Made by Kids and Kid friendly Recipe Link up with Gooseberry Patch

I love Kids in the Kitchen cookbook by Gooseberry Patch!  Heck I just love a kid in the kitchen helping out anytime!  My youngest has always been a kitchen girl.  Now that she is "12" she still helps and wants to help but doesn't offer.  So I have to really make sure that I go out of my way and ask her to help me. 

Our kitchen rule is if you cook dinner you don't have to do the dishes.  If they cook, I'll gladly clean up for them! Here is the weekly Gooseberry Patch link up! I'm a little behind today posting! Link up!

Made by kids or just kid-friendly...we want your links!

To celebrate Kids in the Kitchen, our Cookbook of the Week, we thought we'd gather up all the kid-friendly or made-by-kids recipes from all of YOU. Goodness knows most moms are always on the hunt for a sure-fire hit, right?

Friendly Wednesday Blog Hop! Come link up

Welcome to Feeding Four's Friendly Wednesday Blog Hop! I'm glad you're here!

Thank you to all the bloggers who linked up last week!  If you leave a comment to tell me that you are following me I will follow back! Thank you.

How to Participate:

Follow the hostesses located in the first and second spots - Feeding Four (click to visit and get the blog hop button) and SusieQTpies Scraps of Life Blog (This is ME!). If you want me to follow you back, please leave a comment letting me know how you are following me and I will follow back. All my ways to follow are on my right side bar- Email, GFC, Facebook, Twitter and Networked Blogs.

• If you want, create a new Friendly Wednesday blog post on your own blog and be sure to use the button provided on the side bar if you want to!

• Enter your information into the linkup below.
  

• Follow all the other blogs you want. This is a great way to get more followers!

(While you are here, I have giveaways in the upper right hand side bar and TASTY recipes in the tab labeled "SusieQTpies Personal Recipes" *IF YOU enter any of my giveaways today give yourself 5 "Friendly Wednesday" bonus entries!!!!) 

Discovery Girls celebrate National Volunteer Week!

DISCOVERY GIRLS CELEBRATES NATIONAL VOLUNTEER WEEK (press release)

The tween –focused magazine aims to teach girls that big changes start small with feature posts by young girls who have made a serious impact in their community, the nation and the world.

SAN JOSE, CALIF (April 11, 2011) – Just the act of volunteering is something that deserves to be celebrated. While taking your own time and dedicating it to a cause may seem simple, it’s still a rather uncommon practice. This is why volunteers under the age of 13 are something to be celebrated – and that’s what we’re doing!

For National Volunteer week, DiscoveryGirls.com will feature guest posts by three truly amazing girls. Meet a girl who’s started her own organization, one who’s raised $100,000s for the United Nations campaign Nothing But Nets and another who directly influenced the signing of the Food Safety Modernization Act.

Read their stories in their own words, this week at DiscoveryGirls.com:

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Diagnosed with Benign Rolandic Epilepsy at the age of five, Jamie Bacigalupo has since started the non-profit organization Angels4Epilepsy, Inc. Now 8-years-old, Jamie creates gift bags of snacks, toys, stuffed animals and more for hospitalized children diagnosed with epilepsy.

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

At the age of 5, Katherine Commale learned that every 30 seconds, a child in Africa dies from Malaria. From that moment on, she knew she had to do something to help. She began raising money for the United Nations Foundation to purchase and send much needed mosquito nets to homes in Africa and by 6-years-old she had already raised over $10,000 and was named the spokes “kid” for the United Nations campaign Nothing But Nets (NBN).  Now 10-years-old, Katherine has raised over $180,000 for her cause.

Thursday, April 14, 2011

When she was three Dana Dziadul took a bite of a cantaloupe and almost died. Dana had contracted Salmonella Poona blood poisoning. Now a 13-year-old with arthritis, Dana is still feeling the effects. To ensure no child ever went through what she did, Dana teamed with the group Safe Tables Our Priority, and this past January was on hand when President Obama signed the Food Safety Modernization Act into law.

About Discovery Girls:

The San Jose, Calif. based magazine has an international readership, is produced bi-monthly and is in its 11^th year of production. The magazine features real girls between the ages of 8 and 12 dealing with real-life situations. It strives to empower girls to celebrate who they are and to realize their potential. 

“We strive to make it clear to our young readers that you don’t have to be a star to be an important, worthwhile person,” says Catherine Lee, publisher and founder. “When a girl picks up our magazine, we want her to feel she’s found a place where she belongs – where her ideas and concerns are taken seriously.”

