End of October

Another month gone.  Wow, that was fast!

Another blog angel month completed.  I talked a little about my October blog angel experience here.  I have enjoyed my blog angel experience (again!) ...especially meeting new (to me) bloggers from all over the world.  This month, I met Stephanie from Toastie Studio.  She lives in The Netherlands!

It's been great getting to know a blogger from another country.  I've given her Monday link party, Create and Inspire, shout outs on twitter as well as post pictures from her etsy shop on facebook.  Her link party is listed in the LinkyHere directory and I will be promoting it from there in the future.

If you are interested in the blog angel program, Rosie of Craftbotic, will be signing up bloggers on November 15th for her Ultimate Christmas Edition of Blog Angels.  Click here for all of the details.

Don't forget to sign up...it's FUN!

Linking to Craftbotic 

All Star Block Party #22

Hi ghouls!  Welcome to the All Star Block Party....the Halloween Edition!  So our party button looks a little scary, right?  Haha!  I apologize in advance for the use of corny Halloween words or phrases during this post...I'm in a goofy, stressed-out, candy-fueled state right now.  Just go with it, K?

Here's what caught my eye last week.

These glass shade ghosts by Craftiments...so easy and soooo cute!  I'm always looking for a creative way to display string lights for my youngest son...he LOVES them.  This I can do.  I even have some glass shades waiting for me in storage!

I love this dresser makeover by Simply Vintageous.  You need to read her tutorial...you'll never believe how she did the top!  Why can't I be that lucky?

Are you organized?  Want to be?  This may help.  Sherry, one of the contributors of Inspiration Cafe, created this corkboard calender to keep her family organized.  Go to this link to see how she did it and find out about the cool new site, Inspiration Cafe!

I'm not supposed to feature one of my party co-hosts, am I?  Oh well, I am anyway.  I've been showing people her stair remodel anyway so why not here too?  Here is the AWESOME brown paper stair remodel by Meg, the diy genius of Nutmeg Place.

If you were featured, please take an All Star Block Party feature button from my sidebar.  You deserve it!

Now, let's get this spooky party started!  This week we have Cynthia from Cloches and Lavender as a guest co-host.  Welcome, Cynthia!

Don't forget, your project can be linked up here or at any of the 4 other

host's blogs. Your link will be shown on ALL 5 BLOGS!

 In The Old Road 

New House

 Nutmeg Place

 Full Circle Creations

Cloches and Lavender (guest co-host)

The 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.
• All entries are required to submit their email address for reminders of future party dates ONLY! (opt-out is available)

Feature Friday - Blogging Husbands

What does your husband think about your blogging?  Does he know what "blogging" means?  Does he support you and your blogging endeavors?

Today's Feature Friday is about something we rarely see in "blogland"....a husband and wife blogging team.  This couple is honest, real and faith driven.  Their marriage and family are important to them.  As my grandmother would say, "They're good people!"

This couple is Craig and Aimee Steckowski.  Craig is a U.S. Marine and Aimee is a website/graphics designer.  You may know her as @ byAimeeSki, the founder of FancyLittleThings.com and LinkyHere.com.  She also designs and creates websites at byAimee.com.  If you're thinking about moving your blog to WordPress, she's your gal.  

Their new "his and hers blog" is SmallAnchors.com.  On this blog, you can find topics such as cooking, diy and craft projects, photography, family and spiritual growth.  The great thing about their blog is that it's about what couples can do together.  Some of the posts are written by Aimee, some by Craig.  Each one of them will work on their own projects for the blog but they share it together.  Here is a sneak peek of their about page.  I'm stealing it for this post because it's just that good....

Say it with me....awwwww!  

Go now!  Discover a fantastic new blog and meet a great couple.  Their cool new blog will grow and they'll soon be famous so go meet them now.  You can say that you knew them when.....

I'll make it easy for you, click  HERE

All Star Block Party #21

Welcome to another All Star Block Party.  Here are a few of my favorite projects from last week.

