Bits and Pieces From My Life

When In Doubt...

2012-01-26T07:24:00.000-05:00

The picture below illustrates my two favorite easy steps to getting dressed. Can you guess what they are?

When in doubt, wear layers and accessorize!

I love layers. Layering is a great way to add interest and dimension to an outfit. It also allows for many looks out of just a few clothing items. Say I wore a green long-sleeve shirt yesterday. Adding a black cardigan over the shirt I wore yesterday makes a whole new look for today. Or maybe I could try my green shirt under a patterned T-shirt. I try to mix colors and see what catches my eye.

Sometimes an outfit can seem dull. Even when I wear a copy-cat look, I'm missing a bit of pizazz that makes the look complete. That's where accessories come in! Scarves are easy (and warm) for going out, but they tend to get in the way when I'm at home. (Leaning over the toilet to lift my three-year-old onto the seat is dangerous for my scarf...and leaning over to slide dinner into the hot oven is dangerous for my scarf and for me.) My go-to accessory when I'm at home is earrings. I try to wear earrings every day, even if I plan to stay home. In fact, I wore earrings the day after my wisdom tooth surgery when I was stuck on the couch! I have a collection of hoops (maybe ten pairs) in multiple sizes and multiple colors. I also a pair of pearl studs, a pair of (fake) diamond studs, and one or two pairs of dressy earrings.

When I do need to go out, if I'm not wearing a scarf, I usually add a necklace. Again, I keep it basic. I love beads. I have one black bead necklace, a long string of multi-colored beads, and a wooden bead necklace (that I made myself for about $4).

What about you? Do you wear layers? Do you have a favorite accessory?

Here are a few more fun posts on layering and accessorizing:

Happy dressing can be easy!

Shopping My Closet... For Free

2012-01-25T07:18:00.000-05:00

I had already determined that a physical lack of clothing was not my problem. I had clothes. I just didn't have the inspiration to confidently put together an outfit that was comfortable and stylish. After weeding out the duds from my closet, I began to look around and take note of outfits that I liked and that fit my lifestyle. Though I wanted to look more pulled together, I still live a busy, messy life with five children under the age of ten! When I was in the grocery store, I would people watch and try to see if I had items in my closet that could mimic the looks I saw.

The internet was another inspiration. Though I don't have my own Pinterest account, other bloggers would often link to their style or clothing pins and I would browse their links. For fun I decided to see if I could choose a look I liked and find items in my closet to make a similar look. (Similar is the keyword here. The goal was not to be identical!)

I started with this picture for inspiration. It looked basic enough.

I had received a similar blouse for Christmas, though it was a solid, not a pattern. I also got a scarf of the same length for Christmas, though not the same color, and there was a jeans in my closet that I had owned for about three years but never known what to wear with them. (And remember, I don't wear heels.)

I loved how I created a similar look (without spending any extra money) by simply using the items that were already hanging in my closet.

As I continued to look for inspiration, I would sometimes come across an idea I liked, but lacked the pieces in my closet. Since those items were wants, not "needs," I wanted to spend as little as possible if I purchased them.

This outfit caught my eye. This particular outfit looked warm and wintery and easy to put together, but since I've been nursing a baby or toddler for over nine years, I didn't have any dresses in my closet!

source

I went to the Goodwill during naptime one afternoon while Brian stayed home with a few of the kids. I browsed through racks and racks before discovering a short striped cotton dress all the way in the back of the store. It was much too short for me to wear alone, but paired with jeans like I planned, I thought it would work fine. Plus, I only paid $4.75.

I ended up liking it better without the scarf and with a belt instead.

Inspiration was the next step to my happy dressing. How about you? Can you find a new look, simply by finding inspiration and then shopping your own closet?

{tomorrow: when in doubt...}

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Gently Weeding Your Wardrobe

2012-01-24T07:04:00.000-05:00

Once I determined that my dressing habits needed an overhaul, I needed a plan. I knew that I didn't want to spend a lot of money since I had plenty of clothes hanging in my closet. Still I realized that there were items taking up room that I would never wear again and distracting me from finding the things I could wear. Whether they didn't fit my post-pregnancy shape or they were hand-me-downs that didn't fit my style, those items needed to go. I decided that I'd rather have only a handful of items I loved than a closet full of items just taking up space.

It seems ironic that by removing items from my closet I suddenly felt like I had more to wear, but it is the truth. Removing the closet clutter helped the closet treasures shine.

After the ruthless weeding, I took it a step further. I turned all of my hangers backwards in the closet.

After wearing an item, I hang it back in the closet the right way. Visually, it helps me realize what I've worn... and what is being neglected.

At the beginning of the summer season, I can determine what items were not worn at all during the cold weather months, and I can confidently weed them out of closet, knowing I didn't need them or like them enough to choose them.

Maybe it is too overwhelming for you to go viciously pulling items out of your closet. Maybe you are afraid that the moment you get rid of your pink striped T-shirt, you'll want to wear it again. This hanger method takes the brainwork and the sentimentality out of weeding your closet and lets the closet speak for itself.

{tomorrow: going shopping in my closet}

Easy Steps To Happy Dressing

2012-01-23T07:03:00.000-05:00

After having kids, I sort of fell into a style rut. Between the spit up in my hair (true story) and the hectic craziness of an average day, my main criteria for getting dressed in the morning was, "Is it comfortable?" When I needed to go out, I would scrounge together something that looked a little more put together, but it seemed that when I went to my closet, I was never happy with my choices. When a special event came up-- a wedding or a birthday party or whatever-- I really panicked because my arsenal of jeans and comfy sweaters didn't fit the bill.

The problem with wearing my grungy clothes most of the time was that:

If someone came to the door or we had unexpected visitors, I was embarrassed at how unkempt I appeared.
When I needed to look more put together, I was out of practice and couldn't find anything to wear.

I decided that there must be a solution that didn't involve spending a lot of money.

I knew that a lack of clothes in my closet was not the problem. My hangers were not hanging empty. I simply didn't know how to pull from my closet to create a look that was both comfortable and cute at the same time. I'm not big on the whole idea of self-esteem, but when I look good, I feel good...and when I feel good, I get more accomplished. That means that even when I'm at home, it helps to wear clothes that I like and wouldn't be ashamed to be seen in.

