You know you want what I got!

It's a SPONSORED Giveaway!

Now you all know that I have two ADHD children, which makes for an interesting life, but it mostly means that staying on task, and being able to find your stuff?  Yeah, um....we spend lots of time at the LOST and FOUND at school.

Mabel's marketing?  GENIUS!

Mabel’s Labels

Labels for the stuff kids lose!^®  

Seriously, it's like they just KNOW my children!

Mabel's has generously offered a giveaway, well, several actually for Friends You Love and those of us spreading the love!

I have a set of Mama Cards™ to give to one of my Smackers!

Um...you don't have to HAVE kiddos to have these cards.  They are awesome and you can personalize them anyway you want.

I know you have been out and run into someone on the fly that you would like to catch up with and neither of you can find a pen or something to write on to get each other's info.  No?  Just me?

Anyway...it would be super cool to have a card with your Twitter, FB, Blog, phone number (optional), etc. 

Here's what you gotta do to win:

MANDATORY:  Follow me GFC and FriendsYouLove.

Extra Entries?

1 entry - Follow me @adrienzgirl on Twitter.

2 entries - Tweet this giveaway and mention @adrienzgirl

1 entry - Follow @mabelhood on Twitter

3 entries - If you send someone new to follow me and enter.  They must mention you when they enter.

If you really want to win I will give you 5 entries for posting about this giveaway!!!

I will announce the winner next Sunday 9/26/10.  You have until 9/25/10 to enter!

OK..that's it Smackers!  Easy Peasy right?

Love!

Share a Spoon Theme - Fowl Ball

Happy Saturday Smackers!

Thanks for joining me for

Share a Spoon Theme 

CHICKEN

Google Images provided this image.

This week's theme is compliments of Juney from 3! A Charm.

We were Google v-chatting (seriously coolest invention in the history of the world) last weekend and Juney asked for chicken recipes, so this week is her week.

So basically chicken is a blank canvas.  You can bake it, boil it, fry it, grill it, roast it, broil it, stuff it, dress it, poach it, shred it, you name it, you can do it with chicken.  I know that the debate over white or dark meat is also like a religion to some people.  Personally, I'm a boob girl.  I don't care if you are a leg girl though.  I won't hold it against you.  It just means we can buy a whole chicken and you can have the dark parts and I will eat the good parts.  That's all.

Break out your favorite chicken dishes this week and SHARE them with us.  We can all use a few more chicken recipes!

So bring it Thursday for Winner Winner CHICKEN Dinner!

There's something in the air....

I get so giddy this time of year.  I love the weather.  I love the baking.  I love the crafts (even though I don't make them).  FALL SPEAKS TO ME.


I'm a night gal.  I'm all about the longer nights and shorter days.  I know it's ridiculous, and that ultimately there are only 24 hours in one day, but when it gets dark earlier, it feels like I get to spend more time with my kids and BDC at home.  So really, it's just perception, but we all know that perception is everything.

One of my favorite things to cook with this time of year is pumpkin.  I was watching the news the other night and heard them say there is a problem due to the whacked weather we have experienced this year, with the pumpkin crops.  *GASP*  We may have some shortages that will limit the jack-o-lanterns you see out.  What's worse is there is going to possibly be a shortage of pumpkin for cooking.  That includes the canned stuff?  OH NO!  I'm all about pumpkin cake, cookies, breads, pastas, soups....everything but the dreaded and beloved PIE.  Blech!  I don't do pumpkin pie.  I mean, I make them, because my boys love them, but me?  Yeah, not so much.

My favorite scented candles are everywhere now too!  Pumpkin Pie, Spiced Pumpkin, Frosted Pumpkin, Pumpkin, Pumpkin, Pumpkin!  The rest of the year I usually pick candles that smell like clean laundry, clean cotton, fresh breezes, rainstorm, etc.  Fall though, it's just cinnamon, spice, and PUMPKIN!


I will be posting recipes over at Sharing in the Kitchen with Momma B as I bake this season.  Be sure to head over there and follow if you like recipes.  There are a few late submissions from Share a Spoon there today as well.


