linky party Archives - The Mom Maven

Turn it Up Tuesday 119

cindy — Tue, 29 Dec 2015 01:00:46 +0000

Hello! I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and are now gearing up for the new year. I am in full on planning and organizing mode and I hope to accomplish a lot before 2016 rolls in.

I want to let you all know how much I appreciate all of you who take part each week in the Turn it Up Tuesday linky party. I truly enjoy partying with you. I will no longer be hosting the party in 2016 though. I’m sure I’ll still come play with you but you will have to find the linky on one of the other host’s pages from now on. Let’s get to the party!

New Years is only a few days away…can you believe it??!!

What do you plan to do with the remainder of the Holiday season? What are you planning to accomplish in 2016? What are your resolutions? Share all of your amazing posts with us!

And this is the time of the year to share your year-in-review posts…feel free to share them with us! We can’t wait to check them out!

Welcome to the 119th week of Turn It Up Tuesday! Thank you for stopping by and linking up with us this week, and every week, as we have some fun linking up and getting to know each other! We had quite an amazing week last week, and it’s because of all of you! We are so happy to have you all join us for another amazing week!

Turn It Up Tuesdays is all about being happy, excited, energetic…and having fun! Link up all of your favorite posts (old or new) and meet some awesome bloggers in return! Link up your funny stories, DIY posts, recipes, mommy moments — anything at all. We want to laugh, be entertained, be inspired, and have a good time! Thanks so much to everyone that joins us each week and makes this link party the best that it could be!

SPONSOR OF THE MONTH

Our sponsor for December is Laina Turner, as she promotes her new book —
PLAN FOR SUCCESS: A Business Planning Toolkit for Bloggers and Authors.

Do you want to turn your blogging or writing hobby into a business? Do you wish you had a step-by-step guide to making your blog profitable? It starts with a business plan to outline the goals of your blog and the actions to achieve those goals.

Planning for Success: A Business Planning Toolkit for Bloggers and Authors will walk you through each step needed to build a business plan that works. The eBook and companion workbook will give you exercises on each of the important elements in a business plan so when you finish you will have a completed plan for success.

We’re looking for sponsors for 2016! Be sure to sign up, and sponsor us for a month!
Click here to sign up for a month, or two!

Welcome the lovely ladies of Turn It Up Tuesday!

(from the top – left to right)

And welcome our awesome guest hosts for December!

(from the top – left to right)

Maria from Pastels & Macarons | Chris from Sweet Mornings

Interested in being a guest host for the month or becoming a permanent co-host?

Complete the form here! Monthly guest hosts will be chosen on a first come first-serve basis.

Here are the Featured posts from last week!

Mari chose Peppermint & Whipped Vodka Hot Chocolate Recipe from Home Cooking Memories. “This looks tasty like it has just the right amount of kick lol thanks Brandie for the share.”

Mari chose Gooey Peppermint Smore Cookies from Busy Being Jennifer. “I enjoyed Jennifer’s s’mores share I always love to try new ways of this delish treat :)”

Tiffany chose The Best Fried Chicken Sandwich from Happy Valley Chow. “I am definitely missing out on something because I need this sandwich in my life. It looks absolutely amazing – and delicious! Perfect easy dinner or lunch.”

Tiffany chose A Star Wars review for geeks, from an obsessive fan (SPOILERS) from Domestic Bliss Squared. “Because Star Wars. I got to see it on Premier Day and I’m already planning another movie trip to see it again! Yes Please!”

Chris chose Winter Sangria Recipe from A Pretty Life. “Love sangria & this looks perfect for a winter party.”

Chris chose New Year’s Eve Party: Pineapple Champagne Punch Recipe from Lipgloss and Crayons. “With New Years Eve just around the corner champagne punch is a must!”

Kimberly (Being a Wordsmith) chose 5 Tips for Buying Christmas Gifts at the Last Minute from Ramblings of a (Bad) Domestic Goddess. “Elaine taps into a real conundrum for procrastinating folks like me. She gives some great tips on what to buy when you are late in crossing everything off your Christmas list!”

Kimberly (Being a Wordsmith) chose How To Create The Perfect Pinnable Image from DIY Crush. “I am a big fan of Pinterest and PicMonkey, so Denise at DIY Crush’s post gave me just the info that I needed. Check out her advice on making your pins more pinnable!”

Tina chose Peanut Butter Whirligig Cookies from Sweet Mornings. “Peanut Butter Whirligigs?What a lovely idea, I’ve never seen anything similar. Thanks so much for sharing your recipe with us.”

Tina chose Pomegranate Lemon Cupcakes from Lou Lou Girls. “Very interesting recipe,l’ve never tried this combination and I certainly want to try this. Thanks so much for sharing your recipe with us.”

