Picks of the Week 4.26.13

The Power of a Parent's Words - Desiring God
Solvitur Ambulando: It Is Solved By Walking - The Art of Manliness (shared by Jonathan)

Tree of the week

Ponytail of the week

Birthday party tunnel of the week

Sleepyhead of the week

Picks of the Week 4.5.13

The Amazing Calling of Being "Mom" - Desiring God
The Sacred Messiness - Simple Mom
Montessori Teaches Gentleness - how we montessori
Montessori in the home - really! - how we montessori
8 Simple Tickle Games to Play with your Kids - Simple Kids

I haven't shared a Picks of the Week in a long time, but I read so much good stuff this week!

If I had to pick a video of the week, it would be Quinn's 15-18 month highlight video that I just made.

We met Jonathan for lunch downtown today. Quinn was having fun chasing pigeons.

Picks of the Week 11.30.12

Fantastic Christmas Music - Simple Mom
When Kid Meets Nativity - Sit a Spell (hilarious)
The Christmas Conundrum - Jen Hatmaker

Enjoy! With some soup or a warm drink!

Picks of the Week 8.17.12

One Thing More Important than a Mentor - Simple Mom

Praying for Your Straying Soul - Desiring God

Real Food Salad Dressing Recipes - Keeper of the Home

Stay cool Oregonians!

Picks of the Week 7.7.12

How Would You Like to Wear Your Joy? - Desiring God

Happy Birthday! July 2, 1776 - Stand to Reason

Teach Children the Bible Is Not About Them - Desiring God

How to Treat Bug Bites Naturally - Keeper of the Home

Picks of the Week 5.13.12

O Mother, Great Is Thy Power - Desiring God

Motherhood Is Victory - Desiring God

The Beauty of Motherhood - Passionate Homemaking

Happy Mother's Day!

Picks of the Week 4.8.12

Apple Cinnamon Baked Oatmeal - Kitchen Stewardship (I made this for my overnight house guests this weekend and it was well-liked even with people not fond of oatmeal. You do all the work in advance and stick it in the oven when your alarm goes off. Perfect for a busy morning.)

Favorite Classic Children's Books - Passionate Homemaking

Bloom Where You're Planted - Small Notebook

Herb Gardening - Simple Homemade (I'm going to do this in the planters on our patio instead of committing to a full on garden this season.)

Picks of the Week 3.16.12

I haven't done picks of the week in so long! Here's what I found interesting this week:

Make a Weekly Cleaning Routine - Small Notebook

Amazing Uses for Egg Shells - Frugal Granola (has anyone heard of these ideas? I actually am planning to test out the powdered calcium supplement idea)

God Loves Good Wine - Desiring God

My One Bite at a Time project for the week was to reduce the amount of mail that makes it into my house. As a new homeowner, we get a lot of junk mail. We manage our bills with online bill pay. I try to stay on top of the mail, but it's easy to let the pile grow. I need to find a specific landing spot for it. She also mentions not even letting it past your front door - go through the mail outside and throw what you don't need in the recycle bin. She also includes a link to a website where you can enter your address to stop junk mail being sent to you, I definitely signed up for that!

Here's to a productive weekend!

Picks of the Week 12.9.11

I didn't have time to read blogs this week, but I did last week! These three were my top picks. Hopefully I can get back in the groove soon. Enjoy!

Take Courage, Young Mother - Desiring God

Treasured Christmas Books to Read with Little Ones - Passionate Homemaking

The economics of Christmas lights - Seth Godin

Picks of the Week 9.23.11

Eat Well, Spend Less: Five Ways With Lentils - Simple Bites

Peach and Raspberry Crumble - Joy the Baker (this was from June, but I'm making it to bring to a friend's house tonight)

This week was way too hot to do much cooking. Too hot to do much of anything really. So I napped and swam. I met up with a friend and went to my first Moms' Group at church too. Jonathan's co-worker let us borrow her air conditioner unit this week. I seriously don't know what I would do without it.

My One Bite at a Time task this week was to create an evening routine. Last week was to create a morning routine. I'm thinking these routines are going to change drastically soon, but I think it's a great idea. Doing a handful of things each night before I get into relaxation mode that set me up for a good morning the next day will probably be very helpful when I have a baby.

We're ready for her! We have some fun plans this weekend to distract us, but we're ready!

Picks of the Week 9.16.11

Pleasure is the Measure of Your Treasure - Desiring God

I didn't have much of an attention span for the computer this week. I did have energy for fun projects though!

This week I got together with Stacey and her mum for some sewing fun. I made a tummy time blanket out of Jonathan and my old t-shirts that have fun memories associated with them. It turned out great and is very soft. All credit goes to Stacey's mum, the sewing queen. Shinobi is modeling it for you.

