My Suburban Kitchen

Delicious Recipes to Keep my Family of Four Happy and Full

Books = Smiles

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The other day, I attended Kindergarten orientation to get ready for H’s first day of school.  It is crazy to think that, in just a few short months, she will be headed off to school.  It feels like, in the blink of an eye, she will be strolling around college campuses and buying books for classes.  Crazy how time flies!

Now, of course, I am obsessed with idea of school and books so things I probably have heard a million times catch my ears.  For example, did you know that anytime someone rents a book through Campus Book Rentals, they donate money to Operation Smile?

Yeah, I wasn’t kidding with my blog title.  I mean, literally books = smiles! 

Now, there are a bunch of other benefits to using a service like Campus Book Rentals such as:
– saving a bunch of money (40-90%) off of bookstore prices
– free shipping
– flexible renting periods
– access to 1000s of books

But…for me, the draw to them is there giving back through donations to Operation Smile. We live in a time where modern medicine is advanced enough that no child should have live with facial deformaties.  Operation Smile has made it their mission to ensure that no child does.  And, they do it all through donations, sponsors and partnerships with companies like Campus Book Rentals.

Since I’m all focused on education these days {this week at least}, let me share with you some more info on both Campus Book Rentals

and Operation Smile {click here for videos!}

Here’s hoping books make H smile the same way a partnership like this makes me smile!

shannah

© 2012 Just Us Four.  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Pinworthy Projects Party #12

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Don’t forget to join the Feed Me Friday blog hop going on now!  It is a great way to find a bunch of fabulous new blogs to follow.


A little business before we get down to partying! Several of the winners from the blogiversary giveaways haven’t contacted me at all so I have drawn new winners for some of the prizes. 
All the winners listed below have until midnight (ET) on Wednesday, May 30th to claim their prize. 
You can claim your prize by emailing me at justusfourpartners {at} gmail {dot} com. 


So, who are the new winners? 
Momo Panache Bowls – Julie P. (who followed Just Us Four on twitter) 
Fashion to Figure – Tabitha Swain Klucking (who liked Just Us Four on Facebook) 
Studio J 5 Pack – Jen Marrs (who is followed Just Us Four) 
**********************************************
Now, on to the party…

Did you create something Pinworthy these week?

Link it up below!

A few {minor} rules:
1. Please only link up projects you have made…no etsy shops or giveaways! (Looking for a giveaway linky? Check out Homemaker on a Dime, Someday Crafts and Bacon Time)
2. Be sure to put a permalink back to my blog in any post you link up…giveaway OR project. You can grab a button from above, the sidebar OR just include a link back here.
{Of course, I would LOVE it if you would follow me via GFC, Linky Followers and/or email!}
3. Please go visit at least 2 other projects you see in the linky. We all like for visitors to stop by so share the love.

