Menu Mania: Part 2

When it comes to creating a menu plan, there are a few things you should know.

First…I’m no expert! There’s really no right or wrong way to create one. The IMPORTANT thing though, is that you just DO IT! Not only will it save you from pulling your hair out when that 4:30 after school/dinner time witching hour rolls around, but it will save you lots of $$$ and hours of time in the kitchen. Hours that you COULD be spending on more important things…like oolgling your next craft inspiration on Pinterest! Or, you know…playing games with your Littles. Whatever……

(And speaking of littles…here are mine just before heading out the door Halloween eve. Oh, I DIE they are so cute! )

Wait…what was I talking about? Oh yeah, Menus. Continuing on…

So, let’s get down to it. Here is the play by play of my weekly menu planning process.

First, I check my husband’s work schedule. Nothing is worse than slaving away in the kitchen, ready to welcome my beloved home with a big hug and delicious dinner…only to find out (much too late) that he was on-call at the hospital and wouldn’t be home for dinner at all. I’ll be honest…if the hubs won’t be home to eat it…I usually won’t cook it. Instead, I usually plan a big dinner (as in, something that makes a LOT) the night BEFORE, so there will be leftovers Miles and I can eat when Mike is working.

Next, I look at the rest of our calendar. Are there any special occasions that might warrant a special meal? Are we having guests over for dinner sometime that week? Are we attending any functions where dinner will be provided, or do I need to plan for a potluck? If so, I make a note of it on my menu planner so I can keep it in mind as I select my meals.

The NEXT thing I check is the weather forecast. I know I know…it sounds a little strange. Now that it’s fall and winter is fast approaching, it’s not really an issue. (It’s always COLD!) But trust me when I say planning a week full of new recipes you want to try out on the Grill, only to have it be rainy and miserable the ENTIRE TIME, is a TOTAL BUMMER!! Lesson learned.

The LAST thing I check before starting my meal search is the weekly grocery sale circulars. Planning my menus around items that are on sale each week (or items I stocked up on previous weeks) has really saved our family mucho $$$. For instance, last week Haas avocados were advertized at their lowest price of the season. (I don’t usually buy them, because they are pretty spendy!) So for dinner I planned Chicken Tortilla Soup, Club Sandwiches, and Taco Salad…all meals that used avocadoes. Many of the other ingredients for the meals (like the chicken and beef, canned tomatoes, chicken stock, etc) were things I had stocked up on from a previous weeks sale and already had in the pantry. (Which REALLY helped my bottom line at the grocery store.)

Then all that money I saved gets put into a special account for me to spend on pedicures, and massages, and just pampering in general! (Okay, not really. But wouldn’t that be AWESOME!!!)

Whew! It sounds like a lot of work when it’s all written out like that. But really, its not. The whole process takes me maybe 15 minutes. Now that all our checking is out of the way, we are FINALLY ready to start picking out our meals.

Now THIS is the fun part!

There are so many AMAZING sources out there to go to for yummy meals for my family. Here are a few of my favorites:

(Click pictures to be taken to the website)

Those are my three go-to sites for great, yummy, tried and true recipes that never disappoint. But there are SO MANY MORE out there!!

So I peruse these fantastic sites looking for new recipes, or old stand-bys, or just anything that “calls out to me”, really. Then I hit up my cook books and my trusty Recipe binder. When I find something I like, I print it out (if I don’t already have it in my Recipe Binder), and write it on my menu plan. That’s it. Easy. More often than not it’s narrowing down the selection of yummy recipes I want to try that is the hardest.

And that’s it. Well, ALMOST. Here are just a few tips and tricks I’ve learned through the years…

(translation…Let me share all the ways I’ve messed it up…so you don’t have to!)

• Read through every recipe in its ENTIRETY at the beginning of the week to avoid “surprises” at dinner time. (Like the time I made the Chili’s Fajitas and discovered 30 minutes before dinner time I was supposed to marinate the meat overnight. Oops!!) Or today when I set out to make my Corn Chowder, and realized I forgot to take the bacon out of the freezer yesterday, and I forgot to start the rolls this afternoon. Ummm, can you say “Epic Fail??”


• Jot down any prep work you might need to do in advance, (like say…taking the bacon out of the freezer, or starting the rolls) right on the menu, so it won’t slip your mind. (This is a skill I’m still trying to master.)


