2012 Reading Goals
21 Jan 2012 3 Comments
in Education Escapades, I'll take Hodge-Podge for 200, Alex
We just recently bought a larger bookcase for our living room, and I have to say that I gain a great deal of satisfaction out of having a growing family library. Since becoming a homeschooling family, our collection has grown exponentially, and so has my wish list.
Now the challenge with having a sizable collection of books is making sure that they actually get read at least once, and so I’ve picked out a few that I want to make sure to go through this year, as well as some classics that I want to get to during my read aloud times with the children. This of could of course take me much longer than the next eleven and a half months, but at least I’m making a goal. Most of my books serve some sort of practical, educational, spiritual, or thought-provoking purpose. I personally don’t do much reading for entertainment, though that is something I enjoy while reading aloud to the little people who live here. More
Who needs a necklace when you can wear a baby?
14 Jan 2012 1 Comment
in Fabulous Frugality, Parental Ponderings
It has become quite clear to me that blogging will be an inconsistent hobby for me for a while.
We are coming off of an extremely full two months. We’ve celebrated three birthdays (with one more on Monday… mine!), one birth, and three major holidays, traveled to two churches while my handsome hubby filled in for a couple of pastors, and enjoyed some family visits over the Christmas holiday. Mixed into the action, our Baby H went through a three-week colicky phase, but we thank the Lord Jesus that it ended quickly and didn’t drag on for longer. These last two weeks began our shift back to reality, and while it has been really nice to have our life start to settle back into a routine, what a full routine it is!
Homeschooling, meal planning and preparation, and striving to keep the house in order and laundry done makes for a big to-do list, and one thing that has been crucial in helping me manage has been baby wearing. Having Baby H snuggled up in my wrap carrier or sling while I get some needed tasks accomplished makes life so much easier! More
Oh, how I love cloth diapers.
29 Dec 2011 4 Comments
in Fabulous Frugality, Green Gratification, Parental Ponderings
I hope everyone had a grand Christmas! We’ve been a tad busy around the house lately with a baby, two birthdays, Christmas, and enjoying the hubby’s time off of work, so blogging has taken a backseat. Our Christmas continues this week as Baby H will have her first visit from many family members, but I’m hoping to finish up baby topics within the next couple of weeks and move on to something else.
Today’s post is one near and dear to my heart: the joys of cloth diapering! More
Want a chance to make homemade lipbalm?
15 Dec 2011 1 Comment
in Green Gratification, I'll take Hodge-Podge for 200, Alex
When I’ve blogged about herbs, essential oils, and homemade skin care, I’ve often mentioned Mountain Rose Herbs. They have been my source for the ingredients I need to make completely natural (and yes, dear readers, edible if you are so inclined to try) lip balm, skin creams, and salves. Everything is high quality, the prices are reasonable, the customer service is great, and they make sincere efforts to run their business in an environmentally-friendly way.
So why am I taking the time to write this?
Because they are doing huge giveaways these next four weeks, and I want a chance to win! You might, too. There are five ways to enter, and this week’s prize is quite impressive: all the oils, butters, beeswax, essential oils, and supplies to make 26 of your own lip balms! Head over to their blog and see for yourself.
http://mountainroseblog.com/recipes-year-giveaway/
Up next… cloth diapers and why I love them! Stay tuned…
Home sweet homebirth
09 Dec 2011 3 Comments
We’re getting back into the swing of things, little by little, and that includes the occasional moments to hop on the ole laptop and blog away. It’s been a great almost two weeks with our new little bundle, and she really is a treat. Everyone’s in love with her, and this has been the easiest transition for us compared to the times of adjustment with our other three. More on that another time!
Today I wanted to share a little bit about our personal decision to have our babies at home and outside of the usual hospital setting. More
A Thanksgiving surprise
01 Dec 2011 3 Comments
in I'll take Hodge-Podge for 200, Alex, Parental Ponderings
This will be a short post. And I probably won’t write another one for a week or more. My hands are a little more full, and so is our house! More
Preparing for B-Day
19 Nov 2011 Leave a Comment
in Nutrition Know-How, Parental Ponderings
Anyone about to have a baby has much to do to prepare. There are important items to research, choose, and purchase. This job alone can take the whole nine months! Clothing ought to be washed (at least some people say so) and put away. A name needs to be picked, or at least some final choices selected. Perhaps a nursery needs decorated. And of course for those first babies, all of the baby showers need scheduled in. It’s a busy and exciting time!
But what about preparing for the actual birth? No one goes into a marathon untrained and lacking adequate preparation, and no one should go into a birth experience without the same. This is especially true for anyone wanting to have a natural and unmedicated birth.
There are some things I’ve done that have been incredibly helpful, and then some that have been a little less than beneficial. More
Make way for baby! Naturally.
16 Nov 2011 Leave a Comment
Well, it’s time to get geared up for a bunch of posts related to a big event coming up for our family… welcoming our fourth little bundle of love! I’ve been wanting to do a whole bunch of posts on this topic and have a whole list of things to cover, but coming up with the energy to sit at the computer when I’d rather be napping has been tough. The naps usually win, and I figure that is a good thing.
I thought the first place to start would be hammering out why I would make an unmedicated birth with little to no medical interventions such a high priority for me, moving on to how I have prepared for them, and topping that off with why I have chosen to have our babies at home and not in a hospital or birth center. After that, perhaps some cloth diapering and baby wearing posts. Any other ideas? Am I forgetting anything? Ooo… how about all the gear that I’ve decided isn’t that important for us? Hmmm… More
How does your herb garden grow?
10 Nov 2011 5 Comments
in Fabulous Frugality, Green Gratification
Canning is finally done, and any other random veggies that I grew or bought in bulk have been cooked, chopped, or shredded and stuck in the freezer. Except for that big zucchini still lurking in the fridge. Maybe I’ll use it for something. Hopefully soon.
One preservation project I’m still in the process of is drying the herbs from our yard and garden that we’ll use through the rest of the year until next year’s herbs start popping up. Mostly, these will be used in teas, but a new use I’ll be trying out is making herbal oils, and then using those oils as a base in homemade skin-care products.
So, what herbs did I grow this year, and what am I saving them for? More
Verses of Virtue book review
02 Nov 2011 1 Comment
in Consecrated Contemplations, Marital Musings, Parental Ponderings
There are days in my life as a wife and mommy that I feel like I am really doing some good in the world. Not only that, but my house is clean, I know what I’m making for supper and have it started already with wonderfully nutritious ingredients, and my children have completed their schoolwork and have helped with the housework for the afternoon. I’m feeling perky, energetic, and excited to greet my hubby so I can tell him about our wonderful, sunshiney day.
Then there are days like today. More