Number Fifty-Three shared her rustic, autumn home tour with us.  There are lots of great pictures on her post but this was my favorite....fabric pumpkins on a rustic shelf.  Beautiful!

When I saw this by The Creative Cubby, I thought it was so cool.  Make a simple rose wreath and spray paint it black for Halloween!

I have a thing for maps.  If you dig around this blog, you'll find a few map projects in my past.  So, yep, this map project by Reduce, Reuse, Renewed caught my attention.  I love the sign and she picked the map locations based on who she made it for!

Joy 2 Journey has such a good eye when it comes to decorating.  I love this vignette she put together for her laundry room.  See the "soap flakes" jar?  Guess what's in there....click here to find out :)

Thanks to everyone that shared their projects and recipes with us last week.  If you were featured today, feel free to take a feature button on my sidebar...you deserve it!

Onto this week's party.  We're happy to have Hilda of From Overwhelmed to Organized with us as a guest co-host this week.  Welcome, Hilda!

Don't forget, your project can be linked up here or at any of the 4 other

host's blogs. Your link will be shown on ALL 5 BLOGS!

 In The Old Road 

New House

 Nutmeg Place

 Full Circle Creations

From Overwhelmed to Organized (guest co-host)

The 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.
• All entries are required to submit their email address for reminders of future party dates ONLY! (opt-out is available)

Feature Friday....Vlogging

Today's Feature Friday is all about talking.  I love to talk.  It's sort of why I blog.  I can talk (write) about stuff I love...decorating, design, gardening, reading, social media, my favorite TV shows, food....  You do that too, right?

Have you heard about "vlogs"?  It's the same thing as blog...just in video form.  You can "write" your blog without even touching the keyboard.  Turn on your computer's webcam and just start talking.  There you go, you're vlogging!

I started this "Feature Friday" series on my blog to tell you about the awesome things that I find in blogland.  Sometimes I see those things while I'm hopping around as an In The Old Road blogger and sometimes it's when I'm in my LinkyHere.com role.  This time, I want to tell you about a cool link party happening every Friday on the Rags to Stitches blog.

Alissa, of Rags to Stitches, hosts a weekly Coffee Date Friday link up and invites bloggers to share their blog or vlog posts about....anything!  It's a super way to get to know your bloggy neighbors and have fun at the same time.

A few months ago, Alissa was a guest on the LinkyHere blog to talk about her Coffee Date Friday link up.  You can read it here.

I have to admit, I've never "vlogged".  Why?  I have a problem with cameras...of any kind.  For some reason, cameras don't see me the way I see me.  Seriously, I'm not that fat and old and my hair is not that drab and.....well, you know.

Anyway, go check out Rags to Stitches' Coffee Date Friday (hint, today is Friday).  You can link up a blog/vlog post and check out some of the other links that are there.  I'll be looking for you!

Coffee Mug Swap Reveal

This month I participated in a coffee mug swap hosted by Heather at Heatherly Loves.  I have become a chronic coffee drinker this year.  Most days, I drink a cup of coffee in the morning and in the afternoon.  Can you say addicted?

I received this cute pink coffee mug from Brighton at Dear Brighton.  The first thing that I said when I saw it was "PINK!"  I love the color pink...it's my all-time favorite color.

The outside of the mug is white with the word "joy" printed on it.  Brighton told me that Joy is her middle name...I love that!  The inside of the mug is solid pink so as I drink coffee, more and more of the pink color appears.  How cool is that?

This mug swap was a great way to meet other bloggers and it was FUN!  Fortunately, Heather is going to have another mug swap...for Christmas!  If you are interested in participating, click here.

OK, back to "work" for me....

Thanks, Brighton!!!!

Linked to:

Heatherly Loves

All Star Block Party #20

Thi week is our 20th All Star Block Party.  Woo Hoo!!  Thank you to everyone that comes by every week to share their projects and recipes with us.  Before we begin party #20, here are a few of my favorites from last weeks party.

