Archives for November 2015

Sunday’s Best Linkup – #48

November 29, 2015 by Rhonda Gales 5 Comments

Welcome to Week 48 of Mother 2 Mother’s Sunday’s Best Linkup. Thanksgiving is over and preparations for the holidays is in full swing in my neck of the woods. I will be decorating the house and tree, baking cookies, purchasing and making gifts, and watching lots of holiday movies. I can’t leave out the eggnog, it’s my favorite beverage during the holidays. This is the first week of our Tis The Season theme. We’re looking for holidays posts for crafts, recipes, decorating inspiration, gift ideas, and anything you would like to share surrounding the holidays.

We also welcome other recipes, crafts, DIY, home makeover, gardening tips, SEO & blogging information, sewing projects, patio and deck makeovers, front porch makeover ideas, organization tips, ideas for backyard hot dog roasts, and more. Blow the dust off your old posts and link those too. They’re great for inspiration.

Don’t have posts that fit into the theme, link up whatever post you would like to share. We would love to have parenting tips, DIY projects, homesteading, homeschooling, makeovers, cocktails, and your posts on family and life. Your linkups and giveaways are welcome here too. Anything goes, as long as it’s family friendly and you may linkup as many posts as you would like. Be sure to tell your friends they will want to join the festivities too.

Each week your hosts will select their favorite post and it will be featured the following week. An image from your post will be used on my blog the following week with a link back to your blog. Be sure to check back to see if you’re a Sunday’s Best featured blogger. All Featured Bloggers will have their posts Pinned to the Sunday’s Best Pinterest Board.

We would like readers to select their favorite posts. Voting will start at noon every Friday until mid-night. We will be adding the post with the most votes from our readers to our Sunday’s Best featured bloggers. Be sure to have your blog readers and social media followers head over to vote for your post on Fridays.

What’s New: Mother 2 Mother will be hosting a Show Me Your Turkey linky party November 26 – December 5. Show off your turkey and table setting. For more information click here.

All posts linking to Sunday’s Best will be promoted on Twitter.

In addition to the reader’s and hosts selections, a post for our monthly themes will be selected and featured each week as well.

If you are interested in becoming a Sunday’s Best host, please contact me for details at rhonda@mother2motherblog.com or email one of our other hosts.

Your Hosts Are:

Rhonda – Mother 2 Mother Kim U. – Pinterested Parent Kim M. – Life In A House of Testosterone

Here’s the rules, please connect with us on social media before you leave or subscribe to/follow our blogs:

Mother 2 Mother: Please like my Facebook Page, follow me on Twitter, Google+, Pinterest, BlogLovin or subscribe/join my blog on the right before you leave.

The Pinterested Parent: Please like Kim’s Facebook Page, follow her on Twitter, Google+, Pinterest, Bloglovin before you leave.

Life In A House of Testosterone: Please like Kim’s Facebook Page, follow her on Twitter, Google+, Pinterest, Bloglovin, or Instagram before you leave.

Last, please help us grow by placing our button on your sidebar. If you are selected as a Featured Blogger please let your readers and followers know. They may want to join the party too! For those who have a Link Party list/directory, please add us. I appreciate your help in promoting the linkup with Re-tweets and shares. Now lets party!

The Sunday’s Best Posts are:

Kim U. selected Mason Jar Lid Ornament from Surburble

Christmas ornaments, Christmas, holiday ornaments

I selected How To Make a DIY Gift Bag from Designer Trapped

gift bags

Kim M. selected Pomegranate Pear Moscow Mule from Pink Heels Pink Truck

The Readers Selected:

The Power of Encouragement from Inspiration for Mom

The Favorite Theme Posts

Let’s Give Thanks

Thanksgiving Turkey Bags from Bombshell Bling

kids Thanksgiving crafts

Congratulations to our featured bloggers! All of the posts were great, and I appreciate each of you linking up. We have so many great posts that it gets difficult to choose a featured blogger. I would like to invite all of you back to linkup your post(s) again, it could be selected next week. While you’re here take a minute to visit these great blogs. It’s a great way to meet and connect with new bloggers. Be sure to PIN or share any posts that you like, we all appreciate a little love. Be sure to connect on social media.

