Serenity You

Which One is Missing {Kids Activity}

2013-05-21T09:00:00.000+01:00

This is a simple and very easy game for your little ones. Which one is missing? I got three objects and made sure they were different colours to make it easy for my two younger ones who are 2 and 3 years old. I asked them to take a good look at the objects and told them to try to remember them. Then I told them to close their eyes while I took one away. This was the fun bit as my little monkeys kept peeking through their fingers and laughing.

After I had removed one object I asked them which one was missing. Aaron aged 2, had no clue, but Caitlin who is 3 had a good think and guessed right.

Three objects is about the right amount for my two little ones, has at first I tried with about 8 objects which was way to many for them. I did try 8 objects with my 8 year old Ryan, who found it just about right for him. So I would say on this basis use the same amount of objects as their age

Other activities using these objects
Colour Sorting Game

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TTCkit

Say NO to Boredom This Summer!!

2013-05-20T09:00:00.000+01:00

Green Kid Crafts - Summer Survival Collection to the Rescue is here!
Green Kid Crafts is urging parents and caregivers to "Just Say No to Boredom and Brain Drain" this year by registering for our Summer Survival Collection. The Collection delivers award winning Discovery Boxes each month that are packed with craft and science activity kits to keep kids learning while they have fun, explore the outdoors and get creative. The 3-month Summer Survival Collection is available for $59.95 at GreenKidCrafts.com/summer

Subscribing to Green Kid Crafts Summer Survival Collection is an easy way for families to ensure that their kids are exposed to a diverse set of fun and educational activities throughout the season, and also makes a great gift! Each month, kids receive a Discovery Box filled with three or four craft and science kits, including all supplies and instructions, as well as additional extension activities and learning resources. The projects are designed by experts to promote creativity, build confidence and develop key skills while nature-related themes and sustainable materials encourage a child’s love and respect for nature.

The collection presents three specially designed learning themes:

June's Backyard Science box inspires and delights budding scientists and naturalists
July's Gardening box is sure to create a lot of little green thumbs
August's Around the World box takes us on a trip to three exciting spots around the globe to learn about culture and art

Of course, monthly subscribers will also enjoy the Summer Survival Collection too!

To receieve the first box in the series you must sign up by 1st June

an example of a box

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TTCkit

Serenity Saturday : 87

2013-05-18T09:00:00.000+01:00

Hi welcome to Serenity Saturday!!!!

Please help me by tweeting about the party on twitter and use hashtag #SerenitySaturday

And don't forgot
All features are pinned to my features board on pinterest

Here are this week's features

Fluorite Bracelet from HGK

20 Marvelous Wind Chimes from The DIY Dreamer

Banana Bread Scones from Twigg Studios

Chocolate Mousse Chocolate Pancakes from With a Blast

Free Transportation Preschool Printables from The Measured Mom

Egg Carton Mini 'Copters from The Craft Train

Thimble Fairy Chair from A Geek in Glasses
Tye Dye Cupcakes from Krafty Cards etc.
Fabric Tulips from Ana Love Craft
Free Pintable Spice Labels from A Typical English Home
Use Great Pictures to your Advantage from Snippets of Inspiration
DIY painted Striped Curtains Tutorial from Just a Girl and her Blog
Tissue paper Pom Pom from Krysta Steen

If you have been featured please grab a button Here

Rules :

you can link anything you want! only rule is that you place my link button on your post or somewhere on your blog. And please visit at LEAST 2 other link ups

I show off the featured links on my facebook page, Twitter, Pinterest and Google+

My favourite posts will be featured on next weeks link party

Linking to some of these great parties

TTCkit

Save 15% Off My Very Own Fairy Tale!

2013-05-17T16:18:00.000+01:00

Save 15% off My Very Own Fairy Tale coloring book, placemat, and personalized story with coupon code "Fairy" at checkout!

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TTCkit

#BlogTwitLov - I'm Co-Hosting!!!

