Feathers in Our Nest

Week Thirty-eight

2012-02-01T13:30:00.000-05:00

For some reason, up until this week I wasn't struggling with impatience about the baby coming. But earlier this week I felt about 10 months pregnant and was starting to feel like the baby should be here really soon (even though with Vera I was pregnant until almost week forty-two, so another month from this point). I've been really trying to be content and enjoy this time with just Vera. Yesterday I had much more of a peace about waiting a little longer for Mango to get here. For those who are praying for me for patience... thank you!

I've been having contractions every day this week. Last night I think I must have cramped all night because when I woke up this morning I was so sore. I seem to remember feeling like this during the week leading up to Vera's birth, so maybe we're closer than I think!

Baby Mango's heart-rate was up a little bit at my midwife appointment yesterday. (They said that was good.) I came back negative for Group B Strep, so I am thankful for that as well.

The one major thing we still need to do before the baby comes is buy a van! We think we have one picked out, but we are waiting on our tax return to purchase it (hopefully that will come this week). We are excited to have a vehicle that will hold both of our babies plus have room for all their accessories! :)

Week thirty-eight with Vera.

Tea Party

2012-02-01T11:28:00.000-05:00

Vera enjoyed throwing a little "tea party" this morning with a tea set given to her for Christmas by her Pops & Mimi!

I was absolutely amazed at (and grateful for!) how long she played with it... a record 30 minutes, which was wonderful. I sat in my rocker in her room while she played for half an hour. It was definitely the Lord's grace on me this morning, since I've been feeling weak and tired the last few days.

We look forward to many more tea parties to come in the future!

P.S. Vera picked out her own outfit this morning! Didn't she do a good job?

Black Bean Brownies

2012-01-31T08:00:00.000-05:00

I've heard of people making brownies with black beans before, but I was always slightly skeptical about it. This recipe intrigued me, though, since it uses a food processor to puree the beans before using them in the recipe. I figured it was worth a shot, so I tried it out last week!

We (all three of us) LOVED how they turned out! They were fudgy and rich and tasted amazing warm. We'll definitely be making them again in the future!

Black Bean Brownies (Grain-Free)

1 can black beans (no salt added, preferred), drained and rinsed thoroughly
3 lightly beaten eggs
1/3 cup melted coconut oil (or butter)
1/4 cup cocoa powder (I used Trader Joe's)
1/8 tsp. salt (I used sea salt)
2 tsp. vanilla extract
1/2 cup sucanat (or other natural sweetener)
1/2 cup chopped dark chocolate or semi-sweet chocolate chips
(optional) 1/3 cup nuts (I omitted, since I hate nuts in my chocolate)

Grease an 8x8 pan and preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a food processor, blend beans until very smooth. In a mixing bowl, combine beans and eggs. Add each additional ingredient, mixing after adding each one. When thoroughly mixed, pour batter into prepared pan. Bake brownies for about 30 minutes, or until done. Let cool slightly before cutting, but serve while still warm.

Enjoy!

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New Page

2012-01-30T08:00:00.000-05:00

Some of you may have noticed that I recently added a new page to Feathers in Our Nest. It's called "Tips & Tutorials" and it is a listing of lots of projects, tutorials, crafts, holiday posts, and more. I'm trying to make my archives easier to navigate, so I hope that this is a step in the right direction!

Check it out!

National Blueberry Pancake Day

2012-01-28T10:45:00.000-05:00

Today we are celebrating National Blueberry Pancake Day!

I made this pancake recipe (used 2/3 whole-wheat flour & 1/3 white flour, and sucanat instead of sugar) and added blueberries to the pancakes while they were cooking. In the meantime, I made this homemade blueberry sauce (used sucanat instead of sugar and added lemon zest) to serve over top of the pancakes.

Mmm... they were good! Are you celebrating today?
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Nursery Tour!

2012-01-27T11:33:00.000-05:00

I've posted bits and pieces about our new nursery, but I decided it was time to post about the whole room! We love how the room turned out. There are still more things we plan on doing in there as time goes on, but for now, we're quite pleased with it!

Longtime blog readers will recognize many DIY projects from Vera's nursery, which we moved to a different room so we could accommodate both chickadees. For a full list of those projects (with links to how-to's), visit our original nursery reveal post.

We plan on hanging Vera's quilt behind her crib, so that's why there isn't anything on that wall at the moment.

I love this little corner... so happy and colorful! It will be perfect for cuddling, reading, and nursing.

I already shared the hoop art that we made for above Mango's crib. It's still one of my favorite parts of the nursery!

Currently, Vera's baby doll is demonstrating where Baby Mango will sleep. Vera helps tuck her doll into bed several times a day, and also enjoys changing the tiny cloth diapers that I made for her.

We "made" a closet in one corner of the room using spring rods and curtains. There is a LOT of space in there, especially since baby clothes are so little!

We also have a beautiful dresser to use too.

We hung a big mirror above the dresser next to the kite hairbow holder I made for bow storage. I love that the mirror reflects so many colorful things!

This corner is the "play" corner and is not finished yet. I hope this area can be used for toy storage and the table can be used for art/craft projects in the future. I also hope to decorate these two corner wall in a gallery style, with lots of framed pictures of the girls as well as some fun art.

Of course I can't leave out the bird mobile hanging above the changing table! I made this for Vera's nursery two years ago and I love it just as much now as I did then. Vera adores it too, and it works as a great distraction for her while we change her diaper. I thought by putting it over the changing table, both girls could enjoy it.

I made pink houndstooth shades for the room to add a pop of color since I was using white curtains. (IKEA Vivan curtains are the only ones I've found that are long enough for our massively high ceilings!) I hemmed the fabric to the right width, then attached it to the old roller shade roll using hot glue and a staple gun.

Like I said, there are still a few more things we'd like to do in the nursery, but for now we are thankful for all we've been able to accomplish in just a couple of weeks! The painting of the room took us much longer than we were expecting, but we are so pleased with the results.

This is what the room looked like BEFORE (when we moved into the house), so I think we've come a long way, baby!

AFTER!

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Baby Countdown Checklist: Revisited!

2012-01-26T15:30:00.000-05:00

our nursery

I know a lot of you were stressed out for me with all I had to do to prepare for Mango's arrival when I first posted this list. I wanted to let you know that while I've added some things to this list, I've also checked off quite a bit! Here is the updated version:

Week 34
-pre-wash new diapers (done)
-buy cloth diaper detergent (done)

Week 35
-paint nursery (done... it took a total of 22 man-hours, but it's done!)
-arrange care for Vera for when I go into labor (done)
-write notes for Vera's caretaker(s) (done)
-deep-clean our bedroom (since Mango will be in there with us at first) (working on)
-make a new batch of laundry detergent (done)

Week 36
-gather breastfeeding supplies (covers, pads, lanolin, nursing bras, etc.) (done)
-gather post-partum supplies (done)
-get out newborn clothes (done)
-set up nursery (move around furniture, arrange closet, hang curtains, maybe decorate a little, etc.) (done, though there are still a few things we'd like to do in there as time goes on)
-pack hospital bags (mine, Tad's, baby's) (done)
-pack Vera's bag (working on)
-take maternity photos (done)

Week 37
-bake several loaves of whole-wheat bread (also made this recipe too) and freeze (working on; one loaf baked)
-make a few meals for the freeze (done)
-create a freezer inventory list (done)
-stock pantry with staples (rice, oatmeal, canned goods, etc.) (done, though I may have to restock if baby is really "late")
-set up guest room (my mom will be staying with us after the birth) (done)

Week 38
-write shower thank-you notes
-write and schedule next 2-3 review posts for She {hearts} It (almost done)
-catch up (or get ahead!)

Week 39
-buy any last-minute needs (disposable diapers, wipes, etc.)
-thoroughly clean out fridge
-thoroughly clean both bathrooms
-install car seat in new vehicle (hoping to have a new van by then)
-get a haircut

Week 40
-set up pack 'n' play in our bedroom

Week 41
-get a pedicure (it's my reward if I'm still great with child...ha!)

I'm definitely feeling much better about everything!
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Hairbow Kite

2012-01-26T08:00:00.001-05:00

This week I made a hairbow kite for the girls' room! I saw the idea on Pinterest (of course).

If you want to make one too, just cut out a kite shape, hem the edges, attach a ribbon to the bottom, and clip on your bows! Easy and cute.
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Week Thirty-Seven

2012-01-25T13:00:00.000-05:00

Our baby has officially reached "full-term" when it comes to developmental milestones! Meaning, if she were born after this week, she would most likely not have any issues with development. We are thankful!

I had another appointment with my midwife yesterday. Everything looks good!

I felt Mango flip around earlier this week so that all of her limbs were facing out and she was lying on her back. It was so fun feeling her little hands and feet pressing against my belly! She is back to lying on her side again (still head-down). I love feeling her move! She had the hiccups earlier this morning, which was super cute.

Have you heard people say that more babies are born on a full moon? There is a full moon on February 7, so I've been looking into this more. :) Any thoughts on this?

Week thirty-seven with Vera.

Glass Straws

2012-01-25T08:26:00.000-05:00

I'm reviewing reusable glass drinking straws from Strawesome on She {hearts} It today (as well as giving one away)!

Read my review on She {hearts} It here!

Favorite Go-To Meals (Easy, Healthy, & Frugal!)

2012-01-24T08:00:00.000-05:00

Today I want to share with you some of my favorite easy, healthy, go-to meals that can be served for either lunch or dinner! Many of these meal ideas can be made with simple ingredients that I almost always have on hand.

Creamy Tomato Soup
This soup is SO easy to whip up, and it's one of my all-time favorite soups! It's a great Sunday afternoon meal because of how fast it can be prepared, but we love it any day of the week! Garnish it with cheese, croutons, and/or green onions, and serve with some homemade bread and/or a salad on the side.

Chili
While I enjoy a batch of chili that has been cooked all day as much as the next person, chili can be made on the fly! I dump a few cans of beans in a pot, season (with chopped onions, garlic powder, chili powder, paprika, pepper, and cumin), and heat. Grate some cheese on top and you have a meal! So good with cornbread (love this recipe, but a box mix works when you're in a hurry).

