SusieQTpies Cafe: 5/1/11

Friday

U Follow Me I Follow U Friday Blog Hop Link up anything

Welcome to my Follow Friday- U Follow Me I Follow U Hop!

That simple.

1) You are here, so please follow my blog (all the ways are on the right side bar- GFC, Twitter, Facebook, Email, RSS Feed, Networked Blogs) and leave a comment on how you are following me so I can return the favor.

2) Leave your blog link or anything links that you want others to visit.

3) Look at the Linky and find new blogs to visit and follow.

4) Put my U Follow Me Follow U Button anywhere on your blog (optional)

5) I WILL choose one person who left a comment below to join my hop and cohost with me next week. My last Blog Hop winner is Joy from Catharsis,Visit Her! When you are done on my blog, please go show her some bloggy love. The link will take you to her page. She has a low link up hop from Thursday that you can link to while you are there. Stop over and tell her that SusieQTpies sent you :)

*Remember to leave a comment so I can follow you back!

Happy Friday xoxoxo SusieQTpies

Thursday

Create new tab links on Blogger

The last post on, Blogger Tips & Tricks, I showed you how to open a new WINDOW Click Here! on your blog post. This will allow a link to open into a new window and prevent your readers from leaving your blog. A dear friend, we'll just call him "Dear Jon" just shared with me how to have a link open as an new TAB. I tried it and it works. I can see where some would prefer one over the other.

To create a new link tab:

Use this code: ‎< a href="http://ADD YOUR LINK HERE /" target="_blank">Click Here!< /a >(Minus the spaces)

If you aren't sure you can download the code, Click Here! , and make sure you take out my blog address on the downloaded code and put in the link you want and follow the same steps below.

*The code looks funny because you need to get rid of the extra spaces at the beginning and end of the tag.

*Write your blog post and when you are ready to insert your link click from COMPOSE to EDIT HTML.
*Add the code and then add in the link.
*Make sure you add the open & close tags like I mentioned above.
*Switch back to COMPOSE from EDIT HTML and you should have the words Click Here!
*When this is clicked, a new tab opens to the link and your blog is still in the tabs.

Very simple! Hope this helps.
If you have questions, just ask!
xoxox SusieQTpies

Create new window links on Blogger

Have you ever wanted links in your blog post to open in a new window so your reader doesn't have to leave your page? Stay here so I can show you how to do it but Click Here at Devils Workshop (don't be scared) because I learned how to do it on his page. He had the code there but it really wasn't explained. So I played with it and here is what I learned:

To do this, you just need to download and use this simple code that says SOL.txt (scraps of life) Click Here.

*Once you have the code, you create a new blog post.
*When you are ready to insert a link click the EDIT HTML above instead of COMPOSE.
*When you get to the EDIT HTML, go right to where you want to add in your link.
*You will add in the entire downloaded code.
*In my code you will see my blog address twice in between these two " " marks. http://cafescrapper....all the way to ....com
*Don't delete the quote marks BUT you will delete my blog address in between those quote marks.
*Instead of my blog address you will add in the address you want as your link.
*You will add the the entire http
*This address needs to be in between the quote marks. Make sure you do it in both spots.
*You will see what I'm saying once you download the code.
*Once you have added in the code that you want to link to, click back over to COMPOSE.
*All you will see is CLICK HERE as you see above twice in BLUE. So make sure your words lead up to CLICK HERE.
*Once the link is clicked, the link will open in a new window while staying on your page.

It really is easy. It might take you one try or 5 tries, who knows. It is easy to do and just follow step-by-step.

I have OpenDNS on my blog which blocks spam and spyware. I also have virus protection on my blog and the code is safe.

*Why do you have to download the code? Well in case you are wondering that, I can't put the code on my blog because all you will see is CLICK HERE. Just download the code on a Notepad and when ready to use, copy it.

If you have any questions, just ask. You can send me a DM tweet to get me quickly if I'm home. Click Here

I just learned this today and tried it on this blog post Click Here . I'm not going to go back and add it to all my other 1000 post but will start using it from now on. The key is to use that code and just deleting my address and add in the address you want.

Have fun! (Oh and I really did this today because another blogger asked me how to do it. So I wanted to help her and now I am glad that I did. It wasn't difficult!) Let others know about this, too! If this was helpful to you, please leave a comment. xoxoxo SusieQTpies

Alexa Ranking Blog hop! Help improve your rank! Weekly

*IF YOU stop here today, please leave a comment so I can come visit you. In your comment tell me how you are following me, all the links are on my right side bar, I will follow back!

If you’ve been participating in our Alexa Blog Hops the past few weeks, you have probably seen a significant improvement in your Alexa rank. If you just started last week, try again as Blogger made a mess of our Hop last week. If you are a new blogger looking to decrease your Alexa rank & gain new GFC (Google Friend Connect) followers, please participate.

You will need to install the Alexa Toolbar on your browser. it only takes a few seconds! There are toolbars for Explorer, Chrome, and Firefox. (for those that are worried, don’t be this is NOT an additional toolbar, just a little “A” icon that will show up in your toolbar)

The Alexa Toolbar will allow you to keep track of your daily Alexa Traffic Rank- which will give you an idea of how your blogging efforts are paying off. you can also use it to check out the Alexa Rank of any website.
e.g. Facebook is ranked a 2, Blogspot is a 5, Anthropologie is 5,654, and today my blog SusieQTpies Scraps of Life 156,028. Your Alexa Traffic Rank will most likely fluctuate daily and the lower you are the better.

Here are the rules:
*download the Alexa toolbar
*add your blog name & URL to the linky list below.
*then, follow any blogs on GFC that interest you (be sure to leave a friendly comment on their blog letting them know that you are a new follower so they can follow back!) if you are already a follower of their blog, just leave a comment asking them to visit you for the Alexa hop!
*feel free to grab the Spearmint Baby Blog Hop banner & post on your blog to get new people involved. (the more new people the better!)
* please note that i keep this blog hop open all week so you have plenty of time to visit all of the blogs on the list.