2013-05-16T12:09:00.000+01:00

THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOUR LOYAL TWEEPS! We appreciate you coming back each week and linking up and SHARING the #BlogTwitLov hop! As a token of my appreciation, I am giving away some Ms. Middle ad space. Link up, be sure to follow your me (your Host) and your 4 Co-Hosts, then apply for a Ms. Middle ad space, using BlogTwitLov code. If you are linked up and follow us, then you will be approved by the end of the week! Let's get started!! - - - - - - - - - - - - The only "rule" here is to follow as many people on the hop as possible! So, put your TWITTER on the first link up (http://twitter.com/YOUR USER NAME) and your BLOGLOVIN blog on the second link up, then gain some new followers.

Dawn~from Dawn's Disaster

Kera~from Nugget on a Budget

Natasha~from Serenity You

Terri~from Rambling Momma

Ginger~from GingerSnaps

Don't forget to share and Tweet about this link up!

If you are interested in Co-Hosting for July, please email me: dawnsdisaster {at} gmail {dot} com to get signed up!

Linking to some of these great parties

TTCkit

Blogging A-Z - How to Start Blogging

2013-05-15T09:30:00.000+01:00

I'm starting a new blogging series sharing hint's and tips I've learnt throughout my time blogging.
I have been blogging now for 2 years this July and I now call this my job.
But before I go any further, I just want you all to know that I am no expert. All the tips I share are what I have learnt myself, either by trial and error or from a tip I have read on another blog - which I will give full credit too.
In this blogging A-Z series I will start with the very basics, starting a blog, finding a platform, choosing a name, blog design etc. Then will move on and share my other tips.
And even now after almost 2 years blogging I am still learning new this all the time

*************

How to Start Blogging

If your thinking about starting your own blog the very first thing you need to do is choose a blogging platform.

I use Blogger which is a free service. The main other ones are Wordpress.com, Wordpress.org and Tumblr. Don't get mixed up with the wordpress blogs - wordpress.com is free, but wordpress.org is a paid for service. Tumblr is also free.

I don't know much about Tumblr. But I have heard it's the most unrealible, but don't quote me on that.

I lot of bloggers start out with either Blogger or wordpress.com. But if your wanting to make money from your blog, then go for Blogger, as wordpress.com doesn't allow this.

There have been a few worries from some bloggers that google may get rid of blogger as they are shutting down google reader and GFC in July. But these are just rumours. At the moment I am sticking with Blogger, I have had no problems with them and if the do shut down then I will then move to wordpress.org.

Again, I don't know that much about wordpress.org. But I do know a lot of bloggers that use it and prefer it to Blogger and the money spent on it is well worth it. There are more plugins available and you can design and customize it absolutely anyway you like and there is also a customer service telephone number you can ring if you get into a muddle. If you don't know much about blogging or html I would say start out with blogger and then when you get the hang of it move over to wordpress.org

After you have chosen which blogging platform you would like to use, your next big decision is to choose your blog name. I spent ages choosing my name. You must choose a name you are happy to use forever. It's no good calling your blog, "Mum to One" then a year or so later you have another baby, you'll have to change your name to "Mum to Two". I do know a few bloggers that have changed their name, but for the first few months after they changed their name I have got confused and thought they were a completely different blog to the one I was following.

Another tip is to choose a name that goes with what you are going to blog about. It's no good calling your blog "My yummy recipes" if your only going to write about recipes a few times but also have lot's of craft posts too. I choose my name "Serenity You" as really it doesn't mean anything, just a nice relaxing name. I post about all sorts and my name doesn't tell you that I post about just a certain topic.

So once you have chosen your blog name you need to make sure no one else is already using it. If you use say blogger your name will be something like "www.serenityyou.blogspot.com". This is what I used for over a year until I brought a domain. Lucky for me, www.serenityyou.com was available. it only cost me around £8 for the whole year and I did this through blogger.

I recommend buying a domain right from the start as I wish I did. Has a lot of my photo's have my watermark - www.serenityyou.blogspot.com, and I hate it as that is not now my url. People can still use this domain and will be redirected to my new name. But I just think it's a lot easier to have your own domain right from the beginning.

