Happy BLOGiversary!

Today I am celebrating my

"1"  Year 

blog 

ANNIVERSARY!!

Yes, I made a Party Hat for this special occasion. I couldn't decide between a festive hat or a beautiful crown so I went with both!  


It's hard to believe that it has already been a year since I started
 ~ the Grand Surprise ~ 
and began blogging. I had only really discovered the blogging world about a year earlier when I was taking art classes from a friend who had just started a blog to keep her students updated on upcoming schedules and events and also from links my mother had started sending me around the same time. I was fascinated by the photos, the stories and endless creativity and began toying with the idea of starting a blog of my own. After a lot of thought and hesitation I finally did it and now it has already been a year. I am still learning a lot, which is half the fun, and of course it wouldn't be any fun at all if nobody was stopping by to visit so a BIG thank you to my family, friends and everyone that checks out my posts. I love the comments, emails and encouragement from all of you.


So here are some FUN FACTS (aka: stats) from
the Grand Surprise 
over the past year:


Top 5 Posts
1. Slurpee Day!
2. s w e e t simplici"tea"!
3. waterfall skirt
4. DIY Waterfall
5. tea party food


Audience~Top 10 Countries 
1. United States
2. Malaysia
3. Canada
4. Russia
5. Australia
6. Germany
7. United Kingdom
8. Philippines
9. Italy
10. New Zealand


my 1st ever POST:
sNOw Kidding...

Total number of Posts:
172

It's been a busy, creative, inspiring year full of many
  Grand Surprises!
Thank~you for stopping by and sharing in my
 "1" year BLOGiversary CELEBRATION!
I hope you'll check back often!


Have a great weekend!

9 YEARS and counting!

Today I am celebrating my

9 YEAR

BLOGIVERSARY!

It does not seem that long ago that I started blogging but time flies when you're having fun! 

3 Fun Facts: 

890 posts since February 17, 2011

Most popular post is still: Lemon~Cream Cheese Croissants

Viewing Audience-Top 5 Countries : United States, Canada, Russia, France Australia & United Kingdom

Thanks to my followers and everyone that stops by the Grand Surprise to check out what is happening. I appreciate all of your comments and emails and hope you find lots of things to try now or save on Pinterest for later. I look forward to 2020 and hope to share some new things here soon.

Happy Monday!

******** Celebrating 11 Years of Blogging ********

Happy Blogiversary!

It is hard to believe it was 11 years ago today that I published my first blog post. I never imagined it would have lasted this long but I do enjoy sharing what is happening as there  always seems to be something going on. 

Here are a few of the most recent

Fun Facts about the Grand Surprise:

Total number of Posts

1082

Audience: Top 5 Countries

United State

Canada

Russia

France 

United Kingdom

5 Most Popular Posts

Lemon~Cream Cheese Croissants

Quinoa Salad

Waterfall: plants, lights, skirt

Heirloom Easter Eggs

Mexican Rice

Top Referral Site

Pinterest

Thank you to my family and friends and everyone that stops by to check out what we are doing around here. I love the emails, comments and encouragement from all of you.  It has been fun to share the latest and greatest projects over the last 11 years and hopefully there will be more wonderful and exciting things to post in 2022. And right now, the way things are shaping up I am pretty sure there will be. 

Have a Wonderful Day!

my BLOGiversary ~ Celebrating the GREAT 8!!

It is hard to believe that it has now been 8 years since I published my very first blog post. Everything from recipes to home improvement projects and a lot in between. Many things have changed over eight years which keeps me on my toes. Shortly after I started blogging something new was introduce called Pinterest which became extremely popular and then came Instagram. Both great ways to keep connected with my readers. 

Here are some FUN FACTS from the Grand Surprise over the past year:

 TOP 5 POSTS 
1. Lemon Cream~Cheese Croissants
2. Quinoa Salad
3. Waterfall, Lights, Plants, Skirt
4. Mexican Rice
5. Heirloom Easter Eggs

Audience ~ Top 10 Countries
1. United States
2. Canada
3. Russia
4. France
5. Australia
6. United Kingdom
7. Germany
8. Sweden
9. Mexico
10. South Africa

My 1st POST:
sNOw Kidding...

Total number of Posts to Date:
893

Thank you to my family, friends, followers and everyone who stops by to visit my blog. I appreciate all of your comments, emails and words of encouragement!!

Have a Wonderful Day!

pecan breakfast rolls

I tried a new recipe:

Pecan Breakfast Rolls

{which I served with hashbrowns and eggs}.

This recipe calls for two cans of Pillsbury Crescent Rolls however I actually only had one  so I made half the recipe instead which was plenty for the three of us. Two cans would have added another layer on top making the finished loaf a bit taller.

Pecan Breakfast Rolls recipe from: Savor the Flavor of Oregon cookbook Yield: 6 to 8 rolls 2 cans Pillsbury Crescent Rolls 2 Tablespoons butter or margarine, softened 1/2 cup sugar 1 to 2 teaspoons cinnamon 1/4 cup chopped pecans      Topping: 2 Tablespoons honey 1/4 cup powdered sugar 2 Tablespoons butter or margarine 1 teaspoon vanilla 1/4 cups pecan halves Unroll crescent rolls and separate into 16 triangles.  Spread each triangle with butter. Combine sugar, cin- namon and chopped pecans. Sprinkle on each triangle.  Roll up each triangle starting at widest end and roll to opposite point. Place rolls point side down in a greased 9 x 5 loaf pan, forming 2 layers of 8 rolls each. Bake at 375 degrees for 40 to 45 minutes. If rolls start to  brown, cover pan with foil during the last 10 minutes of baking. Remove from pan at once, placing right side up.  Topping: In sauce pan, add all topping ingredients  except pecan halves. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Drizzle over warm rolls, then top with pecan halves. Jennifer@theGrandSurprise

Also,

today I am celebrating my

2 year

BLOGiversary!!

It's hard to believe it has been 2 years since I published my first post. 

Thank you to my family, friends, followers and everyone who stops by to visit my blog. 

I appreciate all of your comments, emails and words of encouragement! 

Have a wonderful Sunday!!