Kitchen Comforts

I have decided to merge Kitchen Comforts in to Candy Hearts and Paper Flowers. It'll give me one blog to maintain and recipes are an essential part of homemaking. I stopped posting recipes there some time ago (though I have about a dozen in draft right now), so it doesn't make sense to keep them separate. I'll move all the posts over the next year, and try to keep the various holiday related ones to their appropriate holiday timeframes. After they are all moved Kitchen Comforts will be closing. In the meantime, the followers of both blogs will see repeats, sorry about that.

Comments

When I started posting again I had added IntenseDebate comments to allow for commentluv and a few other features, but I've recently heard from some people that they never commented because they didn't want to have to create an account. There were other options, but yes you had to have an account on some platform (wordpress, facebook, etc to comment). So I've dropped IntenseDebate, and with it lost any/all comments from the last month. However, hopefully people will comment more with it gone, and I love to hear from you and that's really what this is all about... sharing ideas with each other. Anyone know how to get CommuntLuv on Blogger without using IntenseDebate?

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Trackbacks

I had good intentions of giving some link love back to my favorite blogs with the snippets and links in my blog roll, but I see instead of just adding link love to my blog, it has spammed trackback links to my favorite blogs. Which was NOT my intention at all. I apologize if you had trackbacks on your blog and it spammed links to mine as a result.

Hello

What was intended to be a short break turned into a 2 year hiatus from blogging. Do I miss blogging? Yes! Do I regret the break? Not one bit! I've spent the last two years singing songs, reading books, sorting blocks and playing tickle monster during times that I previously had spent reading blogs and writing. I've also spent a lot of time taking pictures and getting into photography. I'm getting much better! Hopefully, the pictures I post going forward reflect that. I put on my New Year's Resolution to start blogging again this year. Funny thing though, blogger had changed during the last two years, and a lot of my HTML template tweaks weren't working so well anymore. So I put off blogging until I had a chance to revamp the template and get a few things tweaked. That's done, and I have a bunch of posts scheduled (since I have to get back into the habit). I'll be going to Iceland in late May/early June, so I want to build up a bunch of posts for while I'm gone as well. The template and commenting system have undergone a major change, please let me know if you run into problems with anything.

Also, while I was gone I discovered Pinterest! It's quite addictive, feel free to follow me there. Let me know in the comments if you do and I'll follow you back.

Right now I'm in the midst of Spring Cleaning and planning a birthday party for Kirsten, she's turning 2 this month! I'm also converting our library into her big girl room, which will happen in a few stages. There is wallpaper to rip out, carpet which may or may not go, painting to happen, new trim to install... we're basically starting from scratch with that room, so it'll be fun. You also may note that if you follow me on Pinterest, I have a nursery board. Once I get her settled into her new room, I have to work on neutralizing the nursery again for the next little one. It may be a while, but we never know when the phone will ring.

This month I'll share some of the details from her birthday party last year and some of the recipes I used for it, as well as the details for this year. Oh, and I found a punch last year that was very good and just about everyone attending asked for the recipe, so I'll definitely have to share that. Last year the "theme" was "Pink Lemonade" and everything was decorated in soft yellows and pinks and it was pretty and delicious. This year I was torn between a few themes, since I wanted a party based around something she loves. I was choosing between Pirates, Monkeys, Elmo and Backyardigans. I chose Pirates and did all the planning for the party, started designing the invitations... and then changed my mind. The theme was a blast to plan for, but I had all these amazing ideas that will be much more enjoyable to her in a few more years. Sooooooo... back to the drawing board. She adores Elmo, so I thought about that for a bit, but I really didn't want an overly commercialized theme. If that makes sense? So I went with Backyardigans... what? Yeah I know, it's commercialized as well, but I have a spin... I promise! I'll share all of it after her birthday party. I really love a good party!

Happy St. Patrick's Day

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y dear, dear friends, I have been away from you all for so long. What was intended to be a short hiatus, turned into a long vacation indeed. I've been in hiding a while, but it's time to dust off the welcome mat, put the coffee on and invite you all in to catch up.

The big news, as I've eluded to many times in posts and comments on your blogs, we are adopting and have been waiting for many years. Well, we are currently getting our nursery ready for a baby girl due at the end of April. So, I'll post photos while I'm preparing all of the little changes we make here and there. I absolutely adore the couple that chose us, they are very sweet and are allowing us to participate in quite a few of the pregnancy related activities, like ultrasounds.

Happy St. Patrick's Day! Anyone have any corned beef tips to share? I'll be trying my hand at it for the first time this evening.