We have Spearmint Baby and her 3 cohosts me, SusieQTpies Scraps of Life, Kelly’s Lucky You, & Our Family World. Be sure to follow them as well.

Wednesday

Link up your Dips & Spreads with my Gooseberry Patch friends

Today we are linking up Dips & Spreads with Gooseberry Patch.

In anticipation of their next chapter of
FREE downloadable Circle of Friends cookbook...

Whether it's your mom's famous cheese ball, a zesty 7-layer dip or
that buffalo chicken dip that you just can't stay out of, link it up below!

Have a favorite DIP or SPREAD recipe?
Link up with today's Recipe Round-Up!

Here's one to inspire you from our next chapter...
it's a super-secret sneak peek!

7-Layer Fiesta Dip

10-1/2 oz. can bean dip
2 avocados, halved, pitted and mashed
2 t. lemon juice
salt and pepper to taste
1 c. sour cream
1/2 c. mayonnaise
1-1/2 oz. pkg. taco seasoning mix
2 c. tomatoes, chopped
1 c. green onion, chopped
3.8-oz. can sliced black olives, drained
8-oz. pkg. shredded sharp
Cheddar cheese
tortilla or corn chips

Spread bean dip in the bottom of an ungreased 13"x9" glass serving dish. In a separate bowl, mix avocados, lemon juice, salt and pepper; spread over bean dip layer. In another separate bowl, blend together sour cream, mayonnaise and taco seasoning; spread over avocado layer. Layer with tomatoes, onion, olives and cheese; cover and chill. Serve with tortilla or corn chips. Makes 10 to 12 servings.

Link up YOUR dip & spread recipes below and,
if you're joining this hop, link back here
by using our handy button below.

Friendship Bread by Darien Gee in Australia

Australia now has author Darien Gee's novel:Click Here!
How exciting! I love this cover, too! Anyone in Australia? Let me know if you've seen this book on the shelves!

Tuesday

Friendly Wednesday Blog Hop! Come link up

Welcome to Feeding Four's Friendly Wednesday Blog Hop! I'm glad you're here!

*If you leave a comment to let me know how you are following me I will follow back!

How to Participate:

Follow the hostesses located in the first and second spots - Feeding Four (click to visit and get the blog hop button) and SusieQTpies Scraps of Life Blog (This is ME!). If you want me to follow you back, please leave a comment letting me know how you are following me and I will follow back. All my ways to follow are on my right side bar- Email, GFC, Facebook, Twitter and Networked Blogs.

If you want, create a new Friendly Wednesday blog post on your own blog and be sure to use the button provided on the side bar if you want to!

Enter your information into the linkup below.

Follow all the other blogs you want. This is a great way to get more followers!

While you are here, check out my TASTY recipes in the tab labeled "SusieQTpies Personal Recipes" and giveaways on right side bar! Have a great day!

#Library Love #Giveaway #win with @DarienGee and @fbkitchen

Do you have a favorite Library? I'm talking about one that you go to now or even one from your childhood. The author of Friendship Bread, Darien Gee is giving a way a hardback book of her new book and an Audio CD to THREE libraries. How is she doing this? By those who leave comments on her website,Click Here

This is NOT your typical giveaway. You DO NOT get anything if you enter. Instead you get to GIVE back to your library. I think that is an awesome thing for you to do and for Darien to do. This will help people get books to read and listen to who can't afford to buy them for themselves.

Go enter and do a good thing for a local or favorite library! This ends 5/31!

Top of Your Game Sweepstakes $1000 Gift Card & books!

WOW! The American Association of Orthodontists is hosting a "Top of Your Game" Sweepstakes where the one Grand Prize winner will receive $1000 Gift Card! How sweet is that? What would you do if you were given a bonus of $1000? We would use it as a down payment for another car for our twin teens. They start Community College classes in the Fall and we really need an extra car.

So what is the Sweepstakes all about? The American Association of Orthodontists has teamed up with the world’s greatest female soccer star, Mia Hamm, to offer tips on helping kids be the best that they can be. It took Mia years of hard work and determination to hone her skills and reach the top of her game — much like orthodontists reach the top of their game with two to three years of additional education beyond dental school to become experts in tooth alignment.

Right now you can get a special coupon to get a FREE Orthodontists CONSULTATION at braces.org and a FREE copy of Winners Never Quit by Mia Hamm.

From there go enter their Top of Your Game Sweepstakes. One lucky winner will receive a $1,000 Shopping Gift Card and 25 Runners Up will receive $25 in Scholastic books.

So winners everywhere at www.scholastic.com/smiles.

All entries must be received by June 15, 2011, 11:59 p.m. EST.

Thanks to the American Association of Orthodontists blogger outreach program for sponsoring this post with a $100 Amex gift card. It in no way influenced my thoughts or words. We are thrilled at how well our daughter is doing with braces!

Monday

The Hidden GIfts of Helping

The Hidden Gifts of Helping

New Book Shares Biblical Principles that

Grow our Faith and Heal our Brokenness

The Bible clearly tells us that we are to love one another; it also proclaims that we are to bear one another’s burdens. Research has revealed that when we show concern for others—empathizing with a friend who has lost a loved one, mowing the lawn for an elderly neighbor, or volunteering to mentor a school-aged child—we improve our own health and well-being and embrace and give voice to our deeper identity and dignity as human beings.

“Everyone stumbles on hard times. After all, no one gets out of life alive,” writes Stephen G. Post in his latest book, The Hidden Gifts of Helping: How the Power of Giving, Compassion, and Hope Can Get Us Through Hard Times. “Today, even those who had considered themselves protected from hardship are being touched and their lives changed by volatile economic markets, job uncertainty, and the increasing isolation and loneliness of modern life.”

In this moving book, Post helps us discover how we can make “helping” a lifetime activity. The Hidden Gifts of Helping explores the very personal story of Post and his family’s difficult move and their experience with the healing power of helping others, as well as his passion about how this simple activity—expressed in an infinite number of small or large ways—can help you survive and thrive despite the expected and unexpected challenges life presents.

Post’s story is a spiritual journey that we can all relate to at some time in our lives. Intertwined with supporting scientific research and spiritual understanding, the book demonstrates that by looking outside of ourselves we gain better well-being and strengthen our faith. This book can become your companion and guide to the power of giving, forgiving, and compassion in hard times.

“We can be anywhere, so long as we are helping others and caring for them. This is probably the one source of stability in our lives that we can truly depend on, and so in the end we are never really out of place,” states Post.

Scraps of Life Book Club Review: This book was a very enlightening read. The bottom line of this book is that we all need to step out of our own little bubble and reach out to serve and care for our neighbor. Once we do that, we grow spiritually and no longer dwell on the things we do not have. Another hidden gift of helping is that we no longer focus on our self but others and this helps us get through our own difficult times.

Everything in our world shouts "me, me, me" but we need to turn from that and see what our "me" can do for others. Start simple. Start with helping a neighbor in with their groceries, wave and smile to them when you see them, pick up their paper and sticks in their yard. Before you know you will find other ways and other people to help. Let your help reach out to your work place, the gym, the school, your church and more. Get your kids involved, too.

The author: Stephen G. Post is Professor of Preventive Medicine, Head of the Division of Medicine in Society, and Director of the Center for Medical Humanities, Compassionate Care, and Bioethics at Stony Brook University. He was previously (1988-2008) Professor of Bioethics, Religion, and Philosophy, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University and Senior Research Scholar at the Becket Institute of St. Hugh’s College, Oxford University. Post is a Senior Fellow in the Center for the Study of Law and Religion at Emory University. Post and his family are active members of their local Episcopal Church.

The Hidden Gifts of Helping by Stephen G. Post

Jossey-Bass ~ February 22, 2011

ISBN 978-0470887813/Hardcover/224 Pages

www.stephengpost.com/hiddengifts/

Thanks to B and B Media group for providing a copy of the book for me to read and review. My own tasty words and opinions are expressed here.

Sunday

GIVEAWAY Simply Fido Bamboo Rayon Nap Mat & Organic Cotton Pet Toy

Product Description
The Simply Fido Bamboo Rayon Collection features Certified Non-Toxic, environmentally friendly toys and accessories for our furry friends. All of the items are colored naturally with plants and minerals using Simply Fido's exclusive PureWaterWashTM process. The silky, bamboo rayon fabric is hand-dyed in chemical-free soy water that is purified before it is released back into nature.

The design team at Simply Fido chose bamboo rayon fabrics for this collection because bamboo is one of the most sustainable materials in the world. Bamboo trees release 35 percent more oxygen into the environment than any other tree or plant on Earth. They have very rapid re-growth and their long, strong roots help to hold the soil together and prevent erosion.

Simply Fido Bamboo Rayon Nap Mats are reversible and quilted for extra softness. They roll up easily for travel and are available in two color schemes--pink/yellow and green/yellow. Perfect for puppies, the Small Nap Mat measures 24"x19" and retails for $34. Larger dogs will enjoy relaxing on the Medium Nap Mat that is 28"x20" and has a suggested retail price of $40.

My take on the product: When these two products arrived, I thought that they were for babies. They quality was something you would expect for a new born baby. Instead, these were pet products! I was 100% impressed with the quality of the material, colors, designs and more. They are also very easy to clean.

You can purchase the SimplyFido's Oliver Rope Toy at Petco stores across America. The Bamboo Rayon Nap Mats are sold at specialty retailers (visit simplyfido.com for store locations).

GIVEAWAY

Ends 5/28

USA only

Win BOTH a Nap Mat and an Organic Cotton Pet Toy

Mandatory Entry: Go visit Simply Fido and come back here and tell me something you learned, you would considering purchasing,etc. Leave an email with your entry.

Bonus Entries:
1) Follow my blog via Google Friend Connect, Twitter, Facebook, Email subscription or RSS Feed (Click link or find ALL on right sidebar.) Each with 2 bonus entries

2) Click the SusieQTpies Personal Recipes tab at the top of my blog and leave comments on any of the recipes. Come back and get 2 bonus entries for each comment you leave.

3) Leave a comment and tell me who these Simple Fido products are for. 2 entries.

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com created by WebBizIdeas.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. Tomoson Product review & giveaway Disclosure.

Saturday

Cake Pops and Cake Balls using Amish Friendship Bread

Do you make Amish Friendship Bread? Share with me your favorite variations and recipes! This recipe is made from an already made loaf of Amish Friendship Bread. Need the starter recipe or Amish Friendship Bread Recipes? Check them out here, Amish Friendship Bread.

Kids and adults of all ages love these cake pops! Decorate them to suit any theme.

Amish Friendship Bread Cake Pops or Cake Balls

Prep Time: 1 hour
Cook Time: 1 hour
Servings: 40-50
Yield: 40-50 pieces

Ingredients

1 baked Amish Friendship Bread
1 package cream cheese, room temperature
1 package vanilla or chocolate almond bark or colored candy melts
Lollipop sticks, cut in half
1/3 cup crushed cookies, optional
Decorative sprinkles, colored sugar, mini-chocolate chips or crushed nuts

Directions

Completely cool (4 hours or overnight) any Amish Friendship Bread.
Put cake in a large bowl and break it up with your hands into small pieces.
Add in cream cheese and mix into cake until well incorporated.
Cover baking sheet with aluminum foil.
Roll into bite-sized balls and place on baking sheet. Stick in lollipop sticks and put in freezer until firm. This sets in 30-40 minutes.
When firm, melt chocolate in melting pot, double boiler or microwave bowl.
Dip each ball into the chocolate until covered, tap off excess chocolate, gently. Stick into a styrofoam to keep lollipops upright.
Add decorative topping right after you dip into chocolate. Top with extra chocolate for decoration once all the pops are dry.
ENJOY!

Kitchen Notes

Variations:

1) Upside down cake pop: Once ball dipped into chocolate, place on baking sheet with the stick up in the air. Decorate "upside down."

