Handy little gem for my kitchen

[Source: Daily Savings from All You]

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Home, sweet Croatia!

Send Something Good Reveal Day

I participated in Send Something Good with Gentri Lee. Where bloggers all over the world learned about one another in secret, prepared and mailed a package to their secret blogger.

I was so thrilled to receive my package in the mail from Fab @ Wreck This Girl in Italy. She was inspired to send me things related to my passion for food.

My Memories Suite Giveaway!

A few weeks ago I wanted to create something a little more unique on my blog to introduce my friend Miriam. She did such a great job of featuring me on her blog. The thing I loved was how fun and personal she made the post. She mentioned to me that she used digital scrapbooking to do it. I had never even heard of such a thing. I found some digital scrapbooking paper online and tried it out here. I had fun doing it but I knew I would need to have more time to really learn and enjoy digital scrapbooking.

Scrapbooking is one of those things that is right up my alley. You know the kind of thing you know you would love if you had all of the time and resources to actually do it. Well that is what scrapbooking is to me. I love to take and save pictures. I journaled for years and I doodle on every piece of paper I can get my hands on.

A couple of weeks ago I received an email asking me to try out and review an awesome product. I can tell you that this product is pretty cool. I have been able to make some cool things quickly and without taking a class. I found this software easy to download and fun to use. My mind is now brewing with so many ideas. Have you noticed that on my last couple of posts I had fun playing with pictures? You can check them out here or here.

I am not the most talented when it comes to using technology. I am always behind and I don't always trust myself when it comes to computers. I will be honest this scared me a little bit. I was able to download install and use this software on my own. That is saying a lot. My husband has had to help me with things like this in the past, and my 2 year old teaches me new things each week about using my phone : /
Well you get the picture. Technology and I are not the best of friends.

I was blown away with how easy it was to figure this out. I was impressed with the support they provide if you need help. Once you purchase the software you have a support system at the click of a button. You can watch videos, they have tutorials and PDF user guides. You can make word art, edit, embellish and decorate each element just the way you want.

I like the idea of doctoring up my pictures before I post them on my blog. I like the personal look that it gives.  I also like that I can use this to add "watermarks" to my pictures. There are so many different options. If you can dream it up you can create it. If that sounds overwhelming, no worries...they have templates you can use as well. The best part is when you are done you can save it as a book, export it to your blog as a PDF, print it and use it in other ways outside of the computer too.

I am clearly having fun playing around with this. You can bet you will see more creations using this software from me in the near future. I plan to create a gift for Fathers Day, a blogging calendar/planner and menu planning tools. I bet you are wondering how you can play with this awesome software as well.

I am excited to tell you about that I am hosting my first ever Giveaway!!! I was given 2 copies of the software. The one I have been playing around with and the other I am giving away here!

 That is not all. Here is a special discount code for No Time for Tea Parties readers! When you use the code below as you check out you will receive $10 off of the My Memory Suite Software and an additional $10 off your purchase in the My Memories online Store! How awesome is that?

STMMMS68455

It is really easy to enter and you can earn points to gain more entries. All you need to do is sign up below. The winner will be contacted by email. Good luck and be sure to come back and tell me what you think after you check it all out! Also don't forget the above coupon code a savings of $2 for my readers!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Opportunity

Triple Chocolate Scones

My family spent the whole weekend hanging out. It was so nice. We had a 4 day weekend and I loved every minute of it. 

On Thursday we stayed in PJs most of the day. That evening we went to the airport to welcome some friends that are moving here for 2 years to do Mission work. We took them a shopping basket full of goodies to get them through the first couple of nights. They arrived on a holiday so everything was closed. We arrived on a Saturday. I remember a feeling of panic when I discovered stores are closed on Sunday in Vienna. We hoped the spaghetti fixings, and snacks we gave them would come in handy.

Friday we had another family day. I made these to start the day.

2 cups flour

4 Tbsp. cold butter

1 tsp baking powder

2 Tbsp sugar

4 Tbsp cocoa

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 cup  evaporated milk

3/4 cup chocolate chips

In 2 separate bowls, mix the dry and wet ingredients. Use a pastry cutter or 2 forks to cut the butter into the flour mixture. When the mixture is a similar texture to sand add the wet ingredients. Combine well and add the chocolate chips.