• Spend the time to create a Recipe binder. (Or Recipe box, or recipe…whatever) Just devote the time to organizing and storing all your favorite recipes in one location. I promise, you won’t regret it.

So there you have it! My steps for creating a menu plan.

What about you? Do you have any meal planning tips and tricks? I’d love to know!!

Menu Monday Part 1 & a Freebie!

If there is one thing I love, it is sitting down at the end of a busy day with my family to share a yummy meal.  I should say, I love sitting down and EATING said meal…but getting it prepped, cooked, and on the table by dinner time night after night is not an easy feat!  Bu there is one little thing I have found that helps me more than ANYTHING else to guarantee I can provide that home cooked meal and quality family time without pulling my hair out.  Two Words:  Meal Plan!

That’s why this week, I am SO EXCITED to finally introduce a new feature to my blog:

Spending a little time at the beginning of each week creating my weekly menu and meal plan, I think, is the most important thing I do!  It saves me countless hours in the grocery store, helps eliminate dinnertime stress, and saves us lots and lots of $$$. 

And THAT’s a win/win/win for everyone!

AAAANNNNNNDDDDDD……because I already spend the time every week planning my menus, I thought I would share them here so you don’t have to!  That’s a win/win/win/win!

So here it is, in all it’s glory:

(links to all the recipes can be found below the menu)

 

Halloween Dinner ideas and photos from Our Best Bites

View Full Album

 

 

Tuesday – Sweet and Sour Chicken & Asian Chicken salad courtesy of Mel’s Kitchen Cafe

                (I am already drooling just thinking about this.  It’s better than any Chinese  

                 takeout I’ve ever had!)

Wednesday – Crispy Southwest Wraps & Homemade Guacamole from The Sisters Cafe

Thursday – Creamy Corn Chowder from Our Best Bites

Saturday – Spinach Quiche from Kraft

Sunday – Rumbi Island Mango Chicken and Rice from The Sisters Cafe

So there you have it!

Now…I’m not going to stop there (even if you wish I would.)  ha!  No Siree!!  There’s a LOT that goes into creating my weekly plan. Tomorrow I’ll post all the details. So stay tuned for part 2. 

 

But because you can’t have a weekly menu without , well… a menu… I’ll leave you with this:

Woot Woot! Once I got started, I couldn’t stop!  So whether you plan three squares a day, dinners only, or just want a small sheet to jot down a main dish, I’ve got ya covered!  

To download, simply click on the picture that suites your fancy.  It’s that simple.

Full Page Breakfast Lunch & Dinner: Click Here to Download 

 

Weekly Dinner Menu & Shopping List: Click Here to Download

5x7 Dinner Menu Only: Click Here to Download

Happy Halloween!!!

 

 

**I share, because I care!  Feel free to download the menus and use any of my images, as long as they are credited to me and accompanied with a link back to Romer Family Ramblings.  Menus and images are for personal use only.**

ch ch ch ch changin...

It's official....I'm under construction

I don't know about you, but things have been feeling a little "stuffy" for me lately. As in, I need to open a window, take a deep breath, and let the fresh air swirl around my lungs (and life), taking with it all that is stagnant and in need of renewal. And when I get that feeling, that...I need to "shake things up" kind of a feeling, nothing can stop me.


I never felt the need to "nest" during my pregnancy. Actually, the opposite was true. I had absolutely NO desire to do anything but eat, sleep, and gestate. Now the gestating has been replaced with a new baby, a new routine, visitors and vacations, school, work, and sleepless nights. (Okay...not THAT sleepless. I swear I have the best baby EVER!)


In any case, my lack of nesting and detailed attention to life the past few months has finally caught up with me, and it can only be remedied by a total makeover. I'm replacing my cravings for mexican food and chocolate chip cookies with something new entirely. I'm craving structure. I'm craving order. I'm craving organization, and cleanliness, and all that mixed with a little need to create, to write, and re-invent. The past four weeks I have been hard at work recovering, visiting with family, figuring out my new routine as a mother of two, and brainstorming fabulous plans I wanted to implement when I was feeling up to it.


And By Golly friends...that time is now.

So please pardon my dust as I shake things up a little bit. I could not be more excited about my new blog design (slowly...VERY slowly being implemented), my new weekly features and giveaways, organization projects and pinterest challenges, sharing my weekly menus and recipes, opening the blog up to sponsors, and all my craft and household projects I have on my "to do".

Seriously....

SO. EXCITED.