I also knew that I felt most confident in my own style which did not necessarily include the latest styles or accessories. For example, I've only owned one pair of heels in my life and I only wore them once. Heels are not my thing, no matter how trendy they become. My sister, on the other hand, doesn't like short-sleeved sweaters so it makes no sense for her to wear one simply because they are in style. The same goes for you. If scarves are confining or you think black shirts are boring, don't wear them! If striped shirts make you feel fat or the thought of skinny jeans makes you ill, don't wear them ! If you feel awkward in something-- even if it is trendy-- chances are you will look awkward, too.

Confidence in your own style is your first step to happy dressing!

{tomorrow: a gentle weeding of the closet}

Bible Winner...and a special giveaway announcement!

2012-01-22T21:03:00.000-05:00

The winner of My Mommy and Me Story Bible is ryanac32 !

Disappointed you didn't win?
Join me (and Allyson & Christy) in February for Tri-Moms Giveaway Week!

Photo Friday

2012-01-20T10:00:00.000-05:00

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Linking to...

Those Pesky Wisdom Teeth

2012-01-19T07:10:00.000-05:00

{A Mom's Practical Guide For Before and After Oral Surgery}

When I was preparing to have my wisdom teeth removed two weeks ago, I searched for practical advice, and while I found plenty of medical information, the practical information was bare bones. I know this could be because everyone and every situation varies, but I wanted to hear real stories and glean ideas for how I could make this process easier for me and for my family.

I did an informal poll on Facebook, asking my friends what it was like during recovery since that was what I was most concerned about. I heard everything from, "I was out cutting working in the yard later that same day," to, "I was in agony for a week." Then my sister-in-law had two of her wisdom teeth pulled a few weeks before my surgery. The same day, her husband (my brother) left on business, while she cared for their three kids, and that weekend, she felt well enough to take a family trip. I prayed that I would be one of the good cases, but I decided my best strategy was to hope for the best and prepare for the worst.

Tip #1: Do your own research.

I had been having tooth pain on one side of my mouth since July. (Actually, I had been having intermittent pain for probably two years, but July was when it came on strong and I knew something needed to be done.) By the time I was referred to several different dentists, wrangled with the insurance company about coverage, and eventually set up a surgery date, I had many months to research the surgery process and read up on the effects of dental surgery on a nursing baby (or toddler). Even though I liked and trusted my surgeon, having my own knowledge gave me confidence.

Tip #2: Work ahead.

My surgery was on a Thursday so I spent Monday and Tuesday getting the house ready for me to be off-duty. I grocery shopped, cleaned the bathrooms, and vacuumed. On Wednesday, I made a big pot of chicken and brown rice soup, 2 pans of soft rolls, and a batch of applesauce. These were all foods that would feed my family and be easy enough for me to eat after surgery. It was reassuring to have work done ahead so that I didn't put any extra burden on my caretakers.

Tip #3: Arrange for adequate help with the children.

Brian needed to accompany me to the surgery since I was not able to drive after being sedated. I was awake and remember much of the surgery (though not all of it), and much to my relief, I was not groggy afterwards...but there was still medication in my system, making me unfit to drive. My sister came over to stay with my kids. She fed them lunch and kept them happy while we were away. When we got home, she hung out most of the afternoon, playing games and reading to them. I felt fine that first day, but my mouth was numb until about six hours post-op so it was a life-saver to have her there to keep the kids content and happy.

If I had it to do over again, I would have lined up childcare for the day after, too. The day following my surgery, I was sore, swollen, and run-down. Brian was trying to wait on me and run the house. The kids (especially the littlest ones) were bothered by me sitting on the couch, unable to be and do my norm, and I felt bad that I couldn't get up and help! I think if the kids could have spent some time away from home, even for a few hours, there would have been less stress on us all.

My recovery was in stages.

On Day 1, I was numb for hours. The biggest issue was the bleeding. Since the gauze in my mouth tasted funny, I bit down on a tea bag instead. The tannin in tea is said to reduce bleeding naturally, too.

I did not like the idea of taking the prescription narcotic for pain so, even though I filled the prescription "just in case," I decided to treat the soreness with ibuprofen and ice. In the middle of the night, when I needed ice (but didn't want to wake the house with the clattering of ice cube trays), I used a bag of frozen lima beans instead. I also took a middle-of-the-night dose of ibuprofen, too, on that first night, to stave off the soreness.

By Day 2, the swelling was noticeable, but the lack of pain was a surprise. While I was very sore and my jaw was stiff, I would not describe it as pain, more of a discomfort. Ibuprofen and ice were my friends round the clock. I was able to eat soup, Jello, mashed potatoes, and bread, but when I tried to eat a helping of peas, chewing was too uncomfortable.

Day 3 was more of the same.

By Day 4, I had nasty bruises on the underside of my jaw, but the swelling had gone down enough that I went to my parents' house for the afternoon for lunch and visiting. I still wasn't ready to be seen by the general public, but family was okay.

On Day 5, the soreness was noticeably better, the stiffness had mostly disappeared, and I jumped back into my household duties with gusto! I was able to begin adding "chewy" foods back into my diet.

On Day 6, I started getting a nagging pain that radiated into my ear, and on Day 7, I was diagnosed with a dry socket, a common condition, where the blood clot that was protecting the socket, dissolves or comes loose, causing pain. The pain from this was worse than the initial surgery recovery pain-- far worse! Ibuprofen managed to dull the pain but not alleviate it. The surgeon was able to pack the site bringing quick relief, but after he removed the pack (on Day 8), I had tear-inducing pain again. Clove oil to the rescue! A few drops of this essential oil applied to the socket with a Q-tip did wonders for my pain. (Clove oil can be found at most drug stores, behind the pharmacy counter.) Initially, I still needed ibuprofen for break-through pain, but by Day 11, I was using only clove oil and on Day 12, the pain disappeared.

On Day 14 (yesterday), I visited oral surgeon for my follow-up appointment and was released from his care!