shannah

Making Monday Marvelous at C.R.A.F.T.,  Show Me What Ya Got at Not Just a Housewife, What’s in the Gunny Sack Linky Party at The Gunny Sack, I Made the World Cuter Today at Making the World Cuter, Motivate Me Monday at Keeping it Simple, Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch, Market Yourself Monday at Sumos Sweet Stuff, the Craft Catwalk and Embellishing Life, More the Merrier Monday at DIY Home Sweet Home, Show Me What You Got at Our Delightful Home, Mauvin’ Monday at Vintage Mauve, It’s Party Time at It’s So Very Cheri, DIY Project Parade at DIY Showoff, Insprire Me Monday at Singing Three Little Birds, Calling All Crafters Monday at All Things Fee, Monday Craft Party at Polly Want a Crafter, Cure for the Common Monday at Lines Across, Tutorials and Tips at Home Stories A to Z, Get Your Craft on Tuesday at Today’s Creative Blog, Nifty Thrift Tuesday at Coastal Charm, Time to Shine Party at a Diamond in the Stuff,  Uncommonly Yours Link Party at Uncommon Designs, Handmade Tuesdays at Ladybug Blessings, Terrific Under Ten Tuesday at At Home with K, One Project at a Time at A Bowl Full of Lemons, Be Inspired at Elizebeth & Co., Tutorial Tuesday at With Hope Studios, Take a Look Tuesday at Sugar Bee Crafts, Tip Me Tuesday at Tip Junkie, the Tuesday Talent Show at Chef-N-Training, Open Call Tuesday at Salt Tree, Tutorial Tuesday at Newlyweds on a Budget, Who’s got Glam at Giggles, Glitz and Glam, Share It Linky Party at the Winthrop Chronicles. Naturally Nifty Linky Party at Natural Nesters, Tiptoe Thru Tuesday atCrayon Freckles, Show & Share at Southern Lovely and Vintage Gwen, Will Craft For at Tales of a Trophy Wife, Hoo’s Got Talent at Nightowl Crafting, Whatever Goes Wednesday at Someday Crafts, Show and Tell at Blue Cricket Designs, Penny Pinching Partyat The Thrifty Home, We’re Organized Wednesday at Organize and Decorate Everything, Wow Us Wednesday on Ginger Snap Crafts, What’s New Wednesday at Grateful Belly, Your Whims Wednesday at My Girlish Whims, Wow Me Wednesdays at Polka Dots on Parade, 100 Ideas Under $100 at Beyond the Picket Fence, the Crafty Sasse Wednesday Linky Party at the Sasse Life,  Strut Your Stuff at Somewhat Simple, Taking a Time Out Thursday at Mom On Time Out, Hooking up with HoH at House of Hepworths, Look at Me, Live, Laugh Linky Thursday at Live, Laugh Rowe, I’m so Crafty at It’s Fun to Craft, Kiss and Tell at I Gotta Create, Craft, Scrappy Happy Me Thursday at Craft, Scappy Happy, Catch a Glimpse Thursday at A Glimpse Inside, Thursday Temptation at Two Yellow Birds Decor, Get Your Brag On at Gluesticks, Show Off Your Stuff at Fireflies and Jellybeans, Share Awesomeness Thursdays atThe 36th Avenue, Thrifty Thursday at Thrifty Decorating, P’Inspirational Thursday at The Artsy Girl Connection, Taylor House Thursday at The Taylor House, Feature Yourself Friday at Fingerprints on the Fridge, Frugalicious Friday at Finding Fabulous, Flaunt it Friday at Chic on a Shoestring Decorating, The Pity Party at 30 Days, Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage, Show and Share Day at Just a Girl, Freestyle Friday at Happy Hour Projects, Show and Tell Friday at My Romantic Home, Free For All Friday at Young & Crafty, the Featured Friday Free for All at Five Days, Five Ways, the Featured Friday Linky Party at Blissful and Domestic, Shine on Fridays at One Artsy Mama, the Anything Goes Linky Party at Bacon Time, Kitchen Fun and Crafty Friday Link Party at Kitchen Fun with My 3 Sons, Do Something Crafty at The Crafty Nest, the Weekdend Link Party at Lolly Jane Boutique, the Weekend Wrap-up Party at Tatertots and Jello, Vintage Inspiration Friday at Common Ground, Show and Tell Saturday at Be Different, Act Normal, the Sunday Scoop at I Heart Naptime and the Before and After Party at Thrifty Décor Chick.  

© 2012 Just Us Four.  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Feed Me Friday Blog Hop

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Welcome to Feed Me Friday Blog Hop, hosted by Oh So Savvy Mom, Nap Time is My Time, Great Contradictions and Just Us Four! Feed Me Friday is a Blog Hop to help you meet new bloggers and build your e-mail subscription.
Want to be a part of Feed Me Friday?



Just follow these simple rules:
 

– Add your blog link to the linky

– Subscribe by email and follow via Google+ (or Linky Followers) to the four hostesses (Oh So Savvy Mom, Nap Time is My Time, Great Contradictions and Just Us Four) and the Featured Blog of the Week. Make sure to leave us a comment and we will return the favor.

– Visit as many blogs on the list as you can. If you like the blog subscribe to their email (feel free to follow on Google+ too, if you want)

– Leave them a comment with your blog link so they know you are subscribing from Feed Me Friday. 
Be sure to confirm your subscription! 
Subscribing back is not mandatory, but it is recommended. It is a great way to build blogging relationships.
Since this is an email subscription blog hop, your blog must have a place for people to subscribe to your email. If there isn’t an email subscribe option, your link will be removed from the linky without warning.


Every Friday we will put up a new Feed Me Friday linky, so be sure to stop by and add your blog.


Each week we will choose one participant from the previous week’s blog hop to be the Featured Blog of the Week.

This week’s featured blog is

A Blessed and Blissful Life is about everything colorful, creative, and cheerful, as well as anything related to my infatuation with accessories!

Thanks so much for linking up with this this week. If you’re a new participant, please be sure to leave a comment below!

shannah

© 2012 Just Us Four.  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Pinworthy Projects Party – My Pinworthy Picks

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For the first time in weeks, I actually got to pin some projects earlier this week and share them on Facebook and Twitter. 

Today I’m back with some more great features from last week’s party! {Look for them on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest too!}

Let’s start off with something to make your mouth water.  Keri, at Shaken Together, made these delicious Nutella Popovers.

As part of her amazing craft room redo, Bethany {from Pitter and Glink} stenciled this great looking valance for the updated space.

