the lucky, caffeinated winner!

as promised, i have a winner for the keurig portion pack giveaway...

3carnations 

congratulations! a box of donut shop cinnamon roll plus the barista prima sampler will arrive on your doorstep very soon! 

thank you to all who entered & be on the lookout for the next keurig-related giveaway. unfortunately, i won't be giving away more coffee, but i will be reviewing the cafe escapes line AND the next giveaway may or may not have something to do with a year-long subscription to birchbox. hint, hint.

psst...i used random.org to generate the giveaway winner. 

guest post: mississippi mud cookies

hey y'all. i am super duper excited to have my bloggy friend, kimmie, guest posting today. she's my baking guru & hero. seriously, have you seen her blog? go now after you read this yummy post. kimmie {along with her trusty sidekick, gabby} create all kinds of delectable goodies in the kitchen. but, kimmie's favorite thing to do? bake. and, after seeing the pictures in this post, you'll want to bake, too. promise.

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First of all, I am so excited to be hanging out with the amazing readers that call Stuttering Shell their friend today! I can't even tell you how long I've been stalking Shell's space on the web, but I do know that this was one of the very first blogs I added to my 'blog roll' back in the day. Besides, anyone who can also rock the short hair is a true winner in my book of awesome.

I have come across a cookie recipe of epic proportions. I'll let the following text conversation do the talking for how good these cookies really are and then I promise to share the recipe.

You read that correctly. These cookies had to be hidden from my best friend's husband in order for them to last more than a day. By the end of that week, Meagan had made a total of three batches of cookies and I just knew I needed the recipe stat. And because I love Shell, and you're guilty of awesome by association, I'm sharing this recipe so that someone else's thighs will suffer too out of the kindness of my heart. ❤

If you ask me, these are the perfect cookies to show someone you love them this Valentine's Day. They also make the perfect dough to drown your singles sorrows in, straight out of the unbaked bowl. And at the end of the day if you strategically place them around the house so that no one else can find them, I won't judge. We've all been there.

Mississippi Mud Cookies

adapted from Southern Living Magazine

makes about 3 dozen

Ingredients:

1 cup semisweet chocolate chips (don't skimp, Ghirardelli or the likes works best)

1/2 cup butter, softened

1 cup granulated sugar

2 large eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup chopped walnuts

1/2 cup milk chocolate chips (once again, don't skimp)

1 cup miniature marshmallows

Preparation:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and line baking sheets with either parchment paper or silicone baking mat.

2. Microwave semisweet chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl in thirty second intervals, stirring in between until smooth. Set aside to cool slightly.

3. With an electric mixer, beat butter and sugar at medium speed until creamy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating until smooth. Add vanilla and melted chocolate and mix until fully incorporated.

4. Gradually add flour, baking powder and salt to mixture and beat until a well blended, dough-like consistency is reached. Fold in the walnuts and milk chocolate chips so that they are evenly distributed.

5. Drop dough by healping teaspoon or 1/2 inch cookie scoop onto prepared baking sheets, about 2 inches apart.

6. Bake at 350 for 8 minutes, push three miniature marshmallows into the top of each cookie and bake for an additional 2-4 minutes until cookies are set. Transfer to wire racks to cool.

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like what you see? then go check out kimmie's blog: full circle foodie. you can also follow kimmie on twitter or via her blog's facebook page. oh, and don't ever forget to check out her weekly feature called scrumptious sundays.

you know what sucks?

my email inbox. well, that and the fact that i can't seem to stay on top of emails {read: replying to comments}. it probably doesn't help that i have four email addresses going to one email inbox either. ugh.

yesterday afternoon, i chipped away at the 800+ messages in my inbox. i'm now down to 66. some of you may have received a comment reply from me. most of you did not. i decided not to reply to comments that were already nearly a month old because, quite frankly, it seemed pointless. i know the old adage is "better late, than never" but in the case of replying to comments, well...

i simply hit delete.

i feel bad because replying to comments is one way of building a good rapport with your readers. so, i promise to stay on top of things. really. besides, when you start ignoring emails, they start adding up...quickly. i'm sure most of you know what i mean.

you know what also sucks? being stranded on the toilet with no t.p. ... and you're the only one home. remember, sit before you sh.... that.

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february is a great month to order scentsy - 10% off!

for details, please check out celia's scentsy page.

tomorrow on the blog, kimmie from full circle foodie is guest posting.
i can't wait for you to check out her recipe for mississippi mud cookies!

guest post: i'm a writer.

i hope you enjoy this guest post written by one of my blog's sponsors, megg, from the life of a not so desperate housewife. i think a lot of you can relate to what she is sharing. i know her words resonated with me. enjoy!

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Recently my dad told me to "write boldly". It really made me think, and questions why I write a blog.