Tri Moms: The Winter Blahs

2012-01-17T09:50:00.000-05:00

Do you get the winter stuck-in-the-house blues? I'm a homebody and love to be at home...except when I have to be at home. When we are snowed in or the kids are sick or the car is in the shop, those are the days when I long to be able to go somewhere. Sometimes I need a burst of inspiration to make staying home an adventure. Here is a collection of ideas from around the web to turn your blahs into smiles:

Make a batch of Marathon Mom's Sparkly Snow Playdough. It's my month to host our Charlotte Mason-style co-op so I made a batch for today's craft time.
- Kathi suggests having the kids play outside an hour a day, no matter the weather (within reason, of course).
  - Why not try a new recipe like Hyperactive Lu's Middle Class Rice and Beans or Tammy's Farmhouse Chicken or my Taco Soup?
- You could make a leaf wreath with Jenna or a song-sheet candle with Amy. I want to make both of these for my bookshelf area once we get our built-ins installed.
  - You could read a new book or e-book written by a blogger like The Money Saving Mom's Budget or The No-Brainer Wardrobe, or read this neat snippet which shares what Robert Frost (the poet) thought about home education.

Think ahead to next month and make these SUPER easy Valentine's with your kids or make Valentine heart barrettes by yourself during naptime.

Be inspired!

As always...take a moment to visit my fellow Tri-Moms,
Allyson @ A Heart For Home and Christy @ A Living Homeschool.

Upcoming February Topics:

February 7: Frugal Date Ideas

February 21: Romancing Your Husband

Toddler Bible...and a Giveaway!

2012-01-16T06:00:00.000-05:00

My Mommy and Me Story Bible
by Tracy L. Harrast
illustrated by Gloria Oostema

The cover was so inviting that I wrapped it up for Alaine (16 months) for Christmas even though the book was thick and had far more words on a page than I knew she would allow me to read. Like my other children, Alaine loves to be read to, but five or ten words is her limit before she turns the page, ready to move on. Still, I reasoned that she would grow with this book, maybe look at the animals and the pictures of people, and gradually grow to love the stories.

I remember reading this book to my littlest sister a time or two when she was younger (she's almost 11 now), and I think I even borrowed it once or twice when Gavin was a toddler, yet somehow I had forgotten how engaging it is to even the smallest listeners.

While we were still gathered around the tree on Christmas morning, Alaine brought the book to me and I casually flipped open the pages. Each double-page spread is an independent story so reading in order is not necessary. We first turned to the story of Daniel in the lion's den. I read a few words and she didn't turn or budge. Then we got to the part where we had to growl like lions and she smiled wide and growled with great toddler gusto!

You see, the key to this book for toddlers is that it doesn't simply feed them words and expect them to engage and remember. Instead, it involves them in the story! Once Benjamin (3) realized how fun this book was, he joined us over the next few days and weeks as we read a page or two at a time. We told Adam and Eve, "No, no," when they wanted to eat the fruit from the tree. Then we waved "bye-bye" when they were forced to leave the garden. We imitated Noah's rain, picked wheat with Ruth, counted the loaves and fish, and stirred dinner with Martha.

Picking and eating the grapes from the Promised Land

Maddie told me that one morning Alaine brought the book to her while she was still in bed. "Mama, she wanted me to read it to her, but it was too hard." We talked about how all Bible stories are new to Alaine and that no matter whether we get all the words right or not, we have the privilege of sharing these things with her for the first time. We are helping Alaine to hide these things in her heart.

*****

On a trip to the Goodwill last week, I spotted another copy of My Mommy and Me Story Bible and I couldn't let this gem sit on the shelf so I brought it home to offer to one of you!

There are 3 ways to enter to win:

1) Leave a comment, telling me why you'd like to win this book or who you want to read it to.

2) Blog this giveaway (and leave me a separate comment telling me you did).

3) Tweet this giveaway or share with your friends on Facebook (and don't forget to let me know!).

Giveaway runs now through Sunday, January 22 at 9 pm ET.

{Why not take a minute, too, to visit Elise, originator of Children's Book Monday?}

What Are You Reading? Winter Edition

2012-01-13T06:00:00.000-05:00

{The post in which I bog you down with too many titles.}

With Brian's seasonal work schedule-- ten months on, two months off-- we get a bit of a vacation in the months after Christmas. While there are those who refer to the lazy days of summer, we have our own lazy days of January. I guess they are not lazy days really, but the schedule is certainly more open and more relaxed. One constant in our days is reading time.

Let me take you back to my summer reading list. At the time, I was reading voraciously to the kids, but having a harder time motivating myself to read anything more than the occasional magazine. We had just moved to our new town (with a new-to-us library) and I had plans to jump back into reading with an eclectic list of options. As it turned out, that was what I needed to get back into the habit again, and once I started, I haven't been without a book or two or three. One of the best books I read during the summer was surprisingly Me, Myself, and Bob: A True Story About God, Dreams, and Talking Vegetables by Phil Vischer-- surprising because of how well-articulated it was and how moving the message.

During the summer, we read aloud the entire 8-book Ramona series by Beverly Cleary. Owen was reluctant to join us for a long chapter book, but he was hooked by the first chapter! He and Maddie still play Ramona and Beezus or Ramona and Daisy or Ramona and Howie. Sometimes they rope Alaine into playing Baby Roberta, too. (Since we enjoyed the Ramona series so incredibly much, we plan to work our way through the 6-book Henry and Ribsy series in the spring)

Once we began our fall term of school, I expected my reading to slack off again, but I'm not sure it did. On a recent Sunday afternoon dinner at my parents' house, we all discussed the best books we had read during 2011. Among others, I mentioned Lynn Austin's latest Wonderland Creek, but hands-down the best book I read all year was The Help by Kathryn Stockett. I was a little daunted when I saw its thickness, but I read it cover to cover in four days.

Anyway, so back to the present. Reading time is part of every winter day. I am currently reading the Samantha (American Girl) series to Maddie, but I have several little boys that seem to always be listening, too. At the end of December, we started a short, but very detailed, book about Thomas Edison that Gavin received for Christmas. When I realized that both fictional Samantha and real-life Edison lived in the early 1900s and that we were planning to begin the 1900s when we started back to school in February, I decided to get a head start and sneak a few books into our for-fun stack that double up as school books, too. Over the next few weeks, we will read biographies of Alexander Graham Bell, Henry Ford, and George Washington Carver.

While Brian is home this winter, he is back to reading aloud to the family. Currently, we are enjoying The Adventures of Prickly Porky by Thornton Burgess. (He did decided to wait a little while before beginning The Chronicle of Narnia series since we have a child who scares easily.)

