Raspberry Cream Cheese Coffee Cake

All I have to say is “Martha Stewart has nothing on me!”  I’ve got the baking bug, if there is such a thing.  And not only baking, but crafting as well!  I have some great crafts, freebies, and more recipes to share with you  over the next few weeks so be sure to check in with me.

I actually made this Raspberry Cream Cheese Coffee Cake last month.  Yep, you guessed it, another Taste of Home recipe from their special collectors edition!  I was hoping to share it before Thanksgiving, but never had the chance to draft the post.  Of course, it still comes to you at a great time before Christmas and all.  Not only is it a wonderful dessert to serve up for the holidays, but a crowd pleaser as well!  Isn’t it pretty?  I almost didn’t want to slice into it. 

Co-hosting That Friday Blog Hop and a Sponsor Spotlight!

Nothing like getting right back into the swing of things after an awesome Thanksgiving!  My belly might be filled with turkey and I may be fighting the Tryptophan with all of my might (trying not to fall face first on my keyboard), but I’m still SUPER excited to be co-hosting this blog hop with the lovely Rebecca, Tiffany, and Chrissy this week!  Hope you all had a wonderful holiday and are ready, with bellies full as well, to party with us!

Working long hours could cost you your health

First, a little about me…

Before Alivia came along, I worked as a Quality Assurance Representative for IBM. It was a challenging position for me since it was out of my field of expertise.  Of course, I would never turn down an opportunity to learn something new and acquire different skills than what had been on my resume for the past 10 years.  It was particularly a no-brainer for me moving into the position as it was something I most certainly had interest in.  I had no doubt, I would grow to, not only love it but, be great at it as well!

The PINcentive Blog Hop (Week 12) & $175 Giveaway!

Not here for the giveaway?  No problem.  Don’t feel bad in scrolling right past this to The PINcentive Blog Hop to get your party on!

For those interested in FREE prizes; it’s your lucky day!   Our giveaway is still up, running, and just waiting for you to enter for a chance to win $100 in PayPal cash, a $75 Amazon Gift Card, and free ad space on Cropped Stories!  Only it closes in less than 4 days, so  don’t delay!  And if you wanted to, feel free tell your friends!  I’m just sayin’! 

So have at it, and GOOD LUCK!

10 Tips to Grow a Non-Picky Eater

Hello readers of Cropped Stories! I'm Alicia and I blog over at A Sweet Fragrance. My family and I are American-born but live as expats over in SE Asia. I blog about our life overseas, recipes I attempt to make while substituting lots of ingredients, projects I do around the house, "tot school" lessons I teach to my toddler, and lessons I learn through parenting and walking with the Lord. I hope you'll stop by my blog for a visit!

Is there anything quite more frustrating than a child who doesn't want to eat anything you put in front of him? Not even a nibble! I know of this frustration very well. Not only am I (unintentionally) raising a picky eater, I grew up being a very selective eater myself. Unfortunately, I can't blame my child's eating habits on genetics. Whether I want to admit to it or not, I'm the one who has created these picky tendencies of his.

The Best Frosted Banana Bar Recipe

Okay, I know I’m guilty of saying this before, but this recipe is to die for!  Not only are these banana bars delicious on their own, but the frosting, which I could eat by itself that’s how yummy it is, is seriously AMAZING!  It’s better than any frosting I’ve ever tasted.  And that’s including the very expensive birthday cake we purchased for Alivia’s 3rd birthday this past August which was also extremely delicious and, did I mention, from a very renowned bakery?

Yes, it’s another Taste of Home recipe, but this time from an old June/July 2000 copy thanks to my mom.  She raved about these bars while digging it out from her bin full of archived recipes.  Sure enough, it was tagged with a blue post-it note.  When I opened the magazine and saw the image, that was it; I was sold! 

The PINcentive Blog Hop (Week 11) & $175 GIVEAWAY!

Welcome to, YES, another a special week of The PINcentive Blog Hop!  Our giveaway is still LIVE so if you haven’t entered for your chance to win $100 in PayPal cash, a $75 Amazon Gift Card, and free ad space on Cropped Stories, then here’s your chance!  With the holidays quickly approaching, I’m guessing you’ll be able to find something to spend the money on.  So have at it, and GOOD LUCK!