An InLinkz Link-up

Filed Under: Sunday's Best Linkup Tagged With: blog hop, blog linky, social media

Fall Craft Ideas: Fall Leaf Frame

November 20, 2015 by Rhonda Gales 2 Comments

Are you searching for fall craft ideas? I love making crafts with natural items, especially in the fall. Making a leaf frame with a few of the pressed leaves that I had stored was at the top of my craft list. Don’t you love how it turned it out. It was a perfect project to do while sipping a cup of coffee and listening to the morning news.

Spend an afternoon with the kids or grandkids searching for fall leaves. Place them between 2 sheets of wax paper and leave them in a heavy book to dry. Once they are dry, they’re ready for this project.

Here’ what you will need:

Pressed leaves in various colors and sizes
Frame with flat sides (I forgot to take picture of the actual frame that I used. The one below is just to show you the type needed).
Mod Podge (I have seen miniature bottles at Five and Below for a $1.50, which will be sufficient for this project).
A brush or sponge

Creating your frame is simple. However, the hardest part is waiting for it to dry so you can add your favorite fall picture. If you don’t have pressed leaves available, set a day aside to go on a nature hunt. Collecting leaves with your children or grandchildren is the perfect fall activity.

Once you gather the leaves and other materials here are your next steps:

Start at the bottom and place your leaves around the frame so you can get a feel of where you want them before you coat them.
Once you’re satisfied with the placement, coat the front and back of each leaf and place it where you want it on the frame.
When all of the leaves are in place, cover all of them with a good coat of Mod Podge.
Allow the frame to dry about an hour.
Add your favorite fall photo.

If you’re looking for fall craft ideas, we hope you will consider our fall leaf frame. It was a fun activity, and I’m sure your littles one will enjoy creating a frame and placing their favorite picture in the frame too. You may also like: Fall Kindergarten Activity Pack.

Filed Under: Crafts, Fall Tagged With: fall activities, fall crafts, fall decor

Toilet Paper Roll Turkey Crafts

November 18, 2015 by Rhonda Gales 5 Comments

Looking for fall or Thanksgiving crafts for your preschooler or elementary school crafter? We’re sharing parenting tips on turkey crafts. You can make this toilet paper roll turkey craft in no time and with little materials. It’s a great project to make with the kids for Thanksgiving.

So, save several toilet paper tubes. Also, take a day and spend time with the kids gathering leaves from your backyard or better yet take a walk around you neighborhood.

You will need to press the leaves once you get them home before you make the turkey crafts. Pressing the leaves is quite simple. This is another fun project to do with the kids. Give them 2 pieces of wax paper. Place the leaves between the two sheets of wax paper. Place the sheets between the pages of a heavy book. I actually used an phone book, and placed the book under my Kitchen Aid mixer. After a few days, check the leaves to see if they are dry. All moisture should be removed. Once the leaves have reached this stage you are ready to assemble your turkey crafts.

You will also need the following items:

toilet paper roll
brown paint
paint brush
yellow construction paper
Googly Eyes ( I found these at the Dollar Tree)
leaves

Paint the toilet paper roll brown and allow it to dry thoroughly, approximately 15 minutes. While the toilet paper roll is drying, spread 4-5 leaves into a fan. Make sure your center leaf is a little higher than the others, you want it to be higher than the tube.

Glue your leaves together with a hot glue gun or Elmer’s glue pen. Next, make the feet and a nose with your construction paper. Be sure to make your legs and feet long enough to hang from beneath the tube. I glued the legs on the inside of the toilet paper roll. Once the toilet paper roll is dry, glue your leaves, eyes, nose and feet to the tube as shown.

You may also like:16 Mom Approved Beach Crafts or Country Living Turkey Crafts for more ideas.