Looking for some inexpensive but stylish storage bins?  Check out what Kim from Reposhture used to make these cute storage bins.

Washi and fabric tape are all the rage right now.  Over at Nifty Thrifty Things, Vanessa shared how to make your own fabric tape.

Over at Muse of the Morning, Chrissy shared a great kid craft making Kandinsky inspired monoprints.

And the link with the most views this week was…

the condiment caddy that Jessica, from Home with Baxter, made using some pretty simple supplies.
 
A big thanks to everyone that linked up! I’m looking forward to seeing what you all have to share tomorrow!

shannah

© 2012 Just Us Four.  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

WTCW #52

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Can you believe What to Cook Wednesday is turning a year old today?  That’s a full year of super yummy recipes and new food blogs.

Let’s see what this “historic” WTCW bring us, shall we?

[Skinny Taste], [Steamy Kitchen], [Julia’s Healthy Italian], [My Kitchen Escapades]

Sunday:  I’m trying to add more fish into our diet.  I’m hoping the smoky, spicy rub will help me when it comes to eating Salmon!

Monday:  Summer is a great time for sandwiches because they require little to no heat.  Extra parmesan creates a great crust for this Super Frico Sandwich.

Tuesday:  I’ll probably just end up with the shrimp in this seafood medley with tomato broth but it sounds divine!

Wednesday:  We’ll bring ourselves back on land and have some chicken parmesan meatloaf.

[Framed Cooks], [The Bitten Word], [The Kitchn]
Thursday:  Pasta night! How does linguine with bacon, goat cheese and snap peas sound? My stomach says, “delicious”!
Friday:  Time to head outside and cook up some ginger beer grilled chicken.
Saturday:  This time, white fish gets a turn with ginger and cilantro baked tilapia.  Fingers crossed that it tastes as good as it looks 🙂

shannah

© 2012 Just Us Four.  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Dinner Done Fast: Mustard Chicken

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Both Mathlete and I work full time and commute a pretty far distance to our offices. On nights when we run even the slightest bit late or have an errand to run, it can totally wreck dinner.  It is those times that I really appreciate my small arsenal of really quick to the table meals.
Last week, we had a very hectic week and I pulled out one of Mathlete’s favorite recipes that I knew I could get done fast: Mustard Chicken (adapted from this recipe).

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Basement Reno: Saddle Up to the Bar

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One of the things we wanted in our basement was a bar area for people to gather around. At all of our parties, people always end up in the kitchen around the island so we wanted a similar space downstairs…just without the stove and oven.

Mathlete just finished framing the bar area and marking it so the plumbers will know everything is going to go.  Let’s take a look.  In this picture, I am pretty much leaning up against the bathroom “wall” looking towards to the bar.

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Pinworthy Projects Party #11

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Don’t forget to join the Feed Me Friday blog hop going on now!  It is a great way to find a bunch of fabulous new blogs to follow.


A little business before we get down to partying! Several of the winners from last week didn’t contact me at all so I have drawn new winners. 
All the winners listed below have until midnight (ET) on Wednesday, May 23rd to claim their prize. 
You can claim your prize by emailing me at justusfourpartners {at} gmail {dot} com. 
So, who are the new winners? 
Momo Panache Bowls – Heather Gray (who followed Just Us Four on twitter) 
Fashion to Figure – Michelle Minor White (who liked Just Us Four on Facebook) 
Studio J 5 Pack – Laura Gardner (who left a comment with her favorite item) 
Thirty One Thermal Picnic Tote – Stephanie King (who followed Just Us Four on Twitter) 
Craft Supply Basket – Holly Siminski (who tweeted about the giveaway)  
**********************************************
Now, on to the party…

Did you create something Pinworthy these week?

Link it up below!

A few {minor} rules:
1. Please only link up projects you have made…no etsy shops or giveaways! (Looking for a giveaway linky? Check out Homemaker on a Dime, Someday Crafts and Bacon Time)
2. Be sure to put a permalink back to my blog in any post you link up…giveaway OR project. You can grab a button from above, the sidebar OR just include a link back here.
{Of course, I would LOVE it if you would follow me via GFC, Linky Followers and/or email!}
3. Please go visit at least 2 other projects you see in the linky. We all like for visitors to stop by so share the love.

shannah
 

© 2012 Just Us Four.  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Internet Marketing Helps Me Make Choices

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Did all the mom’s out there have a great mother’s day??  I certainly did.My family and I went to visit my mom which is about a 4 hour trip each way from our home.  With traffic, sometimes the trip can be as long as 7 hours which can really put a damper on it!  Thankfully, we didn’t have too many problems this time around.

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