Great Things-The Vintage Pearl-A GREAT GIVEAWAY-CLOSED

We are so excited to bring you the first installment of our Great Things series.  Our goal is to share, with you, things we find AMAZING!  These are things that we think you will find Wonderful too.  We are beginning, with a truly great thing: The Vintage Pearl.

I (Shannon) discovered the Vintage Pearl on another website when they were doing a giveaway.  They sent us to their site and asked us to find one thing we'd like to win.  Are you kidding me?  One thing!  I'm the queen of personalized everything, especially when it comes to my daughters' unique names.  I couldn't narrow it down to just one thing and before long, I had a Christmas list!

So far, I've purchased the following things from The Vintage Pearl:

1. pearl drop earrings 

2. a cupped square with love necklace for my daughter's second birthday

3. a flower and a circle necklace for my friend, Amy

4. a simple "i love you" will do necklace for me

5. an eclectic charm bracelet for my mom, and

6. a chunky daisy cuff bracelet for me.

I have been so happy with these items and have a lengthy list of things I can't wait to order.

Every item I ordered is absolutely beautiful.  The customer service, at The Vintage Pearl is equally as wonderful.  When I placed my first order, I was ordering Christmas gifts and they had a special.  The pearl drop earrings were free if you entered the code.  Well, I was so excited ordering, I forgot to enter the code.  I wrote customer service an email, asking them for another chance.  They promptly replied, "No problem, we'll add the earrings to your order." They did!  Yeah!

When my bracelets came in, one was miss-sized.  I contacted the company, and they said all I had to do was send it back and they'd fix it and return my postage expenses.  Well, as soon as they received the package, they returned all of my postage expenses (including the box I bought to send it in) and had my bracelet fixed and sent back to me immediately.

When I was ordering my daughter's necklace, I was cutting it mighty close as far as getting the item ordered in time to arrive by her birthday.  They have a "rush" charge if you need things immediately, but since I was within a couple of days of the date, I was hoping to avoid the charge.  I contacted customer service.  The person I talked to was wonderful and assured me the necklace would be sent in time. It was and Mariella LOVES her little necklace.

So, you see, not only are their products amazing, but so is their staff.  So amazing in fact, that they are giving away a $50 gift certificate to one of our subscribers!  YEAH!!!  You just don't know how happy this makes us!  One of our followers is going to win a beautiful, personalized, piece of jewelry. 

Now, we know you are eager to enter.  Here's what you need to do:

*Leave a comment below for EACH entry!*GIVEAWAY NOW CLOSED!

1. Like Our Seven Dwarfs on Facebook (MANDATORY entry).
2. Visit http://www.thevintagepearl.com/ and tell us what you'd buy with the $50 gift certificate.
3.  Like The Vintage Pearl on Facebook and tell us you do.
4.  Follow Our Seven Dwarfs by email or RSS feed.  Don't forget to leave a comment telling us you do.
5.  Follow Our Seven Dwarfs via Google Friend Connect (click follow on sidebar).
6.  Share this giveaway as your Facebook status.  Make sure to include @Our Seven Dwarfs and @The Vintage Pearl in your message to be counted!

That's a total of 6 comments you can leave!  6 chances for you to win!  Make sure you leave a separate comment for each entry!  Good luck to you all!  The giveaway closes at 11:59 pm (EST) on Saturday, March 19th. We'll announce the winner on Sunday, March 20th.

Cute Couple Mugs Tutorial

I have a friend who is getting married soon and I wanted to make her some unique and personalized gifts.  I've had wedding ideas on the brain for months.  Over the next couple of months, I'll share all the things I am making the wedding couple.

Tonight I made these cute couple mugs.

The other day, I was browsing at the Dollar Tree and came across two nice mugs.  Since they were plain white, I knew I could do something with vinyl on them.

Everyone has a favorite mug.  I decided to make a mug for each person so they will always know which mug is theirs.  Mustaches and lips are popular these days so I used those and added the Mrs. & Mrs.

I used my Silhouette to cut out the design.  Then I used the transfer tape to grab the vinyl and adhered it on to the mugs.

The vinyl I used is removable so these mugs need to be hand-washed.  I think they turned out nice.  I hope her and her husband enjoy them.

Next time you see a plain dish, cup or decorative item, get creative and personalize it.  You will have a unique item that you can't buy in stores!