Quesadillas
It doesn't get much easier than whole-wheat tortillas + cheese! I almost always have both of these ingredients on hand, so this is also a great go-to meal. I serve it with black beans for protein, as well as toppings such as shredded lettuce/spinach, salsa/tomatoes, and sour cream.

Grilled Cheese
Again, so simple. Just melt your favorite cheese between two slices of bread, and serve with a side salad, soup, or fresh fruit & veggies.

Cheese Platter
This meal excites Tad more than (almost) any other! Arrange several types of cheese on a plate, then add crackers, fruit (grapes, apples, etc.), veggies, and pretty much anything else you enjoy snacking on (i.e., hummus, etc.). It's like having snack for lunch, and it's surprisingly still filling! It's my sneaky little way of cleaning out the fridge. We enjoy this sometimes on Sunday nights.

Chef Salads
Simple and light... start with a bed of lettuce (we like romaine), then add spinach leaves and whatever other greens you like/have on hand (arugula, etc.). Top with whatever veggies you desire, then throw some protein on top. You can add meat (a great way to use up a leftover piece of chicken or beef) or beans (black beans, chickpeas, etc.). Top with your favorite dressing, cheese, and croutons!

Wraps
I love a good wrap at a restaurant, and they aren't that hard to make at home! Toss shredded lettuce/spinach, cooked chicken, cheese, and dressing of choice in a bowl, then use to fill whole wheat tortillas. Be creative with your combinations (i.e., romaine + chicken + parmesan + Caesar dressing, or spinach + chicken + cheddar + chipotle sauce).

Chimichangas
I don't deep-fry these, so they are not "traditional." I just heat up some pinto beans and season them with cumin and chili powder. I spread some beans in a tortilla, top with cheddar cheese, fold up on all four sides, and then heat in a skillet until both sides of the tortilla are lightly browned. Yum!

Loaded Baked Potatoes
We have loaded baked potatoes pretty regularly for lunch. I "bake" the potatoes in the microwave because it is so much faster. We load them up with butter, sour cream, cheese, leftover meat, green onions, cooked broccoli, etc. Just use what you have on hand!

Scrambled Eggs
No recipe needed for this one either! We love to eat scrambled eggs for lunch or dinner (not just breakfast!). We often add cheese and spinach, and sometimes minced garlic. Serve with toast and juice.

Tostados
This is another great Mexican dish that we enjoy eating. They are frugal to make, quick, and tasty!

What are your favorite easy, healthy, go-to meals for lunch or dinner?
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Postpartum Recovery and Care

2012-01-23T08:00:00.000-05:00

I've been putting together a little box in the bathroom closet with things I will need after the baby comes. (I am taking a few of these things with me to the hospital too.) Thought you might like seeing what's on my list! I recovered really well (I think) from my labor and delivery last time, so I am praying towards that end this time as well (though I know each birth can be so different).

Natural Postpartum Healing and Recovery Kit
-Arnica gel* (to help prevent bruising; I used this last time on my face after pushing and I think it helped keep all my blood vessels from bursting)
-Vitamin E oil* (for external healing and to soothe my shrinking tummy)
-raw honey (for external healing... I have heard it has great natural healing properties)
-cocoa butter stretch mark lotion* (to keep my tummy from itching)
-heavy pads
-postpartum bath herbs (for soaking)
-peri bottles (for cleansing)
-witch hazel/cotton pads (for hemorrhoids, yuck)
-epsom salts (for soaking)
-a sitz bath (for soaking/healing)
-Fenugreek* (to help my milk come in)
-mother's milk tea (to help my milk come in)
-Motrin (for pain management)
-shower gel* (to help me feel human again, haha)
*taking to hospital with me

Oh, and of course I have gathered my nursing supplies together too!

Breastfeeding "Kit"
-lanolin (can't say enough good things about lanolin!)
-cloth nursing pads (love Bamboobies!)
-disposable nursing pads (I use them at the beginning when there is lots of leakage)
-nursing covers (for nursing in public)
-gel pads (for relief of engorgement)
-nursing bras and camis (essential!)
-pump
-Boppy pillow

Is there anything else you recommend for natural postpartum recovery and care or breastfeeding?

New Year, New You: Series Recap

2012-01-22T17:01:00.000-05:00

I hope you enjoyed the New Year, New You series of posts we covered in the first couple of weeks of January! In case you missed any of them, here are all of the topics we talked about.

-set SMART goals
-eat less sugar (with a free printable)
-have more date nights
-read more books
-organize your closets
-read through the Bible
-organize your purse
-use a cash envelope system

Hope your new year is off to a great start!!

Hoop Art

2012-01-20T22:53:00.001-05:00

Our nursery is really coming together beautifully! It's amazing to see how far it has come in just a week. Here's a sneak peek of one wall. I decorated it with hoop art inspired by several pins on Pinterest.

I love how it looks! Can't wait to show off the rest of the room soon!

Linking to:

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Nursery Progress

2012-01-19T18:43:00.000-05:00

As I mentioned earlier this week, we worked on painting the nursery! We finally finished it yesterday, after 22 combined man-hours of work. It looks beautiful, so it was all worth it! We still need to move all the furniture back in the room and decorate, but it's well on the way to being finished. Here are a couple of photos!

Vera loves her little table (IKEA Lack) and chair (gift)! She played with blocks on it for several minutes earlier this afternoon (yep... 5 minutes with one activity is long for her!).

Week Thirty-Six

2012-01-18T14:34:00.001-05:00

I am really getting excited about having a baby soon!! When I look at the little tiny newborn clothes I've been packing to take to the hospital, I can't help but smile and remember with such fondness how wonderful it was when Vera was first born. (She's wonderful now too!)

I can really feel Mango bearing down now (she is head down, as far as we can tell). I have had some Braxton Hicks contractions this week, but they haven't made me "progress" any yet. I have taken Tylenol PM a couple of times so that I could sleep at night. I have been exhausted yet unable to sleep solidly, so the medicine has really helped.

Everything went well at my appointment with my midwife yesterday. I'll be going every week from here on out now!

We've worked really hard on painting the nursery this week. I've also been working on getting things checked off of my baby countdown list! Lots still to do, but we're getting there!

Week thirty-six with Vera.

Guess What?

2012-01-16T15:33:00.000-05:00

Can you guess what we're doing today?

We are painting the girls' room! (I love saying that... girls plural!)

The room is huge and has tons of beautiful, detailed molding (crown molding, chair rail, thick baseboards, etc.) as well as two windows and two doors. We've put a combined total of 12.5 man hours into it already, but we are making lots of progress!

We'll keep you posted!

Mantle Re-Do: Turquoise & Birds Edition

2012-01-13T09:32:00.000-05:00

I just redid my mantle after Christmas with some fun new colors! I usually stick more to neutrals/greens, but this time I added a pop of turquoise, which I love!

I know it's a little "springy," but it sure feels like spring here (lots of sunshine)!
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New Year, New You: Use a Cash Envelope System

2012-01-12T08:00:00.000-05:00

I've been using a cash envelope system for our grocery budget for a whole 52 weeks now. It has worked beautifully for our family! Before we started using cash to buy groceries, 1) I was more likely to go over-budget, or 2) sometimes the "grocery money" in the bank account would get used for something else, and then there was no money for groceries come shopping day. We're both glad we have a better system in place now!

The way the system works for us is that Tad withdraws our weekly grocery budget (as well as our tithe) as soon as he deposits his paycheck each week. Every week I know I have a certain amount to spend, and when it's gone, it's gone. I have to live within our means!

Here's the fun part, though... whatever I don't spend from that amount each week goes into another envelope. This "grocery surplus fund" allows me to make special purchases (bulk foods, strawberries, stock-ups on sales, etc.) that I ordinarily wouldn't have the money for on a weekly basis. I consistently come in under budget each week now (by the grace of God, for sure), and I enjoy getting to save those extra few dollars for future grocery purchases.

I know lots of other people use the cash envelope system for all of their budget categories, but for now, this is the one category that really makes sense for our family. Every family is different, though!

I used bank envelopes (the ones they give you your cash back in) all of last year, but I got tired of how drab they looked. I decided to replace them with cute envelopes made from scrapbooking paper!

To make your own...
-unfold a bank envelope carefully
-trace the outline of the envelope on the backside of the scrapbooking paper with a pencil
-cut it out
-score (using a ruler) along the flaps so it's easier to fold
-fold the flaps in just like the original envelope
-glue the bottom and side flaps
-label/decorate as desired

Do you use a cash envelope system for groceries? What about any other budgeted items? How does it work for your family?
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Week Thirty-Five

2012-01-11T14:56:00.000-05:00

My "nesting instinct" officially kicked in this week! I've been SO productive, getting lots of things organized, cleaned, and in order. I love this time in the pregnancy! I feel like I am able to conquer any task and I have the energy and motivation to do so. Yes, I'm exhausted at the end of the day, but there is quite a satisfaction that comes along with getting things done.

Week thirty-five with Vera.

New Year, New You: Organize Your Purse

2012-01-11T08:00:00.000-05:00

My purse used to be a source of frustration for me. Not only was it hard to find important things in the midst of the trash and junk that collected in the bottom of my purse, but I was almost constantly finding sticky places where mints or gum melted or an ink pin exploded. Gross!

Recently I've been able to try out some GREAT bags from Gigi Hill, LLC! Because of their purses which make organization on the go so much easier, I feel more relaxed when I leave the house now, since I know I have everything I need in my bag! Another great feature about these bags is that they are wipe-able. Goodbye sticky spots and ink stains!

I'm posting a full review of a Gigi Hill handbag, wallet, and totebag over on She {hearts} It today. PLUS, you can enter to win one of their beautiful Rita wallets (ARV $49) simply by leaving a comment!

Go read my Gigi Hill review today!

Venison (or Beef) Fajitas - Slow Cooker Recipe

2012-01-10T11:40:00.000-05:00

I don't know about you, but I love using my Crockpot. There's something so nice about preparing dinner first thing in the morning, forgetting about it, then getting to enjoy it later without a lot of last-minute prep! This is a great recipe for helping venison be more tender and taste more like beef. We loved how it turned out! Oh, and the leftovers reheat great the next day!