So now you have your chosen your blog platform and your name is also chosen and maybe you have brought your own domain, now you're ready to pick your blog colours and start designing your blog. Come back next week for more tips on how to do this.

Linking to some of these great parties

TTCkit

CashCrate Cash $100 Paypal Giveaway!!

2013-05-14T12:11:00.000+01:00

Rayven from Stay a Stay at Home Mom is hosting a giveaway with your chance to win $100 via Paypal and I'm helping her spread the word

******************************

Welcome to the CashCrate Cash $100 Paypal giveaway, hosted by Stay a Stay at Home Mom with co-hosts Ultimate Coupon Club and My Sweet Savings. One lucky winner will win $100 in cold-hard cash to be used on anything your heart desires. But even if you don't win the $100 Paypal, you still walk away from this giveaway a winner. How? Well, you have the opportunity to join Cashcrate FOR FREE. CashCrate is one of the best survey/offer sites on the planet. Here's what Rayven from Stay a Stay at Home Mom says about CashCrate:

I've been a CashCrate member for almost 5 years now, and get a check every month. Its not a ton of money, but its enough to go out on a date night with my hubby, or if I saved it each month we'd be able to do all our Christmas shopping. I love CashCrate as the program is simple, they pay on time, and best of all, its totally free!

Earn money for:

Taking Surveys
Completing Offers
Shopping Online
Referring Your Friends

This is one program you don't want to miss. Its simple to get started, just click here to join CashCrate. All done? Great, now enter the Rafflecopter below for your chance to win $100 Paypal cash! Here's that CashCrate sign up link again in case you missed it: Sign up for CashCrate for Free
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: Serenity You may receive affiliate commissions from your participation in CashCrate, though all opinions are my own and I would not recommend a product or a service that I feel is not beneficial to my readers. Thank you for your support of this blog.

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TTCkit

Play-Doh Fun - Cupcakes

2013-05-14T09:00:00.000+01:00

My kids love play-doh. I love it too but I hate the mess. We also play in the kitchen with a play mat on the floor but still the kids seem to get it on their socks and carry it all around the house. And later that day I always find bits of it stuck in my new living room carpet!!! Arrgghh!!

So when we do get it out to play with it, it's a special treat. but secretly I love playing with it too! LOL.

This time we made play-doh cupcakes. I got my new brightly coloured silicon muffin cases out, which my kids loved and my little girl squealed with delight 'How Pretty!' and they both started playing with them straight away. This is their reaction to just the muffin cases, I haven't even got the play-doh out yet, it doesn't take much to make my kids happy.

They got the play-doh and made round balls put them in the muffin cases and then flatten them a bit. They placed buttons on the top and then they placed mini craft straws in the top for candles.

Here are my little darlings, Caitlin, 3 years old and Aaron, 2 years old showing off their 'cupcakes'

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TTCkit

1,000 Pinterest Followers - Paypal Cash Giveaway

2013-05-13T09:00:00.000+01:00

I have finally reached 1,000 Pinterest followers.

In fact, I've done better than that!

at the time of writing this I have 1,182 Pinterest Followers and still gaining more every day.

So to celebrate I'm having a giveaway!

Hosted By

Natasha @ Serenity You

Co-hosts

Britiany from Crafty Craziness & Living the Hooah Life

Nikki from The Crafty Side of Sarcasm

Jules from My Mom's a Whack Job

Sara from Sara Howe - The Unorganized Housewife

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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TTCkit

Share the Love Blog Hop #9 May

2013-05-12T09:00:00.000+01:00

Share the Love Blog Hop is here!! Yeah!!

Every month Share the Love blog hop will be on both Serenity You and Sew Much Crafting along with the co-hosts

Rules:
1. Please follow your hosts @ number 1 & 2 and The co-hosts at number 3 - 10. And any others that you like.
2. Please leave a comment on their blog letting them know that you are a new follower and found them on 'share the love blog hop'
3. Link up your blog's Home page
4. Copy and paste the code at the bottom into a new post on your blog (optional)
5. Have fun!!

