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Ducks ‘n a Row → eliminating chaos – simplifying – inspiring – enriching family life with tips, how-tos + nifty ideas for every mom …and grandmas, too! 

Ducks ‘n a Row is a website that celebrates FAMILY. Here you will find inspired organizing tips, delicious recipes, fun kids crafts, preschool lesson ideas, blogging tips, household hints, celebrations, home decor, faith, pets and more.
Be sure to visit our various pages – tabs at the top – and check us out.
Enjoy blog hops? 
We host two fun parties on the blog every week: Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop (which begins every Tuesday evening at 7pm ET)  and Happiness Is Homemade (Sunday)

This blog contains affiliate links. ♥


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English labs, Labrador Retrievers
My favorite picture of our yellow labs – Lexi and little Sadie! 
 
In addition to writing for Ducks ‘n a Row, Sinea Pies is a popular brand representative having written for major national stores and products including but not limited to –Walmart, Sams Club, Wegmans, Petsmart, Target, Family Dollar, CVS, Walgreens, CVS, Rite Aid, Coca Cola, Hersheys, Smuckers, Poise, Huggies, Orville Redenbacher, SONY pictures, Walmart Family Mobile, Miracle Ear, Kelloggs, Pennzoil, Nabisco, Emergen C, Tylenol, Advil, TENA, Pat-Pat, Rockabye Rockers, Glucerna, Purina Pro Plan, Painting With A Twist and EleVate Foods. If you are interested in hiring her, please send us an email!
Contact us: ducksnarow1@gmail.com

Enjoy!

                        
 

How To Increase Your Blog Traffic 3 Ways With Blog Parties

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Yes, there are at very least 3 ways you can use blog parties to build up the traffic to your blog. As the host of two major parties myself, and frequent attender of many other blog hops, I know this to be true. 

tips, blogging tips, momblog, blog hop, link party

Blog parties are not just for newbies. All bloggers benefit from them. Some busy bloggers have dropped out from “partying” for lack of time but let me tell you that I have seen a recent upsurge of the BIGGEST mom blogs attending my Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop. They may be stopping by themselves or, more likely, they are paying a virtual assistant to do it for them — but, think of it, the VALUE of attending blog hops is big enough for them to pay someone to do it. Hmmm. Stop one moment and let that sink in. Blog parties should be part of your plan.

This blog contains affiliate links. ♥


Now, here are 3 ways that participating in blog hops / link parties increase your traffic:

1. Sharing your posts is like placing a free advertisement on someone else’s blog. You are guaranteed numerous opportunities for the guests to click on your post at no charge at all. Some parties have multiple hosts, increasing the possibilities of views by that number of participating blogs. The two parties I host have 10 blogs each. Ten times the exposure!

2. Be an active visitor.  Actively participating in the parties at VERY LEAST gets you seen by the hosts! “Actively” means that you do not just “post and run.” You interact with others. When you leave a comment on the blog party every week, thanking her for hosting, she gets to know you. I surely remember the ones who comment regularly on mine. Being specific in your comments could get a click from that host, as well. How about saying something like:  “Thanks so much for the great party. Today I shared my recipe for yummy mini pecan pie!”

Guess what I do as the host? I answer your comment and scan the entries to find “yummy mini pecan pie.” Often, I pin it. If it is a recipe, I yum it, too. If I have extra time, I may even leave a reciprocal comment on your blog post.

Hosting can be a lonely business. As party hosts, we appreciate YOU appreciating OUR hard work – it takes time to put these parties together every week – and many hosts will show you some extra TLC in return!

Not every party is the same but for Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop the party features are determined by what posts received the most clicks. In this case, the “tender loving care” click you just got from me gave you a better chance of leading the pack and gaining a feature. Yippee!

As a side note, actively participating by commenting on the blogs of other guests gains notice, as well. “What goes around comes around.” Tell them you just LOVED that cute craft and had to pin it 2 TIMES – or some other encouraging words. They are not obligated but it could get you some “thank you” pins or tweets on your own work as well. 

