Link Party! Tuesdays with a Twist #17

Good Morning and welcome to another fantastic party!
 

<a href="http://back2basichealth.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a627/greenmary_smith/ad9dc0c5-5f80-4ed7-a18c-c6e9fb42d156_zpsde41d9bb.jpg"/></a>  

Did you get a chance to check out the Grow Your Own Wheatgrass Kits?

Rocky and Lucy love HomeGrown Wheatgrass

 Mary's heirloom Seeds is donating a portion of ALL kits sold thru July 31st to a local non-profit, no-kill cat/kitten rescue.  

Are you ready to party?

We're your co-hosts 

Mary @ Back to the Basics and Joyce @ It's Your Life!
 

Marci @ Stone Cottage Adventures
 

Angie @ God's Growing Garden

Each co-host will be sharing her own picks for Features. This gives everyone a better chance of being featured. Be sure to check all of our blogs to see if you were featured!

 

My Features this Week are:  A Few Ways to Enjoy Homemaking



by Laura at Harvest Lane Cottage

 

If you've been featured we'd love for you to grab a button.

<a href="http://back2basichealth.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a627/greenmary_smith/FeaturedMorningglory_zps96ec9fee.jpg"/></a>

We all love comments!  we try to comment on each and every link. 

Please hop around and show some love!

The party starts every Tuesday at 7am EST and will continue until Friday at 11:59pm.  Feel free to stop back any time and "like" your favorites.  Please visit other blogs if you have a moment. 

Share older posts as well as new ones.  No limit on links!

*Pictures should be your own* 

By linking up you give us permission to use these photos

 (with proper link backs) in our features. 

And now for the party!

Garden Guests: Hummingbird

The north side of our front yard is a certified  National Wildlife Federation Backyard Habitat.  Really!  We have a certificate!  It is so much fun to see all of the critters that stop by for a visit.  I'm beginning a new series of posts to show you our Garden Guests. 

 

 

 

 

What do you think of this lovely little hummingbird?  I am pretty excited that a couple of my photos turned out so well!

 

 

 

 

The hummingbirds' annual migration is absolutely remarkable to me.  Have you ever tracked them using this map?

 I'd like to invite you to some parties this week.  One is today at Inspiration Café.  Link any gardening post!

 

 

 

Another party is tomorrow at Holli's Hoots and Hollers.  It's all about music!  Grab a song and link up at Tuesday Tunes!

 

 

 

 

Don't forget to come back RIGHT HERE for Tuesdays with a Twist!  Link up just about anything you like!

 

My song this week?  Have you heard The Speakeasies?  Oh, how I love them!  This is their video of Bright Lights Late Nights.

 

 

 

 

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

;-)  -Marci

BlogLovin' FINALLY... And a Garden Party Invitation

I finally went with BlogLovin this morning!  Everyone kept talking about it, so OK, I'm in!  Whew!

 

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

On another note...

 

Bloomin Marvelous Link Party is happening at the Inspiration Café  on Monday!  Link up your own marvelous garden inspired projects...whether it's a recipe using garden produce, a garden-art  project or a post about your own flower or vegetable  garden, come link it up at the Inspiration Cafe's Bloomin' Marvelous link party tomorrow!    

 

 

 

;-)  -Marci

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Herbs: A Place to Begin... Bringing Herbs Home

Being part of our county's Master Gardener Speakers Guild is a lot of fun. My program is titled "Herbs: A Place to Begin". It is for anyone who might be curious about growing herbs or is just beginning to use them. I give simple advice for ways to incorporate tasty herbs into your every day life. After such a sweet reception to my presentation, I will be adding regular posts about herbs.

Watch for the ones titled "A Place to Begin".

 

So, you've been to the store and made Your Purchase,  Now what?

If you have bought your plant from a reputable, organic garden center.  Just snip and enjoy!

This is a marjoram plant I'm adding to my collection.  Poor Marj was found at one of those parking lot vendors that set up only for the summer.  The prices were GREAT, but I want to warn you about something.

Caution needs to be exercised with any herb that has not been grown organically.





Most garden centers use systemic insecticides several times each week when watering.  The thought of any child (or adult for that matter) ingesting insecticides truly frightens me.  (I know I've said it before HERE, but I just have to say it again.  If you are using any insecticides, STOP IT RIGHT NOW!)
 

OK.  'Off my soap box and back to this post!

Begin by giving your new plant a really good hair cut.  Most plants can be cut as low as the bottom two leaves of the stem.





Next, give your baby some growing room.  A general rule of thumb is to choose a pot that is at least 1 inch larger. 

 

 

 Add some bling that can be used for this propagating method.  At first the plant looks kind of scrawny, but don't be discouraged.  Before you know it, your new purchase will grow into her pot, and you'll have plenty of safe, tasty herbs.

 

  

Remember to visit my Stone Cottage each week as I give tips on simple ways to bring herbs into your everyday life.   Previous posts can be found on my Gardening Page and on my Recipes Page. 

 

Look for the ones titled "A Place to Begin".

;-)  -Marci

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

 

If you would like to hear a story about Missi,

 

hop over to Inspiration Café!

 

;-)  -Marci

Trick My Burp Cloth

Have you been to Inspiration Café lately?  I am now a monthly Contributor!  (Big Cheesy Grin)

Tomorrow, my post about The Dog Days of Summer



will be hanging out at Inspiration Café!  I hope you'll join me!

Today, I'm sharing with you my first contribution...




How exciting to become part of the Inspiration Cafe team!  I've been racking my brain trying to think of some grand life experience that makes me worthy of such an honor! 

OK.  It's not much, but here goes!

Handsome Husband and I were nursery workers at church for several years and loved it.  Rocking babies...  What a wonderful way to spend the morning!  There were some Sundays that got a little hectic though.  We truly appreciated the parents who customized their children's items in some way.  We never wanted to send an infant home with someone else's burp cloth!  Eeeww!

 

I'd love to share some DIY Trick My Burp Cloth ideas that have worked for me!  (Notice the links where you can click and see the complete tutorial!)

 

First of all, it's super easy to dye them.  It's amazing what changing the color does!  Nursery workers could definitely identify a baby's burp cloth when it matches the onesie!

 

Keep in mind onesies and cloth diapers are made of cotton which dyes quite nicely!  You could turn that white cloth diaper into just about any color you like!  Click here for a custom dye job tutorial. 

I've also embellished them with just a little sewing.  It only takes a couple of minutes to sew a few scraps of rick rack or lace onto the cloth diaper.  Here's a tip.  If you take fusible webbing strips and iron on the rick rack first, it stays in place while you're sewing.



Perhaps you will like this idea using Eyelet Lace .  See how it matches the onesie? 



Calico and denim make a cute pairing!  This little bird could just as easily be a truck or puppy dog!  An applique doesn't take as long as you might think and it's a great way to use scraps.

Have you thanked your church's nursery workers lately?  They certainly deserve it!  If you use some of these ideas to Trick Your Baby's Burp Cloth, they just might be thanking you!

What is your favorite way to customize your children's things?  I'd love to hear your ideas!

;-)  -Marci

 

Tuesdays with a Twist Linky Party #16

Good Morning and welcome to another fantastic party!

 

<a href="http://back2basichealth.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a627/greenmary_smith/ad9dc0c5-5f80-4ed7-a18c-c6e9fb42d156_zpsde41d9bb.jpg"/></a>

 

Your post will be seen on 4 different blogs!!!

We're your co-hosts Mary @ Back to the Basics and Joyce @ It's Your Life!  

 

Marci @ Stone Cottage Adventures

 

AND Diane @ MamalDiane

Each co-host will be sharing her own picks for Features. This gives everyone a better chance of being featured. Be sure to check all of our blogs to see if you were featured!

 

My Feature this Week is:

3 of My Favorite Bible Verses



 From Becca at A Humble Bumble

  

If you've been featured we'd love for you to grab a button.

<a href="http://back2basichealth.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a627/greenmary_smith/FeaturedMorningglory_zps96ec9fee.jpg"/></a>

We all love comments!  we try to comment on each and every link. 

Please hop around and show some love!

