Picking Out Holiday Cards

Don't you think the above photo (sans the photographer) would make a cute Christmas card?

I do too!

We finally have the CD of our family photos we had taken a few weeks ago and now we are trying to figure out which ones to frame, which ones to put into a photo book and which ones to use for family Christmas cards!

Now, I am not planning to sending out photo holiday cards...not sure anything screams "I'm a single lady in my 30s" than a photo card featuring me, myself and I!

However, my mom really wants to send out a Christmas letter featuring photos of the family, especially her half dozen cute grandchildren. Instead of a letter printed out on her trusty (and not so crisp) printer, I am trying to convince her to use Tiny Prints to create her Christmas Photo Cards.

They have some great options in their 2012 Holiday Collection, including many styles featuring their new Premium DoubleThick™ Matte Paper. Check out this short video about the new paper.

As I was checking out their website, I picked out a few options for my mom AND my three sisters, who all have gorgeous families to show off on their Christmas cards.

For Mom...

I chose this great tri-fold card for Mom so she could feature a variety of photos of the family. She can choose between a matte or semi-gloss finish at no charge or for a bit more she can upgrade to a pearl white shimmer finish (fancy, fancy).

The best part of choosing this card? No need for a lengthy letter, the photos can tell the story!

For my older sister...

I love the colors of this card and it would go very nicely with the colors of our family photos. She has three boys so she can feature a photo of each of them and one of the entire family (or their dog Zoe).

If she wants to go with a more traditional photo card, I think this is a great option...

It's a bit less than the fancier square cards but just as attractive! If you are on a budget (aren't we all?), be sure to check out their Special Offers page.

For my younger sister...

She has two cuties so she can single each of them out and give a quick update on what they are up to and also feature a few other of the great family shots taken at the family photo shoot.

For my baby sister...

She has an only child so I think she needs to take advantage of that and feature JJ and her big blue eyes, gorgeous blond curls and impish smile front and center on her card.

I had such fun picking out cards for my mom and my sisters. Hopefully they will read this post and be inspired to create their own fun Christmas photo cards!!

Now for you, my dear readers, Tiny Prints would like for you to create your own cards and to get you started they are giving away $50 off your total order (expires 12/14/12)!! Just enter by clicking on the Rafflecopter widget below (it's within this blog post). Contest runs through November 11 and I'll post announce the winner here on November 12.

Good luck!!

BTW...Tiny Prints did sponsor this post/giveaway but the opinions (and choices of cards above) are my own  like always!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Sunshine Equals Spring Chores

While fall is my overall favorite season (love cool weather and harvest time), spring is a very close second. I love the transition from winter coats and sweaters (though wish I could wear tights all year round) to jackets and sandals (or at least shoes without socks).

However, I feel like we went from winter directly to late spring/early summer this year. Temperatures in Indiana have been warm, really warm in the month of March and they don't seem to be waning as we enter April.

The warm weather has meant several things around here...spring flowers and trees are blooming, lawn mowers are mowing and farmers are farming!

It's time for farmers to put away their insulated coveralls and heavy Carhartt jackets and luckily for my dad, Carhartt sent him this great short-sleeved work shirt just in time for the warm spring temperatures. 

I have to admit that he has worn this short-sleeved, button-down classic plaid shirt as much OFF the farm as he has ON the farm. He says it is super (maybe my word, not his) comfortable and fits great. Note that it has a pocket, which I have been told by more than one farmer is a MUST...needed to hold pens, glasses, notebooks, checkbooks, etc.

On this particular warm (note the nephew in shorts and sandals above) spring day, dad was catching up on a few spring chores before he gets busy in the fields in a few weeks.

 Climbing into the trusty John Deere.

 I think this look was saying "I'm getting tired of my favorite daughter following me around."

(I may have added the "favorite" to that thought.)

 The backhoe has been busy cleaning up the farmstead this spring.

 Here he was just showing off...spinning the seat around. 

 Dad has several grain bins on the farm, which means loading the semi to sell some corn.

(Or maybe it was soybeans that day...I can't remember.)

 "Hey Papaw, what are you doing? Can I help?"

 "Papaw, are you done yet? Can I ride in the semi? Can we take a Gator ride?"

(Can you tell the nephew asks questions...a lot?)

Finished...time to go check the bins.

 Farmers can't be afraid of heights.

All done. Watch your step!

As you can see, my dad is one busy, busy guy and his new Carhartt shirt was the right gear to wear on a very warm, yet typical spring day at the farm.

Head over to the Real Farmwives of America to check out some of the other great new gear from Carhartt's new spring line AND for a giveaway sponsored by Carthartt!

Disclaimer: Carhartt provided me - my dad - the free product, but the opinions and photos in this post are my own (well, and my dad's), of course.

Sending Virtual Cookies

Head over to the Real Farmwives of America and Friends blog today and check out these delicious Buckeye Brownies I made as part of a virtual cookie swap!

While you are there, be sure to sign up for a chance to win a Gooseberry Patch cookbook!

