Monday, February 18, 2013

Happy Doodles Giveaway!


Sponsored by: Happy Doodles

I am in love with this idea! Happy Doodles enables you to capture your child's creativity and turn it into a keepsake that will last forever! Check out the review below from My Four Littles!

Cohosted by:  


Welcome to the Happy Doodles Giveaway!!

Happy Doodles turns your child's favorite artwork into a lovable, huggable stuffed toy! Amanda from My Four Littles received a special Happy Doodle for her four year old daughter. See below for pictures of the original artwork and the completed Happy Doodle. Click here to see the Happy Doodles review in it's entirety, as well as more information on Happy Doodles.

Sunday, February 17, 2013

Natural Littles LLC Cloth Diaper Giveaway!


Sponsored By: Natural Littles LLC

Welcome to the Cloth Diaper Starter Kit Giveaway from 
My Four Littles, Four Littles Media, and Natural Littles LLC!

Are you pregnant, do you know someone who is expecting? This would be an amazing baby shower/new baby gift for someone! I am so excited to be part of this fabulous giveaway!

One lucky winner will win a Cloth Diaper Starter Kit from Natural Littles!! (RV $150)

Thursday, February 14, 2013

Blogging Addicts Blog Hop!

Welcome to the Blogging Addicts Blog Hop!

We hope that this is going to be an ongoing thing and we would love to include everyone! I don't know about you, but I love to find new and interesting blogs to read and this is an excellent way of expanding your blog roll! Who knows we might even meet some great new friends along the way!

Please link up below. You are more than welcome to add as many links as you like but please make sure to include where you would like to be followed. (For Example: New English Mum in America - Facebook)

To participate, please follow the hop instructions:

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Just me.

Now that I have a few more readers, I figured now would be a good time to tell a little more about myself! Below are a few random facts. If you want to do the same, please do!  I'd love to know more about you guys too!

- I grew up by the ocean in a little town called Newquay. My goal is to one day live by the ocean again!  I'm determined to find a little town similar to Newquay, in the States.  Any ideas? (My Husband is convinced that it looks like Southern California where he is from.  I'm thinking it might be a ruse to get me to move there though!)

Yes!  This really is in England!

- I'm addicted to coffee. Seriously, it's bad. If I don't have at least 2 cups of REALLY strong coffee with motor oil properties, within half an hour of waking up, that's me done for the day.  Shakes, headache, the whole shebang.

It's true.

- It bugs the crap out of me that I smoke and can't quit. I'm a strong willed person who can do anything that I put my mind to, except quit cigarettes!  I can't afford to smoke, yet I panic at the thought of quitting.  I have smoked for 18 years. (Yes, I'm only 30. Disgusting, huh?) They just need to stop selling them.  Then I'd have to quit.  Or you'd see me being dragged out of an illegal smoking den, kicking and screaming. (because I'm SURE there would be!) Who knows.

This will not be me.



- I have a rare split birthmark that spreads the whole way up my right arm, from my wrist to my shoulder. The funny thing about it is, it wasn't actually there when I was born... It appeared when I was 18 months old... When I was a kid, it looked as though I had cigarette burns up my arm. When I was 13, I was contacted by a specialist in some fancy private hospital in England who wanted me to be his guinea pig. He wanted to test out his shiny new laser machine, he was pretty sure he could get rid of it. After 6 sessions of what felt like someone splashing hot oil all up my arm, they did actually fade a bit. Now that I am older and my skin has stretched, they look a lot more like bruises. My Husband is constantly getting evil looks. I have no idea what the medical terminology is for this, I'll have to ask my Mum... She had to get a doctor to write a note to take to school to prove I wasn't being beaten!!

That's all I can think of for right now! I'm going cross eyed at the moment because I am so tired! I am off to the land of nod. :)

Have a great night and thanks for stopping by!


~ Tasha

Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Another $10 Amazon Gift Card Giveaway!