I find that if I wait until the kids are in bed to do any of my own heavy reading, I am having to prop my eyelids open, so I try to read in snatches throughout the day-- a little in the morning, a little at naptime, a little while I'm nursing Alaine before bed. I'm always intimidated to join any of the online book clubs I see popping up, but without pressure, I do average about four books a month. I just finished an excellent book by Christa Parrish (a new-to-me author) called Watch Over Me. I'm excited to see she has another older book and a new book coming out in April. Currently resting on my nightstand is Growing Up Amish by Ira Wagler, but I have plans to read everything from Death Comes to Pemberley by P. D. James to Onstage, Offstage by Michael Buble to the final two books of the Shopaholic series.

I want to slip in a little Sherlock Holmes somewhere, too. After watching Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows in the theatre on a date-day right before Christmas, re-watching Sherlock Holmes (the 2009 movie) on Christmas Eve, and planning to watch Sherlock, Season 1 (the BBC series) which we are picking up from the library today, I want to read the original which I haven't touched since middle or high school.

So, if made it this far...what are you reading?

The Winter Dress

2012-01-11T22:29:00.000-05:00

Okay. So after my informal poll, I decided to continue re-creating Alaine's All-Purpose Dress. Afterall, if you can make one simple, cotton Target dress last from June to who-knows-when, why not do it, right?! The main issue was how to embellish the dress after I removed the red felt Christmas-y flower. Babychaser suggested something in a winter white...Kathi mentioned a snowflake...but I liked Allyson's idea best of all. She said to use an aqua-blue yarn pom-pom so I grabbed the closest color I could find in my yarn bag which was an icy blue. I stayed up until 1 am learning to make a yarn pom-pom. First it was too big, then it was too sparse...then it was just right.

I love the new look! Definitely wintery and cozy. Of course, I mentioned that a girl must change up her look somehow if she is going to wear the same shirt over and over again. Since Alaine has gone through a bit of a growth spurt and the ruffly feminine jeans that she wore when this was a Christmas shirt now rest above her ankle and are therefore being retired, we are pairing the winter version of this shirt with a pair of soft tan corduroys.

Now the new question is, can she wear this in February, too? I'm thinking yes. And what should be the next embellishment ?

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Linking to...

Creature People

2012-01-10T07:05:00.000-05:00

Sick-Day Books

2012-01-09T07:02:00.000-05:00

I mentioned that we have a small collection of sick-day books. Sounds depressing, doesn't it? Oh, but let me assure you it is anything but! These stories are cheery and comforting to little ones who are a bit under the weather, and they are fun to read even if everyone is well.

Henry and Mudge Get the Cold Shivers

by Cynthia Rylant

Mr. Putter and Tabby Catch the Cold

by Cynthia Rylant

Bear Feels Sick by Karma Wilson

Don't You Feel Well, Sam? by Amy Hest

(reviewed here)

Do you have a favorite cozy, sick-day book?

{Why not take a minute to visit Elise, originator of Children's Book Monday?}

Losing My Wisdom

2012-01-06T16:07:00.000-05:00

Yesterday was the day I had been anticipating (not necessarily in a good way) since November, well actually since I began having tooth pain in July. It was the day I had all four of my wisdom teeth removed. My friend, Joanie, asked how this was going to affect my wisdom. She asked if perhaps I would find a way to funnel it here to my blog!

I had no idea what to expect, and since I'm a planner to the core, it was hard for me to go into surgery not knowing how I would feel when it was over. As it turns out, I don't feel too bad. I'm sore, swollen, and my mouth is extremely stiff, but the pain is minimal. I am tired, and have been instructed not do anything strenuous for several days. Since I'm used to managing a household of seven, doing nothing feels odd. Brian has been the ultimate Mr. Mom, though, tackling everything from laundry to meal prep to diaper changes.

This is also the first time I've been the patient with older children in the house. While I still have a couple of needy ones who don't understand why they can't jump into Mommy's lap, the older kids have gone out of their way to make this time pleasant and smooth for everyone.


fancy glass of water from Maddie and Owen

Heart garland, colored and hung on the closet with love

Table decoration, designed by our resident Lego fanatic, Gavin

When I'm feeling a little more chipper, I plan to share a few tips for other moms that might be contemplating dental surgery. When I was doing research in the days leading up to it, I found virtually no practical advice on how to prepare. Until then...happy weekend to all!

Sick Day Necessaries

2012-01-05T06:34:00.000-05:00

This time of year lends itself to sickness. Though I'd say we are a healthy, hearty family, it seems in the fall and winter, a cold is always around the corner for someone. And with a family of seven, if one person gets sick, it makes its rounds through the household.

We escaped the dreaded stomach bug last year, but the year before I was in the throws of morning sickness when four of us (myself included) caught a nasty stomach virus. (Owen and Benjamin, ages 3 and 1 at the time, never came down with it.) Tell me I'm not alone in thinking that a stomach virus is the worst (non-serious) illness to come through a family. I'm not squeamish at all, but the thought of that wretched stuff going through our family members one. by one. by one. is just too much.

Anna inspired me to think about stocking my house for the inevitable sick days. I took inventory of my medicine cabinet and pantry and gathered those necessaries (and a few just-because comfort items).

cough drops
adult ibuprofen
children's pain reliever
tissues and hankies
Jello: a few 4-serving boxes, plus a few ready-made containers for when I forget to make it ahead of time
applesauce: for weak tummies
light-colored 100% juice: apple and white-grape-peach
hot tea
canned soup and the ingredients to make homemade soup
a big stack of extra blankets: a couple of fleecy ones, a down comforter, a over-sized cotton comforter-- anything to warm a chill
small heating pads: we made ours from old, clean socks filled with rice-- warm in the microwave for 20-30 seconds and we're good to go
a selection of sick-themed books

What would you include in your sick day pantry?

Tri-Moms: Time Management For Busy Moms

2012-01-03T07:30:00.000-05:00

The new year is the time when everyone seems to make resolutions-- resolutions to eat less or read more or start exercising or learn a new skill. Three years ago, I decided to read a chapter of the New Testament every day, starting with Matthew and ending with Revelations. Brian joined me and we kept each other accountable so that it was the easiest resolution I've ever made. When we finished Revelations, we flipped back to the beginning of the Bible and started on the Old Testament one chapter at a time. It has been slow-going, but we are set to finish the last chapter of the Bible in a few months.

This year I've set a few small goals-- resolutions of sorts-- that are more secular in nature.

