Friday, March 31, 2017

Woodland Baby Banner for Baby Shower

Work is still crazy busy, so I haven't had much time for new projects much less writing posts about them.  It's a good thing I haven't published all my projects from the Baby Shower we hosted way back in January!  ;-)  

Here are some of my previous baby shower related posts:

Ten Steps to Hosting a Stress Free Baby Shower

Woodland Babies Centerpiece Tutorial

Cheesecake Bar

Aunt Margie's Punch Recipe

The Big Day

We had such a fun day!  What do you enjoy most at baby showers?


This simple banner came together so quickly.


The adorable card stock animals and mushrooms were snipped from the leftover invitations.



I also used the same sweet felt woodland babies from  The Centerpiece and threaded both onto raffia.  The white spacers are cotton balls.  


As guests arrived, they were given pretty little shapes of paper and asked to write advice or encouragement to the Mommy-to-Be.


Then they hung their note on the banner with a striped paper clip.


It made for a sweet activity and a cute backdrop!


After the shower, we gathered the notes into a small basket.  All those sentiments are still being cherished by our beautiful guest of honor!



What advice do you like to give new parents?

;-)  -Marci

Tuesday, March 28, 2017

Tuesdays with a Twist LINKY PARTY

Our News This Week...  I was out of town for a few days on business.  It's nice to be away, but there's just no place like home!  I was able to work in our greenhouse most of Sunday afternoon.  Our weather was sunny but a little cool.  This is absolutely my favorite time of year!  'So excited to see what our little garden will grow this trip around the sun!


My daffodils are blooming right now, but this photo was taken in February at Bellingrath Gardens near Mobile, Alabama.  'Always makes me smile to be in or near a National Park  ;-)



I co-host a party on Mondays called You're the Star!  I hope you can join that one, too!


And now for today's party!




Angie @ God's Growing Garden

Joyce @ Heavenly Bodies

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

Choosing features never gets easier!  There are so many impressive bloggers visiting each week and they post about all kinds of interesting topics.  Look at these Terracota Painted Pots 


Painted Clay Pots-Oh My Heartsie Girl
  
from Karren at Oh, My Heartsie Girl!  Aren't they pretty?! 

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


We all love comments!  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. 

All family friendly links are welcome.
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.

Let's party!

;-)  -Marci





Monday, March 27, 2017

You're the Star Blog Hop {March}

WELCOME to the March "You're the Star" Blog Hop!  Can you believe this is the last week of the month?  Right now there is a gentle rain coming down.  April showers may have arrived a week early!  Hopefully, May flowers will come early, too!


by Angie Ouellette-Tower for http://www.godsgrowinggarden.com/ photo YoureTheStarHopLarge_zpsncuylahd.jpg

Before we continue onto the Linky party I wanted to share from my blog:

This sweet little bear I crocheted!  Click HERE to see the post.


__________________________________________________________________________

WELCOME to EXTRA feature week of the March "You're the STAR" blog hop!
(Sometimes we will have 5 Mondays in a month - these 5th special Mondays are called "EXTRA feature" days)
Meet all of your STAR Hosts 


This is a month long Linky party featuring YOU!
There will be 4 different features each week and 4 different feature categories (except for this special EXTRA day - we will be featuring 2 extra).  Just to be clear - this is NOT a themed party - you may link up ANY family-friendly blog posts any day of each month. 
The "theme" occurs in our weekly features:
WEEK#1 GARDEN - gardening, homesteading, recycling &/or preserving (this can include any type of green living,  while remaining family friendly),
WEEK#2 CREATIVE - arts & crafts, music, writing &/or dramatic arts (this can include sewing, dance, art history, handmade jewelry, computer art, fashion etc - anything creative while remaining family friendly)
WEEK#3 FAMILY - parenting, fitness, finances & inspirational (this can include anything about children like: education ideas for children, also self help, beauty etc -  anything family friendly)
WEEK#4 HOME - recipes, home décor, antique/DIY &/or travel (this can include anything about your home - even history posts - all while remaining family friendly)


by Angie Ouellette-Tower for godsgrowinggarden.com photo ShopHoppingFeatured_zpsf9fab123.jpg


