My Blog Angel Reveal

Back on June 15th, I told you about a great project that I was involved in called "Blog Angels".  It has been the collaborative project of Rosie from Craftbiotic and Katlyn of The Dreamy Meadow.  If you want to read about the project and find out how it works, click here for all the details.


Today, I get to tell you who I've been a blog angel to.....Jenna from I Never Really Told You...

I have left blog comments for her, invited her to my group linky party and given her shout outs on my facebook and twitter pages.  Jenna also has an etsy shop, Doe Eyed Dear, that showcases her talent for designing wedding accessories.

Here are some pictures of what she has designed...they are all available in her store.

She's also having a birthday giveaway on her blog for some cute dahlia bobbies from her shop.  Today is the last day to enter so head over here quick!

Happy Birthday Jenna!


Your blog angel,
Shasta @InTheOldRoad

Linking to:

Craftbiotic

My Favorite Summer Family Movie

If you want a really good family movie to watch with your kids this summer, I've got just the right one.  The Sandlot (1993) is one of my favorite movies.  It's an entertaining, kid friendly sports comedy about the adventures of nine boys during one summer in 1962.  

The movie is centered around baseball but also shows the simple life of the early 1960's. A time when kids enjoyed 4th of July fireworks, classic neighborhood block parties and slumber parties in treehouses.  The Sandlot is a good movie for the whole family.  It's a great lesson on the value of friendship and being a team player.  Perfect for boys and girls.

One of the funniest scenes in the movie takes place when the boys decide to have a swim in the public pool where a beautiful lifeguard happens to be on duty.

Here is a clip of that scene...it's just one of many funny, classic childhood moments in this film.

So if your kids are staying inside because of the hot weather and you keep hearing "I'm bored", this movie is a must.  It is equally enjoyed by kids and adults and would be a great movie to watch together...as a family.

All Star Block Party #4

Welcome to this week's All Star Block Party.  One of the things that I have really enjoyed about this party is meeting new (to me) bloggers.  Sharing ideas and inspiration are what linky parties are all about.  Making new bloggy friends along the way is just icing on the cake.


After you link up your project to our party, take some time to mingle and meet some of the other party guests.  Stop by their blog, if only to say hello.  Maybe they'll do the same for you.


As always, this linky party is shared by 4 other blogs.  Your link up will be shared by ALL 5 BLOGS!    Meet: 
                    Carri @ Simply Done Wright

Meg @ Nutmeg Place 

Heather @ New House

Holly @ Full Circle Creations                           

One more thing....one of the things that I've become passionate about lately is social media.  I love sharing new ideas and inspiration with my Facebook, twitter, Google+ and Pinterest followers.  This party is my "go to" place for that.  I want to show everyone what you can do.  So, show me what you've got!


You may link up anything...craft/DIY projects, food and recipes, sewing projects, home or garden design, etc.  We do ask, however, that you follow a few rules:

Keep your links family friendly and only link up projects made by YOU.

No business pages, giveaways or link parties allowed.

Follow your hosts (listed above) and please link back to the host's blog that you linked up to.

We reserve the right to delete any link that does not abide by these rules.

Pin-tabulous Tuesday #8 - The Sister Edition

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Today, I thought I would do something different.  Instead of showing you pins from my Pinterest boards, I want to show you some from someone elses....my sister.  My sister and I are both Pinterest addicts and when we see something that we think the other would like, we "save" it for them.  How do we do this?


We each have a Pinterest board labeled for the other sister.  My sister's board for me is "For Sha-Sha".  Yep, that's my nickname.  This board holds the pins that she knows I will like.  So as you look at these pins, you will get to know me a little better...from someone that knows me best.

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Now you know some of the things that I like.  And that my nickname is Sha-Sha.  Thanks, sis!

All Star Block Party #3 Features

Welcome!  I'm so glad you joined me to look at some of the great features from our third All Star Block Party.  We had some wonderful decor and projects linked up last week.  It was really hard to make up my mind which ones to feature.


Like this amazing living room remodel from Quirky Vistas.  I couldn't decide which picture to show you so here is both of them.  

Before, this room was dark.  Dark sofa, dark wood tops to all of the tables.  Now the sofa is light and bright and all of the tabletops have a new look....aqua! Here is another view.

See that gorgeous brown wicker chair?  It brings a touch of texture to the room.  I love that shade of brown with aqua.  I'm also partial to the chair...it's my "dream" wicker chair.


And look what With A Blast did with her craft shelf.  This is a great way to "hide" supplies on a shelf that is visible to guests in your home.