Natasha chose Non-Toy Gifts for Little Kids from Love My Messy Messy Mess. “It’s so true – sometimes we are so focused on only buying toys for our kids, but we have to take a step back and buy more useful gifts. This a great list of non-toy gifts. Thanks for sharing!”

Natasha chose Why I Promote My Own Blog Posts from MBSANOK on BlogHer. “Great post! As a blogger, sometimes it becomes too much to do it all on your own. But it is so important to promote yourself! Only you know what’s best for you and your blog, so it makes sense to make the time to promote yourself. Thanks for sharing!”

The post with the most views last week is How I’m Getting Financially Fit in 2016 from Stay at Home Yogi.

Stop by and show some love to our featured bloggers this week! I’m sure they’d all appreciate it!

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" rel="nofollow" title="Epic Mommy Adventures"></a></div>

And the Best of the Best goes to…

Peppermint & Whipped Vodka Hot Chocolate Recipe from Home Cooking Memories

The Best Fried Chicken Sandwich from Happy Valley Chow

Show some love to our Best of the Best blogger this week!!!!

Best of the Best Bloggers – make sure to showcase the button below on your blog!

<div align="center"><a href="http://epicmommyadventures.com" rel="nofollow" title="Epic Mommy Adventures"></a></div>

So now that you’ve seen all that we have to offer in this week’s Turn It Up Tuesday,

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" rel="nofollow" title="Epic Mommy Adventures"></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! **Disclaimer: Adding your link to this link party gives permission to Epic Mommy Adventures, along with co-hosts, guest hosts, and participants of Turn It Up Tuesday, to share your posts and pictures via social media and as features, roundups, etc. with an explicit link back to the original source.**

An InLinkz Link-up

Interested in reading all of our favorite posts on Turn It Up Tuesdays – past or present? Or do want to know if your post was featured before we go live next week? Follow Natasha Peter’s board Featured on Turn It Up Tuesdays! on Pinterest.

The post Turn it Up Tuesday 119 appeared first on The Mom Maven.

Turn it Up Tuesday 111

cindy — Tue, 03 Nov 2015 01:00:56 +0000

Happy November! It is November right cause, the Florida weather forgot to notice. Today’s high is 88 with a feels like temp of 96! I signed up to do a 21 day pre-Thanksgiving walking challenge to get me moving more in the cooler months, but it hasn’t cooled off yet! This morning the weatherman said we are having typical August temps, Ugh! I am so ready for fall, and cooler temps, and lower electricity bills. It will come…eventually. How’s the weather where you are?

Welcome to the 111st week of Turn It Up Tuesday! We are so happy to have you all join us for another amazing week!

SPONSOR OF THE MONTH

Our sponsor for November is Two Chicks and a Mom.

Two Chicks and a Mom is a fun blog by a mom and her two “chicks”– a newlywed college student and a high school student. Crafts, travel, recipes, and family life are what she write about–with a dash of humor, too. Be sure to check out her fun blog all month!

Are you looking to get your blog or website in front of numerous people per week? Do you enjoy Turn It Up Tuesdays? Interested in having your blog or website featured for an entire month? Then, sponsor Turn It Up Tuesday for a month by clicking here!

Welcome the lovely ladies of Turn It Up Tuesday!

(from the top – left to right)

And welcome our awesome guest hosts for November!

(from the top – left to right)

Donna from Two Chicks and a Mom | Angie from God’s Growing Garden | Jenessa from Mothering {In Real Life} | Lyn from Mid Michigan Mom | Glenda from Mommies Point of View

(not pictured)

Maria from Pastels & Macarons | Hilary from Raising Fairies and Knights | Ritu from Rocket Looks

Interested in being a guest host for the month or becoming a permanent co-host?

Complete the form here! Monthly guest hosts will be chosen on a first come first-serve basis.

Here are the Featured posts from last week!

Elaine chose Pumpkin Pie Phyllo Cups from A Party of Four. “A nice alternative to traditional pumpkin pie.”

Elaine chose Pan-Cooked Apple and Pears with Maple Sauce from The Briny Lemon. “I love warm fruit in the Fall.”

Kayla chose Magnificent Music: Itsy Bitsy Spider Video + Printable from Chirpy Chatterbox. “Itsy Bitsy Spider is my daughters favorite song! This printable is great!”

Kayla chose 10 Quick & Easy Halloween Crafts from An Aiming High Wife. “Easy Crafts to do yourself or with the kids! Love It!”

Dawn chose Peanut Butter Apple Doggy Cake from Arrows & Awe. “I love finding recipes for pets, i know my 2 Yorkies (Jack & Jill) will love me for this. Thank you for sharing Tiffany.”