I love to eat "breakfast food" at night, do you?  So when Growing Up Gabel shared the recipe for chocolate chip waffles, I did a little happy dance.  Waffles and chocolate?  That has me written all over it!

Wait!  Hold the phone, shut the front door....donuts and chocolate?  Yes, please!  This one is from Phaedra's Adventures...donut hole acorns.

After breakfast/dinner, I would love to eat one (or more) of these Halloween Candy Cupcakes from Jen, a contributor at A Night Owl.  Who doesn't love Halloween candy?

My friend, Heather, from Heatherly Loves, shared a recipe for Pumpkin Spice Whoopie Pies.  My favorite part is the filling...it has cream cheese in it!

Can you tell that I was hungry when I wrote this?  Thanks to everyone that linked up a recipe or project to our party last week.  If you were featured today, please take an All Star Block Party feature button from my sidebar...you deserve it!

Let's get this week's party started! Today, we have Janel from Nellie Bellie joining us as a guest co-host.  Welcome, Janel!

Don't forget, your project can be linked up here or at any of the 4 other

host's blogs. Your link will be shown on ALL 5 BLOGS!

 In The Old Road 

New House

 Nutmeg Place

 Full Circle Creations

Nellie Bellie (guest co-host)

The 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.
• All entries are required to submit their email address for reminders of future party dates ONLY! (opt-out is available)

October Blog Angel Reveal

I'm participating in another blog angel project hosted by Rosie from Craftbotic.  She started the first blog angel project in June of this year and I quickly hopped aboard.  I LOVE helping out other bloggers.  Sometimes it's just little things like following their blog or social media site(s) and leaving comments or bigger things such as blog design tips and social media promotion of their blog, website and/or shop.  Rosie will continue to host the blog angel project in the future.  If you ever get the chance to participate, I highly recommend it.....it's very rewarding!!!!

Today I'm going to reveal who I have been a blog angel for since October 1st.  I've been secretly giving her blog and shop shout outs on some of my social media sites, all while dying to scream out "I'm your blog angel!"  So, today, I'm shouting:

I'm a blog angel to Toastie Studio Blog!!!!

The blog owner/author is Stephanie and she lives in the Netherlands.  She is very creative!  In addition to blogging, she works as a web developer and designer.  You can see some of her amazing work here.  She also owns a handmade Etsy Shop.  

I thought I would share one of her recent blog posts with you also.  I absolutely love reading about blog design....it's one of my favorite "internet hobbies".  Stephanie wrote about how the color of your blog can affect someone's first impression of it.  

I never thought about that, have you?  Think about it...colors affect emotion.  What do you want your readers to feel when they see your blog?  Here is the post about color choice that she has on her blog.  It's good...a must read!

Thank you, Rosie for allowing me to participate in the blog angel project again...I love it!  And, Stephanie, I've enjoyed snooping around your blog and shop.  I look forward to helping you more this month....just not in secret anymore :)

Feature Friday....Reading

Welcome!  Today I'm starting something new on my blog.  I'm calling it "Feature Friday" and it will be about some of the cool things that I find as I roam around blogland.  Things like new and "new to me" blogs, link parties, decor, crafts, recipes....anything that I like, haha!

You know how you'll see something on a blog or a social media site that you like and you just want to tell people about it?  Well, that's sort of what I'm going to do.  Every week, after the Feature Friday title, there will be a word or words that will give you a hint of what the post is about.  For example, today's feature is about reading.

If you follow this blog, you know what kind of stuff I like...crafts, vintage anything, decor, painting, etc.  You can see lots of it on my Pinterest boards.  I roam around blogland all week...checking out blogs and link parties/blog hops for LinkyHere.com.  I'm finding some really cool stuff out there!  I want to share it with you.

Today's Feature Friday is all about one of my favorite things to do....READ!  Unfortunately, I don't have much time to do it.  But I just discovered something that is going to change that.

