Pinning & Singing Linky party ~ Back to School!

Hello friends and welcome to naatshainoz.com and welcome to a very late Pinning and Singing Pinterest Party! I am so sorry I am so late in posting this but with a new school term starting for the kids and for me this last week has been chaotic! Big Al started Middle School today and Maddy starts Senior School tomorrow....my babies are getting older!

Last week I found a little bit of time to visit my favourite online relation spot....Pinterest! I pinned lots of back-to-school ideas and I found lots of great inspiration for the classroom and home!

Source: experiencesteachingabroad.blogspot.com via Natasha on Pinterest

Source: 29.media.tumblr.com via Natasha on Pinterest

Source: rebeccacooper.blogspot.com via Natasha on Pinterest

Source: chickabug.com via Natasha on Pinterest

Source: vol25.typepad.com via Natasha on Pinterest

Source: imom.com via Natasha on Pinterest

Source: eatingwell.com via Natasha on Pinterest

Source: athomewithrealfood.blogspot.com via Natasha on Pinterest

I have also been watching what I eat and I have been keeping up with counting my calories, exercising as often as possible and maintaining a healthy diet.

Last week I created a new and delicious recipe for a lentil salad that was inspired by two recipes that I had pinned last year.

Source: kitchenconfidante.com via Natasha on Pinterest

Source: mynewroots.blogspot.com via Natasha on Pinterest

My version was a combination of both recipes and was a hit with everyone in the family!

Summery Lentil Salad

Ingredients:
2 cups Du Puy lentils or one can of lentils
1 medium red onion, diced
1 cup dried cranberries (craisins)

Vinaigrette:
1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
1 Tbsp. maple syrup
1 Tbsp. dijon mustard
1 tsp. ground cumin
1/2 tsp. turmeric
1/2 tsp. ground coriander
½ tsp ground cardamom
¼ tsp. ground cloves
1/4 tsp. freshly grated nutmeg
¼ tsp. ground cinnamon
Salt & Pepper to taste

I also added fresh flat-leaf parsley and coriander (cilantro), chopped carrots, chopped celery, chopped green beans and halved cherry tomatoes.

Directions:
1. If cooking lentils from scratch then rinse lentils well and then drain. Place in a pot and cover with water, bring to a boil and then reduce to a simmer. They should be cooked after 20 minutes but just keep checking so you don't overcook them.
2. While the lentils are simmering, make the dressing by placing all ingredients in a bowl, jar, tupperware container etc and shake to combine.
3. When the lentils are cooked, remove from heat, drain and place under cold running water to stop the cooking process. Once cooled slightly but still a little warm, place lentils in a large serving bowl and toss with dressing.
4. Add the onion and craisins and any other salad ingredients in a bowl. If using canned lentils, drain and rinse and add to the bowl. Mix everything together and serve straight away!

Pin It


This salad is delicious on a hot summer's day and it tasted just as delicious the next day!

Don't you love salads in Summer!

Now, since this weekly party is all about pinning and singing, I thought I'd share a song that is all about summer Down Under!!

So, have you been pinning away on Pinterest this week? Have you posted any songs on your blog lately? I would love it if you could share your favourite pins, a musical post or a bit of both with me at this week's

 Pinning & Singing Pinterest Party! 

If you would like to link up a post, old or new, about your favourite song (or any other music that you have blogged about) and/or your favourite Pins from Pinterest to my Pinning and Singing Pinterest Party, just add the url of your particular blog post that you would like us to visit to the Linky tool below.

You can link up posts about Pinterest, posts that include pinterest pictures, 

posts about projects you have completed that were inspired by pinterest, 

you can link up posts about your favourite songs

 or you can link up a post about singing and pinning!

Feel free to grab the code for the Pinning & Singing on the Weekend button and add that to your post so that your readers might be able to find other bloggers who love Pinterest and Music as much as we do.





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Thanks so much for joining in and linking up! Don't forget to come back later and visit some of the lovely pinners who have linked up!

Thanks also to the lovely ladies who are hosting these fabulous parties this week:

Tempt My Tummy; Tasty Tuesday;Totally Tasty Tuesdays; Tasty Tuesday; Wow Me; Show and Share; Whatever Goes Wednesday; This Chick Cooks;   Foodie Friday; Courtney (Feathered Nest Friday), At the Picket Fence (Inspiration Friday) , Holly (Tickled Pink), Cindy (Show and Tell Friday), Home Sweet Home with Sherry, Fridays Unfolded at Stuff and Nonsense, Pink Saturday with Beverly,  Fabulous Friday; Strut your Stuff Saturday; Flaunt it Friday; Everything but the Kitchen Sink Party;  Feature Friday; Feature Yourself Friday; Free for All Friday; Weekend wander; Show & Tell Saturday; Serenity Saturday; Once upon a Weekend; Saturday show Off; Saturday Seven; Sunday Blog Love;  Sunday Linky Party Sundae Scoop; More the Merrier Monday; Met Monday; Creative Bloggers party; Making The World Cuter Mondays; Market Yourself Monday;Rook no.17; Take it on Tuesday; One Project at a Time;  Wow Me Wednesday; Show & Tell; Pinterest Favourites; Whatever Wednesday; Anything Goes Linky party; Simply Link Party; Pinterest Challenge

By the way, if you would like an invitation to join Pinterest please let me know! Just email me and I will send you an invite so you can join in with all the pinning fun!

Also, in case you hadn't heard, I have created a central list of Pinning Bloggers so we can all find each other's Pinterest pages more easily. It is called....

The Five Minutes for Me 
Pinning Bloggers Master List.

If you would like to add your name to the Pinning Blogger's Master List just click the button below:

Take care and I hope you all have a fabulous, healthy and fun week! To everyone going back to school, good luck and have a great year!

Best wishes,

Natasha in Oz