2) Cake ball: "Quickest method" Don't stick lollipop sticks into cake. Once firm, use two forks or a toothpick to dip into melted chocolate and another toothpick to push ball off onto aluminum foil. Use extra chocolate to cover the top where toothpick was inserted. Decorate.

Stick figure family fun Review

Product Description

Our family stickers are made with our own stick figure designs out of the highest quality outdoor vinyl - rated to last 7+ years in any weather. While the most frequent application is car windows, they can also be used on mailboxes, and we have cut them in our indoor material for wall art in Kids' rooms and Doctors' offices. Our unique collection offers over 11,000 individual combinations so you'll find something perfect for your family. This giveaway is for up to 7 customized figures (individuals and pets) so you can show off your whole family.

My Take on the Product: What a fun product. I've seen these everyone on cars but I never purchased the because I didn't like how the family names were on the stickers. I didn't think that was safe to have all the kids names, parents names, etc on the car for obvious reason. So when I had the chance to review for Belvedere Designs, I found out that you can pick and choose if you want names on the car stickers. I loved this option and order a set for my family.

Their website was very easy to use. Within minutes I was registered at had items in my shopping cart. You can even put pets on your car sticker which is what we did! So fun. My girls all picked their own head, clothes, accessories,etc.

Do you want to win a $50.00 gift certificate? Go enter the monthly photo contest. Check out their Facebook page because they offer discount codes and other special offers.

Check out their links:

Wall Quotes http://www.wallquotes.com
Family Stickershttp://mybelvedere.com/familystickers.html>Family Stickers
Vinyl Letters http://www.wallquotes.com/vinylletters/customvinyllettering.php

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com created by WebBizIdeas.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. Tomoson Product review & giveaway Disclosure.

How to Avoid going Goofy at Disney

Guest article written by Maisie Knowles. Leave comments on your tips and tricks for Disney! We'd love to read them. If you have blog post written on the subject, feel free to leave your links!

I just returned from a spontaneous weekend trip to Disneyland with my husband and two daughters, ages 11 months and 3 1/2 years. Most of my friends thought we were crazy and, in hindsight, we may have been!

My oldest daughter had a great time touring Disneyland and she'll always remember meeting Mickey and Minnie Mouse. However, I learned a lot from this trip and the next time we make a visit to the "happiest place on earth," I'll spend more time planning. So to help other mothers plan a more perfect Disneyland getaway, I put together several tips based on the lessons I learned during this experience.

1. Character Dining
Make the most of your time at the park and skip the "Meet and Greet" lines for Disney characters. Waiting in the "Meet and Greet" lines doesn't always guarantee you'll meet your character of choice. Opt instead for Character Dining, where your child is guaranteed to get an up-close encounter with their favorite Character. You'll find these opportunities at:

Disneyland Park - Plaza Inn Disney California Adventure - Ariel's Disney Princess Celebration
Disneyland Hotel - Goofy's Kitchen
Grand Californian - Storytellers Breakfast
Paradise Pier Hotel - PCH Grill Breakfast

2. Best Time To Go
Crowds are overwhelming during school holidays and three-day weekends. The summer months are extremely busy as well, but the park is open longer and most of the rides and attractions are operating. Try Sundays, when the park is usually less busy.

January and February weekdays are the least busy times, but the park is open fewer hours.

3. Fast Pass and Rider Swap Tips
Every Disneyland ticket comes with the opportunity to receive Fast Passes for specified rides. A Fast Pass will give you a return-time window so you can skip the standby line and head to the front. If used correctly, Fast Passes allow you to maximize your time at the park. Usage is complex, however, so make sure you know all the rules before buying a pass.

4. Cheap Tickets
Discounts on Disneyland tickets are hard to find. If you purchase your tickets online in advance, you can save a couple dollars through travel sites like Priceline, Expedia, Orbitz and Disneyland.com.

5. Discount Disney Gift Cards
Before your trip to Disneyland, buy discount Disney gift cards on GiftCardGranny.com and save up to 10 percent at Disneyland's ticket counters, stores, restaurants and food stands.

If you're willing to take a risk, however, you might try buying tickets on eBay. Alternately, you can try hitting up a cast member for the complimentary passes they receive (make sure you tip) or ask patrons leaving the park if you can have their tickets. Look for the most expensive tickets that haven't been signed.

6. Time to Ride
People tend to head to the right side first when entering the park, so go to the left side of the park in the morning. The rides with height restrictions had smaller lines first thing in the morning during our visit. Another good time to ride is during parades and firework shows, but be aware that some will close. You also might check with your hotel to see if they offer extended Disney hours.

7. Strollers
Tie a brightly colored ribbon to the stroller so you can locate it more easily. You'll also want to write your name on a piece of tape and hide somewhere on the stroller for identification in case of theft.

Dont lock strollers to anything or leave them in one spot for an extended period, as cast members will remove them.

8. Baby Care Centers
The Baby Care Centers at Disneyland are located at the end of Main Street. At Disney California Adventure, you'll find it next to the Mission Tortilla Factory in the Pacific Wharf. The centers include rocking chairs, nursing rooms, filtered water for formula, changing tables, etc. There's also a kiosk that sells diaper-changing kits and such basic baby-care items as food and formula.

9. Save on Food
Even though there are plenty of food kiosks at Disney, you'll find most food is overpriced. Instead, pack food in a cooler and store it in a locker. If you're traveling from out of town, there's a Target less than a mile away from Disneyland where you can stock up on supplies. Be sure your hotel has a mini fridge, if you plan on storing cold food items during your stay.

If you're traveling with older children, buy a discounted gift card for them to use in place of cash when they're touring the park on their own.

10. Save on Pictures
Park photographers will give you a Photo Pass so you can view your pictures online and pay between $10 and $30 for prints. Instead, use the Photo Pass to view your photos, then download a screenshot.

11. Save money before going using Manilla and get or travel reward programs organized- Manilla is a free web based service that helps consumers better manage all of their household accounts, including financial, utilities, subscriptions and travel rewards programs, in one secure place online. Under a single password, Manilla provides customers with an automated, organized view of all of their account information, text and/or email reminders to pay bills and unlimited storage of account documents that Manilla has seamlessly retrieved for the consumer.

