POST FIFTY TWO - 52 THINGS...

well, this is my slightly silly, numerically appropriate, last official post. i've completed my "challenge" of 52 posts (taking a bit over a year to do so, but better late than never right?) i may be back with more posts in the future, i'm not really sure. i've had a fun time doing this- mostly just sharing things i've enjoyed and which i hope you've enjoyed too. thanks to those of you who have been reading and thanks for your comments too, i've really appreciated the feedback! i hope you all have a wonderful spring, and you may find me back here again...

so, for the post... if by chance you are looking for some ideas of things to do/try you may want to check out the 52 Series. they are decks of 52 cards with topics ranging from 52 things to try once in your life, to 52 adventures in san francisco. i've both received and given these cards as gifts and they are pretty fun. i haven't read or tried all the suggestions, but i've liked the ones that i have used, and i definitely appreciate the inspiration & creative ideas since i'm not super at coming up with them on my own. so if you're looking for a little something new, check them out!

POST FIFTY ONE - COMMON PRAYER

to be honest, this post is more about a book, and a practice that we would like to be reading & having as a family, than one that we currently are. that said, you gotta start somewhere right?

a while back some friends (thanks josh & shanna) let us know about the release of a new book entitled Common Prayer~A Liturgy for Ordinary Radicals -of which shane claiborne is one of the authors. so, we went to a "book release party" a cool story for another time... and purchased a copy (which you could do here or here).

though we as a family have not used this book all that much, i really would like to be incorporating it into our daily lives on a more regular basis. there are morning, midday, evening and occasional prayers listed which include scripture, responsive readings, songs, remembrance of saints, and quotations. this approach to scripture, worship & prayer is not one i grew up with, but one that i'm coming to really appreciate, even through things like responsive readings at church. it's been neat for me to see the way that God can use different approaches to worship in my life to challenge me and make me think. so, i'd encourage you to check this book out too...

POST FIFTY - BREAD MAKING

i am really excited! i recently received the copy i had ordered of artisan bread in five minutes a day in the mail, and today i made my first loaf of bread... and it really tastes good!!!

i had seen the book mentioned several times with good reviews, and found their website here while looking for an english muffin recipe (which i have yet to try). i've been wanting to make homemade bread more, and i think this book will be a great resource in that endeavor.

the book is very user friendly. it discusses basic ingredients, tools that are helpful in breadmaking (few of which i have, but the bread still came out tasting good) troubleshooting, and has all kinds of recipes that look great! i started with "the master recipe: boule" and i'm looking forward to lots more breadmaking! so, if you are anything like me, and a bit intimidated by the idea of making bread you may want to check this book out- i really like what i've tasted so far!!

POST FORTY NINE - ED EMBERLEY

i think it's really cool to be able to introduce my kids to some of the same activities i enjoyed when i was little. i would not describe myself as an "artist" at least not in the drawing/painting sense of the word, but when i was little i remember really liking to draw using

ed emberly's books, so i was really excited to find one for sadie. these books are fun and easy to use. the one i got sadie actually uses finger prints as the base for the pictures and goes step by step adding lines to create all kinds of different pictures. the books i used were just drawing based-with the same idea of following a step by step process resulting in a picture at the end.

sadie does lots of drawing on her own with all kinds of awesome creations, and i definitely encourage her in her creativity, but i think this is another fun way to draw and create.

i found the ed emberly website here. the site seems to be under construction of some sort, but you can at least get an idea of what his stuff is like. you can also find a bunch of his books here on amazon. happy drawing!

POST FORTY EIGHT - SARA GROVES

i'm sure many of you are familiar with Sara Groves, but i figured i'd do a post on her for those of you who might not be. i've been listening to Sara Groves for quite a few years now and have consistently appreciated her music and her message. seeing her perform a few times confirmed her honest and genuine nature, which comes across in her albums. she sings about her faith, her family, the world and the struggles therein in a very open, yet hope-filled way. this is her official website, and if you haven't listened to her before, you can check out her music here. i also came across her blog which you can find here. i would really encourage you to take a listen to her music if you haven't done so already. i'm quite sure you will be blessed!