3. Attending blog parties gives you LOTS of material to share. Social media thrives on people sharing each other’s work. Check out the most popular mom-blogger Twitter pages. They retweet constantly. Often, they will post NEW tweets featuring other people’s work, as well.

You want Twitter to blossom for you? Do not depend on auto shares from Facebook or Instagram to do it. It is OK to use that tool but when people see pages that are exclusively shares from other sources, and nothing else, that says that the blogger doesn’t visit her own Twitter page.

The same principal applies to all social media. Share and, even though that blogger may not reciprocate, you will get to be known as one whose pages are ALIVE with great things happening.

Pinterest is a huge traffic generator but does not work well if the only thing you share is your own work. Look through the blog hops you attend and pick out a few with fabulous images and titles. Visit them and pin them. They will be blessed and so will you. No harm in leaving a comment to let them know what you just did, either. Want MORE exposure at that very same time? Maximize your efforts by setting your pins to post to Twitter and/or Facebook, too!


Do you know that some people will get ♥heart-flutters♥ when they see that YOU, of all people, are now following them? I remember when a couple of super-bloggers started following me – I was soaring with excitement all day long. I couldn’t believe it. What a boost to my confidence!

Do you have any tips on how blog parties help boost traffic flow to your blog? Please share them with us!

This post is the first of a series. 
Here is part 2:

What is a Blog Hop and Why Do I Care?

BTW… my two ongoing blog hops are Happiness Is Homemade (opens at 3am ET Sunday mornings) and Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop (starts 7pm ET Tuesday evenings.) If you would like to receive a reminder when each party starts and other occasional updates, sign up for my email list!

 

Enjoy!

 

Crocheted cell phone purse #ad

 

Gerbera Daisies and How To Care For Them

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By Sinea Pies

What type of flowers do you like to give or receive? 
Roses?
Tulips?
Carnations?
Daisies?

I love them all but my most recent delight is the Gerbera Daisy.  The bright colors and large blooms are a treasure.  And they have such staying-power, lasting a long time as a cut flower in a vase or as a potted plant.

This year, for Mother’s Day, my son Zac and his girlfriend, Shauna, gave me the bright orange Gerbera pictured here…and it is still blooming months later.
Look at the center of each bloom, they glisten like jewels! Beautiful!

More flowers…

The Gerbera Daisy, which comes in 30 varieties, is a relative of the Sunflower. 
You can see the resemblance! 

Gerberas can be started from seed.
Most often, though, you will get yours full-grown as potted plant.
How To Care For Indoor Gerbera Daisies
  • Light: To keep yours blooming and healthy, provide it with plenty of direct sunlight for up to 5 hours a day and then some afternoon shade. They can do with less during winter month.
  • Temperature: keep the room a steady 70°. 
  • Water: Allow the soil to dry on the top 1/2 inch and then water it. That will be about every 3-5 days. If you are putting the pots outdoors for sunshine (bring them in at night if it will be cooler than 70°) then they may need to be watered more often.
  • Pruning: As the blooms start to wilt, clip them off. New blooms will come. Dying leaves should also be removed.

Cute DIY Summer Potting Wreath by Linda of Lindapendant Dreams
Note the Gerbera Daisies!

Following Ducks ‘n a Row? 
We wish you would!
      

Come by every week for 
Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop
with specially featured blogs.
A treasure in every click. 


Love Baskets!

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By Sinea Pies


What is your favorite organizing tool? Mine has to be baskets. I love them. Wicker. Plastic. Wooden. Wire. All types of baskets.
We just recently renovated our home and we opened up the kitchen big-time  There was a wall between our kitchen and dining-room that had to come down. On holidays, especially, we were cramped for room. We have a wonderfully large family. Four of our five children now have families of their own. Ten of them, with spouses, plus twelve grandchildren and three great-grands. We were bumping into each other!
So, we took down the wall between the kitchen and the dining-room and put a peninsula where the wall had been. The counter-space is wonderful but, as counters do, it attracts more clutter. The mail collects there. Dishes that are “moving” from the table to the sink can get hung upon that counter. Whoa, can it get messy!
This isn’t the worst it has looked but it’s close!
As you can see, a lot of it is mail and magazines.
So, I kept my eye out for a brown wicker basket that would be large enough for magazines, but not ridiculously large.
I found this one at Target. It’s perfect!
And, as you can see, I accomplished my goal of “just big enough for magazines” and a little more.
What is your favorite organizer?