Throw on a Jacket It's Fall

Fall is hands-down my FAVORITE time of the year. 

I love wearing jeans and a long-sleeved t-shirt then throwing on a jacket and heading out.

I recently got a comfy track jacket from the women's line at Carhartt...

and I've been wearing it every where, including the Fountain Square Art Fair with my very cute niece (above).

I think it will work great with a warm winter vest as the weather turns colder but for now I've been layering it over t-shirts to go out to breakfast with my pal Jane and her kiddos...

and dinner with a great group of gal pals (thanks Cris for the photo and Leontien for the meal).

I even wear it to the farm to hang out with my other cute niece - JJ. (Side note: Her shirt says "My Auntie is Awesome" - wonder who bought her that?)

Stubby, the barn cat, came out to see us.

And look who we found at the grain bins? My uncle Sam wearing in his Carhartt overalls!

Carhartt jackets, overalls and coveralls are part of the "uniform" for my dad and uncle on the farm, especially when they are working outside in the winter. There was definitely a nip in the air while we were visiting with Uncle Sam so we didn't stay out long.

Just long enough for JJ to bat her eyes and get a taste of Uncle Sam's apple...well maybe more like 3 or 4 bites!

To win a Carhartt of your own please visit the Real Farmwives of America blog to sign up for their giveaway.


Carhartt did provide me with this product to review but the thoughts and opinions expressed here are my own, of course.

GP Winner Revealed

Wow, y'all really wanted to win this cookbook!

I am so excited about the response and want to thank all of you who tried to win.

Check out all 10 recipes I made from Christmas Kitchens here.

Before I announce the winner, I want to thank Gooseberry Patch and the Real Farmwives of America for hosting the In the Kitchen series.

And the winner of the cookbook is...

Congratulations Lillian! I'll be contacting you soon through email.

Special thanks to Gooseberry Patch for providing me with this great cookbook to try and share with you. If you would like to purchase this or other cookbooks, please visit their store. If you would like to see other great recipes, check out www.realfarmwivesofamerica.com.

Decorating the Garden

When I got a very cool round floor planter from Avant Garden Decor  in the mail a few weeks ago, I immediately knew what I had to do with it.

My little outside space just didn't do it justice...

I'm the only one who really ever sees this space and while I do try to keep some living plants (I'm down at least 4 this year), I just wanted better for my new planter.

I knew where it had to go...

My mom has a beautiful yard with several special places where she has wonderful landscaping that is inviting to people, butterflies and birds!

So, I took the planter to her and she decided it needed to go right outside the front door...you see we are country folk so the front door stoop is just for looks, everyone knows to come on in the back door!

Isn't it pretty? I can't wait to see how she changes it up each year.

This week the Real Farmwives of America and Friends have teamed up with Perky Pet Feeders to give away a Hummingbird Feeder!

If you would like to win a Hummingbird Feeder, please head over to the Real Farmwives of America & Friends Blog and sign up for the giveaway!  


Avant Garden Decor did provide me with this product to review, however the thoughts and opinions shared about this product on this blog are my own, of course!

Have You Entered Yet

There's still time to enter my giveaway of this Gooseberry Patch cookbook.

Thanks to the Real Farmwives of America and Gooseberry Patch for coordinating this fun project.

Go to this post to enter! You have until 9 p.m. EST TONIGHT!

Special thanks to Gooseberry Patch for providing me with this great cookbook to try and share with you. If you would like to purchase this or other cookbooks, please visit their store. If you would like to see other great recipes, check out www.realfarmwivesofamerica.com.

Christmas Kitchen Cookbook Giveaway

Since the end of May I've been fixing recipes from Gooseberry Patch's Christmas Kitchen cookbook.

This was done in anticipation of a giveaway of this cookbook right here on my blog as part of the In the Kitchen project between the Real Farmwives of America and Gooseberry Patch. And, yes, it's a brand-new copy - NOT the one I cooked from, promise!


In case you missed one, here is a round-up of my 10 recipes:


Recipe 1: Quick Cheese Bread
Recipe 2: Grandma's Butter Cookies
Recipe 3: Cheesy Potato Puffs
Recipe 4: Baked Ziti Supreme
Recipe 5: Cheesy Garlic Biscuits
Recipe 6: Cream Cheese Candy
Recipes 7 and 8: Tina's Creamy Bacon Crescents and Scrambled Eggs in Toast Cups
Recipe 9: Hot Cinnamon Twisters
Recipe 10: Chicken, Spinach and Bows Casserole


Big Thanks to Gooseberry Patch!

So with no further ado, let's get down to business.

There are LOTS of ways to enter to win. You don't have to use them all, just do the ones you want. Just make sure you leave a separate comment for each entry.

1. Follow Gal in the Middle through Google Friend Connect (GFC) (right sidebar).

2. Subscribe to us via email (right sidebar).

5. Subscribe to our feed (right sidebar).

6. Check out The Real Farmwives of America and Friends and follow through GFC. 

7. "Like" The Real Farmwives of America and Friends on Facebook.