The party starts every Tuesday at 7am EST and will continue until Saturday at 11:59pm.  Feel free to stop back any time and "like" your favorites.  Please visit other blogs if you have a moment. 

Share older posts as well as new ones.  No limit on links!  *Pictures should be your own*  By linking up you give us permission to use these photos  (with proper link backs) in our features.
 

And now for the party!

Hush, Cobwebs

 

 

;-)  -Marci

 

From the Farm Blog Hop

Thank you for joining us today!

Here are the features from last week's party:

Homemade Vanilla Sugar by Living Better Together

Attracting Beneficial Insects to Your Garden by Learning and Yearning

 

Burlap and Gingham Kitchen Curtains by Opulent Cottage

 

Congratulations! Please feel free to grab our button and display it proudly on your blog!

Photo provided by Chicken Scratch Poultry http://chickenscratchpoultry.com/

<a title="From the Farm Blog Hop" href="YOUR BLOG ADDRESS" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><img src="http://i673.photobucket.com/albums/vv97/StoneFamily_2009/LetThisMindBeinYou /FromtheFarmButton-Final.jpg~original" width="180" height="180" alt="From The Farm Blog Hop"></a>

Now, on to this week's party:

1. Link up to three of your best gardening or homesteading tips, farm-themed posts, recipes, homemaking and simple/frugal living tips, decorating ideas, DIY projects, craft ideas, thrifty makeovers or repurposed items, healthy and sustainable living tips.

2. Link back to my blog, or put the link party button anywhere on your blog or post to share the love.

3. Make sure to check out some of the other links before leaving.

Photo provided by Chicken Scratch Poultry http://chickenscratchpoultry.com/

<a title="From the Farm Blog Hop" href="YOUR BLOG ADDRESS" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><img src="http://i673.photobucket.com/albums/vv97/StoneFamily_2009/LetThisMindBeinYou /FromtheFarmButton-Final.jpg~original" width="180" height="180" alt="From The Farm Blog Hop"></a>

We can't wait to see what you share with us!

Note: Linking up to this party will automatically sign you up for an invite to next week's party via email. To unsubscribe, please reply to any email you receive and you will be removed. Linking up also allows us permission to publish one of your photos on our blogs, Facebook, and/or Pinterest pages.

Warmly,

;-)  Marci

 

and

Your From the Farm Blog Hop Co-Hosts:
 

The Adventure Bite | Sunny Simple Life | 1840 Farm | Let This Mind Be in You | My Healthy Green Family | Fresh Eggs Daily

Back to School... Already?

 

Are you ready for Back to School Business yet?  Oh, my word!  It will be here before we know it!  I don't want to take you away from your fun summer activities for too long, but you might be glad you read the rest of this post.

 

I'd like to tell you about an option to grab some books for college.

 

Campus Book Rentals

www.campusbookrentals.com

 

They offer FREE SHIPPING...  both ways!  How cool is that?!  Their website is very user friendly, but if you run into some kind of a snag, or you get confused, just call the toll free number, 855-200-0021.  It's a super easy process.

They also offer a program called 

 

Rent Back

 (www.rentback.com). 

 

Rent Back is a new initiative that allows students to rent the textbooks they own - to other students...
which is great because it makes them 2-4x more money compared to
what they'd make through buyback options! (selling their books back at the end
of the semester) Isn't that awesome?!
 

So, yeah...  Before you hop back in the pool, check out

 

Campus Book Rentals

www.campusbookrentals.com

 

and

 

Rent Back

 (www.rentback.com)

 

You'll be glad you did!

 

;-)  -Marci

Link Party: Tuesdays with a Twist #15

Good Morning and welcome to another fantastic party!

 

<a href="http://back2basichealth.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a627/greenmary_smith/ad9dc0c5-5f80-4ed7-a18c-c6e9fb42d156_zpsde41d9bb.jpg"/></a>

 

Your post will be seen on 4 different blogs!!!

We're your co-hosts Mary @ Back to the Basics and Joyce @ It's Your Life!  

 

Please give a warm welcome to Marci @ Stone Cottage Adventures

 

AND Diane @ MamalDiane

Each co-host will be sharing her own picks for Features. This gives everyone a better chance of being featured. Be sure to check all of our blogs to see if you were featured!

