Sophronas Bakery

So someone I actually know outside of the 'blog world' has recently started her own blog and could use a little encouragement! Please stop by SophronasBakery and see what she has in store for your taste buds. She is incredibly talented and makes the most amazing cakes. I can't wait for you to see some of her work!!!!

Been a long time- shouldn't a left you, without a dope beat to step to... step to-step to.....

I realized today that it has been forever since I did a post! Not sure why cause I've checked on my blog everyday and we've seen crazy slow at work. Oh well, better late than never.

Life has been pretty timid lately, nothing too out of the ordinary going on which is a nice change. My (step) sister and her family came down for her birthday over the weekend and we had a great time with them. Her mom and my mom planned a surprise party for her since it was her 30th and it went great! My nieces are getting so big- Kylee is taller than ALL of us now and is in the 8th grade. Moriah is sassy as EVER and in 1st grade, even DAVE couldn't believe she had gotten so big!

There has been LOTS of cooking and baking in our house over the past few weeks so I am excited to share some recipes and tips with you- especially about how to make your bread rise! Homemade bread was always a touchy subject for me because I couldn't figure out how to get it to rise correctly... NOT ANY MORE!!! Woop woop! :) I've made taco dip twice, a mississippi mud cake, cinnamon rolls, apple butter, strawberry jam, bread, and 2 batches of chocolate molasses cookies. Mmmm Mmmm!

Can't wait to share all my recipes with you and even a few pictures- cause we all LOOOVE pictures!

Pace Hand-Pick & Win Sweepstake

Pace is having a 'Hand-Pick & Win' sweepstake! This is a GREAT sweepstakes because you win up to 5 JARS of Pace Salsa or Picante Sauce and since the promotion is lasting until JULY 31, 2010 you will have 360 entries to get your 5 jars! (That's one entry a day starting today!) Best part about this is that even if you don't have a lid from a Pace jar- they will give you a free code. Just click the 'I don't have a code' button and they will supply you a virtual lid. PLUS there are some really yummy recipes on their website. Mmmm Mmmm~ best wishes, can't wait to hear if you all win!
**Thanks to Freebies4Moms for the scoop on this!**

Found a fun new one for you all...

Lindsay at "Passionate Homemaking" is a stay at home mother of 2 in the Northwest-Portland area. She has a TRUE gift for saving money and keeping her family healthy. Not just in the food she serves them but also in their cleaning supplies, laundry, and even toiletries! I've read through her entire blog and it's AMAZING! Please take some time to visit her because she has wisdom you can glean.

One of my favorite things about her and her family is their intense belief in modesty. Even on her wedding day she was completely covered- and for a woman in this day and age that is a DIFFICULT task! Her posts are inspirational and I am excited to get to know her better through her blog. Please join me!