I am scheduling co-hosts now. June is already full,
so if you would like to be a co-host in July email me at serenityyou@hotmail.co.uk

{HOSTS}

Natasha @ Serenity You

Danielle @ Sew Much Crafting

And here are this Months Co-Hosts

So come get your linkin on!!

Please use the hashtag #ShareTheLoveBlogHop when posting on twitter

Blog

Bloglovin

Facebook

Twitter

Pinterest

Google+

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TTCkit

Serenity Saturday : 86

2013-05-11T09:00:00.000+01:00

Curried Chicken Shepherd's Pie from The Unsophisticated Kitchen

M is for Mechanic from Life with Moore Babies

Embossed 3D Graduation Table Greeting

Cheesy Spinach Parmesan Pasta from The First Year Blog

The Very Hungry Caterpillar Pasta Craft from Powerful Mothering

Flower Box Peanut Butter Brownies from Hoopla Palooza

How to get Kids to Love Writing from The Measured Mom

Raspberry Lemonade Smoothie from Willamette Valley Wonder Woman

If you have been featured please grab a button Here

Rules :

you can link anything you want! only rule is that you place my link button on your post or somewhere on your blog. And please visit at LEAST 2 other link ups

I show off the featured links on my facebook page, Twitter, Pinterest and Google+

My favourite posts will be featured on next weeks link party

Linking to some of these great parties

TTCkit

Special Offers

2013-05-10T13:43:00.000+01:00

Here I will share all the special offers I find

This page will be update regularly, so check back often
Newest offers are at the top

If you have a special offer that you would like me to share email me at serenityyou@hotmail.co.uk

Free Shipping With Tiny Prints Orders of $49+ ends 25th June
5/12 - 5/18 20% off of any order Code: PHP20 from Paper Hat Press Personalized Children's Books
Save 15% off your I See Me! purchase for Mom with coupon code "mother" at checkout!
Memorial Day Special: Order $15 take 15% off MEMORIAL15 at Funsational Inc. Ends 5/23
Save 30% on any new monthly subscription to Green Kid Crafts with code: 30off ends 31st May
Make a Blurb school photo book in three easy steps. Plus, 15% off! ends 31st May
Free Nursing Pillow - Click on "Shop Now" and select the Nursing Pillow☺ of your choice in any of our 9 prints! - Use Promo Code - ENBABY
Raise Funds for Schools with Box Tops For Education. Join Today!
Dr. Seuss - 5 Books For $5.95 + Free Backpack
Save £5 when you spend £50 or more at Babies R Us Use Promotion code: 9908082449995
Save Up to 70% Off Retail! DiscountSchoolSupply.com! Click Here!
Shop Clearance Blow Outs and save up to 68% off retail!
Shop Target Clearance Items - Save up to 75%!
Overstock Sale! Save up to 50%
SAVE up to 60% on clearance Gifts at Personal Creations

Giveaways

May Sponsor's Giveaway - Ad Space on 3 blogs - ends 12th May
CollageIt Pro Mother's Day Giveaway - 20 x CollageIt Pro - ends 13th may
May Flowers Giveaway Event - $100 Home Depot Gift Card - ends 15th May
1,000 Facebook Fan Giveaway - $200 Paypal Cash - ends 3rd June
-

Coupons

AFullCup.com - Coupons Deals and More!
BradsDeals.com - your one-stop source for the latest coupons & deals
Coupons.com - Print Free Grocery Coupons
Free Flys - Free Coupons and Free Samples
Free Coupon Alerts
Grocery Coupon Network
RedPlum Coupons

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TTCkit

Bus Stop Game

2013-05-10T09:00:00.000+01:00

I brought this game just before Christmas and put it in the kids Christmas Eve Hamper. But I just thought that I would share this with you as my kids absolutely love it!! It's a great game to help your kids learn to count. The aim of the game is to go around the board adding and taking away passengers and when you get to the end the winner is the one with the most passengers still on their bus.

