APRIL 2014 Chain "Linky" CLIMB & Giveaway

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  WELCOME! It's the month long Networking Blog Hop  With our sixth CLIMB GIVEAWAY! Networking means helping each other grow!!  If you want to promote a CLIMB link then use #ChainLinkyCLIMB on Twitter or Google+ so that we can all help each other grow! Here's how the Giveaway & Co-hosting works - the co-hosts from the previous month's CLIMB will have the opportunity to participate in a Giveaway during the next CLIMB - that gives co-hosts 2 months in a row of blog growing fun!!  (If you would like to co-host please sign up at the end of this post using the last "Linky")  Please enter below -one person will win:

- $30 Paypal Cash

- 1 Ad Space on A Peek Into My Paradise for 30 days - $30 value

- 1 Turbo Sponsor Ad on 100lb Countdown - $7 value

- 1 Ad Space on Cuddlebug Cuties - $10 value

- 1 Sidebar Ad Space on Heidi's Wanderings - $10 value

- 1 Sidebar Ad Space on God's Growing Garden - $10 value

- 1 "My Cookie Creation Countdown" ebook by Angie Ouellette-Tower - $3 value

Learn how to make these "Strawberry Lime Linzer Cookies" just in time for Spring! (Recipe part of "My Cookie Creation Countdown" - my top 10 favorite cookie recipes).

TOTAL PRIZE PACK VALUED AT $100!!!
THERE ARE MANY WAYS TO ENTER!

CLIMB Giveaway Rules & Conditions:  - This Giveaway is open worldwide - You must be 18 years or older to enter  - You MUST have a valid Paypal account & a blog to enter - You must enter a valid email address - This Giveaway is open from March 31st, 2014 until April 29th, 2014 - Winner must respond within 48 hours or a different winner will be chosen - Giveaway Hosts & Co-hosts can NOT enter this Giveaway!, however - April CLIMB blog hop co-hosts may enter this Giveaway (provided they are not also part of the Giveaway) - correspondence is done through email and the winner's email addresses will only be used to deliver or set-up e-prizes.  Email addresses will NEVER be sold or shared. - if you have any questions or concerns about this Giveaway please email one of the hosts: Angie:  gourdonville@yahoo.com Angel:  sewcraftyangel@gmail.com a Rafflecopter giveaway

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(Please checkout this month's Wonderful Sponsor) 

"The Super Spies and the Cat Lady Killer"
by Lisa Orchard

This book opens in a small town in Michigan where fifteen-year-old Sarah Cole is stuck spending the summer at her Aunt and Uncle’s with her sister, Lacey. She’s not happy with the situation until she befriends a girl named Jackie. The three girls stumble upon the ruthless murder of a reclusive neighborhood woman. One of the officers investigating the crime believes the girls are responsible for her death. Fearing that this officer will frame them for the murder, the girls organize their own detective squad. They become the Super Spies and start their own fact-finding mission.  The Super Spies can’t understand why anyone would want to murder the “Cat Lady” until they start digging into her past and discover a horrible crime that happened thirty years ago. They uncover a connection between the two crimes and attempt to bring this information to the police, only to be reprimanded for meddling in the inquest. Not only are the girls upset by the admonition, but they also struggle with the fact that their exuberant investigating could provide a legal loophole allowing the killer to go free. To make matters worse, the police don’t even believe them. Frustrated by this turn of events, the Super Spies realize it’s up to them to snare the Cat Lady killer, or die trying… 

(Please click on the ad above)
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Now onto the CLIMB (blog hop):

 

 
By participating in this blog hop your understand that your link might be promoted on social media.  Also, by participating in this blog hop your email address will be added to our CLIMB list & you will be sent an email reminder next month. 


