Chain Linky CLIMB @ Sew Crafty Angel

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 HAPPY NEW YEAR!! Please welcome The January 2015 Chain "Linky" CLIMB week#2 co-hosts: 
Anna from "Cuddlebug Cuties" (Click on the blog button below) Anna is our permanent week#2 co-host.  Checkout what's been happening on "Cuddlebug Cuties" lately:  Wake Up Wednesday Linky - join us every Wednesday!! The New Creative Style of Personal Planners Shy - Digital Stamp Coloring Page &

Helen from "Pleasures of the North West" (Click on the blog button below)
We are thrilled that Helen is joining us again!  Checkout what's been happening on "Pleasures of the North West" lately: Minto-Brown Island Park  Earthquake! We Have a Recipe INDEX Page! ________________________________________________ We are looking for wonderful Bloggers like YOU to cohost the February 2015 CLIMB!! (please sign up in the "linky" at the very end where it says "sign up to cohost HERE") WELCOME!
It's the month long Networking Blog Hop 
With our CLIMB GIVEAWAY! Networking means helping each other grow!!  If you want to promote a CLIMB link, then use #ChainLinkyCLIMB on Twitter or Google+ so that we can all help each other grow! Here's how the Giveaway & Co-hosting works - the co-hosts from the previous month's CLIMB will have the opportunity to participate in a Giveaway during the next CLIMB - that gives co-hosts 2 months in a row of blog growing fun!!  (If you would like to co-host please sign up at the end of this post using the last "Linky")  Please enter below -one person will win:

- $20 Amazon e-gift card from Sew Crafty Angel & from Cuddlebug Cuties 

- $10 Paypal Cash from God's Growing Garden
- 1 Ad Space on A Peek Into My Paradise for 30 days - $30 value
- One 30 day Ad Space on Heartbeats~Soul Stains - $10 value

- a beautiful 11x14 print from Helen's Etsy Shop called "Flower Wagon" - HFernsOriginals $25 value (with shipping)

- 1 Sidebar Ad Space on God's Growing Garden - $10 value

- A lovely Kitten Paw Sea Shell Necklace with Peach Freshwater Pearl by ShorelineDesigned - $20 value

COPPER TONE FAN NECKLACE

by ShorelineDesigned

Copper Tone Fan - Natural Color Kitten Paw Sea Shell with Peach Freshwater Pearl, Sparkly Pure Copper Delicate Chain Necklace
"I personally had the awe inspiring pleasure of plucking this naturally brightly colored Kitten Paw seashell (I like to call them "fans" or "pretty paws") full of bright peach and white from the sugar white sands of the Cape San Blas Beach in the Florida Gulf of Mexico. I have carefully drilled a 2.1 mm hole into the seashell to utilize it as a pretty pendant. All its metal findings are pure copper.  The fine and dainty super sparkly high quality copper chain is 17 inches with a strong lobster clasp. The beautiful peach freshwater pearl connector is a 7 mm pearl with pure copper 24 gauge wire. I make sure my jewelry findings are of fine quality." by ShorelineDesigned



by Helen Fern

"Flower Wagon" 11x14 print by "H Fern Originals": (shop description) "My goal is to provide you with quality greeting cards and photographs at an affordable price. I have experienced each image you see and tried to capture the feeling in the photograph.   Please look around, send me comments - both praise and suggestions - and feel free to ask me any questions. ."


Total prize value is $125!!

CLIMB Giveaway Rules & Conditions: - this is open worldwide (void where prohibited) - You must be 18 years or older to enter  - You MUST have a blog to win the Ad spaces (otherwise these will become a second place prizes)

- You must live in the lower 48 of the United States to win the Necklace & the print (otherwise these will become  second place prizes)
- You MUST have a valid PayPal account to win the Paypal Cash (otherwise these will become a second place prizes)

- This Giveaway is open from January 2nd, 2015 until January 30th, 2015

- Winner must respond to email within 48 hours or a different winner will be chosen

- Giveaway Hosts & Co-hosts can NOT enter this Giveaway!, however - JANUARY 2015 CLIMB blog hop co-hosts ARE allowed to enter this Giveaway (provided they are not also part of the Giveaway)

- correspondence is done through email and the winner's email addresses will only be used to deliver or set-up e-prizes.  Email addresses will NEVER be sold or shared.

- All prizes will be delivered by the contributing Bloggers/Shop Owners.

