Rhonda Gales, Author at Mother 2 Mother Blog

Sunday’s Best Linkup – #21

May 24, 2015 by Rhonda Gales

Welcome to Week 21 of Mother 2 Mother’s Sunday’s Best Linkup. This is the last week for our May Flowers theme. It’s the month to plant gardens and flowers, open pools, fire up backyard grills, makeover outdoor spaces, and turn the kids loose in the yard. In addition, we would like activities for kids inside and outside, recipes, crafts, DIY, home makeover and gardening tips, SEO and blogging information, sewing projects, patio and deck makeovers, backyard projects, front porch makeovers, spring organization tips, and ideas for indoor flower arrangements.

We would like to also honor our fallen soldiers again this week, so we’re looking for posts on Memorial Day projects or remembrance.

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, 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.

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.

What’s New: 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.

In addition, a post for our monthly theme will be selected and featured each week.

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 Homemade Mac and Cheese from The Jenny Evolution

I selected Edible Sand Art from Atta Girl

Or Kim M. wasn’t available this week so I also selected Kindergarten Graduation from Smart Party Planning

The Readers Selected:

Where We Really Ready to be Parents from The Mommy Life

and

Featured Post
In Rememberance of Our Fallen Soldiers

Patriotic Pavloa from Albion Gould

Congratulations to our featured bloggers! All of the posts were great, and I appreciate each of you linking up. I would like to invite all of you back to linkup your post(s) again, it could be selected this 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.

An InLinkz Link-up

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: social media, social networking, Sunday's Best Linkup

Blogging Tips from Professional Blogger – Life In a House of Testosterone

May 18, 2015 by Rhonda Gales

Welcome to Blogging Tips From Professional Blogger Part II. Today I am interviewing the witty Kim Miller from Life in a House. Kim will continue to enlighten us with blogging tips and tricks for those who wish to grow their blog. Lets begin the interview:

1. I’m always looking for a blog that makes me laugh and a blogger who keeps it real. We connected and bonded immediately, so I would like my readers to get a glimpse of who you are. Please tell them a little about yourself and your blog.

Hi there everyone! I’m the slightly crazed mom and owner of Life in a House of Testosterone. I am a 48 year old mom to three beautiful children – April (1988), Jonathan (1999), and Tre (2003). I live on the outskirts of Richmond, VA with The Man Thing (aka hubby) and our four-legged daughter, Mollyanna. (supposedly
she’s the menfolk’s dog since THEY are the ones who wanted her and THEY are the ones who swore that they would walk, feed, and groom her every single day – ha! I can count on one hand the amount of times that has happened in the 5 years we’ve owned her!)

As for me – I grew up in Cressona, PA, little town not far from Lancaster and Hershey. Born and raised in the country, I grew up on my grandparents farm (Sunnybrook Farm). I married April’s father and moved to Jacksonville, NC when I was 19. We lived there for 7 years before her father and I divorced. He went off to Parris Island, SC to become a drill instructor, and April and I packed our bags and moved to Richmond with a
girlfriend of mine and her four boys. I have a brother and sister who still live back home, both of my parents have passed away so its just the three of us and our families.

I’m a glass is half-full kind of gal. An Aquarius if you’re wondering about my astrological sign. My due date was Valentine’s Day. However, I arrived early. Furthermore, I couldn’t stay put for 3 more days. I have a bit of a daredevil streak in me and I’m willing to try most anything at least once. You want me to go cliff diving or something equally dangerous, you’re going to have to supply me with generous quantities of Pink Moscato. A girl has to have her limits!

Life in a House of Testosterone has been a labor of love for the past 11 years. Today actually – April 11 – is my 11th year blogging. I started out on LiveJournal, then moved to Blogger. When I was on blogger, I named my blog The MAD White Woman. However, in 2012 when I decided to become a professional, full-time blogger, I changed the name to Life in a House of Testosterone. The following year I made the leap to a self-hosted WordPress blog and haven’t looked back.

2. Life in a House of Testosterone is very diverse. You blog about recipes, promote giveaways, review products, and participate in link parties and Blogger OPPs. What is your strategy for obtaining items for reviews, giveaways and sponsorships? Also, how important is it for bloggers to participate in link parties and what are the benefits for them?

I hate being put into a niche, because life is not black and white. It’s messy and all over the place. My life deals with a million different things each and every day. Why should your blog be just one aspect of your life? So, another one of my blogging tips is to write about anything and everything. Oh gosh … when I became a professional blogger – I was absolutely dying to be a part of the review/giveaway circuit. I mean, how cool is it to have companies sending you stuff for free to review? So, I paid attention, and I watched the bloggers that I wanted to be like to see how they were getting their stuff. I would send out emails to these companies and nothing. Nada. Zip. So I asked a friend of mine (a fellow blogger) how she got started. She told me three key things to remember:

(1) Don’t be discouraged when it feels like every response is a “no” because the very next one could be a “yes” for a campaign that you REALLY wanted to be a part of;
(2) Network – look for Facebook Groups that share blogger opportunities, sponsored posts, set up Google Alerts for keywords like “bloggers wanted” and
(3) Never give up.

I was rejected by several pretty big name companies over the past two years. This year I have the pleasure of being a part of the Chick-Fil-A Moms as well as the HP Smart Mom Panel. I receive several gift cards usually every other month for free menu items at Chick-Fil-A in exchange for sharing our purchases on social media and telling our family and friends what we think of their food.

Hewlett Packard was kind enough to send each of the moms on the panel their new HP-Envy 5660 all in one printer to review earlier this year. I was also accepted as a Best Buy Blogger right before the holidays last year. The work that I’ve done with them earned me enough to afford the iPod Touch 5th Generation that my son wanted for Christmas (over $240 with all that he wanted). Where did I purchase it? Best Buy, naturally!

The next two companies on my radar are Microsoft and to become a Disney Social Media Mom. If it is the last thing that I do on this earth, I will have an expense paid press trip to Walt Disney World and Epcot Center in Orlando, Florida before I die. My best advice that I can give to you is don’t give up. If you want to work with a particular company – Do Your Research. Find out who their PR (public relations) person is. Call them, email
them, find out what events they have coming up that may be in your area that you can attend. Google them! Follow other bloggers who have worked, or are currently working with that company. Ask them how they got the chance to be a Brand Ambassador, or to be a part of their panel. Most bloggers will be happy to tell you! Follow them on social media, literally become an online stalker of the companies that you want to work with, interact with them, share their Facebook posts, re-tweet their tweets, do whatever it takes for them to notice you.

Above all else though – Be Sincere. Another one of my blogging tips is to not go after a company just because of what you may or may not get from them for free. You have to have a genuine desire to work with them, love their products and actually own a few or use them on a daily basis, and be willing to tell them when they miss the mark with a product in a professional and courteous manner.

Another blogging tip, you MUST network. Even just 5 or 6 years ago when I was blogging – “networking” meant that you had to visit your favorite blogs every day and comment on the new posts. However, with all of the social media avenues available to bloggers now that’s not necessarily the “formula” any longer. Follow their Facebook pages, give their posts a +1 on Google+ and leave a comment. Also, double-tap to like that silly photo of their dog on Instagram.

Act as though they are already a family friend that share a cup of coffee with. If you aren’t sure who you should be cultivating a relationship with – Google what you’re interested in! Another blogging tip, if you like DIY projects, do a search for “DIY bloggers.” If you want to get more specific, google “Virginia DIY bloggers” to find bloggers in your state. They might post on social media that they are attending this week’s wine tasting at the country club. That’s your opportunity to attend the same event, introduce yourself, and make a new friend.

Here’s another blogging tip, you do NOT need to follow 3000 different bloggers. I am currently in the process of putting together The Ultimate Blogger List (which closes for submissions on April 30, 2015). It will be helpful in finding bloggers in your particular niche or field of interest. The list includes the blogger’s name, their blog name and URL, the city and state that they live in. Additionally, what they blog about. Once the list is closed, I’ll be sharing a copy of it with those bloggers that have requested a copy. It is going to be a fantastic starting point for building your network of fellow bloggers. I’m super excited about it! If you haven’t already added your blog – go do it now!

3. What social media platform do you prefer for promoting your blog content and why?

Ugh, that’s a tough one. I’m one of those perfectionist types with a bit of manic ADD thrown in for good measure – and I think I have to be everywhere simultaneously. I had a falling out with Facebook several months (a year?) back and decided to just ignore it and use Google+ exclusively. I had a lot of interaction at first (again, networking with others you are interested in, reading their posts and sharing). But, I began to notice that a lot of the posts weren’t personal. They were basically automated posts from the bloggers that I followed when they published a new post. I wasn’t getting the same level of interaction that I did on Facebook. So, I went back to Facebook. I like the groups because conversations are threaded and you can really get a lively discussion going on certain topics. Furthermore, I also have been trying different ways to engage my readers on my fan page as well as my personal page. You are more than welcome to send me a friend request! I only turn down those creepy guys floating in the middle of the ocean on a raft looking for a “soulmate” to share their raft with. Keep moving buddy!) and not just automatically publishing a post to my Facebook page but actually writing a few sentences about the post and asking a question.

If I had to pick a social network – I’d say Facebook with Twitter and Pinterest tied for second place. Ironically, 45% of my traffic this month has been from StumbleUpon (which I hardly ever use). Since the beginning of the year though – my traffic has been primarily from Pinterest, Facebook, and StumbleUpon and pretty evenly distributed as well.

4. Driving traffic and getting readers and followers to share blog content is essential for blogging success. Commenting on blog posts is also recommended. Can you explain to readers why these steps are important and what your plan of action is to get followers/readers to share your content?

Really Rhonda? You had to put me on the spot like this? I hate trying to get people to comment on my blog. I have literally gone months without one single comment. Do you know how frustrating that is?!?

Then it dawned on me. Why are they going to share (let alone take the time to read) anything that I am writing, if I’m not commenting and sharing what they are writing? I think I’ve tried every social share and commenting system out there to see what the magic solution was. If nothing else, the one thing I’ve learned as a blogger came from being a reader and commenter myself.

Keep your blog design SIMPLE, clean, and easy to read.

Don’t have a crazy mix of colors, or fonts that are hard to read.
Don’t have flashing doo-dads and snow falling and music playing that will slow your blog’s load
time and piss me off because I have to wait for all the bells and whistles to catch up.
Turn off the $#%!*# captcha that nobody can read and ends up having to try three or four times till
they finally get it right just to leave you a comment that reads, “Great post. Thanks for the advice.”
Give me a menu! Where can I find your recipes? How do I get in contact with you? How do I find out
more about you or the XYZ product I saw you became an independent consultant for on Facebook the other day?
It all boils down to four little words that apply to most everything, “keep it simple,
stupid!”

Now, because it is the most annoying, pain in the ass feature on the face of the planet, I have to vent about this
next item. If two seconds after I arrive on your blog to read your post a pop-up appears in front of my face and won’t let me finish reading the article until I subscribe to your newsletter or follow you on Facebook – I’m outta there. And, trust me I won’t be back.

Especially if the article sounded really good because then it just pisses me off even more that I’ve read the first paragraph and can’t get to the rest of it until I answer your stupid box.

The kiss of death is filling out box one to make it go away and then having another box pop up from the bottom to advertise something, click the “x” to make that go away and three seconds later ANOTHER box pops up? I’ll never be back to your blog. If I really like your style of writing or your humor, I’ll read your stuff in Feedly or Bloglovin but I will never visit the blog itself again.

Finally – your commenting system. MAKE MY LIFE EASIER – PLEASE! I want to leave you a comment and tell you how much I enjoyed your post. If I have to enter my name, my email, my website address, leave my comment, fill the captcha out three or four times, choose my latest post, log in with my Facebook account all before I can hit publish and post my comment – you’ve lost me. Especially if I then see “your comment will be visible after approval.”

All I heard on my WordPress commenting system were crickets chirping. I re-installed Disqus comments after the last WordPress update and I am absolutely ecstatic that I did. I have been receiving at least 5 to 20 comments daily on posts. And, I do my best to ensure that I respond to each and every one of them.

5. You have a significant following on all of your social media sites. What tips can you give readers who wish to increase their followers?

The best blogging tip is to Talk To Your Readers and Followers. Interact with them, laugh with them, cry with them, poor your heart out to your readers – be Human. It’s what makes YOU unique!

You may also like: Professional Blogging Tips – Part I

When Kim is not blogging on a House in a Life of Testosterone or promoting the Brand, she spends time with her 3 children and husband in Richmond, Virginia.