Filed Under: Crafts, Fall Tagged With: activities for kids, fall activities, fall crafts, toilet paper roll crafts

Show Me Your Turkey Linkup

November 14, 2015 by Rhonda Gales 5 Comments

Thanksgiving, holidays turkey

Show Me Your Turkey! Mother 2 Mother will be hosting a Show Me Your Turkey linky party starting November 26 and ending December 5 at midnight. The linky will be dedicated to Thanksgiving turkeys, tables, and stories of you, your family and friends. We spend all day cooking, basting, baking, and enjoying time with family so lets share our hard day’s work and family love. Be sure to mark your calendar and join the fun.

I’ve planned my menu and I’m picturing the house filled with family, delicious aromas, the Macy’s Day parade, football and a huge turkey as the center piece on the table surrounded by all the trimmings.

The posts doesn’t have to been elaborate, just a picture of your turkey or table and a few words letting us know how your day went, what you served, and any funny or disastrous moments. What will you be serving?

Get your camera and posts ready. It’s a great way to relieve some stress and you could be the featured blogger of our Turkey Baster, Table Queen, and I Survived Thanksgiving awards. Here’s a few details on the awards:

Turkey Baster: Best Looking Turkey
Table Queen: Best Table Setting
I Survived Thanksgiving: Best story (Precious or Disastrous)

Hope to see you there.

Filed Under: Life-Thoughts Tagged With: holidays, Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving dinner

Olde Westport Spice Company

November 12, 2015 by Rhonda Gales Leave a Comment

It’s chili and soup season. Olde Westport Spice Company is a 33-year-old spice manufacturer that is still going strong. This online company operates a small plant in Goodland, Kansas, and knows a thing or two about spices, seasonings and soups. This family owned and operated company was originally founded in the Kansas City area and has stayed true to its mission of making custom spice blends for main meal dishes and appetizers as well as nearly 20 varieties of dry soups. The products are available online at www.oldewestportspice.com; at food-related craft and trade shows throughout the Midwest; and at gift and gourmet food shops. Olde Westport’s spice blends and seasonings include Italian, Cajun, Taco, Fajita, Chili, Jalapeno, Beef Sauce, Salsa, Garlic and many more. All of the products use quality ingredients for a balanced flavor that compliments meats, pastas and vegetables. The company also invented dry soup mixes that are simple and easy to make including Antonio’s Minestrone, Country-Style Creamy Potato, Chipotle Black Bean, Creamy Broccoli and Cheese, Kansas City Steak & Ale, Gold Coast Garlic Pasta Alfredo, Mesa Flats Chicken Enchilada, New Orleans Red Bean & Rice, Southwestern Tortilla, White Chili Soup and more. Olde Westport Spice and Trading Co. is owned and operated by Bill and Judy Petersen, who along with their daughter, Ann Myers, also own and run a restaurant (Westport Grill) in Goodland featuring the products. Bill first custom created all of the spices and seasonings in the kitchen of his home. Today the company has a manufacturing facility where Bill still researches and develops new recipes and dishes for future products.

CHAMPIONSHIP CHILI SPICE BLEND – This championship spice has helped chili creators win 12 state and national championships throughout the years and all over the US! But what is most important to us about our Olde Westport Chili Spice Blend is that our customers love to use it in their chili whether it’s for a national championship cook-off challenge or simply for their own family in their cozy kitchen on a cold winter’s night. We’ve heard from countless customers that our attention to detail and quality is what makes this chili spice blend stand out above the competitors. We know you might put beans in your chili or maybe you add apples and sausage or perhaps you have a special recipe that is top secret but starts with thick-cut bacon… however you concoct your chili we hope you’ll try our chili spice blend.

GOLD COAST GARLIC SHAKE – Gold Coast Garlic Shake spice blend is truly one of those special blends of garlic, herbs and spices that our customers use in sour cream dips, sprinkle over steamed vegetables, fresh vegetables from your garden, garlic mashed potatoes or steak on the grill. There are more than 50 recipes in the Olde Westport Gold Coast Garlic Cookbook that will give you lots of ideas for quick simple meals with that high-end restaurant flavor. A garlic experience you will never forget. Check out the Olde Westport web site for a few recipes and placing orders.