Make a pastry pie crust from scratch
Make a graham cracker pie crust from scratch
Read the Samantha (American Girl) series aloud with Maddie
Read the Henry and Ribsy series aloud with all the kids
Write monthly letters to our Compassion child
Learn to make a yarn pom-pom
Work with the kids on better stewardship with their money
Move our books from boxes to shelves

Goals and projects can be overwhelming, though, if they are not kept in perspective. At this season of life with five young children, I've chosen to limit outside activities. Simply put, we stay home a lot. That doesn't mean we are social misfits. We still invite people into our home for dinner. The kids go to Homeschool Field Day and the occasional field trip or performance. We love our small Charlotte Mason-style co-op that meets once a month in rotating homes. Yet, more often than not, you can find us at home.

I've been asked before how I do it all or if I ever stop. The answer is, I don't do it all. The only way I can keep up with the laundry (we average 2 loads a day, every day), cook (mostly) from scratch, keep the house relatively clean and picked up, and teach school to three little people is that I do little else. We don't play team sports and I'm not on any committees. It's just the way it is right now. (We are thinking about getting a dog, though. Are we crazy?!)

"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens." I've accepted that, for now, home is my ministry and my time is best used right here.

As always...take a moment to visit my fellow Tri-Moms,
Allyson @ A Heart For Home and Christy @ A Living Homeschool.

Upcoming Topics:

January 17: The Winter Blahs

February 7: Frugal Date Ideas

February 21: Romancing Your Husband

Month Books {A Learning Idea}

2012-01-01T23:36:00.000-05:00

I have a homeschool mom confession. In my excitement for my kids to learn all the pleasantries of fine art and beautiful music and to hear literature read aloud... sometimes I forget to teach the basics. Gavin was five years old when he wowed a lady in a department store as he shouted out, "That painting looks like a Monet!" but yet, when he was eight, I discovered he barely knew the twelve months of the year!

We began a fun no-stress project last January in an effort to correct this information deficit. While it would have been easy enough for Benjamin (who was 2), he had no interest, so only the three older kids (ages 8, 6, and 4 at the time) participated in creating their own personal Month Books.

First, I stapled twelve sheets of plain white paper inside a manilla folder. I did this three times, once for each book.

Next I printed out the names of the months. Each child cut out the month papers and glued one to the middle of each page. We could have also written the month names on the pages, but I liked how the typed font stood out on the white paper.

Near the beginning of each month (or whenever we thought of it), the kids scoured magazines and newspaper ads for pictures that represented the month to them. They were free to glue these pictures all over the page in any design they wanted.

We could have ended the project there, but I decided to add a little season talk into the learning. On the blank page to the left of March, June, September, and December, I asked the kids to glue the name of the season that began during that month and draw a picture of the thing they like to do the most during that time.

Social studies? Check!

The Year According to Blogging

2011-12-30T08:00:00.000-05:00

January
The funny and not-so-funny kick-off to 2011:
"The Sop" and "Owen's Arm"

February
We celebrated 10 years of marriage in August, but I shared our story six months early:
"Our Love Story"

March
I talked about real life in a big(ger) family in:"In Reality" and "To the Stuggling Mama"
plus answered a bunch of reader questions:
"Three on Thursday"

April
I talked about getting ready to move here:
"Slow and Steady"

May
I had to adjust to a new routine in a new place:
"In the Interest of Full Disclosure"
and
we made a few adjustments:
"Change"

June
I discussed taking five kids to the grocery store:
"Surviving the Grocery Ai sles"

July
I hit a chord, confessing the difficulties of homeschooling with little ones:
"Are You Homeschooling With a Baby...and Maybe a Toddler, Too?"

August
I shared how we clothe five children:
"Clothing a Bunch"

September
Alaine celebrated her first birthday!
"1"

October
I devoted 31 Days to speak to the struggling mother. This most popular post was:
"It's Okay"

November
I shared a little of my background, starting with my childhood:
"My Story"

December
I got into the holiday spirit, sharing our favorite Christmas reads:
"Christmas Books"
and favorite Christmas cookie:
"Quest For the Best"

Do you have a favorite blog post that you wrote in 2011? Leave the link in the comments. I'll be recovering from dental surgery the first week of January and I'd love to have a little stockpile of reading.

"Beware, You Baby Trainers" (a tongue in cheek take on sleeping through the night)

2011-12-29T21:50:00.002-05:00

If you are mom, you know the infamous question: is your baby sleeping through the night yet? It is like a rite of passage. Your baby does not achieve "good baby" status until he sleeps from evening until morning without waking. My first four babies slept in my bed and didn't begin to sleep through until around eighteen months old. Alaine was our first baby who preferred her own bed and began sleeping all night well before she turned a year old. Having the baby sleep for eleven straight hours equals a full night of rest for Dad and Mom, right?!

It's a myth, I tell ya!

Last night I put Alaine to bed at 7:30. Benjamin and Owen followed a little after 8. At 8:45, a large boy-shaped shadow appears on the wall, but when I call out a name, the shadow disappears and a bed spring creaks. At 9:15, a voice whispers my name and I go into the boys' bedroom to lay down the law. Brian and I go to bed several hours later (we are night owls!), but sometime in the night, Owen arrives at my bedside and crawls in beside me. He's cold so I bundle the covers around him. After having him toss and turn for too long beside me, he kicks up his legs and says, "I'm hot with all these blankets!" I whisper to him that it is time to go back to his own bed. "Okay," he says, "but I need a drink and some music first." I peek at the clock and, though it is still dark, realize that it is close to morning and too much commotion will wake Alaine so I send him back to bed without his requests.

As I drift off to sleep, Owen returns and says, "I just have one question." I ignore him, hoping he'll go away. He repeats, "I just have one question...where is Ben?"

"Is he not in your bed?" I ask. When he answers no, I stumble out of my bed and walk across the house to the boys' bedroom when I discover that not only is Ben not in bed, he is not in the room! I'm slightly startled by this discovery, but having forgotten to grab my glasses from the bedside table, I'm feeling a considerable handicap. (Without my glasses, my vision is 20/400.) By this time, Gavin is whispering from his top bunk, wondering why we are up. I ask one of the boys to find me a flashlight so I have light to aid my blindness. Owen finds one under the Christmas tree and I begin my search. I look in the closet and under the bed. I look in Maddie's room. I look in the living room and on the sofa. I look in the dining room, growing more frantic all the time.

