Archives for June 2016

Sunday’s Best Linkup – #76

linky party, blog hop, social networking

 

 

Welcome to Week 75 of Mother 2 Mother’s Sunday’s Best Linkup. We’re continuing our Father’s Day celebration this week. Our theme is World’s Greatest Dads. I sure miss my dad who’s in heaven, and would give anything to spend another minute with him. I’ll be celebrating him in memory. We’re looking for crafts, recipes, party ideas, decorating inspiration, gift ideas, and anything else you would like to post to dad.

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 parties and makeovers and more. Blow the dust off your old posts and link those too. They’re great for inspiration.
Just 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.

The Reader’s Choice post(s) will be determined by the post(s) with the most clicks. We will be adding the winner to our Sunday’s Best featured bloggers.

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 subscribe to my blog on the right, like my
Facebook Page, follow me on Twitter, Google+, Pinterest, BlogLovin or 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.

 

Mother 2 Mother Blog

Sundays Best Featured Blogger

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:
I selected How To Paint Lamp Shades from Inspiration For Moms
 DIY, Painted Lamp Shades
and

Kim M. selected 11 Habits To Keep A Clean House from Clean and Scentsible 

cleaning hacks, house cleaning tips, how to clean house

and

Kim U. selected DIY Scrabble Tile Coasters from Simply Darrling 

scrabble gits, coaster ideas, DIY coasters
The Post With The Most Clicks:
Tips for Storing Cookies from Marilyn’s Treats 

 

how to store cookies, storage tips

and

The Favorite Theme Posts

The World’s Greatest Dads

 

Father’s Day Container Gift  from Purple Hues and Me and Me 

 

father's day gift ideas, father's day craft ideas

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.

 

 


Inspirational Quote – Coming To Terms

quotes, inspirational quotes, motivational quotes

Bloomsy Box Review

product review, online florist, Bloomsy Review

 

I was contacted by Bloomsy Box to review a bouquet of their flowers in exchange for a review.  I love fresh flowers in my home so I accepted; however, all opinions are my own. 

Bloomsy Box delivers fresh bouquets of flowers to your home weekly or monthly depending on the plan that you choose. There are 3 monthly options:  Bloomsy S, L, and M. The prices are $39.99, $43.99 and $48.99 respectively. The weekly options are: Bloomsy W and Bloomsy WW. The prices are $38.15 and $41.00 per week respectively. Each category has designated flowers that will be shipped directly to your home, business or vacation. You get a surprise bouquet of one single variety per week or month depending on your plan.  No ferns, baby’s breath etc. will be mixed with the flower choice. The arrangements are simple, but elegant.   

The Bloomsy Box was delivered by FedEx.  I became excited, I opened the box and there was a beautiful box of sunflowers just waiting for a vase.  They were secured in the box and wrapped in Kraft Paper.  Each head of the sunflowers was secured with netting. I removed the bouquet from the box and the netting from each of the sunflowers and placed them in a vase.  I waited and waited for the sunflowers to open; however, they never reached that goal.     

 

flower deliveries online,

 

Bloomsy ships their bouquets overnight to ensure they are fresh and the flowers are in bud form with the intention of them opening within 3 days.  Humm………   Disappointed, I decided to approach the problem as a customer rather than a reviewer. I took this step because I wanted to check out the customer service so I could see exactly how this particular problem would be handled.  Their motto is, “If you’re not happy, we aren’t either! That’s why we guarantee your satisfaction–or you don’t pay for your bouquet.”  I put them to the test and they delivered. 

In about a week, FedEx delivered another box from Bloomsy Box.  I eagerly opened the box and to my surprise I found 20 Spray Red Roses. I searched their site and the bouquet is called Confident.  I love roses as much as I love sunflowers.   They quality and all were buds.  I become excited again and placed the roses in a vase.  Within 3 – 4 days the buds started to open.  They lasted for about a week.  It was a slow, enjoyable process and it made up for the sunflowers not opening. 

 

online floral deliveries, Bloomsy Box

 

DSCN3265

 

If you love fresh flowers in your home, but don’t have time to garden year round Bloomsy Box is recommended.  It’s also a great idea to have fresh flowers in your office, if you’re a manager these would make a great gift for a co-worker or employee, how sending to a friend or neighbor each month.  The possibilities are endless. Head over and check out their selections. The bouquets are beautiful.

Alice Through The Looking Glass Activity Pack

 

 

family night, movie night

 

In Disney’s “Alice Through the Looking Glass,”Alice returns to the whimsical world of Underland and travels back in time to save the Mad Hatter.

“Alice Through the Looking Glass” reunites the all-star cast from the worldwide blockbuster phenomenon, including: Johnny Depp, Anne Hathaway, Mia Wasikowska and Helena Bonham Carter along with the voices of Alan Rickman, Stephen Fry, Michael Sheen and Timothy Spall. We are also introduced to several new characters: Zanik Hightopp (Rhys Ifans), the Mad Hatter’s father and Time himself (Sacha Baron Cohen), a peculiar creature who is part human, part clock.