Dawn chose 30 Things You May Want to Know About Spiders from Ask Latisha. “I don’t like spiders, but i just had to look at this post – the pictures freaked me out, but i feel like i now know more about the little creepy crawlers. My kids loved the spider facts though. Thank you for sharing Latisha.”

Bev chose Spicy Pumpkin Soup with Polenta Cakes from Living the Gourmet. “Love this luscious fall pumpkin soup with the fried polenta. What a great way to warm up those chilly days.”

Bev chose Halloween Bone Necklace from ArtClubBlog. “Need a Halloween costume? Why not make these great bone necklaces. All you need is some chicken bones. You will be the talk of the party.”

Donna chose 15 Terrific Southern Gifts Under $20 from Earning & Saving with Sarah Fuller. “I am originally from the South and this interesting post sure caught my eye. Great gift ideas are a treat!”

Donna chose Cozy Christmas from Paper Seedlings. “I am a scrapbook fan and occasionally make cards. I love the quilted look of this cheery card!”

Stacey chose How to Create a Positive Self-Image In Children from Ramblings of a (Bad) Domestic Goddess. “A wonderful post! It is so important to teach our children how to have a positive self image, and it is difficult with so many negative factors in play. Thank you for sharing these amazing tips!”

Stacey chose Chocolate Upside Down Cake from Jenn’s Random Scraps. “Oh yummo! This reminds me so much of the hot fudge sundae cake that I love! I can’t wait to give this one a try. Thanks for sharing!”

Mari chose How and When to Re-pot Your House Plants from Love My Big Happy Family. “I love house plants so this post was great to see and I love repotting my plants I find it very soothing and peaceful, thanks Lori!”

Mari chose Easy How-To Make: Pumpkin & Caramel Cheesecake Bites from Play Dough & Popsicles. “I love all things caramel!!! This is another good treat to use for Thanksgiving too!!!”

April chose Philly Cheesesteak Empanadas from A Sprinkle of This and That. “How can you not love combining two awesome foods? I love cheesesteak and I love empanadas.”

April chose Five on Friday: What Rejection Taught Me from Currently, Kelsie. “Rejection is hard and causes a lot of self-doubt. Overcoming that means that you can move on with your life. That’s why I love this post.”

Tina chose DIY Staircase Wall from Kreativ K. “What a beautiful staircase wall.With wonderful step by step instructions this lady proves that you can do wonderful things by yourself. Thanks so much for sharing your creativity with us.”

Tina chose Peanut Butter Chocolate Explosion Mug Cake from Everyday Made Fresh. “I couldn’t resist to this peanut butter chocolate cake explosion.My favorite flavours are there and in a mug? Fantastic!!Thanks for sharing this wonderful recipe with us.”

Lyn chose Recycled Soda Can Wall Art from Purple Hues and Me. “I appreciate how she turns a recycled can into art.”

Lyn chose Teacher Appreciation Gifts: Let Little Kids add their Personal Touch from The Practical Mom. “These Teacher appreciation gifts are adorable. I also like how the student can help decorate them. Love!”

Natasha chose Last Minute Halloween Costumes for the Procrastinating Mom from Fun Money Mom. “Normally, I procrastinate with everything; but this year, I was surprisingly ready for Halloween. I got my son’s costume early this year, but it was great to find out about some options just in case Plan A didn’t work out.”

Natasha chose 30 Things You May Want To Know About Halloween from Ask Latisha. “These are definitely some interesting facts about Halloween. Thanks for sharing Latisha!”

The post with the most clicks is Quick Apple Sweet Potato Hash from Pancake Warriors.

Stop by and show some love to our featured bloggers this week! I’m sure they’d all appreciate it!

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" rel="nofollow" title="Epic Mommy Adventures"></a></div>

And the Best of the Best goes to…

Easy How-To Make: Pumpkin & Caramel Cheesecake Bites from Play Dough & Popsicles

Philly Cheesesteak Empanadas from A Sprinkle of This and That

Show some love to our Best of the Best bloggers this week!!!!

Best of the Best Bloggers – make sure to showcase the button below on your blog!

<div align="center"><a href="http://epicmommyadventures.com" rel="nofollow" title="Epic Mommy Adventures"></a></div>

So now that you’ve seen all that we have to offer in this week’s Turn It Up Tuesday,

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" rel="nofollow" title="Epic Mommy Adventures"></a></div>

An InLinkz Link-up

The post Turn it Up Tuesday 111 appeared first on The Mom Maven.

Turn it Up Tuesday 64

cindy — Tue, 09 Dec 2014 01:00:05 +0000

We are back from a wonderful vacation with family and friends at Walt Disney World Resort. We spent time in all 4 theme parks, Downtown Disney and we even got in 18 holes of mini-golf. It was wonderful to have some time away after all of the busy-ness of the wedding. Now I am in full Christmas mode, especially since I haven’t bought or made a single present yet! I hope you had a great week and I can’t wait to see what you link up this week!

Welcome to the 64th week of Turn It Up Tuesdays! We’re so happy to have you here again this week – we had such amazing posts last week! We enjoyed reading them all!

Turn It Up Tuesdays is all about being happy, excited, energetic…and having fun! Link up your favorite posts (old or new) 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!

Thanks so much to everyone that joins us each week and makes this blog hop the best that it could be!

Are you interested in having your blog or website featured on Turn It Up Tuesdays? Do you want to offer a discount to Turn It Up Tuesday linkers?
Then, sponsor Turn It Up Tuesday for a month! Click here! It’s only $5 for an entire month!
We’re accepting sponsors for 2015!

[tweetthis]#TurnItUpTuesday is live! Link up & join the fun![/tweetthis]

Welcome the lovely ladies of Turn It Up Tuesday!

(from the top – left to right)

And welcome our awesome guest hosts for December!

(from the top – left to right)

Interested in being a guest host for the month or becoming a permanent co-host?

Complete the form here! Monthly co-hosts will be chosen on a first come first-serve basis. We’re now accepting guest hosts for January and February.

Here are the Featured posts from last week!

Ce Ce chose Cardboard Tube Snowman Family Craft from The Organized Dream. “This is the cutest craft to add to a 25 days of Christmas crafts list!”

Angie chose Don’t Forget Jesus from Kids in the Word. “Jesus is the most important part of Christmas and even as an adult I practice many of the wonderful suggestions in this post.”

Tina chose Holiday Lunchbox Idea + Jokes #BICMerryMarking #SummerMelon from A Mom’s Take. “What a sweet Holiday Lunchbox Idea!! So simple to make. Small suprises that make your loved ones smile do matter,love Rudolph and the joke.Thanks for sharing.”

Kelly also chose this post. “I always like new ideas for the kids’ lunches.”

Cathy chose Easy Homemade Santa’s Cookie Plate #DIYwithPainters #PaintersMarkers from A Mom’s Take. “I love the simplicity of this precious keepsake! What an awesome idea!”

Rhonda chose Build A Christmas House Out of Twinkies by Home Making Hacks. “I have always loved Hostess Twinkies. Making an edible Christmas House with them will be a fun craft to do with the kids for the holidays, adorable and delicious.”

Chelsea chose 10 delectable christmas cookie recipes from Dreaming of Leaving. “My mouth literally drooled after looking all these delectable cookies! Such cute ideas that make me want to jump in the kitchen and bake!”

Jillian chose 7 Reasons Why I’m Grateful for My Broken Kneecap from Surviving and Thriving in the Second Year of My Divorce. “I chose this post because we often need to be reminded that we should be grateful for even the little things. This posts reminds us that even in a terrible situation, there IS good!”

Tiffany chose 13 Signs You Are Blog-holic… from A Kaleidoscopic Dream. “Such a fun post and definitely on the nose for each sign. I am truly a Blog-holic and I am darn proud to say it!”

Silvie also chose this post. “I could relate to every single one of the things mentioned and it gave me a good laugh. Which I totally needed. I love blogging and wouldn’t stop doing it for anything!”

Laci chose Decor Challenge: Christmas Ribbon Garland from A Dose of Paige. “This is easy and such my style and adds a unique touch to any room that anyone will notice.”

Elaine chose Stuffed Tomatoes from My Lamp is Full. “This stuffed tomato recipe made my mouth water. To me, that is always a sign that the recipe will be great.”

Stacey chose Snickerdoodle Cookies from Luv a Bargain. “My two youngest absolutely love Snickerdoodle cookies! I can’t wait to try this one and add it to our Christmas cookie baking during this coming Christmas season! Thank you so much for sharing!”

Stacy chose NinjaBread Cookies. Not Your Ordinary Gingerbread from The Crafty Side of Sarcasm. “My favorite this week is the NinjaBread Cookies by The Crafty Side of Sarcasm. I love them because ninjas. Is there really anything more to say? :”

Jessica chose Is Your Life an Adventure? from Stuck In Your Rut. “What an inspiring story! It made me re-analyze my life and goals I had for myself but never did. It’s a great reminder for all of us that life is too short and we should make the most of it, even when obstacles get in the way! Thanks a million for sharing!”

Nancy chose 4 Fun Ways to Stay Fit With The Help Of Your Dog from Urban Naturale. “It was visually appealing, great photos, and the tips that she offered were simple and practical.”

Natasha chose Toddler Boy’s Christmas Wishlist from The Everyday Momma. “I must admit, I’m also an addict for buying my son toys, especially educational toys. I love this Christmas wishlist – I may be getting some of the things on this list. Thanks for a great post!”

The post with the most clicks is Things I Said Before I Was a Parent from Crazily Normal.

Stop by and show some love to our featured bloggers this week! I’m sure they’d all appreciate it!

If you were featured above, feel free to share the badge below with pride on your blog or website!

And the Best of the Best is…

10 delectable christmas cookie recipes from Dreaming of Leaving

Cardboard Tube Snowman Family Craft from The Organized Dream

Show some love to our Best of the Best bloggers this week!!!!

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 for the free ad space!

So now that you’ve met our sponsor of the month, our hosts and co-hosts, and our Featured and the Best of the Best…

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!

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!

**Disclaimer: Adding your link to this link party gives permission to Epic Mommy Adventures, along with co-hosts, guest hosts, and participants of Turn It Up Tuesday, to share your posts and pictures via social media and as features, roundups, etc. with an explicit link back to the original source.**

An InLinkz Link-up

The post Turn it Up Tuesday 64 appeared first on The Mom Maven.

Turn It Up Tuesday 38

cindy — Tue, 10 Jun 2014 00:00:08 +0000

Welcome to the 38th week of Turn It Up Tuesday!

Thanks so much to everyone that joins us each week and makes this blog hop the best that it could be!

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!

SPONSOR OF THE MONTH

Bex from Futures

Bex is a fashion, beauty & lifestyle blogger from the UK. She writes about just about anything & everything: her current day-to-day life, updates on Jack, reviews, shopping hauls, books she’s currently reading. Thank you so much Bex for being our sponsor!

Are you interested in having your blog or website featured in this spot? Then, sponsor Turn It Up Tuesday for a month! Click here! It’s only $5 for an entire month!

Welcome the lovely ladies of Turn It Up Tuesday!

And welcome our awesome guest hosts for June!

(from the top – left to right)

Interested in being a guest host or becoming a permanent co-host?

Complete the form here! Monthly co-hosts will be chosen on a first come first-serve basis. We’re now accepting guest hosts for July & August.

Here are the Featured posts from last week!

Tenns chose Time Management for Bloggers Part 4-Family Time from The Mom Maven. “I chose this post, because I think bloggers are always looking for better ways to balance the world of family and other priorities. It can be challenging at times, especially with some many things being very time consuming. This post gives a great breakdown of the different things bloggers can do ahead of time to keep a balance and not get overwhelmed or burnt out. Time management is crucial for all of us, but especially for those of us that wear multiple hats and have a full plate.”

Debbie chose Picasso Flower Art with 1st Graders from Krafts & Kiddos. “I love this idea of using hands to create such sweet pictures. I adore things that incorporate the hands and feet so one day when the kiddos are grown and big we can see just how tiny they were.”

Katie chose Mud Pit to Built-In Bench from The Coconut Head’s Cancer Survival Guide. “What a transformation! I would love to do something similar in our backyard! The space went from a useless mudpit (literally) to a gorgeous patio space for relaxing and entertaining! Looks like something out of a magazine!!”

Katy chose Make Your Own Pinterest Board Covers from Houseologic. “MAJOR FAVE!!!! Can’t wait to tackle this. :)”

Carolyn chose Setting Parenting Goals from Travel Parent Eat. ” I though Anne made a lot of good points about not only setting goals for parenting, but achieving them as well!”

Cathy chose Banana Caramel Cupcakes from Annie’s Noms. “Banana Caramel Cupcakes sound like the perfect dessert for hubby and I. I love bananas and he loves caramel. I can’t wait to make these!”

Jillian chose Just The One from Boogers Are Yucky. “She write about her feelings towards having a second child, and why she’s sticking with just the one. It really hit a chord with me because I continue to go back and forth about having more kids. Such a great read!”

Rebecca chose 8 Tips for Affording A Large Family from Fruitful Families. “I chose this because although I only have one child (and I sometimes find it a struggle with just him!), I have always wondered how both mine and my partners large families could afford the essential items such as food, household items etc and this shows just how to cope with having a larger family.”

Jessica also chose this post. “I love this post because it works for EVERY family big and small. As someone who has been laid off on a few occasions, the tips have helped me try to stay afloat, even now with a job! Thanks for sharing!”

Cindy chose Why I Love Raising a Boy from A Cowboy’s Life. “As a mom of 2 boys, now ages 19 and 21, this post made me smile. I would add that the bond between a mom and her boys is something special. Even now that my 19yo is a full-time missionary traveling the US telling teens about Jesus and my 21yo is getting married in a few months, the bond we have and the time we spend together is precious. Boys of all ages love to have fun and they have very little drama. I love being a mama to boys!”

Rhonda chose A Stroll Through The Garden from The Coconut Head’s Cancer Survival Guide. “This post was very welcoming and lifted my spirits. I really wanted to enter her garden, the roses were stunning. Great photography skills!”