There are many people with many more followers. People who get many comments on each post they write. Then there's me, just muddling along. I get excited when I get one comment on a post that I write! But you know what? I don't write to get followers or comments, not that I mind either of those things. I write for myself.

It took me years to realize something about myself. I'm a writer at heart. It always amuses me, because my mom is a medical biller, and my dad is an engineer. My sister and I are both writers. In a previous life I was a reporter, and though I don't write now, it's in by blood, and I have to write.

It really isn't anything I ever thought about. Growing up I never thought to myself, I want to be a writer when I grow up, and yet I am. Even now, when I say I'm a writer, I almost feel odd, because to me a writer is someone who publishes books, and is famous.And yet, I am a writer.

Writing brought me my husband. I was working at a coffee shop, and I wasn't getting my writing fix, so I started an online, text-based game. The result? A wonderful friend who was in our wedding, and my wonderful husband. Shortly after we started dating, I got the reporter job, and my writing desire was fulfilled, again.

When I went back to school I wasn't writing, though I was focused on my school work, so I suppose I was distracted. After I graduated, I was home, alone, and bored. I turned to writing, and started a blog.

Writing is in my blood. I have to do it. I've been told that I'm a good writer, but I don't see it. I just write, the words flow, and I feel better. It's a part of me, and it always has been. While I love knowing that people read what I write (any writer does, I suppose) the most important thing for me is simply to write. To let the words flow. No matter what I'm doing it my life, in either my vocation or my avocation, I need to write.

I'm a writer.

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want to read more? subscribe or follow megg's blog, the life of a not so desperate housewife.

don't forget she's offering free shipping on purchases from her etsy shop, too! use the code: freeship10

psst...don't forget to enter my giveaway for a free print from lilo prints!

giveaway: free custom print from lilo prints

THIS GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED.
THANK YOU FOR ENTERING.

lilo prints is an up & coming etsy shop owned by the hard working mama of twin boys, lindsay. she blogs at undomestic chica and she just happens to be one of my blog's sponsors for the months of january & february. in an effort to get the word out about lilo prints & help launch her business, lindsay has generously offered one of my readers a print of their choice.

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lilo prints offers a variety of fun & whimsical sayings as well as clever options to announce a birth or memorialize a special date or moment.

the prints are all 8"x10" for easy framing and lindsay works with her customers to guarantee their satisfaction. don't like the color or font? just tell lindsay and she'll collaborate with you to come up with a one of a kind design suited to your taste. in addition, the giclée prints are printed on high-quality, eco-friendly, acid-free fine art paper and are printed with professional archival pigment ink.

do you need a print for your gallery wall? is your office lacking some zest? could your child's room use a fun saying? go check out lilo prints' selection & enter to win a print of your very own.

how to enter:

visit lilo prints & let me know your favorite print. don't have a favorite, but want something custom? that's cool, too. {this is mandatory, y'all!}

for additional entries...

*like lilo prints on facebook

*follow lindsay's blog, undomestic chica

*follow lindsay on the twit

*follow me on the twit

*tweet about this giveaway {please leave proof of your tweet}

*follow my blog, stuttering shell

*blog about this giveaway

giveaway winner will be announced on friday, january 20th!

january sponsor "shout out!" {part two}

if you haven't already noticed the new sponsor tab, please go check it out!

yesterday, i introduced the first half of stuttering shell's sponsors for the month of january. today, i'm excited to share rest of my blog's sponsors with you {because cramming ten sponsors in one post would have been a bit much}. just like i asked yesterday, please join me in welcoming my sponsors {you'll see them in february, too!}.

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meet celia. she's the adorable author of the blog ...just trying to find my way.
she's also a bad ass scentsy consultant.

"Scentsy is a safe, wickless alternative to scented candles. 

The Scentsy motto is to warm the heart, enliven the senses, and inspire the soul.

I originally started my Scentsy business knowing that one day I may want to be a stay-at-home Mom.

I am independent in every sense of the word. Scentsy would allow me to stay at home while still contributing to the household. Now, I'm engaged and planning an intimate wedding for October 2012. The goal? Pay for our wedding using money earned from my Scentsy business!

If you love a smell good home you will love Scentsy. Completely safe for your little ones, as well as your furkids! We have over 80 scents to choose from. We have warmers, room sprays, scent packs, travel tins, scent circles for your cars, and stuffed animals!"

January Warmer - Valentine $31.50 sale price for January!

like what you see?

you can follow celia on the twit, follow her blog,

AND

you can shop or host a scentsy party!