Alice Kingsleigh (Wasikowska) has spent the past few years following in her father’s footsteps and sailing the high seas. Upon her return to London, she comes across a magical looking glass and returns to the fantastical realm of Underland and her friends the White Rabbit (Sheen), Absolem (Rickman), the Cheshire Cat (Fry) and the Mad Hatter (Depp), who is not himself. The Hatter has lost his Muchness, so Mirana (Hathaway) sends Alice on a quest to borrow the Chronosphere, a metallic globe inside the chamber of the Grand Clock which powers all time. Returning to the past, she comes across friends – and enemies – at different points in their lives, and embarks on a perilous race to save the Hatter before time runs out.

Disney is giving kids a treat with coloring pages, a maze, spot the differences printables, and book marks. This pack will keep them busy for hours. 

 

Image-AliceThroughTheLookingGlass-Coloring-Page1 Image-AliceThroughTheLookingGlass-Coloring-Pages2 Image-AliceThroughTheLookingGlass-Coloring-Pages4

AliceThroughTheLookingGlass-Coloring-Pages5

Image-AliceThroughTheLookingGlass-Maze -1

 

Disney movies, Disney activities, Disney book marks, Disney books AliceThroughTheLookingGlass-Book-Marks2 AliceThroughTheLookingGlass-Book-Marks3 AliceThroughTheLookingGlass-Book-Marks4 AliceThroughTheLookingGlass-Book-Marks5

One of my favorite movie quotes is “I knew who I was this morning, but I’ve changed a few times since then.”  –  Lewis Carroll.  I can relate, can you? Be sure to set some time aside to go enjoy this family movie and print the activity sheets to get the kids excited before you go.

 

 

 

 

 

Sunday’s Best Linkup – #75

linky party, blog hop, social networking

 

 

Welcome to Week 75 of Mother 2 Mother’s Sunday’s Best Linkup. We’re continuing our Father’s Day celebration this week. Our theme is World’s Greatest Dads. I sure miss my dad who’s in heaven, and would give anything to spend another minute with him. I’ll be celebrating him in memory. We’re looking for crafts, recipes, party ideas, decorating inspiration, gift ideas, and anything else you would like to post to dad.

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 parties and makeovers and more. Blow the dust off your old posts and link those too. They’re great for inspiration.
Just 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.

The Reader’s Choice post(s) will be determined by the post(s) with the most clicks. We will be adding the winner to our Sunday’s Best featured bloggers.

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 subscribe to my blog on the right, like my
Facebook Page, follow me on Twitter, Google+, Pinterest, BlogLovin or 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.

 

Mother 2 Mother Blog

Sundays Best Featured Blogger

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:
I selected Antique Hutch Makeover from USS Crafty 
 DIY, crafts, furniture makeovers
and

Kim U. selected Grapevine Cup and Saucer from Plum Perfect and Me

crafts, DIY, gardening

 

and

Kim M. selected The Importance of Reading Together from Reviews, Chews and How Tos 

family activities, reading,
The Post With The Most Clicks:
Creamy Chicken Pesto from Silver Foodie 

chicken recipes, recipes, pesto recipes

 

and

 

The Favorite Theme Posts

The World’s Greatest Dads 

 

Dad’s Day Delights from Marilyn’s Treats

recipes, Father's Day recipes

 

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. 

 

 


Abigail and the Jungle Adventure Book Review

I was given the opportunity to review this book and readily accepted the opportunity.  In return, I was furnished a copy of the Kindle ebook; however, all opinions are my own.

Today, I’m sharing parenting tips on our suggested children’s books.  I reviewed Abigail and the Jungle Adventure book review.  It is the first book in the Explore the World series.  Abigail is the star in the series.  In the Jungle Adventure she is staying with her grandparents for Christmas while her parents are on a business trip.  While her grandparents are napping, she heads off to the attic to explore.  There are boxes full of all kinds of things, but what catches her eye is a shiny object hiding under a blanket.

 

suggested children's books

 

 

To her surprise, a red bicycle is hiding underneath.  The bicycle has a basket with a book.  She dusts off the book and opens it.  There are pictures of the jungle, the North Pole, the Himalayas, the Sahara desert and more.  On the last page was a letter telling the reader to think of the place they want to visit and repeat, “Take me there, let me see, show me where I want to be!”.  She was to repeat this 3 times.

She did, and to her surprise she was on the bicycle and riding over the Amazon Jungle.  During her adventure she meets an Indian boy named Nuka.  They become friends and she visits his village.  She meets his granddad and his friends, but even in story books all things come to end.  Abigail must return home.  She repeats the magical words and returns to her grandparents just in time for dinner.

She tells her grandmother about her adventure, but her grandmother just shakes her head.  Her granddad winks and smiles and Abigail winks back.  She was already planning her next adventure.

I thoroughly enjoyed the book, and I’m so happy to have this book on our list of suggested children’s books.  The book is appropriate for children ages 2 – 8.  My granddaughter is 4, so she loves for me to read to her.  My grandson is 8, he is able to read to her as well.  It makes a great anytime book.  I love that the authors are involving characters of different cultures into the stories.  I believe that children should see children who look like them, but they should also see those who look different from them.  It allows them to ask questions and understand diversity at an early age.

