Friday, March 6, 2015

March at Home Giveaway @ Sew Crafty Angel


Wow, I can't believe it's March already!  New month means a new giveaway.  Are you ready to start the spring season off with  a little extra cash?   Every month I join up with my friend Katherine from Katherines Corner for a fantastic giveaway.  This month it's a March at home Giveaway. Enter for an opportunity to win a $200 in cash and a Surprise Gift from Katherine too ( value $50).


    
One winner will receive-

$200 in PayPal Cash and a Surprise Gift from Katherine ($50 value)

This months Paypal cash is brought to you by Katherine and some of her sweet bloggy friends ♥

 
listed in no specific order
Katherine- Katherines Corner
Kim, Jessica, Cassie, and Amber- Lou Lou Girls

Entering the March at Home Giveaway is easy-

Just 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.
Confirm you are an email subscriber of Katherines Corner or become an email subscriber (this will be verified) and enter as many bonus entries as you would like.
Open to all Katherines Corner subscribers over 18 where permitted . Giveaway starts today and ends March 31st.
Copy the button below for the Giveaway extra entry. Please place it on your blog with a link back to Katherines Corner for an extra entry ( see rafflecopter entry details) ♥ ( remember to let her know where to find it ).
Displaying March at Home Giveaway.jpg

Good luck in the March at Home Giveaway ♥

Thursday, March 5, 2015

Spring Cleaning Smoothies

by Angie Ouellette-Tower for godsgrowinggarden.com photo 2012-09-18_zps3drgzrjz.jpg


Today marks 1 year for me - this post is my 12th "Contributing Angel" post (Thank you  again to my friend Angel for allowing me to contribute to your amazing blog!)
There is a pun on words with this title: "Spring Cleaning Smoothies" - not only will you be able to spring clean your fridge and pantry by using some of the ingredients in these recipes but these smoothies will also help clean your body from the inside out.

First, I just want to make it clear that I am NOT a healthcare professional - the information in these recipes I received from my own personal research (please click on the disclaimer below).

In all of my smoothie creations I use kefir (or yogurt) and whey protein (click HERE to view what I think of pea protein) and in each recipe I have featured certain ingredients and I detail what I have learned about the health benefits of those special ingredients.  Some of these spring cleaning ingredients are: ginger, kale, green tea, cinnamon, coconut, kiwi and much more!


I have listed my top 10 Smoothie creations below:
(Please click on each title below to view the entire recipe)
Ginger Coconut Pear Smoothie

Blackberry Apricot with Green Tea

Raspberry Pineapple & Vanilla Smoothie
RaspPineVan Smoothie, by Angie Ouellette-Tower for godsgrowinggarden.com
Cinnamon Apple Cider Smoothie

Berry Almond Cacao Smoothie

Cranberry Walnut Smoothie
Photobucket
Frozen Strawberry with Kiwi & Banana
Frozen Strawberry & Kiwi-Banana Smoothie by Angie Ouellette-Tower photo 2014-01-23_zps47aeac33.jpg
Peachy Keen Kale Smoothie
Peachy Keen Kale Smoothie by Angie Ouellette-Tower for godsgrowinggarden.com photo 015-4_zps7a7efec5.jpg
Celery'n Applesauce Smoothie
Celery'n Applesauce Smoothie, by Angie Ouellette-Tower for godsgrowinggarden.com
Sun, Water & Rainbow Smoothie
Water, Sun, Rainbow Smoothie by Angie Ouellette-Tower for godsgrowinggarden.com photo 004_zps9536329a.jpg

ENJOY & Happy Spring!





Tuesday, March 3, 2015

Wake Up Wednesday "Linky" Party #58



        
      

 week #58

 Wake Up Wednesday "Linky" Party

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We are so excited to have so many amazing bloggers party with us.
Check out this weeks Featured linkups.

Thank you so much to all those who share your blog in our party.
Last week we had  440 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
          Kreative Corner      

This weeks 
Featured Bloggers


I love mint. I love peppermint tea, mint chocolate bars and Creme de Menthe drinks when I feel like splurging. I saw a recipe for a Creme de Menthe cheesecake in a recipe book that my mother had given me ages ago. I decided to alter it by changing the recipe into Creme de Menthe Cheesecake Cups. I had to change the instructions a lot since the original recipe called to use the microwave for everything. These are quite rich tasting, I think the recipe makes much better cups than a full cheesecake.


Leopard and Pink Handbag....Ooh La La!!