Happy D.E.A.R. Day! Are you doing IT???

 So what is D.E.A.R. day??  I bet you are curious! Well today is Drop Everything And Read Day!  People all over the world are suppose to take at least 30 minutes out of their day and read for pleasure as a family.  Can you do it? Are you up to it? Can you get the family together for reading?

Something like this is easy for us because we all love to read in our home.  This hasn't always been the case, though.  I remember around 5th-6th grade my twins went through a stage where they didn't care to read.  There were a lot of factors that went into this, including the school that they were attending had the required reading program, AR.  It is suppose to be a great program but it backfired on them.  It became a chore for them to read which totally drove my husband and I nuts-o!  

How did I get them to read?  We started buying any and all books, magazines, comics, etc on the subject that they enjoyed and before we knew it they were both reading again!  Now they are 10th graders and almost always have some sort of book in their hands when they can.

Today is just an awareness day but any day can be D.E.A.R. Day!

What are you reading? What are your kids reading these days? I'd love to know!

I'm reading Friendship Bread: A Novel by Dairen Gee (I'm on my 2nd read of this and it just came out a week ago) and a stack of cookbooks!!

Happy D.E.A.R Day!  If you want to know more, check out the website, Drop Everything And Read!

What has been your best Mother's Day ever??

For me, my overall best Mother's day ever is a tie between two different Mother's Day.  My first ever Mother's Day was in 1995 when my twin girls were 8 months old.  I didn't grow up with a mom so Mother's Day was always a bittersweet reminder to me for what I didn't have.  I do not remember what we did on the first official MD but I can guarantee you that just being a mom of two little girls topped any MD ever in my eyes. 

 My second favorite Mother's day came 4 year later when we had another baby girl!  I knew, at that time, I was so blessed to be the mom of these three girls. Each and every Mother's Day since the very first one in 1995 have been the best for me because I have the honor to be the momma of  "The Powerpuff Girls."  I've loved all the handmade cards, flowers, perfume, handmade cards, breakfast in bed, picnic & park events and more! Last year they took me out for Sushi! Yum!

Over the years, I have had to learn how to be a mom and it has all been worth it!  I love my girls and most of all I love their father for helping me in this little life adventure.

Do remember that Mother's Day is a day where you can celebrate and give extra thanks to any female in your life.  What has been your best Mother's Day ever?  Please share!

This year if you are looking for high quality Mother's Day cards, check out Tiny Prints Mother's Day cards.  I LOVE their cards and order from them whenever I need a top notch personalized card.  We ordered our Christmas photo cards from them this past year.

 Tiny Prints provides simple, modern and unique stationery from Fathers Day Cards to personalized greeting cards to thank you cards, business cards, and even custom wedding invitations or photo birth announcements. Offering exclusive designs from the nation’s top designers, easy card personalization, a powerful preview engine and top-notch customer service and paper quality, their designs have been lauded by numerous television networks, publications and celebrities. With Tiny Prints by your side commemorating every holiday and momentous occasion is a cinch! They offer perfect party invitations for every occasion and memorable personalized photo-gifts like notebooks, photo books and calendars to commemorate the event.

Thanks to Tiny Prints and Global Influence for the review opportunity.  I'm a huge fan and was compensated for this post. The words expressed here are my own.  

Extreme couponing is all the rage! 6 helpful tips for you to join in!

With the start of TLC's latest "Extreme Couponing" season, it's a good time to review some basic tricks that these coupon pros use. Read on for six ways you can save like an extreme couponer.

1. Start Small
Don't try to go extreme all at once. Take it step by step, rather than show up at a checkout with 50 coupons and little idea what you're doing.

2. Never Pay For Coupons
There are some things in this life you just shouldn't pay for, and a coupon is one of them. Paying someone to clip or organize your coupons defeats the purpose of living frugally. Instead, surf Sunday newspaper ad supplements for coupon savings; ask your neighbors for their unwanted papers; or dive inside a recycled dumpster or two. Also, free online coupon sites like CouponSherpa.com give consumers access to a multitude of coupon codes and printable coupons for thousands of merchants.

3. Get Organized
A little organization can go a long way. Always create a shopping list and have your coupons and shopping strategy organized before you even enter the store. Use an expandable coupon binder to sort coupon inserts by date, categories and expiration dates. Transfer to a small couponizer only those you'll need for a specific shopping trip. 

4. Location, Location, Location
Where you shop is a key factor in making the best use of your time and coupons. Only shop at locations that allow coupon stacking and combining coupons with in-store offers. Don't be afraid to call and ask about policies before you show up. You don't want to wind up embarrassed at the checkout line with a handful of useless coupons.

