Inspirational Quotes: Refuse To Fail

Inspirational Quote: Choose Wisely

inspirational quotes, quotes

When You Lose A Blogger Friend





Yesterday I learned that a rose had been plucked from the garden.  I lost a blogger friend.  I must say I was shocked.  I hadn’t visited her blog, Annie’s Kitchen Garden, in awhile and decided to head over to see what was growing in her garden this season.  She had passed on May 7 from cancer.  Those who knew Granny, loved her and will miss her greatly.  She was an avid gardener, lover of life, wife, grandmother and great grandmother.  I enjoyed her blog so much, and I learned much from her over the past few years in my gardening endeavors. 


It is amazing how social media and blogs connect people.  You can truly form friendships and bond over the internet.  Granny will be the second blogger friend that I have lost.  I am so grateful that I got to know her through her blog.  I will hold her and all of the knowledge that she passed to me in my heart forever.  Her wish for her fellow gardeners was to pass on our knowledge to others and Keep Gardening For Granny. It was an honor knowing her and I wish her family many blessings. May she RIP.  

Inspirational Quote: Know How To Play The Game

Quotes,

DIY – Flower Pot Tower

I’ve been wanting to make a flower pot tower for some time, and I finally got around to it.  I was quick pleased with how it turned out and how easy it was to make.  If you’re interested in making your own, you will need the following:


1 piece of rebar or a garden stake (Found at Lowes or Home Depot) 
1 10 inch clay pot
1 8 inch clay pot
1 6 inch clay pot
potting soil
1/2 flat of petunias


Place your rebar into the ground where you will be placing your tower.  Place the largest pot over the rebar. The hole in the pot will be large enough to place the pot over the rebar easily.  Fill the pot with potting soil.  Place the next pot over the rebar and fill with potting soil and than the third. Place petunias around the perimeter of each of the pots and water thoroughly.  Looks like I need to add a few more petunias to the top.  I want it be full.  

If you want to add a 4th or 5th pot, you will need to use a longer stake.  I recommend a garden stake, which can be purchased at your local garden center for a few bucks.  You can cut the stake down once you reach the desired height of your tower.  


You can also spray paint your pots the desired color if you want to a pop to your yard or add a saucer beneath the pots.  Quick and easy project.  

Turn It Up Tuesday – Week 37

Welcome to the 37th 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

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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!

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(from the top – left to right)
Natasha from Epic Mommy Adventures | Stacey from This Momma’s Ramblings | Jessica from The Wondering Brain | Cathy from A Peek Into My Paradise | April from 100lb Countdown | Becka from Probably Craftin | Carolyn from A Lavender Life | Margaret from The Mother Rising | Kae from Where’s My Pacifier? | Rachel from Craving Some Creativity | Cindy from Mom Maven | Shana from Organized Chaos | Rhonda from Mother 2 Mother | Lisa from The ‘Fix It’ Stitch | Karen from Quinton Wench | Jillian from Baby Doodah | Katy from Chaos & Kiddos | Tenns from New Mama Diaries

And welcome our awesome guest hosts for June!

 

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(from the top – left to right)
Debbie from Heartbeats Soul Stains | Katie from View From The Fridge | Elie from Organizer By Day | Shana from Technotini | Kimberly from Keystrokes By Kimberly | Ce Ce from A Chicago Mom | Sherry Ann from Teach, Inspire, Love, Raise | Rebecca from Futures

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!

