Count Your Blessings Blog Hop & Giveaway Linky, Wk 1

Hi everyone! This is the first week of the Count Your Blessings Blog Hop and Giveaway Linky. First I want to explain a few things. 


1) PLEASE help with advertising: Click the Tweet button at the bottom of this page or the Share This button. This linky is heavily advertised but there is only so much I can do - if we all work together we'll be that much more successful. Please feel FREE to take a button and post it on your blog too.  ThankS!

Right Click with mouse on image, Copy, Paste on your blog.

Link to: http://holidaygiftsandmore.blogspot.com

2) Each week I will feature my Wednesday Review & Giveaway Linky. You are welcome to enter the giveaway if you are interested.

This weeks Featured Giveaway is:

One Lucky Reader will WIN a copy of

Family Fun's Halloween Issue!

(Enter Here)

3) I'd love to host an Ornament Exchange! It's going to be fairly basic - Sign Up to Join In HERE and I should know the dates here in a week or two & how I'm going to do it. I'm hoping to co-host the event with someone and if you'd like to join me that would be awesome. Thanks!

If you have a Holiday Event coming up and would like to feature it on my sidebar - let me know. All I ask is that you feature this Blog Hop/Giveaway Linky on your blog with a link back to this blog.  Thanks!

Count Your Blessings Blog Hop

Link Up Your Blog (No Giveaways Here please) Hop
Link Up any Holiday ideas for Decorating, Recipes, Halloween, Fall Fun, Crafting, etc - NO Giveaways - use the linky below this one - Thanks!


          *** Sorry no images this week - 

              I can't get them to work?***

Mister Linky's Magical Widgets -- Easy-Linky widget will appear right here!
This preview will disappear when the widget is displayed on your site.
For best results, use HTML mode to edit this section of the post.

Please link up any family friendly giveaways. Be sure to load them like this:

WIN a ______________, 10/31, US & CA
You must indicate an ending date & who can enter
US, Canada or WorldWide (WW)

Mister Linky's Magical Widgets -- Easy-Linky widget will appear right here!
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Halloween by Family Fun (Magazine Review)

Halloween by Family Fun (Magazine)
by Disney Publishing Worldwide
Age 8-12, $9.99
Available at a store near you

It's hard to believe it's almost Halloween but it is, and I'm sure your kid's have been sharing their costume ideas since school started (or maybe summer?).

The special Halloween edition of Family Fun is packed with FUN ideas for costumes, crafts, pumpkin ideas and treats (gotta have treats).  There are bonuses too - easy ideas for Halloween parties, clip art decorations and even more.

The costume section comes with a supply list and many of the supplies are things you have around the house like - cardboard boxes (need a big one? Ask at Sears or the local appliance or furniture store if they have any dishwasher size boxes (or whatever size you need). Paint, brushes, foil, margarine tubs and plastic cups are just a few of the items you may need.

There are ideas for: a Perky Penguin, a Pink Poodle, a Ladybug, a really cool Retro Robot (my favorite lol) or how about a Washing Machine or a MP Player?

How about some cool craft ideas?
A couple of the crafts I loved the most were Mr Bottle Bones & the Tie Dyed Pumpkin Shirts! You can also make a tabletop haunted house, a giant spider or get some great pumpkin & gourd ideas.

No party is complete without treats!
(aren't they cute?)

Christmas Suggestion:

Have a family in YOUR family that would enjoy a 

Year Subscription to Family Fun? 
You can order a subscription for $9.95 

(savings $29.55 (or 75%)

CLICK HERE

Holiday Traditions is going to give away 1 copy of Halloween to a lucky reader. Is it going to be you?

The Freak-O-Sphere's best ideas.....

Boo!

Starting October 1st, Holiday Traditions will 

be UP and Running w/ craft ideas, tutorials, book reviews

gift ideas, great recipes and every weekend starting 10/8

there will be a Link UP of the Freak-O-Sphere's best ideas! 

 

An assignment:

You assignment for October 8th is to come UP with

your best Halloween (or Fall Festival) ideas!

Show decorating ideas, craft ideas, creepy recipe

ideas..... whatever your creative little mind will come UP with!

One lucky winner will win a copy of......

Will It Be YOU?

