Endlessly Inspired is turning 1 and Jenn and I wanted to sponsor her
awesome blog along with all these lovely ladies and we have
gathered to put together a giveaway to celebrate with her.
So come on and register to win $550!
Wednesday, April 30, 2014
Tuesday, April 29, 2014
Wake Up Wednesday "Linky" Party #14 & $222 Giveaway
Tweet #wakeupwednesdaylinky
Welcome to the 14th week of
Welcome to the 14th week of
Wake Up Wednesday "Linky"
31 Blogs - 1 Party
&
Giveaway
We are so excited to have you all party with us.
Thank you so much to all those who participate in our party.
Last week we had 300 awesome linkups!
Wake Up and be happy, get excited and have fun with us!
We want to be inspired, entertained, laugh and have a good time!
The hop is hosted and posted on 31 different blogs!
Mouthwatering Homemade Mozzarella Sticks
I don't know about you, but I can't bring myself to buy Mozzarella sticks in the store. I find that they are WAY too expensive. Really, 6 sticks for $5? It's absurd! So, I looked to good ole Pinterest for a recipe to get more for my money. I found this blog and my search was over. Care to visit? Click here. Read on for my version of the recipe.
What you need:
1 package Mozzarella sticks
1 Egg
1/4 cup water
2/3 cup breadcrumbs
4 T. Adobo seasoning (optional)
2/3 cup flour
1/3 cup corn starch
Canola oil
What to do:
Add flour and corn starch to a bowl and mix. Add Adobo seasoning if desired. In another bowl, mix egg and water. Beat. In third bowl, portion breadcrumbs. Cut Mozzarella sticks in half. I used an 8 oz. package containing 8 sticks. Cut in half, I got 16 so it's not mandatory, you'll just end up with more. Coat in flour, then dip in egg, then coat in breadcrumbs. Heat oil in pan. Place sticks in oil and fry just until golden brown. Roughly 30 seconds. (Give or take.) It's best to judge so pay close attention. Frying sticks for too long can cause the cheese to melt too much and ooze out of the breading. Place fried sticks on paper towel-lined plate to drain. Cool and serve.
Serve with anything from pasta, sandwiches or on their own. Super delicious and you save money in the process. (Check out my Crock Pot Meatball sub recipe to try with your Mozzarella sticks.)
What you need:
1 package Mozzarella sticks
1 Egg
1/4 cup water
2/3 cup breadcrumbs
4 T. Adobo seasoning (optional)
2/3 cup flour
1/3 cup corn starch
Canola oil
What to do:
Add flour and corn starch to a bowl and mix. Add Adobo seasoning if desired. In another bowl, mix egg and water. Beat. In third bowl, portion breadcrumbs. Cut Mozzarella sticks in half. I used an 8 oz. package containing 8 sticks. Cut in half, I got 16 so it's not mandatory, you'll just end up with more. Coat in flour, then dip in egg, then coat in breadcrumbs. Heat oil in pan. Place sticks in oil and fry just until golden brown. Roughly 30 seconds. (Give or take.) It's best to judge so pay close attention. Frying sticks for too long can cause the cheese to melt too much and ooze out of the breading. Place fried sticks on paper towel-lined plate to drain. Cool and serve.
Serve with anything from pasta, sandwiches or on their own. Super delicious and you save money in the process. (Check out my Crock Pot Meatball sub recipe to try with your Mozzarella sticks.)
*Link up with me!*
Monday, April 28, 2014
Turn It Up Tuesday @ Sew Crafty Angel
Thanks so much to my fellow hosts and our April team and to all of you for making every week so successful!
And thanks so much to all of you for submitting such excellent posts last week! You gave us some hard decisions to make to decide on the Featured posts and Best of the Best!
As you may know, Turn It Up Tuesdays is all about being happy, excited, energetic...and having fun! Link up your favorite posts and meet some awesome bloggers in return! Link up your funny stories, DIY posts, recipes, mommy moments -- anything at all, as long as it is family-friendly. We want to laugh, be entertained, be inspired, and have a good time!
Welcome the lovely ladies of Turn It Up Tuesday!
As you can see, there are more ladies joining us this week - Carolyn from A Lavender Life, Rhonda from Mother 2 Mother, Karen from QuintonWench, Jillian from Baby Doodah, Cindy from The Mom Maven, and Shana from Organized Chaos.
And welcome our awesome guest hosts!
It has been so great working with these ladies in April! And that's why some of them will be returning for another month. This will be the last week for Katie, Michele, Juanita, and Lorna, but Ann and Debbie will be returning for May. Help us to wish all of these ladies the best and hope to see them all again in the future!