I'm excited to share with you my 2nd attempt at the Sugar and Spice Handbag from Christine over at ChrisW Designs.  It is a perfect bag for the intermediate sewist who is looking to learn a few new technique, like...




One of the many wonderful things about blogging is that you don’t need any previous experience or education to do it. You just dive in and go.

Unfortunately, it’s also the cause of a lot of problems. Like the fact many bloggers don’t know how to blog legally.





This No Churn Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream takes just a couple of ingredients and a few minutes time. No ice cream maker is needed to make this minty chocolate chip goodness. We have shared MANY Ice Cream Recipes with all of you including the No Churn Cherry Cheesecake Ice Cream that we enjoyed for Valentine’s Day. But, this ice cream loaded with mint and chocolate chips is now a favorite in our household. The kiddos have been patiently waiting for me to make their favorite flavored ice cream and I delivered.


 
Whether it’s cold and dry where you are…or it’s hot and sandy…I don’t know many hands and feet (and elbows and knees) that couldn’t benefit from a little sugar scrub. There are so many awesome scented beauty products out there, but I’ve been discovering lately how much I love to make my own homemade beauty products. Not only are they so much cheaper than their fancy store-bought alternatives, but they tend to be better for your body, too.




Cucumbers are a vegetable that can seem boring to eat since they have a very plain taste. Their benefits however far outweigh this boring and plain taste. Cucumbers are packed with an abundance of vital nutrients as well as healthy chemical components. Along with health benefits, cucumbers also have many other uses around the home and garden.



My middle son just turned 7 this past week. (My, how time flies!) He is having a party at the end of the month, but I still wanted to bake him a cake for his actual birthday. The problem? He is isn’t a huge fan of traditional cake with buttercream frosting. His favorite cakes are fruit based such as banana or pumpkin. It was very tempting to make him a chocolate chip banana cake since I already know he loves them. I made one a couple of years ago with chocolate shavings on the top. It was to die for. No really, I think my heart skipped a beat when I ate it. Only, I didn’t follow an exact recipe and now I can’t remember what I did! Total fail on my part, and I need to try to recreate it.



I can’t believe that Easter is this Sunday! I seriously can’t wait for Aliceana to hunt down Easter eggs. I’m secretly hoping my grandma buys me a chocolate Bunny like she used to,  she always gave my sister and I the same bunny every year. The Peter Rabbit, I love nibbling at his ears and biting off his candy eyes (Easter bunnies can be a tad morbid, huh?)



I’ll admit it. I don’t wear makeup as often as I used to. When I was younger, I wore makeup every single day. I didn’t even like leaving the house without my makeup on! I know that was a habit I picked up from my mom.

Since becoming a mom myself, time has become very precious, and I just can’t spare the time to apply makeup every day. I do, however, like to wear makeup on special occasions and on family outings.


I have been to this beautiful city 10x more often than to the capital of my home country, but somehow London makes me feel at home. 

The first time i felt like a stranger though. This colourful, crowded city can be quite overwhelming, and i was just 16 years old at that time (2007), travelling on my own for the very first time. I was a tourist at first, but after three months of living and going to school in Kings Langley (i keep wanting to say King's Landing now - thanks Game of Thrones, haha!) and going to London and it's countless museums, statues, towers, bridges and castles every weekend (as well as Watford, Windsor Castle, Brighton, Oxford...), i fell in love with the city. We even went to see the famous Les Misérables play in Soho!! Such a great performance.



Whilst I generally try to avoid desserts and puddings, sometimes it is nice to have a sweet treat. And when I do have a sweet treat – it needs to still be Paleo. It’s easy to veer of Paleo towards SAD treats if you don’t have a back-up plan, so far better to make sure if you are going to have something sweet or containing chocolate, that it’s made with better ingredients.

I don’t think it can get much better than a dessert made with avocado, do you?


Cheeseburger Sloppy Joes
Budget Girl
Cheeseburger Sloppy Joes have all the taste of a cheeseburger, but are way easier to make. Brown the meat, add the ingredients, and voila! You’re done in under 30 minutes. 

I love sloppy joe’s. Probably more than a grown woman should.

Zach thinks they’re OK, but doesn’t care for the sauce, apparently. Then I ran into this Cheeseburger Salad recipe from Pioneer Woman. I put the meat on a salad and Zach’s response was, “This should be a sloppy joe.”

Um, yes. Of course it should. Why didn’t I think of that?