Stacey chose “I said WHAAAT?!” Sometimes Moms Say the Darndest Things, Too from Just a Touch of Crazy. “This is amazing and just goes to show that once we become parents we just lose our minds! What a great post and thank you so much for sharing!”

Natasha also chose this post. “It’s so true – children can make you really say the darndest things. I have said almost everything on this list at some time, but I loved reading about another mom saying the same things! Great post!”

Rachel chose Free Nursery Printables {SohoSonnet Guest Post} from View From The Fridge. “These are gorgeous! It is so well done and the paper looks like real chalkboard!”

Ce Ce chose Strawberries and Graham Crackers from Home Is Where The Heart Is. “I love her little ideas on food for kids!”

The post with the most clicks is How to Store and Prepare Your Used Items for Resale from Chaos & Kiddos: Mommy’s Survival Guide.

If you were featured above, feel free to share the badge below with pride on your blog or website!

And the Best of the Best is…

Mud Pit to Built-In Bench from The Coconut Head’s Cancer Survival Guide

Just The One from Boogers Are Yucky

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!

So now that you’ve seen the Featured and the Best of the Best and met our hosts and co-hosts…

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!

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!

An InLinkz Link-up

Interested in reading all of the Featured Posts on Turn It Up Tuesdays? Or do want to know if your post was featured before we go live next week? Follow Natasha Peter’s board Featured on Turn It Up Tuesdays! on Pinterest.

The post Turn It Up Tuesday 38 appeared first on The Mom Maven.

Friday Pin Fest 32

cindy — Fri, 23 May 2014 10:00:27 +0000

Hello & Welcome!

Hey there! Who’s ready for the weekend?! I know I am! Boy, am I glad summer is nearly here. My kids and I are definitely ready for the break… And the summer fun! We always have at least one water day so I am very excited for that! But for now, I’m in survival mode with all the end-of-the-year activities. I’m sure a lot of you are on the same boat – ha! While we wait for summer to get here, why not begin the fun right now?! Let’s see what everyone’s been up to and get this Friday Pin Fest party started!

[Your Hosts]

Host	Host

Alma	Cathy
of A Conquered Mess	of A Peek Into My Paradise

[May Co-Hosts]

Dana of Chocolate and Sunshine

Cindy of The Mom Maven

V of Sprout’s House

[The Features]

Cherry Limeades
by Very Vicky

Dusty Crophopper Cake
by Spindles Designs

Coloring Metal With Alcohol Ink
by Jewelry Making Journal

Triple Chocolate Peanut Butter Ice Cream Pie
by Meatloaf and Melodrama

DIY Mason Jar Decor
by My Paper Craze

[Spread the Word]

If you were featured or want to show your support, grab a party button!

[The Hop]

[The Link Up]

An InLinkz Link-up

[Don’t miss the party, sign up for a Friday Pin Fest e-mail reminder.]

The post Friday Pin Fest 32 appeared first on The Mom Maven.

Turn It Up Tuesday 35

cindy — Tue, 20 May 2014 00:00:07 +0000

Welcome to the 35th week of Turn It Up Tuesday!

Thanks so much to everyone that joins us each week and makes this blog hop the best that it could be!

SPONSOR OF THE MONTH

Angie from God’s Growing Garden

In addition to being our fabulous guest host this month, Angie is also an amazing blogger. With over 40 years experience gardening, cooking, baking & canning, Angie can definitely be considered somewhat of an expert in her field. Her blog, God’s Growing Garden, focuses on helping her fellow ‘backyard farmers’ and features some great blog hops including The Great Blog Train and Wake Up Wednesday Link Party. Angie is also celebrating her 3rd blogiversary with a big giveaway…make sure to sign up!

Are you interested in having your blog or website featured in this spot? Then, sponsor Turn It Up Tuesday for a month! Click here! It’s only $5 for an entire month!
Use promo code: MAYFLOWERS all month for 50% off!

Welcome the lovely ladies of Turn It Up Tuesday!

And welcome our awesome guest hosts for May!

Interested in being a guest host or becoming a permanent co-host?

Complete the form here! Monthly co-hosts will be chosen on a first come first-serve basis. We’re now accepting guest hosts for June and July.

Here are the Featured posts from last week!

Cindy chose Recharge Your Life: Unplug from Anni’s Bubble. “We are working hard to be unplugged in the evenings around here. My laptop no longer is a fixture on my lap in the living room while watching TV with the family. Unless I am home alone my laptop goes off at 5pm daily and I seldom check my phone, unless I get a text (since my youngest son is a missionary traveling the US, I always check my texts and phone calls). My unplugged evenings allow me to be in the moment with my family and I find I am more refreshed in the morning!”

