SortaCrunchy

7 Quick Takes: treading water edition

I am over my head in manuscript writing right now, to the point that it's hard for me to function effectively in any other area of my life. Thankfully, there's always 7 Quick Takes to allow me some space to tell you what I'm thinking about when I'm not just treading water:

1. Y'all. The Spendid Season Gift Guide is shaping up nicely. I am really excited to introduce you to the businesses represented in it. I think they are ALL a great fit for this audience!

One thing I don't have represented in the guide are shops that cater to kids and kids' items. Do you have an Etsy shop or some other kind of small business that sells children's clothing, accessories, toys, or treats? Email me so we can talk about getting you placed in my gift guide!

2. Over at Synchoblog, the topic for November is something that appeals to me on so many levels: Calling Us Out of Numbness.

Richard Rohr says “the role of the prophets is to call us out of numbness.”

...

This month’s Synchroblog is centered on where are you being challenged by some kind of prophetic voice.

What is it stirring up in you?

What is God challenging you to consider?

How does it intersect with your faith & practical experience?

I know so many of you share a heart like mine that wants to be shaken awake from numbness and call to the attention of others these things that cause us to have a fire in the belly. I hope you'll consider being part of the November Synchroblog!

3. Some great book releases happened this month.

This week, Brandon Hatmaker released Barefoot Church: Serving the Least in a Consumer Culture which looks AMAZING. Also this month, Civitas Press released Not Alone: Stories Of Living With Depression, a compilation under the careful and thoughtful leadership of Alise Wright. I'm looking forward to reading both!

4. For years, I've heard about the wonders of Canada's maternity one year maternity leave allowance, and I've always thought that must be such an incredible provision to have made for new parents. Over at World Moms Blog this week, Salma wrote about The Dark Side of Maternity Benefit and told how sometimes that one year of leave can be marred by workplace politics and pressure to return before the year has passed. Interesting read for this USA mama!

5. It is so amazing how much I find myself on the same page as Jennifer, SortaCrunchy's featured sponsor this month. This week, she wrote about how she likes to be in control, but often faces the reality that she is not the general manager of the universe:

It’s tempting to throw an adult temper tantrum and say, “Well, I’m not in control; there’s nothing I can do!” But, the belief that I don’t have a choice is also an illusion.

She’d love to hear how you have faith in the unplanned seasons of life over at Every Breath I Take.

6. One of the things that I am already thinking about not having control over is the response to Spirit-Led Parenting. I know it won't release until next spring, but Laura and I have already had many conversations about anticipating the response from people who don't agree with our philosophy.

Because of this, I really appreciated this post from Jon Acuff this week: Love Your Dream Too Much To Hate Somebody Else's. He talks about the question he asks people who attack him and his book, and goes on to encourage all of us that

The greatest way to never fall in love with your own dream is to hate somebody else’s dream.

The greatest way to never chase your dream is to spend your time hating somebody else’s dream.

The greatest way to never move forward on your dream is to donate your creativity to hating somebody else’s dream.

Good, good stuff in that post. I've bookmarked it for (lots of) future reference.

7. Finally, one last book-centric thing. One chapter I am working on right now deals with the importance of building connection with our babies and what that looks like lived out. Within that chapter, I'll be dealing briefly with PPD and how that can affect bonding and connection with your baby.

We've asked before, but I want to ask one more time: If you are a Christian mama who has dealt with PPD on any level, would you be willing to share a bit of that? This part is hard for Laura and me because that is not a battle that either of us had to take up, and so we are relying heavily on the stories of others to bring that section to life.

Some things we would be interested in knowing are

• How did your faith affect your struggle with PPD?
• Did you feel you could be open and honest with your faith community about PPD, or did you feel there was a pressure (spoken or implied) that this was not something you could talk about with others?
• What resources helped you in the midst of PPD the most?

Obviously these answers are very personal. If you would rather not share this in the comments, please email me at megan at sortacrunchy dot net.

So, that's it for these very quick takes. HALLOWEEN-Y weekend! Aliza Joy's most favorite time of the year. Candy extravaganza!!!

7 Quick Takes: is it better late? edition

7 Quick Takes:

1. I am fully aware that 7QT publishes on Friday at Conversion Diary. I am fully aware that it is, in fact, Saturday. I am fully, fully behind on everything, everywhere, in every sense of the word. I need to borrow this form letter for unmet expectations from Kristen at Rage Against the Minivan.

2. If we are Facebook friends or you follow me on Instagram, you know the picture above is over a week old. See #1.

3. All the Harry Potter buzz is making me very sad that I've never read the books. I've been avoiding all media like crazy in a wildly vain attempt to keep myself un-spoilered.

4. I am getting VERY super excited about BlogHer. