DECEMBER 2015 #ChainLinkyCLIMB & Giveaway

Where did November go?  Time is flying by but I hope that you have time to grow with us on the month long networking CLIMB!  Checkout the Highest CLIMBer this month!
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Tweet #ChainLinkyCLIMB
<a href="http://www.godsgrowinggarden.com/p/chain-linky-climb.html" rel="”nofollow”" target="_blank"><img alt="God’s Growing Garden" src="http://i1145.photobucket.com/albums/o501/AngieOuelletteTower/Sponsors/Climb200_zps6c2cafff.jpg" /></a>

  WELCOME! It's the month long Networking Blog Hop  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") ________________________________________________  Highest CLIMBer Features!!
Each permanent host & cohost will feature their favorite link from the previous month CLIMB!  Every "Highest CLIMBer" will be pinned to our Pinterest board: Chain Linky CLIMB Pinterest board <a href="http://www.godsgrowinggarden.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="God’s Growing Garden" src="http://i1145.photobucket.com/albums/o501/AngieOuelletteTower/Title%20Pages%20or%20Buttons/CLIMBerG_zpsij327zos-1.jpg" /></a> My Highest CLIMBer from November 2015 is:

Pom Poms and Pinecones Ornaments by One Little Project

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Also, our CLIMB GIVEAWAY! Please enter below -one person will win: - $10 Paypal cash from Eclectic Red Barn
- Ad Space on A Peek Into My Paradise - $30 value
- Your choice of 2 month small Ad spaces OR 1 month large Spotlighting Ad Space on Butterfly in the Attic- $30 value
- 1 Guest Post from April Noelle (Your Choice: April will write a Guest post for your blog OR you may write a post for April's blog) $30 value
- 1 Month Ad Space on The Myrabev Life - $10 value
- 1 Ad Space on Sew Crafty Angel - $10 value
- 1 Monthly Ad Space on God's Growing Garden - $15 value
- 1 "Little Blue Fish" Necklace by ShorelineDesigned - $15 value

"Little Blue Fish" Necklace

LITTLE BLUE FISH, Authentic Leland Bluestone, Tiny Stainless Steel Fish Charm, 24 Inch Stainless Steel Petite Ball Chain Necklace

"I found this pretty little Leland Bluestone in Lake Michigan, and it dangles from a pretty little scored with a blue patina-look stainless steel fish connector charm from a 24 inch stainless steel petite ball chain complete with tiny clam clasp.The stone measures 1/2 inch long.."

by ShorelineDesigned

Total prize value is $150!!



CLIMB Giveaway Rules & Conditions:

- this is open worldwide (void where prohibited) - You must be 18 years or older to enter - You MUST have a blog to win the Ad spaces (otherwise these will become second place prizes) - You MUST have a valid PayPal account to win the Paypal Cash (otherwise this will become a second place prize) - You MUST have a mailing address in the lower 48 states of the United States of America to win the Necklace (otherwise this will become a second place prize)

- This Giveaway is open from November 30th, 2015 until December 31st, 2015

- Winner must respond to email within 48 hours or a different winner will be chosen

- Giveaway Hosts & Co-hosts can NOT enter this Giveaway!, however - DECEMBER 2015 CLIMB blog hop co-hosts ARE allowed to 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.

- All prizes will be delivered by the contributing Bloggers/Shop Owners.

- if you have any questions or concerns about this Giveaway please email one of the hosts:

Angie:  angeliquetower@gmail.com

Angel:  sewcraftyangel@gmail.com

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Now onto the CLIMB (blog hop): We have changed it up a bit - instead of linking your homepage you may now link 4 or 5 of your family friendly blog posts per month!!

 

By participating in this blog hop your understand that your link might be featured &/or promoted on our blogs & 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 - 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)

We are looking for amazing Bloggers like you to cohost the CLIMB! (We are scheduling for the end of December 2015 and all of January 2016) - please click the purple button below to sign up to cohost or click HERE!

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Sign up to receive emails about the CLIMB

_____________________________________________________________

(Checkout this month's wonderful Sponsor!) 

