Saturday, August 30, 2008

Pluots!


75% plum +25% apricot = A 100% delicious pluot!!
I have tried many types of pluots and have never had one that I didn't absolutely love. My kids love them too! They are so yummy and make great snacks. Yesterday I picked some up at Sprouts that were so delicious!!!
Here are three different varieties. Of these shown, my favorite is the Dapple Dandy!
I imagine that if you don't like plums, you are not going to like pluots. However, if you don't like apricots, you might still like them. For the record... I can't imagine not liking plums, apricots or pluots!



Friday, August 29, 2008

Guitar Hero Ice Cubes!

Can you tell by looking at this that it is an ice cube tray that makes ice cubes in the shape of 3D guitars? How cute is that?

You can use any liquid and make some super fun ice cubes for your next party!

These are available at Baron Bob's and are $8 for a tray!

Break out your Guitar Hero for a themed party!!!

Thursday, August 28, 2008

Museumr



I created these pieces of art (of my two boys) at a fun website called Museumr. It has easy to follow directions and is a lot of fun. It is worth a look...

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Sticks and Stones - CURRENT GIVEAWAY




Items that are in the shape of letters, that have been photographed from items in nature and architecture, are used to create personalized keepsakes from a super cool company, called Sticks and Stones. There is an extensive gallery of letter options available to spell a favorite word or name. Obviously a great gift idea... but one for my family is a MUST!
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There are multiple framing options available, but my favorite is the black wood frame... simple, yet elegant! In my opinion, these are priced reasonably (starting at just $130!) and really would make a great gift! Think about the possibilites... a housewarming gift, customer appreciation, good luck on your new business adventure, graduation gifts, new baby gift, and what about a classroom gift to a favorite teacher?? Oh man...
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So... I'm THRILLED to announce the current giveaway... The very amazing people at Sticks and Stones are donating a $100 gift certificate to a lucky LaughUntilYourCheeksHurt reader! Leave a comment on this entry by midnight Tuesday, September 2 and I will randomly select a winner on Wednesday morning! Tell your friends...
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P.S. Did I mention that Oprah ordered one of these keepsakes as a gift for Tom and Katie???
Click here to see the masterpiece!
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The Winner of the une bebe t-shirt is...

MITZI!!! Congratulations Mitzi.

This is what Mitzi wrote... Oh I love the monkey t-shirt. Size 18 months PLEASE. I really hope I win one of these someday!

Ok, now I need you, Mitzi, to leave me your email address. As soon as I get it, I'll delete the comment from my blog! Ok?

Again, congratulations to Mitzi! And thanks so much to une bebe for the adorable t-shirt!

Stay tuned... later today I have a big giveaway to announce. Teaser: the value of the giveaway will be $100! I'm NOT kidding!

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Today is Banana Lovers Day! (no kidding)

Here are a couple of my favorite recipes that call for bananas. Enjoy!

Banana Chocolate Chip Cake

Yield: 8 servings

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup canola oil
2 cups granulated sugar
4 eggs
2 cups mashed ripe bananas (about 4 large)
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/3 cups semisweet chocolate chips
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Two 9- by 5-inch metal loaf pans, lined with parchment or waxed paper, greased.

In a bowl, combine flour, baking soda, and salt.

In a large bowl, beat oil and sugar. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add bananas and vanilla, beating well. Add flour mixture, beating just until smooth. Stir in chocolate chips.

Spread batter in prepared pans. Bake in preheated oven for 60 to 65 minutes or until a tester inserted into center of cakes comes out clean. Let cakes cool in pans on racks for 15 minutes. Remove from pans and let cool completely on racks.
Source: Unsure?? I didn't make note of where the recipe came from.

Banana Blueberry Muffins

Yield: 12 muffins

2 1/4 c all-purpose flour
2 ts baking powder
1/2 ts salt
1/2 ts ground cinnamon
2 ripe bananas, quartered
2 eggs
2/3 c firmly packed brown sugar
6 t Butter, melted
1 ts vanilla
1 c fresh blueberries
Topping:

1/4 c granulated sugar
1 ts grated lemon rind
1. Preheat oven to 400 F. Lightly grease twelve 2 1/2-inch muffin cups.

2. Combine flour, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon on sheet of waxed paper.

3. Beat bananas in large bowl with electric mixer until mashed. Add eggs, brown sugar, butter, and vanilla, beating until blended.

4. Stir in combined dry ingredients with a wooden spoon until almost blended. Stir in blueberries just until combined. Spoon into prepared muffin cups, dividing batter equally.

5. Prepare Topping: Combine sugar and lemon rind in small dish. Sprinkle evenly over muffins.

6. Bake in preheated 400 F oven for 20 to 22 minutes or until golden. Remove muffins from pan to wire rack.

Source: Family Circle Magazine

Monday, August 25, 2008

chasing fireflies

Entire outfit, minus the shoes, $148

I got the cutest catalog in the mail today from chasing fireflies. It is on the pricey side for my personal comfort level, but it was fun to daydream as I looked at all the darling items throughout the catalog. Here are a few of my favorite things from the catalog.



Astronaut costume $60




Party animals tea set $150

Motorcycle t-shirt $34

Cottage purses $64




Owen and Mzee plush set $20 ...


ok, I may actually get these cute little guys. For more information about the sweet true story of Owen and Mzee, a 130 year old tortoise and a baby hippo, who defied all odds and became friends, click here.

