German and means 'dearest' or 'beloved' but it can also mean 'favorite'. The idea of the Liebster award is to bring attention to blogs with less than 200 followers. So, in the spirit of good fun I am passing this award on to 5 other bloggers.

Please click over and visit them. Then decide if they may be one of your new favorite blogs!

The RULES are:

1. Show your thanks to the blogger who gave you the award by linking back to them.
2. Reveal your five picks for the award and let them know.
3. Post the award on your blog.
4. Bask in the love from the most supportive people on the blogshare-other bloggers.
5. Finally and the best rule of all.......have fun and spread the love!

It's now my turn to pass the award along. And the Liebster goes to.....in No Particular Order!!!

Amy at Blissful Blooms


Cheryl at Fresh Vanilla for C


Mary at Sweet Little Bluebird


Bethany at Happy Homemaker Me


Cineca at Dreamin' N Details

So go give 'em some blog love!!!



SweetTalkin' Sunday #2

Thanks for stopping by!!

I would love for you to link up your favorite dreative idea, recipe, or post.

SweetTalkin' Sunday Link Party!

Here are the rules:

• Add a direct link to a blog post along with it's title (not the title of your blog).
• Please no shops or giveaways 
• Visit some links above, below and beside you and spread some SweetTalk' blog love. 
• If you link up, your photo may be used in a follow-up blog post. This link gives me that permission. 
• Again, no Etsy shops or Giveaways 
• Grab my button and place on your blog to help me spread the word.

<center><a href="http://www.thesweettalkshop.com/"><img border="0" src="http://i908.photobucket.com/albums/ac290/thesweettalkshop/SweetTalkinSundayButton-1.png" /></a></center>

Love this Wedding Video!!!

Loved this so much on my friend Mary's site, Sweet Little Bluebird, I wanted to share it with all of you!

I truly hope when my boys get married they come up with something memorable like this.

So much fun to watch!

Enjoy!

Congratulations to this newly married couple!!

What's for Lunch??

I have today off work in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

I love these kinds of lazy days, where I am not in a rush to get out the door and be at work at 7am.

But there seems to always be a dilemma too.

Where lunch is concerned.

So I went searching in my fridge and found some things to throw together to make a sandwich.

I also boiled some eggs to add to the mix!

I chopped the eggs, chicken breast and olives real fine and mixed with the Miracle Whip,

slapped it on a hamburger bun and lunch was served.

It was full of flavor!!!

It looks like I added mustard, but I just used really fresh eggs from the

 neighbors' free range chickens.

And it didn't last long.  Well this sandwich didn't! I have some left to take to work for lunch tomorrow.

That is if after dinner with my parents tonight, I don't come home with a big bowl of

chicken and yellow rice.  She makes the best. Now that is for a future blog post.

 

SweetTalkin' Sunday #1

Thanks for stopping by!!

I would love for you to link up to the very first

SweetTalkin' Sunday Link Party!

Here are the rules:

• Add a direct link to a blog post along with it's title (not the title of your blog).
• Please no shops or giveaways
• Visit some links above, below and beside you and spread some SweetTalk' blog love.
• If you link, your photo may be used in a follow-up blog post. This link gives me that permission.
• Again, no Etsy shops or Giveaways
• Grab my button and place on your blog to help me spread the word.

<center><a href="http://www.thesweettalkshop.com/"><img border="0" src="http://i908.photobucket.com/albums/ac290/thesweettalkshop/SweetTalkinSundayButton-1.png" /></a></center>

Now start linking up and pinning your favorite!!!

I can't wait to see what you all have been working on!!

{Sunday Pinning} Valentine Inspiration

Do you love Pinterest???

I sure do!!  I'm somewhat addicted!!

I love how Pinterest caters to the visual person that I am and then takes me to the source for further info.

Here are my Sunday finds I put them on my Valentine Board for later reference (less than a month).

Let me know if you are all about Pinterest, what have you found lately??

Sources:

1. Apron

2.TuTu

3. Wreath

4. Cupcakes in a Jar

5. Bracelet

6. Candle Decorations

7. Photo Op

8. Popcorn/Candy Treat

If you haven't been invited to join Pinterest leave me your e-mail and I'll send you an invite.

If you would like to follow my boards, click here.

Sharing My Blog Reading Finds!!!

I read a ton of blogs, really I'm not kidding!!! Have you checked my blog roll??

I'm not a big TV watcher, but I do love me some Leroy Jethro Gibbs!!! 