POST FORTY SEVEN - A GOOD BURGER

i should start out by saying this post is not about moose burgers. i took this picture out our window earlier this week- not a great shot, but it was pretty cool seeing a moose walking down our driveway!
i really like it when everyone in our family enjoys, and finishes eating a meal that i make. this turkey burger recipe which i found in everyday food is one of those recipes. i've been making it for a long time, and after eating one last night i thought i'd pass the recipe your way. i make them on the stove top (though i'm sure they are great on the grill) and i usually use cheddar instead of gruyere cheese. if you like turkey burgers, you should give these a try! these are great with sweet potato fries.

POST FORTY SIX - ABOUT EATING

Animal, Vegetable, Miracle - A Year of Food Life by Barbara Kingsolver, is a book i have been working my way through over the past few months. i'm nearly finished and i've really been enjoying it. i'd read some of Barbara Kingsolver's fictional works in the past, and was definitely interested when i heard about this book/adventure. in reading it, i find myself inspired to make different food choices- not that i can take on the same project Kingsolver and her family did of living off local, in season food for a year, but there are some things i can do. buying local eggs, seeking out other local sources of produce at the CSA or farmer's market, having our own little garden, just being more aware of where our food is coming from, and trying to make informed choices in that regard. growing up, we at times had a large garden, chickens, cows, goats, and turkeys. i remember really enjoying certain aspects of it as a kid and i'm excited for our kids to be able to have some of those same experiences. in reading this book i've found it to be both informative and entertaining. i've been encouraged to make some changes in our eating habits, but not in a guilt-provoking or overwhelming way, which i appreciate.

if you are interested in learning more, you can find info about the book including recipes here and you can order it here at amazon or here at better world books (thanks shanna)

POST FORTY FIVE - FOR HEARTS

some days you really see & hear yourself, and some days what you find just isn't that pretty. today is one of those days for me. i found encouragement here when i read this the first time, and i found myself back reading it again today. letting my tears fall like the snow outside, and letting my heart be reminded again of the truth of God's grace and of the impact that my words can have on my children. if you are struggling, especially as a mom today i pray that you will find hope as i have in these truths...

POST FORTY FOUR - AN EASY WAY TO SAVE

so, this may be my shortest post yet. this is a very easy, very basic way to save on both a little money and a little waste. this is nothing original, something i know some of you already do, but i thought i'd put it out there anyway. cloth napkins. there you have it. they are super easy to make, (or you can buy them if you are not inclined towards the sewing machine) they save you a little money, (especially if you use fabric scraps you already have) they save a little bit of trash from being produced, and they are a great way to use fabrics you like and want to see on a regular basis. i hope you've been inspired.

POST FORTY THREE - FOR VISITING

before the birth of each of our kids doug & i have made it a priority to take an overnite trip. nothing real fancy or far away. just a little time somewhere different to relax, a change from the usual routine. this past weekend we went to portland, maine so i thought it would be fun to do a post about some of the places we visited. so, here it goes...

we stayed at a great b&b called the pomegranate inn it's a really fun, artsy place, with funky decorations, a yummy breakfast, a relaxed ambiance, and friendly helpful staff.

for shops we visited knit wit and z fabric which i would definitely recommend for those of you interested in yarn and fabrics! they are both very cute shops, with dangerously fun products (as far as the risk for buying lots of yarn & fabric goes) and again, friendly helpful staff. i also got to check out the portland flower show which happened to be going on this past weekend. there were lots of cool vendors, some beautiful flowers- both cut & potted, and some amazing landscape displays!

while i was looking at flowers, doug had a really good time checking out enterprise records apparently the place to go for record collectors,and yes books (for which i could not find a website) a used book store which i think he could have spent hours in.