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Manilla.

Maisie Knowles is the founder of BestBabyStuff.com, a website reviewing only the best baby products, and co-founder of FreeShipping.org. She earned a B.A. in Communications from the University of Colorado in 2003 and currently spends most of her time at home with her two young girls while continuing to be involved in business operations for Kinoli Inc. in Fort Collins, Colorado.To read the full story "How To Avoid Going Goofy At Disneyland" please visit http://www.freeshipping.org/blog/how-to-avoid-going-goofy-at-disneyland/.

Friday

U Follow Me I Follow U Friday Blog Hop

Welcome to my Follow Friday- U Follow Me I Follow U Hop!

That simple.

1) You are here, so please follow my blog (all the ways are on the right side bar- GFC, Twitter, Facebook, Email, RSS Feed, Networked Blogs) and leave a comment on how you are following me so I can return the favor.

2) Leave your blog link or anything links that you want others to visit.

3) Look at the Linky and find new blogs to visit and follow.

4) Put my U Follow Me Follow U Button anywhere on your blog (optional)

5) From those who left a comment I will choose 1 blog to join my hop and cohost with me next week. My last Blog Hop winner is NCSue from IN HIM WE LIVE AND MOVE AND HAVE OUR BEING. When you are done on my blog, please go show her some bloggy love. The link to her blog will take you to her "Blog Hops For Every Day Of The Week!" page. She has complied a list of blog hops and it keeps growing. So go visit her, follow her and leave a comment and check out her list! *Awesome*

*Remember to leave a comment so I can follow you back!
Happy Friday xoxoxo SusieQTpies

Thursday

Alexa Blog Hop! Improve your blog ranking

*IF YOU stop here today, please leave a comment so I can come visit you. In your comment tell me how you are following me, all the links are on my right side bar, I will follow back!

If you’ve been participating in our Alexa Blog Hops the past few weeks, you have probably seen a significant improvement in your Alexa rank. If you just started last week, try again as Blogger made a mess of our Hop last week. If you are a new blogger looking to decrease your Alexa rank & gain new GFC (Google Friend Connect) followers, please participate.

You will need to install the Alexa Toolbar on your browser. it only takes a few seconds! There are toolbars for Explorer, Chrome, and Firefox. (for those that are worried, don’t be this is NOT an additional toolbar, just a little “A” icon that will show up in your toolbar)

The Alexa Toolbar will allow you to keep track of your daily Alexa Traffic Rank- which will give you an idea of how your blogging efforts are paying off. you can also use it to check out the Alexa Rank of any website.
e.g. Facebook is ranked a 2, Blogspot is a 5, Anthropologie is 5,654, and today Spearmint Baby is 92,242 and my blog SusieQTpies Scraps of Life 162,786. Your Alexa Traffic Rank will most likely fluctuate daily and the lower you are the better.

Here are the rules:
*download the Alexa toolbar
*add your blog name & URL to the linky list below.
*then, follow any blogs on GFC that interest you (be sure to leave a friendly comment on their blog letting them know that you are a new follower so they can follow back!) if you are already a follower of their blog, just leave a comment asking them to visit you for the Alexa hop!
*feel free to grab the Spearmint Baby Blog Hop banner & post on your blog to get new people involved. (the more new people the better!)
* please note that i keep this blog hop open all week so you have plenty of time to visit all of the blogs on the list.

We have Spearmint Baby and her 3 cohosts me, SusieQTpies Scraps of Life, Kelly’s Lucky You, & Our Family World. Be sure to follow them as well.

Sue Ellen's Girl Ain't Fat, She Just Weighs Heavy Recipes and Facebook PARTY!

Sue Ellen’s Girl Ain’t Fat, She Just Weighs Heavy by Shellie Rushing Tomlinson- The bestselling author of Suck Your Stomach In & Put Some Color On! returns with more helpful how-to's and keen observations from Dixie.

Guided by principles from the ancient Belle Doctrine, the host of radio and television's All Things Southern offers down-home advice on everything from health and fitness-managing thy caloric calculations without going Straight Running Crazy and surviving the Raging Inferno Syndrome (aka hot flashes)-to the Southern art of handling your man (Bubba Whispering).

Sue Ellen's Girl Ain't Fat, She Just Weighs Heavy: The Belle of All Things Southern Dishes on Men, Money, and Not Losing Your Midlife Mind

Whether giving business tips or debunking the Big Boned Theory, making political observations or celebrating the inevitable resurgence of big hair, Shellie is an adviser women can relate to and laugh with regardless of their age or which side of the Mason-Dixon they call home.

Scrap of Life Book Club Review: Some how I missed the first book by the author, Shellie Rushing Tomlinson which was Suck Your Stomach In & Put Some Color On! That book is now in my Kindle queue. If it is even 10% as hilarious as this book it will be well worth the Chick Lit read! When I agreed to read this book for the LitFuse book tour I didn't realize that it was also a cookbook! Such tasty southern treats are hiding in this book.

This book was truly and laugh & cry out loud book. It was truly made for women. I loved that she covered topics such as Raging Inferno Syndrome "hot flashes", big boned, SRC "straight running crazy" and "bubba whispering." Each chapter ended with "Tips" and "Recipes." The tips cracked me up more than the actually stories in the chapters. The tips were the "Thus Saith The belle Doctrine" and just were incredibly hilarious. A few of my favorite tips were "Thou shalt not give plastic surgery as a gift unless it has been requested,"Humor is a great Band-Aid, but thou shalt use respect lest it stick to someone's bobo" and "Carying matches in thy purse is considered a welcome sign of public consideration."

My favorite chapter was the last chapter "If All Else Fails, Laugh!" She pointed out that you can find humor everywhere if you just look for it. So no matter what the situation is, you can find something good in it. I thought that was a great way to end the book. This is a must for your summer reading list. Pick up several copies and pass along to a girl friend that needs a pick-me-up!