5. Loyalty Rewards
Always take advantage of club membership rewards. These programs are usually free and have many savings perks, like rewards points, cash back programs, and double points for every certain amount you spend.
 
 6. Don't Be Greedy
This is often where extreme couponers cross over into the world of hoarding. Only shop for items you actually need, products you can stock up on that aren't perishable, and those you can donate. Remember, a bargain is only a bargain if you can actually use the purchase. If your pantry has expanded into your living room and the kids are sleeping on rolls of toilet paper, you've probably reached hoarder status.

Thanks to consumer savings expert, Andrea Woroch, for providing the article "6 Ways To Save Like An Extreme Couponer."  She has been featured on NBC's Today Show, FOX & Friends, MSNBC, ABC News NOW and many more. To view recent interviews or get more information, visit AndreaWoroch.com or you can also follow @AndreaWoroch on Twitter to receive daily savings tips.

#UBP11 Ultimate BLOG PARTY giveaways

Can you say PARTY? No one can really throw a massive online party like the ~Wonder Twin Sisters~ over at 5 Minutes for Mom.  These ladies rock the blog party world every April.  This is my 3rd year and am I ever ready to meet some new bloggers!   If you are new, leave a comment so that I can follow back! You can follow me on my on my right side bar!

ABOUT ME: I'm known as SusieQTpies, Susie or Susan! Take your pick! Very few people call me Sue and we can keep it that way!  I love meeting up with new bloggers! I'm so amazed at all the cool people that I have met because of blogging.  I've been doing this for 3 years and it just seems to get more fun the more I do it!

I'm a WAHM and we are a homeschool family! I have 3 beautiful, intelligent & caring tween/teen daughters as well as a best friend for a husband and 2 sweet & sassy cats. I love blogging about FOOD, COFFEE, Reviews & Giveaways (right side bar), Amish Friendship Bread and Gooseberry Patch.  I'm all about family and I blog food that I make for them, products that I get to review that are family friendly and giveaway things that are fun to have and play with! Speaking of giveaways......here are 4 great ones just for Y-O-U!

I have donated a $25 AMAZON Gift Card or as we say it at our home, "A-Maze-in" gift card on the main prize link up! So make sure you go there and enter to win! 

For those of you who are here through the Party Link up or just my regular friends who are stopping by, YOU can enter to win FAB prizes on my blog from April 1st-8th!

To enter each one you'll have to read below as to what is expected to win that prize.  In the comments you'll leave your entry for that prize.  You can enter to win all 3, you just need to do the ONE mandatory entry for each one!

__________________________________________________________

MY BLOG GIVEAWAYS

just for the #UBP11

#1) $25 Amazon Gift Card

Open to all and ends 4/8

Mandatory entry: Email subscribe to my blog, please!

http://feeds.feedburner.com/SusieqtpiesScrapsOfLife

LEAVE a comment that you are an email subscriber and leave your email address (like this- suzy at gmail dot com, etc)

(click the picture to read more)

#2 Friendship Bread, the novel by author Darien Gee (she has also written under Mia King) and an Oxo solid beachwood wooden spoon. The book release date is 4/5!

Open to USA and ends 4/8

Mandatory Entry: Go to the Friendship Bread Kitchen website and check out the Recipe Box!  Come back here and tell me 2 sweet treats that you would love to make or eat! Leave your email addy and if you would like the book in Hardcover or ebook (Kindle/Nook). 

Please join @fbkitchen & author @DarienGee Tue 4/5 Twitter Party 7pm CST Discuss/celebrate Friendship Bread book release #fbkitchen.  There will be giveaways!!!

 

#3 $25 Gift Certificate to Kerrific Online ETSY Store! This store is perfect for expecting and new moms! If this isn't you, why not win it for someone else! 

Open to USA and ends 4/8

Mandatory Entry: Go to Kerrific's store and leave a comment on something you'd love to get from her store. Leave your email addy with the comment. 

What? You want some bonus entries? OK, sure! Leave separate comments for each of these in the comment section.

Those bonus entries are:

• 1) Follow my blog on Google Friend Connect (right side bar)
• 2) Follow me on Twitter
• 3) Follow my blog on Facebook
• 4) Follow my blog in email 
• 5) Follow my blog RSS Feed

HAVE FUN at the Party!! I'll see you around! I will be visiting/following EVERYONE who leaves a comment below!

xoxoxo SusieQTpies xoxoxo