Bake @ 200C or 350 F for about 15 min. While they are baking make the glaze.

Glaze

melt 1 Tbsp butter in a pot on the stove add in 1 Tbsp cocoa, and 3 Tbsp milk. Pour in powdered sugar to reach the desired consistency. 

We enjoyed the scones and a relaxing day.

In the evening I had the privilege of going on a Mommy/Daughter date with my oldest. Just the 2 of us. We went to see Hanni and Nanni 2. We had a great time and got matching bracelets as a memory symbol. I plan to recreate those soon.

It was nice to have some time off just with the family. I love making special things like these scones for days like these. 

I hope you love and enjoy them too!

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In Survival Mode!

Hi Everyone!

I wanted to leave a quick note to let you all know that I have been on a short break due to my littles being sick. I am running on very little sleep and no one wants me blogging while sleep deprived!

I am hoping to blog again later today after I see what the Dr. has to say!

Until then!

Have a blessed day!

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May Blog Hop

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Nite Nite Spray

 Ever since the birth of my baby girl, my little man has been visiting us at night. He comes in the middle of the night and sleeps with us. It is not every night, but most nights he comes. I assumed it was to seer be near the baby. She sleeps in a baby bay attached to our bed. She is getting ready to transition to another room and her own bed. When we were preparing for her birth we paired up the girls because my daughter didn't want to be alone and my son did. In hindsight I would have done it differently because the littles enjoy one another so much. 

A Birthday in the City

This weekend my daughter turned 9. So hard to believe. She is one of the sweetest, most tenderhearted girls I have ever known.

We took her and 4 of her friends to a special city for kids called Minopolis.  This is one of my favorite places to take the kids. A cool place where the kids learn about life. It is a miniature city complete with stores, public services, a bank, tv station, and even its own paper. 

Kids learn that if you want to be able to pay for your food you need a job. They have to go and look for a job. To get many jobs you need to meet certain requirements like having a drivers license. To have a one you need to go to class and take tests, and  have a medical statement to fulfill the application requirements. It is a really neat place to take kids and teach them really valuable lessons. 

True Confessions Tuesday!

Ok so I have a confession to make. I am a little OCD. I suppose I pretend it isn't true, but the voices in my head tell me differently. I also heard my daughter telling a friend the other day that she notices that I do some weird things....like when I give them candy I always give them one of each color. I thought I was over all of that but evidently not. Some times my OCD tendencies come back to the forefront of my mind. Thursday was one of those days were I could not deny the truth. I am a little OCD. Thoughts of germs, and disease consumed the majority of my thoughts that day. 

Snickerdoodles

My husband has been traveling and the kids and I have been keeping pretty busy. Needless to say I have been very busy and tired. I apologize for the break, but I will be playing catch up over the next couple of days!

I did make cookies with the kids the other night though, so we will start there. These are great to make with kids. All of mine helped! There are steps that are simple enough for kids of all ages. We had a great time. They love to lick the beaters just like I did as a kid. 

Zoo Day!

Today was a holiday in Europe! Labor Day, so all 3 of the kids were home. We went to one of my favorite places in Vienna. We went to the zoo, located on the grounds of the former summer palace to the Imperial family. Schönbrunn, at the bottom of a hill in the city, it is beautiful and a great visual reminder of the rich history the city holds. A beautiful sunny yellow it is a bright spot of the city even today. Along with the beautiful palace, there is a maze, royal gardens, the zoo and the Gloriette, an observation terrace where the royals dined and hosted that overlooks the palace and the city. 

I've been tagged!

I have been tagged by Allison over at Two Infinity and Beyond

I was thrilled to be tagged and can't wait to join in on the fun. So here we go....

The Rules:
1. Each person must post 11 things about themselves on their blog.
2. Answer the questions the tagger has set for you plus the eleven facts about you.
3. Choose eleven people and link them in your blog.
4. Go to their page and tell them. 
5. No tag backs.
6. You legitimately have to tag.