I lived in New Orleans, LA for 5 years so I really appreciated the Southern humor and way of speaking. It brought back a flood of memories (we left when Hurricane Katrina took over our neighborhood), good and bad. Some of which I wish I would have let myself see the humor in at the time. The recipes all look DELISH and I plan on trying as many as I can. Here is one that I tried. I will be blogging more of her recipes over the next few months!

Spinach and Strawberry Salad (Click for printable recipe)

Ingredients
2 bunches of spinach, torn into bite size pieces
4 cups fresh strawberries, cleaned and sliced
1 cup pecan halves

Dressing Ingredients
1/2 cup olive oil
1/4 cup white wine vinegar
1/4 cup paprika
1/4 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon minced onion
2 tablespoons sesame seeds
1 tablespoon poppy seeds

Directions
Combine washed and prepared spinach with strawberries and pecan halves. Prepare dressing by whisking together olive oil and white wine vinegar. Stir in sugar, paprika, Worcestershire sauce, minced onion, sesame seeds and poppy sees. Drizzle salad with dressing and chill before serving.

My Kitchen Notes: I've always loved this salad but had never made it before. This recipe is so easy and very tasty! I love the paprika in this one and it is now on my family list of recipes to eat over and over again! Yum and healthy.

About the Author: Shellie Rushing Tomlinson and her husband Phil live and farm in the Louisiana Delta. Shellie is the author of Lessons Learned on Bull Run Road, Twas the Night Before the Very First Christmas, Southern Comfort with Shellie Rushing Tomlinson, and the Penguin Group USA release, Suck Your Stomach In and Put Some Color On, voted Nonfiction Finalist of 2009 by SIBA Independent Booksellers Alliance.

Tomlinson is owner and publisher of All Things Southern and the host of the weekly radio show All Things Southern as well as a weekly video segment by the same name. Listeners also hear Shellie in her All Things Southern radio segments aired across the South. Shellie writes a weekly inspirational feature in Newsstar and a monthly print and online column for Lousiana Road Trips.

When Shellie isn't writing, speaking, taping her show, answering email or writing content for the next deadline, you can find her playing tennis with Dixie Belle, (the chocolate lab who thinks she is in charge of running Shellie's life).

(OVER) About the Facebook Party: To celebrate the Sue Ellen’s release, Shellie is having a Facebook Party!
Join Shellie and the gang on June 2nd at 5:00 PM PST (6 MST, 7 CST, 8 EST) for a Southern style shin-dig! She'll be dishing on Bubba Whispering, debunking the Big Boned Theory, and how to manage going Straight Running Crazy. If you don't know what any of that is, then be sure to pick up a copy of the book (Not necessary to join the fun! Who knows - you might win a copy!) and join us at 5:00 pm on June 2nd at Shellie's Facebook page. And tell your friends - she's giving away copies of her books and some great gift certificates.

Thanks to LifFuse for including me in, yet again, to another book tour! I was given a copy of the book to participate in the tour. My own tasty words and opinions were expressed here.

Thursday Threading Blog Hop- come on over and link up!

Joy over at Catharsis asked me to co-host her hop this week. So Welcome to Thursday Threading Blog Hop! This is her 4th week of the hop. Thanks to all who continue to link up and welcome to new hoppers! Have fun threading from one blog to the next!

This week's lucky and gracious co-host is Susie of SusieQTpies Scraps Of Life (spot #2). (Thanks to Random.org for helping me in selecting our co-host). And thank you again, Susie!!

As usual, the rules are simple. Just follow Joy in the (spot #1), and my blog SusiesQTpies Scraps of Life blog (spot #2) and then feel free to link up below. Visit as many of the other blogs as you'd like and make sure you comment so they know you've visiting and/or following them.

Wednesday

Strawberry Recipe Round up! Link up recipes with Gooseberry Patch

Time to link up anything Strawberry with the Gooseberry Patch link up! If you are stopping in today for the link up, leave a comment and say HI! I'd love to come visit your blog, too!
I'm sharing my Strawberry Margarita Jam! It is yummy.

It's time for shortcakes, quick bread, muffins, jam and so much more...thanks to everyone on our Page on Facebook who voted
for this fresh-picked theme!

Have a favorite recipe that calls for STRAWBERRIES?
Link up with today's Recipe Round-Up!

Here's one to inspire you from Mom's Favorite Recipes...
it's our Cookbook of the Week!

Mom's Favorite Recipes: What Mom's are Making Every Day From All Across The USA (Gooseberry Patch)

Spinach Salad with Strawberries
Thanks to Michele Olson of Safety Harbor, Florida, who shared this recipe with us. It looks so elegant, but it’s a snap to make!

2 bunches spinach, rinsed and torn
1 pt. strawberries, hulled and sliced
1/2 c. sugar
2 T. sesame seed
1 T. poppy seed
1-1/2 t. onion, minced
1/4 t. Worcestershire sauce
1/4 t. paprika
1/2 c. oil
1/4 c. cider vinegar

Toss spinach and strawberries together in a serving bowl; set aside. Add the next 7 ingredients to a blender; gradually add vinegar, blending until thickened. Pour over salad before serving. Serves 8.

Link up YOUR strawberry recipes below and,
if you're joining this hop, link back here
by using our handy button below.

Quick and Easy Christmas Cookbook Giveaway with Gooseberry Patch Recipes

Welcome to another Gooseberry Patch cookbook review and giveaway! Most of their cookbooks are around 200 recipes and cost between $16-$20. I have easily cooked at least 1/4 of the recipes in each book. So for 40-50 new recipes I pay $20. Such wonderful and tasty value for the money.

This month, as an Early Cookbook Reviewer for Gooseberry Patch, I bring to you the brand spankin' new Quick & Easy Christmas Cookbook. It will not be released for sale until Mid-June. So you have a chance to get this hot cookbook in your hands before the general public! That is very exciting and I hope you win! The more entries you do, the greater your chance of winning.

I did a poll a few weeks back to see which categories/chapters that you wanted me to cook from. Here are the Chapters, a few of the tasty recipes and the winning 3 chapters with recipes! Enjoy.