We are linking up this project to all these wonderful parties.  Go visit them for more great ideas!

A "Lighter" Meal Idea-Sweet and Sour Chicken, Brown Rice, Sugar Snap Peas, and Yogurt Parfaits

Being expected to come up with tasty, healthy, meals my family will eat, seven days a week, is a chore!



Keeping It Simple posts a great recipe each Thursday. This week, they posted Sweet and Sour Chicken. http://craftskeepmesane.blogspot.com/2011/03/tasty-thursday-sweet-n-sour-chicken-and.html

Well, because I try to keep things healthy, I made one simple change to her recipe.  It was wonderful!  Here it is!

Sweet and Sour Chicken served with Brown Rice, Sugar Snap Peas, and Yogurt Parfaits.

Sweet and Sour Chicken
http://craftskeepmesane.blogspot.com/2011/03/tasty-thursday-sweet-n-sour-chicken-and.html
 *Instead of chicken nuggets, I used chicken tenderloins.  Here are the additional ingredients you'll need.

Ingredients:

1 1/2 pounds of chicken tenderloins, cut into chunks

1 green pepper sliced

1 clove of garlic

salt

pepper

Do this step first:

1) Pour a small amount of olive oil in a skillet.  Heat it on medium high. In the meantime, cut the chicken into bite sized pieces.  Using a garlic press, press a fresh clove of garlic into the chicken.  Sprinkle it with salt and freshly ground pepper.  Add to the hot oil.  Cook through.

 

Then, proceed with "Keeping it Simple's" delicious recipe!

Serve over brown rice.

A Great Side is Steamed Sugar Snap Peas. I bought a box of frozen, Green Giant ones.  They are easy, healthy, and really good.

Yogurt Parfaits

I used:

1 small container of Chobani Lemon Yogurt

1 small container of Chobani Mango Yogurt

blueberries

sliced strawberries

light whipped cream

I layered the ingredients and squirted some whipped cream on top.  Easy, healthy, and oh so good!

Visit us at Funky Polkadot Giraffee today!

Kyla at Funky Polkadot Giraffe is featuring our blog and one of our tutorials today!  Go visit to see our feature.  She has a great blog with lots of amazing craft ideas.  We are thankful for the opportunity to join with her!

We also want to welcome new visitors to our blog!  We have many crafts and recipes coming in the next few days that you will not want to miss. 

Plus, Shannon has lined up an amazing giveaway that will start on Monday!  I (Jill) am very jealous that I can't enter to win myself!  Check back to see how you can enter!

Have a great weekend!

An Easy, Inexpensive, Decorative Gift

I was given a frame and asked to cut out initials with my Silhouette.  These frames were going to decorate tables, at my daughter's school's auction.  Families donated money to sponsor tables and are recognized by these "signs" that they are then given as a thank you.

They picked up these frames at Hobby Lobby.  They're really nice and inexpensive.

The opening is 4x6".

I chose two complimentary cardstock colors.  I cut the chocolate brown to the full size of the opening: 4x6".  I cut the gray to a 3x5" so there would be a half inch border around it.

I glued them together and cut the initials on my Silhouette.  I used French Script MT.

I glued the initial on to the cardstock and put it in the frame. A simple decoration and great gift.

This same idea would be great for labeling food at a fancy buffet. You could use small frames, as place card settings for weddings, or other dinner events.  The possibilities are endless!

Easy Hawaiian Pizza

If you haven't noticed, I have been cooking quite a bit lately.  We are trying to stick to our budget and the Dave Ramsey plan.

My family thinks it is hilarious that I have to do a photo shoot prior to every meal lately (ones that are unique at least).  I forgot to do the photo shoot on this one, so please forgive the after-thought photo.

Many years back I went to a trendy pizza place and had Hawaiian pizza.  I loved it.  I read back through the ingredients on the menu and realized that I could easily make this at home.  If you are looking for a different pizza recipe, here you go!

Hawaiian Pizza

1 can of pineapple chunks
1 refrigerated pizza dough
12 slices of Canadian bacon
Mozzarella cheese
Honey (this is the key ingredient)
Cornmeal (optional)

Spray your pizza stone or baking dish with cooking spray.  Sprinkle cornmeal on stone (optional).  Spread refrigerated pizza dough out on stone.  Spread honey liberally over surface of pizza dough. (I squeeze the container in long strides horizontally and vertically to get a good coverage).  Sprinkle mozzarella cheese over honey and dough to cover (as much as you like).  Place canadian bacon equally over cheese and then top with pineapple chunks.  Bake according to pizza dough instructions. 