Finally, I shine the light into my bedroom and walk around the bed to Brian's side. There lies Ben asleep on the floor. I turn off the flashlight, tell the older boys that their little brother is safe and well, then I flop back in bed for an hour...before Alaine wakes for the day.

Sleep through the night?! It's a myth, I tell ya!

A Tuesday

2011-12-28T00:12:00.000-05:00

We ushered in Christmas week with a flurry of excitement. We finished up school work and put the (school) books away until February. Brian worked his last day of work for the season and put his work boots and lunch box away until February. We visited the Christmas lights display at the beach, had our just-the-seven-of-us Christmas dinner, cleaned the house from one side to the other, and had our Christmas Eve game-playing marathon. Then we had a whirlwind Christmas Day of visiting with my family and Brian's.

This week, we are welcoming a slower pace, though it is hard to develop a new normal after all the excitement of the holiday. Today the kids begged Brian and me to play each other in The Game of Life on Wii. I zoomed around in my cartoon car, with a doctor's salary and no children. Brian worked at a much lower salary and had four kids. When it was clear I was going to win, I said, "Well, you're broke as a joke with a car full of kids.

"Yep," he laughed. "That's the story of my life."

{A Tuesday afternoon}

2011-12-24T07:00:00.000-05:00

Tri-Moms: Focusing Our Heart For Christmas

2011-12-20T11:00:00.000-05:00

No words that I could weave this week would come close to expressing what I wish to say about preparing my heart for Christmas so my favorite contemporary Christmas song is standing in for me.

What powerful lyrics!

"While You Were Sleeping"
by Mark Hall and performed by Casting Crowns

: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :

(audio-only version of "While You Were Sleeping")

Oh little town of Bethlehem

Looks like another silent night
Above your deep and dreamless sleep
A giant star lights up the sky
And while you're lying in the dark
There shines an everlasting light
For the King has left His throne
And is sleeping in a manger tonight, tonight

Oh Bethlehem, what you have missed while you were sleeping
For God became a man
And stepped into your world today
Oh Bethlehem, you will go down in history
As a city with no room for its King
While you were sleeping
While you were sleeping

Mary shivers in the cold
Trying to keep the Savior warm
Born among the animals wrapped in dirty rags
Because there was no room for Him in the world He came to save

United States of America
Looks like another silent night
As we're sung to sleep by philosophies
That save the trees and kill the children
And while we're lying in the dark
There's a shout heard 'cross the eastern sky
For the Bridegroom has returned
And has carried His bride away in the night

America, what will we miss while we are sleeping
Will Jesus come again
And leave us slumbering where we lay
America, will we go down in history
As a nation with no room for its King
Will we be sleeping
Will we be sleeping

United States of America
Looks like another silent night

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As always...take a moment to visit my fellow Tri-Moms,
Allyson @ A Heart For Home and Christy @ A Living Homeschool.

And from all of us,
Have a Wonderful Merry Christmas.
The Tri-Moms will be back in the new year with the following topics:

January 3: Time Management For Busy Moms

January 17: The Winter Blahs

February 7: Frugal Date Ideas

February 21: Romancing Your Husband

Gather Round Your Tree Linky Party

2011-12-19T00:00:00.000-05:00

Ahhhh...and so it was...fifteen minutes before we needed to be loaded in the van that I corralled the kids into the living room for a quick photo in front of the tree. Everyone was dressed in their holiday best, all spruced up to attend a Christmas play. No torn jeans or cowlicks this evening, no siree!

The memo didn't reach the toddler's desk, though, and she brought her attitude to our speedy photo shoot. Notice her absence from this first take? And see Owen's hand placed nicely on his brother's shoulder? Well, his brother just about came out of his skin, complaining of how uncomfortable it was!

"Take one of just the two of us," they said, and so I obliged (since the little ones were playing peekaboo with the toddler at this point anyway). I'm still asked by random strangers if these two are twins. They don't seem to mind, but I have a feeling when he's thirteen and she's eleven, it may be a little more bothersome to them.

Since we had lots of time to kill-- you know, since it is such a breeze to buckle five seat belts in the cold at night-- Brian suggested this fun pose for the boys. It took a few tries before they mastered it without wobbling, but they had a few laughs in the process. (Notice the toddler has yet to make her debut?)

In an effort to speed things along, we decided to rope Brian into the action in front of the camera. Alas, though Alaine at least appears in the photo, she is not happy and no one thought to mention to Gavin that putting bunny ears on his brother was not a good idea.

I took a turn in front of the camera, too. Alaine sat still for a few seconds, but by now, Benjamin was getting restless. In fact, all the smiles appears a little weary.

"Okay, guys. Let's try one more time." ~click~

By some miracle, we still got to the play on time!

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Now it is your turn to share your photos around the tree.

You don't even need a blog to participate.
You can link a Facebook photo, too (as long as it is marked open to the public).

You don't need kids to participate either.

Share a picture of your pet, your friends, yourself, or even an old vintage photo.
As long as it was taken by the Christmas tree, it counts!

The linky will be open through Christmas Eve.

Kid Crafts For Christmas

2011-12-17T08:00:00.000-05:00

Kids crafts for Christmas...say that three times fast!

As much as I love to make things myself, I rarely do crafts with my children. It's not just that it is messy, but I don't have enough hands to help everyone at the same time so sometimes it is more than a little overwhelming! More often than not, though, I simply don't think about crafting with my kids. We do school and read stacks of books and they play outside (Maddie would stay outside all day if she could!), and when they need something else to do, I usually suggest coloring a picture or doing puzzles on the kitchen floor...

...but when Kathi talked about doing Christmas crafts with her (seven) kids, I read with interest. She suggested the simplest of crafts: the candy cane reindeer. I got a little nostalgic thinking of making these when I was in school and realizing that neither of my kids had ever made one. I gathered all the supplies at Walmart and took them to my parents' house on Sunday. After lunch, my three oldest (ages 9, 7, and 5) plus my youngest sister (10) gathered at the table for craft time. I told them, "You just can't get through elementary school without making one of these." My other sister (18) said, "Well, I never made one," so she joined us, too!

