Tell Us Tuesday #5

Welcome to the Tell Us Tuesday party everyone!  We’re excited to see what you’ve been up to this week!  Stop by every Tuesday to link up your latest blog posts and show off what you’ve been doing, then check out the other links and find new bloggers to follow, inspiration for new projects, parenting tricks, or a new yummy dinner idea.

Since this party is hosted by several bloggers, your links will be on multiple sites!

<center> <a href="http://www.muchadoaboutsomethin.blogspot.com/" title="Much Ado About Somethin"><img src="http://i727.photobucket.com/albums/ww278/cev0203/Tell-Us-Tuesday-Button.gif" alt="Much Ado About Somethin" style="border:none;" /></a><br />

Your Co-Hosts

Much AdoAbout Somethin – Facebook Page – Twitter – Pinterest - Bloglovin'

One FineWire – Facebook Page – Twitter – Pinterest - Bloglovin'

Here's what your hosts have been up to this week...

One Fine Wire

Summer Summary - Summer is officially over Courtney's family, but they had such a blast this time around!

Simple Gifts - It's the time that matters, not the gifts.

Flower Lace Prints - One Fine Wire's Etsy Shop that you should check out!  Great, affordable gift ideas!

Much Ado About Somethin'

Baked Plantain Chips - A great tutorial on how to make a healthy and yummy snack!
Crock Pot Salsa Chicken - Two ingredient
How I Lost 40 Pounds - Tips to lose it the healthy way

This week's guest host is Ashley from Sabers, Spurs, and a Pink Stetson!  Ashley finally got through her first year as an army wife and learning to enjoy every moment of life!  Check her blog out immediately :)

Facebook - Pinterest

Now for some of the features from last week!

Food Features

I love mason jars.  I love strawberries.  I love dessert.  This post is a winner for me!

This Cheese Potato Casserole looks easy and perfect for a mid-week meal with the family.  The week's get so busy, but here is something that is do-able!

DIY Features

I have been wanting some shutters to cover my TV box in my family room and now I know how to make them!  Check out how to take bed slats and turn them in to beautiful shutters!


It's always great to see something you just never would have thought of!  A perfect example of this is Cara's re-purposed drawer turned in to a coffee table tray!

Ladies Tellin' It Like It Is

Such an informational post on how you can make money teaming up your blog with certain sites.  Websites that pay is always great!

If you were featured, grab a button!

<center> <a href="http://www.muchadoaboutsomethin.blogspot.com/" title="I've Been Featured"><img src="http://i1292.photobucket.com/albums/b578/lalford0609/Ive-been-featured-button_zps27c0779f.gif" alt="I've Been Featured" style="border:none;" /></a><br />

Last's week's giveaway was a feature of my new Etsy Shop - Flower Lace Prints!  To kick off the shop I wanted to do a giveaway tied to last week's Tell Us Tuesday.  Thank you to all of the entries last week but there could only be one winner.  The Flower Lace Prints Etsy Shop winner is:

#3 Katie @ The Casual Craftlete!  Send me an e-mail, Katie, to: cev0203@gmail.com.


Now to PARTY!  Just a few basic rules we’d love for you to follow:

- Tell us about your recipes, parenting tips, DIY projects, or your family vacation – we want to see it all!

- Follow each of us so you’ll never miss a party.  Follow on GFC, Bloglovin’, or your favorite reader – we’d love to hear from you!

- Add a party text link or button to your blog.  This helps us in exchange for letting ‘ya link up!  The more people that know about the party, the better.
- Click around – find a few links that interest you below and check them out!  Better yet, leave them a comment and tell them where you came from!
- Spread the word – Share the party on Facebook and Twitter so more can join in the fun.  The more people that find out about Tell Us Tuesday, the more it benefits you!  

- We’d also love for you to follow us on Facebook and Twitter.  We follow back! 
- By linking up, you’re giving permission for us to potentially feature your posts on the blog or social media.

An InLinkz Link-up

Tell Us Tuesday #2

Welcome to the Tell Us Tuesday party everyone!  We’re excited to see what you’ve been up to this week!  Stop by every Tuesday to link up your latest blog posts and show off what you’ve been up to,  then check out the other links and find new bloggers to follow, inspiration for new projects, parenting tricks, or a new yummy dinner idea.  