You have to visit her blog to see how she did this.  She painted a wallpaper design on to fabric.  Impressive!


Who likes candy?  That's me with my hand up high and waving. 

Try one of these Blow Pop Martinis from Mandy's Money.  Just think how good that gum in the middle is going to be when you get to it....


Here is my cutie patootie pick of the week.  This fabulous hat/coat rack by The Consigner Designer.

It's so cute and colorful.  See the trains?  Love them!  I know a little boy (who is now a teenager) that used to love trains...my baby (sniff, sniff).


If you were featured today, grab an All Star Block Party feature button to display on your blog.  You deserve it!

<div align="center"><a href="http://intheoldroad.blogspot.com" title="In The Old Road"><img src="http://i1207.photobucket.com/albums/bb466/intheoldroad/allstar11150x150.jpg" alt="In The Old Road" style="border:none;" /></a></div>




Thank you to everyone that linked up with us last week.  Remember you can see more features from this party at my All Star blogger partner's blogs:

Carri @ Simply Done Wright

Meg @ Nutmeg Place

Holly @ Full Circle Creations

Heather @ New House

I hope to see you again this Wednesday for another fun All Star Block Party!  We're FIVE blogs sharing ONE linky party....every week :)

Circles and Pluses...What Does It All Mean?

I've been on a mission this month.  A quest to find out about circles and pluses.  I'm talking about Google+ circles.  Lately, I've been hearing people say "Will you circle me?" or "plus one it"  What?  I knew they were talking about Google+ but I just ignored it.  Besides, I had a Facebook page.  Why did I need Google+?


Then I noticed something else that puzzled me.  Back in March, I wrote a post about the azalea bushes that were blooming in my backyard.  No big deal.  In fact, it was one of those "filler posts".  You know, one of those posts you write because the project that you're working on is not finished yet and you just want to post something.  I can say this because I wrote it...it was mediocre at best...nothing to write home about.

Here's the weird thing.  That azalea post kept showing up in my "popular post" sidebar.  I honestly got sick of seeing it.  So I looked at the stats.  I was shocked.  That "rinky dink" post had over 1600 hits.  More than any other post that I had written.  That's just crazy!


So my quest began.  I had to know what made that post so popular.  I googled "azalea".  There was my post, on the first page of thousands of results.  And pictures of my azaleas!  OK, Google, you've got my attention.

From there, I began researching everything Google.  Especially Google+.  Why am I telling you this?  Because I found out some very interesting things that I think every blogger needs to know.

I want to tell you why you need Google+ to grow your blog and how it can help you get more attention and traffic.  I'm not a Google expert and am not getting paid to do this.  I just want to.  I'm geeky like that.  Dare I say it...I enjoy stuff like this.  Eek!


I've put together a little Google+ series that I want to share with you during the month of July.  I want to answer some of the common questions about Google+.  For example, why do I even need G+?  What is a "circle"?  What is SEO and why should I care about it?  Most importantly, what can G+ do for me?  The series will be in four parts, one for every Saturday in July.

Want to hear the fun part?  After I get you hooked on G+, there will be a BIG G+ blog hop so you can make new G+ friends and contacts.  It's tentatively scheduled for August 4th.  More details on that to come.  But, yeah, BIG!


Until then, if you have a question or topic suggestion, shoot me an email and we'll talk.  I want to share my Google+ experience with you.  And I want to circle you :)

Linking to:

tatertots and jello's Weekend Wrap Up Party
Six Sisters Stuff Strut Your Stuff Saturday
Happy Hour Projects Happy Hour Friday
It's Overflowing Overflowing with Creativity
My 1929 Charmer's Sunday's Best Party
Craft-O-Maniac's Monday Linky Party
Natasha in Oz Say G'Day Saturday

What I Did for a Pool Noodle

Several weeks ago, I heard the rumor going around blogland.  There was going to be a party.  Not just any party, a pool noodle craft party.  I doubted the source of this rumor.  What on earth can you make with a pool noodle?

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But it was true.  There were some crazy, crafty ladies making cute stuff with said noodles.  I was stunned....and curious.  I investigated and liked what I saw.  There were some crafty noodle artists out there and I wanted to be one of them.


That lead me to my quest of the illusive red pool noodle.  To make my noodle craft, I needed a red one to go with the blue one that I already had.  I thought it would be easy to find a simple red pool noodle.  But I was wrong.  Not in this town.  Not in the middle of June.


I was determined.  So I did the unthinkable.  I went to Wal-Mart...on a Saturday.  On a Saturday, in the summer, when all the kids are out of school.  I know you're probably thinking "Why is that so bad?"  You'd have to know my town.  Wal-Mart is a social meeting place, a playground for kids, a family reunion spot....especially on a Saturday.