Filed Under: Life-Thoughts Tagged With: blogging resources, blogging tips

Sunday’s Best Linkup #19

May 16, 2015 by Rhonda Gales

Welcome to Week 19 of Mother 2 Mother’s Sunday’s Best Linkup. This week we’re celebrating mothers around the world. Our roles as mother’s doesn’t come with a manual, and it’s a job that we never stop doing no matter how old our children get. We can change jobs or retire from them, but you never stop being a mother. For all those moms who have lost sleep, don’t eat, shower or brush your teeth, endure vomit, poopy diapers, and picky eaters only to get up the next day and do it all over again, Mother 2 Mother would like to wish each of you A Happy and Blessed Mother’s Day.

Our theme this month is May Flowers. It’s the month to plant gardens and flowers, open pools, fire up backyard grills, makeover outdoor spaces, and turn the kids loose in the yard. I know you’re jumping for joy, right! I know I am.

This week we’re looking for posts on Mother’s Day past and ideas for this Mother’s Day, activities for kids inside and outside, recipes, crafts, DIY, home makeover and gardening tips, SEO and blogging information, sewing projects, patio and deck makeovers, backyard projects, front porch makeovers, spring organization tips, and ideas for indoor flower arrangements.

The Sunday’s Best Posts are:

Kim U. selected Berry Delicious Cheesecake Fluff from Dizzy, Busy and Hungry

I selected Funny Face Seedlings from Made With Happy

Kim M. selected – Who is Responsible? The Race Cards are on the Table from Living in Mommywood

The Readers Choose:

5 Tips for New Bloggers from J9 Designs

An InLinkz Link-up

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: linky, linky party, social networking, Sunday's Best Linkup

Sunday’s Best Linkup – #20

May 16, 2015 by Rhonda Gales

Welcome to Week 20 of Mother 2 Mother’s Sunday’s Best Linkup. Our theme this month is May Flowers. It’s the month to plant gardens and flowers, open pools, fire up backyard grills, makeover outdoor spaces, and turn the kids loose in the yard. In addition, we would like activities for kids inside and outside, recipes, crafts, DIY, home makeover and gardening tips, SEO and blogging information, sewing projects, patio and deck makeovers, backyard projects, front porch makeovers, spring organization tips, and ideas for indoor flower arrangements.

We would like to also honor our fallen soldiers this week, so we’re looking for posts on Memorial Day projects or remembrance.

The Sunday’s Best Posts are:

Kim U. selected Mom You Are Tea-rific from The Resourceful Mama

I selected Spring Centerpieces to Create with Grandchildren from Grandma Ideas

Kim M. selected

Kim M. selected Strawberry Martini from Lipgloss and Crayons

The Readers Choose:

Tripe Layer Pina Colada Rice Pudding from Swirls and Spice

An InLinkz Link-up

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: linky, linky party, social networking, Sunday's Best Linkup

Hello world!

May 14, 2015 by Rhonda Gales

Welcome to WordPress. This is your first post. Edit or delete it, then start blogging!

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Whoopi Goldberg: Sugar Plum Ballerina Books Review

May 14, 2015 by Rhonda Gales

I love Whoopi Goldberg. She was a teen mother who gave birth at 17 and went on to become a funny, highly intelligent actress and author. She is the mother of 1, grandmother of 3 and great grandmother of 1. While looking for Christmas gift for my granddaughter, I discovered the Sugar Plum Ballerinas books. Incorporating diversity into my blog, but truth be told there’s not much on the market for Bi-Racial, Latino or African American children. Especially in the form of books relating to their culture. The market is getting better, but there’s room for improvement.

The Sugar Plum Ballerinas series by Whoopi Goldberg is a great gift idea. In particular, Birthdays, Christmas, or just because are great times to give one of the books until you complete the series. I started the Sugar Plum Ballerinas series for my granddaughter. Each book tells a story that little girls can relate. For example, leaving behind friends and moving to a new town. Furthermore, about being untruth or not feeling good enough.
Furthermore, I want my grandchildren to be proud of who they are. Just as important, I want them to be able to relate to characters who look like them. I think it is important that all children be able to relate to the stories they are reading. It’s important that they see images that look like them, their relatives, and other children they are playing with. Personally, I think the world is a much better place when everyone is included.