Temporary Hiatus

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'll start blogging again in July, but for now I need a break. Hopefully, July will bring a lot of changes, it's been a relaxing summer so far, not worrying about getting a post up or what to talk about next week. Monday Musings will not be coming back here, I love finding and sharing quotes, but I'd prefer to go back to doing it when something is poignant and on my own schedule. I've offered up Monday Musings to the person who inspired me to start it in the first place. If she's not interested I'll let the typical participants know and see if anyone else wants to continue it. In the meantime, I'm on a temporary blogging vacation.

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A Birthday of Sorts and Giveaway

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andy Hearts and Paper Flowers was born a year ago today when I started sharing entertaining, organizing, cleaning, cooking, quotes and other things I love. I've always considered this more of a Homemaking blog, trying to share all the tips, advice and things that I love that relate to taking care of yourself, your family and your home.

I have been blogging for a very long time on various platforms, mostly as a way to keep up with friends and sharing random personal bits, but updating very infrequently. About a year ago I was talking with my mom and mentioned that I'd like to write more, but it's hard when there is no focus to my blogs at all. Most things I wouldn't share to protect other people's privacy anyway.

So, Candy Hearts and Paper Flowers was born. In the past year I've had just shy of 10,000 unique visitors and many of you visit everyday or fairly often. I just want to say thank you, from the bottom of my heart, thank you. I've made some amazing friends through this blog and hope to continue to meet new people and get to know everyone who visits.

Most popular posts to date:
Recipe Organization
September ShapeUp Guide
Spring Cleaning Checklist
Widman's Candy Store
Routines With Kids: Chore Charts

The Giveaway!

Since I love you all so much, I'm going to giveaway a little gift package which will include a copy of my favorite reference book for making your house a home, some easter goodies and a few other little things. It was a bit of the inspiration for this blog's topic and the first quote I shared was taken from it, so I feel it's apropos.

"I am a working woman with a secret life: I keep house."
- Cheryl Mendelson

Photo from Amazon

So, to enter, I'd like to know 3 things:

1) What would you like to see more of on Candy Hearts and Paper Flowers?
2) What's your favorite previous post on Candy Hearts and Paper Flowers?
3) What's your favorite post on your blog? (With link so I can go read please!, if you don't have a blog, share a favorite something, song, homemaking tip, whatever!)

Also, if you don't have a blog, please make sure you leave me a way to get a hold of you! The winner will be picked by my hubby randomly, might see if we can get Zaya to pick. I will announce the winner at 6pm on April 3rd and announce it here on the blog and try to contact you via your blog or email, if I don't hear back within a week, I'll pick a new winner. Someone is getting this book, it's on it's way from Amazon and I already have a copy!

Want an extra entry? Subscribe to my RSS feed in a feed reader or via email and add an extra comment letting me know you do so, make sure you tell me if you are already a subscriber! Want another entry? Tweet or post on your blog about this giveaway and I'll give you another entry, just add another comment here letting me know you spread the word and a link to where you posted it. Easy Peasy, right?

Once again, thank you!!!

Awards - Passing The Torch {4}

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h dear, I've received some lovely awards in the last couple of months and been tagged and am finally getting around to tagging and passing the torch. Some of these are from quite a while ago, I didn't realize how far behind I had gotten with tags and award acknowledgements. I really do appreciate that you like my blog and think I'm worthy of these awards. Some come with instructions to tag other bloggers, others come with additional instructions. I hate to leave anyone out, so pick an award and consider yourself tagged!

I received this award from Christy over at Motherhood Unscripted

For this award I'm supposed to list 6 things that make me happy:
1. My hubby
2. My puppies
3. Spring flowers budding
4. A clean house
5. Raindrops
6. Reading in my backyard in the summer

Tamy at 3 Sides of Crazy has gifted me with a few, she didn't go crazy and give me a ton of awards at once. It just shows you how bad I've been about acknowledging them.

For this award, I am supposed to list 5 things I am addicted to.
My hubby - I just can't get enough of him!
Magazines - I've even blogged about this addiction, which brings me to my next addiction:
Blogs/Blogging - I could spend hours perusing the blogs in my list (which desperately needs to be updated!)
Reading - If I could pull myself away from the blogs, my nose would be buried in a book!
Dark Chocolate - Of course it was coming... this is an addiction I need to break!

I'm worried I may have missed 1 or 2, if I did please let me know. It's definitely not because it wasn't appreciated!

Layout update and possible issues

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just updated the look and messed up my template a bit. I think I have it corrected now, but would you please let me know if you notice any alignment issues, or a column is at the bottom of the page instead of being three wide. Thank you!!!

National Delurking Day

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id you know it's National Delurking Day? Basically we all know more people are reading our blogs than we ever have comments for, so today is the day everyone says hi. I have anonymous commenting turned on and turned off comment moderation for today. Please feel free to say hi, and if you have a blog make sure you leave a link so I can come visit!

Care to unmask and say hi?
See the Sweet Thoughts tag up there by the title,
go ahead and give it a click!

Broken Computer

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ue to a temporarily broken computer, hubby is fixing it for me today, Front Door Decor will post tomorrow, along with my Christmas decor posts. . I was really hoping it was the just the power cord, but it wasn't and required a complete dismantling of the laptop. I'll be happy to have a working computer again. Sorry for the delay.

New Layout and Christmas

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pdated the blog look for winter, this is what I did today instead of finishing up my list. I'm a terrible procrastinator! I just got the urge to make some changes and instead of doing the myriad things I have to do before Christmas, I played with Photoshop instead.

I haven't sent Christmas cards in years, well since starting this job. This is the busiest time of year for me so I tend to not take the time to do a lot of the little things. Next year I'll address envelopes in March or April, then maybe I'll get them done. I'm going to try to address envelopes over lunch the next week.

My Christmas To-Do List:
Write Christmas Cards
Wrap Christmas Gifts
Bake Cookies
Finish homemade gifts
Plan Menu for Christmas Day
Shop for hubby (everyone else is done!)
Plan New Year's Eve Murder Mystery

I'm sure there is more, I just don't want to think about it. For now we're fending for ourselves and subsisting on whatever we can scrounge out of the cupboards. Featured Blogger series will be on hold until January. I hope you all stay with me until then.

I'm back!

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ere's the thing about going to see my family... no matter how good my intentions are, I'm terrible about taking pictures while I'm there! I'm so wrapped up in every little moment, because I only see them once a year, that the camera lays forgotten as we laugh, talk, sing, play, swim, cook...

So I only took a few pictures of my parents renewing their wedding vows on Thanksgiving after Mass... On December 31st they will have been happily married for 35 years and wanted to renew their vows while my sister and I were home. My mom took a few other pics, but there weren't many.

I do have lots of wonderful memories wrapped up in my mind though...

Cutting paper flowers with my niece
Playing in the pool
Getting shots from my nephew with his play Vet kit
Tucking them in and saying good night
Playing in the water fountain and at the park

Tonight I'll be baking for a holiday open house tomorrow and decorating our Christmas tree.

Monday Musings will resume this coming week. I've seen a few get hooked up to the last one from November, so I'll visit them tonight as well.

As much as I love being off for a while, it's nice to be back in my own bed at night.

Blogging, Advertising and Disclosure Policies

There are no pretty pictures in this post... No tips... It's a rant of sorts, a pet peeve of mine and a strongly worded opinion. If you just want the pretty pictures of it all, go ahead and skip this post. There are lots of pretty pictures here

I see more and more blogs with the same standard disclosure policy, but what it boils down to is... "We get paid by sponsors to write about products and we won't always let you know when we're getting paid for a review." You know what, I have a problem with that. Just because it's being disclosed doesn't mean that there isn't a lot of ethical gray area. If a blogger is blogging to make some money on the side, that's fine, but let readers know what on the blog amounts to an ad and what doesn't.

My disclosure policy: If at some point, any point, I get paid to write about a product in the way of free product to review or monetary compensation. You will know that I am compensated for that review and how. You will get a 100% honest review of my likes and dislikes and whether I'd have acquired the product myself without being paid. Rest assured that everything I feature is what I love, like, covet... So, if someone wants to send me a cookbook to review, or a new Dell XPS Laptop, go right ahead. If you want to send me a laptop other than Dell, please reconsider sending me a Dell... pretty please.

I'm getting rid of Entrecard, I'm going to let the ads currently scheduled run through, then I'm dropping it. Why? It takes too much time to be worth it and lately I've noticed most blogs wanting to advertise are unrelated and/or falling into the ethical gray area mentioned above. I screen all the advertisers because I feel that this is my blog and what is on my blog should reflect a blog that I would visit. I don't want to send you to blogs that don't feel similarly. I've found a few wonderful blogs through Entrecard, and I know a few have found me through Entrecard. Without Entrecard I'd have never gotten to know Laura who's the featured blogger of the week, so it's not all bad. I believe Tara and a few others found me through there as well. It's just that the time commitment is too high. I'd rather be catching up on your blogs or finding new Etsy shops to spend money at feature.

If I've mentioned a commercial product or Etsy artist or another blog, it's NOT because I've been paid to. It's because I genuinely use them, covet them or would purchase the item myself. For instance, I featured Blaze Danielle and later bought the print Cozy Trio, and I featured Meese by Little Bit Funky then went and bought him for myself a few weeks later.

One nice thing that came out of Entrecard is the Featured Blogger of the Week. I will continue to feature a blogger a week as long as I have bloggers to feature. For now, I have plenty! Thank you so much to all the bloggers that have agreed to be featured so far, I've enjoyed getting to know more about you!