Interested in co-hosting? If you are interested, please complete this form. Monthly co-hosts will be chosen on a first come first-serve basis. We're now accepting co-hosts for October & November.
Here are the Featured posts from last week!
Stacey chose Who is really paying attention? from Living in Mommywood. "While I have to agree that there are some amazing teachers out there, there are also some horrible ones. Unfortunately it really matters little how good the teacher is when the government, school boards, and educational system dumb down the quality of the education and the sad number of children who are not encouraged to care about an education because it is too easy to get what you need for free. All of these reasons are really what prompted us to start homeschooling the two youngest."
Debbie chose Printable Social Media Checklist from Mom Maven. "I loved this post because keeping up and staying active with all the different social media areas is one of my hardest areas. The printable checklist is so concise and very doable for anyones busy schedule."
Ann chose I Wished My Girl Was a Boy from Courtney Conover on Mamalode. "I really appreciate when a blogger shares their true selves. I read blogs to get to know how others feel, how they cope and Courtney shared with such honesty that I was drawn in and felt like a secret was shared. I look forward to reading more from Courtney."
April chose Checklist: after you publish a post from Snippets of Inspiration. "Learning to be successful as a blogger can be hard. Everyone focuses on content, content and content. However, you can write the best content, and none of it will be worth it if no one sees it. Make sure it's seen with this post!"
Rachel chose Closet/Laundry Room Makeover!!! from My Love 2 Create. "This is gorgeous! I love the stripes on floor and the nice touches throughout. Overall, she has a beautiful, functional, and quality space for her sister to enjoy!"
Angel chose Better Than Sex Cake from Marilyn's Treats. "With this name what else can you say about this awesome cake."
Juanita chose Holocaust Remembrance – Dachau from The Coconut Head's Cancer Survival Guide. "We have just been commemorating ANZAC Day in New Zealand, and our soldiers who fought for our country. Remembering why these wars happen gives pause for thought."
Natasha chose Why Silence Makes Me Scream from Surviving and Thriving in the Second Year of My Divorce. "Oh wow - what an experience Kat! But you hit the nail on the head; silence definitely drives us nutty. It is so simple to just reach out with a simple text saying something. Silence goes from worry and concern straight to anger over a period of time. I'm glad that you recognize the reason why this bugged you so much, and I'm glad that you were able to gain some closure with John. Wishing you the best!!!"
The post with the most clicks is Stumble Upon, What It Can Do For Your Blog from Barbie Bieber and Beyond - Raising Girls.
If you were featured above, feel free to share the badge below with pride on your blog or website!
<div align="center"><a href="http://epicmommyadventures.com" title="Epic Mommy Adventures" target="_blank"><img src="http://epicmommyadventures.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/200pxturnitupbuttonfeature1_zps09bd5c75.png" alt="Epic Mommy Adventures" style="border:none;" /></a></div>
And the Best of the Best is...
Printable Social Media Checklist from Mom Maven
Better Than Sex Cake from Marilyn's Treats
As the Best of the Best, you win free ad space on Epic Mommy Adventures for 30 days! Please showcase the badge below with pride on your blog!
Please send an e-mail to Natasha at 1EpicMommy @ gmail.com and she will provide you with all the details!
<div align="center"><a href="http://epicmommyadventures.com" title="Epic Mommy Adventures" target="_blank"><img src="http://epicmommyadventures.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/200pxturnitupbuttonbest_zps00692ef1.png" alt="Epic Mommy Adventures" style="border:none;" /></a></div>
Just one more thing...
Epic Mommy Adventures is hosting a $500 summer giveaway called "So Happy It's Summer Giveaway!"
Everyone has had a grueling winter, and it's time to celebrate the coming of summer! We need some great bloggers to join the fun and to promote this awesome giveaway!
So now that you've seen the Featured and the Best of the Best, met our hosts and co-hosts, and heard more about a Big Summer Giveaway...
let's get started!
- Show some love to your hosts and co-hosts simply by following them on social media and leaving a comment so they can follow you back.
- Link up as many posts as you'd like! The more, the merrier!
- Check out some of the other posts and make some new friends!
Grab the button below and showcase on your sidebar! Invite your fellow bloggers to join the fun!
<div align="center"><a href="http://epicmommyadventures.com" title="Epic Mommy Adventures" target="_blank"><img src="http://epicmommyadventures.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/200pxturnitup1_zps05216d89.png" alt="Epic Mommy Adventures" style="border:none;" /></a></div>Link up your posts, make some friends, and earn the chance to be featured or become the Best of the Best on Turn It Up Tuesday! We will feature the favorite posts each week!
