And The Winner Is....

Congratulations to Sarah Greene for winning a pair of tickets to this year's Handpicked Event!! We are so excited for you! Please send your contact information to info@handpickedevent.com. We look forward to seeing you next week!

Handpicked Ticket Giveaway

We can't wait for Handpicked | A Different Kind of Bridal Event and we want you to be there!

Here's a little snippet about the event:

"Join us for a completely unique bridal show experience bringing the Inspirational Wedding Trends we all adore right here to you in the Midwest! We've Handpicked the best vendors in the area and brought them together for one night of Styled Bridal Goodness. Come out and witness this Exclusive Vendor Collection and begin planning your truly fabulous event!"

There you have it- the most unique wedding event of the season! We know it'll be a blast, and we're so sure we're giving away two free tickets! Yes, that's right. Two free tickets. It's easy to enter this giveaway too! Here's all you have to do:

1) Go like the Handpicked Facebook page here

2) Go like the Baci Designer Facebook page here

3) Comment on this post letting us know you completed the above two steps

That's it! Complete these simple steps and you could win two free tickets for yourself, your fiancé, your mother, your friend, or whomever else you'd like to bring to dance the night away while meeting fabulous wedding vendors. This giveaway ends on Sunday, December 1st at 11:59 PM. Winners will be announced the following Monday.

For more information about Handpicked check out their website, and you can always purchase advance tickets here.

***

Our winner has been chosen! Congrats Cindy on your free tickets!!!! 

Baci's Handpicked | A Different Kind of Bridal Event Giveaway!

Here's yet another opportunity to win a pair of FREE tickets to Handpicked | A Different Kind of Bridal Event on November 1st (in case you missed it NOTO and A Lovely Little Blog are each doing giveaways, too!)!!!

Here's how to enter to win this awesome prize (all three steps must be completed to win):

1)  Head on over to the Handpicked Facebook Page and "Like" us!
2)  Also, become a fan of the Baci Facebook Page or simply comment on this blog if you already are :)
3)  Leave a comment below that includes your wedding date and location (We want to be sure the winner is a bride or groom-to-be!).

Two rules and that's it :o)
1)  You must have a local mailing address.
2)  No anonymous posts allowed. We need to be able to contact you if you win :)

**Earn bonus entries by Tweeting the following: "Win 2 tickets to @HandpickedAkron from @bacidesigner here: http://is.gd/Qj5fSH. #HandpickedAkron" or by writing on Handpicked's Facebook Page about why you're excited to attend the event!

Contest ends Friday, October 19th at midnight with a winner to be announced Saturday, October 20th!

Ultimate Givaways | Free Tickets to Handpicked!

Hey everyone! Are you feeling lucky today?! NOTO and A Lovely Little Blog are giving you the chance to win a pair of tickets to the Handpicked Bridal Event we're hosting on November 1st! All you have to do is check out their blogs and enter to win. Good luck!

Wedding Wednesday | Happy Birthday to baci Winner + A DIY "I Do!" Workshop

Happy Wedding Wednesday!!!

A big thank you to all that entered our Happy Birthday to baci Giveaway and for all your kind words :o)  You all really are so sweet!!

Without further delay, the winner of all three shirley | edith Birthday Card Designs is. . . . Julie!  Congratulations, Lady - if you'll email me {amanda@bacidesigner.com} with your mailing address I'll send the cards out to you. . . and since we love our fans so much I'll throw in the card you chose as your favorite!

Now for some more seriously exciting news - I, in collaboration with the University of Akron's Workforce Development & Continuing Education Department and the Akron Art Museum, will be offering a one day workshop for newly engaged couples and others involved in the wedding planning process (think bridesmaids and moms!) called A DIY "I Do!"!!  With topics focusing on staying calm throughout the planning process to putting together a day-of timeline, this course will help you stay on track until the big day!

Here's a little sneak peek at a few of the other topic titles we'll be touching on throughout the day:

YAY - I’m ENGAGED!!!! OMG, What Do I Do Now?!?!?

Learn the steps to take first and what comes next after saying, “Yes!”.

Does Tangerine go with Mocha?

How to choose a color palette for your big day – the rules and regulations.