So Smackers, what do you love about FALL?  What scents do you get excited about this time of year?  Any cool crafts you think I can manage?  

Share a Spoon - COOKIE SWAP

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Share a Spoon
"C" is for COOKIE that's good enough for ME!
brought to you by
FRIENDS YOU LOVE
in honor of
International Women's Friendship Month
I love cookies.  I've said it before and I will continue to say it, there really isn't anything more friendly than a plate of cookies.  Except maybe a bouquet of daisies along side a plate of cookies!  I mean the friendliest flower and cookies?  HELLO!
Cookies are simple and perfect.  They make children smile and old people smile.  They make everyone SMILE!  What's better than bringing a smile to someone face?  Not much in this world my friends.  Not much at all!
I looked through my recipes and thought and thought about what to share with you all this week.  I have some complicated recipes that I make for gifts at Christmas time.  I have some that take time and detail to decorate.  I have even more that take preparation for days.  I nixed all those ideas, and I will share some of those as we approach the holidays, but today?  Today I wanted some recipes that are as simple as they are perfect.  
So today, we have my take on my favorite childhood favorite, and my favorite of all times!  Snickerdoodles and Peanut Butter Cookies!

Brandee's Snickerdoodles
Dough Ingredients:
1 1/2 Cups Granulated White Sugar1 Cup (2 sticks) Room Temperature Butter2 Extra Large Eggs1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract3 Cups All purpose White Flour1 teaspoon Saigon Cinnamon1/2 teaspoon salt1 teaspoon cream of tartar1 teaspoon baking soda
Cinnamon Topping:
4 Tablespoons Granulated White Sugar2 teaspoons Saigon Cinnamon
(Note:  Siagon Cinnamon has a bolder flavor, in my opinion than regular cinnamon.  Keep that in mind when preparing these cookies.  It is totally fine to leave the cinnamon out of the actual cookie and use it only in the sugar topping.)
Directions:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
In a bowl mix together 2 1/2 cups of the flour, cinnamon, salt and baking soda and set aside.

Cream together butter, sugar and eggs.  Add vanilla.  Slowly incorporate the flour mixture.   The dough will be somewhat wet and sticky.  Add the remaining 1/2 cup of flour a little a time until the dough is no longer sticky.  (You may not need all of the flour.)

Mix the cinnamon and sugar in a small bowl.

Roll the dough into 1 - 1 1/4" balls.  Roll in cinnamon sugar mixture and add to a non greased cookie sheet.

Bake cookies for 9 - 11 minutes depending on your oven.Remove from cookie sheet and cool on a wire rack immediately.

Brandee's Peanut Butter Perfection Cookies
Dough Ingredients:
1/2 cup granulated white sugar1/2 cup packed light brown sugar1/2 cup softened butter1 extra large egg1 cup smooth peanut butter1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract1 1/2 cup all purpose white flour1/2 teaspoon kosher salt1/2 teaspoon baking soda
Dusting:
1/2 cup extra fine granulated white sugar
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Cream together butter and sugars.  Add egg and vanilla.  Scrape down sides of bowl.  Add peanut butter, and mix well.  Scrape down sides again.
In a small bowl mix flour, salt and baking soda.
Slowly add flour mix to the creamed peanut butter mixture.  Dough will be consistency of wet sand, not sticky.

Roll dough into 1 in balls.
In a small bowl, roll the balls to cover completely in the extra fine granulated sugar.

Place rolled sugared dough balls on a non greased cookie sheet.

Take a fork, dip in the sugar and lightly pressed from side to side on the sugared balls.

Bake in the 375 degree oven for 9-10 minutes.  Remove and let the cookies sit for a minute before moving to a wire rack to cool.

I shared my favorites.  Now it's your turn.  Break out those recipe boxes and link up your favorite cookies!
Go visit the links and make some new friends!

PINT - 3 Bloggers and a Little Lighthouse

It's time to get STICKY with That One Mom!

It totally sounds like something pervy...with honey.  However, get your minds out of the gutter.  It's STICKY NOTES!

Stick 'em if ya got 'em!