Venison (or Beef) Fajitas in the Slow Cooker

1 1/2 pounds of venison (it doesn't have to be a great cut, since you'll be cooking it all day) or beef
1 1/2 tsp. chili powder
1 tsp. cumin
1/2 tsp. salt (I may use 1/4 tsp. next time, since I thought it was a little salty)
1/4 tsp. black pepper
2 Tbsp. low-sodium soy sauce
1 jalepeno pepper, seeded and chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
2-3 bell peppers, any color, sliced
1 onion, sliced
for serving: whole wheat tortillas, torn spinach leaves, cilantro, sour cream, grated cheese, tomatoes, etc.

In a small bowl, combine spices. Rub over all sides of meat. Place meat in slow cooker. On top of meat, add soy sauce, jalepeno pepper, garlic, peppers, and onion.

Cook on high for 5-6 hours or until meat is tender enough to be shredded with a fork.

Serve on whole wheat tortillas, topped with fixings of your choice (we used spinach, cilantro, Monterey Jack cheese, and sour cream).

Serves 4-6. Enjoy!

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New Year, New You: Read Through the Bible

2012-01-10T08:00:00.000-05:00

Many Christians resolve to read through the Bible in a year, and while this is a worthy goal, sometimes we get bogged down part way through the year (or fall hopelessly behind in our plan).

I like trying different Bible reading plans, particularly ones that have you read from several different sections of Scripture each day. (Instead of starting in Genesis and just powering through to Revelation, you may be reading a chapter in Psalms, Genesis, 1 Chronicles, and Luke on a given day.)

I found this great list of Bible reading plans at the start of this year, and it's not too late to jump on board with one of them!

This year, I'm doing the ESV Bible reading plan. On this plan, I will read through the entire Bible once, as well as read Psalms, Isaiah, Luke, and Romans twice. There is a great PDF checklist to help you stay on track (you know I love checking off little boxes!).

Are you doing a Bible reading plan this year? Tell us about it!

Baby Countdown Checklist

2012-01-09T13:26:00.000-05:00

it wasn't so very long ago that we brought this sweet little one home with us!

I realized over the weekend how many things I still have on my to-do list for preparing for the new baby! I broke down my list into smaller chunks that I can accomplish each week. If I get ahead of schedule, all the better!

Week 34
-pre-wash new diapers (done)
-buy cloth diaper detergent (done)

Week 35
-paint nursery
-arrange care for Vera for when I go into labor
-write notes for Vera's caretaker(s)
-deep-clean our bedroom (since Mango will be in there with us at first)
-make a new batch of laundry detergent

Week 36
-gather breastfeeding supplies (covers, pads, lanolin, nursing bras, etc.)
-get out newborn clothes
-set up nursery (move around furniture, arrange closet, hang curtains, maybe decorate a little, etc.)
-pack hospital bags (mine, Tad's, baby's)
-pack Vera's bag

Week 37
-bake several loaves of whole-wheat bread and freeze
-make a few meals for the freezer
-create a freezer inventory list with cooking instructions
-stock pantry with staples (brown rice, oatmeal, etc.)
-take maternity photos (?)

Week 38
-write shower thank-you notes
-catch up (or get ahead!)

Week 39
-buy any last-minute needs (disposable diapers, etc.)
-thoroughly clean out fridge
-thoroughly clean both bathrooms
-get a haircut

Week 40
-set up pack 'n' play in our bedroom

Week 41
-get a pedicure (it's my reward if I'm still great with child...ha!)

New Year, New You: Organize Your Closets

2012-01-09T08:00:00.000-05:00

Tad's mom recently posted about her goal for the New Year... organize her closets! I love how she broke down her goal into smaller bites that can easily be accomplished on a monthly basis.

I thought it might be fun to share a few inspirational images for her to help motivate her on her quest to attack her closets this year (and maybe it will motivate you to organize your closets as well)! I always find that looking at pictures of clean closets makes me want to clean out my own. :)

Linen/bathroom closets

via

Hall closets

via

Bedroom closets

via

Cloffices (closets converted to offices)


via

via

Do you have any closets in need of cleaning or organizing? (If not, please share your organization secrets! ha!)
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Paperback Swap

2012-01-08T19:23:00.002-05:00

I just realized I've never blogged about one of my favorite ways to get cheap/nearly free books! I've been using Paperback Swap since my sweet sister-in-law introduced me to it.

Here's how it works. Sign up for a new account, then post ten books (paperback or hardback; it doesn't matter) you wouldn't mind clearing off your shelves. You'll receive two credits (which you can immediately redeem for two free books) as soon as you list those first ten books. After that, to earn more credits, people will need to order your books. Once someone orders one of your books, you are responsible to mail the book to them (you pay the shipping cost... usually $2-$3). When they receive the book, then you'll get another credit. You can also purchase more credits if you really want a book, but I have only done that once. I have a pretty long wish list on PBS of books I'd like to order if/when they become available. It's easy to search for books and add them to your list!

Here are some of the books I've gotten through PBS: The Peacemaker by Ken Sande; The Path of Loneliness by Elisabeth Elliot; Teaching Montessori in the Home by Elizabeth Hainstock; Peace Like a River (for Tad) by Leif Enger; Why Government Doesn't Work (for Tad) by Harry Browne; Charlotte's Web by E.B. White; Let Me Be a Woman by Elisabeth Elliot; How to Teach Your Baby to Read by Glenn Doman; Super Baby Food by Ruth Yaron; Things We Wish We'd Known ed. by Diana Waring; The Power of a Praying Parent by Stormie Omartian; Apples of Gold by Betty Huizenga; The Power of a Praying Woman by Stormie Omartian. (I have been a member for about a year.)

If you're a bibliophile like me, then you'll want to check out Paperback Swap!

The links in this post are affiliate links, meaning if you sign up for PBS using these links, I will receive one credit. Thanks!

Books Read in 2011

2012-01-07T22:43:00.000-05:00

As promised, here is my final list of books read in 2011! I think I remembered to include most of them.

Loving the Little Years: Motherhood in the Trenches by Rachel Jankovic
Parenting in the Pew by Robbie Castleman
Apples of Gold: A Six-Week Nurturing Program for Women by Betty Huizenga
Things We Wish We'd Known (50 Veteran Homeschoolers Share) compiled and edited by Bill & Diana Waring
The Ministry of Motherhood by Sally Clarkson
Let Me Be a Woman by Elisabeth Elliot
The Angel of the Opera by Sam Siciliano
Choosing Gratitude by Nancy Leigh DeMoss
Don't Waste Your Life by John Piper
Lies Women Believe and the Truth that Sets Them Free by Nancy Leigh DeMoss
The Help by Kathryn Stockett
The Organized Heart by Staci Eastin
The Stay at Home Mom by Donna Otto
One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp

Still reading (for two Bible studies):
And We Are Changed: Encounters with a Transforming God by Priscilla Shirer
Dug Down Deep by Joshua Harris

What was the best book you read in 2011?

New Year, New You: Read More Books

2012-01-07T08:33:00.000-05:00

Last year, I challenged myself and my readers to read 11 books in 2011. How did you do on the challenge? I need to post a final recap of the books I finished before the year was out, but my total for the year came to 14 finished books (not counting two books I'm still in the middle of reading).

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This year, I am setting some more specific reading goals. I am aiming to read:
-one book a month (at least), for a total of 12 in 2012
-at least three Christian biographies (a category I've been lacking in)
-the unabridged version of Les Miserables (a challenge, but one that I'm looking forward to... and that my husband is joining me in!)
-The Hobbit (of course, in preparation for the movie which comes out in December!)

My sweet hubby gave me a Kindle Fire for Christmas, so I'm looking forward to reading some ebooks on that this year! It's a great way to read free public domain books (find them at Amazon, Google, and Gutenberg). Visiting your public library is another great way to read books for free. :)

What are your reading goals for this coming year? Remember this quote that my mom loves!
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New Year, New You: Have More Date Nights

2012-01-06T08:00:00.000-05:00

I don't know about you, but with having a toddler and a baby on the way, date nights with my hubby have kind of become a thing of the past! Add in the limitation of finances (after paying for a sitter, we wouldn't have any left to spend on the date!), and you can understand why it's been a while since our last "real date."

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Tad and I talked about this goal together, and we decided that we will try and plan one at-home (or away from home, on the rare occasion that it works out) date night per month. Thursdays are a good night for us since we don't have any church services, Bible studies, or youth events (usually) going on that night of the week.

We decided that we will alternate planning the date night, which will include cooking a meal and deciding on a game or activity. Vera goes to bed at 7pm, so we'll just start our "date" after we tuck her in bed. We're really looking forward to spending quality time together! We're hoping to work in January and February's date nights before Baby Mango arrives.

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If having more dates with your husband is one of your goals for the new year (remember, for this to be attainable you'll need to decide this with him!), then here are a few resources that might help you (for many of these links, I can't endorse every idea recommended... please use your discretion):

-Valentine's Day ideas abound on Pinterest, so look there when planning your February date night (or to infuse a little romance throughout the rest of the year)!
-Leaps of Love (many great ideas)
-Doing Your Husband Good Part 1
-Doing Your Husband Good Part 2
-Doing Your Husband Good Part 3
-Doing Your Husband Good Part 4
-Doing Your Husband Good Part 5
-The Dating Divas have lots of creative ideas for planning date nights with your spouse
-DIY date night kit
-50 questions to ask your spouse on a date night
-can of date ideas
-year of date ideas
-take the 5 love languages test together
-52 date night ideas
-quick sweet treats to show your hubby you love him!
-the 12 daytz of Christmas

If you've blogged about creative date night ideas in the past, feel free to share a link in the comments section! I know we'd all love the inspiration!

How do you make time for date nights with your hubby?
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New Year, New You: Eat Less Sugar (with printable)

2012-01-05T11:49:00.000-05:00

While this doesn't exactly fall into the category of a SMART goal, eating less sugar is definitely something I would like to do this coming year!

Here are some ways to break that goal down into measurable bites:
-take a sugar detox (I did this January 1-3 to help me recover from my holiday indulgences!)
-continue (or start!) replacing white sugar in recipes with healthier alternatives, such as sucanat, honey, and pure maple syrup
-limit daily sugar intake to just one special treat a day or less (we were given a box of Godiva chocolates for Christmas, and just one of those rich chocolates more than satiates my sweet tooth!)

