peelosophy

Refining Possibilities Making the Best Use of Your Time – Small Notebook:    You know when you read something and it puts words to how you have been feeling, that was this post for me.  I feel completely overwhelmed when I have a stretch of time that nothing is planned.  I question how to spend my time and if I am spending my time wisely.  It makes sense, what she is saying about, as a mom, being used to “a series of five minute tasks and interruptions”, when I’m not functioning like this I don’t know what to do with myself.  It’s so weird.

Project 52: Bucket List - I love.love.love. the idea of Project 52!!!!  John and I are pretty good about having a date night once a month…usually on the 14th which is our anniversary date.  And we always say we should do something intentional once a week, but you can imagine how that goes.  I love the direct guidelines she sets up for Project 52, that there’s a Mr.Linky so I can get ideas from other people and that the dates involve staying at home and not having to find a sitter.  Such a good idea!

Simple Mom: How to Create a Paperless Kitchen- This something I really want to do.  I didn’t grow up with paper towels but it’s amazing how they have become a staple in our kitchen.  I don’t want to get rid of them all together, but I would love to cut the use of them drastically.  I love how Tsh spelled out what her “system” was for going paperless, it takes the thought out of it for me.  Oh and how I love systems.

I’ve had lots of nesting desires the last couple weeks – but really nowhere to nest since Emma doesn’t have a room right now.  So my urges have been put to good use in closets, friend’s basements, drawers and lots of to-do lists.

One of my favorite friends and blogs is Cary’s blog, I’ve Got a List for That.  It’s amazing to me how much I learn from her lists, from what to buy at Whole Foods to learning about her kids.  And I am always so impressed how diligent she is about blogging.  Anyways, I wanted to make a list of the things I want/need for Emma, it’s all in my head now and when the time comes I know it will have left my brain.

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Pop Pop Pop! – katherinemariephotography: I don’t remember how I came across this blog, but before you click it, if you are having serious feelings of inadequacy as a mother, save it for a later date.  Seriously, these themes of the week that she does with her kids are gorgeous and totally off the hook as far as I’m concerned – that’s a compliment from afar.   She is clearly an amazing designer and photographer and I have become addicted to the beauty she is creating, but have allowed myself to only take a peek when I can  admire without feeling bitter.

Back to the Basics: Batch Cooking – SimpleMom: I have been waiting for something like this post to get me exited about batch cooking again.  I used to do it here and there a couple years ago, but lost my rhythm.  I thought this post was great to jog my memory and to encourage ideas that I haven’t tried before.

Before/After Chad’s Filing Cabinet Planter – Design Sponge: I don’t have time.  I have so many unfinished projects.  But I want to do this – I know exactly where it would go and what I would plant.  Oh well.

Dirty Little Secrets: The Riverside Church Blog: I  love this post that Kim wrote.  I loved reading the comments that people wrote about it.  I have read this book too. There are so many ideas from this book that really resonated with me, but I could never put it into words and this book does a great job.  I’ve always wondered where parenting righteousness comes from and why is it so hard for moms/women to be honest with each other;  this book addressed alot of this for me.

Hop over to the Riverside blog to check out my guest post today.  Originally I wrote it for peelosophy, but I thought I would send it over to Matt to see if he needed a post for our church blog.

It’s funny how much easier it was writing a post intended for my blog than writing one with the intention of putting up on my church blog.  I was just writing, not concerned with a bunch of other people reading it.  Way less pressure.

Tweak Today: This isn’t a particular post, but a site that I thought has a neat concept.  It gives different missions each day that you can share your experience on the site.  It’s great for us voyeurs of other people’s lives.  For examples today’s was to “Record your trip to your mailbox and show us what you received.”

Here’s my pictures and details, if I were to post for today’s mission on the site:

I received in the mail today….

• The Oliver’s rockin’ birth announcement for Baby Peter
• The Magic House wants us to renew our membership (which we were given in the first place)
• The Missouri Conservationist magazine
• An EOB from Blue Cross – what a waste of paper

Practical Ways to Help Three Year Old Children at Home – Daily Montessori: I need the MOST encouragement currently with Henry my 2 1/2 year old.  This list was a good reminder for me where Henry is at right now.  He’s not the baby and he’s not the big kid – so I think I get a little lost with him.  Plus, I’m a Montessori kid myself and appreciate their  philosophy.

The Go To Bag – The Creative Mama: This post motivated me to clean my car and stock with some essentials – which I never have on me.  I NEVER have things I need when I need them.  I have a hard enough time getting the kids into the car, forget remembering stuff we may need.  I’m always asking for stuff.  One time I was at the zoo when JJ was 2 years old, possibly the hottest day of the year, and forgot sunscreen.  It wasn’t until I was trapped in the River’s Edge (you know what I mean), and realized that my fair skinned babe was going to fry.   I borrowed some from a stranger, who was 10 years younger than me, but had more common sense than I.

