Secret Santa Local Goodie Gift Swap for X-mas in July! #BBSantainJuly

As much as I love summer, I could use a little holiday cheer so when Lowanda from Sunshine and Elephants shared a gift swap she recently participated in it seemed like a perfect opportunity!

I never participated in one before, this is a first, but basically you sign up below, you'll be partnered with someone, you send them a gift box of local goodies (at least 5 things and minimum of $25 (before shipping)) and they send you a goodie box. Who doesn't love surprises!?!

Once you receive your box take pictures and post in a blog post (there'll be a linky!). If you aren't a blogger, sign up with a social media account and promise to tag your partner's blog in it.

As an added twist, all items need to be local to you, your area, city or state!

Sign up by July 10 and share - the more the merrier!

5 Bloggers You Shouldn't Miss

I have been very blessed to be teamed with a group of wonderful ladies through SITS Girls Find a Tribe.

The idea of a tribe is to provide support and be supportive and these ladies are amazing.  I will eventually share all of the wonderful blogs that our in our tribe but for today here are my first five.

Love to Hate My Crockpot: Creamy Southwest Chicken Recipe

If there is one kitchen appliance I truly have a love/hate relationship with would be the crockpot. 

I like the idea of a crock pot – slow cooking, dinner ready when you get home and all that except, I am gone ten hours a day and every recipe only needs between six and eight hours.  This means I either burn whatever it is I am making or it is so moist that it falls apart and not in a good way.

When I do crockpot cooking is when I want to make two (or more) meals at once. For instance, making beef stew is a two day deal for me. I start it in the morning and let it simmer for a good day and a half. The result is a tender, full flavored, hearty beef stew but that also means I still need to make something for dinner that night.

That is when I love my crockpot - making a no fuss dinner for tonight while making dinner for the rest of the week.

When I feel productive, I will start after breakfast on Sunday to make a few meals to have ready to eat during the week.  While the meat is browning, the veggies are roasting or whatever else I'm making is getting started, I add my ingredients to the crockpot for dinner. By the time dinner for the week is simmering, what's in the crockpot is well on its way to being dinner for tonight. 

While searching for inspiration for dinner I found it from my friend Amie at My Retro Kitchen and her recipe for Creamy Salsa Chicken in the Slow Cooker.



Chicken, salsa, corn, black beans and cream cheese - what’s not to love! Mine is pretty much the same as her recipe but I used a southwest seasoning (hence the name) to season the chicken and added a can of Ro-Tel (tomatoes and peppers) to the pot.  I also served it over cilantro and lime rice.

Creamy Southwest Chicken 

• Chicken breasts
• Southwest seasoning
• Ro-tel
• Salsa
• Black beans
• Corn
• Cream cheese

Everything but the cream cheese goes in the crockpot for a few hours. When the chicken is done add the brick of cream cheese and turn the crockpot to warm until it is melted.  For exact measurements check out Amie's recipe here.

Cilantro & Lime Rice

• 2 cups rice (white or brown)
• sea salt (to your liking)
• 2 cups fresh cilantro
• 4 tablespoons lime juice

1. Make rice as directed. 
2. Combine cilantro, lime juice and sea salt in a bowl (this also can be blended in a blender with a few tablespoons of olive oil for a creamier texture) and stir into the cooked rice. Fluff with a fork when ready to serve.  

Thanks, Amie! Not only did you help get me out of a cooking rut but your pictures are fantastic! Just promise not to tell the husband, he thinks I am a culinary genius now. shhh….

How do you use your crockpot?

@BloggerIdol Week 6 Play At Home Edition - Sharing Favorite Blogs #payitforward

I can't recall how I got hooked on Blogger Idol last year.  I am sure it was a post on Twitter or Facebook but however I stumbled upon it I am glad that I did because I have started reading blogs that I would have never found through my groups.  I even meet a contestant and a fan in real life and became good blog friends with another contestant.

Sure, I may have been mentioned in not one, but two of last years Blogger Gives Back Week post but what can I say...  Actually, I am not sure what to say because I was truly humbled and honored that two bloggers wanted to share my blog with the Blogger Idol world.  I am not sure if I ever said thank you to Mama Spaghetti and Roni so I am doing it now - Thank You!

Since, this is the play at home version of Blogger Idol I wanted to share with you my Top 5 blog picks.  Two happen to be Blogger Idol eliminations and I am only sharing that they are favorites of mine now since the contest for them is over.

My Top 5 Blogs of 2012

The Mother Freakin' Princess

Follow @the_mfp

I just adore her and her writing.  Funny and honest; a born story teller..  I love that her princess personality shines through every post.  My favorite post and pretty much what made me want her in Blogger Idol was the post about not being like her mom and Shelia, the therapist.

Crazy Dumbsaint of the Mind

She blogs a lot about sex and feminism.  And, I mean a whole hell of a lot about sex and feminism and that is why she is awesome.  She also has this list 39 Things About Me and I am totally going to steal this for my upcoming birthday post.