DADDY’S JUST DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY..
MOMMY TALK

I came down yesterday morning and found my daughter like this:

My husband was in charge of giving her and her brothers breakfast while I got ready for church and this is how I find her, oatmeal ALL over, and I when I say all over.. it was ALL over.. in places oatmeal should never be. When I asked him why he didn’t just feed it to her like I would have and he said:

“Because I am daddy, not mommy”… and he’s right! If I have learned one thing in this crazy thing called parenting it is that-  Daddy’s just do things differently!


Small Garden-Part 2-Growing UP
Gentle JoyGentle Joy


Gardening in a small garden can be a challenge...there's not a lot of space to use and in the city where we are, containing things helps with the neighbor's perspective of our gardens. So what to do?  We grow things UP as much as possible.


Easter Decor in the Sunroom
Penny's Vintage Home


We have been spring cleaning in the sunroom and as we move furniture out to clean under it,   we have changed the location of several pieces.      The armoire has moved from the southwest corner of the room to the southeast corner.


Crockpot Chicken Taco Soup
More Than A Mom Of Three



With the cooler weather soups have been our go to dinner meals this past week or so. I love throwing a bunch of ingredients into my crockpot in the morning and forgetting about it all day and its ready for dinner with very little fuss. Plus it makes my house smell amazing all day long.

This crockpot chicken taco soup is a recipe that all my kids love, always a plus in my house. It’s one of those comfort go to meals on a nice cold winter day. Warming, filling and delicious!



One Skillet Chicken Burrito Dip
Almost Supermom


For Christmas I got some new kitchen gadgets including some cast iron skillets. I have used them for basic things like sauteing veggies or making eggs in the morning, but I really wanted to break this epic piece of kitchen equipment in, like really see what it can do. Yes, I realize it’s just a skillet, but it is an amazing skillet, one that can go right from my stove top to the oven without batting an eye, it’s so old school, but that’s what makes it so completely cool.




 Wake Up Wednesday Linky





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You can enter our
Paypal Gift Card Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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.

The Chain Linky CLIMB Party @ Sew Crafty Angel


God’s Growing Garden
 photo 2toclimb_zps515fa21c.jpg
 
WELCOME!
It's the month long Networking Blog Hop 
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")
________________________________________________ 
Highest CLIMBer Features!!
Each permanent host & cohost will feature their favorite link from the previous month CLIMB!
My Highest CLIMBer from February 2015 is:

________________________________________________ 

Also, our CLIMB GIVEAWAY!
Please enter below -one person will win:
- 1 Ad Space on A Peek Into My Paradise - $30 value
- 1 Monthly Ad Space on God's Growing Garden - $15 value
- A darling Necklace with natural raw marble beachstone by ShorelineDesigned - $15 value

 photo CindyMarch_zpsqdsc9mj2.jpg            photo CindyMarch2_zpsbfbrw3w8.jpg
HAPPY FACE NECKLACE

Toothless, Large Hand Drilled Lake Superior Sandstone Pendant on Silver Link Chain with Custard Milk Glass Trade Beads, Novelty Necklace
Grin and bear it! This is a "cheeky" pardon the pun, fun kind of a necklace. This flat, roundish, lovely bisque color sandstone is one I found in Lake Superior. It asked to become a happy face - though be it a toothless one! I have given her 5 mm eyes and a toothless grin.
I have hand drilled her top side and fitted her with a stainless steel jumpring to dangle from a sparkly silver link chain, complete with sterling silver lobster clasp, which has 5 of her missing "teeth" strung along side! The "teeth" are lovely custard color (or un-whitened teeth colored) glass trade beads.  The chain undone end to end is a long 29 inches, and as fastened hanging down including stone will hang 16.5 inches. The stone face is about 2 inches around. Smile!
"

by ShorelineDesigned

Total prize value is $95!!

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 (otherwise this will become  second place prizes)
- You MUST have a valid PayPal account to win the Paypal Cash (otherwise this will become a second place prizes)
- This Giveaway is open from March 2nd, 2015 until March 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 - MARCH 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:
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!!

 
CLIMB by Angie Ouellette-Tower for godsgrowinggarden.com photo ClimbIntro_zps6919dad8.jpg


CLIMB by Angie Ouellette-Tower for godsgrowinggarden.com photo ClimbRules_zps77e9b7a4.jpg
By participating in this blog hop your understand that your link might be featured &/or promoted on our blogs & 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. 

CLIMB by Angie Ouellette-Tower for godsgrowinggarden.com photo ClimbLink_zpsf527c076.jpg

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)

CLIMB by Angie Ouellette-Tower for godsgrowinggarden.com photo ClimbCo-host_zpseca2ac09.jpg


 photo ClimbSig_zpsdeb81227.jpg