I figured the kid crafting was over for the season, but in the back of my mind, I remembered this handprint Christmas tree my sister had showed me on Pinterest. One afternoon while the older four were outside and Alaine had woken from her nap early, I scooped her up and sat with her at the table to make our own simplified version. I used a piece of construction paper, a paintbrush, and finger paint. She was cooperative (and a little intrigued by the squishy paint on her hand) and we finished in ten minutes. Now we have a lovely keepsake to hang on the refrigerator and tuck in away in the Christmas box with our decorations to look at again next Christmas.

3 Accesories For the Busy Mama

2011-12-16T06:30:00.000-05:00

I don't know about you, but when it is time to get dressed in the morning, I gravitate toward my jeans and T-shirts or jeans and sweaters because they are the comfortable, easy to pull on, and easy to clean. All those things are important to me because my bunch of little ones keep me moving, and spills or cooking mishaps are inevitable, plus I'm still nursing a couple of times a day, too. I don't have time for a lot of hassle with clothes. Sometimes, though, I can feel kind of frumpy wearing the same things day after day. You, too?

With holiday events popping up all month long, even the busy-nursing-struggling-tired mom wants to look pulled together. (For that matter, it can be fun to jazz it up even if you are only running out to the grocery store.) Why not try one of these easy accessories to make your outfit *pop*-- even your jeans and T-shirts!

1) A scarf.

They are comfortable, warm, stylish, and they only take a few seconds to pull on. Infinity scarves (the ones that are essentially one big ring of fabric) are certainly the fastest, but even the traditional scarf is easy enough to learn (especially with this fabulously fun video!):

Try contrasting colors (I did pink with orange at a Thanksgiving party), matching colors, or whatever makes you feel good. Wear your scarf alone with a T-shirt or pair it with a sweater.

2) A belt.

Okay. Let's get personal. I've always said I was too busy for belts. When I go the bathroom, I often have a little person or two join me so the extra time it took to buckle and un-buckle a belt was time I didn't want to take. However, wearing a belt on the outside of your clothing is easy-peasy because it can stay buckled all day. (If you are a frequently nursing mama, a belt could still be a little cumbersome.)

I didn't even own a belt until a few months ago. In fact when we were out shopping, I told Maddie I needed to go look in the belt section, and she said, "For what? Are you buying a belt for Daddy?" I ended up finding a belt in the clearance section of Walmart for $3. I bought one in a size larger than I would normally wear so I have the option of wearing it at waist level or lower on my hips. If you don't have a belt and don't have money in the budget for one, try wearing a scarf around your waist instead!

You know what? A belt is great for camouflaging a post-baby tummy, too.

3) A cute pair of shoes.

Shoes can really pull an outfit together. I go barefoot in the house, but that's obviously not an option when I go out. Instead of pulling on a pair of sneakers, why not go for a pair of ballet flats or boots? They can be just as comfortable, yet give you a more put-together appearance. In other words, they can make your jeans and T-shirts feel dressier.

What are you wearing this December?

Quest for the Best {Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe}

2011-12-14T08:30:00.000-05:00

My journey to find the best chocolate chip cookie was a long one, but who ever complains about baking and eating chocolate chip cookies? Not me, that's for sure. I also think it is close to impossible to even have a bad chocolate chip cookie so finding the best recipe was more about finding the #1, not eliminating the others altogether.

I've been baking since I was a little girl. I remember burning my wrist on the edge of the oven as I was sliding a cookie pan into the oven when I was seven! Ever since I was a little girl, cookies have been one of my favorite things to bake, and whenever I got a hankering for a chocolate chip cookie, I always made the Original Nestle Toll House Chocolate Chip Cookie.

Then I got married and made the cookies for my husband. His very, very favorite kind of cookie is a chocolate chip cookie, but he likes them chewy. The Toll House recipe is surely soft, but not chewy.

It took a few years of trying (remember, this is not torturous work), but we eventually found a cookie that was delicious and chewy...and fed a crowd.

Mrs. Fields' Cookies
(which I found in The Mother's Companion Update 2006 all the way at the bottom of the page)

2 cups (4 sticks!) butter

2 cups brown sugar

2 cups sugar

4 eggs

2 tsp. vanilla

4 cups flour

5 cups oatmeal (put small amounts at a time in blender until it turns to a powder)

1 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons baking powder

2 teaspoons baking soda

24 ounces (2 bags!) chocolate chips

Bake on an ungreased cookie sheet. Make golf-ball sized cookies. Place 2 inches apart. Bake at 375 degrees for 6 minutes. Yields over 100 cookies so feel free to half the recipe or squirrel some away in the freezer.

And so I thought the quest for a chocolate chip cookie recipe was done. We were in cookie bliss. Still, last year when I stumbled on another recipe, I gave it a whirl, and from the first bite, we were hooked. Sadly, Kendra (the original source) deleted her blog last February and though she has archived her recipes, this cookie recipe is not among them.

Kendra's Chocolate Chip Cookies

2 sticks room temperature butter

1 cup packed brown sugar

½ cup sugar

1 ½ teaspoons vanilla

2 eggs

1 ½ cups chocolate chips

2 cups plus 6 tablespoons flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

2 teaspoons salt (don't skimp on the salt-- it defines this cookie!)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Combine butter, sugars, and vanilla until creamy. Add eggs and mix until combined. Add flour, soda, and salt and mix until combined. Stir in chocolate chips. Spoon dough onto a cookie sheet leaving room between each cookie. Bake for 9-11 minutes until golden around the edges and just set in the center.

So glad I printed it when I had the chance.

: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :

If you haven't already, take a look at my Christmas Book List. It is still being updated frequently, and there's still time to read a few before Christmas!

And don't forget the Gather Round Your Tree linky party on December 19.

Linking to...

Deck the {New} Halls

2011-12-12T20:55:00.001-05:00

I'm one who enjoys sameness. Sameness is easy. Sameness means nothing has to change. Sometimes, though, change is good and necessary...and so it was with our Christmas decorating this year. Since this is the our first Christmas in our new home, nothing could be decorated the same way that it was last year.

Last year, we had garland around our wrought iron bannister. This year, we don't even have an upstairs. Last year, all of the kids shared a bedroom. This year, there is a boys' room and a girls' room. Last year we hung a illuminated star in a window, and this year our windows are not equipped to hang things from...and so on and so on. It's not that these changes are bad, but it means I have to be more creative and not just slap things in their pre-appointed places.

Last December, we purchased a new wreath for our door and we wondered what to do with our old one. I am not a saver so I was tempted to cart it off to the Goodwill, but before I did, I thought, what if we move before next year and we have two doors instead of one? I'm glad I tucked the wreath back in with our Christmas decorations because we did, in fact, move, and we do, in fact, have two doors.