The Aums

Follow @theaumsmama

I love the Aums Mama! Christine is one of my most favorite people in the blog world and I look forward to her blog posts.  Among the many things she does, she is a homeschooling mom and is an iVillage contributor.  It was because of iVillage that I found her but it is her wonderful writing and twitter that kept me coming back.

Eat Drink Cleveland

Follow @EatDrinkClev

She is a girl after my own heart - food and Cleveland!  She writes about all the great places to find food in North East Ohio.  Over the summer I finally got to meet her in person and I swear I think I hugged her five times before the night was over.  And, for some strange reason 11 Betcha Didn't Knows About Me (from @EatDrinkClev) keeps coming up in my popular post column and I can only contribute it to her and her great fans.  Even if you are not from Cleveland you should check her blog - the pictures of food is worth it.

Pattern Crush

Pattern Crush is a new blog that my niece started in a homage to fabric and quilting. She has some wonderful ideas, projects and pictures and I can't wait to see her blog grow.

Do you have a favorite blog?  

Check out this week's play at home with Blogger Idol and if you happen to write a post link up!

@bloggeridol Week 6 Play At Home Edition - Sharing Favorite Blogs #payitforward @the_mfp, @theaumsmama & @eatdrinkclev ineedaplaydate.com/2012/10/blogge…
— MryJhnsn (@mryjhnsn) October 30, 2012

My First Pinterest and Blogger Love for Parents.com Nominees

I made my first board on Pinterest!  I have been thinking about this for awhile and as I was browsing Parents.com Best Blog Awards I though - this could be a board!  I now know so many bloggers (or at least follow them) that I can vote and mean it!  I even nominated one of these amazing blogs!

So, without further delay... Go check out my, very-first-board, and if you feel so inclined, vote for these amazing blogs (or at least check them out)!  

The 'Who to Hang With' Award for June!

It is that time again!  The 'Who to Hang With' Award for June.

I would normally write why you should follow them but since I am in the middle of packing and moving to our new home... I am going to make this super short and sweet and just say you should automatically follow all of these amazing blogs because they are amazing!

There you have it! More then usual but all worth while. Be sure to follow them and tell them I sent you!  The new linky is open for July and if you would like to be considered for this prestigious award please be sure to join and then follow your hosts -  if you don't comment I won't know who you are...

note: This award was given to the above mentioned bloggers all in good fun and... totally meaningless, unless of course you are one who received this award and then it is priceless. I am sure all winners will want to grab the button so go for it! 

You do not have to pass this to anyone.  

And for those who want to check out all of May's links... They are worth it!  

Each.  And.  Every.  One.

The Who to Hang with Award for April!

Last month, I was given a Stylish Blogger Award and thus was born... the Who to Hang with Award!  To check out the original post and to see who my top favorite bloggers are from March's Tailspin Hop 

I am sure you are waiting on the edge of your seat to see who my top 5 picks to follow are for April's Tailspin Hop  so without further fanfare...

It's Your Journey is the Olive Parent's tag line and she does a wonderful job of helping to educate and inform those who are on the path of natural, home birth and breastfeeding.  Olive Parent has a directory, a page dedicated to finding more information elsewhere and of course she writes about it.  Hannaxor, as she is known on twitter, should know a little about the subject she has 7 children!  Where she finds the time to blog I will never know.

The Mean Girl Diaries is witty and funny and I love her confidence!  Case in point: Hey, Dirrrrty!  MG also writes poetry and takes pictures, especially of her darling little girl.

Have Sippy has product reviews but not just any product reviews!  As far as I can see the bulk of them are toy reviews!  Who doesn't love toys?  That is why we had kids right?  Watch cartoons with out judgement and play with their toys?  Honest and down to earth is the best way to describe this wonderful blogger.  She is even sharing her weight loss story and is an inspiration to those of us (well, me) who are trying - Before and After Photos (weight loss).

I must admit, it was the owls and  Hootie Hoot's title that drew me to her site but it is her clever writing that makes me stay.  She is even taking the A to Z Challenge and her ability to come up with interesting topics for each letter is wonderful!

Little Boys are Made of... is one of favorite blogs to read and I do so religiously (and not because she featured me, either). Besides the Friday Spotlight feature she also has an on going 365 Activities series of posts that highlights one activity to do with baby. She is up to #76.

There you have it!  Be sure to follow them and tell them I sent you!  Later tonight. the new linky will be unveiled for May and if you would like to be considered for this prestigious award please be sure to join and then follow your hosts -  if you don't comment I won't know who you are...

note: This award was given to the above mentioned bloggers all in good fun and... totally meaningless, unless of course you are one who received my award and then it is priceless. I am sure all winners will want to grab the button so go for it!  You do not have to pass this to anyone.  And for those who want to check out all of April's links... They are worth it!  Each.  And.  Every.  One.