- if you have any questions or concerns about this Giveaway please email one of the hosts:

Angie:  angeliquetower@gmail.com

Angel:  sewcraftyangel@gmail.com

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Now onto the CLIMB (blog hop): We have changed it up a bit - instead of linking your homepage you may now link up to 4 of your family friendly blog posts per month!!

 

By participating in this blog hop your understand that your link might be promoted on social media.  Also, by participating in this blog hop your email address will be added to our CLIMB list & you will be sent an email reminder next month. 


Remember - If you co-host you will receive a free Weekly Sidebar Ad and your blog button will appear on both Angie's blog & Angel's blog!!
(The Ad will run live a few weeks after you have co-hosted)

Sign up to receive emails about the CLIMB

Go Contigo Giveaway @ Sew Crafty Angel

I'm joining my friend Katherine for her first 2015 Giveaway!  

I hope you will join all these wonderful bloggers and enjoy 

Katherine's Corner 

Go Contigo Giveaway.

One winner will receive-

$200 in PayPal Cash! and $75 in Cortland Contigo Water Bottles and Auto Seal Pitcher

PayPal cash provided by Katherine and some of her bloggy friends

listed in no specific order

Katherine- Katherines Corner

Angel- Sew Crafty Angel

Kim, Jessica, Cassie, and Amber- Lou Lou Girls

Angelique- Gods Growing Garden

Heather- Woods of Bell Trees

Prudy- Butter Basil and Breadcrumbs

Karren- Oh My Heartsie Girl

Sheila- Model Savings

Laura- Mouse In The Kitchen

Nina- Vintage Mamas Cottage

Diane-Mamal Diane Keepling Life Simple

Karren- Oh My Heartsie Girl

Linda- Crafts Ala Mode

Entering the Go Contigo Giveaway is easy, log into the entry form using your email address or facebook and click on the first entry on the rafflecopter form. Please read the terms and conditions and write yes. Become an email follower or confirm you are a follower of Katherines Corner via email ( this will be verified) and enter as many bonus entries as you would like.

Open to all over 18 where permitted . Giveaway starts today and ends January 30th

Copy the button for the Giveaway below and paste it to your blog with a link back to Katherines Corner for extra entries ( remember to let her know where to find it ).

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Wake Up Wednesday "Linky" Party #50

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               Welcome to the 50th week of 

 Wake Up Wednesday "Linky" Party

************************************************************

We are so excited to have so many amazing bloggers party with us.
Welcome to our first party of 2015.

Thank you so much to all those who share your blog in our party.

Last week we had  276 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!

Your link will appear on the blogs of

 Sew Crafty Angel, Cuddlebug Cuties, 

God's Growing Garden,   A Peek Into My Paradise,

 Epic Mommy Adventures,  Natalie Loves Beauty, 

 Three Kids and a Fish,     Lemons and Laughs   

   A Kitchen Hoor,   Crafty Brooklyn Army Wife, 

   Heidi's Wanderings,   The Organized Dream,

 Far From Normal,   Mice in the Kitchen,   Relaxed Thairapy,   

          Kreative Corner       This Day I Love... 

   A Gainesville Mom Writes      Blogghetti         

This weeks 

Featured Bloggers

Edible Snowy Chocolate Pine cones

A Mitten Full of Savings

I love the fact that these pine cones are not only a beautiful and natural looking  winter treat but they are delicious!  They are one of the pretty sweets you can give  this season.

I SHOULD QUIT BLOGGING

Laina Turner

Being scared and knowing you don’t have all the answers or things exactly as they should isn’t something that should deter you from your dream. Don’t you just love that quote? I know I do and use it to remind myself of what I can do on a regular basis instead of what I can’t do.

Valentine’s Day Craft for Kids: Sweet & Simple Love Bug

My Kids Guide

Valentine’s Day is coming, and this is the perfect time to get crafty. If you enjoy making your own Valentine’s Day crafts for kids, then give this sweet and simple love bug creation a try. Made from just a few simple supplies available at most dollar stores, this love bug is the perfect way to show someone you care this Valentine’s Day season. Take a look below at how to create this budget savvy Valentine’s Day craft yourself. You are sure to enjoy it!

 #Girlboss

SUSAN MAHLBURG

I finally found time over the holiday to read #Girlboss, by Sophia Amoruso (Founder and CEO of Nasty Gal).  If you haven’t picked this book up yet, then please head to your nearest Barnes & Noble immediately.