Since this party is hosted by several bloggers, your links will be on multiple sites!

<center> <a href="http://www.muchadoaboutsomethin.blogspot.com/" title="Much Ado About Somethin"><img src="http://i727.photobucket.com/albums/ww278/cev0203/Tell-Us-Tuesday-Button.gif" alt="Much Ado About Somethin" style="border:none;" /></a><br />

Your Co-Hosts

One FineWire – Facebook Page – Twitter – Pinterest - Bloglovin'

Much AdoAbout Somethin – Facebook Page – Twitter – Pinterest - Bloglovin'

This week's guest host is Brenda, who can be found at Sapanraggo.  Brenda is a mommy to two ferocious little boys, lover of food, student of DIY, and master of useless knowledge and pop culture references.  Head on over to show her some love, and follower her here:

Sapanraggo - Facebook Page - Pinterest - Bloglovin'

Now for some of the features from last week!

Food Features

These skinny mini key lime pies look amazing.  Summer's almost over...need to make these ASAP!

This white wine sangria looks delicious and refreshing!  Love all the fruit in it - what a beautiful pitcher!

DIY Features

This burlap chevron wreath is super cute.  Gotta love chevron burlap!

Minions are just about the cutest thing ever, so we love this list of Minion crafts you can do with your kids!

Ladies Tellin' It Like It Is

Love this fresh perspective about the Lean In movement from The Jenny Evolution.  What do you think?

We Three Crabs has put together a fantastic list of ways you can build your child's self esteem.   

If you were featured, grab a button!

<center> <a href="http://www.muchadoaboutsomethin.blogspot.com/" title="I've Been Featured"><img src="http://i1292.photobucket.com/albums/b578/lalford0609/Ive-been-featured-button_zps27c0779f.gif" alt="I've Been Featured" style="border:none;" /></a><br />

One last thing before we get to the party!  Last week we had a giveaway from The Dress Up Box for those who linked up.  (Read more about it here.)  Without further ado, the winner of a free outfit is John and Kate Plus...!  Congratulations! We'll be in touch.

Now to PARTY!  Just a few basic rules we’d love for you to follow:

- Tell us about your recipes, parenting tips, DIY projects, or your family vacation – we want to see it all!
- Follow each of us so you’ll never miss a party.  Follow on GCF, Bloglovin’, or your favorite reader – we’d love to hear from you!
- Add a party text link or button to your blog.  This helps us in exchange for letting ‘ya link up!  The more people that know about the party, the better.
- Click around – find a few links that interest you below and check them out!  Better yet, leave them a comment and tell them where you came from!
- Spread the word – Share the party on Facebook and Twitter so more can join in the fun.  The more people that find out about Tell Me Tuesday, the more it benefits you!  
- We’d also love for you to follow us on Facebook and Twitter.  We follow back! 
- By linking up, you’re giving permission for us to potentially feature your posts on the blog or social media.

Tell Us Tuesday Link Party #1 AND a Giveaway!

Welcome to the Tell Us Tuesday party everyone!  We’re excited to see what you’ve been up to this week!  Stop by every Tuesday to link up your latest blog posts and show off what you’ve been up to,  then check out the other links and find new bloggers to follow, inspiration for new projects, parenting tricks, or dinner.  Since this party is hosted by several bloggers, your links will be on multiple sites!

<center> <a href="http://www.muchadoaboutsomethin.blogspot.com/" title="Much Ado About Somethin"><img src="http://i727.photobucket.com/albums/ww278/cev0203/Tell-Us-Tuesday-Button.gif" alt="Much Ado About Somethin" style="border:none;" /></a><br />

Your Co-Hosts

One FineWire – Facebook Page – Twitter – Pinterest - Bloglovin'

Much AdoAbout Somethin – Facebook Page – Twitter – Pinterest - Bloglovin'

Just a few basic rules we’d love for you to follow:

- Tell us about your recipes, parenting tips, DIY projects, or your family vacation – we want to see it all!
- Follow each of us so you’ll never miss a party.  Follow on GCF, Bloglovin’, or your favorite reader – we’d love to hear from you!
- Add a party text link or button to your blog.  This helps us in exchange for letting ‘ya link up!  The more people that know about the party, the better.
- Click around – find a few links that interest you below and check them out!  Better yet, leave them a comment and tell them where you came from!
- Spread the word – Share the party on Facebook and Twitter so more can join in the fun.  The more people that find out about Tell Me Tuesday, the more it benefits you!  
- We’d also love for you to follow us on Facebook and Twitter.  We follow back! 
- By linking up, you’re giving permission for us to potentially feature your posts on the blog or social media.

Each week, in addition to the link up, we’ll feature some of our favorite posts from the previous week.  If you’ve been featured, grab an “I’ve been featured” button so you can brag to all your friends.

Every week, we’ll have a guest host for the party.  For the first party, we decided to celebrate with guest host giveaway!  This week, one lucky Tell Us Tuesday link party member will win one item from The Dress Up Box of your choice!  You get to pick what you want!  Amazing J  Here at Tell Us Tuesday we love to showcase small businesses, and Wendy’s shop is the perfect product to showcase!  (We’re also all music majors from East Carolina University – how fun is that!)  Enter by linking up – easy as that!

Here’s a little more about Wendy and TheDress Up Box.

Last year my husband left on his first deployment. We were lucky and his deployment length was reduced to six months. Still, that's a long time to be away from a spouse or father and my children and I were eagerly awaiting his return. I decided to make something for our daughters to wear when we greeted him when he arrived. I made two pettiskirts and had such a great response to them. With the encouragement of my husband behind me, I decided to start making items that military family and friends can have clothing and accessories to show their support and pride for their loved ones. 

I officially opened The Dress Up Box on June 1st, so this business is quite new and I'm so excited and thrilled with the response I've had in the last couple months.

I use new, store bought fabric, but can also use upcycled fabric from discarded uniforms.  The military ends up discarding a large quantity of uniforms in great condition due to minor issues like ink stains that are unable to be removed in one area (but the rest of the uniform is great!), or there is an update in uniform type, so uniforms of the older style get discarded.

When I find some, I always wash all uniforms on a sanitary cycle before using them in any garment making.  All items made with upcycled fabric are noted in listings.  Custom orders are made with new fabric unless otherwise noted.  This also allows for customers to donate an old jacket of their loved one and I can make a garment or accessory out of that piece of clothing.

I also make non-military themed items as well!  If you're the winner, your item doesn't have to have the camouflage pattern on it.  

Now…tell us what you’ve been up to!

An InLinkz Link-up

I Love NatureBox - Healthy Snack Giveaway!

What's better than delicious snacks?  How about delicious snacks that you 1) don't have to make, and 2) don't have to brave the grocery store to find!  Today I'm going to tell you about one of my favorite companies that makes both of these possible.

NatureBox is a snacking subscription that delivers healthy snacks to your doorstep every month.  For $19.95 a month, they'll send a box of nutritionist-approved, delicious snacks to your doorstep for you to enjoy.  It's a fantastic way to vary your snacking, since there are different snacks each time.  The easiest way for me to stick to my diet healthy lifestyle is to keep things interesting, but I typically have a hard time doing that with snacks.  It's always an apple, banana, granola bar, or yogurt...gets pretty old after months and months, and isn't something that'll last long-term.  It was really nice to have four more options (that I know are good for me) waiting for me at home this month!

Here's what was in July's NatureBox.

South Pacific Plantains - Plantain chips with sea salt
Cherry Crumble Granola - Soft-baked granola with dried cherries (2 bags in our box)
Mango Almond Bites - Mango and crispy rice squares

Tuscan Summer Mix - Italian-spiced seed, nut and dried fruit mix

My favorite were the plantain chips - they were SO delicious and the perfect salty treat, and I loved that there were only three ingredients in them!  A handful of these staved off hunger while I cooked dinner at night.

Travis' favorites were the Tuscan Summer Mix and the Cherry Crumble Granola.  I really enjoyed topping my regular yogurt with the Cherry Crumble Granola - the tart cherry made a regular Chobani much more interesting!