I'm takin it a little slow at first. I am still getting my "sea legs" after all.

But change, she is a comin'.

Anyone else have any big plans to make changes and get organized?? Do share!


P.S. To see everything I have in store, don’t forget to “follow” my blog over on the sidebar! You won’t want to miss it!

Little Miracle Man

I’m just sitting here watching my little man sleep. He makes the most adorable noises. And it’s all I can do to keep myself from picking him up and nuzzling him into the crook of my neck.

He’s a nuzzler. A snuggler. If I would let him, he would snuggle me 23 hours a day. If I hold him on my chest, he curls up into a little ball, rests his head on my shoulder, lets out a little sigh (and sometimes gives me a little smile), and dozes off. And he will stay that way as long as I let him. Or until he needs to eat. Whichever comes first.

When he DOES need to eat, there is no sad newborn cry to make me aware it is feeding time. Nope. He’s not a crier. He’s too patient and content for that. Instead, he lets out a sound like a little lamb. Which has earned him the lovely nickname “My Little Lambie".

And when he eats, he just slurps it down as fast as he can, let’s out one big belch, then nuzzles back into my side and falls fast asleep.

and I love it.

And I Love him.

I waited a long time for you to join our family. And I’m so glad you’re here.

Welcome to the world, little man.

XOXO

Mom

Growing Up

Today, I am officially a mom. I have been considering a lot today the moment one actually becomes one. A mom that is. Its true, when my son was born I became his mother. But it wasn’t until today I officially became his mom.

I sent my baby to his first day of school. Pre-school, actually. And for only 3 hours. But I sent him away none the less. And it wasn’t anything like I expected.

I expected him to be excited about dressing up in his brand new clothes for school.

He wasn’t.

I expected him to miss me (even just a little)

He didn’t. In fact, he couldn’t leave me at the door fast enough.

I expected there to be a few tears. (From me, not him). But I managed to keep it together.

And I expected him to be the cutest little (almost) 4 year old there…

(Well…, I guess ONE thing was EXACTLY as I expected!) How did I get so lucky to have such a handsome little boy???

I also expected to be excited about the three hours of afternoon peace and quiet I had planned for myself. (I had myself a delicious broccoli cheese bread bowl at Panera, and window shopped at Home Goods.)

But the truth is…I missed my little Buddy. Even though I would have ordered him lunch at Panera and he wouldn’t have eaten three bites. And he would have begged incessantly at Home Goods to get out of the cart and play with the toys. But I missed that too.

When I picked him up, I asked him what he did in preschool today. Here are just a few of the things he told me:

“I just went on a bear hunt, and played and played and played, and had fun!”

“I sang songs and danced, and played with my friends.”

When I asked him what his favorite part of preschool was he responded:

“Washing my hands! I touched my shoes, and they are dirty, so I had to wash my hands. And then we had a snack. I had milk, and a granola bar, and just some cookies!”

He also told me they read “Brown Bear, Brown Bear”, and he has been singing “The cat came back the very next day…” all afternoon.

So its official. I am a mom. A school mom.

The boy had a fantastic time, and can’t wait to go back again tomorrow.

I miss him already.

well, well, well....

It seems I have fallen into a bad habit. A habit of promising "more to come", (as in posts on the blog) and I just can't seem to deliver.

 

Has it really been 5+ weeks???

 

In case you may have begun to believe I had actually fallen off the face of the earth, I'll say this:

We are all here. And we are all happy!

We came home last week from a fantastic little vacation spent sliding down water slides and strategizing winning card game moves with our close friends.

Miles has taken to saying things like "I'm so spoiled because I take after my mommy!" and the ever classic "I'm so stinky because I take after my daddy!"

And did I mention his "stinky" daddy turned 32 last week?

(And FYI...my boys daddy isn't really stinky. Most of the time.)

It suffices me to say that I am content. Content with my life. Content with myself. Content with my role as a wife and a mother. I'm just all around feeling A O K.

I hope to post more. I hope to write more. And now that the sun is out and shinning, and winter is beginning to turn into a cold (and miserable) memory, I'm pretty sure the mood to spill my guts to mystery readers on the WWW will strike with increased frequency.

 

But if it doesn't, I'm content with that too.

 

So, if it turns into another few months before you hear from me, just picture me out enjoying the sunshine, planting my garden, having bike races with Miles, flying kites, sewing to my hearts content, kissing my wonderful husband (um..on second thought, maybe DON'T picture that one), and enjoying life to its fullest.