Remember - Now if you co-host you will receive a free Weekly Sidebar Ad and your blog button will appear on both Angie's blog & Angel's blog!!
(The Ad will run live a few weeks after you have co-hosted)

Sign up to receive emails about the CLIMB

In Christ We Are a New Creation

"For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all and therefore all died.  And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.  So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view.  Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer.  Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation;  the old has gone, the new has come!" 
2 Corinthians 5:14-17


These verses always remind me of Springtime.  Everything has been "dead" for the winter and now it all begins to come to life.  The Crocuses are peeking through the ground, the grass is starting to turn green, buds on the trees are starting to open - it's a fresh start.  "The old has gone and the new has come!"

It's the same for us as Christians.  Jesus died for our sins and gave us a fresh start.  Our old self died with Him on the cross and our new "self" became alive when He rose from the grave!

The key to living "in Christ" is a daily focus on Him.  Even in our everyday life, when we sin - we repent and ask for forgiveness - that old bad action has died and is replaced with a new attitude and way of life by striving to be like Christ.  "The old has gone and the new has come!" 

And let's not forget verse 15 - "And He died for all" - that means everyone!!  It doesn't matter what race, what religion, where you were born - ALL - EVERYONE.  The second part of this verse is that we now live for Him - for Jesus.  We have become a new person and our actions must follow becoming a "new creation".

The old has gone & the new has come - Praise God for his grace & mercy through Jesus Christ!     

Copyright, Permissions &Disclaimer

 

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"Prayer Warriors United" is a google+ Community where Christians come together in prayer. 
Click HERE to view or join this community

If you need prayer please fill out this

Prayer Request form

Smoothie Saturday#13 - Frozen Strawberry & Kiwi-Banana

Smoothie Saturday #13 - Frozen Strawberry & Kiwi-Banana

 

A while ago I bought - The "NutriBullet". Since then I have been creating many smoothie creations.

Today is the thirteenth "Smoothie Saturday" where I will share one of my smoothie recipes.

In this recipe it's all about home-frozen strawberries and fresh kiwis & bananas.

Click HERE to learn how to freeze your own Strawberries

Today we are going to concentrate on Kiwi. 

Kiwi - has wonderful antioxidant properties because it is so high in Vitamin C & is said to reduce the risk of cancer and heart disease.  Kiwi also help prevent macular degeneration and cataracts.   This fruit is also high in fiber.  The oil in the little black seeds is rich in "Alpha-Linoleic Acid" which is an Omega-3 essential fatty-acid. (again - I'm not a doctor and this is NOT medical advice - please see my "disclaimer" at the bottom of this post).

1 Kiwi (peeled, rinsed & cut in half)

1/2 banana (peeled)

3 or 4 strawberries (frozen)

1 teaspoon flax seeds

1 tablespoon nuts (coconut goes well with this smoothie!)

1 scoop vanilla whey protein powder

1/2 cup kefir (or yogurt)

1/4 cup water (if it is too thick)

 

Begin with the smaller "NutriBullet" container and use the "nut & seed" blade to blend & chop the nuts & flax seeds. Now place the remaining ingredients (including the processed seeds & nuts from the first step) into the larger "NutriBullet" container and use the "smoothie" blade. Blend for about 30 seconds (or until fully blended).  NOTE:  you might want to allow the frozen strawberries to thaw a bit at room temperature for about 10 minutes before blending (the strawberries might be too hard depending on what temperature your freezer is kept).

IMPORTANT: For the pictures in this post I used my larger blender because I was making this smoothie for 3 people instead of 1 person.  However - this recipe is measured for one and for the use of the "NutriBullet" (the pictures will not match the ingredient amounts in this recipe).


All of my smoothie recipes on this blog are measured for the "NutriBullet" and are a single serving - if you have a different kind of blender that has a larger capacity then you may increase the amount of ingredients according to your desired smoothie needs. The ingredients in this recipe measure close to the max line of the NutriBullet. 