Sunday, April 27, 2014
My Top 3 Favorite Hand Creams
Hi everyone! As part of my first guest post as a Contributing Angel on Sew Crafty Angel, I thought I would share some of my favorite hand care products, since well, we all have hands that need to be loved and taken care of!
When we actually think about it, our hands go through a lot. They endure the heat, the cold, the wind, the sun, dish washing, cleaning, gardening, scrubbing, holding, lifting - you name it, they withstand it, although sometimes with some after effects. I used to be pretty bad about taking care of my hands, but ever since I started dabbling into skin care, I can definitely notice how much better they look and feel. While our nails need special attention too (more on that here), today I thought I would focus on our hard-working hands and share with you my top 3 creams for keeping them looking and feeling their best.
The first hand cream that I wanted to share with you is the Glysomed Hand Cream. It is formulated with glycerine, silicone, chamomile and antioxidant, which are all extremely beneficial when it comes to combating dry skin. The green tube that I use is slightly scented, but it also comes in an unscented version. This one I always keep in my purse and use throughout the day whenever my hands are feeling scaly or itchy. It feels light and although it takes a bit of time to absorb (15-20 minutes), I really helps relieve my hands when I'm on the go and need something that will provide long-lasting and effective results. This one is sold in most drugstores and is really affordable. I always stock up on it whenever it goes on sale since a girl's gotta love a good bargain!
The Bath & Body Works Shea Cashmere Twilight Woods Hand Cream is a personal favorite because I am completely obsessed with the scent. So much so that I also got the Twilight Woods Fine Fragrance Mist (reviewed here) as a back up since I sadly can no longer find the hand cream in store or on their website, although I think it might have been reformulated or repackaged into this True Blue Spa Shea Cashmere Hand Cream. I've been using it sparingly since I got it because I like is so much, but I might just get the body cream instead once I run out. This cream smells of apricot nectar, mimosa petals, mandarin, and coconut, among other lovely notes. I have to say it isn't as hydrating as the Glysomed cream, but it is still very soothing and the scent itself makes it a winner in my books!
A recent addition that has quickly become a top contender is the Josie Maran Whipped Argan Oil Intensive Hand Cream in Vanilla Apricot. Now this one is perfect to use at nighttime since it is very rich and hydrating. Once again, the scent is just divine; it is formulated with shea butter, green tea extract, chamomile and macadamia nut oil, so it is packed with natural ingredients and is also paraben and sulfate free. This product is on the luxurious side and it doesn't come cheap, but if you are looking for a cream that will whip your hands back into hydration, this one, which you can get from Sephora, is definitely worth the extra money.
Are you good about taking care of your hands? What products do you like to use to keep them looking and feeling their best?
The Weekday Mixer Social Media Link-Up @ Sew Crafty Angel
The eighth Weekday Mixer was a great success! We had 95 blogs linked up and numerous social media link-ups! We hope that you all had the opportunity to mix and mingle and make some awesome new buddies! Now let's mix it up!
Meet your fabulous hosts...
Natasha from Epic Mommy Adventures | Angel from Sew Crafty Angel | Cathy from A Peek Into My Paradise | Cece from A Chicago Mom | Shana from Organized Chaos | Liz from Look by Liz Lewis | Kaitlyn from Three Sisters and Us | Julia from Minivan Dreams
and your awesome guest hosts!
Sherry Ann from Teach, Inspire, Love, Raise | Kareen from Pink Heart String | Rebecca from Probably Crafting | Bonnie from Lady Blogger
Interested in being a guest host of the Weekday Mixer?
Fill out this form and Natasha will be in touch with more information.
Now meet this week's featured bloggers...
Kristin at Sounds of My Pitter-Patter
Blog | Bloglovin | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Create With Joy
Blog | Bloglovin | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Google+ | StumbleUpon
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Polished Ways
Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | YouTube | Google+ | Pinterest | Bloglovin
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Rustic & Refined
Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Google+ | Pinterest
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My Salt, His Light
Blog | Pinterest | Bloglovin | Google+
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This Is Motherhood
Blog | Facebook | Twitter
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
MacDonald's Playland
Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Google+ | Pinterest | Bloglovin | Instagram
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chef In Frame
Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Google+ | Pinterest | Bloglovin
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Make It Easy Crafts
Blog | Facebook | Pinterest | Bloglovin | StumbleUpon
Congrats to all of the Featured Bloggers this week! If you haven't already, please follow our Featured Bloggers on all of their social media channels. Featured Bloggers - feel free to add this button to your sidebar and claim your recognition!
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Let's get started...
- Show some love to your hosts and guest hosts simply by following them on social media and leaving a comment so they can follow you back.
- Link up all of your social media accounts!
- Check out some of the other links and make some new friends!
Please feel free to share our blog button on your sidebar.
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