As a thank you to my new fans and to all the people who have shared my page, I am giving away another $10 Amazon Gift Card! The more fans I get, the better the prizes will be!

Thank you so much again! The winner will be picked on Sunday evening at 11pm.




GOOD LUCK!


This giveaway is in NO way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook. Information collected is NOT collected by Facebook. In signing up for this promotion, participants release and indemnify Facebook from all liability.

This giveaway is sponsored and will be fulfilled by New English Mum in America and will end on Sunday February 17th at 11pm.  Winner will be chosen at random and notified by email. The winner will have 48 hours to respond before another winner is chosen.  Prize will be emailed to the winner in the form of an Amazon E-Gift Code within 24 hours of confirmation. Open to US residents only age 18+

Sunday, February 10, 2013

Amazon Kindle Fire Blogger Opportunity!


are excited to bring you a Kindle Fire Giveaway!

Event Dates: March 1-31, 2013

One FREE  link with announcement.

You can write your own announcement, or use the text HERE.

Co-Host (host page and up to 4 links): $15
Host Pages: $10
Additional Links: $2
Daily Votes: $4
Referral Prize: Free Co-Host

 

Friday, February 8, 2013

Sausage Gravy and Biscuits, Oh My!

One of my absolute favorite things to eat for breakfast since moving to America... Well actually, any time of day really! Is Sausage Gravy and Biscuits. It is SO delicious and I could eat it every day if I wasn't so worried about becoming the size of a house! I hear that it isn't known all over the States either! I can't imagine why!?

For my English followers, Sausage Gravy and Biscuits was originally eaten after the War of Independence, more specifically in the South, when food was in short supply. Plantation workers needed to come up with something that would sustain them throughout the day and wouldn't cost a lot to make. I can't really think of anything similar in England to compare it to! Biscuits are also different, they are a lot like scones but a little fluffier!
 
I have been perfecting this recipe over the past five years now and my Husband says that it's the best he has ever eaten. I have tried to make a less fattening version, but it really isn't the same. I figure, if you are going to eat this meal every once in a while, you may as well have the full fat, plus fat and a stick of butter on top version and be done with it. Ok, the stick of butter on top may be taking it a step too far, but I'm sure you catch my drift! I would NOT like to know the calorie content. Let's keep that one a secret.

This is my recipe, I would be interested to hear how you guys make it!


Serves 4

1 1lb Roll of Original Jimmy Dean Sausage
3 Tbsp of Unsalted Butter
2 Heaped Tbsp of All Purpose Flour
2 Cups of Milk (It's creamier if you use Full Fat)
1 Pinch of Kosher Salt
1 Tsp of Black Pepper (I like it really peppery)
1 Container of Pillsbury Biscuits. Yes, I cheat on these. I haven't quite perfected a recipe for those yet and I am quite fond of the ones in a can! Haha.

Cook biscuits as per instructions

Brown the sausage in a medium sized pan. When cooked through, remove with a slotted spoon and set aside.

Add the 3 tbsp of butter to the pan and melt (You may not need that much butter, it all depends on how greasy the sausage is that you use. Jimmy Dean isn't all that greasy.)

Add 2 tbsp of all purpose flour, one at a time and whisk until combined. The mixture should resemble a paste.

Cook the paste (roux) over a medium high heat, until it has turned about 2 shades darker. Make sure to be patient on this step or your finished result could taste floury!

Start to add the milk. Add half a cup first and whisk quickly! Gradually add the rest of the milk and whisk out any lumps. Bring to the boil and if the mixture gets too thick, then add a little more milk.

Add the salt, pepper and the cooked sausage to the mixture and stir well. Taste and add more seasoning if needed. Add salt a little at a time, this goes from being under seasoned to over seasoned very quickly! I have done that several times and you can't take the salt out when you put too much in :(

Serve the gravy over hot biscuits and enjoy!!

What are some of your favorite things to eat?

~ Tasha