Previously on Ducks ‘n a Row (and other places) …

Follow Me on Pinterest
I’m partying here. 
Stop by every Wednesday for 
Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop
with specially featured blogs.
A treasure in every click. 

Photo Credits:

  • Hanging Flower Baskets by Lachland Hardy / Flicker Creative Commons
  • Cats in Laundry Basket by Oskay / Flickr Creative Commons
  • Grapes in a Basket by Grant Cochrane / Flickr Creative Commons
  • Assorted Wicker Baskets by Wickerfurniture / Flickr Creative Commons
  • Other photos by Sinea Pies

Organized or Organizers

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Organized or organizers…how’s that for a title? Those of us who want to be organized LOVE organizers. It is important, though, to remember that organizers do not organize you. YOU organize you!

That being said, what new organizers are you thinking of adding to your collection? I have added some air-tight BPA free rectangular food containers to keep the bugs out and freshness in. They are made by OXO GOOD and they have a pop top to seal in the food.  And they make your cupboards look so good!

 

                                        

                                                     Oxo Good Pop Top Containers

As soon as I saw them, I knew they were my answer to keeping my food fresh and cupboards clean. They may seem to be a little pricey, I think they’re worth it in the long run. Did you ever think your cupboards could look so pretty?

Have you found a great organizer that you can share with us? Tell us what you’ve found in today’s comments!

How To Cut Brownies

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By Sinea Pies


Ever wondered how bakeries cut brownies and bar-cookies so beautifully? I always imagined that they had mysterious tools that none of us could own and we were all stuck with making bent, folded and out-of-shape brownies. They taste good but the display? Not so pretty.

Frustrated with this, I did some internet research. A pastry chef shared a technique and I decided to give it a try. For my first attempt, I think it went well. I was out of toothpicks so testing the brownies for doneness was inaccurate. They were a little under-cooked. Next time I will do better. 

What I learned:
Grease your pan TWICE. His method called for butter, so that’s what I used. You grease the pan, line it with aluminum foil  (it needs to be good quality but not heavy duty). Then, butter the foil. The goal is to be able to pull the aluminum foil, baked brownies inside, out of the pan before cutting. 

How To Cut Brownies Beautifully
(photos below)
  • Butter a 13″ X 9″ baking pan.
  • Line it with aluminum foil.
  • Butter the foil.
  • Prepare brownies according to package instructions and pour into pan.
  • Bake.
  • Remove brownies from oven when done. (Test them to be sure.)
  • Allow brownies to cool completely.
  • Pull the foil out of the pan, baked brownies inside, and place on cutting board.
  • Cut them in squares, using a long knife, with a long stroke to maintain evenness of each piece.
  • Use a spatula or knife to loosen and remove each brownie to a plate.

Tips: 

  1. “Stickage”: If you detect that the brownies are sticking to the foil, you may want to apply heat underneath. Run hot water over a cookie sheet to  heat it up. Then, move it all to the warm cookie sheet to soften the butter on the foil. Then go back to the cutting board and finish up.
  2. Keep It Clean: Have a glass of water and clean paper towel on hand to wipe off the knife in-between cuts. Dip the dirty knife in the water, wipe clean, cut again. 
  3. Decorate: Either frost them, sprinkle with powdered sugar through a sifter as I did, or add chopped nuts to the unbaked brownies before placing them in the oven.

