Amaze me August #22

Welcome to the 22nd edition of Amaze me August!!

Last week I asked that everyone help me get to 50 link ups, and we had 59, woo hoo. THANK YOU so much. Let's see if we can double that this week, YES double. I wanna reach 100.
DO you think we can do it???


How about a little bribing? Will that help?
Let me tell you, I have some fun stuff planed for my blog, AND this party, and of course all of you, who participate, and link up every week. 


In case you haven't noticed, I'm kinda redesigning my blog, read about that HERE. Why you ask, it's simple, I need more room. For what you ask, let me tell ya. 


I want my right sidebar, to focus on my sponsors, and giveaways, facebook, my new STORES, go find some cool books, all about GREEN crafting, and eco friendly stuff, my favorite. 


I want my left sidebar, to SHOWCASE, my lovely sponsors, and a little something something, from their shop. 


I also want to SHOWCASE some LUCKY **Amaze me AUgust** participants, with a weeklong picture on my blog sidebar, for all to see. Doesn't this sound better than having just ONE feature post???


I also want to use my left sidebar, or right, to feature some of my favorite projects, I've done, LOL,,, ohhh who am I kidding, OK, my section might only have a few recipes, but better than nothing, at least until I start getting my craft on, he he. 


So anyway, now you know why I need more space, I have a LOT of FEATURING AND LOVING to do, and it's ALL ABOUT YOU GUYS. I want to brag all about you, if your awesome, and you support my blog, I will LOVE to show you off too. 


Now show me what you got girls, and keep your eyes peeled, I promise I have some goodies up my sleeves, just you see. :)


I will be FEATURING TEN LUCKY gals, to be hanging out in my sidebar this week. Will it be YOU. Come back tomorrow to see!
This number may increase or decrease depending on how I feel, lol.


Now how's that for a bribe? Please let me know how you feel about this new way of FEATURING you. 

I REALLY want to hit 100, PLEASE help a sister out, will ya???
SOOO
BE NICE, GRAB A BUTTON
and 
SPREAD THE WORD

<a border="0" href="http://bellabeforeandafter.blogspot.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i939.photobucket.com/albums/ad234/bellabeforeandafter/amazemebutton.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a>

Remember I need your help to reach 100 link ups this week. I know you can do it, spread the word, make sure to add my button to your blog, and posts, and hey even talk about how awesome my new FEATURE section is, and how you would LOVE to be FEATURED in it. Play nice, follow my rules, lol, and you just might get lucky!!!


Please visit my Link party Directory

PARTY HARDY EVERYDAY

For the coolest parties, I participate in. 

Feel free to add yours, if you think I'd like it :)

             

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How to add 3 columns to a minima template

I've been working on my blog, as you can tell. Sorry about the mess, but work is still in progress, and it's going slower than I thought. However I am learning tons of fun, new stuff, and it's all about blog design, and html. YAY.


I wanted my blog layout, to be wide, like a bunch of other blogs, I love. Do some research, and it's the OLD MINIMA template that provides you with all that room. So I switched. I'll show you how later, lol. 


There of course are a few things with this template that I didn't like, for example, it only had one sidebar, I wanted two, on either side. 


Then I wanted a footer that had three columns, and this only had one. Hmmm, what to do, google of course. 


Came across THIS old tutorial, but it worked PERFECTLY, and it was so easy.  

Please visit my Link party Directory

PARTY HARDY EVERYDAY

For the coolest parties, I participate in. 

Feel free to add yours, if you think I'd like it :)

             

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I actually WIN giveaways, I'm so stinkin lucky, someone suggested I play the lottery, lol.

Have I told you lately, how much I love entering giveaway's, well I do, I really really do. I obviously don't have the time to enter many, BUT, rest assured if I enter your's it's because I REALLY would like to win something you are offering. 

I just don't have time to enter a giveaway unless it's for something I love, or need. Not that if I don't enter yours I don't love it, but I just might not need it, OR, I don't know about it he he. 

My first giveaway I ever won was over at Jane's blog, FINDING FABULOUS, read all about that HERE.

Next I won the giveaway, for CSN stores, that allowed me to get this Tv mount, over at LUCY DESIGN, read all about that HERE. 

SPeaking of giveaways, my girl, is hosting another one, this time offering one lucky reader one of her custom painted hearts. Check it out HERE, and enter to win. I'm sorry Lucy, for not seeing this earlier, (she linked up, in the wrong spot, but she's not alone, I need to fix that, so I don't miss anyone's linkups anymore, I"M SORRY).

I won a giveaway at CRYSTALS CRAFT SPOT, for one free month advertising, read about that HERE. She is the one who inspired me to offer my readers, some free advertising. 

I won a huge basket of ribbons and bows, from HOUSE of HEPWORTHS, read all about that HERE. I know, can you believe I won a giveaway there, with her like hundreds of people entering, oh who am I kidding, I never thought I'd win, he he, BUT I did, and it came just in time for Christmas, woo hoo. 

I also won TWO giveaways THIS week. 

WHAT ALLIE's MAkING NOW

AND this from 

WILDFLOWERS and WHIMSY

a beautiful handmade photo album from my friend Maria, @ 

AGAPE LOVE BOUTIQUE

Did I leave anybody out, I hope not, gosh, lol. My point with all of this, is of course to THANK the blogs, for hosting giveaways, THANK the sponsors who are so generous to give something away, and to once again let you all know that entering giveaways, DOES pay off. 

Now, that you can see, FIRST hand, and trust me when I say, I actually DO NOT enter a ton of giveaways, usually what you see in my sidebar is what I have entered, BUT I can tell you, that if there are extra entries, I always try to take advantage of them, THAT is WHY they are there. Increase your chances by taking a few moments, and doing all the extra's, IT WORKS.

**SOME IMPORTANT ADVICE**
TRUST ME, when I say to all of you lovelies who HOST giveaways, TURN OFF word verification, THIS IS the NUMBER ONE reason, people may not be leaving more than one comment. IT TAKES WAY to long, as in FOREVER, and it is SUPER, SUPER, SUPER frustrating, trying to leave comments, when you have to enter a STUPID word verification, every time. Consider yourself VERY lucky, if you get a good turn out for your giveaways, if you have this on, because my experience tells me, you will have MUCH better success, making it AS EASY AS POSSIBLE, for someone to leave you the required entry comments. 

I ENTERED THESE GIVEAWAYS, U SHOULD 2

**Adithis Amma Sews, is giving away a pattern to make your OWN SAREE blouse, I'm so excited about this one, ends 2/14

** Wildflowers and Whimsy, giving away an original Agape Love Photo Album, ends 1/28 ok this one you can't win, BECAUSE I already did, hehe.

** FREE logo design @ Taradara, ends 1/31

**Thursdays Kiss, HUGE custom Picture Frame set giveaway, ends 1/31

NOW, I WANT ALL OF YOU TO GO GIVE THIS TALENTED MAMA 

TARA with TARADARA designs, some love, and enter my GIVEAWAY. You can get 5 extra entries, just by buying something from her awesome shop. 

MY CURRENT GIVEAWAYS

**Taradara giveaway, ends 1/31

Here, is the review I did on CSN, for the TV stand I got. :)

Originally submitted at CSN Stores

Premier Mounts' unique universal series mounts feature the innovative Griplate System. This exclusive system accurately supports the mounting hardware, resulting in a solid fit that keeps the display level and securely in place, making installation easier.

Best of all, this mount is guarant...

Universal Flat Mount (37" - 61" Screens)

Simply can't beat the price, Love IT....

By Bella b&a from Ga on 1/30/2011

5out of 5

My first experience with CSN stores, and I couldn't be happier. I had $35.00 to spend, and have been wanting a tv mount forever, finally, gave in, and found the perfect one. It is easy enough that I was able to install it, myself. It is DEFINITELY sturdy enough to hold my 50"tv. It is so much better than having it on the table, I am thrilled with my new purchase.

The customer service, is outstanding, the shipping is super fast, and everything was a breeze, from start to finish. I totally recommend CSN stores to my friends, love them.

(legalese)

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I LOVE Making CUTE Blogs, sooo much!!!