The game is for ages 4-8 years. but I would say it is more suitable for children ages 3-6. Ryan who is 8 likes to play it but finds it too easy. Caitlin is 3 and loves adding and taking away the passengers, she likes to find the girl passengers and just have them on her bus. Aaron who is 2, can't play this game at all, even if I do if for him. He likes putting he passengers on but when he has to take some off he just cries and runs away.
We also like to just use the passenger pieces as they are all different and have a variety of people. which is good to play I-spy, which all the kids love and also talk about different cultures of the people.

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TTCkit

Family Day Out: Teddy Bear Picnic {guest post}

2013-05-09T10:49:00.000+01:00

Source

Spending time with your family is an important part of life, but with everything being so expensive these days it can be a little difficult finding something to do that is cheap and suitable for the whole family to join in with. The Teddy Bears picnic is by no means a new concept, but as with many things, the old ones are the best. Having a picnic with the whole family, a selection of delicious food and the beautiful British countryside is a wonderful way to spend a day and will certainly not hurt your bank balance.

The first step is so easy and really depends on where you are based, how far you want to travel and what the weather is like. National Trust properties are a favourite picnic destination because they offer benches, shelter from rain, beautiful views and even shops and toilet facilities. Plus, they are spread out across the country, offering something for everyone. However, you don’t even need to leave your own home if you don’t want to. A garden picnic is a lovely experience and means you won’t be stuck in the middle of nowhere looking for a toilet. Some people choose to simply drive around until they find somewhere suitable and really, there is no right or wrong answer to the picnic destination question. Find somewhere comfortable to sit with shade and sunshine and you will be set for the day.

A picnic doesn’t have the same feel if you don’t get everyone involved in the preparations. There is no reason everyone can’t contribute, no matter how young they might be. The youngest can spend their time performing the very important teddy bear selection process; deciding which ones are best to bring along. Someone else can get the picnic hamper basket ready and another can prepare the blankets and cushions. If each member of the family has a purpose it will feel like more of a success when you finally come to sit down and enjoy the sunshine and food. Try to choose healthy food that will compliment the weather. This is all part of creating healthy habits and if your children see you preparing a healthy and tasty salad then they are more likely to repeat this behaviour when they are grown up with a family of their own. Plus, food always tastes better when it is homemade.

Now, onto the most important part of the picnic experience, the teddy bears! This is a day for everyone, no matter how old they are, so make sure that adults and children alike bring their favourite teddy or toy. You might have trouble convincing any teenagers in joining in with this section, but once they realise how happy it makes their younger siblings they will see the value of the trip. Games and stories are an essential part of the teddy bear picnic, so go prepared. Naturally, a favourite book would be the popular ‘A Teddy bears Picnic’ and the whole family can join in with singing this song, but think up some other games that might not be expected. Hide and Seek, Duck Duck Goose and Grandma’s footsteps are all popular favourites that are sure to provide an afternoon of fun.

Having a fun day out with the family should be part of everyone’s childhood and a simple picnic is one of the easiest, cheapest and most fun ways to spend a day or an afternoon. Use your imagination when it comes to location, food and entertainment. As the children get older the teddy bears are often forgotten, but a picnic is suitable for people of all ages.

This post was written by Elizabeth A. Wright. Elizabeth is a professional writer, but one of her favourite pastimes is finding wonderful gifts for her friends and family and personalising them to ensure they are perfect. She writes on behalf of Personalised Pressies.

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TTCkit

Twitter & Bloglovin Blog Hop!! I'm Co-hosting

2013-05-08T22:21:00.002+01:00

#BlogTwitLov is here and I'm co-hosting.
So link up, then grab a cuppa and check out the other great blogs to follow
and don't forget to tweet about this on Twitter!!!

The only "rule" here is to follow as many people on the hop as possible! So, put your TWITTER on the first link up (http://twitter.com/YOUR USER NAME) and your BLOGLOVIN blog on the second link up, then gain some new followers.

Dawn~from Dawn's Disaster

Kera~from Nugget on a Budget

Natasha~from Serenity You

Terri~from Rambling Momma

Ginger~from GingerSnaps

Don't forget to share and Tweet about this link up!

