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You might have noticed that the related posts section at the bottom of each Mad in Crafts post got a little facelift a few weeks ago.  I recently switched to using nRelate as my related content plugin. 

Related content plugins are kind of like the Choose Your Own Destiny books you read growing up. You get to the end of a post, and you have several choices of where you might like to go next. Only you don’t have to worry that entering the rickety shack via page 66 will result in your untimely demise.

If you have a blog of your own, I highly recommend installing a widget like this!  Related content plugins are good for you and good for your readers.

Good for you:

• Keeps readers engaged in your site
• Increases pageviews

Good for your readers:

• Suggests more content they might like
• Makes your blog more user-friendly

I was a teensy bit terrified to install nRelate because I have had nothing but headaches when installing new widgets on the blog.  Because I have a modified Wordpress magazine template (that I modified myself without knowing anything about HTML), it is always a challenge to add new items.  Does it go on the main page or on post pages or both?  Can I install it as a Blogger widget or do I have to enter it into the HTML code manually?  Yada yada yada.

So it was with trepidation that I started the installation process.  I should not have been scared.  The whole thing took about 10 minutes!  Most of that time was spent playing around with my thumbnails to have them look the way I wanted.

I was able to install nRelate as a Blogger widget (PHEW!).  It took them about 10 minutes to catalog all my past posts, determine keywords, and go live on the blog.  What a relief!

I used to use a different related content plug-in, but I prefer nRelate for a few reasons:

• Look how cute!  nRelate provides a few choices for customizing the look of your thumbnails.  I chose to have them look like Polaroids to match the look of my Project Gallery.
• The ability to pull content ideas from multiple sites.  One of the 6 suggestions at the bottom of each post will be from the other site I write for, Décor Hacks.  If there are Mad in Crafts readers who have never checked out DH, maybe they will now!  If you have multiple blogs, you can set nRelate up to cross-reference your content.
• Dollar, dollar bills, y’all!  nRelate gives you the option to run ads in your related content.  One of the 6 options on MiC will be a sponsored link to another site, and I get a small amount of money when readers visit.  I would never agree to this EXCEPT…
• The related content is SPOT ON!  nRelate pulls content that is totally applicable to each individual post.  Even the sponsored content is related to the post.

These are the links that nRelate pulled for my Whole House Palette and Painting Tips post.  The first link is the sponsored link, and you can see how well it applies to the post.  The second thumbnail takes the reader to Décor Hacks, and the last four links are to other Mad in Crafts posts.

If you are interested in adding nRelate to your blog, click here for Blogger or here for Wordpress to begin the easy installation process.  You can also find nRelate on facebook and twitter.

Full disclosure HERE.

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Mod Podge Rocks! Book Giveaway

 

 

When I was given the opportunity to review a copy of my friend Amy Anderson’s new book, I jumped at it!  Now, to be fair, I started my review with a favorable bias just because Amy herself is so awesome, but the book stands alone as a great addition to any crafter’s library.

 

Amy Anderson is the blogger behind Mod Podge Rocks!, the fantastic craft blog focused on all things Mod Podge.  The Mod Podge Rocks! book includes a description of the different varieties of Mod Podge, the best tools to use when decoupaging, and over 40 projects with gorgeous photos and full directions.

 

The book is filled with vibrant, unique projects from Amy and other crafty names you might recognize ((cough, Heather Mann and Jennifer Hadfield, cough)). The projects range from jewelry to home décor, and all the accompanying tutorials are well-written and clear.  These were some of my favorites.

 

 

This suitcase just makes me smile!  I would love to make a version of this suitcase to hold my kids’ dress-up clothes.  This project would also be a great way to brand and display your products for sale at a craft fair.

 

 

These plates are genius!  They make great décor on their own, but since you decoupage the back of the plates you can still use them to serve food.  You can pick up clear glass plates at the dollar store and customize them for any occasion!