Really, this area, like many others, comes down to self-control! To serve as a funny little reminder, I made a printable for you to put up somewhere in your house. Enjoy!

Printable for personal use only. Please link back to this post at Feathers in Our Nest when sharing it with others. To use, right-mouse click on the image, then press save image as. To print, open the image and print on a 4x6 sheet of photo paper using your printer's photo settings.

Is eating less sugar something you want to do this year? If you already feel like you've arrived in this area, please share your tips with the rest of us!
Linking to:

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New Year, New You: SMART Goals

2012-01-05T11:35:00.003-05:00

Do you make New Year's resolutions? Or, do you sit down at the beginning of the year and write out goals for yourself? I have not been very good the past few years about setting SMART goals for myself (specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, timely), but I'd like to do better this year!

I'm starting a new mini-series here at Feathers in Our Nest to help me (and you, hopefully!) break down some larger goals into attainable steps.

When you set SMART goals, you first need to make sure that they are specific. Don't set a goal like "read more books"; instead say, "read 10 books this year." This will help you with the next point, which is...

Your goals need to be measurable. You can measure how many miles you run each week, but you can't necessarily measure "exercise more." Set goals that you can evaluate weekly or monthly to be sure you are staying on track with the vision you have set.

The third aspect of SMART goals is that they are attainable. Don't set a goal that is for someone else (i.e. "get my husband to help out around the house more."). Your goals should be attainable by you. They also shouldn't be so difficult to accomplish that you get discouraged. Which leads to...

Your goals also should be realistic. If you are a total couch potato, then setting a goal to run a marathon by March probably isn't the most realistic goal. On the other hand, don't be afraid to challenge yourself! Just be realistic about your goal-setting so that you don't give up.

Finally, your goals should be timely. A vague goal of "someday write a book" isn't actually going to help you out. Don't be afraid to set deadlines for yourself.

So, to kick off this new series, I want to ask you...
-what was/were your New Year's Resolution(s)?
-what goals do you have for yourself in this coming year?
-what would you like to do this year that you've never done before?

I have some ideas for posts for the next few weeks, but I'd love to target them specifically to what you'd like to read about! If I don't know how to do it, I'll find the answer somewhere!

Stay tuned for the first post in the series coming later today!
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Week Thirty-Four

2012-01-04T14:46:00.001-05:00

Since I put up last week's update late, not a whole lot has changed!

I did have an appointment with my midwife yesterday, though. She said I'm measuring a little small (33 weeks), but that's fine. Mango's heartbeat is around 152, so that is great. One of the midwives (a new one at my practice) said I'm all baby! I'll be having appointments more often now that I'm getting closer to my due date!

Mango likes to move around more when Vera and I are singing together. I know she just can't wait to be a part of our little choir! :)

Week thirty-four with Vera.

Catching Up on Christmas Pictures

2012-01-03T08:30:00.000-05:00

Lots of pictures from Christmas... not a lot of words! They are pretty self-explanatory. :)

Hope you enjoyed this little glimpse into our Christmas celebration!

Week Thirty-Three

2011-12-28T11:49:00.000-05:00

I'm really behind in posting this, but I wanted to get it up anyway!

This was a bit of a harder week for me, and I'm not totally sure why. I am thankful that I can feel Mango moving a lot, but the really sharp kicks in the ribs are pretty constant now and sometimes catch me off guard. I feel huge at this point, and my back hurts some from all of the extra weight in the front.

Still, I am so blessed to be having a healthy pregnancy and to only be experiencing minor, normal pregnancy symptoms!

My mom said I'm carrying high, like she always did with her babies.

Week thirty-three with Vera.

A Cute Cloth Diaper

2011-12-28T08:52:00.000-05:00

I'm over at She {hearts} It today reviewing a really cute cloth diaper! Check it out here. P.S. There is a giveaway!

Holiday Vacation

2011-12-26T08:49:00.000-05:00

I'm taking this week off from posting on our blog (though I may pop in once or twice) so that I can continue to celebrate Christmas (and New Year's!) with my wonderful family. I'll be back with lots of holiday pictures after the New Year!

Christmas morning at church

Happy holidays to you and yours!

Not a Silent Night

2011-12-25T08:32:00.000-05:00

I've posted this video before, but it's one of my favorites to watch around Christmastime! Hope you enjoy it as well!

Merry Christmas!

Tutu

2011-12-24T12:31:00.004-05:00

Aunt Angela made this sweet little Christmas tutu for Vera. She thoroughly enjoyed waltzing around the living room in it this morning!

We think she's pretty cute!

A Christmas Card for You

2011-12-23T14:10:00.001-05:00

Merry Christmas from our family to yours!

Week Thirty-Two

2011-12-21T15:22:00.001-05:00

I feel like we're definitely on the "home stretch" now towards meeting our baby girl! She could be here anywhere from six to ten weeks from now, so that is very exciting. I'm guessing she'll be here towards the later end of that spectrum, since Vera was so "late" and because I'm against unnecessary induction.

I feel somewhat depleted of energy lately, but I think that's party due to how busy I've been with Christmas preparations, parties, baking, and gift-making. In the mornings when I wake up I often feel like I've been hit by a truck... not the best way to start the day! Hopefully I'll be able to rest up some in January to prepare for labor!

I experienced excruciating back pain last night (I woke up crying around midnight from the pain so Tad went and got me some Tylenol PM, which I almost never take). It could have been from sitting on the floor wrapping presents or from poor posture at my desk, but I think maybe Mango was pushing on a nerve or something. It feels fine this morning!

Mango is a busy girl just like her sister, and because of how the placenta is positioned this time (at the top of the womb, under my ribs), I can feel her limb movements more than I could with Vera. It's fun to "see" a little elbow/knee poking out now and then! She's actually moving now as I type this. :)

I haven't yet:
-packed a single thing for the hospital
-purchased any necessary baby things (newborn disposable diapers, disposable nursing pads, etc.)
-made any meals for the freezer
-gotten the nursery ready for two
But I still have plenty of time, right? :)

Week thirty-two with Vera.

Easy Last Minute Christmas Gift: Vanilla Sugar Scrub

2011-12-20T18:43:00.000-05:00

Here's an easy, last-minute Christmas gift idea for you to make! (You don't even have to be "crafty"!)

Vanilla Sugar Scrub

Combine 1 cup white sugar, 1 cup brown sugar, and 1 tsp. vanilla extract in a bowl. Stir well. Add enough olive oil to give it the texture of wet sand. Place the sugar scrub in small containers. (I used clean, dry baby food jars.) Decorate the containers as desired! (I used scrap paper for the lids and made labels with directions.)

Include these directions with your gifts: Rub a small amount of sugar scrub into hands for sixty seconds, then rinse with warm water.

I gave these to some of my girlfriends, as well as to Vera's Sunday School/AWANA teachers.

I love that it...
1) is easy to make
2) uses simple ingredients I have on hand
3) isn't edible, but is consumable (no clutter!)

Are you still making any Christmas gifts or are you all finished? I made a lot of baked goods this year (and by a lot I mean 33+ dozen cookies)!
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Ho Ho Ho

2011-12-20T09:05:00.001-05:00

I'll be back later today with a quick and easy (and nearly free!) Christmas gift for you to make.

Until then, I'm finishing up the last of my Christmas shopping (stocking stuffers for Tad and Vera)!

Hope all of your Christmas preparations are going well too.

Ladies' Christmas Party

2011-12-16T08:30:00.000-05:00

I was so excited to have a fun group of ladies over to our house last evening for a Christmas party! Several ladies had children get sick at the last minute, but we still had a great time with those who were able to make it!

Kelly, me, Carrie, & Heather

We had lots of yummy cookies and fruit to eat...

...plus hot chocolate and coffee to drink!

I'm so thankful that the Lord brought each of these ladies into my life!

does anyone else think pomegranates look like big Christmas ornaments?

Popcorn in the Microwave

2011-12-15T08:30:00.000-05:00

I mentioned last week in my real food post that we make popcorn in just a bag in the microwave instead of buying bags of microwave popcorn. I hope it will interest some of you to learn exactly how we do that!

Place a small amount of kernels in the bottom of a brown paper lunch bag. Don't put too many... any more than a single layer is too much.

Fold over bag twice. (You may use one staple to secure it if you think you need it, but we usually don't.) Place bag on its side and shake it around a little so the kernels are once again in a single layer.

Place bag in the microwave and set it for about 4 minutes (you will not leave it in that long). Listen as it pops and remove it as soon as you hear it slow down (the first 3-4 second gap). If any kernels do get burnt, you can remove them and the rest of the popcorn will still taste fine.

Pour popcorn in a bowl and top as desired. Some of our favorite combinations:
-melted butter and popcorn salt
-melted butter and jalepeno popcorn salt
-melted butter and cinnamon sugar (or sugar alternative)

Let us know if you try making it this way! Enjoy!

(We also make it another way too, using coconut oil heated in a large pan with a lid on the stovetop, but that method will have to wait for another post.)

Week Thirty-One

2011-12-14T15:00:00.000-05:00

At my appointment on Monday, everything was fine! I'm measuring at thirty weeks and Mango's heartbeat was in the 140's. I'm thankful for how healthy our baby girl seems to be.

I've been sleeping well at night, so I'm also thankful for that. I don't have a lot of negative pregnancy symptoms right now, so that's awesome. I am very blessed that I can nap in the afternoons (several days each week) while Vera is sleeping. Naps are the best!

My belly looks a little smaller than it did last week, so maybe Mango is curled up a little more today. I can really feel her "bearing down" at times, which I think is good and may help labor to progress more quickly when that time comes.

Week thirty-one with Vera.

My Musical Daughter

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

Vera loves this new musical toy set! She loves playing with all of the different instruments.

I'm posting a full review over on She {hearts} It today!

Garlic & Spinach White Cheese Pizza

2011-12-13T11:31:00.001-05:00

(aka the Best Pizza with the Worst Photos Ever!)

I made this pizza for dinner last night, and I'm not gonna lie, it was pretty amazing! I just HAD to share the recipe with you even though the photos are terrible. (It's hard to take good pictures of dinner now that it's so dark so early!)