Mason Jars and Vintage Cars

The Internet and Bridal Magazines are chocked full of inspiration – learn the best way to utilize them!

You Charge How Much?!?!

Learn what ballpark prices to expect from vendors and why they deserve it.

Do I Get Printing Rights with That?

Get the right questions to ask possible vendors; learn what you can expect from them and what they expect from you!

I’m Freaking Out Here!!!!

Professionals carry their title for a reason – when in doubt, hire one!

The course will be held in one of the most beautiful local reception venues - the Akron Art Museum - on Saturday, March 3rd from 10:30 AM - 5:00 PM.  Lunch and a cake tasting will be provided. . . plus we'll have a beautiful tablescape set up to get your creative juices flowing!  You'll get a head start on planning with information on all of the amazing vendors we utilize for the workshop, too!

Excited yet?!?!  Head on over to the University's Course Catalog Listing to sign up - we hope to see you in March!!

Happy 4th Birthday to baci!! {And a New Release AND a Giveaway - Today ROCKS!!!}

January 2012 (seriously, how is it 2012??) marks the fourth year in business for this lovely little company I get to call my own.  Sometimes I forget how lucky I am to have a job that I love where I get to make the world a little prettier each day.  Sometimes I forget that I used to work for a bank for God's sake.  And sometimes I forget to change out of my pajamas. . . but that is neither here nor there ;o)  It's times like this - baci's 4th birthday - that remind me how great life is and how far I've come, all because of people like you!

Never in a million years did I imagine baci would become the company it is now - growing from a small, part-time custom stationery business to what is now not only a full-time custom stationery boutique, but a planning and event styling studio as well.  It's amazing where life takes you and I feel very blessed to have my husband, my sister and a very special friend by my side every step of baci's way :o)  If it wasn't for Ilario, Jami and Caroline I would have lost my mind a very long time ago!

We have a lot of amazing things planned for 2012 and we're happy you're all on this journey with us!  Stay tuned this year for awesome announcements and maybe even a new look for baci this year :o)

In the meantime, we're pleased to release our newest shirley | edith occasions card - "heppy berf dey"!!  This comical happy birthday card, along with all of the cards in the shirley | edith couture kraft occasions line, is made from 100% recycled brown bag paper. The card comes with matching 100% recycled brown bag envelope. {Each Card Size is 3.5" x 5" with 4 Bar Envelope}

Purchase our new "heppy berf dey" card (or any other design from our current listings!) from our shirley | edith Etsy Shop before the end of the month and receive Free Shipping (on all orders - both domestic and international) with code HB2BACI!!

2010 shirley | edith birthday card - "birthday defined"

2011 shirley | edith birthday card - "birthday cake"

And there's more :o)  Receive not only our new "heppy berf day" card, but both of our previous Birthday Card designs from 2010 and 2011 when you enter our Happy Birthday to baci Giveaway!! The contest will be a quick one - with a deadline of 11:59 PM EST Tuesday, January 31st.

Here's how to enter:
1}  Visit our shirley | edith Etsy Shop then come back here and comment about your favorite s | e card!

Bonus Entries for (Please leave a comment below for each entry!):
1}  Becoming a follower of baci's blog
2}  Liking baci's Facebook Page
3}  Following baci on Twitter

Good luck!!  A winner will be chosen at random and announced here on baci's blog Wednesday, February 1st!  And thank you again for making it possible for us to celebrate baci's fourth year - it's going to be a good one :o)

And the Winner is. . .

After an astounding 37 votes (that's over half of all the votes!!) for her Slow Cooker Cashew Chicken, Karen Peterson of 365 Days of Slow Cooking, has won baci's Crock Pot Cook Off Contest!!!

A huge CONGRATULATIONS to Karen, who will be receiving a $25 Gift Card to Williams-Sonoma, and a genuine thank you to all that participated by submitting recipes and voting!!!!

baci's baking Special Edition :: Crock Pot Cook Off Contest Contenders

The Crock Pot Cook Off Contest Has Ended.

The Crock Pot Cook Off Contest continues today!!!

Below are the Top Five Contenders, place your vote by commenting below (on the original post only please). Only one vote per person, I want to make sure we keep this fair and square ;o) Don't forget voting ends at midnight on Friday, February 25th. The winner will be announced on Monday, February 28th.