As you can all see, my blog is all over the place. I found THE MOST awesome place for blog design, blog help, blog tutorials, and of course a BLOG DESIGNER.

MAKING CUTE BLOGS

Is my new addiction, I'm telling you, please disregard any silly thing I ever said as far as blog help. Come on, I don't have a clue what I'm taking about, yet, lol. But, hanging out at this blog, should help me out, with that. Whatever you see me doing on my blog, I'm learning over there. Her whole motto there, is 

How much better can you get than that????


I'm telling you, go check out Carolyn, @
MAKING CUTE BLOGS


I bet you guys will FALL IN LOVE, just like me. I would love to hear, what you guys think about my blog SO FAR,,, I have so much to do still, BUT, what do you guys think about the new layout? I have sooooo much more room now, I've been longing for this for so long, but I was soooooo ,,,, SOOOO,,,, sooooooo very scared to mess with my template, html, and switch to the old format, I was practically dying when I saw what it looked like right after switching. Honestly I started crying, BUT, then, I just followed the tutorials, and little by little it started coming together. I ALMOST feel like I can go in there, switch something up, and not freak, EVEN if I mess up, no biggie, just go fix it. (Write down what was there before, silly, or copy and paste it somewhere else, even better) The point is, WE CAN DO IT...... YES WE CAN!!!


THANK YOU CAROLYN, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!


You are seriously my new hero, I LOVE you. 


Please visit my Link party Directory

PARTY HARDY EVERYDAY

For the coolest parties, I participate in. 

Feel free to add yours, if you think I'd like it :)

             

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My Rugs are Clean, it's a miracle, no it was just Ecos.

The other day I shared with you guys how my dear little one, Dino D, smeared hair gel all over out bathroom rugs, as seen HERE.
As promised I said I would share how I got the stains out, if at all, lol. Luckily they did come out, like they were never there, I was seriously amazed. I used my detergent, which happens to be Ecos. Baking Soda, and Vinegar. Magic solution, can't say, BUT it worked for me. 


 About 30 bucks, for 400 loads of laundry, try to beat that. I'm serious it's awesome!!! While I have been getting mine at Sams Club, seeing the price above, hello, I know where I'm getting it from now on, plus of course free shipping. Cha Ching.


This detergent is super concentrated, and of course green, biodegradable, and all the good stuff, without any of the bad, just the way I like it. Anyway, that's what I've been using for at least the past year, and love it. Even my mom starting using it, for no other reason that, it was THE best price, compared to all the others, and she was all excited to tell me she was using a green product, it was cute. Going green, can typically cost a bit more, at least up front, BUT in this case, it is seriously cheap, even cheaper than what you are using now, for real, I should know, and I love that.


I put my rugs on the ground, poured some detergent on them, on the hair gel spots, sprinkled TONS of baking soda on that, and then threw them in the wash. Put like 1 more cup of baking soda, and 1 cup of vinegar, and no more detergent, since I already added more than the 1 ounce recommended for HE washers. 


This is how my rugs turned out, and this isn't the first time I've been successful at getting stains out. 

Check out how I took lipstick stains off a load of laundry that was mainly ruined last year. 

Here is the post.


My princess has fallen sick, she has bee running a fever all day, and throwing up. I might be stuck laying in bed with her all weekend, she doesn't want me going anywhere, and wants me by her side, as all kids do when they are sick. I will be taking this opportunity and try to work on my blog design, again. I want it to look different, so bare with me, as I work on it. If you see changes, and things look weird for a few days, thats why. 


Thanks everyone!!!


DON'T forget to LINK to the party, I'm serious, it's not too late, anything you've worked on feel free to come back daily, if you want, and LINK up, my party is open all day, every day, and only ends when the new one starts, which happens to be Tuesdays. This weeks giveaway is sponsored by TARADARA and her Etsy shop, so while you are linking up, make sure to enter for a chance to win, some free moolah at her shop, ENTER HERE.


Please visit my Link party Directory

PARTY HARDY EVERYDAY

For the coolest parties, I participate in. 

Feel free to add yours, if you think I'd like it :)

             

Read More

Bellas Blogging Tips, lesson 101- how to add linky buttons to every post easily.

Go visit my Link party Directory

PARTY HARDY EVERYDAY

For the coolest parties, I participate in. 

Feel free to add yours, if you think I'd like it :)


Then, copy the parties you participate in, I simply grabbed all of my Monday parties for this example. Pasted it on here, and they adjusted to fit. Easy enough so far, right???


Keep in mind, I set mine up to be small 80px buttons, so for what I am trying to do now, it is super perfect. Won't take up a lot of space, and still gives credit ON THE post of the project you link up, and it looks neat!!!


Next I will copy just a few of my Tuesday parties, and TRY to paste them where the DIY party ends, lets see, if this works.

1. Craft Link Party Monday

2. Market yourself Monday

3. MMM @ CRAFT

4. Amaze me Monday

5. Motivate me Monday

6. Organizing Mission Mondays

7. Craftomaniac Mondays

8. DIY Showoff Parade

1. Amaze me August

2. Twice Owned Tuesday

3. Take a Look Tuesday

4. Show me what you got

5. Totally Organized Tuesday

Ok, didn't want to work, I guess I could go mess with all the html, and try to make it align all pretty, no thank you. Ok, so it just copied it to the the next row, no problem, still looks neat to me, and in fact even gives a bit of separation in the days of week, alright. 

Now I'm going to try adding just one, from here, and one from there, ya know like maybe you don't want to link to all these parties everyday. Lets see, if this works.     

1. Whatever Goes Wednesday

2. Tea Rose Sewing Party

1. Thrilling Thursday

2. Hooking up with HOH

3. Making it with Allie

 

Um yeay, that doesn't work very well does it??? Lets try one more time shall we, OK.

1. Frugalicious Fridays

2. Feature Friday

3. I'm Lovin it Friday

Ok, for whatever reason when I grabbed three in a row, they aligned properly, lets keep trying. 

1. Frugalicious Fridays

2. Feature Friday

Alright, two worked also, lets try one again, not that, at this point you couldn't just copy the actual ONE button from the party you are participating in, but just to see, let me try. 

1. Frugalicious Fridays

   

See, weird right, don't ask me, I have no idea, no answer for you, but you've seen what the different things that can happen are, right? 

Alrighty so lets recap, we all know that linking to parties, is fun, so make sure to link up to mine OK..... :)

Ok, sorry about that, lol, THIS is isn't about my party 

AMAZE ME AUGUST

which takes place EVERY TUESDAY, and lasts all week long, that I really would like to get up to 100 links every week by THIS year, lol, I mean THIS MONTH, lol. This tutorial is about you, and showing you something I just discovered that might save you some time, and make all your party hosts, ME INCLUDED, very happy.

Since, we all want to do the right thing, and since we all don't have all day, I just thought this would help you out, it's pretty easy, even if you just add the top row, or for goodness sake the whole days parties like I did in my first example. There is nothing wrong with promoting more parties right???

Remember these already link directly to the party, how cool is that, and with ONE click of your mouse you could copy and paste a bunch of little buttons, all cute, perfectly sized, and accurate, all by visiting my 

LINKY PARTY DIRECTORY

PARTY HARDY EVERYDAY

Disclaimer, I don't know if it's ok, with anyone else for you to go grab their buttons, of their party directories, you might want to ask, but feel free to grab from mine, I let you, and now you might be more inclined to add your party to it too, and of course LINK back to me, and my party WHEN you LINK up your projects, which I hope you all will do religiously from now on. 

THANK YOU!!!

Oh, and P.s. I am pretty new to all of this, so if this for some reason does not work for you, don't hate me, just ask, I MAY be able to figure it out, but more than likely not, lol. BUT if it does help you out, feel free to pass the tutorial on to your readers, and let me know, you found it INCREDIBLY helpful. 

SPEAKING of LINKING UP

check out some places I'm linking this up to. Go say hello, and check out many other WONDERFUL ideas.

1. Recipe Link SUndays

2. Etsy Shop Saturdays

3. Weekend Wrapup Party

4. Party everyday ISVC

5. Not Bad Sundays

6. Show and Share Sundays

7. Sew Crafty Saturdays

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