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custom, personalized ribbon?
yes, you need it!


meet royal ribbons.
"We provide custom, personalized ribbon for every occasion starting at $2.50 a yard. Discounts apply to large orders. Ribbon widths start at 3/8" and go up to 4". Minimum purchase is 3 yards. Our ribbon is perfect for businesses, gifts, corporate events, holidays, baby and wedding showers, weddings, birthday or any other reason you want to stand out and make your mark!

For information or to order please contact us at RoyalRibbon@yahoo.com."

just one example of a custom ribbon order...

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like what you see?
you can follow royal ribbons on facebook and you can follow the shop's owner on the twit.
royal ribbons' owner also blogs at the life of a suburban princess.

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need the perfect gift?
well, look no further & let the preppy poppy help you with all of your personalized gift needs. 
owner & designer angela takes pride in creating one-of-a kind, monogrammed items for her customers.

from the preppy poppy website:
"Initiated by her creativeness and her need for adorable personalized items, she created, The Preppy Poppy.  Named after her love affair with Poppy flowers and her love for always Preppy J. Crew (she was not paid for this endorsement - but wishes she was) clothing, she joined the two names. 

 Angela's creations are inspired by her children, for whom she insists on dressing in personalized matching outfits every chance she gets!

 What was once intended to be an online boutique for all ages has now been centered on children.  Though we carry some personalized items for adults, it appears our kids items are a hit!

 The Preppy Poppy strives to create original and quality merchandise.  How do we know that people like us - because they always come back! 

 We appreciate your interest in The Preppy Poppy. We hope you have as much fun shopping the site, as we do creating the products!"

the preppy poppy can also be found on etsy.

{via}


like what you see?
you can follow the preppy poppy on the twit. you can also keep up with the owner, angela, on her blog, diary of a domestic failure.

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meet lindsay.

she's known around the blogoverse as the undomestic chica. 
she's a hard workin' mama of twin boys who recently turned a year old...happy birthday e & e!!
if you already love her blog, then you're going to love her etsy store...

custom prints {you know, like subway art} are hot, hot, hot right now.
at lilo prints, you'll find a wide variety of prints at an affordable price.
even better? everything can be customized.
promise.
why? because lindsay said so:
"the biggest thing i want everyone to know is everything can be completely customized. if they don't like the background color posted in the shop, let me know and i'll change it. if they want the font to be just a bit different, let me know and i'll create a custom posting for them. if they don't see a quote they like, i can make a custom listing so they'll get exactly what they want. the possibilities are endless with lilo prints!"


like what you see? well, then go favorite lilo prints in etsy. you can also like lilo prints on facebook.


psst...lindsay has generously offered one of my readers a free print.
details on a giveaway from lilo prints is coming soon, but for now, start making a list of your favorites or think about a customized order.

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meet gina.
she is the mastermind behind all of the personalized paper goodies & more at
a touch of whimsy.


i know many of you are already fans of a touch of whimsy, so i'm excited to share a discount code with you all! from now until january 31st, you can get 15% off of your order* when you use the code: shell15


new products are continually being added to the shop and right now a touch of whimsy is offering a faster processing time AND lower shipping rates.

are you looking for a pretty case for the iphone you got for christmas? 

{via}


what about some fun address labels like these envelope label wraps?

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personally, i'm just slightly obsessed with chalkboard labels & i'm beyond thrilled to find that a touch of whimsy carries them in a variety of styles & sizes. 

{via}


a touch of whimsy has you covered whether you're looking for personalized paper goods or a fun, cute personalized gift idea. 


to quote gina...
"you'll quickly come to realize that i love what i do and want you to have the best experience possible. i truly hope you enjoy shopping here & find a way to add a little touch of whimsy to someones day!"


don't forget to use the code shell15 for 15% off of your order* until january 31st!
*code not valid on gift certificate purchases, sale or custom items


like what you see?
you can follow a touch of whimsy on the twit and you can like a touch of whimsy on facebook, too!

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i cannot thank my TEN inaugural blog sponsors enough for coming along on this journey with me.
it is my desire to create a mutually beneficial relationship with all of my sponsors.
i hope stuttering shell readers will reach out & welcome my sponsors with open arms. 
please take the time to read their blogs & browse their sites. get to know them & consider their shops for any or all of your next gift purchases. 

january sponsor "shout out!" {part one}

if you haven't already noticed the new sponsor tab, please go check it out! 

i'm very excited to share some good news with you all...stuttering shell is now accepting sponsors! after contemplating the idea for a long while, i decided to take the leap & the response has been overwhelming. i have ten awesome sponsors and i cannot wait to introduce them to you. some you may already know. some you may not. at any rate, please join me in welcoming my sponsors for the month of january {you'll see them in february, too!}.