*Note: I kept the recipes the way the ladies submitted them so you won't be seeing the typical baci's baking format.

Recipe Number One:

Slow Cooker Pork Chops and Gravy

Submitted by Brandie Skibinski of The Country Cook

Ingredients:
4 Bone-in Pork Chops (you can use boneless)
1 envelope Onion Soup Mix (1 Oz. Packet)
1-½ cups Chicken Broth
1 can (10.5 Oz) Cream Of Chicken Soup (low Sodium)
1 envelope Dry Pork Gravy Mix (1 Oz. Packet)

Directions:
Place pork chops in slow cooker. In a separate bowl, mix remaining ingredients and pour over chops. Cook on low for 6-8 hours.
Serve with mashed potatoes to take advantage of all the yummy gravy.

Cook’s Note: I prefer a thick cut bone-in pork chop, however, if all you can find is boneless, then go with that. I probably wouldn't go with a real thin cut though. You may want to also use a low sodium chicken broth if you are sensitive to salt. You can always add salt in later if you feel it necessary. Also, try other cream soups, like cream of mushroom with this dish.

Recipe Number Two:

Slow Cooker French Onion Soup

(Adapted from Not Your Mother's Slow Cooker Cookbook)

Submitted by Julie Mogler of Little Bit of Everything

1 tablespoon unsalted butter, cut into pieces
1 tablespoon flavorful olive oil
2 large onions
1 teaspoon sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 - 3 bay leaves
1 teaspoon thyme
2 tablespoons dry white wine (I used champagne)
2 cups beef broth
Thick slices of French bread, small enough to fit inside the rim of the soup bowl, for each serving
2 teaspoons cognac or white wine (I used champagne)
Freshly ground pepper to taste
Approximately 1/2 cup shredded Gruyere cheese for each serving

1. Combine the butter and oil in the slow cooker and cover. Turn the slow cooker on low and allow the butter melt and the oil to heat which you slice the onions.
2. Peel the onions, slice in half lengthwise, slice thinly into half moons. You should have about 4 cups of onion slices. Add them to the cooker. Sprinkle the salt and sugar over the onions. Toss with oil, butter, sugar and salt to coat them. Cover and cook on HIGH for 1 hour, stir. Turn the temperature down to LOW and cook until they are dark brown and caramelized, but not burned. (I cooked mine about 5 hours.) They will have cooked down to a fraction of their original volume and most of the liquid will be evaporated. If you are home, stir the onions once or twice during the cooking time to help them cook evenly. (I didn't stir mine after the first hour and they browned nicely.)
3. When the onions are done, add the wine, broth, bay leaves and thyme. Cover and continue to cook on LOW 4 -5 hours.
4. When you are ready to serve the soup, stir in the cognac. Add salt and pepper to taste. Toast the bread. Preheat the oven to 350. Put the bread slices on a baking sheet and bake until toasted, 10 - 15 minutes. Increase the temperature to 400.
5. Pour the soup into 2 ovenproof soup bowls; place on a baking sheet. Drop a bit of the cheese into the soup. Top each bowl with bread. Pile the rest of the cheese on top of the bread. Place the baking sheet in the oven and bake until the cheese is melted and browned, about 10 minutes. You can also put it under the broiler for a minute or two to help brown the cheese. Serve immediately. Serves 2.

Recipe Number Three:

Slow Cooker Cashew Chicken

Submitted by Karen Peterson of 365 Days of Slow Cooking

2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thigh tenders (don't use chicken breasts)
1/4 cup all purpose flour
1/2 tsp black pepper
1 Tbsp canola oil
1/4 cup soy sauce
2 Tbsp rice wine vinegar
2 Tbsp ketchup
1 Tbsp brown sugar
1 garlic clove, minced
1/2 tsp grated fresh ginger
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
1/2 cup cashews

Combine flour and pepper in resealable food storage bag. Add chicken. Shake to coat with flour mixture. Heat oil in skillet over medium-high heat. Brown chicken about 2 minutes on each side. Place chicken in slow cooker. Combine soy sauce, vinegar, ketchup, sugar, garlic, ginger, and pepper flakes in small bowl; pour over chicken. Cook on LOW for 3 to 4 hours. Add cashews and stir. Server over rice. Makes 4-6 servings.

