And the Winner is . . .

Thanks to all of you that entered my Giveaway for a $65.00 gift certificate from CSN Stores! I wish I could have given one to each of you. But alas...there can only be one winner and that winner would be suburban prep!

I'll be getting in touch with you via email suburban prep. Ya'll have a great.weekend and remember it's the last shopping weekend before Christmas. Are you ready?

Giveaway and Lemon Blossoms

This has been a really hectic week! I have been busy since I got home from work today baking Lemon Blossoms for my daughters employees Christmas Party tomorrow.

Lemon Blossoms are so good and lemony. They're time consuming to make only because you bake them in miniature muffin pans so they're practically bite-size. But other than that they are easy-peasy to make.

And they're fun. I've never been much of a baker but this Christmas Season I've been doing a little more than I ever have and I'm finding it really therapuetic. It's just me, my thoughts and a lot of sugar :-D

Before I post the recipe for these delicious little nuggets of lemony goodness I want to remind everyone to go and enter my giveaway for the $65.00 gift certificate to CSN Stores. Just click HERE to get the details on how to enter.

Well, I'm off to brush my little teethies and read a little bit more of my Apolo Ohno book before I head off to dreamland. (I know...teethies is not a real word, humor me please!)

Lemon Blossoms

18 1/2-ounce package yellow cake mix (Because of what I had on hand, I used a lemon cake mix instead of a yellow one. Still very good!)
3 1/2-ounce package instant lemon pudding mix
4 large eggs
3/4 cup vegetable oil
Glaze: 4 cups confectioners' sugar
1/3 cup fresh lemon juice
1 lemon, zested
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
3 tablespoons water

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray miniature muffin tins with vegetable oil cooking spray. Combine the cake mix, pudding mix, eggs and oil and blend well with an electric mixer until smooth, about 2 minutes. Pour a small amount of batter, filling each muffin tin half way. Bake for 8 minutes, or until edges are golden brown. Turn out onto a tea towel.

To make the glaze, sift the sugar into a mixing bowl. Add the lemon juice, zest, oil, and 3 tablespoons water. Mix with a spoon until smooth.

With fingers, dip the cupcakes into the glaze while they're still warm, covering as much of the cake as possible, or spoon the glaze over the warm cupcakes, turning them to completely coat. Place on wire racks with waxed paper underneath to catch any drips. Let the glaze set thoroughly, about 1 hour, before storing in containers with tight-fitting lids.

Linking up to Foodie Friday at Designs by Gollum. Go check out lots of other great recipes and holiday ideas! 

Giveaway! Come one, come all!

CSN Stores has offered me the chance to host another giveaway and give one of my readers a gift certificate for $65.00!!! Yep...you read that right, $65.00.

You could take that sweet little gift certificate and apply it towards this gorgeous tv stand! I love the country french look of this one, don't you?

This is the perfect opportunity to pick up a last minute gift for someone special. CSN Stores has over 200+ stores to shop in. So how do you get in on all the giving?

1. Leave me a comment that you are a follower or just became a follower. You must be a follower to be eligible.

That's it. Does anything in life get easier than that? I think not! So ok, don't stand around here just looking at me, go leave a comment. Entries close at 8:00 pm (PST), Friday, December 17th and I'll announce the winner on Saturday morning. I'll also notify the winner by email so be sure to leave your email if it isn't automatically generated in your comment.

It's my FIRST GIVEAWAY ever!!

Do you realize Thanksgiving is almost here? Do you usually wait for Black Friday to get started with your Christmas Shopping? Well this year everyone seems to be starting much earlier...so I thought I'd help you get the ball rolling by doing my first ever giveaway! How does a $65.00 Gift Certificate to CSN Stores sound? Uh huh, yep...I thought you'd say yes.

Is anyone heading over the river and through the woods to someone else's house this year? Then maybe you might want to use the Gift Certificate to buy a new suitcase for your holiday travel! They have some really cute ones. I fell in love with this one right away. It's so pink and perfect!

But CSN has ton's of stuff...you don't have to get a suitcase. Just head over to CSN (by clicking on the word suitcase above) and see what catches your eye.


Entering the giveaway is super simple.


1. Leave a comment telling me what you plan to do for either Thanksgiving or Christmas.


2. Become a follower of my blog and leave me a comment letting me know you are now following me.

3. If you are already a follower...then just leave me a comment letting me know you're already following me.

That's it...see, told you it was super simple!


Deadline to enter is Sunday, November 14th and I'll announce the winner on Monday, November 15th.

Good luck to everyone!