If you are interested in Co-Hosting for June, please email me: dawnsdisaster {at} gmail {dot} com to get signed up! Linking to some of these great parties

TTCkit

Colour Sorting Game

2013-05-08T09:00:00.000+01:00

The kids loved this fun colour sorting game.

First off I got 10 sheets of plain paper and wrote the name of colours on each one with their matching felt tip pen. Then I placed them on the floor in two rows.

A had a bag full of different items and had the kids take turns and pull one out and place it on the matching sheet. I did this with Caitlin age 3 and Aaron aged 2. My eldest Ryan aged 8 also helped out.

Here's Aaron with some white cotton wool. But he was more interested in trying to make a cup of tea with it.

Here's Aaron putting a orange crayon on the black sheet.
I have to mention that Aaron (27 months) did get all the blue items right. Blue is his favourite colour.

And here they all are, all finished. Caitlin enjoyed it so much, she put everything back in the bag and wanted to do it all again

Linking to some of these great parties

TTCkit

May's Sponsors + Giveaway!

2013-05-07T11:01:00.000+01:00

Hi, I can't believe it's May already!!
I'm sat here in the garden enjoying the beautiful sunshine and I can't wait to introduce you to my sponsors and swaps!

First we have my large ad

My WAHM Life

Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Youtube

My bottom of posts Ad

New Wave Domesticity

Bloglovin | Facebook | Pinterest

And here are my swaps

I have a great offer for all you bloggers out there!
80% off ALL my Ad Spaces!! Go here and use code : HappyMay
Available to the end of may!

And 2 of these very Lovely ladies are helping me out with a giveaway

Danielle from Sew Much Crafting
Kelsey from Ladies in Navy

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Linking to some of these great parties

TTCkit

CollageIt Pro Mother's Day Giveaway!

2013-05-06T20:01:00.001+01:00

CollageIt Pro Mother's Day Giveaway

Hosted by Budget Earth & A Spectacled Owl

Do you love to make collages but sick of using free software online? Turn all of your favorite family pictures into a beautiful collage with CollageIt. While you can get CollageIt for free, you can take advantage of even more featured with CollageIt Pro. This automatic, easy to use software is currently available for Windows and Mac OS X and is currently a TOP 10 Photography APP on the Apple Store!
Best of all, you don't have to tech savvy to use CollageIt Pro. You can easily add photos, play with the layouts, create diverse templates, easy editing, and the ability to save your image files. To learn more, feel free to check out the CollageIt Pro homepage.

Curious to try CollageIT Pro for yourself or know someone who would love to get it for Mother's Day? We are happy to announce that Budget Earth & A Spectacled Owl are working with Pearl Mountain Technology to bring you this awesome giveaway - where we are giving away 20 copies of CollageIt Pro (total $398 value). Make sure to read all the information below before entering the Rafflecopter!

CollageIt Pro Mother's Day Giveaway

20 Readers will receive a licensing code for CollageIt Pro (12 Windows & 8 Mac copies).
Open Worldwide.
Winner will be chosen at random through Rafflecopter via Random.org.
Giveaway ends May 12th at 11:59pm.
Winner will be notified through email.
Winner will have 48 hours to respond before new winner is chosen.
Must be 18 Years or Older to Enter Rafflecopter.
Entering the Rafflecopter Means You Agree to Terms Above.
Good Luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: Serenity You did not receive monetary compensation for this review and giveaway, and is not responsible for prize shipment. All opinions may differ from other blogs in this giveaway. Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and all social networks are in no way associated with this giveaway.

Linking to some of these great parties

TTCkit

Serenity Saturday : 85

2013-05-04T09:00:00.000+01:00

Hi welcome to Serenity Saturday!!!!