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meet ashlee from on the front porch looking in.
"i am an antique, football loving nebraska girl. i am planning my may wedding while still balancing life as it comes. i have two fur-babies, bella and khloe, who are cats but act like dogs. i work in marketing and advertising and love to be creative. i blog about my everyday life, the fur-kids and my occasional crafting projects. this past year i started a scarf and nail polish swap with jessica from you are my color."
please check out ashlee's blog & show her some love.
i adore the relationship i've formed with ashlee in such a short time. she's genuine, y'all.
ashlee is considering going back to school {hmm...sounds like someone i know!}. she loves nail polish and wastes time on is inspired by pinterest {we all drank that kool-aid}. oh, and she's an apple product junkie...which i know nuffin' about. unfortunately, she's currently searching for a new forever job, so let's all give her some love & encouragement.
like what you see? you can also follow ashlee on the twit as well as on facebook.

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i have been following full circle foodie  for what feels like forever. there are many keys to my heart. one of them? baked goods. kimmie is my source for baking inspiration & i am envious of her baking skills. kimmie is a damn good baker and that's probably why she's also a featured publisher for foodbuzz and a correspondent for cupcakes take the cake.
from kimmie's "about" page...
"i am a texan to the core whose adventures have led me full circle back to the west coast where it all began."
kimmie uses her blog to share "adventures in living, loving and baking."
you must not miss her scrumptious sundays posts. and, a visit to kimmie's blog is NOT complete without seeing what the gabby monster is up to.
please check out kimmie's blog & show her some love.
like what you see? you can also follow kimmie on the twit as well as on facebook.
and, psst...kimmie also sells scentsy.

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krysten is, without a doubt, adorable. but, if you ask her, she's weird. good thing she writes the blog why girls are weird, huh? 
krysten is "a daughter, sister, doggy mommy, writer, blogger, student, bookworm, candy lover, server, and tv addict." she loves coffee {me, too!} and the internet {me, too!}. krysten also loves to keep things organized, reading & being happy. krysten's blog is an enjoyable read for me & i'm so glad that my quest for sponsors has lead me to her blog. her writing style is laid back & it's so refreshing to read. besides, krysten is participating in a 30 day harry potter challenge {clearly, i need to get in on that}.
please check out krysten's blog. you'll love it. promise.
like what you see? you can also follow krysten on the twit as well as on facebook.

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meet cheryl from naptime is the new happy hour...

"It's Happy Hour! I'm Cheryl over at Nap Time Is The New Happy Hour. I am a full-time working mama (I am a paralegal) who is also trying to find her balance between working, trying to be a spectacular wife, follower of the Lord, and amazing mom to my sweet face 1-year-old boy. I have FINALLY found my balance...It took me a whole year to figure it out. Oh well, at least I KINDA know what i'm doing around here now and am loving the life that being a momma and wife entails.

Despite working my butt off constantly, I love to SHOP!! On any given Saturday you can find me walking around the mall or downtown with C after having a yummy mexican lunch with the hubby. On Nap Time Is The New Happy Hour I dish about my current fashion obsessions, drool-worthyblogs, beautiful design  inspiration, amazing deals, and great finds. I love me some classic, AnnTaylor as well as some fun, fresh Forever 21. Now that this mama has finally gotten back to her pre-pregnancy weight, watch out! I haven't shopped for clothes for myself in more then 21 months and am more then ready to stock up my closet.

Feel free to e-mail me if you ever have inquiries about the DIY projects I do, concerns or questions as a new mom (trust me, I've been there), or if you want to link up your blog with mine!  I am more than willing to discuss anything and can't wait to hear from you. Welcome to Happy Hour. Cheers!"

y'all, i'm not gonna lie...cheryl is awesome. the girl can accessorize which is something this mama can't do. cheryl recently celebrated her birthday, so check out her blog & show her some love!

like what you see? you can also follow cheryl on the twit as well as on facebook.

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meet megg from the life of a not so desperate housewife.
megg is a librarian looking for a library who currently works with kids in an after school program. that job requires her to play mancala & monopoly. awesome! megg also enjoys reading, cross-stitching, knitting & scrapbooking. megg lives on the west coast in seattle with her husband and two crazy kitties. megg's blog is a lovely slice of the internet pie, if you ask me. she writes about a lot of things, but also writes about a subject that is near & dear to her heart: depression. more specifically...her depression. megg sheds light on what it's like to live with depression & lets her readers know that depression is not a taboo subject.
megg's blog will not disappoint, so go visit megg's blog right now.
you can also follow megg on the twit, too.
AND...
did you know that megg has an etsy shop, too? this mama loves her some etsy.

please check out megg's etsy shop & start making a list of your favorite items.
use the code FREESHIP10 for free shipping!

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so as not to overwhelm y'all...i'll share my other five sponsors in a separate blog post. in the meantime, please check out these five fabulous bloggers and don't forget to check out the pretty jewelry that megg creates.