along with a bit of fun shopping, we ate some really yummy food at some cool restaraunts all of which are definitely worth checking out if you are in the neighborhood... coffee by design has awesome coffee! otto pizza has some really unique and tasty pizza topping combinations, silly's restaurant is a fun spot which we visited several years back, and stopped at again this visit- they have an original menu, a fun atmosphere, and some great food!

so, those are a few highlites from our trip. if you're ever in portland, maine you should check them out!

ps. thanks for the comments on the simply in season post ladies. i'm glad you are also enjoying the recipes (or soon will be)

POST FORTY TWO - RECIPES

i received this cookbook as a gift (thanks mess) and i'm really enjoying it! Simply in Season is a great resource to help you cook with ingredients that are local & in season. now, to be honest most of the ingredients i've used in the recipes i've tried have not been either (with the exception of some of last years frozen produce from our garden or the CSA) but the recipes have been really good! the book is broken up into recipes by season and in addition has an "all seasons" section with breads/soups/main dishes/desserts/extras. the book is extremely user friendly, and i'm looking forward to using it in the seasons to come! if you are interested you can find it here

http://www.amazon.com/Simply-Season-Expanded-Community-Cookbook/dp/0836194942/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1299849548&sr=8-1

ps. the picture is in anticipation of green and warmth!

POST FORTY ONE - FOR SNACKING

i've been thinking about making granola bars for some time now, but just haven't gotten around to actually doing it. then a few nights ago i came across this recipe http://kitchensimplicity.com/no-bake-granola-bars/ and decided i'd give it a try. they came out really really yummy!! everybody here- kids & grown ups alike are enjoying them. there is no baking involved- though there is a little bit of stove top use. the recipe is pretty straightforward and they taste great with the ingredients as they are. so, if you are looking for a good snack recipe you should definitely give this one a try!

POST FORTY - SNAPFISH

here is a link for a good deal for you (courtesy of money saving mom). http://moneysavingmom.com/2011/03/snapfish-100-photo-prints-for-5-shipped-2.html

this one is for 100 photo prints for $5 (including shipping) from snapfish when you use the coupon code STPATPRNT. i've used snapfish several times, and i've been pleased with their pictures. if you aren't familiar with them you can check them out here http://www.snapfish.com/snapfish/welcome. you can also get 20 free prints when you sign up with them (though i'm not sure if you can combine that with this deal) enjoy!

POST THIRTY NINE - FOR BABIES

so, i am definately in a sewing mode here. and i am loving finding quick, simple, practical projects! here is another one i came across. being pregnant, and having several friends who either have new babies or are expecting as well, i figured burp cloths would be a good project to try. i found this pattern http://www.prudentbaby.com/2009/12/diy-burp-cloth-how-to.html and made several for myself and others. (this looks like another site that has lots of cute tutorials, though i haven't tried any other projects yet) i bought terry cloth fabric instead of using towels, and used a flannel fabric for the other side, and i really like them! they are a fun change from the burp cloths i've used in the past. not that the appearance of the cloth you are cleaning spit up with really matters, but i thoroughly enjoy finding ways to use fabrics i like- even for burp cloths:)

POST THIRTY EIGHT - KIWI MAGAZINE AGAIN

alright, so i probably shouldn't be counting this as a post, but i am. money saving mom had a link up today for kiwi magazine which you can get for $6 for a 1-year subscription. i put a post up a little while back (post 30) about this magazine as well, and thought i'd just put it out there again for anybody who may have missed it the last time. it looks like the offer is valid today through march 5th. here's the link for you... http://deals.mamapedia.com/deals/kiwi-magazine-1-year-feb?ref_id=32497

POST THIRTY SEVEN - FOR BREAD...

here is another really simple sewing project for you. i've been wanting to try to make my own bread, and i found this tutorial (i believe by way of link from money saving mom) for cloth bread bags. i didn't have any dish towels (which is what the instructions suggest) that i wanted to use to make the bags, so instead i made use of some fun fabrics i had. these are really cute, easy to make, and i think they would work great for things other than bread storage too - gift bags etc...
here is the link for you http://www.saltwater-kids.com/2010/04/5-minute-bread-bag-tutorial_9456.html
this blog has lots of other fun tutorials which i'm hoping to check out too...