The book is easy enough for both preschoolers and older children to understand.  It keeps them interested through the adventure.  The illustrations are bright and fun as well.  I received the ebook; however, it is available in paperback.

I highly recommend this book.  Put it on your suggested children’s books list.  I’m looking forward reading the other 2 books in the collection, Abigail and the Sahara Adventure and Abigail and the North Pole Adventure.  Head over to Amazon and download your purchase of Abigail and the Jungle Adventure.

 

How To Control Backyard Garden Pests

Gardening is one of the best remedies for the mind. There are many benefits attached to it like enjoying outdoors, getting some physical activity, and growing nutritious fruits and vegetables.  Unfortunately, there’s a few downsides to backyard vegetable gardeningHow to Control Garden Pests is major issue in gardens.  We’re going to share a few tips today on how you can take preventive measure on controlling them.  And, how to fight them when you encounter them in your garden.

 

 

garden pests

 

One of the important aspects of maintaining a garden is to nourish and protect your plants. It is also natural for gardeners to use pesticides to protect their plants from pest attack. Most of the pesticides have harmful chemicals, and it affects your health and the environment as well.  Find preventive pest control methods that will keep your plants healthy. You have to put in some extra efforts to follow them, but in the end, it will all be worth it.

 


 

 

  • Organic gardeners recommend natural pesticides like soaps, vinegar, neem oil, and row covers.  Chemical pesticides can protect plants, but the majority of the garden has vegetables that are edible. Plants inherit these chemicals.  Consuming the chemicals can become dangerous. Dust and pyrethrum solution extracted from daisy flowers are good natural pesticides. By spraying the solution from time to time, plants are protected from insects, such as flies, fleas, ants, and aphids.
  • If you see any bacterial and pest infestation, you must act on it immediately to prevent it from spreading. Cut off infected part of the plants and throw away the damaged fruits or vegetables. Do not add them to the compost heap. Regularly check your garden for pests and don’t forget to look under the leaves as well.
  • Heat will dry plants and kill them quickly. So build a greenhouse to protect your plants from the harmful radiations.  Cold weather also hinders the growth of plants.
  • Next, apart from shade and shelter, mulch can protect your plants to a great extent. It also reduces general garden maintenance activity, retains water, decreases evaporation and encourages vigorous growth of plants. Do some research and find out about mulch variations that can be used in all temperature conditions.
  • Drinking water in the morning has many health benefits for humans. Same applies to plants. Watering early in the morning ensures that the roots are hydrated enough to bear the heat of the day. This is the only way to protect plants from sunburn. Sometimes a second watering is also a good idea if once wasn’t sufficient.
  • If you’re late at planting seeds, or you live in a place where it is warm throughout the year, plant the seeds deeper. Warm temperature and direct sunlight can dehydrate the top soil quickly. So by planting seed an extra inch or two deeper will prevent the root systems from drying.

 

 

garden pests

 

Last, you cannot entirely protect your garden from changing weather conditions, pests, and plant diseases. But, as a gardener, you have to experiment with gardening protecting tactics so that you can find out the one that is suitable for your garden.

 

 

Why You Should Teach Your Children To Do Volunteer Work

Are you involving your children in volunteer work?  I believe volunteer work is very important to  children for many reasons.  As parents we need to teach children that community is more than a place to live.  It’s a place to give as well.  Today, I’m sharing parenting tips on teaching your children to volunteer and why it’s important.

I taught this value to my daughter. I realized that becoming a volunteer was not only important to the community, it was important in life.  I’m from a small town, giving back and helping others was the norm.  To this day, I’m proud to say that I’m from my hometown.  If there’s a death in the community or someone is having a difficult time, the town comes together.  Those who grow up are so proud. Each generation passes down the trait of giving.

volunteer work, mentors, role models

Furthermore, here are other reasons for children to get involved in community service or volunteering:

  1. College Applications –  Administrators like to know that you are not only intelligent, but you also find time to give back to others.
  2. Scholarship Applications – Scholarships helped finance my daughter’s education.  She stood out among students who were competing because of her volunteer work.  Volunteer work is socially and academically acceptable.
  3. Helps Build Leadership Skills – Working with leaders helps teens learn leadership skills. Leadership skills can be used in camps, tutoring, church, college campuses, and many other places.
  4. Networking – Volunteer work allows teens to network with administrators, managers, and other people who can give them a reference for future jobs, scholarships and college applications, and possibly be hired with the company in the future.
  5. Learn To Give To Those In Need –  Volunteering gives teens an opportunity to see that there are people who are less fortunate than them.  Hopefully, seeing others who are less fortunate will help them to appreciate what they have. 
  6. No Pay Learning To Work From The Heart Volunteer work doesn’t pay monetarily, but it teaches the importance of helping others without receiving anything in return. 

Last, it’s important that teens get off of their electronics and learn about how the world works outside the comfort of home. They will learn to work for what they want in this world, and volunteering can help give them skills they will need in the future.  We hope you find our tips on teaching children to volunteer beneficial.

Also, be sure to subscribe before you leave. You don’t want to miss upcoming parenting tips and more. You may also like Habitat for Humanity.