"And that's all I have to say about that...."

                                               (Forrest Gump)

Interruption and 3 stories

I interrupt my ruminations to share a little story. A sad story. And a sweet story. And then maybe, to make my sister laugh, a funny story.

SAD STORY:

My sister and her husband have a dog. Mocha. She is a large, (I mean large) chocolate lab with the bluest eyes you’ve ever seen. I remember meeting her for the first time when she was a puppy. She could make a dog lover out of anyone.

Last night Mocha was outside jumping and barking at some of the neighbor dogs. All of a sudden the barking stopped and the yelping started. And their sweet dog dragged herself back into the house…because her back legs wouldn’t move.

They (Mocha’s parents) immediately called the emergency vet and took her in. They think that Mocha was jumping up in the backyard by the fence. By the fence where she has worn a compacted trail of snow. And that snow has been freezing and melting and freezing again. And it is now ice. So they think she was jumping up and when she was trying to land, slipped, and landed on her back.

The x-rays showed no broken bones. But they think the trauma has caused swelling and compression on her spinal cord. Ibuprofen and steroids might take the swelling down and give Mocha the use of her legs back. it might not. And if THAT is the case, (as in, the medicines don’t help) well……

So right now it’s a “wait and see”. So we’ll see. Poor Mocha. (and poor Ed and Rachel.)

Hang in there.

SWEET STORY:

I was talking with my sister and Miles overheard me talking about Mocha and picked up that she was hurt. After I hung up the phone he asked me.

“Mommy…Mocha okay?”

“No, Mocha has an owie.”

“Why?”

“She slipped on the ice and hurt her back, and now she can’t run and jump and play.”

“Oh…Mommy…I know…Mocha needs a go a doctor.”

“Yes, they took her to a doctor. But sometimes doctors can’t fix all of the owies.”

“Oh…Mommy…I know! I haf a say a pwayer! yeah…I say a pwayer, then Mocha be happy.”

Oh my…he is just the sweetest little thing.

I love you Ed and Rachel and Mocha…

STORY TO MAKE MY SISTER LAUGH:

He is a sweet little bugger. (emphasis on the bugger.)

Yesterday we were playing in the living room and he knocked over our guitar hero guitar, and it landed sharply on the top of my foot. It HURT!! but I only cried a little. I “played it up” and pretended to be hurt.

Miles: “uh-oh…sorry mom. I kiss it better.”

Mom: Thanks, I feel better.

Miles: No mom, you need a doctor. I know!!! I a doctor! I go get my tools!

And this is how he returned…

Sometimes a picture really is worth a thousand words

P.S.

…I exclaimed “ a saw??!! you’re going to saw my foot?!”

He thought about it. very mischievously. for about one whole minute. then said “Ok mom, but just for pretend.”

Gee. Thanks.

P.P.S. I almost peed my pants. It was THAT funny.

Ruminations on Christmas

So, lets talk about Christmas shall we?

*Yes, it’s almost February.* *Yes, I am just getting around to writing about Christmas*

But let’s just roll with it.

So here’s the deal. When I said I was apprehensive about spending Christmas “alone” this year…that was an understatement. It kind of freaked me out. But certainly not because I didn’t want to spend alone time with my darling little family. (obviously!) Just imagine for a minute my first 30 Christmases. They were spent in a little Wyoming town, surrounded by both sides of my entire extended family. Christmases were a big deal. On Christmas eve we went to Aunt’s and Uncles houses, and sometimes everyone came to our house. On Christmas morning after presents, Grandma and Grandpa Barnard would stop by to see our loot. THEN…we would all head down to Grandma Hirst’s house with the entire Atkinson clan for our Christmas brunch/lunch/dinner. If that wasn’t enough family time, on the 26th, the entire Barnard clan would arrive on our doorstep to celebrate my Grandpa’s Birthday. We’re talking days and days full of fun, food, and family.

For 30 years. So to even consider the possibility that Christmas would feel like Christmas with only THREE PEOPLE…well, that’s just crazy talk.

So I kind of freaked. And when that happens, there is only one thing to do.

To prevent myself from becoming completely unhinged, I go into hyper drive. Planning and planning and planning until every.single.last.detail. is in place. Because if there is something I can’t control…I spend an exorbitant amount of energy trying to control everything else. (Thank you college Psychology.)

But I did it. And now it’s over.