 

 

My eye is always drawn to the home décor section of craft books because I am always looking for new and innovative ideas.  I really like the idea of Mod Podging fabric to an inexpensive piece of furniture to add pattern and texture to a room.  It is inexpensive and high-impact! 

 

If you are interested in and excited about this great new book, you can ENTER TO WIN A COPY OF YOUR OWN!

 

Only one lucky Mad in Crafts reader will win a copy of Mod Podge Rocks! Decoupage Your World, so be sure to gain as many entrance points as you can to increase your odds.

 

If you can’t wait to see if you a winner, pre-order your own copy of Mod Podge Rocks! on Amazon.com TODAY!

 

All opinions are 100% mine.  Full disclosure HERE.

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Mad Skills Party #105

 

Welcome to the 105th Mad Skills Party!

 

If you have participated in a Mad Skills Tutorial Link Party in the past, you have probably gotten one of my emails.  I like to highlight a few of my favorite submissions each week, and email is a great way to do it!

 

I also like to be able to thank all of you for participating in the party.  It really means so much to me that you do.  Commenting on each project is no longer an option for me, and I (legally) can’t spam you all with unasked for emails.  BUT, if you sign up for the newsletter, I can still say thanks for your hard work AND you get to see the highlights from the weeks’ parties!

Sign up for the email by clicking HERE or using the form in the pink rectangle on my sidebar.

If you are linking up today, you might be featured in this week’s newsletter!

For the Mad Skills party, as usual you can link up a post, old or new, to share with other readers. The only rule for the party is that the post MUST BE A TUTORIAL. The tutorial can be written, pictorial, or a combination of the two, but it should be a project or a process that another crafter would be able to replicate. Any Mad Skill level, from novice to advanced, is welcome!

 

There is a Mad Skills Tutorial Link Party button that can be found by clicking on the Buttons tab on the new menu bar.  Please add to your blog post or update your party pages! You have until midnight (EST) on Thursday to enter your projects!

By participating in this party, you are agreeing to allow me to feature your project in my weekly Mad Skills newsletter.  Each feature will include a link back to your project,  a photo from the tutorial, and a brief explanation of why I loved your project.

I do this because I want to make sure your hard work is rewarded.   If you are not comfortable with this promotion, please do not link up your project.

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A Morning in The Mad House

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Florida Orange Juice for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

5:30-6:30:  One or both of the kiddos wake up.  Pray that they will go back to sleep.
6:30:  Snuggle with up-too-early kiddos and turn on Disney Junior to keep them quiet.
7:00:  Head downstairs and change diapers, feed the kids, feed the dog, open windows, empty dishwasher, accidentally step on matchbox cars, and MAKE THE COFFEE.
7:30:  A moment of peace with my coffee and my computer while all the monsters eat.
8:00:  The kids are done, and we're off to the races!

\

Photo via Katie Hubbard

Most mornings I am rushing around and taking care of everyone else, and I forget to feed myself.  A strong cup of coffee is usually the best I can manage.  Not the healthiest way to start my day.  I could improve my morning routine with one, delicious change... a glass of Florida Orange Juice!
Did you know that I am originally a Florida girl?  I was born in Florida, and lived there for 5 years before we made the move to the Midwest.  A little bit of the Sunshine State is still in my blood because I LOVE orange juice.  I could easily down a carton of the good stuff in a day!  Fortunately, all you need is one glass to get the  natural health benefits.

• One 8‐ounce serving of 100 percent orange juice is a good source of potassium and folate and an excellent source of vitamin C. These are three important nutrients that are under consumed in the United States, according to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
• One serving of 100 percent orange juice is more nutrient dense than many commonly-consumed 100 percent fruit juices. A refreshing glass of 100 percent orange juice has no added sugars or artificial sweeteners, which may be found in many fruit juice cocktails and sports drinks.
• A key recommendation of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans is to increase fruit intake.  One 8-ounce glass of 100 percent orange juice provides half of the USDA-recommended daily fruit intake for most adults, based on a 2,000-calorie diet.

Photo via Mikamatto

If you are like me, you could use some of that natural energy and those healthy vitamins to keep up with your day-to-day responsibilities. Think about adding a glass of OJ to your morning routine! For more Florida orange juice info and recipes, visit Florida Orange Juice on Facebook and on Pinterest.

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Progress on The Mad House

 

It’s been a while since my last update on The Mad House, so I wanted to give you a heads up on how things are going.  We still aren’t finished, and I have to keep reminding myself of the one word goal I chose for this year, Progress.  We ARE making progress on the house, and it is a big job so I can’t expect it will all get done overnight.

 

Now that the wallpaper is gone and I have finished dancing that particular dance of joy, we have moved on to painting.  Boy, is there a lot prep work that goes into painting!  We found damage on a few of the walls that needed to be spackled or plastered, and others needed sanding after taking down the wallpaper.  Then there is wiping and washing, taping, removing outlet covers, taking down shelving, etc etc etc.

 

My dad and I have been painting about 2-3 days a week when my mom can watch the kids.  (Hubs helps when he isn’t working.)  We have the upstairs mostly finished, but there is still quite a bit to do downstairs.  This is how far we have come.

 

 

 

The living room was probably our biggest challenge.  I love the new “greige” paint color but it was a PAIN to get it finished.  I will write more about all our trials and tribulations with Clark + Kensington paint later.  Suffice it to say, I am glad these walls are finished.  I have more plans for those built-ins that we will be carrying out soon.

 

 

Aaaahhh!  Let’s all take a collective sigh of relief that the wallpaper is gone, shall we?  It was a ginormous, tedious job, but obviously SO worth it.  There is still a lot to be done in the dining room, including the introduction of some pattern to the wall.  NOT in the form of wallpaper.

 

 

Buh-bye, peach!  After a coat of primer and two coats of paint, the full bathroom upstairs is looking much more serene.  All the hardware needs to go back up, but the painting in here is done!

 

 

I wish the master bedroom wasn’t so hard to photograph.  I can’t seem to get an angle that really shows the color in the room.  The master bedroom is painted the same color as the full bath, but in these pics it looks almost white. 

 

This room was another paint headache.  The first color I chose was supposed to be a lovely grey-blue and ended up a “country-blue-that-should-be-accented-with-geese-wearing-bonnets” color.  We covered that with two coats of a light silver blue, and things are looking much better.

 

 

I lucked out on the paint color for the craft room.  I picked up a $9 gallon of mis-tint from a local paint store, and it turned out to be a really lovely color.  When the light is off, it is this nice medium blue, but when the lights are on they pick up all the nice grey tones in the color.

 

 

Should I have warned you about this picture?  Are your retinas okay?  I know, I know.  It’s bright.  But I love it!  I  took a risk and painted my daughter’s room this vibrant green.  It’s possible I might hate it in a year or two, but for now we are just having fun coming up with new names for the color:  Comic Book Villain Green, Local Thunderstorm Warning, Nuclear Pear, the list goes on.

 

 

I’ve got big plans for my son’s room.  It will still have an outer space theme, but I am going to incorporate a few more elements because of the new interests he is discovering as he gets older  ((ahem, Star Wars, ahem)).  The bottom grey color was another gallon of mis-tinted paint, so I got it for a song.  We obviously need another coat of the blue on top, but that is all we have left to paint on the second floor.  Hurrah!

 

We also painted the ceilings in most of the rooms, and painted the upstairs hallway which was tricky with all the picture molding.  That’s where things stand at the moment I am writing this post up.  Hopefully by the time I post it, there were be even more progress made!

 

What do you think so far?  Do you have favorites?  complaints?  suggestions?  I would love to hear them.

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Eight Memorial Day Recipes

 

 

Today I am sharing one of my favorite Summertime side dishes on Recipe Lion!  If you have never heard of Gurkensalat, click over and check out the simple and delicious recipe.  It’s perfect for your Memorial Day picnic!

 

 

Looking for other picnic-friendly recipes? Try these!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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