Copyright, Permissions &Disclaimer

Linked to:

Countdown in Style
Turn it up Tuesday
Four Seasons Blog Hop
Freedom Fridays

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(Please checkout this month's Wonderful Sponsor) 

 

"Heidi's Wanderings" 
Heidi has such a fun blog and a great sense of humor!  This is how she describes herself & her blog: "Quirky, eccentric, silly, yes these are all words that have been used to describe me. I have three cats who run my life. Really they do! Just read their guest posts on Sundays. I also love vintage clothes, accessories, okay, pretty much anything old. You can see some of the items I love in my etsy shop Real Gone Cat Clothes"

(Please click on the ad above)

B.A.S.S. - Advertise April 2014

 

Are you fishing for something different? 
Then you've come to the right place!
 
The "B" in "B.A.S.S" stands for "Buy"
The "A" stands for "Advertise"
The first "S" stands for "Support" &
The second "S" stands for "Swap"

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Today we are going to concentrate on "A" for "Advertise" -


 Why should you advertise with me on God's Growing Garden?

Checkout my Advertise page to see how intensively I will promote your blog (click HERE to view)

- Here are my Follower stats:

GFC (Google Friends Connect) - 1,478
Bloglovin - 1,593
Twitter - 1,811
Pinterest - 1,748
Google+ - 1034
Facebook - 1,482
Linky Followers - 47
Networked Blog - 212

That's a grand total of 9,405 followers in some form or another.

My monthly views 25,428 (as of 3/26/2014)
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MONTHLY AD SPACE

Monthly ads start every Monday & run for 4 weeks total  (28 consecutive days).  The size of this ad is 150 x 150 
$15 per month (payable with PayPal)
With this ad you receive extensive promoting - 3 blog post promotions,
12 Tweets, 6 Pins, 3 Facebook plugs & 3 Google+ promotions
Plus having your ad on my Sidebar the entire time (4 weeks)!!

Monthly ad spaces for the month of April 2014 are listed below (click on the "Buy" button under the start week that you desire).

Thank you so much! 

Starting April 7th, 2014 and going for 4 weeks until May 4th, 2014
$15.00 (US$)
SOLD 

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Starting April 14th, 2014 and going for 4 weeks until May 11th, 2014
$15.00 (US$)
SOLD
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Starting April 21st, 2014 and going for 4 weeks until May 18th, 2014
$15.00 (US$)
SOLD

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Starting April 28th, 2014 and going for 4 weeks until May 25th, 2014
$15.00 (US$)
SOLD

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SIDEBAR AD SPACE

 

Sidebar ads start any day of the week except for Sunday & run for 8 weeks total  (56 consecutive days).  The size of this ad is 200 x 100 
$10 for 8 Weeks (payable with PayPal)

With this ad you receive 8 weeks of Sidebar Space plus 8 Tweets
(1 tweet per week).

 IMPORTANT: I respectfully reserve the right to deny any ad that I feel is inappropriate &/or not family friendly.

ALSO IMPORTANT: Should there be any unforeseen power outage or disaster that would disrupt your ad – I will extend your ad for the missed amount of days.

To Buy a Sidebar Ad - click the "Buy Now" button below & THANK YOU.

$10.00 (US$)

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THANKS AGAIN! 

Copyright, Permissions & Disclaimer

 

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Your monthly ad could be here!

Click the button to see how

dōTERRA Deep Blue (for Sore Muscles) Giveaway

The following information was written by "Janine Thompson" from dōTERRA - Please enter this wonderful Giveaway & you could win a 5 ml "Deep Blue Oil" worth $81.67 - it is used to help sore muscles!

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My name is Janine Thompson, dōTERRA wellness advocate and blogger at My Lamp is Full. I am excited to offer an amazing treasure, a gift from the earth. One of the most popular oils in our house is dōTERRA Deep Blue! It was all my husband requested for Christmas. It is a treasure for sore muscles, sprains and bruises, and joint pain. To help you ease your pain, both in your muscles and in your budget, I am offering a free Deep Blue rub and 5 ml Deep Blue oil, a value of $81.67. For my worst pain, I like to put a drop of the oil, followed by a dab of the cream. Ahh, beautiful deep relief.