Cynthia from "ShorelineDesigned HANDMADE on Amazon"

Great Lakes stones & planet earth nautical jewelry - beautifully Handmade!

(click on the button below to visit her shop)

Find out more about this amazing artist CLICK HERE

The Toledo Zoo - Feature #5 & Name That PLANT

The Toledo Zoo - Feature #5 & Name That PLANT

The Toledo Zoo in Toledo, Ohio has been voted one of the top 10 Zoos in the country!  I have lived in this area for 20 years and this past September 2015 is the first time that I have ever visited this special place.  Now I am asking myself: "Why did it take me so long?".

I had the pleasure of visiting the zoo with my sister & brother-in-law and my precious twin nieces.  It was such a blessing to experience this amazing zoo with my 10 year old nieces.

Each week I will feature one animal and one plant (asking for your help in identifying some of the plants) - ENJOY!

Earlier this year the Toledo Zoo finished the expansion or addition to the Aquarium and it is amazing! 

Feature #5 - JELLYFISH

Life in the sea is so mysterious and this Aquarium exuded that feeling.  I was especially mesmerized by the Jellyfish.

I have to admit that my knowledge on jellyfish is almost non existent so I decided to paste the information from Wikipedia below:
"Jellyfish or jellies are the major non-polyp form of individuals of the phylum Cnidaria. They are typified as free-swimming marine animals consisting of a gelatinous umbrella-shaped bell and trailing tentacles.  They have soft bodies and long, stinging, venomous tentacles that they use to catch their prey, usually small plankton animals or small crustaceans or tiny fish. Some jellyfish hunt other jellyfish. Venom is injected by stinging cells called nematocysts. A jellyfish is 97% water.  Some jellyfish glow in the dark (this is called phosphorescence)"

Checkout these spectacular pictures taken by my sister:



Photo by Monique Ouellette-Fittler

Photo by Monique Ouellette-Fittler

Photo by Monique Ouellette-Fittler

Photo by Monique Ouellette-Fittler

The weirdest of Jellyfish were the type that glow:

Photo by Monique Ouellette-Fittler

The city of Toledo is known as The "Glass City" because for many decades the Owens-Illinois/Libby glass Company called Toledo home with factories, offices and outlet stores.  That is why there are glass jellyfish hanging in the Toledo Zoo Aquarium made by local glass artists.
  ENJOY the following glass jellyfish pictures! 

Photo by Angie Ouellette-Tower

Photo by Angie Ouellette-Tower

Photo by Angie Ouellette-Tower

Photo by Angie Ouellette-Tower

I went to the zoo to look at animals but found myself mostly taking pictures of plants.
Many of the plants around the zoo exhibits and buildings I had never seen before (and unfortunately they were not labeled), so I decided to include a section asking for your help.  The featured plant today is bi-colored with light green and burgundy foliage.  Do you know the name of this plant?

Please leave your answer in the comment section below & have fun!
Identify the plant below:

Photo by Angie Ouellette-Tower

Other Toledo Zoo Posts:

Feature#1 - RHINOCEROS HORNBILL & Orange Coleus

Feature#2 - RED PANDA & Lion's Tail Flower

Feature#3 - GALAPAGOS TORTOISE & Unknown Plant

Feature#4 - GOULDIAN FINCH & RED-THROATED PARROT FINCH Plus Unknown Berry Plant

Feature#6 - POLAR BEAR & Unknown Tree

Feature#7 - PENGUIN & Butterfly Bush

Feature#8 - CHEETAH & Unknown Berry Bush/tree
Feature#9 - FLAMINGO & Hibiscus
Feature#10 - HIPPOPOTAMUS & Unknown Pink Berry
Feature#11 - TIGER & Unknown Multi-colored Berry
Feature#12 - STINGRAY & Unknown Star Shaped Flower
Feature#13 - ELEPHANT & Unknown Multi-colored Flower
Feature#14 - PARAKEETS & Clover Plant

Copyright, Permissions & Disclaimer

Shared on:
Turn It Up Tuesday
Tuesdays with a Twist
#ChainLinkyCLIMB
Snickerdoodle Sunday
Freedom Fridays

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(Checkout this month's wonderful Sponsor!) 