Altoid Tin Makeover for Valentine’s Day

About A Mom

This Valentine’s Day craft project brought together three of my loves: upcycling, washi tape, and my curiously strong addiction to Altoids. Over the years I’ve tossed a lot of Altoid tins into the trash, so I started saving them up and have been thinking of ways to reuse them. Pick Your Plum and Consumer Crafts have both recently had fantastic sales on washi tape, so I have been stocking up. A lot.

Top Projects of 2014

Penny's Vintage Home

When I was gathering the info for my top projects of 2014 post,   

I realized how busy H and I were in 2014!

What's on our project list for 2015?   I have some exciting plans for the kitchen!

Happy New Year!

{REVIEW} Tried Something New…Slim Messenger Bag

HattieLu Handmade

So I tried something new for a custom order Christmas gift. Amazingly, I’m proud how it turned out. I used a tutorial from Sew4Home. I don’t use tutorials that much normally. Mostly the downloaded patterns have tutorials, per se, but this was completely 100% web based. No download to be had except two pieces to cut curves.

Easy Pear Danish Bars

With A Blast

I love Danishes, any kind and any flavor, but to make them, seem like hard work. These easy Pear Danish Bars are exactly my kind of recipe, quick, easy, no-fuss and as always - delicious ! Actually, quite divine, if I say so myself ;-)

Besides the Pears, you might already have all the ingredients on hand. Nothing strange and no expensive ingredients in this lovely recipe.

New Year’s Object Lesson: 

Committing Ourselves to God’s Hands This Year

Christianity Cove

If you are still exhausted from the Holidays, this is a great time to step back and let imaginations fly. This easy New Year’s Object Lesson using Play-Doh will have kids making promises to God for the New Year. But instead of promising to strive alone for perfection, which is stressful and based on our own efforts, they’ll find it much more freeing to commit themselves to the hands of the Great Potter.

Food Prep

Little Red House Designs

About 6 months into changing my lifestyle I realized I needed to plan better so I could do better.

One book I read early on helped me learn how to maintain this lifestyle: Paleoista.  It gave such great ideas on how to manage food better.   It takes time but I have learned that if I have the right food on hand in the house and it is prepped correctly I can function.

Honestly, I can have a fridge stuffed with fresh organic veggies and protein but if they are just sitting in the original bags they usually go bad before I get to them.

I thought I would share my top three favorite things that help me.

Mini Baker Bubbly Eggs

Tumbleweed Contessa

This dish would be perfect for a New Year’s morning brunch and can be baked individually as each person is ready for breakfast/brunch. I made mine for 1 and baked the remaining biscuits along with the eggs for later use. Adjust the amount of ingredients for your family or guests.

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You can enter our 


Cookbook Giveaway

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Link up your funny stories, DIY posts, crafts, decorating, fashion, makeup, health & fitness, recipes, mommy moments -- anything at all, as long as it is family-friendly.


Please visit some other bloggers and make some new friends and say hello to old friends..

• Please leave me a comment , I love to hear from you.
• Please Link to your family friendly post 
• I'd love for you to grab my party button for your blog party site but it's totally optional
• Please No adult content blogs
• Please do not add links to shops or selling websites (they will be deleted from the party)
• Giveaways are always welcome.. Add your giveaways to Sew Crafty Angel's Pinterest Community Giveaway Board too.  

Adding your link to this blog hop gives Sew Crafty Angel permission to share your posts and pictures via social media and as features on Sew Crafty Angel And Co-Hosts.  Note- All features on Sew Crafty Angel And Co-Hosts will be linked back to the original source .Social media features are linked back to the linky party.

Angel

An InLinkz Link-up

Chai Tea - A Warming Beverage for Winter

I can't believe how fast time is flying!!  It seems like I just wrote my first "Contributing Angel" post but here we are starting a New Year!  This is my tenth Contributing Angel post and I'm still thrilled to have the privilege of contributing to this wonderful blog.
I thought I'd start the New Year off with one of my recipes to a warming Beverage - my herbal Chai Tea recipe that will warm you from the inside out - and it's healthy!  We have had a cold start to this winter here in Michigan but not much snow yet.  Although, nothing will compare to last winter (click HERE to read about the winter of 2014)




From the top and then going to the right: Ginger, Cayenne Pepper (or Chili Pepper), Cloves, Black Peppercorns, Cinnamon Sticks and in the middle: Star Anise

I am NOT a doctor (see disclaimer at the bottom of this post) but I have researched these ingredients and here are some of the health benefits that I have found:

Ginger Root - is relaxing, aids in digestion, it is good for your equilibrium and for inner ear issues..... and much more.

