Avery & Zazzle Recipe Binder Design Contest

Check this out - and do it NOW - this contest ends November 2, 2009 at 11:59 PM, so get your creative hat on and go submit an entry today! Post a link to your design here and one lucky WINNER will receive their binder FREE!

Here are the particulars:

Prizes:
Grand Prize = $2,000
Second Prize = $500
10 Honorable Mention Prizes = $25 Zazzle Gift Code

How to Enter the Recipe Binder Contest:

1. Create a Zazzle Account (It’s free!)
2. Create your Recipe Binder
3. “Post for Sale” your Recipe Binder with the tag zazzleaveryrecipecontest2009 in the Zazzle Marketplace (learn how to tag your product here)
4. You’re done, good luck!

Create an Entry | View Entries

Contest entries must be received by November 2, 2009 at 11:59pm PT

Contest Rules:

1. You may only submit one entry for this Recipe Binder Contest
2. Entries must be submitted between October 19, 2009 at 9:00 am PT, and November 2, 2009 at 11:59 pm PT, to be eligible.
3. Entries will be judged on uniqueness of design, overall creativity, and best use of the binder space.
4. Entering a contest is done by tagging your product with a specific contest related keyword (or “tag”). If you don’t know how to do this, please read the instructions here. You should also leave a comment under the contest announcement with a link to your product to give it more visibility.
5. Contest is for submissions by residents of the USA only. All other entrants will be excluded from the competition. Read the Official Recipe Binder Contest Rules.

Getting Back

We are officially moved. Not officially unpacked, but moved. Our new home has many small differences that we're adapting to, but I think we'll be settled in no time.

I always find it difficult to get back into the swing of things after having been gone for some time. It's really only been a week and a half since I last posted, but it feels like much longer to me.

I think I'll start back with two great gifts I won from other bloggers. The first was a lovely basket full of soy candles from Janine at Things That Make Scents in 'Jersey Shore scents' that I won at Life, Lightly Salted, Michele's blog. These candles smell so wonderful and the fact that they are made from soy (semi-locally, no less) makes them all the more wonderful to me. The basket and colors will go perfectly in the new upstairs bathroom - one thing I was looking forward to here at the new digs.

The second was a $50 gift certificate for any one item at From the Farm which I won from Jenn's place at The Leftover Queen for the March/April Foodie Blogroll Giveaway. There was so much to choose from; cheeses, meats, oils, produce etc., but once I caught sight of the Clementine Mandarin (Algerian) Dwarf Tree from Four Winds Growers, I knew that was the gift for me. It came on Earth Day - very apropos - and already had tiny little clementines growing on it and many more blooms ready to go.

So, we are moved, we are acclimating and I am hopefully back to blogging!

WIN a Subscription to La Cucina Italiana Magazine

If you haven't come across La Cucina Italiana magazine, you're definitely missing something. This is a magazine devoted entirely to Italian cuisine and they dish it up with beautiful photographs, delicious recipes and articles you want to sit in a comfy chair to read.

The photos are gorgeous and appetite inspiring. You'll want to jump into the pages and eat your way out. The recipes, like saltimbocca di lonza con pancetta (pork loin saltimbocca with pancetta), guazzetto di vongole e gamberi (clam and shrimp stew) and “dolce soffice” (cherry cake) will have you dashing to the kitchen.

La Cucina Italiana bills itself as Italy's premier food and cooking magazine since 1929. I'd say they know their stuff. Even so, this is not only for gourmets and experienced cooks. La Cucina Italiana is for everyday people who want to cook the finest Italian food there is.

You can subscribe now HERE and get a free apron with your order, or you can enter my contest and win a FREE one-year subscription.

The rules for this are that you leave a comment with your very favorite Italian recipe attached. It can be a sauce, a pasta, a dessert - you name it - anything goes as long as it's Italian!

One winner will be chosen and I will announce the winner on September 30th. Have your comment, with recipe, in by 11:59 PM on September 28th to be in the running. Open to U.S. Residents Only!

The Cutest Cakes Ever!

I was recently browsing around FamilyFun.com and found page after page of adorable cakes in The Best Cake Face-Off. Choose a category and vote between two at a time until you narrow it down to just two cakes for that category. See if the cake you pick is among the favorites.

It's so fun that the kids and I did it several times! The cakes are really great - far above my personal decorating (or lack thereof) skills. From Nemo to Wall-e and Disney Princesses to Darth Vader. Don't miss it! Click HERE to get started.

Family.com New Community and Contest

Family.com has just revamped its community and made it more personal and more fun. Not only do I blog at Family.com, I also belong to, and am active in, the community there.

Make your own avatar or family portrait from personalized avatars; join a group; let everyone know what you're up to moment-by-moment throughout your day; decorate your profile, add stickers or even make some of your own to upload!

Here's the best part - From August 1 to August 31, if you join and become an active member, you'll be eligible for a PRIZE A DAY in the Way To Go! Contest. There are awesome gifts being given including a 4 person tent, a web cam, an iPod, a DeWalt cordless screwdriver, a Bluetooth headset and MORE! Full rules are HERE.

Head on over and check it out for yourself. My profile is HERE, give it a look and you'll get an idea of what's so fun about it all!