(All features were chosen from the February "You're the Star" blog hop)

Blackberry Lemon Bars by 3 Winks Design
Picture 

Vitamin D - Your Health Depends On It! by This Autoimmune Life

Vitamin D-Your Health Depends On It


If you've been featured then please grab a STAR button below:

You're a STAR


*******************************************************
We are in need of more Cohosts (click HERE to view a list of our current hosts/cohosts).  For HOME feature week we  need 3 more Cohosts.  If you are interested in joining us as a Cohost then please click HERE & fill out the form.

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

All Hosts/CoHosts will post this blog hop on every Monday of each week.
Please link up your family friendly blog posts below!
It wouldn't be a linky party with YOU!

(IMPORTANT NOTE: by linking up you understand that you might be featured next month and if so, we will use some of your photos from your post - rest assured - we will always link back to your lovely blog.  We might also share your fantastic posts on social media.  Also, you may link up as many family-friendly posts as you like & YES - other blog hops &/or giveaways are welcome {giveaways and blog hops will NOT be featured though}  Thank You & ENJOY! )

___________________________________________________________________





Sunday, March 26, 2017

Fitness after 50. Positivity is Contagious

This is my new series about fitness.  I am certainly no expert.  Posts will be about what's working for me.  There will definitely be running plans, flexibility, and basic weight lifting.  You can also expect nutrition ideas, recipes, and, well, probably lots maybe a little bit of whining.  ;-)  I hope I have the courage to tell you about the failures.

  If you'd like to read the premise for my journey, that's right here:

Rest and Heal
Week 1. Book Review


As I progressed though, these posts were written.


Week 2. Plan for Stair Climbing
Week 3. Basic Workout from a Personal Trainer
Week 4. Weight Loss Challenge
Week 5. Breakfast Recipe
Week 6. Walking Strategy  
Week 7. Meal Planning and a Giveaway
Week 8. Struggling with Two Setbacks
Week 9. Packing Lunch  

Being on vacation bumped my weekly schedule.

Positive Snowball


Jay and friends encouraging his Mom when she finished her last round of chemo

Positivity is Contagious

Today, I'm sharing another great message from my co-worker, Jay Stewart.  He is such a good family man, very thoughtful to everyone around him.  He challenged himself to do push ups every day for a month.  He began with 40 push ups.  His goal is to add 1 push up each day.  Jay posts videos each day on FB of himself completing that day's challenge.  

So, here is Jay, again!  I really love his last sentence!  

Day 28 of my push-up challenge: 85 push-ups! Yahoo!!!!
I don't want to come across as boastful, but I knew as soon as I started my push-ups today I was going to crush my goal.
Not only did I succeed but I'm getting through them faster (lucky you!)
The reason I share that I had no doubt I was hitting the goal today is this:
I felt good. I was so focused. I was in the freakin' zone. And you can have the confidence too!
I've been praying before and after these challenges, but not asking to succeed but that my actions reach you!
Today, I just had this confident feeling that we were going to crush the goal and encourage some friends.
My wife is becoming increasingly supportive of me through this journey. You all know how amazing she is.
But it's helping me...and it's kind of a funny way it's working.
By submitting myself to this challenge I feel that I am becoming a more positive minded person, and encouraging friends and family. And then my loved ones show this unconditional support and love to me through this, which is, in turn, encouraging me even more to keep submitting to the challenge. Which is increasing my positivity. And so on!
What if one of you tried this with the support of your loved ones?
As many of you know, my mom had a challenging year.
But dude, she fought! Every single day!
And she had tons of positive support!
And it encouraged her on those mornings she didn't want to get out of bed.
Which encouraged us to support her more!
Which led to more positivity.
Friends, it's contagious. Positivity.
Even at our weakest, it fuels and spreads like wild fire. The bigger it gets the more energy it produces.
Let's spread some freakin' positive vibes! 

Friday, March 24, 2017

Bellingrath Gardens {Part 3}


Visiting this stunning garden was such a treat!