My friend, Tina of Our Home in the Maples, recently held a Rainy Day Reading Link Party so bloggers could share their favorite books.  I joined the party with this post and loved talking about one of my favorite authors and learning about other books that my bloggy friends have read.  Since then, Tina has launched a new blog, The Reading Nook at No. 14 Ivy Stone Lane, to continue her monthly Rainy Day Reading party.  She will also be reviewing various books and magazine articles.

I don't know about you but when I hear someone say, "______ is a good book!", I head to Amazon.com to read the reviews about it and find out what it's all about.  Now, I can hop over to Tina's new blog to find out what she and my fellow bloggers think about it.  I like that better!

I look forward to reading and sharing at The Reading Nook.  I hope you will too.  Thanks for the great new blogger reading hangout, Tina!

All Star Block Party #19

Welcome to another All Star Block Party!  Before we start this week's party, let me show you a few things from last week that made me smile :)

I love pennant banners, especially the one made by Red Hen Home using beadboard!  Seriously, who doesn't love candy corn?

I have been wanting to transfer an image onto fabric but could never get it to work.  Hooked on Decorating has an awesome tutorial on how to transfer images onto canvas using an inkjet printer.  Just look at the distressed, antique effect she achieved!

My teenage son loves snickerdoodle cookies and I want to try this recipe for pumpkin snickerdoodle cookies from The Glamorous Housewife.   She has really good photos of all of the steps in her post too! 

OK, this next one just stopped me in my tracks.  No, not the food (although I love #1 and #4) but tailgating in The Grove.  Hello!  Mississippi girl here!  If you love to "tailgate" before a football game (esp. college games), you've NEVER seen it done quite as elaborate as they do at Ole Miss in Oxford, MS.  Thank you, Call me PMc, for bringing back great memories and sharing some really good recipes with us :)

If you were featured this week, take an All Star Block Party feature button located on my sidebar.  Thank you for sharing with us!

This week our guest co-host is Mimi of Blue Roof Cabin.  Welcome, Mimi!

Don't forget, your project can be linked up here or at any of the 4 other

host's blogs. Your link will be shown on ALL 5 BLOGS!

 In The Old Road 

New House

 Nutmeg Place

 Full Circle Creations

 Blue Roof Cabin (guest)

The 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.
• All entries are required to submit their email address for reminders of future party dates ONLY! (opt-out is available)

We are going back to our original, one big category system for link ups so share your crafts, DIY projects, sewing, decor, recipes, photography, etc. all in one place!

Who Is YOUR Favorite Book Author?

When my friend Tina, of Our Home in the Maples, told me about her new link party, Rainy Day Reading, I started thinking about my favorite books.  If someone asked me "Who is your favorite author?", I would instantly say "Greg Iles".  Have you ever heard of him?  He writes thriller mystery novels (fiction) that are spellbinding, suspenseful and hold-your-breath exciting!  He lives in one of my favorite places, Natchez, Mississippi and some of his books are set in the background of that beautiful southern city along the banks of the Mississippi River.  Amazon.com has a page dedicated to his books...you can find it here.

I discovered this author over ten years ago and have read everything that this man writes.  He's that good.  Today, I thought I would share a few of my favorite novels with you.

If you want a REALLY good, can't put down, awesomely exciting, suspense-filled thriller, read 24 Hours.  I literally read this entire book in one day.  I could NOT put it down.

Here is an Amazon review to give you an idea of what this book is all about.  Click here to learn more or purchase the book on Amazon.

This explosive suspense thriller gets off to a blistering start: the kidnapping of a little boy--in eight breathless pages--that culminates with the child's safe return and the disappearance of the successful kidnappers. That sets the stage for the book's centerpiece, the abduction of little Abby Jennings, daughter of Will, a successful physician, and Karen, a slightly dissatisfied suburban woman who's wondering where the passion in her marriage went. The criminals' modus operandi is established early on. They target the progeny of Mississippi doctors, demand a reasonable (to an affluent M.D.) ransom, release the child after it's paid, and promise the victim parents that if they ever breathe a word of the incident to anyone, their kids will be taken again and killed. The kidnappings are carefully set up, targeted to take place when one parent is out of town at a medical meeting or convention, thus ensuring the cooperation of the other. And the victim is held by a sweet, slightly retarded but humongous and powerful man whose loyalty to his cousin, the mastermind, is unquestioned.