If it's your first time...no worries.  Go here and make some sticky notes and then go link up at That One Mom's place.

That One Mom and me outside The Lighthouse in St Augustine.

Me, @BuffeesTruth and @That_One_Mom cheesing it up!

That One Mom and me taking a photo op on some awesome trees.

Me and Buffee (The Truth According to Buffee) on the same tree branch.

(You can register from That One Mom's PINT post today! )

Happy Tuesday!

Saved by The Bell - Quirky Hops in The Tank

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Smackers, how do I love thee?  Let me count the ways.....


I love you so much that today I am sharing a really special reader of mine.  If you don't follow her....seriously, I'm not sure we can be friends.  I love her and you will too!  She really needs no explanation for you all to understand the genius that is she...THE TITLE OF HER BLOG SAYS EVERYTHING....


Without further adieu...a doo doo doo...DOO, I present  QUIRKYLOON




Once upon a time a Quirkyloon had a Quirky Son.


They shared five tempestuous and, at times,horrendous years together before Quirkyloonwas saved by the bell.


The school bell.


The day that Quirky Son #1'official education began, the angels sang, the heavens wept with joy. Yes, he entered kindergarten and our lives (especially mine-insert big smile here) changed dramatically.


Albeit, we are still sharing many joyful and, at times, horrific, moments together now that he is in the 8th grade. I still pray for year-round school.


Enter Quirky Son #2 and although we didn't share as much quality horror time together (he was adopted at age 2), I found myself anxiously awaiting the sound of the dear old school bell.


*doo-doo, doo-doo, doo-doo, doo-doo*


Pray tell! What was that sound? Ah! The sound of the modern school-day bell.


Whee!


Now he, too, is an official member of the public school system: a kindergartner who has been indoctrinated to recognize and love, okay, maybe not love, but understand: the bell.


And those bells are music to my soul!


Yet despite this most welcome onset of the beloved bells,I had forgotten something.


Something very important.


The time in the morning BEFORE the school bell rings.


It's typically a chaotic time with all sorts of scrambling of eggs and minds, reminder yells, and screaming admonishments.


"Did you brush your teeth? Well go do it now!"


"Where's your homework folder? Does it belong in the toy bin? Go get it!"


"Where are your shoes? What do you mean you can't find them? Didn't I tell you to put them in the same
spot, so we can find them?"


"What do you mean your forgot to finish your homework?"


"No, ice-cream is not a good breakfast! Now go get some Cap'n Crunch cereal!"


"Come on guys! We're gonna be late."


Surprisingly, I found myself starting to resent this quality time together.


And then?


The bell went off in my head!


Ah-ha! The wonderful bell system could come to my rescue once again.


I instituted our own at home new pre-school bell. Complete with new rules.


At 8:10 am (MST) there is a line-up in our hallway next to the entry way or in this case, the exit. What this means for my boys is that EVERYTHING must be ready by that time. They must be clothed for the day (hopefully, including clean underwear), back-packs completely;readied, water bottles filled, homework completed and placed in their folders, they must be toileted with bumms wiped clean, breakfast eaten, teeth brushed and for my thirteen-year-old, AXED (an evil and odorous deodorant body spray) for the day.


At 8:09:50 am (MST), I start ringing the bell.


"doo-doo, doo-doo, doo-doo, doo-doo!"


Yes, I make the annoying bell sound in my own home at which time, the boys line up and we exit the house together.


It's a keeper of a system!


Week three and we're still doing great!


And my vocal chords and sanity have never been happier.


Who says the public school system is sub-par?


What's that I hear?


A bell!


I don't care if another angel got his or her wings!


A Quirkyloon has her sanity back!




B.S. No bells were harmed during the production of this post. They are most revered and respected in this household.

Share a Spoon Theme - "C" is for....

It's THEME TIME!

This week's theme is brought to you by FRIENDS YOU LOVE!

Really, is there anything more friendly than COOKIES?

We are swapping cookie recipes in honor of friendship month!

BRING your favorite cookies and link up and spread the love!

SHARING IS CARING!

ME WANT COOKIES!