I also cranked out a dozen of these nursing pads with the leftover flannel. Maybe some of you don't want to know that, but I was glad to cross it off my list. I also made granola bars and chocolate peanut butter "Larabars" from this cookbook to take to the hospital and snack on after baby is born. Actually, they were so good we ate the first batch so I had to make more. And I had to make zucchini bread too since it's zucchini season. 

I spent Tuesday with a college friend and her sweet 5 month old baby girl. She moved to San Francisco with her husband a couple weeks ago, it was great to reconnect. I had my 38 week check-up and all is well, and we met with our fabulous doula again. And can I just say, grocery shopping on week days is so much better than weekends! I also made sure to rest, have phone dates with great people, and enjoy some walks with my little doggie buddy. He's a nice companion to have around.

We have some fun social plans for the weekend ahead. I'm still feeling pretty comfortable and well, so it's been good to have distractions. I can't believe she could show up any day now!

Picks of the Week 9.9.11

DIY: Stir-Fry Vegetable Freezer Packages - Simple Bites

What's More Important: Keeping Things Organized, or Getting Things Done? - What's Best Next

The Chemical Composition of Your House - Daily Infographic (I've shared before about how we have kicked some chemicals out of our home. This infographic has some compelling reasons if you're on the fence about making the change.)

Picks of the Week 9.2.11

Fill Your Mouth With Life, Not Death - Desiring God

Giving Up on Formulas and Labels - Steady Mom

Looks like a fun weekend ahead: Beach trip with home group, college football season starting, dinner/doggie playdate with the Littaus, and chilling in the pool.

Picks of the Week 8.26.11


The Blessings of a Small Home - Passionate Homemaking
Eat Well, Spend Less: Back to School Breakfast - Simple Bites
What Man Can Relate to a Stay-at-Home Mom? - Passionate Homemaking
An Experiment: Just How Many Clothes Do Kids Need, Anyway? - Keeper of the Home


Jonathan's office threw us a baby shower today. I think we pretty much have everything off of our registries, booyah! My office is throwing me a shower next week. People are so generous, I can't believe it! 


We have our baby care class this weekend and then we are done. Officially prepared to be parents (yeah, right). Two people with due dates within a week of mine went into labor and had their babies this past week. Five weeks early! It made me begin to realize that the little lady really could be here any day. Jonathan was a champ and installed the car seat in our car to ease my mind :).

Picks of the Week 8.17.11


Eight Unique Recipes With Zucchini - Keeper of the Home
Put Down That Soda, Dangit! - Herban Homestead
Wrestling With Poverty in the US, Part Two - Sit a Spell

Picks of the Week 8.12.11

There's Staggering Glory in Your Story - Desiring God
Eliza Spurgeon: Legacy of an Apt and Godly Helper - Keeper of the Home
The Sun Has Risen Today, Again - Desiring God
Has Jesus Been Worth It? - Desiring God

Picks of the Week 8.4.11


Since I'll be hanging out with my Mom all day tomorrow, I am doing picks of the week a bit early. Enjoy!


Does a Child Really Cost a Quarter Million Dollars? - Kitchen Stewardship
New 2011 Dirty Dozen Produce List Released by EWG This Summer - Kitchen Stewardship
How Do We Know If We Love Christ? - Desiring God

Picks of the Week 7.29.11


Grow Your Business in Five Fun Steps - The Mogul Mom
The Oh-So-Important Hair Update - Simple Mom (I shared about our experience in this old post. I'm still going strong since May 2010, and Jonathan since November 2010.)

Picks of the Week 7.22.11


Like a Donkey - Voice of the Martyrs
Preparing for a New Baby: Essentials? - Passionate Homemaking
Three More Reasons That Cloth Diapering is Easier Than You Think - Keeper of the Home
Lust: Not for Men Only - Desiring God
Letter to an Incomplete, Insecure Teenager - Desiring God

Picks of the Week 7.15.11


Motherhood Is a Calling (And Where Your Children Rank) - Desiring God
Dispelling the Myths: Why Cloth Diapering is Truly Easier Than it Seems - Keeper of the Home
The Better World Shopping Guide Giveaway - Sit a Spell (I didn't win, but I bought it anyway. Seems like a good resource.)
Running Hard After Redemption - Sit a Spell
Lavender Vanilla Cookies - Frugal Granola


We're headed to Carmel for the weekend! It's supposed to be a little Anniversary celebration/babymoon. I was realizing today that of the seven times at least one of us have traveled outside of the bay area in 2011, five of them were for a "purpose" (wedding, bridal shower, event, etc.) and 2010 wasn't much different. While we're thrilled we have had the flexibility to take part in "The Celebrations of Life" with friends and family, it will be nice for us to get away simply for the sake of exploring and relaxing even if it's just a quick trip.