We spent an afternoon there in February.  If you would like to see previous posts about it, click  HERE  or  THERE.







We had such a lovely time strolling along their walks.


Happy Spring!

;-)  -Marci

Wednesday, March 22, 2017

Just because...

I stumbled across this video and love it!  Maybe you will too?


Master of Tides -Lindsey Sterling




For the lovers of music, mermaids or pirates!

;-)  -Marci

Tuesday, March 21, 2017

Tuesdays with a Twist #204 PARTY TIME!!

Our News This Week...  Spring weather arrived this weekend and it is wonderful!  Handsome Husband worked up part of the garden so I could get the potatoes planted.  I love playing in the dirt!  Did you notice my month long link party that began last week?  It's called Celebrating Spring!  I hope you have time to join the fun!













This isn't the spot where I usually post a photo of myself, but I wanted you to see how curly my hair is.  It was taken while we were on vacation in Alabama on a very humid and windy day.  'Always makes me smile to be in or near a National Park  ;-)



I've begun co-hosting a party that lasts all month called You're the Star!  I hope you can join that one, too!


And now for today's party!




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


Choosing features never gets easier!  There are so many impressive bloggers visiting each week and they post about all kinds of interesting topics.  Here's a great one, Tips for Curly Girls 


  



from Mimi at A Tray of Bliss!  I just LOVE her hair!

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




We all love comments!  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. 

All family friendly links are welcome.
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.



Let's party!


;-)  -Marci









Monday, March 20, 2017

You're the Star Blog HOP {March} Home Features

WELCOME to the March "You're the Star" Blog Hop!  I am so happy you are here!  Did you notice the linky party I am co-hosting that began Thursday?  It's all about Celebrating Spring!  If you have time, I'd love for you to join that party, too!




by Angie Ouellette-Tower for http://www.godsgrowinggarden.com/ photo YoureTheStarHopLarge_zpsncuylahd.jpg




Have you seen my series titled Fitness after 50?  Here's the latest one


Positive Snowball




__________________________________________________________________________



WELCOME to HOME feature week of the March "You're the STAR" blog hop!
Meet your HOME week Host 


by Angie Ouellette-Tower for http://www.godsgrowinggarden.com/ photo YoureTheStarHome_zps8slohi3o.jpg


This week is HOME feature week
Swing by the Home Cohosting Team:
Bev @ Eclectic Red Barn
This is a month long Linky party featuring YOU!
There will be 4 different features each week and 4 different feature categories.  Just to be clear - this is NOT a themed party - you may link up ANY family-friendly blog posts any day of each month.  The "theme" occurs in our weekly features:
WEEK#4 HOME - recipes, home décor, antique/DIY &/or travel (this can include anything about your home - even history posts - all while remaining family friendly)

by Angie Ouellette-Tower for godsgrowinggarden.com photo ShopHoppingFeatured_zpsf9fab123.jpg


(All features were chosen from the February "You're the Star" blog hop)



Redoing a Vintage Sewing Cabinet by Redo It Yourself Inspirations













Lemon-Lime Cake with Pineapple Curd by A Fireman's Wife






Cream Cheese Potato Soup by Olla-Podrida


If you've been featured then please grab a STAR button below:



You're a STAR



*******************************************************
We are in need of more Cohosts (click HERE to view a list of our current hosts/cohosts).  For HOME feature week we  need 3 more Cohosts.
If you are interested in joining us as a Cohost then please click HERE & fill out the form.


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

All Hosts/CoHosts will post this blog hop on every Monday of each week.
Please link up your family friendly blog posts below!
It wouldn't be a linky party with YOU!
(IMPORTANT NOTE: by linking up you understand that you might be featured next month and if so, we will use some of your photos from your post - rest assured - we will always link back to your lovely blog.  We might also share your fantastic posts on social media.  Also, you may link up as many family-friendly posts as you like & YES - other blog hops &/or giveaways are welcome {giveaways and blog hops will NOT be featured though}  Thank You & ENJOY! )


___________________________________________________________________