 

My Feature this Week is:

Here be Dragon (flies)



From This One Good Life.  You really must see this fun project for children!
 

  

If you've been featured we'd love for you to grab a button.

<a href="http://back2basichealth.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a627/greenmary_smith/FeaturedMorningglory_zps96ec9fee.jpg"/></a>

We all love comments!  we try to comment on each and every link. 

Please hop around and show some love!

The party starts every Tuesday at 7am EST and will continue until Saturday at 11:59pm.  Feel free to stop back any time and "like" your favorites.  Please visit other blogs if you have a moment. 

Share older posts as well as new ones.  No limit on links!  *Pictures should be your own*  By linking up you give us permission to use these photos  (with proper link backs) in our features.
 

And now for the party!

 

Crafting a Snack

Some nice blogger out there deserves credit for this idea.  I apologize.  'Should've pinned it!  I can't find it again.  If you deserve the credit, by all means, please claim it!

 

 

So, here's the idea.  Grab some pipe cleaners or yarn or, maybe even thread.

 

Toss cereal (that would make a nice bead) into a bowl.

 

The kiddos then thread the cereal beads, snack for a while, spill cereal, and thread some more!
 

 

It's a fun afternoon of crafting, but then you also have an edible necklace or bracelet for road trips!

;-)  -Marci



Black and Hot Pink Organizer Basket

It all began innocent enough.  I wanted to sew a functional Easter Basket.  That was all.  Here is the one For the Boys.  And a Set for Sisters.  The Easter projects were completed long ago, but I keep sewing these wonderful organizer baskets!
 

 



 

I am loving this fabric combo!

 

 

 

 

 This Divided Basket Pattern from Anna @ Noodlehead is my newest sewing addiction!  You just can't have too many organizing baskets...  Right? 

 

;-)  -Marci

Garden Guest: Our Favorite

The north side of our front yard is a certified  National Wildlife Federation Backyard Habitat.  Really!  We have a certificate!  It is so much fun to see all of the critters that stop by for a visit.  I'm beginning a new series of posts to show you our Garden Guests. 

 

Our favorite guests of all?  Children!

 

  

 

Mr. Big Stuff is such a handsome fella!

 

 There is one fun party at Holli's Hoots and Hollers called Tuesday Tunes!! Choose a song or two and link up!  My song choice this week?

Beautiful Boy, John Lennon

;-)  -Marci

Tuesdays with a Twist Link Party #14

Good Morning and welcome to another fantastic party!

 

<a href="http://back2basichealth.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a627/greenmary_smith/ad9dc0c5-5f80-4ed7-a18c-c6e9fb42d156_zpsde41d9bb.jpg"/></a>

 

Your post will be seen on 4 different blogs!!!

We're your co-hosts Mary @ Back to the Basics and Joyce @ It's Your Life!  

 

Please give a warm welcome to Marci @ Stone Cottage Adventures

 

AND Diane @ MamalDiane

Each co-host will be sharing her own picks for Features. This gives everyone a better chance of being featured. Be sure to check all of our blogs to see if you were featured!

 

My Feature this Week is:

Katie J Jumper from Pam at Threading My Way!  Isn't this a darling little dress?!  Who doesn't love ruffled bloomers?!



My fave thing about Pam's blog is she has ongoing link parties for sewing projects.  There is an amazing library of tutorials and patterns at Threading My Way.  Check it out!  Oh, and tell her Marci said, "Hi".  Pam is a sweetheart!

  

If you've been featured we'd love for you to grab a button.

<a href="http://back2basichealth.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a627/greenmary_smith/FeaturedMorningglory_zps96ec9fee.jpg"/></a>

We all love comments!  we try to comment on each and every link. 

Please hop around and show some love!

The party starts every Tuesday at 7am EST and will continue until Saturday at 11:59pm.  Feel free to stop back any time and "like" your favorites.  Please visit other blogs if you have a moment. 

Share older posts as well as new ones.  No limit on links!  *Pictures should be your own*  By linking up you give us permission to use these photos  (with proper link backs) in our features.
 

And now for the party!