Monday Madness: 5/24/10

MGR is looking for a resident designer for our forum! If you're interested, please click here. Now on to the fun Monday Madness!

What is Monday Madness?

Monday Madness was created by us: mommy bloggers Micael and Meghan. Mommy, daddy, single, stay at home parent, working parent, blogger, non-blogger, pie lover, pie hater (who hates pie, seriously?).... it doesn't matter who you are or what you do, Monday's tend to be crazy, right? So we thought we would bring a little fun into your Monday routine. And at the same time you'll get to check out new blogs, network with others, make new friends and connections - multitasking at its best!

So what do I do to participate?

It's really easy to participate with us!  Just follow the steps below and you'll be set!

1. Follow the hostess blogs at Saving Obsession and The Tuckers Take Tennessee for some Madness Lovin'.
2. Grab the McLinky code and make a post on your blog about Monday Madness, so more people can join in the fun! Also grab the Monday Madness button on the right.
3. Add your blog name and link to the McLinky below.
4. Check out some of the blogs on the list and follow ones you like. Leave a comment to let them know you're from Monday Madness.
5. If someone follows your blog, follow them back to keep the Madness going.
6. Each week we will "feature" a new blog right below. Who knows, it could be you next week!
7. That's it! Visit and follow as few or as many blogs, twitter pages, and facebook pages as you'd like! 

This week's featured blog is JanDee Crafts Make sure you check out her blog! It's definitely worth the follow! 

New Friend Friday & Follow Me Friday 5/21/10

Two awesome linky parties today! Make sure you join in the fun. Click the buttons below to add your blog! As alway, come join us at My Great Retreat www.mygreatretreat.com

Little Painted Polka Dots opened her co-op today. Everything is 30% off!

Weekly Deal Wednesday: Crazy 8 Shorts Just $9.99!

It's time for another great round of Weekly Deal Wednesday! This week, what are some of your favorite deals that you have found?

My Great Retreat has an awesome Deal Diva named Micael. She knows everything about deals, saving money, and the latest in coupons and codes to help save you moo-la!

Who is a fan of Crazy 8?  I know alot of us moms are! They have adorable and reasonably priced clothing for our little ones. Crazy 8 is owned by Gymboree so you know you're getting nice clothing when you buy from them. 

For a limited time only, check out all the spring markdowns and the shorts for just $9.99! www.crazy8.com has more details!

Welcome to Monday Madness! 

Hosted by: Saving Obsession & The Tuckers Take Tennessee!

What is Monday Madness?

Monday Madness was created by us: mommy bloggers Micael and Meghan. Mommy, daddy, single, stay at home parent, working parent, blogger, non-blogger, pie lover, pie hater (who hates pie, seriously?).... it doesn't matter who you are or what you do, Monday's tend to be crazy, right? So we thought we would bring a little fun into your Monday routine. And at the same time you'll get to check out new blogs, network with others, make new friends and connections - multitasking at itsbest!

So what do I do to participate?

It's really easy to participate with us!  Just follow the steps below and you'll be set!

1. Follow the hostess blogs at Saving Obsession and The Tuckers Take Tennessee for some Madness Lovin'.
2. Add your blog name and link to the McLinky below.
3. Grab the McLinky code and make a post on your blog about Monday Madness, so more people can join in the fun!
4. Check out some of the blogs on the list and follow ones you like. Leave a comment to let them know you're from Monday Madness.
5. If someone follows your blog, follow them back to keep the Madness going.

That's it! Visit and follow as few or as many blogs as you'd like! 

The McLinky will be open every Monday from 8:00 AM (Eastern Time) until Midnight (Eastern Time), that way nobody feels like they have to stay awake the night before to try to get a hot spot on the list!

Tasty Tuesday-Breakfast Cookies

You can have cookies for breakfast!!! This is a great recipe that your kids will love. My kids really liked the breakfast cookies from Quaker, but they were a little pricey and you only got 5 in a box. I went searching and found this recipe

3/4 cup whole-wheat pastry flour
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/4 cup canola oil
1/4 cup dark brown sugar
3 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 egg
1/4 cup (1 small jar) strained carrot baby food (I sometimes use 1/4 cup canned pumpkin that I have left over from pumpkin bread)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup rolled oats
1/2 cup bran cereal flakes
1/3 cup raisins
1/3 cup walnut pieces, lightly toasted in a dry skillet for 2 minutes, until fragrant and chopped
(I leave out the raisins and nuts because my daughter is allergic to nuts and add 1/2 cup chocolate chips instead)Place rack in center of oven and preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Whisk together flours, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt in a medium-sized bowl. Combine butter, oil and sugars in the bowl of a stand mixer and mix on high speed, scraping down sides if necessary, until sugars have dissolved and mixture is light in color, about 1 minute. Add egg, carrot puree and vanilla and beat an additional 30 seconds. Add flour mixture and beat an additional 30 seconds. Add oats, flakes, raisins and walnuts and mix over low speed just until incorporated. Dough will be slightly sticky and less cohesive than traditional cookie dough. Line a large cookie sheet with parchment paper. Using between 3 to 4 tablespoons of batter, form a ball and place on cookie sheet. Repeat with remaining batter, leaving about 3 inches between cookies. Wet hands and use palm of hand to flatten cookies until about 1/4-inch thick. Bake for 12 minutes, until cookies are fragrant but still soft. Let cookies cool slightly, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Thrifty Thursday

Please check out our great What a Deal forum at My Great Retreat!
While there, don't forget to join our 2010 Savings Challenge!
Also, check out this thread that lists some great coupon sites!