Cynthia from "ShorelineDesigned"
Handmade one-of-a-kind jewelry & beads made from beautiful beach stones from the Great Lakes Shoreline.
(click on the button below to visit her shop)

Find out more about this amazing artist CLICK HERE

JewelBits Subscription Box GIVEAWAY - Christmas Gift Guide #GTG2015

Part of the "Christmas Gift Guide
GIVEAWAYS"

- JewelBits Subscrption Box Giveaway

but first - read this funny post:

The Great Pickle Walk of 1992

click HERE to view the entire post

(the post below has been written by "Michigan Saving and More" &/or "Tales From a Southern Mom")

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Welcome to The Goods To Give - Gift Guide Giveaways

Enter to win a JewelBits Subscription Box

See the Review Here!

Hosted by Michigan Saving and More and Tales From A Southern Mom

Co-Hosted by:

On Honeysuckle Hill, Deliciously Savvy, Lisa-Queen of Random,

God's Growing Garden, Here We Go Again, Ready?

Sponsor:

JewelBits

THE GIVEAWAY

This giveaway is in no way endorsed, affiliated, or associated with Facebook, Twitter or any other Social Media Networking Site. You are not eligible if you have won a prize from any of the sponsors in the last 12 month. This Giveaway is valid in the Continental United States Only and Entrants must be 18+ years of age to enter. The winners will have 48 hours to email their information back to las93063 at gmail dot com or a new winner will be drawn, you may want to put this email address as safe as it could go to spam. The sponsors are each responsible for shipping of the above prizes. No blog associated with this contests are responsible for prize fulfillment, nor were they compensated for promotion. If you would like to be a sponsor in a giveaway like this please email Laura Smith at las930 (at)gmail (dot) com. You are not eligible to win this prize if you have won on another blog within the last 60 Days

Also we all “love it if you like us” on Facebook!

Enter below and Good Luck!

 

Entry-Form

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Click the button below to buy my
"Making Your Own Cedar Roping or Pine Garland" ebook
for Christmas Decorating:

The First of Advent 2015 - NATIVITY #1 - The Basics

The First of Advent 2015 - Nativity #1 - The Basics

Today is the first of Advent and this year I wanted to focus on the "Nativity".  I have a few different "Nativity Scene" figurine sets that I display every Christmas but this one is a favorite from my childhood.  The figurines are somewhat cartoon-like but they are still very precious to me.  As I looked at these figurines I started to wonder about the details portrayed by these little statues - so today let's start with the basics.

We'll start with basic definitions:  What does "nativity" mean?
Nativity - the process or circumstances of being born
(Merriam-Webster Dictionary)
Therefore, it makes sense that we display a "nativity scene" portraying what we celebrate during Advent and Christmas.

What about "creche"?
Crèche - a representation of the nativity scene
  (Merriam-Webster Dictionary)
I used to think that creche was just the stable/barn figurine - however I was wrong.

Manger - a trough or open box in a stable designed to hold feed for livestock
(Merriam-Webster Dictionary)
We know that Mary placed Jesus in a manger from this verse:

"She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn."  
Luke 2:7





That verse started to make me wonder about the stables where Jesus was born.  I do not have any training in Biblical history so I decided to research this question online.

Was Jesus really born in a stable/barn?
The answer is probably NOT - He was most likely born in a house.  We know for sure that there was no room in the Inn (see previous verse above) and because Mary placed Jesus in a manger it is just inferred that they were in a barn.  We also seem to modernize what it must have been like at Jesus' birth (I know I do).  However, it was normal for animals to live in people's homes during Biblical times.  So, the fact that Mary placed Jesus in a manger should not prove that they were in a barn.

Even though our modern day Nativity Scenes may not portray exactly how life was then - it is still important and precious for families to focus on the true meaning of Christmas.