Yep, a rerun is on as I type this!!

I want to share a few things I found around Blog Land.



Anna ~ My Life and Kids

 I found some great tips on how to be a really good friend!!

You never know what Anna, from My Life and Kids, is going to write about. I have to say, I learned a few

 

tidbits and had a great laugh in the process.  She is a HOOT and I am so happy to have found her blog.

 

 Mr. B even likes to read what she may have to say!!

 

 

 

 

Jen ~ Life, Crafts and Whatever

I found Jen's Blog from a Linky Party both she and I participated in last year. 

She shares her life, crafts and all the in between.

I found this post on Friday and had Mr. B running to the store with me just to get the Dawn.

We have had problems with hard water and soap scum.

And needed the Soap Scum Killa!!!  I promise you will not be disappointed!!!

Stacy ~ Not Just a Housewife

She has a DIY Blog. Currently she has contest going on for the best DIY project from 2011.  She had 774

 entrants and has narrowed it down to the top 10.  They are all great, but the one from The Rooster and

Hen really caught my attention. Lil C has needed a headboard for some time and I think we will just have to

visit the Pallet Place soon!!! Check them out and cast your vote!!

Stacy's blog is where I found my next painting project!! You can see it here.

Our Hiding Place

I pinned this in Pinterest some time ago and just showed it to Mr. B.  Now I think we may just have

something like this in our kitchen soon!!!! Along with the painting project from above.

There have been many more that I've read, and I'm sure in the future I'll let you know all about them.

Now I have to run and get ready for my 2nd online Blog Designer Class!!

Do you have a favorite blog??  Would you share it with me??



First Week of Homework

My Oh My I made it through my first week of school and homework.

I guess I should say first 4 days.

I work full-time and waited on pins and needles for the video to

watch again and listen to things I know I missed live. So I could get all my

homework done over the weekend.

Above was the first one I did first thing after getting the video.

I listened and then went to the design program.

Back and forth, back and forth. Took me hours and hours. 

But it was fun learning and trying to remember what April said to do.

This one was during the Denver game. 

I will tell you I am so happy DENVER won!!!

Been a Broncos fan since Elway days!!!  But I love Tebow too!!!

Oh yeah, back to the designing!

Personally I like them both and I'm excited to hear what the instructor will say. 

I didn't send her the file with the big "The SweetTalk Shop" watermark.

Wonder if it would have made a difference. LOL

I have my next class on Thursday, but until then.

I will be practicing, practicing, practicing.

 

Home = LOVE

I'm not one to gather supplies, take pictures of products or items I used to create the project I'm working on. More like, after its all done wish I would have.

I used these letters while making these!

I wanted to use them in my new craft room Mr. B redid for me back in the summer.

I wanted my family to see them when they came home and be reminded that LOVE lives here and that no

matter what happened while they were away, this is a haven feeled with love.

So I gathered some beautiful scrap paper, traced the letters, cut them out and used

Mod Podge to adhere it to the letter cardboard shapes.

I picked this wonderfully crafted olive green paper with leaves for the letters L,V and E.

And then the O I wanted to be different so I found this spectacular Golden~Green paper. I'm not kidding it

is so pretty I almost didn't want to cut it. (but I knew I still have another piece in my stash!!)

I got the flower clip from Rae-Berry Beads and More at the Fall FL Bloggers Meet-up.

I think it gives it a nice touch.

This cork wall is where I post most of the custom party invites I have done in the past.

And this is what my family will see when they walk in from a long day away from home.

And here is a close up! Maybe you can see the Gold Metallic look of the "O".

I love that the flower matches my logo too!!

Going Back to School

I'm going back to school!!! 

I can't believe I just typed that!!! I'm a nervous wreck!!!! 

Online school that is and just for a few short weeks and

really only a couple of hours out of my week dedicated to being hooked up

to my computer to listen to the teacher and play on my laptop.

I decided to join The Blog Designer Network's Training on designing blogs for Blogger and Wordpress!!

I think I am as nervous as I am excited!!  My stomach is in knots.

So this will be me for the next 4 Thursday evenings!!

Yep, that is me!!

I'm going to be rolling up my sleeves and and learning from the

comfort of my home on my laptop.  I can't imagine going back to a traditional classroom,

I went the route of some college and then wanted to get married and have a family.

And as much as I am happy with my life there in never a time that I want to stop learning. 