Enter usfamilyguide to get 10% of your purchase. Have you used Olde Westport Spices? If so, what are your favorites? If not, check out their selection and leave a comment on what spices you would like to try.

Filed Under: Life-Thoughts Tagged With: cooking, recipes, spicy dishes

The Good Dinosaur Activity Pack II

November 11, 2015 by Rhonda Gales Leave a Comment

The Good Dinosaur will be opening in theaters November 25. Be sure to save the date. The Good Dinosaur will be the perfect way to entertain the children while you’re preparing dishes for Thanksgiving Day. Especially when you need a little me time through the day. From Disney Pixar’s file: “The Good Dinosaur” asks the question: What if the asteroid that forever changed life on Earth missed the planet completely and giant dinosaurs never became extinct? Pixar Animation Studios takes you on an epic journey into the world of dinosaurs. An Apatosaurus named Arlo makes an unlikely human friend named Spot. “From the moment Arlo is born, he’s afraid of the world,” says first-time director Peter Sohn. Arlo learns the power of confronting his fears. He discovers what he is truly capable of while traveling through a harsh and mysterious landscape.

“Spot is the opposite of Arlo,” continues Sohn. “He’s tenacious, brave and an animal in every sense of the word. It’s the story of a boy and his dog. In this story, the boy is a dinosaur and the dog is a boy.”

The voice cast includes Jeffrey Wright (“The Hunger Games: Mockingjay” – parts I & II, HBO’s “Boardwalk Empire”) as Arlo’s wise Poppa, Frances McDormand (HBO’s “Olive Kitteridge,” “Fargo”) as Arlo’s strong Momma, Marcus Scribner (ABC’s “black•ish”) as Arlo’s brother Buck, Raymond Ochoa (NBC’s “The Night Shift,” TNT’s “Rizzoli & Isles,” “Disney’s A Christmas Carol”) as Arlo, Jack Bright (“Monsters University”) as Spot, Steve Zahn (“Captain Fantastic,” “The Ridiculous 6,” “Rescue Dawn,” “Mad Dogs”) as a fearless pterodactyl named Thunderclap, AJ Buckley (TNT’s “Murder in the First,” FX’s “Justified”) as teen T-Rex Nash, Anna Paquin (HBO’s “True Blood”) as Nash’s tenacious sister Ramsey, and Sam Elliott (FX’s “Justified,” “I’ll See You in My Dreams,” “Grandma”) as T-Rex patriarch Butch.

We have put together activity sheets for those who are excited to see The Good Dinosaur.

You can download the printables here: Good Dinosaur Activity Pack. Which of the activities is your favorite?

Filed Under: Printables Tagged With: children's activity pack, Disney movies, The Good Dinosaur

Bulu Box Promotion

November 9, 2015 by Rhonda Gales Leave a Comment

Bulu Box, healthy eating, healthy snacks

Are you trying to get healthy? I am and the perfect partner in the pursuit of a healthier you is the Bulu Box. It’s like having a personal trainer and a nutritionist as a best friend. Each month, a box of healthy discoveries is shipped right to your door for just $10 per month. You learn about that month’s 4-5 premium samples. So, try each one and see what fits into your individual healthy lifestyle. Most importantly, shipping is always free and you can cancel anytime your subscription anytime.

Also, if you share your opinion on each month’s samples through a quick survey, Bulu will give you 50 Rewards Points (that’s $5!). So exciting, because you can use the points in the store to get more of your favorites. Furthermore , you can get a 3 Month Subscription for just $15 (regularly $30)! Use code WOWZA .

Head over and check them out. Stay tuned to my review of the Bulu Box. Vitamins, sports nutrition, diet, and healthy snacks are a few of the options to choose from. It’s great for family, there’s a women’s, kid’s and men’s categories.