Breakfast & Brunch- Creamy Cinnamon Rolls, Auntie Ruth's Shoo Fly Pie, Artichoke Squares, Yuletide Orange Smoothie, Brandi's Egg & Spinach Bake, Creamed Eggs on Biscuits
Snacks & Appetizers- Doodads, Chutney-Topped Brie, Feta Squares, Holiday Ham Cracker Spread, Dill Pickle Dip, Peanut Butter Popcorn, Warm Welcome Reuben Dip
Soups, Sides & Salads- Dad's Fried Stuffing, Beckie's Garlic Soup, Walnut-Parsley Pesto Linguine, Easy Cheesy Orzo, Quick Cream of Chicken & Leek Soup, Asparagus Casserole
Mains-Skillet Chicken Cordon Bleu, Chicken Rosemary Pizza, Trim-the-Tree Casserole, Fric-A-Dilli, Southern Sausage & Pintos, Spicy Baked Linguine, Cabbage & Noodles
Desserts- Cherry Christmas Pizza, Eggnog Cake, No-Bake Fruitcake, Man Bars, Eggnog Fudge, Licorice Caramels, Molasses Popcorn Balls, Grandma Ruth's Hot Fudge Sauce
Slow Cooker- Vegetable Beef Soup, Simple Stew for Two, Buffalo Chicken Wing Soup, Corn Pudding, Unfried Refried Beans, Tangy Ham Steaks, Coconut Curry Chicken, Chicken Cacciatore, Mediterranean Pork Tenderloin, Hoolipsey, Wacky Beef Roast, Citrus Party Fish

Continue reading to get the recipes and ENTER THE TASTY Cookbook Giveaway!

Dill Pickle Dip (printable copy)

Ingredients
8oz pkg. cream cheese, softened
2 c. sour cream
5-6 whole dill pickles, chopped
1 1/4 t. garlic salt or to taste
pickle juice (optional)
potato chips

Directions
Mix together all ingredients except chips. Stir in pickle juice to get the consistency you want. Cover and chill 24 hours. Serve with chips. Serves 6-8.

MY KITCHEN NOTES: I didn't read the directions before planning the dip so I made it on the day we needed to eat it. It was VERY TASTY and I wondered why you needed to wait 24 hours to eat it. We had leftover dip so I covered it and put it in the fridge. I pulled it out the next day and WOW I then discovered why you should eat it the next day. It was even better after the ingredients had time to form together. Very tasty and we will make this again, and again and again.

Skillet Chicken Cordon Bleu (click for printable copy)

Ingredients

2 tablespoons margarine
4-6 boneless, skinless chicken breast
salt and pepper to taste
.87-oz chicken gravy mix
3/4 c. water
1/4 c. dry white wine or apple juice
1/4 c. deli ham, chopped
1/4 c. shredded Swiss cheese

Directions

In a skilled over medium heat, melt margarine. Season chicken with salt and pepper and cook for 5 minutes or until browned; drain. In a bowl, combine gravy mix, water, wine or juice and ham. Pour gravy mixture over chicken in skillet. Reduce heat and simmer, partially covered, for 15 to 20 minutes, until chicken is cooked through. Remove chicken to a broiler pan; sprinkle with cheese and broil until cheese is melted. Serve chicken with gravy mixture. Serves 4-6.

MY KITCHEN NOTES: I used butter instead of margarine. I also used a sweet red wine instead of the dry white. This recipe would be great to use the leftover holiday ham for sure. I've always loved Chicken Cordon Bleu but have never made it from scratch because I thought it was too much work. Just a month ago we had some premade and I was making a comment on how it is too much work to make. This recipe solved my problem because it is SO EASY to make and SO TASTY! Love it and will make it again and again.

Coconut Curry Chicken (click for a printable copy)

Ingredients

6 frozen boneless, skinless chicken breast
14-oz can coconut milk
2 tablespoon yellow curry
cooked rice (click to get my Coconut Rice recipe which went PERFECT with this recipe)

Directions
Place chicken in a slow cooker. Mix together coconut milk and curry; pour over chicken. Cover and cook on low setting for 4 hours, or on high setting for one to two hours, until chicken juices run clear. Serve over rice. Serves 6.

MY KITCHEN NOTES: This recipe was extremely easy and tasty! Serve it with my coconut rice. It went with it perfectly.

GIVEAWAY ENDED

~~1 copy of Quick & Easy Christmas~~

~~USA/Canada~~

~~Ends June 4, 2011~~

Mandatory Entry: Follow my blog with Google Friend Connect (right side bar) and tell me something that you like cooking around the Christmas Holidays. Leave your email address with this entry so you can be contacted if you win.

*Each entry below is a bonus. Do as many as you want. The more you do the greater your chance at winning. If an entry is worth more than ONE entry then you leave the same exact entry that many times more. So if it is worth two entries, leave that same entry twice. GOOD LUCK! and Check back over the next 2 weeks for more recipes from this cookbook AND extra bonus entries*

~~BONUS ENTRIES:~~

~~1) Follow my blog via Twitter, Facebook, Email subscription or RSS Feed (Click link or find ALL on right sidebar.) Each with 2 bonus entries~~

2) Stop over at the Gooseberry Patch Blog and leave a comment on one of their blog post. Come back here and tell me which one so I can verify your entry. This is worth 2 entries and you can do it as many times as you want.

3) Follow Gooseberry Patch on Twitter or Facebook. Tell them SusieQTpies Scraps of Life sent you. 2 entries each. (IF you are already following them, still leave the comment and you still get the bonus entries)

4) Go check out my SusieQTpies Personal Recipes and leave a comment on any of them. 2 entries for each one you comment on and unlimited. Come back here and tell me which ones so I can verify your entry.

5) Two weeks ago I did a POLL so you could tell me which chapters to cook from. IF YOU participated in that poll (Comments #1-45) you get 5 BONUS entries into this giveaway. Leave a comment that you entered.