Garlic & Spinach White Cheese Pizza

1 crust recipe here (or your favorite crust)
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 Tbsp. olive oil
mozzarella cheese (about 4 oz. or more, grated)
ricotta cheese (about 4 Tbsp., crumbled)
parmesan cheese (grated, not from a green can)
spinach leaves (a few large handfuls, torn)
mushrooms (about 4 oz., sliced) - optional
fresh basil leaves - optional

Prepare your crust as directed here. (I used freshly ground soft white wheat flour last night and it was GREAT!). Bake crust at 400 degrees for 7-8 minutes by itself. While it's baking, you can prep your other ingredients.

Combine minced garlic with olive oil. Brush onto partially baked crust as soon as you remove it from the oven.

Layer your toppings on your crust in this order: mozzarella cheese, ricotta cheese, parmesan cheese, spinach, and mushrooms (optional).

Bake pizza for 12-16 minutes until crust is baked through and cheese is melted and bubbly.

Slice, and serve sprinkled with fresh basil leaves and crushed red pepper flakes.

Enjoy!

Like this recipe? Follow me so you never miss a new recipe post!
For more of our family's favorite recipes, click here.

Linked to:
Must Try Monday
Tasty Tuesday
Tempt My Tummy Tuesday
Tuesdays at the Table
Tuesday Night Supper Club
Tatertots & Jello
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eBook Sale

2011-12-13T08:33:00.003-05:00

For those of you who have eBook readers, I thought I would let you know about a great sale going on right now!

At Shepherd Press, all their eBooks are currently on sale for $.99 through the end of December! They offer versions for the iPad and for the Kindle.

Tad and I highly recommend these titles:
-Don't Make Me Count to Three (review here)
-When Sinners Say "I Do"
-Get Outta My Face
-Shepherding a Child's Heart

I believe physical copies of their books are also on sale for only $4.99 until December 15.

*I was not paid or perked in any way to write this post... I just wanted to share a great deal with you!

Christmas Play

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

Vera was in a little Christmas number at church yesterday! The little ones sang a few songs at the beginning of the service.

It was really sweet... and Miss Ritchie managed to keep her up on stage for the whole thing!

Real Food Baby Steps

2011-12-10T19:40:00.000-05:00

We've been slowing changing our shopping, cooking, and eating habits to be more healthy. We are trying to eat more real (not processed) foods, so that involves a little more footwork when it comes to both shopping and preparation.

I really believe that it is worth it for our family's health! While it does take more time to prepare real foods from scratch, everything tastes so much better and I am willing to devote that time to my family. I really do feel better when I am eating real foods!

Real foods seem more expensive at the onset, but I am realizing that as I cut out more convenience foods (frozen meals, canned soups, etc.) and junk foods (ice cream, chips, etc.), I can still afford to stay within my grocery budget (which is $50/week, by the way).

making turkey stock after Thanksgiving

Here are a few of the ways we have recently shifted to more real foods:

-switched from white rice to brown rice (not a huge deal, except brown rice takes longer to cook)
-switched from store-bought whole wheat bread to homemade bread made with freshly ground wheat flour
-in the process* of switching out all of our white flour with freshly ground whole wheat flour
-in the process* of switching from regular pasta to whole wheat pasta (there is a cost difference, but we're making it work)
-in the process* of switching from flour tortillas to whole wheat tortillas (they actually taste better, but they also cost more)
-I switched from coffee to tea in the mornings when I just want something warm to drink :)
-switched from sugar to honey in my tea (if I sweeten it at all)
-switched Tad from sugar in his coffee to organic evaporated cane juice (still not the best, but better!)
-switched from oatmeal sweetened with brown sugar to oatmeal lightly sweetened (if at all) with honey or pure maple syrup
-switched from pancake syrup to pure maple syrup (yes, expensive - but we eat less of it and it's a treat)
-in the process* of switching to all-natural sweeteners for everything (sucanat, honey, and pure maple syrup instead of white or brown sugar)
-switched from highly processed hot chocolate mix to homemade hot chocolate
-switched from table salt to sea salt
*by "in the process" I mean we are still eating the rest of what was already in our pantry so no food goes to waste

whole wheat waffles

Things we were already doing:

-drinking water at all meals
-reading ingredient labels when we shopped
-rarely eating fast food
-drinking whole milk most of the time
-using butter (never margarine)
-buying blocks of cheese and grating it ourselves
-eating oatmeal made with just oats (instead of those little packets)
-making most foods from scratch (spaghetti sauce, pizza sauce, pizza crust, mashed potatoes, hummus, cornbread, waffles, macaroni and cheese, etc.)
-making our own spice blends (taco seasoning, chili seasoning, meat rubs, etc.)
-rarely eating chips (with the exception of our favorite organic blue corn tortilla chips)
-only eating lunchmeat (on the rare occasion we do buy it) without nitrates
-eating fresh or frozen vegetables instead of canned
-avoiding high fructose corn syrup
-avoiding soy as much as possible
-using olive oil most of the time
-not drinking soda
-making popcorn in a brown paper bag in the microwave instead of buying microwave popcorn
-making our own chicken stock
-buying wild caught fish (Alaskan salmon is our favorite)

salmon cakes (Jamie Oliver's recipe)

Things I would like to still do:

-adapt our favorite dessert recipes to use natural sweeteners and whole wheat flour
-soak and cook my own beans (I currently use canned - rinsed, of course)
-buy more local produce
-buy more local farm eggs
-buy local farm-raised chicken and beef (this will require saving up some money!)
-experiment with different grains (barley, spelt, millet, etc.)
-make my own salad dressings (trying this this week!)
-completely cut out canola oil
-use more coconut oil (and also try sesame oil)
-switch to organic popcorn
-make homemade applesauce (it's not hard - I just haven't done it yet!)
-make my own peanut/almond butter (apparently you can do make in a food processor)

We're definitely not perfect in our eating habits by any means, and we certainly do not aim to be legalistic. Nothing about the way we eat is earning us "more favor" with God or gives us any license to act like we are superior to anyone else around us. We have just personally been led to make some of these choices for our family, and we understand that the way we do things may not be how everyone else does them!

What baby steps are you taking in your family towards more healthy eating?

A lot of the inspiration for this post came from Modern Alternative Mama and 100 Days of Real Food.

We Need a Little Christmas

2011-12-10T12:31:00.001-05:00

We haven't totally decorated for Christmas yet (we were the only house on the block with a pumpkin still on the front porch last week), but we have done a few things! Here are a few pictures to tide you over until we get the tree and mantle finished.

Have you been decorating for Christmas too?

Starbucks Knock-Offs

2011-12-08T08:08:00.000-05:00

via

Lately we've been trying some new espresso drinks (we serve them to our youth who come over for Bible study), like this awesome Salted Caramel Mocha.

Up next to try:

via

this Gingerbread Latte

via

and this White Chocolate Mocha

These are, of course, special treats that we do not have on a regular basis!

Do you like to make your coffee drinks at home? There's something special about going out for coffee, but at almost $8 for two tall drinks, we'd rather make ours at home!

Week Thirty

2011-12-07T13:01:00.000-05:00

Wow! Thirty weeks already! Where has this pregnancy gone? Baby Mango will be making her appearance before we know it. We still have a LOT to do to get ready, so she'd better hang tight for a while longer!

I read that my baby girl is about three pounds now. I feel her moving around a lot! You know how you are supposed to count kicks and make sure you feel 10 in an hour? Well I usually feel those 10 in 20 minutes or less!

I still feel sooo tired all the time, but I'm trying to get as much rest as I can. That's hard to do sometimes with this busy season! I'm a little dizzy occasionally, and I have to eat very regularly so I don't get cranky. :) This week I also started breaking out in hives randomly (on my hands and arms), which apparently can be caused by the pregnancy. Anyone else ever experience this?

We are thankful for our little blessing and can't wait to meet her!

Week thirty with Vera.

Wordless Wednesday

2011-12-07T08:58:00.001-05:00

Christmas in Narnia

2011-12-06T08:15:00.000-05:00

The Christmas celebration with Tad's family over the weekend was themed "Through the Wardrobe" - aka "Christmas in Narnia"! His parents did a great job decorating for our celebration!

"snow" fell from the ceiling, with their lovely tree illuminated in the background

a lamppost, Aslan, and some gifts from Father Christmas

a sleigh (not the White Witch's, because it has bells!)

everyone had to walk through the wardrobe to enter Narnia!

Aslan is on the move!

We dined lavishly on a Feast of Aslan - roasted meats, wheat cakes, oaten cakes, honey, pyramids of fruit, and many more delicacies. We of course had Turkish Delight as well (though not of the enchanted kind)!

"I’ve come at last. She has kept me out for a long time, but I have got in at last. Aslan is on the move. The Witch’s magic is weakening." (Father Christmas, in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, Ch. 10)

As Good as It Gets

2011-12-05T15:31:00.001-05:00

We celebrated Christmas with Tad's family over the weekend, and we attempted to get a picture of Grammy with all the grandchildren!

This one was pretty much the best one.

This one came in second.

Most of them turned out like this one!

At least we tried!

Family

2011-12-02T09:52:00.000-05:00

I love this photo of our family, taken back in October. We had quite the time getting Vera to smile for any pictures, but we think she still looked adorable!

Week Twenty-Nine

2011-12-01T11:39:00.000-05:00

Okay, now we actually have a name picked out for Mango! The one we picked out a month or so ago just didn't seem right, so we went in another direction. I really love it!

Mango has been moving so much this week that I've actually felt sick to my stomach at some points. I don't remember feeling that way with Vera, and she was really active too. I am sooo tired lately, even though I'm sleeping fairly well at night and eating really good (nutrient-dense) food. I'm hoping the nesting instinct will start kicking in before too long so I get some energy! Though I know it's important to get sleep now while I can. :)

Week twenty-nine with Vera.

Faith Like a Mustard Seed

2011-11-30T10:16:00.001-05:00

"For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you." Matthew 17:20

I sometimes feel like my faith is so very small. God has been doing awesome things for our family, yet I still have times of worry and doubt. Even when I do have faith, it seems like it is only as big as a mustard seed.

This week we have yet another amazing story to tell of how God is providing for our family!

Tad and I have been a little worried about our debt to the hospital, since we still owed over $4000 for Vera's birth and we will be adding probably around $6000 to that debt for Mango's birth in February. I have been praying and trusting (in my small faith) that God would provide what we need to pay each hospital bill as it comes.

