It’s the ninth anniversary of The Hearth and Soul Link Party! Happy Birthday to one of the longest running link parties in the blogosphere! Thank you all for helping to make Hearth and Soul the link party it is today, I’m having a giveaway to celebrate (more details below!).
If you had told me nine years ago I would be writing this blog post in Singapore, I would have been surprised. I would have had an even harder time believing it almost seventeen years ago when I started my blog! I have a very different view from my desk this afternoon.
In fact, I’ve written Hearth and Soul posts in over 7 countries throughout the years. Participants come from lots of different countries too. We are a very international link party and everyone is welcome.
At The Hearth and Soul Link Party, you can share blog posts old and new, about anything that feeds the soul. This includes – but is not limited to – family, home, recipes, decorating, crafts, DIY, travel, organisation, book reviews, the arts and self improvement.
The Hearth and Soul Link Party Birthday Giveaway
To celebrate Hearth and Soul’s Ninth Birthday, I’m giving away a $40 (£30 or €35)) Amazon gift certificate! Anyone who is subscribed to my newsletter by Sunday 16th June will be entered into the draw. So if you’ve already subscribed, you don’t have to do anything, you are in the draw!
Not a subscriber yet? Enter the draw and receive my free ebook of 5 Vintage Recipes by clicking here!
Terms & Conditions: Winner will be chosen by random number generator on June 16th. My subscribers are numbered on Mailchimp and I will ask the random number generator to choose a number between 1 and my total number of subscribers. The subscriber whose number corresponds with the chosen number will win an Amazon gift certificate for forty United States or Canadian dollars or thirty British pounds or thirty-five Euro. The winner will be notified by email and have until midnight EST on Wednesday 19th June to respond, or a new winner will be chosen.
On The Blog
Speaking of travel, Anglophiles will definitely enjoy joining me on this virtual visit to The Royal Yacht Britannia.
I had such fun exploring The Royal Yacht on our recent visit to Edinburgh. It was a fascinating glimpse into the life of HM The Queen and the Royal Family. I can see why she loved this beautiful floating palace so much.
I also shared a very British summer dessert.
Gooseberry fool is a perennial summer favourite here in England. I love serving it in pretty vintage tea cups. Two of these pretty cups belonged to my late Mom. The one on the top right belonged to my late Auntie Irene.
Featured Posts
This week’s featured posts include (from top left, clockwise):
Decorate your home with Free Summer Printables from Carol at Comfort Spring
Enjoy a celebratory treat with these very tempting Banana Split Milkshakes from Jessica and Nellie of Butter with a Side of Bread
Read a great new book! Check out Ramona of Create with Joy’s review of Restoration House by Kennesha Buycks
and try a new spin on a classic with Leslie of My Gluten Free Cucina’s Gluten Free Banana Bread
Thank you to you all for visiting and sharing!
The Hearth and Soul Link Party
What you will bring to the party this week?
Please share the party on social media! There are buttons at the top and bottom of this blog post to make it easy.
There is no obligation, but it helps the party and my blog when you share or provide a link back to AprilJHarris.com.
Linking your posts here means you consent to me featuring your posts and photos on my blog and social media. Of course, I include credit and a link to your blog.
Thank you for being a part of Hearth and Soul!
Comments & Reviews
Congratulations on your 9th Anniversary, April!! Thank you for the party! Looking forward to checking back in and viewing all the great additions!
Thank you, Suzan!
Oh what a wonderful trip to Singapore! I love to travel too!
And Congrats on the 9th Anniversary – that is an awesome accomplishment!
Melissa
Thank you, Melissa! 🙂
Congratulations! Nine years is quite an accomplishment! Keep up the wonderful work!
-Nancy (Nancy On The Home Front )
Thank you, Nancy! I appreciate all your support! I think I originally ‘met’ you through Hearth and Soul actually 🙂
Congrats on 9 years! (And 7 countries!) I brought by some Asian Cole Slaw. Thanks for hosting. 🙂
Thank you so much, CJ!
Happy happy blog birthday!! Thanks so much for hosting! I’m linking up with WHO ARE YOU BLOGGING FOR? PART 3 OF 5, FAIRY PHOTOS – HOAX OR REAL?, and THE NIGHT HE CHANGED HIS WAYS!