Rhonda chose Scrapbooking (written by our very own Cathy from A Peek Into My Paradise) on Katherine’s Corner. “I love preserving photos of my family and this blogger shares very creative ideas for scrapbooking those memories.”

Angie chose Turning Old Luggage Into A Works of Art from Simple Nature Decor. “I just love that suitcase planter & that is why I picked this post as my favorite this week – I’ve seen a lot of things used as planters but never a suitcase – totally original & cool!”

Katie chose Work for Hire DIY Chore Chart from My Love For Words. “This is a great idea! It teaches kids about money, it gets them doing chores and helping out around the house AND its adorable! When my kiddos get a bit older, we’re going to implement this great idea! Love it!”

Rachel also chose this post. “I love how organized and cute this chore chart is! I also love that the chores can be changed out based on what it needed to be done.”

Karen chose Pretty Storage Box from Making Our Sustainable Life. “This project is very clever and something that anyone could try. Who would have thought a cardboard box could be so attractive and useful!”

Gurvy chose S’mores – 7 Recipe Variations! from Grandparents Plus. “S’mores 7 recipe variation because s’mores are my weakness so of course the picture caught my attention, the post shared beautiful yummy pics of various s’mores that are so simple to create and enjoy!”

Jillian chose Living a Minimalist Lifestyle from Snippets of Inspiration. “I chose this week’s favorite because I really want my family to start going down a path of living a minimalistic lifestyle. This post gives me good directions on how to get this started.”

Jessica chose My Grocery Shopping Time-Saving Strategy from The Brown Girl with Long Hair. “I HATE grocery shopping! Especially with a 3 year old! Yuck!! That’s why I love Courtney’s solution :)). Not only do I have to step into another grocery store again, but free delivery?!? Woo-Hoo! Thanks for the tip!”

Stacey chose Ultimate Crumb Brownies from Bakewell Junction. “Brownies happen to be one of my addictions and I love to find new ways to have them. And I have always preferred pies with a crumb topping. These look absolutely delicious! Thank you for sharing!”

Ranjani chose Your Blog Needs Social Sharing Buttons from Mom Maven. “This is such a great tip and I am sure it will be of great help to new bloggers.”

Carolyn chose Old Fashioned Rhubarb Bars Recipe from Little House Living. “I chose this post as my favorite because even just the word, “rhubarb” reminds me of the fabulous desserts my grandma used to make. This dessert looks amazing, I can’t wait to try it out!”

Natasha chose How do you curb your enthusiasm? from The Brown Girl with Long Hair. “Anyone who knows me knows that I cannot curb my enthusiasm. If something is even remotely amusing, I will fall out of my chair laughing almost immediately. Plus, I’ve been told that my laugh is highly contagious, so it just makes it even worse to hurt the person’s feelings. After I laugh for about 15 minutes and finally catch my breath, I do ask for forgiveness though. If I was in this situation, I would literally pass out laughing. This is too funny! Great post Courtney!”

The post with the most clicks is Eating on a Budget from Snippets of Inspiration.

If you were featured above, feel free to share the badge below with pride on your blog or website!

And the Best of the Best is…

Recharge Your Life: Unplug from Anni’s Bubble

Eating on a Budget from Snippets of Inspiration

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!

Just one more thing…

Natasha at Epic Mommy Adventures has been nominated for voiceBoks Top Single Parent Blogs!!! She is in the top 50 right now, but would really appreciate your vote to help her be in the top 10!

Click here to vote for her! It would be greatly appreciated!

So now that you’ve seen the Featured and the Best of the Best, met our hosts and co-hosts, and heard about Natasha’ nomination…

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!

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!

An InLinkz Link-up

The post Turn It Up Tuesday 35 appeared first on The Mom Maven.

Friday Pin Fest 31

cindy — Fri, 16 May 2014 10:00:28 +0000

Hello & Welcome!

Hey there! Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend! Who is ready to party?! I know I am! Let’s check out our awesome features and get this Friday Pin Fest party going

[Your Hosts]

Host	Host

Alma	Cathy
of A Conquered Mess	of A Peek Into My Paradise

[May Co-Hosts]

Dana of Chocolate and Sunshine

Cindy of The Mom Maven

V of Sprout’s House

[The Features]

Healthy Blonde Brownies
by Luv a Bargain

Lemon-Rosemary Crock-Pot Chicken
by Huckleberry Love

DIY Rustic Sailboat
by Meatloaf and Melodrama

Strawberry Frozen Yogurt
by Mommy on Demand

One Red Dress, Seven Ways
by Domestic Bliss Squared

[Spread the Word]

If you were featured or want to show your support, grab a party button!

[The Hop]

[The Link Up]

An InLinkz Link-up

[Don’t miss the party, sign up for a Friday Pin Fest e-mail reminder.]

The post Friday Pin Fest 31 appeared first on The Mom Maven.

