Redrawing for Silly Mama Quilts Giveaway!

So I unfortunately have to re-draw for the $20 gift certificate to Silly Mama Quilts as the winner hasn't responded or given me her email.

*sigh* (so sorry!)

So, we shall REDRAW and give someone an early Christmas present ;)

According to random.org, the winner is...

#2:

Courtenay@Signal Hill Interiors said...

My favorite item is the "Figgy pudding and fruitcake with cherries on the table" runner. I neeeeeed it!

Congratulations Courtenay!

You'll be contacted soon with the winner info :)

Winner for Silly Mama Quilts Gift Certificate!

Hello my friends! how I have MISSED you.

I practically DIED last week of a throat infection

(you know I'm a little dramatic right?)

Well, prayers, an awesome husband and a ginormous Slurpee later and I'm MUCH better.

I'm now comfortably at my parent's house with my family for the holidays. 

With Laryngitus.

I know.

ME, without a voice.

Those around me are thinking: "it's a Christmas Miracle!"

But...

onto the Winner of the Silly Mama Quilts $20 Gift Certificate!

 

The winner (according to random.org) is...

Please see newer post. A redraw has taken place :)

Happy 4-sleeps-til-Christmas everyone!!

New Tablescape using Silly Mama Quilts! (a review)

Today I received the most wonderful package in the mail...

A new table runner from Silly Mama Quilts! 

I am so thankful to Brooke of SMQ for this lovely piece to review.

It was maybe 5 minutes after I came in the door and I had FULLY set up a 

new tablescape on my dining table. 

It was just TOO good.

Check out some pics of my new table runner! 

Here's the "front" of it!

But look, turn it over for a whole new look!! Love things that are reversible.

Look at both sides

My new tablescape. 

LOOOOOOVEEEEE ITTTT!!

This pic really show the detail in the work!

Another look.

I had a little fun and started playing with it in other places in my house. Just love it.

I love quilts so this is totally up my alley to start with.

This table runner is so TIMELESS though, I feel myself using it again and again, year after year.

Silly Mama Quilts table runners are AMAZING.

They range in price (currently) from $20-$38 

(um, WOW!)

plus, 
FREE SHIPPING.

Plus, right now there's a Christmas promo going on!

Save 10% off in Silly Mama Quilts Etsy Shop using promo code:

MERRYCHRISTMAS10

awesome right?

So...if you haven't heard, Silly Mama Quilts is also doing a GIVEAWAY on The Bird's Papaya RIGHT NOW!

Go & enter :)

When you get a chance I also encourage you to check out her BLOG for a little behind the scenes & features on her work.

As always, all my opinions & views are 100% my own.

Hope everyone's having a great week amongst the crazy that  the gear-up to Christmas brings!

Fantasy Fudge Recipe! BEST EVER!

This is my recipe for my homemade fudge...

and by "my" I mean...

Kraft Jet-Puffed Marshmallow Creme's recipe that used to be found on the label.

But it's amazing.

You need to make it.

Now.

Give it to your neighbors for Christmas, because if it sits in your house, game over.

RECIPE 

(from Kraft)

3 cups sugar
3/4 cup margarine
2/3 cup evaporated milk
1 12-oz. (340 g) package semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 7-oz. (198 g) jar Kraft Marshmallow creme
1 cup chopped nuts (optional!)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Traditional method:
Combine sugar, margarine and milk in heavy 2-1/2 quart saucepan; bring to full rolling bail, stirring constantly. Continue boiling 5 minutes over medium heat, stirring. Remove from heat, stir in chocolate till melted. Add marshmallow creme, nuts & vanilla beat till blended. Pour into greased 13 x 9-inch baking pan. Let cool and cut into 1-inch squares.

Microwave method:

Microwave margarine in 4-quart microwave-safe bowl on HIGH (100%) 1 minute or until melted. Add sugar and milk; mix well. Microwave on HIGH 5 minutes or until mixture begins to boil, stirring after 3 minutes. Mix well; scrape bowl. Continue microwaving on HIGH 5-1/2 minutes; stir after 3 minutes. Stir in chips until melted. Add remaining ingredients; mix well. Pour into greased 13 x 9-inch baking pan. Cool at room temperature; cut into squares. Makes 3 pounds.

My pics of the fudge making...

Now that you're drooling over some calorie related items...

let me rescue you and let you drool over some beautiful Silly Mama Quilts items

(plus, there's a giveaway!)

Silly Mama Quilts GIVEAWAY!

Merry Christmas to YOU!

Last giveaway of the year! 

This one is a great one too.

Silly Mama Quilts is this amazing Etsy shop I came across a few months ago and fell in LOVE with. 

Everything in her shop is swoon-worthy.

I'm also getting an opportunity to review a table runner, more on that soon!

Brooke from Silly Mama Quilts is giving one reader a 

$20 Gift Certificate 

for her Etsy shop!

 (PLUS - all items in her shop have free shipping!)

Check out some of her amazing stuff:

HOW TO ENTER:

1- Be a Bird's Papaya follower :) - leave a comment

2 - Go to Silly Mama Quilts Etsy Shop and let me know what you're favorite item is! 