In the weeks to come we will explore the other aspects of the Holy Nativity including the visitors.



ENJOY!



The First of Advent from previous years:

(click on the titles below to view previous First of Advent posts on this blog)
2012 - O Come All Ye Faithful (& Advent Wreath)
2013 - Angels We Have Heard on High
2014 - O Little Town of Bethlehem

Copyright, Permissions & Disclaimer


Shared on:
Turn It Up Tuesday
Tuesdays with a Twist
#ChainLinkyCLIMB
Snickerdoodle Sunday

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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

Featuring the Highest CLIMBers from the NOVEMBER 2015 #ChainLinkyCLIMB

___________________________________________

Tweet #ChainLinkyCLIMB
<a href="http://www.godsgrowinggarden.com/p/chain-linky-climb.html" rel="”nofollow”" target="_blank"><img alt="God’s Growing Garden" src="http://i1145.photobucket.com/albums/o501/AngieOuelletteTower/Sponsors/Climb200_zps6c2cafff.jpg" /></a>

  WELCOME! It's the month long Networking Blog Hop  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") ________________________________________________  Highest CLIMBer Features!!
Each permanent host & cohost will feature their favorite link from the previous month CLIMB! Remember - all Highest CLIMBers are pinned to the ChainLinkyCLIMB Pinterest Board (click to view or follow) Checkout all 7 Highest CLIMBers from November 2015:

In Defense of the Potato by Healthy Helper


Black & White Strawberry Lemon Cake by The Whole Serving


A Tender Heart by Handmade by Amalia



White Chocolate Peanut Butter Bites by Healthy Helper


DIY Denim Wall Organizer by Redo It Yourself Inspirations


same as Cuddlebug Cuties - see above


Let Movement Come Naturally by Healthy Helper


35 Holiday Cookie Swap Ideas by Dreaming of Leaving

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Also, our CLIMB GIVEAWAY! Please enter below -one person will win: - $25 Paypal cash from Sew Crafty Angel , Cuddlebug Cuties & God's Growing Garden
- Ad Space on A Peek Into My Paradise - $30 value
- Your choice of 2 month small Ad spaces OR 1 month large Spotlighting Ad Space on Butterfly in the Attic- $30 value
- 1 Monthly Ad Space on God's Growing Garden - $15 value
- 3 ebooks by Angie Ouellette-Tower ($10 value):

Total prize value is $110!!



CLIMB Giveaway Rules & Conditions: - this is open worldwide (void where prohibited) - You must be 18 years or older to enter  - You MUST have a blog to win the Ad spaces (otherwise these will become second place prizes) - You MUST have a valid PayPal account to win the Paypal Cash (otherwise this will become a second place prize)

- This Giveaway is open from October 31st, 2015 until November 29th, 2015

- Winner must respond to email within 48 hours or a different winner will be chosen

- Giveaway Hosts & Co-hosts can NOT enter this Giveaway!, however - NOVEMBER 2015 CLIMB blog hop co-hosts ARE allowed to 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.

- All prizes will be delivered by the contributing Bloggers/Shop Owners.

- if you have any questions or concerns about this Giveaway please email one of the hosts:

Angie:  angeliquetower@gmail.com

Angel:  sewcraftyangel@gmail.com

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Now onto the CLIMB (blog hop): We have changed it up a bit - instead of linking your homepage you may now link 4 or 5 of your family friendly blog posts per month!!

 


By participating in this blog hop your understand that your link might be featured &/or promoted on our blogs & 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 - 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)

We are looking for amazing Bloggers like you to cohost the CLIMB! (We are scheduling for all of December 2015) - please click the purple button below to sign up to cohost or click HERE!

___________________________________________

Sign up to receive emails about the CLIMB

_____________________________________________________________

(Checkout this month's wonderful Sponsor!) 

Cynthia from "ShorelineDesigned HANDMADE on Amazon"

Great Lakes stones & planet earth nautical jewelry - beautifully Handmade!

(click on the button below to visit her shop)

Find out more about this amazing artist CLICK HERE