Sweet Love Affair Part 2 – amoroloy: This is what John and I wanted to do for OUR wedding – a carnival theme with Ferris wheel and all.  It was $10K outside of our budget that we were paying for ourselves.  But we had big plans, alot of which were included in the above post.  Except for the fish game – so great.  And the turquoise bridesmaid dresses – I wouldn’t have done that to you sisters.  After finally deciding that we couldn’t afford the carny wedding, we did vow to do it for our 25th anniversary…can’t wait!

I wrote a post for our church blog, it’s on expectations as a mom. Riverside’s blog is fairly new and it’s a great blog with lots of guest bloggers covering a wide range of topics.  I would totally recommend adding it to your blog roll.

So what are waiting for — click the link already!!   Oh yeah, and leave a comment there, maybe about what expectations you struggle with as a mom or person.  And, of course, leave a comment so I can feel validated in your expectations of me.  hehe.

www.theriversidechurchblog.blogspot.com

Downtown Chic – Design Mom: I agree with Gabrielle’s review of this book.  I splurged on it and LOVE it!  It’s part the design ideas and the other part the big family and the other part that this couple is living their passion together and doing it with six kids.  Unbelievable and really cool in my book.

Seven Prayers a Day – Bring the Rain: I pray for my kids throughout the day, but nothing like this.  I think this is amazing. I love how the prayers are derived from scripture and how she prays them out loud.  And how it could be applicable to anyone I might be praying for, to think of them seven times a day and pray for them.  It’s amazing the example this is to her children and the impact it will have on their lives.  Wow.

Mothers Day and Narcolepsy- Annie’s Garden: I love my friend Maddie’s blog and getting a chance to peek into her the life she shares with her daughter Annie.  Sometimes I read it and think, life with three boys seems less adventurous then life with Annie.  I don’t want to ruin her post, but it is one of my favorites.  My reaction to reading it was like actually finding Annie – just read it.

East Village Apartment Makes Amazing Use of Space- Unclutterer: I need to go pick up this issue of Dwell Magazine.  The picture of the Transformer-type bed.I even got a little closterphopic looking at it.  Still deciding if that is cool or not.

Conversation between me and Kim…

Kim was talking about how she was going to homeschool Tyler for preschool.

Me: “Oh, I could never homeschool, I’d go crazy , I’m not organized enough, etc”

Kim: “Jill, you DO home school your boys.”

Me: “Oh, I guess I do.”

I never think of it as homeschooling.

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• Look! Miniature Garden- OhDeeDoh: I’ve loved the comeback of all the little terrariums.  My Grandma had a terrarium on her kitchen table when I was little, I loved looking through the glass at the little green world inside.  I really like the one on this link because it’s a little more interactive and I wouldn’t have to worry about the humidity levels in a terrarium. I have always wanted some succulents too – so it would satisfy that desire too.  One might be a feature on my porch this summer…
• Snapshots – Soulemama: I do love Soulemama, but there are times that I will read her and other great blogs – mostly of people I don’t really know- and totally get down on myself for not sewing a dress for my daughter during naptime or letting JJ play some more Lego StarWars instead of engaging him in some amazingly creative project.  This post was just the reminder I needed that blogs (mine included) are only “snapshots” of the lives we live.
• Now I know my ABCs – Totally Tots:  I am in love with this site right now.  I have been loving the Bible Bites and now with this Alphabet theme -  I can’t wait to get more into it.  We’ve set up our Chicka Chicka Boom Boom magnet tree and have had a lot of fun.  I really like that it’s stuff that doesn’t take a lot of planning and it’s totally engaged the kids – especially Henry.
• Starfall – This site has helped Henry’s mouse skills tremendously.  I think because the surface area of what you click on is bigger.  He loves the games and it all ties in with the Alphabet theme mentioned above.
• Can FaceBook Be Your Friend?- Real Simple: I’m still not interested in joining Facebook.  John asks me about once a week, “When are you going to join Facebook?” – I tell him “I’m not” and he says, “But I just want to be married to you”.  I guess that’s sweet, but I’m still not.  There are many reasons why I’m being “stubborn” by not joining and this article stated a lot of them.  The writer has come to a find a balance with Facebook, but I think I lack her willpower and desire…I’m okay with that. I will, however, check into the legality of our marriage if I am not on Facebook. hehe

Our friends, Maddie and her daughter, Annie have their much anticipated baby chicks — 6 of them!  They are all so cute!

JJ just grinned the whole time he was with chicks; Henry asked to hold them, but when we handed one to him he “chickened” out;  and George wanted to squeeze them to death.   Luckily, there was no casualties.

You can read more on Maddie’s chicken-raising endeavor at: Annie’s Garden.