Today Tad tried to pay the monthly hospital bill online, but there was an error. He called the hospital to ask about it. They told him that our bill is $0 - and that it has been PAID with just a notation of "charity." We still have no idea exactly what happened, other than that we serve a God who owns "the cattle on a thousand hills" (Psalm 50:10)!

In our mustard-seed-sized-faith, we had been praying for each monthly bill, but God took our faith and moved a mountain!

Praise Him!

Dark Hot Chocolate

2011-11-29T13:36:00.001-05:00

I'm crazy about hot chocolate when it's cold outside, but lately, since I've been trying to consume less sugar, I can't bring myself to use the little packets anymore (as good as they may taste)! I am also crazy about dark chocolate, so I came up with this recipe to appease my hot chocolate craving.

via

Dark Hot Chocolate

1 2/3 cup milk
1 1/2 Tbsp. good quality cocoa powder (I used unsweetened Trader Joe's brand)
1 1/2 Tbsp. sucanat (you could use refined sugar)
1 oz. dark chocolate, chopped (at least 70%-80%)
1/2 tsp. pure vanilla extract

In a small saucepan, heat milk slowly over low-to-medium heat. Add cocoa powder, sucanat, and chopped dark chocolate. Stir until combined and until the chocolate has melted. (At this point, I like to froth it with my Ikea frother, but this is optional.) When it reaches your desired temperature (be careful not to scorch it!), pour into a mug. Add vanilla extract and stir.

Serves one. (You can mix up more of the cocoa powder/sucanat blend using a 1:1 ratio. Just add 3 Tbsp. of your mix for each cup of hot chocolate!)

Enjoy!

Like this recipe? Follow me so you never miss a new recipe post!
For more of our family's favorite recipes, click here.

Linked to:
Tasty Tuesday
Tempt My Tummy Tuesday
Tuesdays at the Table
Tuesday Night Supper Club
Tatertots & Jello
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Christmas Freebies

2011-11-29T11:13:00.001-05:00

I've encountered some great Christmas freebies lately, and I wanted to share them with you!

Advent Guide from the Village Church - download the PDF here

Women of Faith Advent devotional: A Family Advent - download the PDF here

free Christmas album from Folk Angel - use code "WORSHIPGOD" here to download

more free Christmas music at NoiseTrade (there are at least 10 Christmas albums on the homepage, all free to download) - click here to browse

I don't know how long any of these freebies will be available, so make sure you get the ones you want soon!

Weekend with Family

2011-11-28T09:47:00.001-05:00

We were very blessed this weekend to be able to see both sides of our family! We spent Thanksgiving Day with Tad's side of the family, and loved getting to see many people we hadn't seen in a while. My camera was packed in my suitcase, so I don't actually have any pictures from our time with them. But we enjoyed wonderful food, as well as good conversation and an invigorating walk after our meal.

We spent Friday and part of Saturday with my family and with my brother Phillip's college roommate, Caleb. We had a great time with them as well! Here are some pictures.

our family

Caleb & Vera (she LOVED listening to him play the piano!)

Mom, Nicholas, Phillip, & Caleb

Mom (Mimi) with Vera

placecards (they say "God loves you" in Chinese)

Vera entertained us during the meal with her funny faces

Dad (Pops) with Vera

Hope each of you had a great Thanksgiving weekend as well!

Link Love

2011-11-25T08:47:00.000-05:00

Homemaking
-Cultural Cliches (great read, especially for young women)
-Seven Strategies for Having More Productive Days (applicable to all of us!)
-Don't Forget the Hospitality in Your Holiday Entertaining (a reminder we all need)

Health/Cooking
-Adapting Your Favorite Recipes to Increase Nutrition (a good one to bookmark for easy reference later)
-How to Bake with Coconut Oil (I need to work on this! This article was helpful)
-Buying Real Food from a Mainstream Supermarket (also very helpful)

Have a great weekend!

Thanksgiving

2011-11-24T10:14:00.000-05:00

"I will praise the name of God with a song; I will magnify Him with thanksgiving." Psalm 69:30

"Oh come, let us sing to the LORD; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into His presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to Him with songs of praise! For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods." Psalm 95:1-3

"Know that the LORD, He is God! It is He who made us, and we are His; we are His people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and His courts with praise! Give thanks to Him; bless His name! For the LORD is good; His steadfast love endures forever, and His faithfulness to all generations." Psalm 100:3-5

Have a wonderful day celebrating God's goodness to you!

Week Twenty-Eight

2011-11-23T14:09:00.000-05:00

We're entering the third trimester!

I feel like I have lots of news to share this week! At my appointment on Monday, they determined that Baby Mango is head down and that the placenta is exactly where it should be. Thanks for praying! They estimated that she weighs about 2 lbs. 7 oz. right now. Her legs are measuring long, so we think she is going to be a tall girl! Everything looks great with all her organs and her heartbeat. She was tightly curled up for most of the ultrasound, so we know she is quite content and comfortable right now. She likes to kick me in the ribs a lot, but I don't mind, since I love knowing she is alright.

We are blessed beyond measure with this new little life... who could be here in 12 weeks! Wow!

Week twenty-eight with Vera.

Escape-Proof Pajamas

2011-11-23T07:06:00.000-05:00

I'm over at She {hearts} It today reviewing and giving away a pair of Escapeejays - escape-proof pajamas!

Read the review and enter the giveaway here.

How Great Is Our God

2011-11-22T13:01:00.000-05:00

Some of you have no doubt seen this video already, since it's not new. But for those of you who haven't yet, I thought I would share! I never get tired of watching it, personally!

Skip to minute 7:30 if you don't want to watch the whole thing. The last seven minutes are worth your time!

Containers

2011-11-22T08:31:00.001-05:00

Vera's current obsession is with containers! She loves to open containers, see what's inside, put things in, and take things out of them. She loves this glass jar in particular. It's very sturdy, so even though she's dropped it lots, it hasn't broken. It's filled with extra laundry scoops, which she is fascinated by.

It's wonderful when something so simple can keep her entertained for so long!

This Week on She {hearts} It

2011-11-18T08:45:00.001-05:00

In case you missed it, there has been a lot going on at She {hearts} It this week!

Drea is giving away a Big Berkey Water Filtration System ($260 ARV).

Drea is also giving away a one year subscription to Zenfolio's (photo storage & client proofing) premium package ($100 ARV).

Tara is giving away a deluxe set of reusable snack bags, sandwich wraps, and cloth napkins from the Living Lady (plus there is a coupon code in the post!).

And, finally, Elisabeth is sharing how to make green Christmas tags!

Head on over to She {hearts} It today!

Week Twenty-Seven

2011-11-16T16:39:00.001-05:00

I am getting so excited about meeting our baby girl! I get really teary-eyed thinking about having a newborn snuggling on my chest again. I guess I'm just a little sentimental about how quickly Vera has become a toddler!

I have felt really good this week... nothing to complain about! I'm eating a LOT (real food) and you can totally tell with how much bigger my belly is this week. :) I don't mind, since her health is important and I want to make sure I'm eating enough good foods to nourish her.

Like I mentioned last week, please keep praying that my placenta is no longer low-lying but has instead moved into its proper position. We'll find out Monday!

Week twenty-seven with Vera.

Glass Balls

2011-11-16T10:34:00.001-05:00

I hope my mom won't mind me sharing this. She wrote this and posted it on her blog a while ago, but I think it's too important to be buried in those archives! I actually shared this with my Bible study girls last night, and it really resonated with all of us at our particular seasons of life. Hope that it can minister to you as well!

GLASS BALLS

We are all busy people and our lives are filled to the brim with many activities and responsibilities. We are like a performer juggling many balls. We juggle our family, our friends, our household chores, our community and church commitments. We juggle our personal health/fitness and our hobbies & interests. Everything that we are responsible for is like a "ball" that we are trying to keep up in the air.

Some balls are rubber. Cleaning my bathroom is a rubber ball. It will "bounce back" (still be there tomorrow and the next day...) if I drop it (don't attend to it today). Glass balls are the people in our lives. They won't usually bounce if we drop them. They are more likely to get nicked, cracked or even shattered if we don't keep them in the air.

My family members are glass balls to me. I want to be available to meet their needs and even to meet their desires. I don't want this busy season of my life to be so filled with the tyranny of the urgent that I don't spend time with the ones I love most. May God give me discernment and a servant's heart so I can always keep my glass balls high in the air.

Daily Chore Schedule

2011-11-15T08:38:00.001-05:00

Do you have a daily chore schedule in your house? Not for the kids, but for you! I tried one out last week and really liked it, so I modified it to better fit our house/family.

click image to download from original site

I found the cute printable chore chart here.

Here's what my schedule looks like right now (but I may continue to tweak it as time goes by).

Daily
dishes / wipe down countertops & stove / sweep kitchen / make bed / pick up & put away / laundry

Monday
take out all the trash / put trash can around front
KITCHEN
sweep / mop / wipe down all surfaces / clean out fridge / clean microwave / dust / clean windows / declutter / clear off table / organize cabinets / mop floor
DINING ROOM
declutter / wipe down surfaces / dust / vacuum

Tuesday
LIVING ROOM
declutter / put away toys / dust / decorate as needed / vacuum
OFFICE
put away toys / straighten desk / declutter / organize / vacuum

Wednesday
MASTER BEDROOM
wash sheets / declutter / straighten / clean off dressers / put away clothes & shoes / vacuum

Thursday
BATHROOMS (2)
clean sink & mirror / dust / wipe down walls, trim, & baseboard / pick up toys / declutter / wash towels and rugs / clean toilet / clean tub / sweep floor / mop floor

Friday
NURSERY
straighten clothes / wash crib sheets / pick up & put away / straighten changing table / store out of season and outgrown clothes / vacuum

Weekend
Off :)

Provision

2011-11-14T07:37:00.001-05:00

God has been providing for our family in some incredible ways lately!

We didn't have hot water for eighteen days due to a leaky pipe under our house, but God provided a friend at church who came over and fixed it for us on Saturday! We are grateful.

Another friend brought us a deer on Saturday! Tad and I spent Saturday evening cutting it up and putting it in the freezer. What provision! Have any venison recipes to share with us?