- leave a separate comment

3 - "Heart" Silly Mama Quilts Etsy Shop - leave a separate comment

 
4 - Follow Silly Mama Quilt's Blog where she shares about her projects - leave a separate comment

Happy Entering!
Giveaway Closed - thanks to all who entered!

Penny Jane Designs WINNER!

Thanks to all who entered into the Penny Jane Designs giveaway.

Now the winner...

#4 

kristin.whittaker said...

Entry 1: My fav is also the animal alphabet print! Probably in the 8x10 size.

Congrats Kristin!!

I'll be emailing you soon with info on your winnings :)

Thanks also to Cathy of Penny Jane Designs for this amazing giveaway!

Penny Jane Designs REVIEW (plus Giveaway reminder!)

If you haven't entered the GIVEAWAY for Penny Jane Designs, let me just encourage you to do so...because her stuff, is, well...awesome! 

Here's a bit more about Penny Jane Designs' owner Cathy:

I am a stay at home mother of two who wanted to apply my interest and skill in graphic design in a way that can brighten peoples spaces. My goal is to provide positive imagery and uplifting messages. My inspiration came in part from an unlikely source. While visiting the Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C. I saw a temporary exhibit devoted to the power and deception of nazi propaganda. While the exhibit was disturbing, it inspired me to somehow use positive imagery and uplifting messages to uplift those who view my creations. I hope you enjoy what I have designed.

How cool is she?

So, onto the REVIEW...

You all know me a bit better by now right?

Well, do you remember this?

Then you know my great affections for Diet Coke.

So if you've checked out Penny Jane Designs Shop you may have figured out what I chose to REVIEW!

I give you....

AMAZING RIGHT!?

I simply placed my order, then let Cathy of Penny Jane Designs know what color I chose from all of these 

 (I chose #10, and in a separate order #38):

Here's how my posters turned out:

(I simply popped them into an 8x10")

The brown one I put in my kitchen, above the sink...great place for this message!

Here's the green one in a black frame. I love it. I just love it. 

SO, go on over and enter the giveaway!

OR go shopping.

Either way, this is one Etsy shop not to be missed!

Nate Berkus Inspired SWAP PARTY!!

Do you watch Nate?

If you don't...you're crazy and need to start.

He's amazing and he totally pulls ideas from blogland. 

You may have seen some famed bloggers on there (Thrifty Decor Chick, TheDIYdish)

Anyways, he's been promoting these things called "Swap Parties" where you essentially bring stuff you don't want to a party with friends who do the same, and you swap it out ! 

So fun. 

So successful!!

We did one this week with the wives & women of the Ministry my hubby works with.

Here's us ladies just chillin' out at the party

Nicolle standing with all our swap items (including the mirror she's holding)

We did ours "gift exchange style" where you chose three items (since we each brought three or more) and then got to do some stealing...

Look how intense it got.

Nah, it wasn't really. It was all in good fun and everyone went home with awesome new stuff!

 All of us with our swap wins!!

Me & my basket of goodies from the swapping!

and no...I don't wear a ridiculous amount of blush. I just came from a bus stop drop off in -12 degree weather to inside where it was warm and my cheeks never went back to normal. haaaa! oh well, I match my pink sweater.

More of my stuff:

Thanks Nate for the inspiration!

Also, go check out more on him at www.TheNateShow.com

GO SWAP PEOPLE!!

It's like free garage sale-ing.

My Neighbor's House

Today I went to my neighbor Nicolle's house for a cookie exchange & swap party. 

More coming on that soon!

I just HAD to take some pics and post for you all to enjoy because her house was just decorated to the nines!! 

They recently painted their house so this year is an all new look.

Her & I have the same "model" of house, slightly different, but it's so fun to see how our different styles play out in the same space.

Nicolle did so well with her decor this year, I just loved it.

Here's a small peek into her home...

Don't you love?

More roadside treasures!

Okay, don't hate on me.

I just have crazy neighbours who put awesome stuff in the trash.

I just WISH I had a photo of me picking it up.

The horror on my face as I'm sneaking around at 10:20pm in GARBAGE! 

man alive. What have I become?

But my next door neighbour, bless her heart...did a total garage clear out the other day, and all her summer goods were out. 

I only took the stuff I could see what it was. 

But there was boxes of stuff. 

Oh how I yearn to know what was in the boxes...

I bought home what I thought was a pretty good haul without being a total crazy.

because let's admit I'm already a little crazy.

I give you...

The adirondack stool, stained in a blue-grey. 

PERFECT for my son's nursery!

Here's his Pottery Barn Laguna quilt...don't you think it's so complimentary?

Another snippet from his room. Because it's my favorite place in the house.

Also, this wreath & metal bird feeder!

 A little cleaning, and she'll be a beauty!

This wreath just rocks. 

Too bad I can't put it on my front door in the spring due to 

TAKING IT FROM MY NEIGHBOUR'S TRASH!

Yeesh.

Downfall to the roadside treasure system.

Found anything roadside lately?!