8. Follow @realfarmwives on Twitter.

9. "Like" Gooseberry Patch on Facebook.

10. Comment on Gooseberry Patch's Blog or Facebook Page and tell them Megan from Gal in the Middle sent you.

11. Follow @gooseberrypatch on Twitter.

12. Tweet about this contest and include @realfarmwives and @gooseberrypatch in your tweet.

13.  Join the Gooseberry Patch Circle of Friends email club.  

14.  Share this giveaway on your Facebook page and tag The Real Farmwives of America and Friends, and Gooseberry Patch in your post.

15. EXTRA SPECIAL ENTRY: I just started my own Facebook Fan Page - Gal in the Middle - so go over and like it and let me know in a comment and get an extra entry!  

Contest ends 9 PM EDT on July 31st and the winner will be selected at random. The winner must live in the continental U.S.  


Special thanks to Gooseberry Patch for providing me with this great cookbook to try and share with you. If you would like to purchase this or other cookbooks, please visit their store. If you would like to see other great recipes, check out www.realfarmwivesofamerica.com.

Cinnamon Cream Cheese Roll

I got inspired this weekend and did a bit of baking...stay tuned for my Iron Chef entry (secret ingredient Baking Powder) over at a Latte with Ott, A later this week.

I also decided to get creative and TRY to "create" a recipe for the Pillsbury Bake-Off in honor of my Pillsbury Bake-Off giveaway that ends on Monday, April 18.

I started with these...

I started out with the regular Pillsbury cinnamon rolls and unfortunately, they do NOT unravel like the Grands. So, I went BACK to the grocery store for the Grands and decided to go to my parent's house to make this treat. I thought it might be nice to have Mom's opinion on my creation AND I could leave half the roll there so I wouldn't eat it all by myself.

I rolled out each cinnamon roll onto a cookie sheet. If I do this again, I think I'll roll them out on some wax or parchment paper. Then I cut each one in half and laid them side-by-side and pressed their edges together.

Then I used a rolling pin to roll the dough out a bit and fuse the rolls together. I had to scrap the cinnamon off the rolling pin and spread it back over the rolls - a bit messy but that's OK...baking isn't for neat freaks!

I had already mixed up the filling and forgot to take pictures of the process. I used 6 ounces of softened cream cheese, 1 egg, 1/3 cup sugar and 1/2 t. salt. Mix all the ingredients together and spread on top of the rolls.

My family (minus one sister) are big pecan fans, so mom chopped up some pecans and I sprinkled them on top of the filling.

I carefully started on one end and rolled it into a loaf and transferred it onto another greased cookie sheet. I forgot to snap a photo before I put it into the oven so I quickly snapped on while it was baking!

Bake according to the directions on the cinnamon roll package. We baked ours on 350 degrees for about 18 minutes.

Once it's out of the oven, let it cool for 5-10 minutes.

Then use the icing from the cinnamon roll package to cover the loaf.

Cut and serve.

It was a wonderful treat warm with a cup of coffee!

There's still time to enter my Pillsbury Bake-Off giveaway. Just leave a comment on the post about my Pillsbury Bake-Off giveaway that ends on Monday, April 18.

Do you have a recipe using Pillsbury products that you think is a winner? April 18 is also the deadline to enter your recipe in the Pillsbury Bake-Off.

Pillsbury provided me with the free product, information, and giveaway through MyBlogSpark. All opinions in this post are my own, of course!

Getting Creative in the Kitchen

Well, you may disagree with the title of this post but as someone who has a very hard time NOT using a recipe when fixing supper (unless it's something I've fixed since childhood), I consider this getting creative!






I have no idea what to call it...maybe Crescent Roll Hamburger Log?

Doesn't sound too appetizing, huh?

Here's what I started with...





Have you used the Philadelphia Cooking Creme? I snagged the Italian Cheese & Herb variety with a coupon (for free) and was quite impressed with the flavor and ease of use.

It's just me so I didn't want a lot of leftovers so I used half the cream cheese and ground beef and saved the rest for another day.

I cooked up the ground beef with some salt and pepper and drained it.

I popped open a can of Pillsbury Crescent Rolls and laid them out slightly overlapping on a cookie sheet.

Then I combined half the beef with half of the container of cream cheese and a handful of Italian blend cheese.

I scooped the mixture onto the fat ends of the rolls and folded the narrow end over the mixture and tucked it under the other side.






I baked it at 375 for 11 minutes then sprinkled another small handful of cheese on top and turned on the broiler for about 2 minutes.






It was tasty for a quick evening meal. I added some frozen veggies and called it a night!

Not sure it's worth entering it into the Pillsbury Bake-off (http://www.bake-off.com/), but it was a good evening meal.

Don't forget to leave me a comment on my blog post from yesterday to be entered into a drawing for a Pillsbury Bake-off prize pack.

Pillsbury provided me with the free product (to give away), information, and giveaway through MyBlogSpark. All opinions in this post are my own, of course!