Great Huggies coupons!! (you can print each of these 2 times) They expire on Apr 5
coupon 1
coupon 2
coupon 3

Free Photo book
just pay $8.99 shipping thru 3/31  Enter code AFFLGB when checking out!

GREAT deal on an Ergo baby carrier

What A Deal! April-June Blog Advertising Spots Now Available!

Every three months or so, we're going to feature a new type of business, blog, site to advertise on top of the normal advertising spaces. Just a way to pay special focus to all kinds of sites out there and offer discounted pricing.

So April-June, we're going to focus on blogs. Want to drive more traffic to your blog? Then join in and get this spot!

If you want to advertise on our site but are wanting to advertise something other than a blog, please click here for our rateshttp://www.mygreatretreat.com/showthread.php?tid=19

We will have the following available. First come, first serve.

If you prepay for all 3 months, there will be discounted pricing:
*Option 1 pricing will be $10.00 instead of $11.25
*Option 2 pricing will be $8.50 instead of $9.00
*Option 3 pricing will be $5.50 instead of $6.00

If you have any questions, or are ready to get your spot reserved, please PM me.

Month of April Spots:
(OPTION #1) $3.75
3 spots available in the very top header (This is prime advertising space!)

(OPTION #2) $3.00
2 spots available right above posts/threads

(OPTION #3) #2.00
4 spots available on the footer of each page

Month of May Spots:
(OPTION #1) $3.75
3 spots available in the very top header (This is prime advertising space!)

(OPTION #2) $3.00
2 spots available right above posts/threads

(OPTION #3) $2.00
4 spots available on the footer of each page.

Month of June Spots:
(OPTION #1) $3.75
4 spots available in the very top header (this is prime advertising space!)

(OPTION #2) $3.00
2 spots available right above posts/threads

(OPTION #3) $2.00
4 spots available on the footer of each page.

Win It Wednesday: Dee's Bugaboo Boutique

This week's giveaway is for Dee's Bugaboo Boutique cards. Enter by 9pm CST tonight for your chance to win!


Click here to enter.

Tasty Tuesday: Blueberry-Almond Granola

This recipe comes from one of our members, Kristin! Thanks for submitting such a great recipe.

Do you have a recipe you love and want others to enjoy too? Post it in our Cookbook forum.

2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
1/2 cup sweetened shredded coconut
1/2 cup sliced almonds
2 T vegetable oil
2 T honey
1 cup dried blueberries

1. Preheat oven to 350*. On a large rimmed baking sheet, toss oats, coconut, and almonds. In a small bowl, stir together oil and honey. Pour over oat mixture and toss. Bake, tossing occasionally until lightly toasted, 16 to 20 minutes.

2. Place mixture in a large bowl and stir in blueberries. (To store, keep in an airtight container, up to 1 month.)

Win It Wednesday: Saving Obsession!

This week at Tuckers Take Tennessee there is an awesome giveaway going on. Saving Obsession has donated one of her adorable binders. Its perfect for coupons and comes with coupon items that make your grocery shopping trip easier on you!

Come check it out and enter! Winner will be chose after 9pm CST tonight. (3/3/10)

MGR Monday: March 1, 2010

MGR has lots going on in March and we want to make sure you know about it all! It's madness!  


1. Weekly Auctions. We just concluded our first MGR auction. Micael won an adorable custom vinyl wall hanging from one of our members, prariestorm! Make sure youre around and checking out the upcoming auctions. They will be in the Coffee Talk forum!  


2. Co-ops: Carey has some great co-ops planned. We just concluded "Naturally Pampered" and "Everyday Minerals". Some of the upcoming ones are: CraftMonkey (applique tee's), Prairiestorm Designs (vinyl lettering), Little Painted Polka Dot (adorable stamped jewelry and gifts), Frontier, A Time To Dye, and many more! Check out the co-op forum for more details!  


3. ATTENTION ALL SITE SUPPORTERS! You now have a forum just for you! If you are a site supporter, please make sure you can see the forum. Instead of sending out PM's to all the site supporters about when their account is up for renewal, we've created a forum for you to subscribe to. (I got this idea from a friend on another forum and am so thankful for it!) :) If you aren't already a site supporter and would like to know the perks that come with being one, click this link: http://www.mygreatretreat.com/showthread.php?tid=118  


4. We are looking for a Resident Designer. Please click here if you are interested. http://www.mygreatretreat.com/showthread.php?tid=4008  


5. 7 Days Left to get in on the special for banner advertising. Click here for more details: http://www.mygreatretreat.com/showthread.php?tid=3957  


6. MGR has social icons for you to share on your blog, website, etc! Click here to get the coding for them! http://www.mygreatretreat.com/showthread.php?tid=4015  


7. Make sure youre a follower and read the MGR blog! http://mygreatretreat.blogspot.com  


8. Subscribe to the MGR tweets! http://www.mygreatretreat.com/showthread.php?tid=3682  


9. As always, you can become a fan of MGR on Facebook. Just type in "my great retreat" and join.  


10. There are TONS of great ways to win prizes on our forum right now. (1) Picture Play Contest, (2) Blog Assignments, (3) Scrapbooking Assignments, (4) Photography Assignments, (5) And the newest is the Chat For Fun Contest (located in the contest forum). Great prizes!  