 

 



 dōTERRA is committed to bringing you the highest quality essential oils. It is the largest essential oils company in the world and for good reason. The quality surpasses all others. All oils are sourced indigenously where local farmers lovingly grow the very best plants and distill with care. Each individual batch undergoes extensive testing and if it doesn't come back free from pesticides, synthetics and impurities, it does not get bottled!

 

You don't have to wait to get a great deal on these therapeutic grade essential oils, sign up today for a wholesale account (click join on the top right corner) to get 25% off retail and earn free product. Or become a wellness advocate yourself and share with others to get dōTERRA for free.

 

Good luck! Can't wait to share this Deep Blue with one of you!!

 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MyLampIsFull

Google+: https://plus.google.com/118218230818766955885

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/oilsokc/

Bloglovin: http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/6170259/my-lamp-is-full

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Click the button below to enter the Great Giveaways going on now!!:

I'm Co-hosting "Google+ Growing Circles Hop" Week#2!!

Google Plus Growing Circles Hop is for Bloggers & Online Shop Owners too!

Calling all Online Shop Owners who also have a Google+ account!!

1.      Link up your google+ account below (& add all of the hosts & co-hosts to one of your google+ circles). 2.      Then go to your online shop & pick one of your favorite items (copy the url to this item). 3.      Go to google+ and paste the shop item url from step 2 – type a description about the item and be sure to include #GrowingCirclesHop – click the “Share” button. 4.     Click on the hashtag (#GrowingCirclesHop) in google+ & you will be able to see the posts that everyone else from this “hop” shared – all you do now is visit others, PlusOne, Reshare & ENJOY!

Welcome to the Google Plus Growing Circles Hop, where we network and share content.

Let's trend on Google Plus today!
Interested in Co-Hosting?

Send an email to 2justByou(AT)gmail(DOT)com with "G+ Hop Co-Host" in the subject line and include your blog and G+ links for consideration. We'd love to have you! We are now scheduling for the end of April.

 

To make the most of this link party, please follow the rules below.

1. You MUST add your hosts and co-hosts to one of your circles before linking up. 

2. Link up your personal Google+ profile, blog or business G+ pages but NOT your blog URL. 

3. Share ONE post ONLY - (new or old) on G+ and use the hashtag #GrowingCirclesHop. 

4. Connect with others by clicking on your #growingcircleshop hashtag. Engage with at least 2-3 others by a Share, +1 or Comment. 

5. Add new friends to your circles. 

6. Grab a button for your blog, if you'd like. Help us spread the word so we can keep trending on Google Plus each week! (You can edit size to fit your blog in the code).

<div align="center">

<a href="http://www.2justbyou.com/search/label/%23growingcircleshop" target="_blank" width=200 height=200 title="Mommy Mentionables"><img src="http://www.mommymentionables.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/GooglePlusHopbanner-newbutton.jpg" alt="Mommy Mentionables" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

Throughout the next 12 hours, check back on G+ and +1 posts with the hashtag #growingcircleshop.

Google+ Tips

The real participation comes with sharing a blog post to G+ using the party's hashtag and engaging with others who are also sharing posts from this party. Interaction and engaging with others on G+ will bring you the most success! You will notice some posts have a very large picture associated with their post and others have a tiny picture. To increase your chances of being shared, post a photo along with your post link and NOT the tiny one that gets posted automatically with the link. The bigger and more clear your photo, the better chance of it being shared because those are the posts that G+ users want to share with their followers.

An InLinkz Link-up

If you want to be notified the next time the Hop starts, give us your email below and we will send you a quick notification the next time it goes live.