Thanks for playing! The winner will have 48 hours to contact me once I email them that they won. Thanks to Gooseberry Patch for a copy of the cookbook to review and one to giveaway to one of my readers. My own tasty words and opinions are expressed here.

Strawberry Margarita Jam *Quick and Easy for the freezer

Strawberry Margarita Jam *Quick & Easy (click to go to printable copy)

Ingredients

2 c. fresh, mashed strawberries
4 c. sugar
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
1 tablespoon Fruit-Fresh^® Produce Protector (optional)
3/4 c. water
1 (1 3/4 oz.) pkg. powdered pectin

Directions

1. Mash strawberries by hand and add in Fruit Fresh.
2. Add in sugar and lime juice. Let it dissolve for 10-15 minutes.
3. Place water and pectin in a small pan and boil for 1 minute. Stir constantly.
4. Remove from stove and add in berries.
5. Stir for 3-4 minutes.
6. Add jam into freezer jars leaving at least a 1/2 inch unfilled.
7. Close and let it set at room temp for 12 hours.
8. You can eat this now or store in freezer.
Yields 4 cups.

Kitchen Notes
*I am not sure how long this jam last in the freezer but I have some in there from 3 years ago that I still pull out and use. It taste as fresh as it did the day I made it.
*As a frozen jam, you can mix this into shakes, smoothies, ice cream, etc
* Let thaw over night to use the next morning. Wonderful for scones, muffins, toast, pancakes and more!
*If I'm in a hurry I just thaw it out in the microwave for 15 seconds at a time. Stir and thaw until it is the consistency you want.
*This is the freshest, best strawberry jam, ever. I could eat it by the spoonful!

May is National Strawberry Month! So enjoy this tasty month. In Southern Illinois where I live it is the best time to pick strawberries. We've been out twice already picking very tasty berries.

Check out the Strawberry Spinach Salad, Strawberry Peach Smoothie and Happy Margarita, too!

Friendly Wednesday Blog Hop! Come link up

Welcome to Feeding Four's Friendly Wednesday Blog Hop! I'm glad you're here!

*If you leave a comment to let me know how you are following me I will follow back!

If you want, create a new Friendly Wednesday blog post on your own blog and be sure to use the button provided on the side bar if you want to!

Enter your information into the linkup below.

Follow all the other blogs you want. This is a great way to get more followers!

While you are here, check out my TASTY recipes in the tab labeled "SusieQTpies Personal Recipes" and giveaways on right side bar! Have a great day!

Tuesday

I Just Won 50 Swag Bucks on www.swagbucks.com

IF you don't use Swag Bucks to search online then you are missing out on free prizes. I've been using Swag Buck for over a year now and the gift cards roll in!

Super easy to do! Just click HERE to find out how! If you need help or have questions, let me know!

This morning I won $50 swagbucks! I usually win 10-12 at a time so I was thrilled to get $50.

I Just Won 50 Swag Bucks on www.swagbucks.com

Hybrid Review by Brian O'Grady

HYBRID IS THE ULTIMATE POWER WORTH HAVING

IF IT COMES FROM THE ULTIMATE EVIL?

What sort of untapped abilities lie within the human brain? Could we summon the powers of telepathy, telekinesis or mind control if we only knew how? Dr. Brian O’Grady, a neurosurgeon, explores these intriguing questions in his pulse-pounding medical debut thriller HYBRID (The Fiction Studio; April 7, 2011).

“We have limitless connections between the nerve cells in our brains, yet we only use about 10 percent. Imagine if we could unlock our vast potential?” he asks. The key in Dr. O’Grady’s debut novel is a virus, which unleashes a chain of events in the same spine-tingling spirit of suspense as The Andromeda Strain and the X-Files.

Seven years ago, everyone died in the Honduran camp from the EDH1 virus, but Red Cross worker Amanda Flynn. Airlifted home to America, medical professionals tried to identify why Amanda survived when others died gruesome, agonizing deaths or became violent savages. Little did they know that anyone who survived…changed.

Since her escape from quarantine, Amanda has been in hiding slowly realizing the powers that could have only come from her infection. She can sense things, do things using her mind, things that are incredible and sometimes incredibly dark. But as she resists the pull toward violence, a new survivor has entered her consciousness – one without her willpower to block evil impulses. One who revels in blood lust and seeks to expand his mastery by forcing the end of human society. And he’s coming for Amanda.

A sharply written and engaging cast of characters adds to the fever excitement and suspense – Dr. Phil Rucker, the coroner whose Asperger’s syndrome comes complete with its own demons; Father John Oliver, the kindly priest whose faith is brutally tested; Rodney Patton, the homicide chief who sees what others miss; and Greg Flynn, Amanda’s father-in-law and the man whose moral center guides others in the storm.

Scraps of Life Book Club Review

This week I had the pleasure of reading Hybrid by Brian O' Grady. In a way, Hybrid is a medical thriller, reminding me of early Michael Crichton books of the same genre. Hybrid has a very well-defined story line with an unlikely -and sometimes deadly- infected heroine.

As the story unfolds, we untangle the efforts of government agencies, scientists with agendas and a desire to be rich and famous, and several people just trying to stay alive. This book is a high energy, fast-moving thriller with enough twists and turns to keep a Dean Koontz fan guessing, and flipping pages.

At this point in my book reviews, I usually point out the ways in which the book spoke to me, or how I might apply what I read and learned in my own life. In this case, if I have to apply any of this to my own life, I am currently in hiding and sending this from an undisclosed location! Hybrid is a thriller at heart, a nail-biter designed to keep you on the edge of your seat, and up past bedtime!

About the Author

Brian O’Grady (www.brianjogrady.com) follows in the tradition of Michael Crichton as a physician who brings his in-depth medical knowledge to his craft. A practicing neurosurgeon, O’Grady is a graduate of the University of New Mexico who completed his residency in neurosurgery at the Mayo Clinic. His deep insight into the mysterious workings of the human brain brings HYBRID realistically to life.

A copy of the book was given to participate in the Booktrib Book Tour. SOL Book Review contains our own tasty words and opinions.

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