We hope you have a great March and hope Spring reaches you very soon!  


MGR Team

MGR Monday: February 22, 2010

MGR has a hashtag to use on Twitter!

When you post to another MGR member or link back to our site, www.mygreatretreat.com ,  use #mgr or #MGR in your tweet. It will help create a bit of buzz and will help us find each other on twitter.

Calling All WAHM's! We'd Love Your Help!

MGR would love to help you get your products out there!

Calling All WAHMs!

My Great Retreat needs your help!

This is growing into such a wonderful and loving community, which is just what we want! The problem is love alone doesn't cover the cost of running a board, and this is where we need your help. My Great Retreat is going to be offering a host of different raffles and/or auctions to keep this site alive and well! We are currently looking for any WAHM who is willing to donate one (or more!) of their items to be raffled or auctioned here on the site. It doesn't have to be anything large, or high dollar (although a minimum of $10 value would be appreciated).

Just think, not only will you be helping out our great community, but you'll be getting your business out there as well! And we all know that WAHM's can use all the advertising they can get.

So please, I hope you'll consider helping us out. If you would like to, please just shoot me a PM! Thank you!

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We've decided we'll do 1-2 auctions/raffles per week as donations allow. If you're going to donate, please PM me the following info:

Item(s) to be donated (if more than one please let me know if you want them auctioned together or separate)
Retail Value
Shipping Costs to winner
Website (if you have one)
Picture of item(s)
When the items will be available

Win It Wednesday: MLK Designs

Come check out the awesome giveaway on Meghan's blog at Tuckers Take Tennessee

This week, get a FREE design by MLK Designs! Enter now through 9pm CST tonight!

Scrappin' Sunday: 2/14/10

Book Of Me Prompt For This Week:

Scrap about your favorite color and post it here for us to see!

Some of the ones that have already been submitted are:

Fun Friday!!! What Does your Candy Heart Say About You??

I thought this would be fun for Valentine's Day. What Does your Candy Heart Say about you?

Your Candy Heart Says "Hug Me"

A total sweetheart, you always have a lot of love to give out. Your heart is open to where ever love takes you! Your ideal Valentine's Day date: a surprise romantic evening that you've planned out Your flirting style: lots of listening and talking What turns you off: fighting and conflict Why you're hot: you're fearless about falling in love

What Does Your Candy Heart Say?

Blogthings: We'll Tell You The Truth... Someone Has To!

     

Thrifty Thursday-February 11, 2010

Please join us at My Great Retreat for our 2010 Savings Challenge

Here are some savings you can find this week:
Preschoolians shoes-overstock sale 30% off plus free shipping

1-800-FLOWERS free shipping/no service charge (no code needed)

Free Ecards

Restaurant.com-
The new 80% off discount code for Restaurant.com is: HEART

free bowling at Brunswick Bowling

Walgreens.com
25 free 4X6 prints when you buy 25 or more (exp 2-13)
Coupon code Love10

 

Win It Wednesday: Bebebows!

Meghan has great giveaways on Wednesdays!

This week Bebebows is giving away a $30 voucher to their store! Adorable products for your little girl or great for gifts too!

Enter here for your chance to win!

http://www.mygreatretreat.com/showthread.php?tid=4210

Tuesday's Top Ten: 2/9/10

Come check out Tuesday's Top Ten at MGR! Some of the items that made this week's list are below! Adorable products and top notch sellers!

Tasty Tuesday: Rib-Eye with Whiskey Cream Sauce

I have loved every recipe from The Pioneer Woman. Yesterday was my husband's birthday, so I decided to give this recipe a try. I made some modifications but it turned out great!!

Rib-Eye Steak with Whiskey Cream Sauce
5 tbsp butter
3 tbsp diced onion
1/4 cup whiskey (I substituted a dry white wine)
1/4 cup beef stock
salt and pepper
1/4 cream
2 rib eye steaks
**I also added some chopped up mushrooms when I added the onion**
Melt 2 tbsp butter. Add onion (and mushrooms) and cook until brown. Turn off burner and add whiskey (or wine) Turn burner back on and add beef stock and salt and pepper. Whisk in 1 tbsp butter and allow to bubble for 30 seconds. Reduce heat to low and whisk in cream. I then covered while I cooked the steaks.
Melt 2 tbsp butter in large skillet. Season steaks with salt and pepper. Add steaks to hot skillet. Pioneer Woman recommends 2 minutes on each side for a thin steak to be cooked medium rare. A thicker steak will be 3-4 minutes. After the steak is done, cover with the sauce and enjoy!!!