(Please note: if you and your family aren't into Halloween - feel free to come up with Fall Festival ideas instead.)

 

Coming soon.... Don't Miss It!

Hi everyone!

Holiday Traditions

will be open for business

October 1st!

It's time for another year of

Sales, Black Friday,

Shopping and more....


Oh yeah, link up your creative
holiday decor ideas, recipes, craft ideas,
gift ideas & giveaways on
Friday's too!

So, Are you ready?

Be sure to come back October 1st!


PS: would you like to add my button to your sidebar?
(I'd be really thrilled if you did)



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Today's Blog Hops:  

Christmas - What does it mean to YOU?

O morning stars! Together proclaim the holy birth,
And praises sing to God the King and peace to men on earth.(O Little Town of Bethlehem)
Isaiah 9:6For to us a child is born,to us a son is given,and the government will be on his shoulders.And he will be calledWonderful Counselor, Mighty God,Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
What does Christmas mean to you?  Is it a time of reflection of the sacrifice God made to give us Salvation?Knowing that he gave us that which mattered most to him - and provided a path to Righteousness and the Gift of Life through the death of Jesus - God's Only Son and the Resurrection that wiped away Sin?
Did You Know?Jesus, in Hebrew, means God is Salvation
John 1:14"The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only,who came from the Father, full of grace and truth."
Jesus, called Immanuel, "God With Us"was different from everyone's expectations.Instead of judgement, He brought mercy and love.
Isaiah 60:1 Arise, shine; for your light has come, And the glory of the LORD has risen upon you.
Jesus - was and is that light,Have YOU allowed HIM into the dark places of YOUR heart?
John 3:16For God So Loved The World that HE gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in HIMshould not perish, but have everlasting life.

Need a last minute gift idea - make it!

I've been doing a little blog hoppin' today looking for ideas for

next years handmade Christmas.  Some years I do more, some years less.

This year, I will be making 2 wreaths, a scarf and an apron.  Everything

else God provided from doing reviews & giveaways.  Isn't that awesome?

Tutorials you might want to check out!

Stephanie @ Home has a darling tutorial for Holiday Coasters.  Check 'em out:

I'm sharing an easy way to make holiday coasters, 

which are as festive as they are practical, for as little as $1.50.

Mallory - has a darling set of Snowman Coasters:

How adorable are these little guys?? Total cost for a set of 4 is about $2. 

They are so cute and super easy to make! I just used some 4"x4" tiles from 

Lowes for 36 cents each, stamped the snowman on it, painted over with a 

layer of craft polyurethane, and added 4 little felt feet to the bottom so they 

don't scratch any surfaces. The felt feet can be found at the Dollar Tree. I 

made a bunch of these to sell at a local Arts Center and will also be giving 

them away for Christmas presents. Cute and easy...love it!

Coffee Filter Trees

Welcome to The Little Brown House!

I promised in my Christmas Mantle post that I would do a tutorial

of the Coffee Filter trees I featured, and here it is.

My first Coffee Filter project was last spring, when I made my

Brown Coffee Filter Wreath

Christmas Popcorn Garland

Hoosier Homemade has some great ideas on decorating mantels.  Now, I

don't have a mantel but you can also use some of these ideas for decorating 

the top of your sideboard, entertainment center, lower bookcases, etc.

Snowflake Specimen Art

Isn't this darling?  It's made from those little foam snowflakes

that you can purchase for kids crafts.  Gotta be honest, I've always

wondered what to do with those!  And I like that it can be up until

Valentine's Day.

  

Luke 2 Picture and Subway Art - Luke 2

I found many of these ideas here: Christmas Craft Link Party

10 New Year’s Resolutions You Can Actually Keep

Posted on December 14, 2010 by admin

New Year's is a time for starting fresh and setting goals that you'd like to accomplish. For many people this comes in the form of New Year's resolutions. Get fit, stop smoking, learn a new language and lose 30 pounds are just a few of the popular resolutions that just never seem to come to fruition. Instead of making promises you can't keep again this year, face the reality and start making resolutions that are within your means. Here are 10 New Year's resolutions you can actually keep:

1. Be Nicer to People: Being nicer to people is something we can all realistically do more often. This New Year's resolution doesn't require you to donate to a charity every month or compliment every person you see on the street, but just be kinder to people. Simply saying hello and goodbye to people, watching what you say before you blurt out an insult and lending a helping hand to someone, even when it's inconvenient for you, are all realistic examples of being nicer to people.
2. Get More Sleep: One New Year's resolution you could actually keep is getting more sleep. It will certainly require some effort on your part to finish tasks early so you can make it to bed at a decent time, but it's not an impossible feat either. Your body and mind will appreciate the extra Zs, and getting more sleep can actually help you accomplish your other resolutions much easier.
3. Give Blood: If you'd like to give back to the community in a big way but cannot commit to being a volunteer, why not give blood? Giving blood is a terrific selfless act that makes a huge difference in people's lives. Your donation of one pint can save up to three lives and you can give blood every 56 days if you want. Even if you only donate a couple times a year, it's still more than what the average American donates. Your New Year's resolution will save lives; and it doesn't get much better than that.
4. Indulge in Moderation: So many people make grandiose New Year's resolutions, like quit drinking and stop eating junk food, but cannot stick to them. These resolutions are not realistic for the average person because we all like to indulge every once in a while. You'll have a better chance at limiting your alcohol and junk food intake if you do it in moderation. It's highly unlikely that someone who enjoys red wine, chocolate and pizza are going to be able to give it up cold turkey, so let yourself indulge in moderation for a more realistic approach to healthier eating.
5. Floss Regularly: Flossing your teeth and gums regularly is a New Year's resolution you can certainly keep up with. Obviously if you have to add it to your resolutions list, it's not the easiest habit to develop, but it's not impossible to get better at. For a couple extra minutes every morning or night, start flossing before you brush your teeth. Regular flossing has many oral health benefits, such as preventing cavities, removing plaque, preventing bad breath and giving you a better teeth cleaning.
6. Stop Overspending: Do you really need expensive shoes, the latest cell phone or the hottest car on the block? Probably not. You may or may not be able to afford these luxuries, but that doesn't mean overspending isn't a problem. If you genuinely want to save money and manage your debt debt, you should stop overspending as a New Year's resolution. If you stop overspending and start living within your means, it will make a world of difference for your finances and state of mind. It may require the help of a financial advisor or a patient friend, but stopping overspending is a realistic New Year's resolution you can actually keep.
7. Do Your Best at Work: Many New Year's resolutions include finding a better job, but in this tough economic climate, the employed should be so lucky to simply have a job. If you really want to maximize your potential and better your career, make a resolution to do your very best at work. There may be additional responsibilities you could take on, or maybe you could stay late to help out a coworker. If you're unsure about how you can do better than you already are, ask your boss and I'm sure they'd be happy to tell you and impressed that you asked.
8. Do Exercises that Make You Happy: Exercising is almost always on everyone's New Year's resolutions list and it's usually followed by 'lose 20 pounds.' If you really want to start exercising regularly and see weight loss results, you may need to tweak your resolutions a little. Instead of simply putting exercise, try doing exercises that make you happy. With the amount of exercises and workout classes available today, you shouldn't waste your time doing exercises that frustrate you or make you feel less than stellar. It doesn't matter if you prefer long-distance running, yoga or weightlifting; if you do what makes you happy you'll be more likely to exercise regularly.
9. Recycle: If you want to do something good for the environment and actually stick to it this year, make recycling your New Year's resolution. Recycling is a realistic resolution you can keep up with, especially if your recyclables can be picked up at your house. Even if you don't have that convenience, you may not have to drive far to recycle plastic, paper, glass, aluminum and other recyclable products. To ensure that you follow this resolution, designate a bin or box for recycling so that family and guests know where to put their recyclables and nothing goes to waste.
10. Give More Affection: If you aren't the most affectionate person and want to start giving more hugs every day, you can make this one of your realistic New Year's resolutions. It's not too terribly hard to give more affection every day and it doesn't have to be physical either. A smile, kind words and spending time with friends are other easy examples of showing affection to those you care about.

Original post on: http://www.toponlinecolleges.com/blog/2010/10-new-years-resolutions-you-can-actually-keep/  and offered to Holiday Traditions.  Thanks!