I tried to find a great how-to video for you. After I perfect this and I may have to make one myself. They were ridiculous! (My apologies to the film makers, but they were.)  They either had those “mysterious tools” we don’t have or the instructors wanted you to measure with a measuring tape! Forget it. We don’t have time for that, do we? We just want square brownies. That’s it!

Here’s what the process looked like, step by step.


Do you make brownies or bar-cookies? Got tips? Share!
Follow Me on Pinterest
I’m partying here. 
Stop by every Wednesday for 
Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop
with specially featured blogs.
A treasure in every click. 

Linking up with Menu Plan Monday on Organizing Junkie

Tidy Mom — A Place For Everything

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“Wonderful Wednesday’s” spotlight this week is on Cheryl and her ever-popular blog, Tidy Mom. Ever popular? Her Facebook Fans alone are over 14k strong! Told you she has a great website!

In her own words, Cheryl is “A self-proclaimed neat freak.” 
On Tidy Mom, Cheryl chronicles her journey through 

Cheryl of Tidy Mom
Photo credit:  Angie Arthur

homemaking with posts on recipes, 
tutorials, crafting and her love for photography.”  
Her blog centers around everything that we love!

When you go there, scroll down the right sidebar on the homepage. You will find pictured many of her favorite recipes and craft projects. Check it out and click, click, click!

Her most recent post is entitled 
“3 Homemade Christmas Ornaments“ (a tutorial) I love all three styles depicted there but my favorite HAS to be the one with the glitter! Glitter is so… glittery! (Yes, I did say that and I’m not taking it back! LOL)


And check out the scrumptious Peanut Butter and Banana Muffins recipe; another recent post.

Before you leave her site, be sure to subscribe to Tidy Mom, and “LIKE” the Tidy Mom Facebook Fanpage, as well. Please leave a nice comment for Cheryl and let her know that Ducks ‘n a Row sent you!

Do you love Linky Parties? We’ve got one going below! Add your family-friendly post and spread the news to your friends.

FACEBOOK FAN CHALLENGE: We have 31 days left and 2011 will be through. Our goal has been 500 fans by December 31st and we’re not backing away from it.  I think we can do it! If you haven’t already, please LIKE our Ducks ‘n a Row Fanpage. We’d love to have you!

Recent Posts:
Kid Recipes–Easy Recipes That Kids Will Love
Printables–Adorn Your Gifts Beautifully For Free
Holiday Recipe Planning–Start Today
Pumpkin Bread
Weight Watchers PointsPlus

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Save Money with Grocery Shrink

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Our Wonderful Wednesday spotlight is on the very first website to which I became a subscriber: Grocery Shrink, founded by Angela Coffman. And I have a guest post on her site this week!


photo by kongsky at freedigitalphotos.com

A little background about Angela Coffman: Angela is fondly known as the “Grocery Shrink” and her ability to train others on how to trim back their spending comes from personal experience.  She and her husband, Darren, were plagued by their financial condition. $89,000 in debt, they longed to be debt-free.  So they got very, very serious about.  

Trimming their grocery spending alone to a mere $185.00 per month (at that time a they were a family of 5) and cutting back in a multitude of other areas, they were able to steadily pay off their bills to finally achieve debt-free status within 6 months. In fact, they did more than that.  They built an emergency fund and had $40,000 left over to put toward buying a house.Wow!

GroceryShrink.com

Angela’s fame has opened the door for two recent guest appearances on the 700 Club. Here are the links to those segments:  clip #1 and clip #2.  When you watch the second clip, you’ll learn how she creates her own, safe cleaning products for a fraction of the cost of their commercial counterparts. 
For Angela’s Homemade Cleaning Products recipes, mentioned on one of the clips, along with their complete debt-conquering success story, go to her homepage (after you read my guestpost, of course 🙂 and sign up for her newsletter at Grocery Shrink. 

Now, before you go…be sure to view my TWO guest posts on Grocery Shrink (links below) and my latest post on HubPages honoring our World War II veterans. I’m particularly proud of that one because it includes my son’s award winning video.