Now for the fun part!  NatureBox has agreed to do a giveaway for Much Ado readers, so someone will have the opportunity to try a box at no cost!  Just leave a comment below telling me why you'd like to win, your go-to healthy snack, and a way for me to contact you if you're the winner!  You'll have until Thursday to enter, and I'll announce the winner on Friday!  Here are the rules:

• The winner will receive a different NatureBox than the one I described above (it will be a future month's box, likely July or August depending on delivery schedule), but will be the exact same size/format as the one mentioned above.
• Only available for US residents.
• At this time, NatureBox is unable to customize boxes for specific dietary needs or personal preferences for the winner's box.

If you don't end up winning, you should just head there yourself and give them a try.  You won't be disappointed!

Good luck!

*Disclaimer:  I was provided July's NatureBox at no charge.  All opinions expressed are my own*

Some of my new favorite things + a GIVEAWAY!

Today's a blog milestone - it's my first giveaway!!  I'm also going to share a few of my new favorite things with you.  Check'em out!

Alexander McCall Smith's series of books, The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency Series has made me excited about reading again.  My mom gave me the first book in this series several years ago.  A few months ago I picked it up and decided to give it a shot, and have since fallen in love with Mma Ramotswe, Mma Makutsi, and Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni.  Mma Ramotswe decides to use her inheritance to open up Botswana's first detective agency, The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency.

The book is about life in Africa and the cases Mma Ramotswe and her assistant, Mma Makutsi, work on.  The characters and writing are so sweet, and I often find myself chuckling to myself as I'm reading.  I just finished the fifth book and ordered 6 and 7 online earlier this week.  I'm hooked.




I'm kind of in love with my new grocery bag.  I love bags (I think I got that from my mother), and I especially love reusable grocery bags.  When we first moved to Boston and I saw the $1 reusable bags at Shaw's, I bought 4 almost every time I went to the store.  We had 25-30 in no time, and Travis put a firm "do not buy any more" order on me.  They were coming out our ears.  These worked fine, but eventually the bottoms broke, things always got jumbled, and the bags often slid around in the back of my CRV.

A few weeks ago someone from The Grocer sent me one of their reusable bags to try out.  It has a hard bottom that snaps into place, and the sides have metal bars that keep the bag from tipping over in the back of your car.  When you're not using it, fold it flat so it doesn't take up much room in your trunk.  It also has removable straps that you can use as handles, an over-the-shoulder strap, or as a backpack.  Brilliant.

The only thing I'd like to see added are more cute colors!  Right now they come in red, green, and grey which are nice.  I think it would be awesome to see some pretty polka dots or stripes.

Now for the fun part!!!  The fantastic people at The Grocer have agreed to give one of these handy bags away to a Much Ado reader.  Just leave your name and a comment below to enter, and I'll find a winner using random.org.  (The winner must reside in the US.)  Check back Monday, June 17th to see who the winner is!


If you read my blog about flatbread pizzas a few weeks ago, you know I'm now a big fan of Flat Outs.  They're 90 calories per wrap and are delicious.

You can use them to make wraps (obviously), flatbread pizzas like we did, or burritos, or quesadillas.  Mmmmm....

I really like Trader Joe's version of Fruit Roll-Ups.  They're 50 calories each and are organic and super sweet.  My favorite is the Apple Blueberry kind...YUM.

My Trader Joe's has these up at the register.  Just don't mistake them for another kind of 'fruit leather' floating around the store...those are gross.  :)

Sunday, my parents and I went to Not Your Average Joe's in Watertown for dinner.  The weather was perfect, so we sat outside and enjoyed our food.  Before dinner, their new summer drinks caught my eye and I excitedly ordered their Frozen Watermelon Lemonade.  Sounds like summer in a glass, doesn't it?  It was SO good.

I actually picked up some watermelon yesterday and am going to try to recreate it at home.  Fingers crossed it works out well, and I'll be sharing the recipe with YOU!

I'm also into DietBet.com.  (I mentioned it before in my blog about losing weight.)  When my friend Ann read the blog, she decided to start her own diet bet, so of course I joined!

I'm a little torn in this time around doing a bet with friends.  You want your friends to do well...but if everyone loses weight, you don't make money!  (haha) I'm fine with just getting my $25 back if everyone's getting healthy!  Whoop!


Ok...now...leave a comment below (don't forget your name) to be entered to win the bag!  The winner will be announced in my Monday blog, so check back!

What are some of your favorite new finds?

*I was provided a free reusable grocery bag from The Grocer to review, but all opinions are my own!