I'm done with my soap box for now. So, how do you feel about this? Am I way off base? I would like to eventually earn some residual money from my blog, but not at the expense of compromising the content and my principles.
I did add a few more google ads, but I haven't been entirely happy with the content they display on each post. Several are right on, but some are stuck on "making money from blogging" type content, as long as it is somewhat blogging/homemaking related I'll keep them. I'll leave them for now, but PLEASE let me know if they ever display anything completely inappropriate! Also, we'll have a fun giveaway when/if I get my first check. Don't hold your breath, I'm sure it will be a while.

Awards - Passing the Torch {3}

I've received a lot of lovely awards recently and thought I should take a few minutes to say THANK YOU! and pass them on to the blogs I love. I'm breaking the rules a bit, so I can spread the awards out.

Tamy from 3 Sides of Crazy and Kim from Forever Daisies gave me this:



I'd like to pass this on to Monique at Escape Hatch, Sandra at Diary of a Stay At Home Mom, Blaze Danielle at Blaze Danielle : A Creative Compilation, Anne-Maree at The House That A-M Built, and Kiy at Rocking Chairs and a Tricycle.

I received this from Monique at Escape Hatch:



I'd like to pass it on to Tamy at 3 Sides of Crazy.

Then Tamy is so well-loved and gets a TON of awards and has passed many on to me, on to the awards followed by who I'm passing them on to:


I'd like to pass this on to Kim at Forever Daisies.



I'd like to pass this on to Hana Mi at Gifted Hand.



I'd like to pass this one on to Susan at Emperorp.



I'd like to pass this on to Melissa at The Inspired Room



This is supposed to be accompanied by 6 things that make me happy and to be passed on to 6 other bloggers, but like I said I'm breaking the rules a bit... What makes me happy... that I have so many blogging friends that I'm going to run out of awards before passing them all on:
I'd like to pass this on to muralimanohar at Miscellany of Me.



I'd like to pass this on to Linda at Little House in the Big Woods.



I'd like to pass this one on to Liz at Mabel's House, her blog is a new find for me because she left me a comment and she has such a sweet blog, go say hello to her.



I'd like to pass this one on to Michelle at Laundromat.
This is kind of a special one with a back story:
This award was created by Memoirs of a Mommy. It’s a very special award that she created in Honor Of The Donor That Saved (her son) Noah’s Life. Noah received a heart transplant, and she hopes that by passing this award around the blogosphere everyone can help raise awareness of the need for Organ Donation.

The rules of this award are: SHARE THE LOVE!!! Share this award with all those blogs out there that you love. All the people who make you smile. All those that make you laugh. All those that make your day. All those that leave uplifting comments on your blog.

**All I ask, is that you include a link to this post with the award and ask your recipients to do the same**

Bloggy Vacation

Hello all,

I'm so sorry, but I'll have to take a short (few weeks) bloggy vacation. I'll try to check in a couple of times a week, and I'll be back definitely by August 16th, so we can celebrate my birthday together! Yay! I'll have to think of something special. In the meantime, let's just pretend I'm on vacation somewhere fun like Iceland.

I'll miss you all!

Twitter Issues

Kim pointed out on her blog, Forever Daisies, that something had gone amiss with Twitter. Sure enough, I checked and I've lost a lot of the people I was following, if you happen to visit here and notice I'm not following you anymore, would you mind giving me your address to follow you on Twitter... I want to stalk follow each and every one of my lovely readers! And feel free to follow me, I'm having a hard time remembering exactly what everyone has for their twitter address. There is only so much guessing I can do before it makes more sense to just ask.

With all the problems lately are people starting to migrate to Plurk or other platforms, or are you all still using Twitter?

Updated Blog Format

Well, now you get to see what I've been busy with for the last couple of days. I may still be tweaking things a bit, please let me know on this post or via e-mail if you see any problems or are having difficulty with any features. I've tested in Firefox and IE7, but not IE6, Safari or others. So, if you happen by here, and happen to use one of those, would you please let me know if it looks ok?
You should see the Post Title and Sweet Thoughts at the top, and a PostMark and Label Ribbon at the bottom. Thank you for your help! :)

Edited to add pic:
It should look similar to this, with the exception of the picture.

Oh Happy Day!

Blogger added a feature to export all your posts from an old blog and import them into a new one! So I finally have all my old posts and COMMENTS! Not that you want to go back and read them all, but they are there... Woohoo! I will clean up a bit, and relabel (I originally labeled a LOT of stuff random). Can you tell how excited I am?!? Seriously... jumping up and down, twirling round and round in circles happy!

A few favorite oldies...
My dumb... or very smart... dog
Netflix Stalkers
Speaking of Heroes
The Whole Web Is More Important?

Out of Town

I'll be gone this week, but I've left some posts of art around Grand Forks from this past weekend for you to enjoy. I look forward to catching up on all the comments and your posts on Friday!