That part was easy. After hanging our wreaths, the dining room was the next step. The dining room is small so the dining room seemed doable. A few springs of greenery, a few pine cones from the front yard and a bundle of cinnamon sticks completed the very simple display of Christmas in the room where we eat and school.

The living room was much more difficult because the wide open space scared me, but I eventually decided to be content with small touches, rather that go all-out this year. Brian reminded me that we have years to develop our Christmas look. It doesn't have to be perfect this year. When searching for a new place for the old bannister garland, we realized it was the ideal length to hang above our front window and I think it pulled the whole room together.

This is another wall in our living room. The plaque and wreath hang year-round, but the little tree hanging from the center Christmas-ed it up a bit!

On the back wall of the living room, sits our live tree. Its placement was one of the easiest of the whole decorating process. It seems silly, but when we were house hunting, one of the questions we asked ourselves at each place was, "Where would we put up our Christmas tree?" so this tree's spot was chosen many months ago, before we even purchased the house.

At first I was unhappy with how it looked. It wasn't until we brought the tree into the house and tried to adjust it in its stand that we realized the truck was crooked. No matter which way we angled it, it looked like it was leaning. Throughout the lights stringing and ornament hanging, I commented on our misshapen tree, until Maddie said, "Mama, I think it is beautiful," and I decided that indeed, it is beautiful.

In our effort to make this new house a home this year, it was important to me that the kids be allowed to decorate their own rooms for Christmas. Owen is all about planning and calendars, and by mid-November, I was tired of answering the question, "How many days until Christmas?" I employed everyone's help and we constructed an easy paper chain to hang in boys' bedroom window. We dated each link and, at the end of the day, take turns tearing off a link, signalling one step closer to Christmas. Because Gavin's birthday is a another big event of our December, we included a special link marking that, too.

The boys were link happy so they added another just-for-fun chain to their bunkbed.

Their favorite aspect of their room is the Charlie Brown tree that was gifted to them by their Papa. It was Owen's idea to add the blue blanket.

On a fall trip to the Goodwill, Maddie spotted this pink Christmas tree and the rest is history. The girls' walls are pink and their bedding is pink, so why not a pink tree, too? The tree skirt comes courtesy of Alaine's wardrobe.

The girls' bookshelf deviates slightly from the pink theme, but it still shouts Maddie's personality. (Alaine was still too little to have much input.)

I hope that by next Christmas, our master bedroom has been beautified, but this year, it is still home to boxes of unpacked books. That, along with the fact that I have yet to be inspired to hang anything on the walls, means I could not convince myself to decorate it. The master bath, however, has a touch of Christmas cheer. You must be jolly while brushing your teeth, you know.

(And speaking of trees, on December 19, I'll be posting our very jolliest "Gather Round Your Tree" photos. Won't you grab the button and join me?)

Linking to...

Quest For the Best {Shortbread Cookie Recipe}

2011-12-11T06:30:00.000-05:00

Today I'm playing co-host for the Christmas Cookie Countdown at My Reflection of Something.

Each day a new cookie. Each day a new co-host.
Of course, what's the fun if you can't play along, too?

If you have a fabulous cookie recipe, link up at the bottom of this post-- just be sure to follow the guidelines.

: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :

I grew up making shortbread cookies. It was one of my mom's standard Christmas cookie recipes. They only required three ingredients-- ingredients that we always had on hand. Sugar. Butter. Flour. Can't get any easier than that, right? Yet, somehow, when I brought this recipe into my own kitchen after I got married, I could never, ever get it right. The cookies always turned out either too crumbly and dry or too soft and doughy.

But I have kids, and kids love to dip their fingers in sprinkles so every year we'd try again and meet with only moderate success.

Last year, we tentatively tried a new recipe that was attached to a cookie cutter Maddie received as a gift, and what do you know? Success!! These cookies call for a few more ingredients than my mom's cookies so I guess technically they don't qualify for the shortbread category, but they also have no leavening agent so they aren't sugar cookies either. We'll just call them keepers.

Kristin's Keeper Christmas Cookies

1½ cups (3 sticks) butter

1½ cups sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
4 cups flour
½ teaspoon salt

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

Cream butter and sugar with electric mixer on medium speed. Add the eggs and vanilla. Beat until well blended. Add flour and salt. Blend on low speed until just combined. (Do not overmix.) Gather dough into a ball and wrap tightly in plastic wrap. Refrigerate 1 hour until firm.

On floured surface, roll out dough to 1/4 inch thickness. Cut dough with cookie cutters and place on ungreased cookie sheet. Decorate with sprinkles or colored sugar. Bake for 13-15 minutes.

Sharing the love...

also linking up at The Larson Lingo for her Cookie Exchange!)
and,

my sister, Kati, is co-host for the Christmas Cookie Countdown on Thursday

(and she is a fabulous baker) so there's even more incentive to follow along with the countdown!

Gather Round Your Tree

2011-12-10T00:51:00.001-05:00

With all the Christmas linky parties popping up this month, why would you possibly want to join another one? Because everyone likes to take pictures around their Christmas tree...and everyone likes to show off pictures of their kids or pets or beautifully wrapped gifts or handsome date!

So...gather round your tree. Then grab the button from the sidebar, blog your photos, and link back here on December 19.

2011-12-09T07:25:00.000-05:00

...old enough to read jokes aloud to your party guests,
but not too old to wear your birthday party hat.

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Linking to...

Sisters

2011-12-07T08:30:00.000-05:00

Sisters, sisters,
There were never such devoted sisters.
Never had to have a chaperone, no sir.
I'm there to keep my eye on her.
Caring, sharing
Every little thing that we are wearing .

{and may I pause to add that what they are wearing are matching Old Navy dresses I found in their sizes at the Goodwill?! ... $6.75 for both!}

All kinds of weather, we stick together,

The same in the rain and sun.
Two different faces, but in tight places
We think and we act as one.

{and may I pause again to note that this weather allowed both of my girls to be outside barefoot in December...but I won't complain because long sleeves with no coats is my very favorite type of weather.}

Lord help the mister who comes between me and my sister,
And lord help the sister, who comes between me and my man!

{lyrics by Irving Berlin...and made famous in the movie classic, White Christmas}