Our family enjoys this pizza as it is a change from normal pizza night.  The kids love the pineapple addition. 

Happy Cooking!

Crock Pot Beef & Mushrooms

After I had Anna, my friend Henri brought us a meal of Beef & Mushrooms.  It was delicious!  Evan can eat his weight in mushrooms so he was ecstatic!  I asked Henri for the recipe and also for permission to share it with you!  This is a very easy  and yummy recipe.  Henri suggested serving it over rice or mashed potatoes.  The last time I made this, I served it over egg noodles, which was another good option.  The boys of my house love anything served over noodles!

Henri’s Beef & Mushrooms

1.5 lbs of cubed beef stew meat
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can sliced mushrooms (it says undrained but I drain mine because I do not like the flavor of the mush. juice)
1 (1 ounce) pkg dry onion soup mix
dash garlic powder, onion powder and pepper


Combine all ingredients in crock pot. Cook on low for 8-10 hrs or high for 4-6 hours.


Serve over rice, mashed potatoes or egg noodles!

Enjoy!

Crockpot Pork BBQ & Shannon's Potato Salad

I want to share with you two delicious recipes.  These are our family favorites.  Whenever I need to take a meal to someone in need, this is my go to meal.  I hope you enjoy them as much as we do!

 

Jill’s Barbeque Pork

Pork Loin size of your choice

Large crock-pot

Water

Barbeque sauce (I use Sonny’s BBQ from Sam’s)

Pork Loin:  I buy a long length (log) of pork loin from Sam’s.  It can be from $15-20 depending on the size.  I cut it down to smaller portions for our family (some as pork roasts and others as chops).  If you have a big crowd you could make half of the log or even a full portion and get a ton of food.  Don’t confuse the pork loin for pork tenderloin.  Tenderloin is much more expensive and not needed with how tender the crock-pot gets this meat.

Place the portion of pork loin in the crock-pot the night before or early in the morning for that evening’s dinner.  Cover with a ½ cup of BBQ sauce.  Then add water to cover about half of the pork loin.  This will give it added moisture for the cooking process.  If you don’t add water it will require more work to pull apart the pork. 

Set the crock-pot to low for 8-10 hours.  Once the pork has cooked, move pork to a large cutting board.  Empty the crock-pot. You can either chop the pork with a knife or shred with a couple of forks.  It should be very tender and moist.  Place pork back in crock-pot while you finish shredding.  Pour a generous amount of BBQ sauce over all shredded pork.  I would use a whole container of Sonny’s for a full pork loin or half for half a log.  Allow BBQ sauce and pork to warm back up and serve as you like on buns or by itself.  This freezes well in an airtight container.

You will find that fresh tenderloin will be easier to shred than one that has been in the freezer, but either way it is still delicious.  Make sure to thaw your  pork loin before putting it in the crock-pot.

I make this often and typically have people ask me where I bought the BBQ.  I figure that is a good sign of a great recipe.  It is very easy too!

Shannon's Potato Salad

Shannon made this Potato Salad for me right after I had Evan.  It is my favorite potato salad and is the only kind I make anymore.  Everyone who eats it falls in love with its yummy taste and simplicity.  

For all of you who must have measurements, this isn't the recipe for you.  It is best made by taste.  All the measurements would change depending on how much potatoes you use as well.

Ingredients:

Chopped potatoes (Red, Idaho, any really) Skin on or off.
Celery
Bacon (fresh and crisp)
Mayonnaise (I use either Kraft or Hellmans)
Fresh Cracked Black Pepper
Salt to taste

Boil Potatoes in salted water.  Watch closely as they will get mushy fast.  Refrigerate potatoes until cool.  Add bacon, celery, fresh cracked black pepper and mayo.  Store in an airtight container when not being served.  Bacon will usually stay very crisp for 2 to 3 days.  It is still delicious beyond that!


This is the recipe that my friend Henri requests whenever we have a get together or when I make her a meal.  She likes it so much she eats it for dessert.

I hope you enjoy these recipes and that they become family favorites!