Now then…let’s all breathe a sigh of relief. Ahhhhhhhhhh……

Mike was a good sport. He helped put up the Christmas tree, and lasted through about the first 4 boxes of tree ornaments. My general rule for decorating my Christmas tree is to keep throwing up ornaments until Mike says “WOAHHHHH…you are going way overboard here.” And then I hang about 200 more.

But oh….in’t it purty???

But a purty tree…you KNOW I couldn’t stop there. Because, I secretly consider myself a Martha Stewart wannabe. And so I asked myself, Martha? ummm, I mean Sarah, what would Martha do?

Set the table. Definitely set the table.

So I headed to my favorite stores, Home Goods and Target (TarJAY…if you are Oprah) and picked up a few chargers, napkins, napkin rings, and a table runner. And at my least favorite store (Wal-Mart, blech.) I bought some salad plates. But they WERE adorable. And they DID match with everything I had already bought. And they were only 2 dollars. 2 DOLLARS!!! An essential investment I say. (At least that is how I justified it to the hubs.)

So I set the table. Nearly a week before Christmas.

You might be thinking “Oh no she din’t”…

And to you I say “OH YES I DID!”

The fact that we ate on TV trays on the couch in front of the TV for a week didn’t bother me at all when I looked across the room into my dining area and saw this.

It was enough to make me feel all warm and happy and Christmasey inside.

And Confuscious says: “If mama ain’t happy ain’t nobody happy.”

at least that’s what I’ve heard.

You can’t have a set table and not think about food. No you can not. So my next endeavor was the menu. Something festive, something special, something we could build a tradition out of. And most importantly, something that wouldn’t force me to be in the kitchen the entire Christmas eve day cooking, and the entire Christmas eve cleaning up.

Thank goodness for the Sister’s Cafe.

so I “borrowed” their Chicken a la King (Chicken for the King). It was wonderful, and I love what it represents for a Christmas meal.

Photo from www.sisterscafe.blogspot.com

I combined that with my own recipe for Spinach and pomegranate salad with raspberry vinagrette dressing, and some fresh pineapple spears.

And for desert, Mud Pie.

(photo from www.sisterscafe.blogspot.com)

*Sidebar: Just in case you have been living under a rock, I love the Sisters Cafe. And feel it necessary to thank them for minimizing my holiday unhingement. So thanks.*

end sidebar

Christmas dinner is important, but my favorite meal is Christmas breakfast. So I combined my most favorite things.

Eggs Benedict, oven crisped bacon, freshly squeezed orange juice, fresh fruit, and scones…glorious scones. Not those fancy schmancy English cakey variety scones. No way. I’m talking about all American, crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside, deep fried to perfection scones. With raspberry honey butter. NOT good for me…but OHHH so good. And besides, Christmas only comes once a year. (That’s how I justified it to my thighs, and derriere.)

A few more Christmas essentials…

And back to the food.

Every year I plan elaborate neighbor gifts. And ever year after I have washed my mixer for the eleventh time, I swear I will never do it again.

And the vicious cycle begins again. So this year I made my (secret recipe) chocolate chip cookies, Oreo truffles, homemade turtles, and caramels. All wrapped up in festive little tins.

*Note to self – next year, when you get the urge to spend forever in the kitchen baking treats…JUST SAY NO!*

Now HERE is where I would show you all the pictures I took of Christmas morning. But there are none. I didn’t take a single one. (GASP!)

But lest you despair, I’ll tell you we recorded the whole thing. Because I knew I would much rather watch Miles’ excitement opening his presents again and again. So I decided not to bust out the camera and just enjoy the morning.

I could go on and on.

In my defense, I told you I had a lot to say.

But frankly…I’m spent.

(don’t deny it. you are too.)

I’ll spare you any more. (tonight.) But rest assured, our Christmas morning video is currently being edited to share with the world wide web a la “Ruminations on Christmas part deux” (woohoo!) (rhyming intentional.)

Get excited. That’s all I’m gonna say.

Ruminations

I've just nestled myself down into my favorite corner of my comfy sofa with a cup of steamy hot chocolate (extra marshmallows, please!)and my trusty old laptop. It's a little after 1 am, which for me, means I am just getting my second wind. This is my favorite time of the day. When I can sit. Quietly. And just think. Usually I let those thoughts swirl around in my brain until they have formulated themselves into something I wouldn't be completely embarrassed to share on this blog. Usually.