Recipe Number Four:

Shredded BBQ Chicken Sandwiches

Submitted by Brandie Skibinski of The Country Cook

Ingredients:
3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
2 cans (15oz) chicken broth
2 cans (15oz.) full of water
1 teaspoon onion powder
½ teaspoon garlic powder
1 Bottle BBQ sauce (or make your own, see below)
1 package of Kaiser rolls

BBQ Sauce ingredients: (see Cook’s note)
2 cups ketchup
½ cup packed light brown sugar
2 tablespoons orange juice
1 tablespoon molasses
2 teaspoons worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon liquid smoke (I use hickory)
1 teaspoon dry mustard powder
¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
salt & pepper to taste

Directions:
In a pot, add chicken broth,water, onion powder and garlic powder. Boil chicken breasts in broth for about 15-20 minutes until chicken is thoroughly cooked. Take chicken out and allow to cool.
With two forks (or your hands), shred the cooled chicken. Put the shredded chicken, plus one bottle of BBQ sauce into your slow cooker. Give it a stir and set slow cooker on low for about 2-3 hours. When ready to serve, lightly toast your buns under the broiler or in a pan and then pile on the BBQ chicken!

Cook’s Note: I like to make my own BBQ sauce because it's pretty easy to if you have the ingredients on hand. This is my own recipe that I've calibrated over the years. Combine all the BBQ ingredients in a medium bowl, making sure to break up any brown sugar clumps. Taste and add more salt & pepper or cayenne pepper if necessary. Combine BBQ sauce with shredded chicken and continue directions as above.

Recipe Number Five:

Slow Cooker Creamy Tortilla Soup

Submitted by Karen Peterson of 365 Days of Slow Cooking

1/2 lb to 1 lb of frozen chicken breasts
1 cup chicken broth
1/2 cup picante sauce or salsa
1 (14.5 oz) can of diced tomatoes, in tomato juice
1 tsp lime juice
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 (13.75 oz) can cream of chicken soup
1/2 cup chopped red pepper (optional)
1 tsp cumin
1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro, or as much as desired
1 cup frozen corn
Tortilla chips
Grated cheese
Sour cream

Place chicken, broth, salsa, tomatoes, lime juice, garlic, cream of chicken soup and red pepper in slow cooker. Cover and cook on LOW for 6-8 hours or on HIGH for 3-4 hours. Remove chicken and shred with 2 forks. Add the chicken back in and then add cumin, cilantro, and corn. Cover and cook for another 30 minutes. Serve with tortilla chips, cheese and sour cream.

YAY!! I can't wait to see which recipe comes out on top :o) They all sound SOOOO yummy!!!

baci's baking Special Edition :: Crock Pot Cook Off Contest

After making my hubby these delicious Barbecued Pork Sandwiches (pictured above, recipe to follow) in the crock pot this week I was struck with a thought: Why not ask baci's readers to submit their favorite crock pot recipes and make it fun by turning it into a contest. . . Well, I super love this idea because Ilario never really knows exactly when he's getting home on Tuesdays this semester so the crock pot is really the only way to go so neither of us starves or has to eat cold food.

So, here are the rules:

1) Comment on this post (if you're reading via Facebook or an RSS Feed, please comment on the original post here) with your name and the name of your recipe.

2) Then e-mail me {amanda@bacidesigner.com} your full recipe, complete with ingredients and directions. NOTE: If it isn't your own original recipe, please list the source so we can give credit where credit's due.

3) Submit as many recipes as you'd like until midnight on Friday, February 18th.

4) On Monday, February 21st I'll announce my Top Five Crock Pot Cook Off Contest Contenders, complete with full recipes, and the voting for the number one recipe will begin! {Readers will comment on Monday's post with their favorite recipe - details on that to come on the 21st.}

5) Voting will end at midnight on Friday, February 25th and the winner will be announced on Monday, February 28th.

Other General Rules:

- Comments on other sites will not count.
- No anonymous posts allowed.

And now for the goods - the winner of the Crock Pot Cook Off Contest will receive a $25 Gift Card to my very favorite cookware store, Williams-Sonoma!!