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I’ve purchased the first 2 books in the series. The first book is Plum Fantastic and the second is Toeshoe Trouble. This series is great for girls ages 6-12; however, some reviewers believe 6-10 is more appropriate. In addition, the average number of pages in the books is 160. My granddaughter is still a little young, but she can blow the dust off the books later.

I need to purchase the following books to complete my set: Terrible Terrel, Sugar Plums to the Rescue, Perfectly Prima, and Dancing Diva.

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The books are paperback. Each are reasonably priced at $5.00 each on Amazon. At that prize, you could give the entire set without breaking the bank or you can download them to your Kindle. The illustrations are beautiful and the stories are realistic. Little girls love who love tutus and dream of being a ballerina will love the series. Add it to your gift giving list.

Filed Under: Parenting Tips, Suggested Reading List Tagged With: ballerina books, children's books, children's gifts, Whoopi Goldberg books

Turn It Up Tuesday #86

May 12, 2015 by Rhonda Gales

Welcome to Mother to Mother and the 86th week here at Turn It Up Tuesday! Hope all of the mothers out there had an amazing Mother’s Day!!!

I spent my day relaxing and just surfing the web. Some days I just crave peace and quiet. I’m learning to enjoy the ~~finer~~ simple things in life.

Last week, we had an awesome time on Turn It Up Tuesday with 361 links – another amazing week! We’d like to thank each and every one of you for making every week so amazing! Keep sharing your amazing posts with us here on Turn It Up Tuesday!

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. 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!

SPONSOR OF THE MONTH

Our sponsor for May is Dolled Up Spa Boutique.

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We are 2 sisters who wanted to inspire and encourage all the beautiful young girls in our lives. We wanted to pamper them and give them confidence all while having fun. So we started doing Spa parties and events, everything from manicures, pedicures, facials, hair and make up. Then we started making accessories, spa products, tutus and now clothing.We started off by doing it for the girls we know, then we started going to our local street fair and then we decided to open up our very own boutique. We love what we do and we love to create unique one of a kind items, just like these precious little girls. After all playing dress up, putting on jewelry, doing your hair and make up never goes out of style. We say the fluffier the better, there is never too much sparkle and glitter you say….Yes please!! We hope that you like what we have created.

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 May!

(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 guest hosts will be chosen on a first come first-serve basis.

Here are the Featured posts from last week!

Lisa chose Homemade Strawberry Kiwi Spritzer Popsicle Recipe from The Jenny Evolution. “This is great! Homemade popsicles that aren’t filled with sugar. Healthy and so many choices to make them other than strawberry-kiwi (though that is my favorite fruit combination)!”

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Lisa chose How to make a Blog Editorial Calendar from illistyle. “To be honest, I had never even thought to use Google Calendar but after reading this post, I can’t believe I haven’t used it! It’s just what I need not just for blogging but for my classes!”

Jillian also chose this post. “I chose this post because I feel like my editorial calendar is a constant struggle. I start one, then stop because I don’t find it convenient enough. Having it online, with google Docs, would likely lead to more organization and consistency.”

Cindy chose DIY Seed Bombs from Hello Nature. “I chose this post because I actually used some commercial seed bombs last week and I love knowing that I can make my own from now on. The process seems simple and it would also make a nice gift.”

8 ways pinterest chaned parenting forever

Cindy chose 8 Ways Pinterest Changed Parenting Forever from Unremarkable Files. “I am so glad my kids were grown when Pinterest came around. So far my daughter-in-law isn’t interested in Pinterest so maybe I’ll be the only Pinterest crazed one when the grandkids start coming.”

Rachel chose DIY Moisturizing Hair Mask from Hairspray & High Heels. “My hair is typically dry and this moisturizer looks like something my hair strands would soak up! Having a homemade hair mask is a great idea because I can whip it up anytime I need it!”

Rachel chose Missing My Blue Bell Ice Cream from Pastries Pumps and Pi. “I miss Blue Bell too! If you’ve never tasted it, it’s only one of the creamiest and softest ice creams around. But there has been a major recall and Tameka explains the precautions very well here. I too love when companies are proactive about the quality and safety of their products.”