Maybe you noticed I have been relatively absent from blog land as of late. True,there WAS my shameful plug for free Christmas cards and an Elf Yourself video. But other than those two gems, my musings have been completely void of any real substance.

Yes, It's been awhile. Perhaps you considered the possibility that I haven't been writing because I simply had nothing to say. Or maybe you figured it was because I had no thoughts to share. But ACTUALLY...it's the opposite that is true. There have been so many ruminations going on inside this head of mine, that I had no idea where to start.

And if I am being completely honest, I have to admit that the last several weeks have been really difficult. Really. Honestly. Sometimes life is hard. But sometimes life is pretty darn great too. And I want to write about it all.

So the dilemma. Where to start?

Do I tell you about my Christmas? Maybe about how I was really apprehensive about spending our very first Christmas alone...as in with absolutely no family within 1000 miles. But that ACTUALLY...it turned out to be my most favorite, and very.best.Christmas.ever. EVER!!! (Sorry all you other Christmases) And I'll be had pressed to ever be swayed to go "home" for Christmas again.

Or should I tell you about my job. My job that I Hated (with a capital H, no less). The job I only got because I made a deal...and that deal wasn't exactly providing the desired results. And I could tell you that I was miserable and completely out of whack, and felt everyday like I was failing at everything I tried to do. Oh yes...those days were some real doosies.

ORRRRRR...I could write about motherhood. I could tell you that the same miserable job solidified for me what I already knew...that my calling as a mother is divine. That there is no greater work I will ever do than the work I do in my own home with my family. And that despite my occasional grumblings...I really do LOVE it.

And oh...there's so much more. But what to share.....

That is the million dollar question.

And then it dawned on me...I can write about it all. It is my blog, after all.

So that's what I intend to do. hold on to your seats folks...now that I've started typing...I'm not sure I'll be able to stop.

Carded

It always seems that December just creeps up on me! I have great intentions of sending out Holiday cards every year, and most years I find myself rushing to the mailbox the day before Christmas to get them mailed, in hopes they will reach their destinations before the start of the New Year.

And it’s like this EVERY. SINGLE. YEAR. (Despite my good intentions)

But not this year! Oh no sirree. I was prepared. I spent just a little time online and armed myself with every necessity I needed to get those cards out in a timely fashion.

If you need a little help in this department (like I did) I’ll share my secret with you.

SHUTTERFLY!!!

I love Shutterfly. I use them for all kinds of snazzy things. Their Calendars make perfect Christmas presents. I’m using these Christmas Tags to top my gifts this year, and have I mentioned their Christmas photo cards? OHHHHHHH…those Christmas cards.

I print my cards with them evvvvvery year. Even the years my family and friends don’t get them until February.

Some of my Faves this year:

And this one:

Oh…I DIE over that card. Seriously?? I bet you don’t have to guess which category Miles would fall under. (Hint: it rhymes with Potty)

There’s a style for everyone!

And you know what else totally rocks? You don’t even have to use one of their designs to have a card printed. If you are really ambitious and want to design your own card (or if you use my favorite design site www.digitalgreetings.etsy.com) you can still have your cards printed at great prices. Just upload your design, order the number you want, and badda bing badda boom…they will arrive at your doorstep beautifully printed and ready to send out. It is seriously that simple.

So this year I opted to design my own card. (ahem…I mean have my talented sister design one for me). If you want a sneak peek, click on over to www.digitalgreetings.etsy.com. You just might find it there. I will upload my design, order 50 cards, and have them shipped right to my doorstep.

Do you want to know how much my 50 cards will cost me?

…

…

…

(pausing for dramatic effect)

…

…

NOTHING!! I know…it doesn’t really get better than that. I just pay the shipping, and 50 free cards are headed my way.

And because Christmas is the giving season, I’ll let you in on a little secret.

YOU CAN GET 50 FREE CARDS TOO!!

SQUEEL!

It’s as simple as this: If you are willing to write a blog post about Shutterfly, just click on this link: http://blog.shutterfly.com/5358/holiday2010-blog-submission-form/, fill out the form, and Shutterfly will e-mail you with the requirements. Do those, and your golden. I mean it. GOLDEN!!!

I know….this may sound like a shameless plug in order for me to get 50 free cards. And I can’t lie. It is.

But I can’t lie.

I really DO love Shutterfly. With or without the FREE-ness.

And I promise, you will too!

Happy Shopping!!