POST THIRTY SIX - FOR JOY

i know i've mentioned ann voskamp several times here, and today i'm doing it again. i'm about a third of the way through her new book One Thousand Gifts a dare to live fully right where you are, and it is really really good! as the title suggests, the book is about living where you are- in the moment, not in the past or the future, in thankfulness for all of Gods gifts surrounding you, and in living this way, finding true joy. that's a very brief synopsis, which doesn't really do the book justice, so here are a few quotes to give you a better idea...

"... In the original language, "he gave thanks" reads "eucharisteo."
I underline it on the page. Can it lay a sure foundation under a life? Offer the fullest life?
The root word of eucharisteo is charis, meaning "grace." Jesus took the bread and saw it as
grace and gave thanks. He took the bread and knew it to be gift and gave thanks.
But there is more, and I read it. Eucharisteo, thanksgiving, envelopes the Greek word for grace,
charis. But it also holds its derivative, the Greek word chara, meaning "joy." Joy. Ah... yes.
I might be needing me some of that. That might be what the quest for more is all about- that
which Augustine claimed, "Without exception... all try their hardest to reach the same goal, that
is, joy." 2 .... (page 32)

...is the height of my chara joy dependent on the depths of my eucharisteo thanks?
So than as long as thanks is possible... I think this through. As long as thanks is possible, then
joy is always possible. Joy is always possible. Whenever, meaning- now; wherever, meaning-
here. The holy grail of joy is not in some exotic location or some emotional mountain peak
experience. The joy wonder could be here! Here, in the messy, peircing ache of now, joy might
be- unbelievably- possible! The only place we need see before we die is this place of seeing God,
here and now... (page 33)

...There is a way to live the big of giving thanks in all things. It is this: to give thanks in this one
small thing. The moments will add up... ....life-changing gratitude does not fasten to a life
unless nailed through with one very specific nail at a time. (page 57)

.. life change comes when we receive life with thanks and ask for nothing to change. (page 61)

... -"Wherever you are, be all there." 3 I have lived the runner, panting ahead in worry
pounding back in regrets, terrified to live in the present, because here-time asks me to do the
hardest of all: just open wide and receive. (page 69)

...I redeem time from neglect and apathy and inattentiveness when i swell with thanks
and weigh the moment down and it's giving thanks to God for this moment that multiplies
the moments, time made enough. (page 72)"

like i said, these are a few quotes for you, i could have written a lot more! but these give you at least a bit of an idea about this book. which i really hope you will read! you can check it out here...
http://www.amazon.com/One-Thousand-Gifts-Fully-Right/dp/0310321913/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1297546998&sr=8-1

POST THIRTY FIVE - FOR WEARING

shortly before Christmas i was on the hunt for a cute, simple little girls skirt pattern. i found several that i thought would work, but then i found this one- it's perfect & incredibly easy!

i found it here http://www.oliverands.com/blog/2008/08/lazy-days-skirt-free-pattern.html

by way of link from this SouleMama post http://www.soulemama.com/soulemama/2010/12/girl-cousins.html

for my 4.5 year old little lady half a yard was just the right amount of fabric to make a longer skirt, and instead of using ribbon for the trim on the bottom i used extra wide double fold bias tape which worked great. i've made another one since then which i really like too. so if you're looking for a fun easy project give this one a try!

POST THIRTY FOUR - YET AGAIN...

do you tire of fighting the same battles again and again, especially when you find you are fighting yourself? i do. struggling against my selfishness, my pride, my desire for my time, my space, my rights, clearly you can see the pattern of me here. not Christ, not others, but me.

in this struggling and learning how to think & live based on truth, i have found so much help and hope in the teaching we receive at the church we attend. Christ Redeemer Church (CRC) of which Don Willeman is pastor, has been such a source of encouragement, challenging the way i've come to think about things, consistently presenting me with the truth of Christ, and the gospel. it doesn't come easily, and i'm reminded that ease and comfort is not what i am to expect in following Christ.

i don't know where you might find yourself in relation to matters of faith, maybe i've completely turned you off, or maybe you're wondering... either way i think you should give a listen.

you can find CRC here http://www.christredeemerchurch.org/ on the bottom left of the page you will find an icon for listening to sermons. may you find hope in the truth of the gospel of Christ.

