5x7 Folded Card

Picture In Landscape Christmas Card

Turn your favorite photos into personalized Christmas cards.

View the entire collection of cards.

5x7 Folded Card

Picture In Landscape Christmas Card

Find unique and modern Christmas cards at Shutterfly.

View the entire collection of cards.

A FREE TREAT!

We all know I'm slightly obsessed with

pictures of my children...

and anything that's a timesaver...

and free things...

and my iPhone...

just.a.little.bitty.bit.


Well, guess what!


I have a deal for you that combines ALL.OF.THOSE.THINGS.

Seriously.  

It's from Shutterfly...but there's a new kid on their street!  

I got excited jumpy-heart-syndrome when I read about the new brand Shutterfly is marketing: TREAT.  Oh hello, a brand that sound like sugar; now I'm really in!

Here it is: TREAT is Shutterfly’s exciting new greeting card brand that makes it easy for people to create and send one-of-a-kind greeting cards. TREAT cards are perfect for holidays, birthdays, congrats, thank yous and every occasion in between. It’s crazy fun. It’s super easy. And it’s totally personal.  

And for two days, it's totally FREE.

Yep.  FREE.

SO, whether you want to send a birthday card from your smartphone or Christmas greetings with those cute pics of your kids right from your laptop, TREAT lets you create a one-of-a-kind card that's sure to knock your mom's socks off.  (especially if you've ever forgotten her birthday...not that I've done that or anything.) You pick the perfect card from their exciting assortment and personalize it.  TREAT prints it and mails it for you!  Sweet!

Here are the official details:

Monday, November 19 and Tuesday November 20

Treat Two Day Free Card Campaign 2012

Just visit Treat here: http://www.treat.com/  

Check out with the code:  TREATBLOGR

Seriously.  Do it.

It's free.

It's fun.

They put it in the mail FOR YOU.  (because we all forget sometimes, right?)

You're going to love it!

Promise.

Now go make someone's day!

This post was sponsored by the awesome folks over at Shutterfly/Treat.  ALL opinions expressed are completely mine.

The Perfect Sick-Day Project

Last Monday, we got that dreaded phone call from the school nurse, 

"I have Cloe here in my office.  She's not feeling so great..."

Thankfully, it was a super quick bug which she slept off with a nice four hour nap.

(and thankfully nothing too embarrassing happened at school when this sickness came on!)

This left us with the WHOLE NEXT DAY of togetherness while she waited out the 24-hour return period.

Seriously, who doesn't love having an extra pair of excited, helpful hands around the house!

Because the housework went so much faster with her around, we decided to pull out a canvas, sheets of pretty scrapbook paper, some glue and a random assortment of little embellishments.

She went to town!  

Cutting, placing, gluing. 

When all the paper was in place just exactly how she wanted it, we covered the canvas with a few layers of mod-podge.  I think she'll have no problem catching on to my love for the shiny polish!

When that had dried, she added fun little buttons and flowers.

 It turned out so cute!

She even had a show-and-share time the day she went back to school, so all of her friends got to see her cute masterpiece!

The boys can't wait for their turn at a sick day! ;)

He said he wouldn't eat it...but he did!

Normally, I oblige and cook meals that I know my husband will like.   

It's one small way I can show him that I love him!

(When's he gone for a dinner, watch out!  The kids always know when daddy's gone because the food gets a little crazy!  I pushed them over the edge the other night with a little "Chicken of the Sea" and some peas stirred into our mac and cheese!  I know...it IS weird but so good!)

I called him one day to see if Broccoli Cheddar Wild Rice Soup would be okay for dinner.

He hesitantly said he'd give it a try, but I shouldn't be offended if he didn't like it because it had never been a favorite.  No worries...I was pretty sure he'd like this!  

(Plus, I had to use up that stinking ginormous bag of broccoli florets from Costco!)

I used parts of several different recipes to come up with this recipe--it seems pretty forgiving if you want to leave out an ingredient or step here or there based on preference.  

The recipe is given as we liked it...or should I say HE LIKED IT!

Yes, it was one of those "should I alert extended family members?" sort of moments!

The key is to keep most of the vegetables in a crisp-steamed state.  Perfect!

Try it!  Even your picky ones might like it!

Broccoli Cheddar Wild Rice Soup

1 cup wild rice

6 heaping cups broccoli, stems and florets (you could use less)

1 large onion, chopped

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 large red bell pepper, cut into 1/2 in. pieces

2 T. flour

3 T. butter

1/2 tsp. dried tarragon

6 c. chicken stock or chicken broth

1 cup whole milk

6 oz. Cheddar cheese, grated

In a saucepan, cook rice according to directions.  

While rice is cooking, melt butter in a large pot.  Add onions, stems of broccoli, and garlic.  Cook until onion is tender.  Add flour and cook for an additional 2 minutes, stirring constantly.  Stir in chicken broth, 2 cups broccoli florets, 1/2 of red pepper, and tarragon.  Simmer until vegetables are soft.  Use a handheld blender and pulse just until soup begins to thicken.  Add milk and cheese.  Stir until cheese is melted.  Add the rest of the broccoli and red pepper.  Stir in the rice.  Cook just until heated thoroughly (longer if you want your vegetables softer).  Serve with Soup Crackers from Trader Joes for an extra special treat!  Delicious!  

Soup Season is here!

There's just something about a cold, rainy day that demands soup!

Of course, I'm happy to oblige.  

Soups are awesome for cramming in tons of vegetables. 

Kale is our newest kick.  

I have no idea why, but the other night I was craving kale and popcorn.  

Not together.  

Just a nice healthy serving of each.  

W.e.i.r.d.

A few years ago, my friend Liz made an awesome copycat version of Olive Garden's Zuppa Toscana.  I think her recipe might have actually beat the restaurant version!  

It was so delicious, I've never forgotten it!

This is my crack at Zuppa Toscana.  

We had to make a few changes based on what was already in the refrigerator and the fact that I have a 15 month old who scarfs down cooked carrots like nobody's business.

So here you...stay warm and eat soup!

Zuppa Toscana

• 1 lb ground pork sausage  (Italian sausage would work too if you like spicier foods)
• 1½ tsp crushed red peppers (I left this out for the kids)
• 1 large diced white onion
• 4 slices bacon
• 2 tsp minced garlic
• 10 cups chicken broth (or 10 cups water + 5 bouillon cubes)
• 1 cup whole milk
• 3 large potatoes
• 3 large carrots
• 1/2 bag of chopped fresh kale (or 4+ cups)

1. Brown the sausage, bacon, and crushed red pepper in a large pot. Drain excess fat, crumble bacon, and chill while other ingredients are prepared.
2. In the same pan, sauté onions and garlic over medium heat until the onions are soft.
3. Add chicken broth to the pot and heat until it starts to boil.
4. Add the sliced potatoes and carrots and cook until soft, about 30 minutes.
5. Add the milk and cook until thoroughly heated.
6. Stir in the sausage, bacon and the kale, heat and serve!