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I put on my best pair of slippers (that's a W-M joke, sorry) and drove to Wally World in search of a red noodle.  I was lucky.  They had one left.  I grabbed it and ran to the speedy checkout line.  I was almost run over by some little munchkins playing Marco Polo in the middle of the store.  Their parents were part of the family reunion going on in aisle 5.  


I made it home...alive and well.  Want to see what I made?  After that long, ridiculous story, you're probably expecting the pool noodle version of the Mona Lisa.  Well, you're in luck...


NOT!


I present to you what my husband calls the  "kindergarten project".  I think he's right (but don't tell him, k?)  Here is my "pool noodle pennant banner" made by a 47 year old kindergartner.

You don't seriously need a "tutorial" for this do you?

Good, because I'm going to munch on the beef jerky and peanut M&M's that I swiped in the checkout line.

Linking up here:

live.laugh.rowe's live.laugh{linky}

Have a Daily Cup Share Your Cup Thursday

All Star Block Party #3

It's time again for the All Star Block Party!  Gather up your craft or diy projects, your yummy recipes, sewing projects....anything.  If you're new to our weekly linky party, here is how it works.  When you link up to ONE of our host's blogs, your project will be shown on all FIVE host's blogs.  That's a ton of exposure for one link up.


Along with me, these lovely ladies will also be hosting the party.  Meet: 

Carri @ Simply Done Wright

Heather @ New House

Holly @ Full Circle Creations

Meg @ Nutmeg Place 

We would love it if you would grab our party button and share it with others.  Thank you.

<div align="center"><a href="http://intheoldroad.blogspot.com" title="In The Old Road" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1207.photobucket.com/albums/bb466/intheoldroad/allstarfinal150.jpg" alt="In The Old Road" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

We had some really good talent last week.  Thank you to everyone that joined the party.  We love hosting this big linky party for you every week but we do ask that you follow a few rules.

Keep your links family friendly and only link up projects made by YOU.

No business pages, giveaways or link parties allowed.

Follow your hosts (listed above) and please link back to the host's blog that you linked up to.

We reserve the right to delete any link that does not abide by these rules.

Pin-tabulous Tuesday #7 - Summer

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Tuesday is becoming my favorite day of the week because I get to spend time on Pinterest.  I decided this week to share some of my favorite pins about summer.  These pins come from either my summer board or summer food/recipes board.  As always, I will ask:


IMPORTANT:  Please do NOT pin an image from this blog post.  The pins (photos) shown on this blog post are NOT my property and should NOT be referenced back to my blog in any way.  Please refer to the original source if you would like to pin an image. 

Let's start with a cute, funny picture.  Did you ever do this as a kid?  These girls are having fun.

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And speaking of cute.  How adorable is this?

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Here is a beautiful wreath to get you ready for the 4th of July.

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And some strawberries and chocolate...always good together. 

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I don't know what kind of drink this is but aren't her nails cute?

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I hope everyone is staying cool in this heat wave we've been having.  I recommend lots of swimming and playing in the sprinkler :)

All Star Block Party #2 Features

We had another great block party last week.  Some really talented people showed their stuff.  If you missed it, you can check out all of the projects here.  


Have you ever looked at something and thought "Why didn't I think of that?"  That's just what I thought when I read how to make your own outdoor pillows by Second Chance to Dream.  And I adore her bunting too.

Next is the cutest little shelf that I've ever seen.  Do you see the little scrabble tiles on the top?  Great idea! Go visit Moonbeams and Butterflies to see more.

I couldn't stop looking at these cute little baby hummingbirds.  They're just adorable!  If you're a bird lover like me, you've got to see this by Thyme for Home.  And you'll be insanely jealous of her photography skills.  I know I am.

I couldn't wait to show you this from Stacy Sews and Schools.  I don't know what's cuter, the adorable eyelet top or the beautiful model wearing it.  She can really strike a pose!

If you were featured this week, grab a button to display on your blog.  You deserve it!

<div align="center"><a href="http://intheoldroad.blogspot.com" title="In The Old Road"><img src="http://i1207.photobucket.com/albums/bb466/intheoldroad/allstar11150x150.jpg" alt="In The Old Road" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

Thank you to everyone that linked up with us last week.  We look forward to doing it again on Wednesday.  See you then :)  

You can see more features at my party partners' blogs here:

Carri @ Simply Done Wright

Heather @ New House

Holly @ Full Circle Creations

Meg @ Nutmeg Place