Dessert Time!

It's Day Four. . .

You just gotta have Dessert at a PARTY! I sure love a GOOD Dessert and I can tell you like them too because of all the wonderful desserts that you brought to the party. Now it's time to eat, visit, and enjoy our time together. Aren't you glad that you can have all the dessert you want? You know it has ZERO calories too! So, eat up! Just don't go into the kitchen and make anything, especially if it's late at night. I don't want to be responsible for sabotaging anyone's dieting efforts.

Tell me what's your favorite kind of cake or dessert. The kind that you would make for a special occassion and you will be entered into today's giveaway. I love recipes too if you'd like to share.

My Sister-in-law gave me this recipe and I wanted to share it with you, it's one our family's favorite Chocolate Cake Recipes. Here it is . . .

ENJOY!

Coca-Cola Chocolate Cake

Ingredients:

• 1 Cup Butter
• 1/3 Cup Cocoa
• 1 Cup Coca-Cola Soft Drink
• 2 Cups All-purpose Flour
• 1 1/3 Cup Sugar
• 1 tsp. Baking Soda
• 2 large Eggs
• 1/2 Cup Buttermilk
• 1 tsp. Vanilla
• 1 1/2 Cups Mini Marshmallows

Instructions:
Combine first 3 ingredients in a medium saucepan over medium heat, stirring until the butter melts. Remove from heat. Combine flour, sugar, baking soda in a large bowl, stir in butter mixture. Add eggs and stir until blended. Stir in buttermilk, vanilla, and marshmallows. Pour into a lightly greased 9”x13” baking pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. Remove from oven; spread frosting over warm cake. Makes 12 servings.

Coca-Cola Chocolate Frosting

Ingredients:

• 1/2 Cup Butter
• 1/4 Cup Cocoa
• 1/3 Cup Coca-Cola Soft Drink
• 3 Cups Powdered Sugar
• 1/2 tsp. Vanilla
• 1 Cup Chopped Pecans

Instructions:
Combine first 3 ingredients in a medium saucepan over medium heat, stirring until the butter melts. Remove from heat, stir in powdered sugar, vanilla, and pecans. Spoon over the cake immediately.


A glass of milk or a scoop of vanilla ice cream is a must have with the warm yummy chocolate cake. It's also really good the next day. I like to put it in the refrigerator and have it cold.

I'm sure you're wondering about the today's prize. Well, it's almost done but I ran out of time and energy for the night so you'll have to trust me that it's cute and that you'll just love it! I have to work in the morning and I won't be able to post it until tomorrow after work. Please forgive me but, I will get it done. Thanks for your understanding of LIFE!

I look forward to seeing what favorite desserts you make for your friends and family.

Day Three Winner

Wouldn't you love to have one of these?
You've got to visit here to have a look.

Many Thanks to all of my bloggy friends that brought me presents. I absolutely loved every one of them. I was so touched by your thoughtfulness and generosity. You were all so creative and I really wish the gifts were real but, we know that it's the thought that counts the most! Thank you!

Here are 10 of my favorite gifts that were in the running for 1st place:

• Pat said, Okay...here's my present for you.....a happy helper who will work on each project with you and will do the parts that you find a bother. Don't like to measure out and cut the fabrics? No problem...she'll do it for you. Don't like to do the binding? She would love to do THAT for you, too. With her help, you only have to do the parts you find FUN!

• Kathy said, I am bringing you a friend that is going to do your housework and laundry for an entire day so you can do nothing but sew, sew, sew. If she gets all this done, she said she would even help you by pressing for you while you sew.

• Sherri said, So here is my virtual present...one I'd like to have as well...it would be the ability to just snap your fingers and have any fabric you wanted or needed appear...just like that...so anytime you see something on-line or on a blog...there it is right at your fingertips!

• Heather said, I would give you a special sewing machine needle that would never get dull, go through anything and never bend! I would give you a rotary cutter that would never dull, no matter how many layers you cut through. How about a pair a scissors that never needs sharpening!! And the gift of time! Time will slow down and let you get done all that you need/want to get done (epecially for all of us) Happy B-day!

• Trisha said, I would bring a stop watch, to allow you to slow down or stop time so you could finish up a WIP or new project that keeps getting pushed to the back burner, waiting for a quiet day to finish it up.

• Joanna said, I would bring you a personal chef and cleaning lady so that you could spend all your time quilting instead of cooking and cleaning! At least, that's what I would love :)

• Thimbleanna said, I'll be bringing a party in a box. All decorations in red, white and black of course. A big Happy Birthday banner, streamers, a few fresh flower bouquets for the tables, bowls of m&m's and peanuts, a brie wheel appetizer, little bitty bags with mini squares all neatly tied inside for giveaways for all the guests (I've learned from the master LOL) and of course, my Mom's best ever three layer chocolate birthday cake. (Oooh, and I won't forget the ice cream!

• Cynthia said, I love going to parties. The gift I would bring for you is something I would love. A featherweight sewing machine. OOOOOOOhhhhh, lucky!

• Sara said, Ah, my gift to you....1 very skilled, on call 24-hour cleaner our rooms/massager of sore muscles (from all that time you'll be able to spend sewing)/tamer of chaos helper bee. Not only will she/he keep you tidy and your muscles relaxed, he/she will financially support your sewing addicition and run all necessary sewing errands.
  

• Lori said, Since I am a vintage kind of girl, I would bring you a featherweight that has been custom painted RED just for you! Then I would probably bring my Hello Dollys and lemon squares in a really cute vintage pyrex dish, covered with an embroidered dishtowel. I would bring my apron collection for everyone to wear and we would all get a group photo to remember the fun we had at your virtual party!!! OMG that would be sooooo fun:)

It was soooo hard to pick a winner from all of the lovely gifts that you all gave me. But, if you know me you know that the RED Featherweight was the gift that snatched my heart. I've always wanted a featherweight and a RED one just makes me all giddy inside. I've seen RED one's on EBAY and drooled all over it. Here's a company that custom paints featherweights.

So, LORI my friend, you are the winner!!!

Thanks for the RED Featherweight.
I absolutely ADORE it!

I hope you each know that I'd give ALL of you something if I had the time and the money to do so. I do plan on leaving a virtual party favor for all of you at the end of the party so, keep an eye out for that. Some of you have already guessed and hinted and hoped for it. You'll just have to wait for it.

Thanks again everyone for all of the wonderful gifts. I loved every one of them!!!

I'm a bit behind on my next post and giveaway so it might be pretty late tonight before I get it done. I'm making something fun and then I'll have to take pictures and then do a post. So check back a little later tonight and if you have me on google reader or you're one of my followers you'll know before everyone else. I must get to work but, first I have to take Kenna to her cousins for the rest of the evening.

I Love Presents!

It's Day Three so . . .

It's time for some PRESENTS. . .

I was thinking today that I would love some virtual presents from each of you. Nothing expensive just a sweet comment telling me what kind of virtual quilt related present you're bringing to the party and then you'll be entered for today's giveaway. Thanks for playing along. I look forward to seeing what you're going to give me (remember, we're pretending here).

I'm so excited! Can you tell??? Bring on the Presents!!! *smiling with excitement*

Here's what I'm giving away today.

I'm sooo Excited about this and I hope you just LOVE it!!!

Scroll down just a little more. . .

It's very special. . .

Ta Dah!

Do you Like it???

Hope so. . .

It's a sweet present for one of the lucky party goers. I was INSPIRED by the mini purse that I've blog about in the past (you'll see the tutorial on my sidebar) so, I designed a bigger mini purse (or gift bag) that holds a 5" Charm Pack with room for other things too. It's a great size for any little girl's birthday party or a sweet handmade gift for your quilty friends too!

The Bigger Bitty Bag is designed and made by me using Moda's new Patisserie Collection by Fig Tree & Co. I've included a 5" Charm pack of Joanna Figueroa's Patisserie Collection along with a handmade (by me) needlecase and tissue holder. You will also see a sweet treat that I've thrown in too.

P.S. You have 24 hours to post a comment and I will pick a winner tomorrow late afternoon.

Answers & Winner~Day Two

We have a Winner!

Nobody picked the exact number but the closest to my number of 248 was Tozz who guessed 256 so she wins the itty bitty ditty bag along with all the other goodies. Thanks for playing along.

Today's activity will be posted shortly! Keep an eye out!

Here are the answers to the questions I asked. . .

1. What's my favorite color?
It's probably pretty obvious that I LOVE and ADORE Red, Black & White. Infact, most of the clothes in my closest are either Red, Black, or White. It's funny and quirky but, one of my most favorite things is a BRAND NEW White Shirt!! White goes so well with black and so does red.

2. What makes me happy?
Most of you got this one right because it's on my sidebar. Quilting makes me happy along with my family and my faith and a brand new white shirt! lol.

3. What kind of sewing machine do I own?
Many of you guessed that I owned a Bernina. But, some of you did your research and knew that I own a Viking Husqavarna and also knew that I owned three of them. My mother's old viking, my Viking Rose that my daughter Natalie uses and my current machine, the Viking Sapphire.

4. What other craft do I like to do? Name one.
Many of you got this one right. I love to scrapbook (but don't do it much anymore), make cards, and other paper crafts, along with stamping, painting, a little crocheting, no knitting (it's been a long time and I'm not sure I'd remember), embroidery, jewelry making, cooking and baking.

5. What kind of quilting do I enjoy doing?
I mostly consider myself a traditional quilter but I do enjoy and appreciate all types of quilting. I really enjoy applique and have several projects I need to finish. I tend to get behind on the prep side of applique. Once I prep things I'm pretty fast.

The Party Games are On!

We're keeping it simple here so everyone can join in on the fun and not feel embarrassed if they can't run a relay without getting hurt, or pin the tail on the donkey. Just a little bit of fun to liven up the PARTY!

I'm sure you know that you can't have a Party with out a few Party Games. . . Right? So here are two simple, yet fun games for you to play. I hope you're all having fun!

Game One: Answer Five Questions

These questions are just to see how observant you all are. I will post the answers to the questions tomorrow when I post the winner of game two.

1. What's my favorite color?

2. What makes me happy?

3. What kind of sewing machine do I own?

4. What other craft do I like to do? Name one.

5. What kind of quilting do I enjoy doing?
a) traditional
b) contemporary
c) paper piecing
d) applique
e) all of the above

Game Two: How many chocolate eggs are in my candy jar?

The person with the closest number will win today's giveaway. If there is a tie I will have to use the Random Number Generator. You have until tomorrow afternoon to decide on a number and make your entry. I get home from work about 3pm so I will be checking your comments and will announce the winner of day two at approximately 4pm or sooner. Keep checking back ;)

Another Surprise!! Here is today's Prize!

I made all three of these items especially for my Party! Hope you like them! Below you will see my "itty bitty ditty bag" that works as a toss in your bag sewing kit and can also be used as a small make-up bag or to carry your cell phone, ipods, blackberries, or jewelry. You decide how you want to use it. I also made a matching tissue holder for your purse and a custom made needle case.

Hope you like it!

Winners for Day One!

Congratulations to the Winner's of Day One!

It's after 1:30 a.m. on Sunday Morning and I picked two winners using Random.org. I included all 53 comments. Thank You Ladies for giving me a virtual call and leaving your RSVP for the Party! I've been busy sewing and shopping most of the day and I stayed up late to finish a couple of the prizes. You will love them!! Trust Me!!

Here are the two winners:
Comment#4 "Happy Cottage Quilter" will get to have first pick.
Comment#7 Declined and so I picked another winner see below.

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers: 4,7

Timestamp: 2009-03-15 07:24:50 UTC

I generated another number and the second winner is Comment #21 Linda from "All Stitched Up."

Here are your random numbers: 21

Timestamp: 2009-03-15 07:34:40 UTC

Remember to join me later today for some party games.

I will be posting sometime around 12 noon (MST).

Hope You Can All Come by and Visit!

See You at the Party!

Blogiversary!

It's a SURPRISE Party

and You're Invited!

Surprise!

It's my 1st Blogiversary today and I wanted to share some love by having a few SURPRISE giveaways for all of my dear friends in blogland who have joined me in my quilting and crafting adventures over this past year. It's just been sooo much fun! Thank You!

The Virtual Party Starts Today!
March 14th through March 18th

Five Days of Giveaways!!!!

Please RSVP by posting a Comment.
You have until midnight tonight.
(you'll then be entered for today's Giveaway)


The Rules are Simple!
Please read all of the rules before entering. Thanks.

1. You may post (1) comment to be entered for each day's giveaway!
2. Please make sure I can contact you if you win. If not I will have to draw another name.
3. You must come back each day there's a giveaway and post (1) new comment to be eligible for that day's prize.
4. On one of the day's there will be certain requirements for the giveaway. You will understand when I make that post.
5. You may post about my blogiversary giveaway on your blog but there will be NO extra entries for doing so. I'm so sorry for this but I don't have the time required to keep track of all the entries. I learned my lesson last time to keep it simple. One comment, one entry.
6. Most importantly. . .Have fun!

Today's prize is a choice of two patterns.
I will pick two winners from today's RSVP's
You have until Midnight!