10 Things Nobody Tells You About Having Kids
Carolyn chose 10 Things Nobody Tells You About Having Kids from Superheroes in Jammmies. “I could really relate to these ten things and the post had adorable pics to boot!”
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Rhonda chose Water Safety Tips that Parents Need to Know from Kinder Keepsakes. “I selected this post because it only takes a second for an accident to happen in pools or at the beach. This post offers great tips on what parents should do be before entering or allowing their children to enter the water.”
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Jillian chose How To Write An Email That Won’t End Up in Spam from Blog U. “I chose this post because I know how important it is to grab someone’s attention right from the start and to convince them to work with you. That can be tough to accomplish, this has some great tips on what to do so you don’t end up in someone’s “spam.”
SS Stuffed Cabbage Rolls CU1
Shana chose Southern Style Stuffed Cabbage Rolls {Granny’s Recipe} from Cooking with K. “These Southern Style Stuffed Cabbage rolls are not only simple but perfect for a tasty dish! Whether you decide to serve up some sides and make a meal out of it or bring it along to your next potluck these are sure to win over a few tummies!”
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Cindy chose Think Outside The Toybox…Glow Sticks Ideas for Kids from our very own Katie from View From the Fridge. “My boys would have loved making these when they were younger. I may be babysitting a 7yo friend this summer and I am collecting ideas of things we can make together and I think he would love these glow stick lightning bugs.”
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Cathy chose Orange Bundt Cake / Pound Cake from Sumee’s Culinary Bites. “I love to make breakfast from scratch on weekend mornings; when hubby and I have time to eat together. I love baking muffins and breads. I can’t wait to make this recipe this weekend!”
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Katie chose Rustic DIY Wood Plank Clock from Making It In the Mountains. “I am in love with this rustic clock! What a statements piece! Looks like she paid big bucks for this, but Kristi did a great job with this DIY version from pallet wood! It turned out simply stunning!”
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Gurvy chose How To Create An Impressive Email Signature from Blog U. “I admire the simplicity of the tutorial and the choices she’s displayed with examples. I haven’t tried it yet, but you’ll see my signature upgraded by next week :)”
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Debbie chose Beat the Blogging Mental Game with This Awesome Free Printable from HobbytoHot.com. “I absolutely loved this post as I was able to read it just at a time when I needed it most. It’s so easy to get in a blogging rut or feel you aren’t succeeding and this is a great bunch of printable affirmations.”
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Natasha chose Credit Card Lessons for Kids Before They Use Them! from Pragmatic Mom. “This is such a great post with great tips! Since I was taught about money and debt, I had to learn the hard way. I want to make sure that my son is properly educated on all money matters. This post is definitely a great start.”
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The post with the most clicks is How To Rock Your Blog With Image Maps from Joyful Life.
If you were featured above, feel free to share the badge below with pride on your blog or website!
Epic Mommy Adventures
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And the Best of the Best is…

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10 Things Nobody Tells You About Having Kids
10 Things Nobody Tells You About Having Kids from Superheroes in Jammmies
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!
Epic Mommy Adventures
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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!
Epic Mommy Adventures
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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!

Never miss another Turn It Up Tuesday! Sign up for reminder e-mails!

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.

Quotes for Success: Plan To Succeed

Quotes

Can I Borrow Three Million Dollars

St. Croix real estate

Looking for water front property? This one is for sale.  I fall in love with it several years ago while vacationing in St. Croix, VI.  I was vacationing at Chenay Bay Beach Resort, and this beauty was outside of my chalet.  I could only see the side of the house from my view, but it was stunning so I snapped a few pictures to add to my “If Only I Was A Millionaire” dream book. It was so beautiful sitting on a bluff above the Chenay Bay Beach.


Imagine my surprise when I saw it listed for sale.  I just happened to be browsing Google and noticed a post that listed homes for sale in the Virgin Islands.  I decided to click on the link.  When I saw it, I immediately recognized it.  The house felt so familiar, but I was still in disbelief.  I was wondering what the chances were of the picture listed in the post being the house I fell in love with while vacationing.  So I kept reading and the article confirmed that it was in fact the house in St. Croix.  If only I would hit the lottery for $3 million this baby would be mine.  Truth be told I’ve never purchased a lottery ticket in my life, but if I was blessed with millions, I would be blogging daily from St. Croix, VI.   Oh yes I would.  