Friday, August 22, 2008

Burn Notice





One of my guilty pleasures is the USA Network Original TV Series "Burn Notice." I love it!
USA Network says about the show "When spies get fired, they don't get a letter from Human Resources. They get BURNED!"
This is the story of Michael, a former spy, who has been burned. He is struggling to put his life back together while figuring out why he was 'burned.' Along with his friends Fiona (a former IRA operative) and Sam (an ex-military operative), Michael uses his special skills to help people... in true MacGyver style!
The show is on Thursday nights and the second season is just about wrapping up! It has been a fun summer series!

Thursday, August 21, 2008

"Green" Tote Bags


I'm toying with the idea of getting some reusable grocery bags and discovered these good-looking bags. The yellow bag, called the Envirosax, is $7.95 and the set of five bags is $37.95. I found them at thegreenloop.com!

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

une bebe


I recently discovered these adorable t-shirts offered by unebebe.com! They are so stinkin' cute!

On their website, the uber wise folks at unebebe state "we stand for one thing: fun. we think it is important to be a child. kids grow up too fast these days. too many things push and pull at them." what is NOT to love about a company with a motto like that???


Not only are these people wise... they are generous!! They have graciously donated one of MY favorite t-shirt styles to a randomly selected reader of this blog! The only thing you have to do is leave a comment here AND tell me which t-shirt style is your favorite! You'll find it hard to pick a fave... they are all so cute. Enter by midnight next Tuesday, August 26. I will select the winner after I get my kids off to school on Wednesday!

Here is the style that will be awarded to the winner... it is size 18-24 month!


Love it...

The Winner of the My Pillow Pet Giveaway is...

I used the Random Integer Generator from random.org and the winner is...


Random Integer Generator
Here are your random numbers:1

Andre, Melissa and Jolie said...
Those are so cute! It is so hard to choose which one is the cutest, I love them all, but I think that the lamb and the pig are my favorite!

Congratulations Melissa!!! I will contact you to arrange for the details of delivery of your Pillow Pet!!!

And a great big thank you to the wonderful people at My Pillow Pets!

Monday, August 18, 2008

SmartSpace Countertop Dispenser


I love the The Container Store! Love it. They have a solution for every single storage problem you could imagine!

I have to get one of these Countertop Dispenser. Maybe two! One for candy, one for cheerios! They are $24.99 each!

Sunday, August 17, 2008

The Ferocious Beast


My three-year old son just skipped in to my room and asked... "can I watch Maggie and the First Beast?" When I said yes, he grinned from ear to ear, which in turn caused me to smile!

"Maggie and the Ferocious Beast" has served our family well. He is the fourth kid that has LOVED it.
Maggie has her own website... you can access it here.

Friday, August 15, 2008

Cake Wrecks


If you are in need of a good laugh you have to check out this blog, called CakeWrecks. It is funny, funny, funny!!! It is all about REAL cakes that have been professionally decorated... no kidding!

Two of my friends, Marie and Dawn, have both blogged about this site in the last 24 hours and when I checked it out I found that I laughed until my cheeks hurt. Seriously!

Thursday, August 14, 2008

Shauneil (Hooks and Such)




These adorable hooks are perfect for so many places. I love them!

I love getting things up off the counter, or desk, and organized. I think there are many uses for these hooks. I would put one in my girls' room for belts, sashes, etc. Maybe one in the bathroom for their headbands too!

Check out Shauneil for more styles and more information.

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Funny Aprons from the German Corner Store




I was not wearing an apron yesterday when I was baking. I might have ruined my new shirt with the splattering of some oil... dang it! So, I'm on a hunt for some aprons. The German Corner Store has some funny aprons! These aprons are $15 each and there are more styles on their website!


Tuesday, August 12, 2008

My Pillow Pets Giveaway!!!

The wonderful folks at My Pillow Pets have generously offered to give a Pillow Pet to one lucky Laugh Until Your Cheeks Hurt reader!

So... here we go for an awesome giveaway!

Leave a comment by midnight Tuesday, August 19 and one randomly selected reader will receive a Pillow Pet! Tell me which Pillow Pet you think is the cutest.

Style to be determined...

Monday, August 11, 2008

My Pillow Pets





Recently I purchased some of these adorable My Pillow Pets for my youngest children. I love them, and they love them! They are every bit as cuddly as they appear! They can be 'unfolded' to lay flat, thus they are called pillows. My kids sleep with theirs every night!

For more information, please see the My Pillow Pets website.

Saturday, August 9, 2008

Pails and More Pails

I love galvanized pails... they have so many uses!!! They make great gift containers, organizers, pencil and pen holders, serving pieces for buffets... and so on.

This website, GalvanizedPails, has a great selection at great prices!! I'm excited about the possibilities.

I think this set would be adorable on a desk holding pens and pencils. $6.00


Filled with junk food... cute gift! $2.19

Many uses for this one. This one is 6" and is $2.49.


This is a 12" tub and is only $5.59!!! Perfect for serving bottled drinks.

Friday, August 8, 2008

What's YOUR Flavor?



Interesting quiz... I saw this on my friend's blog and decided to try it. I was surprised that she was vanilla... and equally surprised that I was. I thought I'd be some goofy flavor.

My favorite flavor of ice cream all depends on where I am...

From Baskin Robbins I love Mint Chocolate Chip or Chocolate Chip

From Blue Bell I love Homemade Vanilla

From Cold Stone I prefer Sweet Cream with Resees Peanut Butter Cups

Thursday, August 7, 2008

Attitude Arcade







I love attitude shirts for the sports that my kids do. These are some fun shirts from a fun online store, AttitudeArcade. In addition to the sports represented above, they have many more available. They have 100s of styles to choose from, in adult and youth sizes.