How to Host a Linky Party Part 1

cindy — Thu, 15 May 2014 10:00:01 +0000

Last week I shared How to Use Linkys to Gain Readers, Followers, Friends and Fans. This week I want to talk about what goes into hosting a good linky or How to Host a Linky Party. I have hosted and co-hosted several linkys over the past 5+ years and I have linked up with thousands. I have found that there are some things to consider before you decide to host a linky and some things you can do to make your current linky even better.

Things to Think About BEFORE You Host a Linky Party

Do You Have Time?

Hosting a linky party takes time. Hosting a linky party isn’t like writing a regular blog post. You need to write the post in advance, share the post code with your co-hosts (if you have any), choose your features etc. You also need to visit as many of the posts that are linked up as possible and comment on the posts.

When Will You Host It?

What day and time will your linky go live? Can you commit to this day and time every week? IMHO linkys should go live early in the morning, NOT the night before. I have never understood a linky with the word Monday in its name going live at 8pm on Sunday night, that just irritates me.

Co-Hosts?

Having co-hosts can be a pro and a con. If you have co-hosts please get the linky code to them at least 48 hours in advance so that they can schedule their posts. Also co-hosts can each be assigned a specific number of entries to comment on so that mare posts get visited. Having too many co-hosts can be a hassle for you and if you require your readers to follow all of the co-hosts they may just leave your site if there are more than 4-5 people to follow.

Theme?

Good linkys have a theme. Is your linky just for recipes? giveaways? healthy living posts? DIY? Crafts? Your theme can be anything goes or only one type of post-just make it clear in the rules and delete entries that don’t belong.

Branding?

Your linky needs a catchy name and a blog badge. Whether a link back is required or suggested is up to you but PLEASE make it easy for your readers to add your linky badge to their linky page. Remember from last week that Google doesn’t like all the links to the linkys at the bottom of the post so help your readers by having a 125×125 or 250×250 badge-nothing larger. Then use a widget generator to create the code. Use your button in the linky each week and have it on a “buttons” page or in your sidebar so you readers can find it.

This week I want you to think about the points I have listed and decide if you are ready to host a linky party. Next Thursday, come back for part 2 and I’ll walk you through the “How-Tos”. Make sure you are subscribed to The Mom Maven so you don’t miss any posts. If you have any specific questions you want answered please leave me a comment. I’m here to help!

The post How to Host a Linky Party Part 1 appeared first on The Mom Maven.

Friday Pin Fest 30

cindy — Fri, 09 May 2014 10:00:56 +0000

Hello & Welcome!

Hi everyone! It’s Mother’s Day weekend! I’m super excited to see what everyone has been crafting and cooking in preparation. Really quickly before we get to the features and party, I’d like to let you know of an exciting blogger opportunity on A Conquered Mess. ACM will be turning one soon and I will be celebrating with a cash giveaway! The giveaway is now open for link registrations If you would like to be included please sign up here: Blogger Opp: Upcoming Cash Giveaway. So now that the announcement is out of the way, lets check out our features and get this party going!!

[Your Hosts]

Host	Host

Alma	Cathy
of A Conquered Mess	of A Peek Into My Paradise

Co Host	Co Host	Co Host

Dana	Cindy	V
of Chocolate and Sunshine	of The Mom Maven	of Sprout’s House

[The Features]

Gooey Chocolate Brownie
by Faithful Feat

Extra Spicy Honey-Glazed Chicken
by The Seasoned Homemaker

Grilled Salmon with Spicy Pineapple-Citrus Sauce
by Learn From Yesterday, Live For Today

DIY Teacher Appreciation Gift
by Written Reality

DIY Wood Photography Background
by Sew Crafty Cat

[Spread the Word]

If you were featured on Friday Pin Fest or want to show your support, grab a party button!

[The Hop]

[The Link Up]

An InLinkz Link-up

[Don’t miss the party, sign up for a Friday Pin Fest e-mail reminder.]

The post Friday Pin Fest 30 appeared first on The Mom Maven.

Turn It Up Tuesday Link Party

cindy — Tue, 29 Apr 2014 02:37:49 +0000

I am sooo excited to be co-hosting Turn It Up Tuesday! This is a permanent gig for me so come back every week to link up your awesome posts!

Welcome to the 32nd week of Turn It Up Tuesday!
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!

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!

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!

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!

Find out more details about the giveaway here!

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!

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!

An InLinkz Link-up

Interested in reading all of the Featured Posts on Turn It Up Tuesdays? Or want to know if your post was featured before we go live next week? Then, check out my Pinterest board! Follow Natasha Peter’s board Featured on Turn It Up Tuesdays! on Pinterest.

The post Turn It Up Tuesday Link Party appeared first on The Mom Maven.