Guest Posts on Grocery Shrink:
Getting Ready for Christmas
How to Organize Your Kitchen Drawer in 10 Minutes or Less

Recent Posts:
How to Speed Clean a Room
Quick Breakfast Ideas
World War II Veterans

Let’s keep in touch. Subscribe to Ducks ‘n a Row by email and “like” our Facebook Fanpage so that we don’t lose track of each other.

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Have a Wonderful Wednesday,
          …Sinea from Ducks ‘n a Row

15 Great Uses for Baking Soda

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By Sinea Pies

Baking soda is an essential and inexpensive household item that is useful in so many ways.

First and foremost, it is used for the obvious: BAKING!


Not to be confused with baking powder, baking soda is 100% sodium bicarbonate.

Baking powder has baking soda in it, along with some cream of tartar.  

Baking soda and baking powder are both used to make baked goods rise by producing carbon dioxide as the batter cooks.

In addition to an essential ingredient for baking, baking soda is a great deodorizer, polisher, cleanser and even itch-remover!  

Here are 15 GREAT USES for BAKING SODA!
1. Baking: As we said, baking soda is a key ingredient in most baked goods, including one of Martha Stewart’s favorite dessert: CUPCAKES (check out these 31 photos of yummy specialty cupcakes)!!!  Click to buy Martha’s Cupcake Cookbook here.

2. Toothpaste: You can buy toothpaste that contains the ingredient or make your own. Just put a little baking soda in a dish with some salt. Wet your brush, dip it in caking it up on the brush, and gently brush your teeth. They’ll gleam! 

3. Eliminate Refrigerator Smells: Open a box and put it in the frig. Mark the date on the box first and recycle every 30 days for freshness.

4. Carpet deodorizer: Sprinkle some baking soda on the carpet, leave for 15 minutes and then vacuum.

5. Exfoliate: Make a paste of baking soda and water, gently scrub your face and body for a natural, safe clean. Rinse off with water. 

6.Cleaning Baby Toys: dilute 4 T. baking soda in 1 quart warm water. Use the solution to wash the toys, then rinse and wipe clean.

7. Drain Opener: pour some dry baking soda down a slow running drain. Add vinegar and listen to it fizz! Wait 10 minutes. Follow it with a quart of very hot water. Voila! Free flowing drain.

8. Insect Bites: apply a paste of baking soda and water to stop the itch.


9. Science Projects: remember the famous science fair project, the Erupting Volcano? Baking soda and vinegar are what makes it work!

10. Hair Clarifier: use a lot of gels, mousse and other sticky hair products?  Remove that build-up once a week by adding a tiny pinch of baking soda to your shampoo.  Lather up and rinse.

11. Antacid: remember the old movies where they ordered a bicarb for a sour stomach? They were asking for baking soda.  It still works today! Check the directions on the package before using.

12. Fight Fires: Keep a box of baking soda near the stove in case of a grease fire. Quickly toss some baking soda on the fire and extinguish it instantly.

Mr.Coffee Coffee Maker

13. Clean Your Coffee Maker: Make a solution of 1/4 cup of baking soda and a quart of warm water to clean your coffee maker, coffee mugs and pot.     Your coffee will taste great!

14. Remove Grease Stains from Clothes: make a paste of baking soda and water. Apply it to the stains. Add a little baking soda to the wash load, as well.

15. Freshen Your Sponges:  Sponges smelling a little raunchy? Don’t give them up just yet.  Make a strong solution of baking soda and warm water and let them soak.

BONUS USE: Deodorizer Sneakers and Shoes! This works so well, I just had to add it. If you have SMELLY SNEAKERS, sprinkle baking soda into them and shake the excess out. Go head and wear them. They will be so much better. In my experience, mine no longer smelled bad at all!

Arm and Hammer is the brand name that comes to mind when we think of baking soda.  Their website is full of great baking soda ideas as well as a list of their cleaning and deodorizing products.  If you have pets, you’ve got to try their pet odor eliminator carpet powder.  It removes the smell and helps to get up the pet hair better than ever!


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