Thank you so much, Dee! Actually this is just Hearth and Soul’s birthday. My blog is actually almost 17 years old! (I know, I can hardly believe it either!! I started back in 2002. Where does the time go?) Thank you for sharing your posts!
Hip Hip Hurrah! Congratulations on this important anniversary. I appreciate all your hard work every week and thanks for a feature this week!
Thank you, Carol!
Congratulations on your 9 very successful years in the Blogging World! I always enjoy coming to this party every week and look forward to the inspiration of quality links that I find here. Hope you have a great week and thanks so much for the party!
Miz Helen
Thank you so much, Miz Helen! Actually this is just Hearth and Soul’s 9th birthday. I’ve been blogging since October 2002…so nearly 17 years now. I can hardly believe it! Time really does fly 🙂 Have a lovely week!
Congrats April – it’s been a joy watching your blog evolve and following your adventures all of these years!
Hope you continue to blog and host for many years to come! 🙂
Thank you so much, Ramona! It’s hard to believe it was 17 years ago I started my blog The 21st Century Housewife 🙂 It has been lovely watching your blog evolve as well!
Thank you also for featuring my review of Restoration House as well – it’s such a lovely book! This was such a wonderful surprise and it’s especially meaningful to be featured on this VERY special occasion! 🙂
It’s my pleasure, Ramona! Thank you so much for all your wonderful support 🙂
Happy blogaversery! laurensparks.net
Thank you, Lauren! Actually it’s just Hearth and Soul’s birthday. My blogoversary is in October – and it will be 17 years this year! I really don’t know where the time went!
April, thank you for hosting. I had no idea Hearth and Soul has been going for NINE years! You are amazing, my friend! Congratulations!
Thank you so much, Jean! I’m so grateful the ladies who started Hearth and Soul invited me to join them about six months after the ‘hop’ as it was then called began. It’s hard to believe it was nine years ago!
Congratulations on 9 years April! The Hearth and Soul is my favorite linkup party ♥
Thank you, Leslie, and thank you for your kind compliment as well!
Congratulations on 9 years! Thank you so much for hosting every week!
Thank you, Katy!
This week is Graduation Party Ideas. I am sharing a Patriotic Trifle from Weight Watchers, a Coconut Cheesecake with Mango Sauce, and my Beef Brisket Hungarian Goulash. Thanks for hosting. Have a lovely evening!
All your recipes sound perfect for entertaining, Marilyn! Thank you for sharing them!
April, that view of Singapore is amazing! Happy 9th anniversary and many more! I know i speak for many when I say thank you for all you do to support other bloggers!
Thank you so much, Helen! I really appreciate your compliment 🙂 i am so grateful for the community we’ve all created at Hearth and Soul.
Yes, Happy birthday to Hearth and Soul! And thanks for your faithfulness here, April! It’s always new every week!
Thank you, Michele. That is such a lovely compliment!
Congrats, April, this is a wonderful milestone and I hope you’re really proud!
Funnily enough, it’s almost as hot in northern California today as I remember Singapore. Although fortunately less humid! Without a/c, we’re relying on some old fashioned cooling methods. Chances are I’ll be making iced tea later, which is a rarity for this hot-cuppa lover!
Thank you for the lovely giveaway, too. Take care & safe travels.
Thank you, Pauline! Hope you manage to keep cool, and I wish you safe travels too!
That is so cool. Congrats on nine. Very nice. Thanks for all the hard work you do for bloggers. I hope that you have a wonderful week.
Thank you so much, Patrick! I hope your week is wonderful too!
Many congrats! And thanks for continuing to host this lovely party!
Thank you, Michelle, and thank you for the compliment as well!
Congratulations on your 9th year, that is awesome April and I have only known you for about a year!! I started in April 2009. Its definitely a journey. I love all your traveling photos and enjoy your recipes.
Thank you for hosting, have a great week!
Thank you so much for the compliment, Karren! I’m so glad we came across each other’s blogs! I’ve actually been blogging for 17 years, believe it or not 🙂 It’s just Hearth and Soul that is celebrating its ninth birthday 🙂 I hope you have a great week too!
Happy Birthday! It is so fun to reach milestones. I hope you enjoy my story of how I lost (and found) my engagement ring last week.
Thank you, Liberty! I’m so glad you found your ring! I’m just off to read your story now. I hope you are having a lovely week.