24 Hours is a version of the locked room school of kidnap mysteries and a very good one indeed, especially when Will turns the tables on the kidnapper and takes control of the situation. Abby's diabetic condition (she needs lifesaving injections on a regular basis) notches the suspense up one last turn. It's a well worked-out plot, the pacing is terrific, and the characters likable and attractive.

If you like "character series" fiction mystery thrillers, then Greg Iles' Penn Cage series is very good....one of my favorites.  Here are two of my favorite "Penn Cage" books.  You can learn about them here and here.

Thank you, Tina, for reminding me how much I love these books.  I think I'll pull them out of storage to read again :)

Linking to:

Rainy Day Reading Linky Party at Our Home in the Maples

Google+ Blog Hop

Welcome to the Google+ Blog Hop!  We want to encourage you to use Google+ to help your blog and/or business grow.  This blog hop is designed for YOU to meet new g+ friends, increase the exposure of your blog/business and allow you to "fill your circles"!

Here are some links to refresh your memory on how to set up and optimize your g+ profile page so that you will benefit from this blog hop.

http://intheoldroad.blogspot.com/2012/07/what-can-google-do-for-youpart-1.html

http://thenymelrosefamily.com/2012/07/google-tutorial.html

To join this g+ blog hop, link up your Google+ profile page URL (NOT your blog's homepage).  For the "name" section, use your name or your blog's/website's name.  Use your personal photo or your blog's/website's button/logo for the thumbnail picture.  

Important note:  If you have problems linking up your profile page, try linking the "about" section of your profile page instead of the "posts" section.  Also, problems loading a thumbnail picture usually can be solved by loading the picture directly from your computer instead of your g+ page. 

This blog hop is shared by 5 blogs.  You may link your g+ profile page at any of the blogs listed below:

In The Old Road

The NY Melrose Family

From Overwhelmed to Organized

Smart School House

Mom on Timeout

We would appreciate it if you would also follow the hosts of this blog hop (add them to your circles).  All of the host's g+ profile pages can be found at the top of the list.  

This blog hop is only for g+ pages...please do not link up your blog's url.  We encourage the sharing of your personal, blog or business' g+ (profile) page.  After you link up your g+ profile page, please visit some of the other profiles that are linked up and add them to your circles.  We want you to help your fellow bloggers' g+ page grow!

All Star Block Party #18

Last week you guys wowed us with so many great projects and recipes.  I love all of the fall inspiration out there!  Here are a few that caught my eye.

Organized Clutter shared this cute owl and pumpkin vignette.  I just love the little white one in the silver teapot!

When I saw this lampshade from It's Just Me, I instantly wanted to see more....like how did she do that?  You need to see the different views she has of it on her blog.  I love it....I want one!

Life on Lakeshore Drive shared her glitzy glam pumpkin with us.  I'm all about white pumpkins this year and this one just stands out and shows off in this lovely fall vignette.

I've been seeing lots of fall decorated mantels pop up around blogland lately and I love the white, neutral and simplistic look of Chase the Star's mantel.  She shows how to make those cute "Fall" blocks on her blog too.

If you were featured this week, take an All Star Block Party feature button located on my sidebar.  Thank you for sharing with us!

This week, we will start having a guest co-host to join us for the All Star Block Party.  This week, it is the lovely Joanna of To a Pretty Life.  Welcome, Joanna!

Don't forget, your project can be linked up here or at any of the 4 other

host's blogs. Your link will be shown on ALL 5 BLOGS!

 In The Old Road (this blog)

New House

 Nutmeg Place

 Full Circle Creations

 To a Pretty Life (guest)

The 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.
• All entries are required to submit their email address for reminders of future party dates ONLY! (opt-out is available)

There are 2 link categories (DIY/Crafts and Food)