After the contest, I'll contact the winner and ask for your mailing address so I can send you the card. I am SO excited about this one, so tell all your friends - the more entries, the more fun this will be :o)

Now, for the tasty BBQ'd Pork Recipe I mentioned earlier - it's originally from The PartyBluPrints Blog, but I already had pork cut up in the freezer from a roast I made the week before so I technically skipped the entire beginning. . . you can do whatever is easiest for you though. I also, as usual, made a few tweaks here and there. Enjoy!!

Barbecued Pork Sandwiches

Adapted from The PartyBluPrints Blog Recipe

(Printer-friendly Link)

4-5 pound boneless pork butt (shoulder)
1 14 1/2-oz can beef broth
1/3 cup hot sauce (I love Texas Pete!)
1/3 cup Worcestershire sauce

Sauce:
1/2 cup ketchup
1/2 cup molasses
1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
1/4 cup mustard (I made 3/4 of the measurement yellow mustard and the other 1/4 spicy brown - yum!)
5 tablespoons hot sauce (Once again, loving the Texas Pete here!)

salt

pepper
sandwich buns

1) Place pork butt in bottom of large slow cooker.

2) Combine broth, hot sauce and Worcestershire sauce; pour over pork. Cover and cook on high setting for 5 hours (or 8-10 hours on low setting) until pork is very tender.

3) Meanwhile, for sauce, combine all ingredients in large saucepan; set aside.
4) Place pork on cutting board; reserve 1/2 cup cooking liquid. Coarsely chop pork; combine with reserved cooking liquid and sauce in saucepan; heat over medium heat until warm.

5) Spoon pork onto sandwich buns to serve.

** If you already have pork cut and ready to go from a meal you've previously made, pop it directly into the crock pot (I even put mine in frozen) and cover with sauce ingredients, stirring as best as possible (if it doesn't meld right away, don't worry, as it cooks you can stir more thoroughly). Cover and cook, stirring often, for a few hours on high or several on low. Bonus - you only dirty one dish this way!!

Serves 10-12

And the Winner is. . .

. . . Comment Number One - Domestic Diva! Out of 12 entries into our CSN Stores $25 Giveaway - sorry, the last four after midnight could not be counted :o( - Random.org did the choosing. Now Domestic Diva can get the Pyrex Mixing Bowls she has her eye on! I'll e-mail the information, with the $25 promotional code towards a purchase at CSN Stores soon.

A huge thank you to everyone that entered the contest - we absolutely love being able to give our readers great things they totally deserve for being so awesome and wonderful!!!

Last Day to Enter Our CSN Stores Giveaway

Don't forget that our CSN Stores Giveaway ends tonight at midnight - enter here for a chance to win $25 towards any CSN Store purchase!

Here are just a few items contestants already have their eyes on:

Chilewich Woven Lattice Runner

Fangia Table Lamp in Antique Beige

Pyrex Smart Essentials 8-piece Mixing Bowls with Colored Lids

PAO! 8-piece Complete Bamboo Tool Set

And the Winner Is. . .

Thank you all so much for entering our shirley | edith Launch Giveaway!! I love giving away wonderful things to wonderful people :o)

Since there were several entries via Facebook and Twitter, I put all of the comments, reposts and retweets in order of date/time posted for a total number of 14 entries. The winner (once again using Random.org) is #10 (strange that was the number that won during our last contest, but hey, it's random. . .), statekate (who also happens to be one of my most bestest friends - YAY!) with her comment on our giveaway extension post:

I love Etsy and I wish you all the best as you sell your masterpieces on the website! All the cards are great and they cover so many special events in one's life.

Congratulations, Kate and a very special thank you for your oh-so-kind words! I'll be sure to send along your new cards shortly :o)

If any other designers or companies would like to team up on a future giveaway, just contact me {amanda@bacidesigner.com} and we'll chat! Once again a huge thanks to all of you!!

shirley | edith Giveaway Extended!!!