I could list SO many more ways the Lord is taking care of us right now! We have been blessed with unexpected monetary gifts as well as other specific items that we have prayed for. We serve a faithful God!

Week Twenty-Six

2011-11-10T09:48:00.000-05:00

Sorry... didn't feel like taking this picture yesterday.

Things have been going well this week. I'm feeling Mango move a lot more and I think she is going to be active like Vera. Mango is around nine inches long this week and weighs about two pounds! Her eyelids are opening this week as well, which is exciting. She can also hear better now due to increases in her ear development.

I'm definitely growing a lot to give her more room. I think I'm going to have to give up my regular jeans soon. My belly button has totally popped out, which is a lot earlier than last time. Vera loves comparing her belly button with mine!

I have been sleeping less at night and getting up earlier in the mornings to get things done, since I feel more productive then. Sometimes I crash in the afternoons and take a nap when Vera does, but overall I am feeling less tired.

Week twenty-six with Vera.

Fluffy

2011-11-10T07:20:00.000-05:00

I love how cute & fluffy my baby's bottom looks in cloth diapers. It's just one of the many perks of cloth diapering. :)

On She {hearts} It today, I posted a review of a new diaper I tried called Smartipants. I loooove them! Go read why I'm thinking about buying all Smartipants diapers for the new baby!

P.S. I'm also giving one away!

The WonderMill!

2011-11-09T07:04:00.000-05:00

As I mentioned in yesterday's post, I have a WonderMill grain mill now! I wrote a full review on it on She {hearts} It today, and I'd love it if you would check it out!

Read my WonderMill review here.

Whole-Wheat Waffles with Apple Topping

2011-11-08T07:46:00.000-05:00

I recently started using a WonderMill grain mill (another post on that coming tomorrow!), and I love being able to have freshly ground whole-wheat flour whenever I want! I made these waffles last week (and again yesterday) and we all really enjoyed them. They are hearty and filling, and the apple topping adds a delightful natural sweetness that eliminates the need for sugary syrup on top.

Whole-Wheat Waffles

2 large eggs
2 cups whole-wheat flour
1 3/4 cups milk
1/2 cup oil (I used 1/4 cup oil and 1/4 cup applesauce)
1 Tbsp. sugar (I used 1 Tbsp. sucanat)
4 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt

Heat up your waffle iron. In a mixing bowl, beat eggs with a whisk until fluffy. Beat in the remaining ingredients just until smooth (do not over mix).

Spray waffle iron with non-stick spray (or brush with oil) before making each waffle (this is especially important if you replace some of the oil with applesauce). Pour batter into waffle iron, close lid, and let cook until steaming stops (around 5 minutes, depending on your iron).

Remove waffle, and if not serving immediately, place in a basket lined with a tea towel and cover with another towel.

Serve topped with a little butter, a generous scoop of apple topping (recipe below), some roughly chopped nuts (optional; we like pecans), and a drizzle of pure maple syrup (optional; Tad uses it, but Vera and I don't)!

This recipe made 10 waffles (our iron makes two square-shaped waffles). If you are making round waffles, it would probably make about 6.

Apple Topping

4 apples, cored & peeled, and sliced thin (I have used Gala and Honeycrisp, but tart apples are fine too)
enough water to prevent scorching
1/2 tsp. cinnamon, to taste
up to 1/4 cup honey, to taste (I didn't use any since my apples were so naturally sweet, but I would probably use it with tart apples)

In a saucepan, combine apples and water and bring to a boil. Turn the heat to low, then simmer until apples are tender (about 5 minutes). Remove from heat and drain. Stir in cinnamon and honey (if needed, and not for children under 2).

Serve over waffles or pancakes. Serves 4-6.

Enjoy!

Like this recipe? Follow me so you never miss a new recipe post!
For more of our family's favorite recipes, click here.

Linked to:
Tasty Tuesday
Tempt My Tummy Tuesday
Tuesdays at the Table
Tuesday Night Supper Club
Tatertots & Jello
Passionately Artistic
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Occupied

2011-11-07T10:47:00.001-05:00

As you can probably tell from the silence on the blog last week/weekend, I have been pretty busy!

Thought I'd share some of the things I've been doing in the last week:
-baking bread (I've been grinding my own wheat!)
-trying new recipes (I think I've tried six+ new recipes in the last week)
-baking ahead for Thanksgiving and Christmas (I have Angel Rolls, sweet potato casserole, and several batches of cookie dough in the freezer)
-making Christmas gifts (I made 20 gifts for $0 last week... will post about that soon!)
-cleaning (I'm on a "Clean ALL the things!" spree lately)
-playing with Vera (she makes me laugh... and I love spending time with her)
-reading (currently I'm trying to finish One Thousand Gifts, which I began months ago)
-recording God's blessings to our family (I started a journal for this purpose!)

I'll try to keep the posts coming this week, but if I miss a day, it's probably because I'm doing one (or all) of the above!

Weaned

2011-11-07T07:04:00.000-05:00

Over the weekend, Vera nursed for the last time. I am so thankful for the wonderful nursing relationship we had over the last fourteen-and-a-half months! It's really amazing to think that I personally nursed Vera every single day for her whole first year of life and then some.

I think because I am pregnant my milk supply dwindled, encouraging her to wean at this time. But I don't think she minds, since she is a great eater and enjoys a wide variety of solid foods. The weaning process has been very gradual, and while I cried a lot about it (since I knew it was coming) about a month ago, I am at peace now knowing that the timing is right.

We still cuddle at night in the rocking chair in her room while Daddy reads a Bible story.

I will always treasure the memories of nursing my precious firstborn!

Read more about my breastfeeding journey here.

Do the Next Thing

2011-11-06T22:26:00.000-05:00

“Many a questioning, many a fear,
Many a doubt, hath its quieting here.
Moment my moment, let down from Heaven,
Time, opportunity, guidance, are given.
Fear not tomorrows, Child of the King,
Trust them with Jesus, ‘DO THE NEXT THING.’
Do it immediately; do it with prayer;
Do it reliantly, casting all care;
Do it with reverence, tracing His Hand
Who placed it before thee with earnest command.
Stayed on Omnipotence, safe ’neath His wing,
Leave all resultings, ‘DO THE NEXT THING.’”
–author unknown

Week Twenty-Five

2011-11-03T16:00:00.000-04:00

Yesterday was busy and I forgot to do this post! I had an appointment with my midwife today and we got to hear Mango's heartbeat again. She's doing great and so am I! My weight gain is on track and my iron levels are fine. Next appointment they'll do another ultrasound to check the position of the placenta, since early on it was kind of low. Praying that it has moved to where it needs to be!

I'm feeling much more energetic now and I am getting really excited for Mango's birth.

Praising God for a healthy pregnancy! I don't take it for granted.

Week twenty-five with Vera.

Not a Waste

2011-11-02T10:08:00.000-04:00

In our ladies Bible study last night, we spent some time talking about the story of Mary anointing Jesus' feet with perfume, and how others (even the disciples!) thought that what she was doing was a waste. Many times in our lives we make choices that to others (even other Christians!), seem like we are wasting our time.

As I clean up Cheerios and smashed bananas off the kitchen floor while singing "Praise Him, Praise Him, all ye little children..." to Vera, I have to remind myself: I am not wasting my life!

I came across a blog post I wrote in the fall of 2006 (long before this blog started), and I thought I'd re-post it here.

The Best Use of a Life

John 12:1-8: "Six days before the Passover, Jesus therefore came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. So they gave a dinner for him there. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him at the table. Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was about to betray him), said, 'Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?' He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it. Jesus said, 'Leave her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of my burial. The poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me.'"

What was the best use of Mary's jar of perfume? As the disciples looked on, Mary broke the vessel and poured the costly perfume on Jesus' feet. Judas Iscariot criticized Mary, asking, "Why this waste?" The onlookers could not understand an important truth: Jesus was worth it. They underestimated the worth of Jesus and questioned why Mary would sacrifice something so valuable.

She could have held tightly to her valuable perfume, which quite probably, was her dowry...her savings...her security for the future. But Mary knew that by giving all to Jesus she gained something eternal. She gave Him everything she had, and she knew that her future was secure in Him.

Mary knew that there was no better use for her jar of perfume than to break it and pour it on Jesus' feet.

What is the best use for your life? Sometimes we hold too tightly and cling too selfishly to our lives. We seem to think that by refusing to surrender to Jesus' lordship, we can control our future.
We must realize that the best use of a life is complete brokenness at Jesus' feet.

As others see our lives, they may ask the question, "Why this waste?" To others, we may appear to be wasting our lives in service to Jesus.

But the truth is this: Brokenness is the very best use of a life.

GiGi's Sweet Potato Casserole

2011-11-01T15:28:00.001-04:00

With Thanksgiving just three weeks away, I wanted to share one of my family's favorite Thanksgiving recipes! I shared this last year when I guest-posted on U-Create Foods, but I wanted to have it here on my blog as well.

Like many of you, I have recipes that have been passed on to me from friends and family members. One of my favorite recipes is my GiGi's Sweet Potato Casserole! I can remember always having it at her house for Thanksgiving, and it is how I learned to like sweet potatoes. This recipe is easy, classic, and completely melt-in-your-mouth fantastic. (Notice I did not say it was healthy. There's a reason I only make this once a year!)

GiGi's Sweet Potato Casserole

Casserole:
1 large can of sweet potatoes, drained
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
1/3 stick melted butter
2 beaten eggs
1 Tbsp. vanilla
1/2 cup milk

Topping:
1/2 cup flour
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup chopped pecans
1/2 stick softened (not melted) butter

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease a ceramic pie dish or another serving dish.

Empty drained sweet potatoes into a large bowl. Mash with a fork, then add sugar, brown sugar, salt, melted butter, eggs, vanilla, and milk. Using a wooden spoon, stir well to combine. Pour mixture into greased pie dish.

In a smaller bowl, mix together flour, brown sugar, and pecans. Use a fork to cut in the softened butter until a course crumb mixture forms.

Sprinkle topping over the casserole.

Bake at 350 degrees for 35-45 minutes (time varies depending on size/depth of dish). You'll know it is done when the edges are golden and the center is still slightly "jiggly." (It will continue to cook once you remove it from oven.)