DIY-Pedicure-Kit-for-Mothers-Day-horizMD

Amy chose Homemade Pedicure Kit from View from the Fridge. “What a great gift for Mother’s Day or any other occasion. It just reminds me of how badly I need a spa day but nice to know that I can enjoy something like that in my own home.”

Amy chose Dreams Can Change in Your 30’s from Mommy In Sports. “Having recently celebrated my 33rd birthday, this post has made me reflect on all the wonderful experiences and surprises I’ve had in my life and how that has changed my definition of success.”

Giselle chose Peach Mojito from Lipgloss and Crayons. “I love how simple the recipe was and it looks absolutely delicious. I’ll have to give this a try!”

Giselle chose Makeup Habits To Break from The Organized Dream. “As a makeup artist and makeup junkie I love these tips. It’s so easy for people to bypass them, but they are very important to follow.”

Mari chose Shrimp Cobb Salad from Fitness Food Diva. “I loved Shannon’s salad, it mixed two of my favs together Cobb Salad & Shrimp! Look firward to trying it out.”

Mari chose 12 #BaltimoreRiots “Twitter” Reflections You Won’t See in The Media from AfroChic Mompreneur. “My other fav was something I think every mom blogger should have been speaking about because it efforts the world our children are growing up in. We are all the same…thank you Nancy for sharing this eye opening peace. If we don’t stand for something we end up standing for nothing.”

Stacey chose Self Defence – Should We Be Teaching Our Girls? from Barbie Bieber and Beyond. “Such a great post! I think self-defense classes are great for kids in general, especially in today’s society. I always wanted to take them growing up as a child in the 80’s. Thank you so much for sharing!”

Zografia chose Vinyl Cross-Stitch Wall Art from The Scrap Shoppe Blog. “That’s a lot of work, but it’s worth it! Great idea!”

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Zografia chose Not-Your-Usual Malta Destination Guide from Urban Naturale. “Malta is one of the places i want to visit! I’ll keep these suggestions in mind!”

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Jody chose 18 no bake sweet treats from Dreaming of Leaving. “I love this No Bake Sweets Pin. There’s a bunch of them. They look so good and they’re No Bake , which I think we all love!”

Jody chose How to Declutter: Conquering Decluttering Paralysis from Clean & Scentsible. “I love this next post and I think a lot of people will. Decluttering is hard for all of us, I guess. Now I’m going to use these tips.”

Rebekah also chose this post. “I hope these were long enough explanations as to why I chose both of these links. There were so many great links but these two seem to inspire me the most.”

Kimberly (Being a Wordsmith) chose Dear Mom who has recently miscarried from Gym. Craft. Laundry. “An open and honest letter to women who have miscarried. As someone who experienced this loss many years ago, I still have the same thoughts that she wrote about.”

Kimberly (Being a Wordsmith) chose You Do WHAT for a Living? from Earning & Saving with Sarah Fuller. “This post made me think about all the odd looks I get from people when I tell them I am a blogger. Can you imagine what face they would make if I told them I was a snake milker or a roadkill collector? Check out this post to read about more unique occupations.”

Tina chose Posterized Native American Washi Tape Art from illistyle. “What an amazing artwork,an ode to Gregg Deal. I absolutely love this washi tape art. Thanks so much for sharing.”

Tina chose Flourless Mexican Brownies from Spoonful of Flavor. “Yummy no flour mexican brownies with frosting?Yes please,they look delicious.Thanks for sharing.”

Ginger chose Cocktail: Strawberry Shortcake Moonshine from Pink Heels Pink Truck. “Everyone in my family loves strawberry’s so I loved this recipe.It will be the perfect barbecue cocktail this summer.”

Ginger chose Sweet & Spicy Baby Back Ribs {#PasstheCookbook} from Juggling Act Mama. “I am in full summer barbecue mode so this caught my eye. It sounds like a delicious recipe that I am excited to try this summer.”

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Jillian chose 10 Amazing Perks of Having an Only Child from MBA SAHM. “I chose this post because my husband and I currently have one child, and I’ve gone back and forth with having another and whether we should or not. My son is my world and I am so happy for that – this post reminds that having only 1 child is A-OK!”