Haven't entered to win all six of the newly launched shirley | edith cards by baci? Well, you're in luck, we're extending the contest until next Wednesday, October 27th (which happens to be Ilario and I's three-year anniversary - Hooray!). We're also tweaking the rules a little, just to make it more simple and to be sure as many people as possible can have the chance to win. Before, to earn bonus entries you had to come back to here to let us know that you'd tweeted or wrote on baci's Facebook Wall, but I'd really like to have all those people count even if they forget to come back here. So, the rules are the same except for that little bit. Here's a little refresher:

1} Head on over to the bacidesigner Etsy Shop.
2} Choose your favorite shirley | edith design and post it here in the comments section of the original post (no anonymous posts will be accepted) - this will act as your entry.

* Earn Bonus Entries by Tweeting the following, "Win yourself a package of recycled brown bag shirley |edith cards from @bacidesigner here: www.bacidesigner.blogspot.com. #contest" or by writing on baci's Facebook Wall about which shirley |edith couture kraft occasions card is your favorite.

Remember, this contest will now end Wednesday, October 27th and the winner will be chosen at random and announced Thursday the 28th here on Designing Woman.

shirley | edith is here. . . and there's a Giveaway!!

shirley | edith, named after Amanda's grandmothers, is a couture line of occasions cards created by baci designer stationery + events. The couture kraft occasions line is finally here and available for purchase online at baci's new Etsy Shop!

All cards in the shirley | edith couture kraft occasions line are printed in-house by baci on 100% Recycled Brown Paper Bag Kraft (isn't it AWESOME?!?!) and come with matching envelopes. Each card can be ordered individually or as a group.

Below are some the amazing shots of the new line, taken by the rockin' Gino Locascio.

recycled brown bag you're welcome card

recycled brown bag thank you card

recycled brown bag embrace card

recycled brown bag happy birthday card

recycled brown bag baby bump card

recycled brown bag awesome card

Of course, we just have to give away a package of these puppies, so here's how to win these lovely cards!

1} Read this post. Check!
2} Head on over to the bacidesigner Etsy Shop.
3} Choose your favorite shirley | edith design and post it here in the comments section (no anonymous posts will be accepted) - this will act as your entry.

* Earn Bonus Entries by Tweeting the following, "Win yourself a package of recycled brown bag shirley |edith cards from @bacidesigner here: www.bacidesigner.blogspot.com. #contest" or by writing on baci's Facebook Wall about which shirley |edith couture kraft occasions card is your favorite. Be sure to come back to this post and let us know that you're spreading the word or else your entries won't count. . . and that would just be depressing!

This contest will end Wednesday, October 20th and the winner will be chosen at random and announced that Thursday here on Designing Woman.

More fun stuff you should know - a couture letterpress bridal line is also coming soon to shirley |edith!!

baci GIVEAWAY :: Sapling Press Stationery Stationary Tote

Good Morning, All! Big news here today on Designing Woman. . . we have our first ever GIVEAWAY!!! YAY!!

The lovely Lisa of Sapling Press was kind enough to send along an extra Stationery Stationary Tote when I ordered mine (it's my new favorite thing EVER!) last week. Lisa and I, along with every other creative soul in the business, would rather listen to fingernails on the chalkboard than see people misspell our beloved stationery. . . the gorgeous Sapling Press tote displays both words with their definitions in an effort to spread the good-spelling word :o) Lisa says it best on her Etsy site, "I now offer it up to you, fellow stationery lover, good speller and lover of all things awesome."

Now how to win this oh-so-freaking-cool Sapling Press tote:

1} Read this post. . . see you're already almost done with step one - lol!

2} Hop on over to the Sapling Press Etsy Shop.

3} Check out their quirky "We Go Together Like. . ." Cards (which are as equally awesome as the Stationery Stationary Tote).

4} Choose your favorite (My fave is ". . .Teen Girls and Vampires") and post it here in the comments section (No anonymous posts will be accepted) - this will act as your entry.

* Earn Bonus Entries by Tweeting the following, "Win an @saplingpress Stationery Stationary Tote from @bacidesigner - www.bacidesigner.blogspot.com!!" or by writing on baci's Facebook Wall, but be sure to come back to this post and let us know that you're showing the love!

This contest will end next Thursday, July 15th and the winner will be chosen at random and announced that Friday here on Designing Woman.

On your mark, get set. . . GO!