Here’s the front of the house, photos courtesy of Coldwell Banker Realty in St. Croix.  The house has 3.5 bedrooms and 3.5 baths.  It comes furnished along with a chef’s kitchen, heated infinity pool with a waterfall, hot tub and waterside BBQ dining area.  You can see the hurricane windows in the pictures.  It boasts 15 foot ceilings and marble floors imported from France, the door hardware was made in Croatia, and the cabinetry was built in New Hampshire here in the states. While I was vacationing, we experienced a power outage.  Not to worry, generators keep the power on in this baby.  I wouldn’t miss a beat blogging, lol.    


Look at the view from the kitchen and breakfast area.  Can you imagine waking up to this view each morning.  I know how I felt waking to it the week I was vacationing there.  It is beautiful.  Sail boats pass by, vacationers are on jet skis or just enjoying the water.  It also has a nice island that you can see in the background.  I can vouch, that it is gorgeous and so quiet.  I had the same view from my chalet.   The only draw back, they drive on the opposite side of the road in St. Croix.  I guess I could get used to it, but it was strange.   

Look at the view from the bedroom.  How can you not wake feeling refreshed.  The canopy bed stays.  I have a canopy bed too.  It’s like it was furnished just for me   Oh well, a girl can dream can’t she.  

If you like this post you may also like:  My Vacation In St. Croix

Inspirational Quotes: Relationship Improvement

7 Tips For A Great Backyard BBQ

Summer is around the corner and grills will be fired up.  There’s nothing like hot dogs, burgers, steaks, and ribs on an outdoor grill.  I like a little burn on my hot dogs, how about you?   

I don’t consider myself a master grill chef, but I can throw a great backyard cook-out.  I love to entertain and I’ve learned over the years that you don’t have to spend a fortune to have a successful gathering.  I have a few tips to share so you can serve delicious food and keep family and friends coming back for more too.


Here’s the tips:


1.  Make sure your grill is cleaned thoroughly from last year’s use.  Don’t purchase expensive cleaners.  Ball up a piece of aluminum foil and rub it back and forth across your grates.  This should remove most of the build up.   Finish removing the build up with a wire brush and clean with soap and water.  A wire brush can be purchased from Lowes or Home Depot for a few bucks. 


2.  I’m partial to charcoal grills.  That’s probably because I can’t justify spending hundreds of dollars on a gas grill, especially when I can achieve great flavor from my Weber.  I add flavor by adding green twigs from apple trees to my charcoal.  My neighbor has a giant oak tree, where twigs are constantly falling so I gather up a few from her yard.  You can add maple cuttings as well.


3.  I buy supplies in bulk from Sams or Costco and save leftovers for the next outing.  This includes napkins, cups, utensils, charcoal etc.


4.  Look for sales on hot dogs, sausages, potatoes, can vegetables etc. at my local grocery store.  I look for the buy one get one free deals and freeze or store them until needed.  


5.  Purchase store brand buns, your guest won’t give it a second thought.  If you have a bun warmer, this is the perfect time to bring it out.  Your buns will be soft and warm.  

6.  Head to the Dollar Store for colorful table cloths and accessories.  


7.  I purchase cheaper cuts of meats and marinade and season them well.  I add eggs and Lipton’s onion soup mix to my ground beef.  That’s it, no salt pepper or hamburger seasoning.  Use your hands to mix it, pat them out and than set them in the refrigerator overnight.  They are juicy and delicious.  If I fix them any other way, my family knows.  Slowly boil ribs until they are tender before placing them on the grill.  You can easily pull them apart while eating and they’re are finger licking good. Marinade your steaks overnight for great flavor.  


6.  Summer is the perfect times to head to the garden for lettuce, tomatoes, and melons.  


7.  Be cautious when lighting your grill.  I use self starting charcoal.  It’s more expensive, but I don’t have to your starter fluid, which can be dangerous if not used properly.  Grill safety is important as the delicious foods that you will be preparing.  Keep a spray bottle or pitcher of water on hand to control high flames.  


Here’s to a great BBQ season.  May your summer be safe and blessed with family, friends and good food.