Fresh raw chicken fillet and vegetables prepared for cooking

Rebekah chose Save Money on Your Grocery Budget By Ordering Fresh Meat in Bulk from Practical Mommy. “I chose this second link because she explains in detail about how we can be psychologically paralyzed while trying to make decisions in decluttering our house. This is a problem so many of us have – we want a clean house but where do we start? We want the clutter to be gone but which part do we recycle?”

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!

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And the Best of the Best is…

Dreams Can Change in Your 30’s from Mommy In Sports

How to Declutter: Conquering Decluttering Paralysis from Clean & Scentsible

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!

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So now that you’ve met our Sponsor for the month, our hosts and guest hosts, 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!

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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.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: social networking, Turn It Up Tuesday

7 Easy to Grow Indoor Houseplants

May 11, 2015 by Rhonda Gales

Needless to say, not everyone is born with a green thumb. In fact, many are born with a special talent for destroying beauty. However, there have been a few lucky houseplants that have survived. It’s these that I highly recommend if you’re interested in easy to grow indoor houseplants. Plants also have other benefits like added color to the interior and improved air quality. So, I have a few flower gardening tips on indoor plants that I would like to share with you today.

I highly recommend the following easy to grow indoor houseplants:

1. Ponytail Palm – This mini-tree houses a head of long green leaves that are arranged in a way that is reminiscent of elementary school pigtails. It is easy to care for with just a cup of water a week. I think I can handle that – it can grow up to 3 feet tall.

2. Aloe Vera – Both attractive and functional, aloe vera is a modern-looking plant with incredible healing properties. Break off one of the shoots and apply the ooze inside to sunburns for instant relief.

3. Autograph Plant – This is by far one of the coolest indoor plant options. The Clusia rosea is known as the autograph tree. The plant’s leaves act as the perfect host for keeping special memories. Simply sketch in your name or draw a picture and it stays there forever – or at least as long as you keep it alive.

4. Peace Lily – A perfect plant if you’re fighting a lot. Really, though, there are few better plants that help clear the air. Known for its great oxidizing attributes, the peace lily – with its white-flag flower – is exceptionally easy to grow and does well in low-lit areas.

5. Spider Plant – Noteworthy, and another no-fail green. This plant is available in variegated shades as well as monochromatic green. It has shoots of leaves that spit out from the base like the legs of a spider.

6. Pothos – My parents were given one of these as a housewarming gift, and it flourished under their care, which is somewhat of a miracle considering the horticultural thumb of death runs in my family. Seriously, though: You can start with a small pot of pothos, and before you know it, a blazing trail of green starts to take over.

7. English Ivy – This is the perfect choice for ridding your home of litter air. English Ivy can help break down and reduce the amount of fecal matter in the air left behind by your beloved furballs. It is, however, toxic to animals and kids; so keep it out of their reach.

Last, try out these seven indoor houseplants options, and may the Gods shine upon them – and your thumb with favor.

BIO: Ali is a “Jill of all trades.” She writes about gardening, home advice and healthy living on her blog Homey Improvements and is a princess for hire at kids’ parties. Follow her on Twitter @DIYfolks.

Filed Under: Flower Gardens, Nature-Gardening Tagged With: gardening, home gardening, houseplants

Sunday’s Best #18

May 9, 2015 by Rhonda Gales

Welcome to Week 18 of Mother 2 Mother’s Sunday’s Best Linkup. We’ve started our May Flowers theme. May is the month to plant gardens and flowers, open pools, fire up backyard grills, makeover outdoor spaces, and turn the kids loose in the yard. I know you’re jumping for joy, right! I know I am.

This week we’re looking for activities for kids inside and outside, Mother’s Day ideas, recipes, crafts, DIY, home makeover and gardening tips, SEO and blogging information, sewing projects, patio and deck makeovers, backyard projects, front porch makeovers, spring organization tips, and ideas for indoor flower arrangements.

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.

What’s New: 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 the 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 Friday.

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 Sunday’s Best Hosts are:

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

The Sunday’s Best Posts are:

Kim U. selected How To Make A Dirt Cake from Growing Up Gabel

I selected Splash of Lime Party from Lipgloss and Crayons

Kim M. selected – Chocolate Cake Delight from Lou Lou Girls

Congratulations ladies! All of the posts were great, and I appreciate each of you linking up. I would like to invite all of you back to linkup your post(s) again, it could be selected this 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.

