Amaze me August #30 ~ Agape Love Giveaway ~

Hey everyone, WELCOME to the 30th edition of:

I've been kinda out of it, has anyone noticed, he he. I hope you all have been enjoying my wonderful guest bloggers though. I am ever so thankful for all of them, I am so lucky to be able to take a week (or two) to get my CRAP together, lol. I've been missing you all terribly though, and have tried to visit a few blogs, BUT, I had to stop myself. Once I get started, I don't stop, and that would defeat the whole purpose of me taking a break, lol.  In case you missed why I'm on vacation so to speak, you can read about that HERE.


However it is Tuesday, and I have a party to attend to. No not my BIRTHDAY party, however is is my BIRTHDAY today, lol. I am now 32 (sigh). So let's get going shall we?


How about a GIVEAWAY?

My friend Maria has a wonderful treat for you all.
First let me show you a couple things from her shop, that I love.

I really love Mrs. Peacock, and one day I might get her :)


Ok, so are you ready to see what Maria is offering one of you lucky winners? 
HOW ABOUT THIS BEAUTY!!

Gosh isn't she just BREATHTAKING and BEAUTIFUL. 
Yes totally talking about the necklace, AND my friend. 
She has mad photography skills, and it helps that she is just simply beautiful.


You want to win this right?
Ok, here's how!
YOU MUST be a Bella Before and After follower to enter, and this does not count as one entry.
You must live in the U.S.


MANDATORY ENTRY:
Visit AGAPE LOVE on ETSY, and tell me your favorite item.
Follow Agape Love on her BLOG.


EXTRA ENTRIES:
Follow Agape Love on FACEBOOK.
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Heart Agape Love on ETSY.
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Tweet this giveaway and make sure to @bellab4andafter.
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Post on Facebook, and @bellabeforeandafter, and @agapelovedesigns
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Blog about this giveaway, or add it in your sidebar
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Link up your project to my party, and grab a button.
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Follow Bella Before and After, any of the following ways, and get one extra entry for each that you do.

SUBSCRIBE BY EMAIL

Enter your email address here:

That is 11 ways to enter. Hope you take advantage of all those entries, and good luck.
Winner will be chosen 4/5.

Now please link up and show me what you got, remember, I am still TRYING to reach 100 link ups. Will you guys make it happen this week? Last week we had 79 link ups, woo hoo.

Don't forget to LINK up to my weekly party. 
AMAZE ME AUGUST

             

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GueST Post ~ Luxe Blvd ~ GRUNGE MAN PILLOW ~

When I posted THIS POST, asking for help, and then sent an email to my bloggy friends, I never expected so many people to respond.I am blessed with wonderful friends, and I had a ton of ladies, who were more than willing to keep you all entertained while I get better, or get some sleep, or paint my garage, whatever, he he. The point is, I am SUPER LUCKY, super THANKFUL, and SUPER excited to introduce you all to Stephanie from LUXE BOULEVARDSteph has become a really good friend, REALLY fast, because simply put she is just irresistible. Her blog is totally fun,and she is always blogging about the coolest things. Fashion updates, and the grammy's. Then she's blog about her press on nails, then she is FASHION designer for the week, and walks us through an ENTIRE outfit, top to bottom, and how to create it. In her free time, which I don't know how she finds, she also runs an etsy shop:LUXE BOULEVARD ON ETSYShe also has a bunch of kiddos, and a hubby, whom she adores, and he is BTW, a very talented musician. As if that wasn't enough my girl, also is an author, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, and has already published ONE book, and working on a second. So needless to say, I love me some creative, talented, inspiring mamas, and STPEH is just that.
Take it away STehp!!
I'm so happy to be here on Bella Before and After.I hope she gets to feeling better soon.But (shh) I'm a little glad she's under the weather, otherwise I wouldn't be able to be here today. Hehe!Lots and lots of love, Bella! Anyway, let's go on with what I wanted to share with all you awesome BB&A readers.You know all us crafty women make decor for the house, more specifically pillows, and no one is allowed to use them, right? They aren't toys. They are for decoration purposes only. No touchy touchy!Well, I figured that might not be entirely fair to my husband, as this is his house too. And, golly gee damn, he is the one who pays the bills ... and for all of my supplies in which to make stuff with.  My husband is often complaining that he isn't comfortable sitting up in bed when we snuggle up to watch a movie or something after the kids are down for the count--I mean fast asleep! My husband is very tall and has a long neck, so his height makes it difficult to pile pillows up against the headboard and be comfy. So I picked up a bolster pillow at Joann's (it was on clearance for $2.97!) and decided I would make him a neck pillow.But of course since it was for a man, it couldn't have all the frills and thrills. So we are making a man's grunge pillow! 

First cut out all your pieces to fit the size of your pillow.

I'm using some leftover ribbon I had from a belt I made my son for Christmas. I figured it would be great for this pillow. I cut the large piece of red fabric just slightly smaller so that I would have room to attach both pieces of ribbon.

I pinned both pieces of ribbon together, wrong sides facing, and surge/zig-zaged them together with a 1/4" seam.

Basically we are going to be doing all of the seams on the outside to give it a frayed, grunge look.

Press those seams, then attach the ribbons to the your main fabric, again, wrong sides together. Sew the ribbon to the fabric with a 1/4" seam.

Continuing with the seams on the outside, attach the end circles and sew those with a 1/2" seam.

On each of your seams pull a strand or two of the fabric.

Then throw it in  the washer and dryer ...

This is going to fray those seams really well. And it's much easier than trying to do it by hand.

See how well that worked!

Insert your pillow form and pin that final edge. Sew it up, 1/2" seam, and you're done!

A man's pillow!

The first thing my husband said was that he liked the raw edges.

Him + pillow handmade by wifey = ahhh! Although he did not seem to keen on the fact that I made him snap that shot.

Funny note to end this tutorial on: I told Patrick the pillow didn't match the bedroom so he couldn't put it on the bed. He replied, "A pillow I can't use, that's awesome!" Total sarcasmo!

Thanks for having me, Bella.

And thank you Bella readers for having me today too!

Toodles!

Stephanie

LuxeBoulevard.com

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
That was awesome, and my boys would surely appreciate that pillow, however I might actually let them use it, he he.


If you liked this post, then follow me dude!

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GUEST Post ~ Craft a World ~ CREAMY SPICY CHICKEN LASAGNA ~

When I posted THIS POST, asking for help, and then sent an email to my bloggy friends, I never expected so many people to respond.I am blessed with wonderful friends, and I had a ton of ladies, who were more than willing to keep you all entertained while I get better, or get some sleep, or paint my garage, whatever, he he. The point is, I am SUPER LUCKY, super THANKFUL, and SUPER excited to introduce you all to Farah from
CRAFT A WORLD.

Farah is a WONDERFUL bloggy friend. I only met her recently, and she is just amazing. Every single one of her comments, and emails, is written, like she's known you forever. She is so friendly, and you can feel her warm heart all the way from Pakistan. One of my most favorite posts she did, was taking us on a tour of her beautiful country, and I was just in awe at the beauty. If you get a chance, PLEASE check out THIS POST on the BEAUTY OF PAKISTAN.She is also incredibly talented in many other things, and loves home design, and especially floral arrangements. I love her blog, and know you will too. 

TAKE IT AWAY FARAH!!

Today she is sharing a mouth watering Lasagna recipe. YUMM!!

Creamy Spicy Chicken Lasagna

Today I wanted to share something different 

from craft or home decor.

Here in our culture there is a very popular saying, i.e

If you want to win a man's heart, 

try to get your way through his stomach.

What do you say,are you agreed???

May be or may not be.

But I think tasty and delicious food is the weakness 

of everyone and we all feel happy when people

praised about our cooking.

 This recipes is bit spicy but you can reduce the 

quantity of sauces to your taste.

We started from the White sauce

1 1/2 cup of milk, 3tbs white flour, 1 1/2 tbs butter, 

2tbs grated cheddar cheese,

1/2 tsp of salt, black pepper and dried oregano leaves each.

Melt the butter in the sauce pan over low heat,

stir the flour and fry a bit that gives an aroma.

Now remove from the heat and pour the

milk, may be you have little lumps in it, slowly

stir them and finally when all lumps are finished

bring it back to heat and start cooking.

Add all other ingredients and cook it until

it becomes thick.

Its ready.

I have two cups of chicken cubed,

just fried it for 5 minutes in 1tbs of cooking oil.

 Two cups of macronies, boiled with  half lemon,

drained and stir with half tbsp oil.

Its the mixture of onions and tomatoes

In 1 1/2 tbs oil soft the onion a bit 

add tomatoes, stir for 4 to 5 minutes, 

then add 4tbs of vinegar and 1tbs of brown sugar

with a pinch of salt.

Keep on low flame for next5 minutes.

Set aside.

Grated cheese i.e

cheddar and mozzarella

 They are carrots, capsicum and onion,

cut them in cubes and fry one by one separately and set

aside in a bowl.

Now the sauces and spices, in the plate 

I have crushed ginger and garlic,

Nandos hot peri peri sauce, mustard, 

and chilli and soya sauce.

Now in a deep skillet first I fried 2tbs garlic in tbs oil,

when it become golden brown and gives aroma

I added all vegetables and chicken in it, stir for 1 minute 

and then add all the sauces 

including salt and crushed red pepper. 

Fry it for another 3 to 4 minutes on a moderate flame.

 The size of my dish is 9 x 14 inch and depth is 2.5 inch.

I never boil the lasagna sheets used them as it is 

and it gives you much better result. 

First I layered the white sauce and then

covered it completed with the lasagna 

sheets.

(I am sorry next picture was blurred so i dont post it here)  

After lasagna sheets I layered the vegetables and 

chicken mix on it.

Then again a layer of white sauce.

The moisture in white layer sauce and of the vegetables are 

enough to tender the lasagna sheets.

 

 Now its the turn for macronies to be spread, I boiled them 

because its difficult to soften them just like 

lasagna sheets, so better to boil them.

 

 Now I put a layer of  onion and tomatoes paste, 

if you have any white sauce remaining then 

spread it here on this stage,

I don't have and there is no need too.

And a final layer of vegetable mix.

At last a shower of grated cheeses i.e

cheddar and mozzarella. 

Just for colours add some rings of capsicum,

onion, tomatoes and 

sprinkle paprika and oregano powder.

This last step fill your kitchen with tempting aroma as your 
dish comes out from the oven
.

Bake it on 190C for next 15 to 20 minutes or 

until  cheeses is melted well.

Oh here it is....

Smells so tempting 

 

 Oh please take a fork and taste it...

hm mm delicious? 

I am sure it will be ...

Hope you like it and try to get your way to your 

loved ones heart through the stomach... 

I am waiting for your responses and please tell me

if you feel that I don't explain it clearly or 
anything which is not cleared to you, 

I would definitely reply you .

Thanks for stopping by and give me your precious time.
Love you all


Happy Cooking

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY FARAH, I REALLY ENJOYED HAVING YOU!!

If you liked this post, then follow me dude!

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AMAZE ME AUGUST

             

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