I usually prepare this ahead of time and reheat it on Thanksgiving Day.

I often make a little one to stash in the freezer for Christmas! (My husband doesn't care for sweet potatoes, so I get to enjoy this myself!)

Family Resemblance

2011-11-01T12:06:00.001-04:00

My mom emailed me some family photos yesterday so we could compare them with how Vera looks now! Here's one from when I was about Vera's age:

And here's another one of my parents and me:

Isn't this one sweet? It is my mom with her brother and parents.

Do you see any family resemblance in any of these?

Okay, Mom C. -- it's your turn to send us some photos of Tad at this age! :) haha!

Link Love

2011-10-28T14:58:00.000-04:00

homemade coffee creamers from here via Pinterest

It's been a while since I did a link love post! Hope you enjoy reading what I've been reading lately.

Family
-Keeping Your Family Healthy During Cold and Flu Season (awesome post with tons of practical ideas)
-Life Your Way Printables (tons of resources to print out for a household binder)

-Why Would Anyone be Crazy Enough to Homeschool? (good post whether you're just starting homeschooling, thinking about it, or have been doing it for a while)

Inspirational
-No Good Apart from God (this post really encouraged me in contentment)
-When Worry Makes Me Wonder (very encouraging)

-God Will Never Give You More (a thought-provoking post)

For recipes and crafts that have been inspiring me, follow me on Pinterest!

Sunshine

2011-10-27T08:49:00.000-04:00

Little Vera is so full of sunshine! She makes us smile and say "awww..." absolutely all the time throughout the day. She has been liberally giving out hugs recently, which is so sweet. She is enamored with her Daddy and misses him when he is away from home!

Vera has added several new words to her vocabulary, including cookie, baby, night-night, and belly button! Speaking of belly buttons, she is quite fascinated by them and often lifts up her shirt to compare her belly button with mine (now popped out from Mango!) or Daddy's.

We love watching her grow!

Week Twenty-Four

2011-10-26T17:46:00.001-04:00

I'm happy to be at the beginning of my sixth month of pregnancy! I am very thankful for how well things have gone in this pregnancy. I'm feeling well and still eating a LOT (healthy foods of course).

We haven't started working on the girls' room (they'll be sharing a big room together), but we have lots of fun ideas for it and hope to paint it before Christmas.

We haven't decided on a name yet, either! I know when we find the right one we'll both know.

My back still hurts some from the extra weight I'm carrying in the front, and I have to be careful when I pick up Vera that I'm not straining my back even more.

I continue to feel Mango move quite often, and that never stops being exciting!

Week twenty-four with Vera.

Dry Hands?

2011-10-26T08:29:00.002-04:00

I struggle with dry hands, especially in the fall and the winter! I just found a great new product that I am featuring on She {hearts} It today!

Read all about Carmex Skin Care here (and enter the giveaway just by leaving a comment)!

Also, today is the last day to enter the Diono Radian RXT Car Seat giveaway on She {hearts} It!

Back from Vacation

2011-10-26T00:00:00.000-04:00

Tad, Vera, and I just got back from our family vacation! We spent 5 days last week in Myrtle Beach, SC, as well as 4 days in VA with my family. We had a great time and made so many wonderful memories! Can't wait to share all the pictures with you soon. We are glad to be home, though, and we are getting back into a routine again!

It's Not Too Early!

2011-10-21T08:01:00.000-04:00

via

Did you know Christmas is slightly over two months away? It's not to early to be making definite plans for gift-giving, baking, and decorating! I have my gift list completely filled out, several gifts bought, several gifts made, a baking plan written, and several batches of cookie dough (this one and this one, if you're curious!) made & frozen!

Here are some posts I have previously written about preparing for Christmas. I hope you find them helpful as you plan!

-make a whimsical Christmas wreath
-holiday breakfast ideas
-ideas for the kid's table
-creative packaging ideas
-my favorite Advent book
-recipe for chocolate peppermint biscotti
-creating and preserving family memories
-how to use a Christmas planner
-an easy decorating trick
-printable gift tags
-use fresh holly in your decorating
-my Christmas mantle last year

To see what else is currently inspiring me, follow my Christmas board on Pinterest!

Happy planning!

Homemade Laundry Detergent

2011-10-20T08:30:00.000-04:00

I've been making my own laundry detergent since May of this year, and I thought it was about time I shared my "recipe"! I got this recipe from Andrea, who has been making her own detergent for years.

I wasn't sure how I would like using this detergent, but after five months, I am positive I like it! It's pretty economical and it definitely takes up less space than a huge box or jug (which is great, since I don't exactly have a laundry room).

For one batch, you need:
-1 cup super washing soda (I use Arm & Hammer brand)
-1 cup borax
-1 bar Fels-Naptha soap, finely grated (the only time-consuming part)*
(note: the most recent time I made this, I used Zote laundry soap instead, and I like it even more!)

Mix all ingredients in a big bowl, then put in a large Mason jar! That's it! I use about 1 Tbsp. in each load of laundry, unless it is especially heavy (muddy clothes, etc.), in which case I'll use 2 Tbsp. One batch lasts me about 4 months (and I do a LOT of laundry).

*I bought a grater at the Dollar Tree so I wouldn't have to use my cheese grater for this project.

Do you make your own laundry detergent?
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Week Twenty-Three

2011-10-19T16:22:00.000-04:00

I've been feeling pretty well this week, though a little more tired than usual. I'm still figuring out how to get comfortable at night (using lots of pillows!) so I can sleep well, but I'm sure I'll get adjusted soon. My back still hurts occasionally, but it's doing better. Mango has been active (particularly after meals and later in the evening), so that's been fun.

We're thankful for such a healthy pregnancy so far!

Week twenty-three with Vera.

Blogiversary: Two Years

2011-10-19T08:13:00.000-04:00

Today, two years ago, we first posted on this blog! Our readership has grown from just a few family members and friends, to many wonderful people (we're now averaging 8000 unique hits a month), many of whom live all over the world!

Thank you, dear readers, for your support, comments, and love over the past two years. We look forward to sharing our family with you for many more years to come!

While you're here, why not subscribe by email (see sidebar), follow with Google friend connect, and like us on facebook? Your support in these ways helps us continue to bring great giveaways to Feathers in Our Nest!

celebrating our anniversary on Monday

Learning in Ministry

2011-10-18T08:10:00.000-04:00

My mom sent me this audio file from Revive Our Hearts last week, and I thought it was especially encouraging so I wanted to share it with you as well. In it, Nancy Leigh DeMoss shares ten things she has learned in the last ten years of ministry, and it is applicable for anyone regardless of what facet of ministry in which they are involved (mom, pastor's wife, etc.).

I really liked this part of the message:

You have pressure in your life; I have pressure in my life; we have pressures in this ministry. The fact is, we need pressure in order to grow and in order to serve the Lord and to be used in the ways that He wants to use us.

You’ve heard me say it this way over the years: Anything that makes us need the Lord is really a blessing. I’ve learned over these years that God is not so concerned about using me to build a ministry as He is about using the ministry to build my life and to conform me to the image of Christ, to make me into a true woman.

I’ve been so conscious over these years, when there are times of pressure and challenge and difficulty, that God is wanting to use those pressures to make me into more of a true woman who reflects and radiates the beauty and the grace of Christ.

You’ve probably seen this in your own life: The greatest growth happens in hard places.

Listen to the whole message (or read the transcript) here!

Two Years

2011-10-17T15:12:00.000-04:00

Tad and I are celebrating our SECOND wedding anniversary today! In some ways, it feels like yesterday that we got married, and in other ways, that day feels like a long time ago (maybe because we have a baby plus one on the way)!

Thought I'd share some never-before-seen-on-the-blog pictures from our honeymoon in Charleston!

Love you, Tad!

Fall Friendship Swap Box

2011-10-15T15:11:00.000-04:00

Because Kristin hosted her Fall Friendship Swap again this year, I received a lovely box of goodies from Amber this week! Edit: Psst... to see what I sent Amber, click here!

I was so excited by everything in the box. Here's what was inside:
-a scarecrow
-a scarecrow tea towel
-an acorn oven mit
-two nail polishes, in pretty fall colors
-cupcake/muffin liners and cute little flags
-a packet of fall leaves
-a little "harvest time" plaque
-fall leaf ceramic salt & pepper shakers (so gorgeous!)

Thank you, Amber, for the sweet box! And thanks, Kristin, for coordinating the swap this year!

Spaghetti Mess

2011-10-14T09:32:00.000-04:00

Last night when I was baking in the kitchen, I was watching Vera out of the corner of my eye. I turned around for maybe a half a second, and when I turned back around to check on her she had pulled a box of dry angel hair spaghetti off the bench (we just grocery shopped yesterday so not everything was put away yet). I think the box just burst open when it hit the ground... or maybe Vera figured out how to open it herself. But she was completely surrounded by dry pasta, all pointing at her like little spears. She looked a little concerned about being "trapped"!

I hollered at Tad to please bring my camera so I could remember how cute she looked.

I'm glad it wasn't anything hard to clean up this time!

Week Twenty-Two

2011-10-12T16:00:00.000-04:00

The last week went by so fast! Mango is moving more lately and that is always exciting. I've had a LOT of lower back pain this week, but I remember this happening around this time with Vera's pregnancy. I'm not too concerned about it, since I know I won't feel like this forever. I just use my heating pad occasionally and sleep with extra pillows for support.

Week twenty-two with Vera.

Diono Radian RXT Car Seat Review and Giveaway

2011-10-12T08:21:00.000-04:00

Today on She {hearts} It I have the privilege of giving away a Diono Radian RXT Car Seat (ARV $305.99)!! This is a HUGE giveaway and we are really pumped about it.

Hurry on over and enter the giveaway... you don't want to miss this one!

Beach Retreat: Wrap-up Photos

2011-10-11T16:16:00.000-04:00

Had a few more pictures from the beach retreat to share... enjoy!

place settings using natural elements found around our beach house

fall/beachy centerpiece

Vera & Aunt Angela

left to right: Jessica, Vera, Bobbi/Grammy/Mom, me, Angela, and Stephanie (missing Missy, Mary, & Katie)

Thank you, Maranatha M&M's, for letting me (& Vera!) join you on your beach retreat!