An InLinkz Link-up

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: linky, linky party, social networking, Sunday's Best Linkup

Heirloom Tomatoes & Their Characteristics

May 9, 2015 by Rhonda Gales

Today, I’m sharing gardening tips on heirloom tomatoes and characteristics. First, I have my tomato plants under the grow lights, and hopefully I will be tilling the garden in a few weeks. I believe the last frost date in Zone 6B is around May 15. When I think of backyard vegetable gardening, heirloom tomatoes on a BLT is the first thing to come to mind. They take up much of the space in my backyard vegetable garden.

Why? Because they have a totally different taste from store brought tomatoes and hybrid tomatoes. It’s hard to describe the flavor of a tomato, it must be experienced. I’m a visual person, so I thought you would like to see the end result of what is being planted in my garden. Additionally, learn a few characteristics of my favorite tomatoes. Also, I hope this information will help you make a decision on what tomatoes you want to purchase before you buy from your local garden center.

Before you select your tomato plants, decide how you want to use your tomatoes. Do you want to use them for sandwiches slices, make sauce, paste or salsa. Or do you want to use them in salads? Will you canning them? I love slicing tomatoes in the summer and just eating them with a little mayo and pepper. Yum! I also make salsa, sauce, freeze them and can my harvest, so I need a variety in my garden.

Heirloom Tomatoes and Characteristics:

1. Brandywine Pink (Heirloom) – First, I like this tomato for its color and taste. How often do you see a pink tomato? The Brandywine Pink has a sweet taste, so I use it on sandwiches and as my go to when I want my sliced tomatoes with mayo. I also cut these in cubes for salads and tacos. I grow the Brandywine Red and Brandywine Yellow as well.

2. Hillybilly (Heirloom) – Next, the Hillbilly originated in my home state West Virginia. The color is a mix of yellow and red. It is delicious and has a sweet taste. It slices beautifully. I also add it to fresh salsa or salads.

3. Yellow Beefsteak (Hybrid) – So, I like the size of this tomato. It’s great for slicing. The tomato is large and it’s great for thick slices. Also, I add it to salads and salsa. I have a mixture of beefsteak seeds, so I don’t know if I’m going to get red, yellow, orange or green. It’s always nice to see what the end result is in the garden.

4. Brandywine Yellow (Heirloom) – This tomato has a better taste that the
Brandywine Pink, but it doesn’t produce as many tomatoes and it’s the last tomato plant in the garden to produce fruit. If you find that you like this tomato, you may want to double the amount of plants in your garden and stalk them well. They produce fruit up to 2 pounds each. Very pretty in salads or slices.

5. Cherokee Purple (Heirloom) – This tomato has beautiful deep burgundy color. The flavor is bold. This tomato is what home gardening is about, and no home kitchen garden is complete without at least one plant.

6. Amish Paste (Heirloom) – This is the tomato that I use for sauce. It’s a plum tomato that is meaty. I also use for salsa. Be warned, this plant grows hardy amounts of fruit that will topple your cage if not heavily stalked.

7. Better Boy (Hybrid) – One of the most popular if not the most popular tomato in the garden. This is the slicer of all slicers and great on burgers. Nice medium size tomato that you can’t go wrong planting.

8. Early Girl (Hybrid) – Another kitchen garden favorite. As result, I plant Early Girl because it produces early and it’s a great slicer. Early Girl is perfect on burgers as well as my go to for tomatoes and mayo.

9. Paul Robeson (Heirloom) – Last, this tomato is called the luxury tomato. It is named for Paul Robeson who was considered elegant, renowned, and charismatic. I think this is my favorite tomato. I remember the first time I tasted this tomato, I fell in love. Because the taste is indescribably delicious, it will have a place in my garden if no other makes it way in.

Heirloom tomatoes are not know for their beauty, but their taste. The crack and have other blemishes, but the taste remains superior. I hope that you found my list of favorite heirloom tomatoes beneficial. You may also like: 10 Benefits of Vegetable Gardening.

Filed Under: Nature-Gardening, Vegetable Garden Tagged With: gardening tips, heirloom tomatoes, hybrid tomatoes, kitchen gardens

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