POST THIRTY THREE - FOR LISTENING

i really like music. there is generally some variety of music playing in our home most of our waking hours. a band that i have really come to enjoy is called the innocence mission i believe doug introduced me to them, and we went to see them together at a little show not too long after we started dating. they have a really mellow sound, and a faith component to their music which i thoroughly enjoy. we have several of their albums, including my room in the trees which i received for Christmas. you can check them out here http://www.theinnocencemission.com/ at their home page, and here at amazon, where you can preview all the songs on the album. http://www.amazon.com/My-Room-Trees-Innocence-Mission/dp/B003O7I72O/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1296438665&sr=8-1

if you haven't listened to them before i would definitely recommend them, hope you enjoy!

POST THIRTY TWO - A RECIPE

this is a really easy, yummy recipe you should try. "healthy homemade poptarts" which everyone in my family enjoyed! i found the recipe here at http://heavenlyhomemakers.com/homemade-healthy-poptarts by way of link from http://moneysavingmom.com/ the recipe only requires 5 ingredients, it doesn't take long to make them, & they freeze well. my only adjustments would be to add a little extra jam and dust with a little sugar- just to satisfy my sweet tooth.

POST THIRTY ONE - A CAUSE...

i was checking out sorta crunchy this evening, http://sortacrunchy.typepad.com/sortacrunchy/ and knew i wanted to share this post with you. i've mentioned megan at sorta crunchy before, and if you haven't checked out her site, you really should. i wanted to point you to her january 14th post entitled "Announcing the Give: LOVE Project!" the focus of the post is an organization called Love146 whose mission is to "end child sex slavery and exploitation" http://love146.org/ this is an awesome cause, which deals with a horrifying reality. their site will likely bring you tears and motivate you to want to do something...

so, here is something you can do! as megan's post explains, in early february on sorta crunchy

there will be valentine's day cards available that you can download and print for free (for kids class parties etc...) which will include a small message about Love146. the request is that you would donate whatever you would usually spend on those valentine's to Love146. i love this idea, and think its a really creative way to make people aware of Love146 & their mission.

POST THIRTY - KIWI MAGAZINE

here is a link you may want to check out (courtesy of money saving mom) that connects you to a site called Mampedia, through which you can apparently get Kiwi Magazine for just $2 for a year! i do get this magazine and i like it- it focuses on natural/organic living for families. i didn't actually try to sign up using the coupon codes since i already get the magazine, but i thought it was worth putting out there for any of you who might be interested. worst case it looks like the magazine would be $6 for a year without the coupon code:) so if you're interested check out http://moneysavingmom.com/2011/01/kiwi-magazine-for-only-2-per-year.html

and here is the website for the magazine itself if you wanted to check that out http://www.kiwimagonline.com/

POST TWENTY NINE - !!CRESCERE!!

todays post is a quick one to tell you about a music/art/poetry blog called

!!crescere!! that i think you should check out. now, i will say up front that doug (my husband) regularly posts on the blog, so i may be slightly biased.

there are several different contributors who are all very talented artists. you can check them out here http://crescerians.blogspot.com/. i hope you enjoy!

POST TWENTY EIGHT - AN UPDATE

so, in case there is anyone out there, and in case they happen to remember the original plan for this blog, i thought i'd put a little update out there. initially the plan was for me to be putting up a post a week which started last year in early january. clearly i'm a little ways off from reaching the 52 post mark, so i've come up with a slightly altered plan for myself. my new hope is to reach 52 posts by early april (when we are expecting -Lord willing- the arrival of the newest little cooper) i really want to complete this project, and i'm hoping this goal is a workable one. so, there you have it- my new plan.