Cinnamon - is good for your blood sugar, aids in lowering cholesterol, helps relieve indigestion and colds.

Cloves - used in dentistry and helps with tooth pain, anti-bacterial, reduces joint inflammation and some even claim preventative against intestinal cancers (again - I'm NOT a doctor)

Peppercorns - increases stomach activity and digestion, it has antioxidant and anti-bacterial effects.

Chile Peppers or Cayenne Pepper - increases circulation and heart health, cancer preventative, aids in weight loss and is great for the intestinal tract.

Star Anise - this is actually the spice that they extract "Shikimic Acid" from - which is used to make the antiviral drug "Tamiflu" (which has been used to treat the Swine Flu).  It also decreases abdominal cramps and expels mucus.

Printable Recipe

2 Cinnamon sticks

1 teaspoon of black peppercorns (whole)

1/2 teaspoon whole cloves

1 star anise

2 dried cayenne peppers (or chili peppers) (If you don't like spicy hot - then you may omit this pepper - it's so good for you though!)

1 small lump of fresh ginger root (washed and any bad spots cut out)

Place all of these ingredients in a stainless steel pot and cover with 5 to 6 cups of filtered water.  Boil for about 10 minutes and then turn off the burner.  Allow this tea to steep overnight on the back of the stove (Make sure that your burner is turned OFF!).  Then the next day your tea is ready for drinking - simply warm it up when you desire.  Add a little more water whenever you take some tea out and keep it topped off and ready for the next time you want some Chai Tea. 

After 2 weeks you will need to start from scratch again with new and fresh ingredients - and the initial steeping overnight is only done that first time - at the beginning of a new batch (once every 2 weeks). 

NOTE:  When the tea has boiled and you are ready to drink - just remember to strain out the spices before drinking - and then return any peppercorn or clove back into the pot for the next time that you want to have this tea.  Also, I like to add a little cream to my cup & some honey - delicious!

Copyright, Permissions & Disclaimer

The Best Is Yet To Come

Frankly, I'm glad to get on with 2015.

I'm like millions of people that look back on the year and make resolutions of things I want to do or change in the new year ahead.  Today I've decided that this year I'm actually going to fulfill my New Year's Resolution.

Looking back on 2014
This past year has been so crazy that I truly don't know how I arrived at 2015.  Days became blurs that turned into months of the same.  Then the year was over.

Here is my typical day.

Time to get out of bed.

Starbucks drive-thru at 5:30 to start my daily intake of way to many cups of coffee

Start work at 6:00 

Then spend the next 10 to 12 hours running at the speed of light.  

5 minute healthy lunch

When finally 6pm rolls around take a second to catch my breath. 

I drag my exhausted butt out to my car and make the beautiful scenic drive home.

(In my dreams)

(Reality)

Now, finally home, my safe place, my refuge from the world, my quiet place.  Seriously?

Here I now become the wonderful mother who

rushes home to make a wholesome dinner for my family, (laughing hysterically now).

Reality:  

Laundry

Bathtime

Bedtime

Once everyone is asleep I work on all the work I couldn't get down while at my job so that I can be ready for tomorrows work load that I will bring home tomorrow night.

Oh almost forgot, I'm on call 24/7 so normally there are 10 to 12 calls to deal with each night. 

So usually by midnight the calls end and I go to sleep.

4am awake stressing over everything

Ya gotta be kidding!

Do it all over again!!!!!!!!!!!

This has truly been my life.  I am a daughter of Christ.  I am blessed with a great job that pays me great money.  I have a wonderful family that loves me and a warm and welcoming home.  Unfortunately I have been going through life so fast that I'm not enjoying much of it.

So my New Year's Resolution is that I'm taking  my life back.  I don't have it all mapped out yet, cause let's be real, some things you have to work out as you go along.  Come back next week and see what plan I've come up with to make my resolution my reality.

Angel

The Chain Linky CLIMB Party @ Sew Crafty Angel

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Romantic Cash Giveaway @ Sew Crafty Angel

#RomanticCashGiveaway

Show your valentine you love them with a

pocketful of cash to make your loves wishes come true!

Spoil em' good! xoxo

Thanks to 66 amazing friends and supporters of

A Peek Into My Paradise we are spreadin' the love with a

*CASH PRIZE of $1,450!

*Two winners of $500 each

AND One winner of $450!

Meet your lovely co-hosts!