 Thanks Terry for your encouragement and wise words to me today to sign up for

 this course.  I know you only have my best interest at heart. 

 I love you for it.  I'm blessed to have you as a

chosen sister/friend to share life with.

So at the end of January, you may see a ton of changes around here at

The SweetTalk Shop or I may just find out that school is just not for me.

I designed this blog on my own by reading wonderful tutorials over at

Makin' Cute Blogs (Carolyn has some wonderful ones!!!)

and just searching Google relentlessly until I found the answer to a question I had.

And if you want to see who my inspiration is, check out Crazy for Design!

I met Michele at the FL Party Bloggers Meet Ups last year and she is just a

fabulous person and oh so talented. 

I respect her work so much and I've been in awe of her gift for some time.

If you noticed a few changes to my blog lately it was from the great advice that

Michele was so kind to give me.

And my first class starts in less than 1 1/2 hours!!! EEEKKKK!!!

I'll post later about my experience or demise!!

Wish me Luck!!

{SweetTalk Shop} Cooks

If you are avoiding Carbs then you may just want to skip this whole blog post!!

Mr. B started cooking potatoes like this over the summer. We don't have them often but, let me tell you, when we do we over indulge!!

Here is what you will need. I didn't take a picture of the ingredients.

7 red potatoes

1 large sweet onion

1 large garlic clove

3/4 stick of butter

a little EVOO (Extra Virgin Olive Oil)

salt

Wash potatoes and leave skins on then slice about 3/4 inches thick boil until just tender.

While potatoes are cooking, in a large skillet brown onions in the EVOO, butter and garlic.

Once onions are brown, remove from the buttery oil mixture and place the boiled potatoes in the skillet to brown add a little salt to your liking.

Once you have the potatoes browned to your liking, add the onions back into the skillet with the potatoes.

Cover skillet, remove from heat and let the potatoes and onion flavors mingle and then dig in!!!

Our sons don't like to eat the onions, but they love the flavor of the potatoes cooked this way.

If you do try this, please don't hate me if it becomes a family favorite!!

I know with it just being potatoes you are going to fall in love with them.

Linking up to Tatertots & Jello



The Golden Dinosaur

A memory from 1993. Big C had just gotten the title of "BIG" brother.

I've said in past post how much of a fan Big C was of dinosaurs when he was younger.  And this was before

you had vehicles that were geared to entertain you child while you were driving. We only had the radio, and

I was really good about tuning it out.  I mostly had it on so Big C would have something to listen too besides

the hum of the tires.

Big C with his Dinosaur face!!!

(circa 1993)

If I've never mentioned it, I have a hearing problem so talking to Mommy while she was driving was nearly

impossible unless he screamed. Which Lil C had that market cornered.  He didn't like the car seat so much

in the beginning. 

Ok I'm Rambling, I know I just like to give a little background!!

So let me get to the story!!

We were driving and the radio was on and I'm clearly tuning it out when Big C starts yelling at me that he

wants to go see the Golden Dinosaur!! I'm thinking Big C there is no Golden Dinosaur any where that I

know of. He says yes they said it on the radio.  I tell him I didn't hear it and to let me know next time it

comes on so I can find out where this Golden Dinosaur was, because I wanted to given him the world . In

the mean time I tell Mr. B about it.  And he says well do they have one at this place? 

(image credit)

It was newly open down the road from us and I had taken Big C before he was Big Brother.  

It is a local attraction where we live and we pass it every time we go to visit my parents.

I tell Mr. B, I don't remember. So we asked Big C, was it at Dinosaur World?? 

And he says no, it is on the radio!

So we were determined to figure out what he was up in arms about with this Golden Dinosaur.

A few days later we are in the car again and Big C starts saying Mommy it's on the radio the

Golden Dinosaur, the Golden Dinosaur!!!

So I turn it up so we can hear where this Golden Dinosaur is, and what do I we hear????

An Advertisement for this place!!!

(image credit)

What a laugh we had over this and this memory is forever seared in my brain for life.

I think I should have contacted the source and told them this story!! 

Big C may have become a local celebrity!!

And maybe he would have gotten a Golden Dinosaur out of the deal. 

Oh well, it is good for a chuckle and story to remind him of when he has children and he wants to give them

the world, but can never find the elusive Golden Dinosaur.

This site or myself are not being paid for advertising either of the mentioned sources.

Images shown to truly just tell a story!!

 These businesses are local to my community or surrounding area!!

I'm linking this to My Life and Kids, Finding the Funny!