Please help me by tweeting about the party on twitter and use hashtag #SerenitySaturday

And don't forgot
All features are pinned to my features board on pinterest

DIY Anthropologie inspired Rope Bracelets from Made in a Day

Baby Dress Crochet Pattern from Crochet Dreamz

Make your own Kids Car Mat from Little Ladybird

Dollar Store Organizing from Eyes on the Source

Rainbow Theme Birthday Party from One Little Project

Easy Up-cycled Flower Shoes from Make it Easy Crafts

If you have been featured please grab a button Here

Rules :

you can link anything you want! only rule is that you place my link button on your post or somewhere on your blog. And please visit at LEAST 2 other link ups

I show off the featured links on my facebook page, Twitter, Pinterest and Google+

My favourite posts will be featured on next weeks link party

Please remember to comment on at LEAST 2 other links

Linking to some of these great parties

TTCkit

$200 Paypal Giveaway!!!

2013-05-03T09:32:00.003+01:00

Erica Start Walking has reached 1,000 Facebook Fans and in return she has decided to giveaway $200 in PayPal cash to one lucky winner. Giveaway will be open May 3, 2013 to June 3, 2013. One winner will be chosen and e-mailed directly by Erica when giveaway is over. This giveaway is open world wide. Winner must be 18 years of age to win.

HOST: Erica from Erica Start Walking

Co-Host:

Sarah From Life In A Break Down Libby From Libby's Library

Carol From Little Angel on a Mission

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: Serenity You was not compensated for this post. This giveaway is no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest.

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TTCkit

Free Online Mini Courses from Craftsy

2013-05-02T16:00:00.001+01:00

Did you know that Craftsy have some great free mini-courses?

A few that I would like to do are the The Hand-Painted Cake: Elevate your cake with Erin Schaefgen's freehand painting techniques. Create beautiful and edible works of art with Erin's tips and tricks. And also the Sewing Machine 911: Give your sewing machine some TLC with the help of this free course. Learn to clean and maintain your sewing machine with tips and tricks taught in this class.

There are also other great free mini courses

Check out all of the other free Craftsy mini-courses by clicking here.

There are also other great online courses from Craftsy

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TTCkit

How to Improve Family Finances {guest post}

2013-05-02T10:00:00.000+01:00

source

How to Improve Family Finances

Being smart with money is key to making ends meet. You may establish a family budget and do everything possible to stick with this budget. But oftentimes, unexpected expenses pop up, which can leave you in the hole. As the CEO of your family’s finances, it’s your responsibility to keep the budget on track. Of course, this is easier said than done. There may be too many bills and not enough income. But don’t get discouraged. There are several practical ways to improve your family’s finances.

You may settle into a life of having more bills than money, but this is no way to live. If your current financial plan isn’t working, here are tips to improve your situation.

Increase Your Income

Increasing your income isn’t about finding new employment, although this can help. But if you like your job and don’t want to switch employers, think of other ways to bring money into the home. For example, you can turn your hobby into a business and make extra money. You can also look for part-time work in the evenings or weekends, as well as selling items you no longer need.

Reduce Spending

Reducing your household expenses is key to improving your family’s finances. There are several ways to accomplish this. Eliminating unnecessary bills is the first step, such as getting rid of your cable or canceling another monthly service. You can also reduce spending by using Coupons when you grocery shop or dine out as a family. Check your local newspaper for weekly coupons, plus you can find deals online. Likewise, evaluate where your money goes. Do you buy gourmet coffee on a daily basis? Do you shop frivolously? Simple changes can have a tremendous impact on your family’s finances.

Look for Deals

Whether you’re booking a family trip or buying accessories for yourself, always look for deals. For example, if you’re shopping for women’s clothing or handbags, you can save money with a Kate Spade coupon code. A discount code can also save money on movies and shipping fees. Make discount shopping a family effort. Teach your kids how to look for deals and shop around for the best prices.

Learn How to Invest

Most checking accounts do not earn interest, and if you’re looking to grow your money, this isn’t the route. Explore other savings options. For example, a high-yield savings account offers a better rate than a traditional savings. Additionally, you can earn more with a certificate of deposit or a money market account. Talk with a banker or financial advisor. Investing your money can help you reach financial goals, such as paying down debt, saving for a family vacation or saving money for a home purchase.

If your family’s finances are complicated, rest assured that you can improve your situation. In most cases, better finances require sacrifice and a positive attitude. The road ahead isn’t easy, but if you stick with the plan and get your family involved, you can generate extra cash and improve your financial outlook.

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May Flowers Giveaway - Win $100 Home Depot Gift Card

2013-05-01T10:39:00.000+01:00

I am taking part in the May Flowers Giveaway with a chance to win $100 Home Depot Gift Card!!

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Welcome to the May Flowers Giveaway Event hosted by Famous Free Samples! We're looking to celebrate spring even more with a bunch of fabulous bloggers and a great prize.

Whether you'd like to stock up on goods to make your garden enviable this spring or whether there's another home project that you've got your sights set on, this is the giveaway for you. One lucky winner will be the recipient of a $100 Home Depot gift card to use however they'd please!

This giveaway begins on May 1st and will run through May 15th at 11:59pm EST. Open to residents of the US only, 18+.

Use the PromoSimple form below to enter this giveaway. Also, be sure to come back daily for more chances to win. Good luck!

$100 Home Depot Gift Card

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What the Kids had for Lunch #1

2013-05-01T09:00:00.000+01:00

Are you looking for some kids lunch ideas?
well, over the next few weeks I'll be sharing some of the things I have given my two youngest (2 & 3) for lunch.

And there is also a linky to add your own kids lunches

Today they had 2 crackers with cheese spread, sliced banana, a few pieces of melon, pineapple and grapes with a small shop brought oat bar

Share what your kids had to eat today

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9 Innovative Ways to Make More Storage in Your Home {guest post}

2013-04-30T13:38:00.000+01:00

Source

9 Innovative Ways To Make More Storage Space In Your Home

As more and more young people choose city life over the ho-hum of the suburbs, more and more of us need to figure out what to do with all of our stuff. As much as it might seem necessary to have twenty-five winter wool sweaters or ten years of copies of Rolling Stone, having limited space can usually translate into making hard choices about what to keep and what to toss. But the good news for those of us who like to hoard our precious belonging is that there are a lot of ways to create storage space that you may have never even considered. Below are ten innovative ways to create more storage space in your home. Choose the ones that work in your home and start implementing them today.

1. Boost your bed. There’s nothing new about storing stuff under the bed, but have you thought about boosting the height of your bed to make more room underneath it? It is very easy to do and can help you create space where there was none.

2. Look up to the ceiling. A lot of apartments and homes have rafters across the ceiling. You can sometimes figure out a way to add shelves up there and use the space for storage.

3. Make more of your cabinet space. In addition to the space inside your cabinets, there is usually empty space above the cabinets and below the ceiling. Use this space to store anything that will not look too sloppy up there.

4. Look in the footstool. Footstools and ottomans are often good places to stash some things. Many open up from the top, but have the openings and latches hidden so your guests will never know that they are resting their feet on top of your old valuables that you’re not willing to part with.

5. Throw some things away. One way to create more space? Get rid of the stuff taking up the space to begin with. Make the tough choices. Do you really need that bright yellow leather jacket you wore in the eighties? Didn’t think so.

6. Use a trunk as a coffee table. If you go to a vintage furniture store you are almost certain to find an old trunk of some kind. They come in all sorts of styles and sizes and make excellent coffee tables. They also provide easy, accessible storage space for everything from linens to your off-season wardrobe.

7. Add another closet rod. A lot of people forget that they can make their closets work better for them, instead just accepting the lay of the closet that they find when they move into the house. Add a second rod, so that you can maximize the hanging space. Install some shelves for accessories and shoes.

8. Hang a small cabinet in your bathroom. Many new homebuyers complain that their bathrooms do not have enough storage space. But bathroom storage can be very easy to install. You can buy a bathroom cabinet and install it yourself on the wall without much of a hassle. Just be careful that you don’t put anything too heavy in it and don’t hang it above the toilet!

9. Look under the stairs. Many staircases have empty spaces underneath them that can be used for storage of small items.

About the author: Marty Reardon is a writer for Next Door Self Storage. When Marty isn’t busy blogging or reviewing self storage locations, he likes to spend time with his family and simply relax as much as possible.

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