Subscribe to our email reminder mailing list

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Click HERE to link up to the March CLIMB (the month long Networking blog hop) & don't forget to enter the Giveaway!!

Caramel Popcorn with Almonds & Dried Cranberries

Caramel Popcorn with Almonds & Dried Cranberries

This is a tasty twist on the regular caramel-corn - I have added some cinnamon, almonds & dried cranberries!!

Printable Recipe

3 quarts (or 12 cups) of plain popcorn (already popped)

1/2 cup butter

1 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup light corn syrup

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 cup sliced almonds

1/2 cup dried cranberries

First step is to pop your plain popcorn (use a hot-air popper or pop in a heavy kettle on the stove - I would not suggest using microwave popcorn because of the oils used give it a funky flavor - not to mention how unhealthy they are for you - my opinion).

In a medium saucepan bring the butter, sugar & corn syrup to a low boil for 3 to 5 minutes (stirring all the time).  Remove the pan from the heat and add in the vanilla, baking soda & cinnamon - mix well & you will notice it bubble up - keep on stirring (see picture on the right below).   

 
In a large mixing bowl stir together the plain popcorn & the almonds.  Now pour the hot caramel liquid over the popcorn/almond mixture & stir until almost everything is covered with the buttery caramel (see next 2 pictures below).




Spread the caramel covered popcorn & almonds onto a cookie sheet (spray the cookie sheet first).  Bake in a preheated 300 degree oven for 12 minutes - remove from the oven & stir the corn around a little and add the dried cranberries.  Return to the oven and bake for another 5 minutes.  NOTE - if you add the cranberries at the beginning they will become as hard as a pebble!
Allow to cool & serve!

IMPORTANT - Never leave the kitchen when the popcorn is in the oven!! - Perfectly delicious Caramel corn is literally only 30 seconds away from becoming Burned Dentist's Goldmine Corn!

Copyright, Permissions &Disclaimer

Linked to:
Weekend Retreat Link Party
Freedom Fridays
Serenity Saturday
Good Tips Tuesday
Turn it up Tuesdays
Adorned From Above

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(Please checkout this month's Wonderful Sponsor) 

"Heidi's Wanderings" 
Heidi has such a fun blog and a great sense of humor!  This is how she describes herself & her blog: "Quirky, eccentric, silly, yes these are all words that have been used to describe me. I have three cats who run my life. Really they do! Just read their guest posts on Sundays. I also love vintage clothes, accessories, okay, pretty much anything old. You can see some of the items I love in my etsy shop Real Gone Cat Clothes"

(Please click on the ad above)

Time to Link Up! - "Tuesdays with a Twist" Blog Hop #51

Time to Link Up to "Tuesdays with a Twist"!!

Firstly, I wanted to share with you what's been happening in "God's Growing Garden" last week.
Just yesterday: "Destination Co-hosts" WANTED for the Great Blog Train blog hop!  Also, features and giveaway winner announcement - click HERE to view.


And 2 days ago - God is Light - the Cure for Cabin Fever of the Soul:  click HERE to view 

Last week:
"Cauliflower Lasagna Roll-ups with White Sauce"  A vegetarian recipe but with the option of adding meat if you prefer.
"Easter Egg Decorating - Electric Tape Stencil Method"

Now, please link up & ENJOY this cool hop!
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Good Morning and Welcome to another No Rules 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>

We're your hosts & co-hosts 

Mary @ Back to the Basics and Mary's Kitchen

Joyce @ It's Your Life! 

Marci @ Stone Cottage Adventures

Angie @ God's Growing Garden

Debra @ Ms Moozy's Open House

Features!

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:

1. "Pistachio Cardamom Shortbread Cookies" by Love and Duck Fat
2.  "5 Reasons to use Heirloom Organic Seeds" by Organic4Green Living
3.  "Cats from Ephesus Turkey " by Traveling Cats

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

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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!

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Click the button below to enter the Great Giveaways going on now!!: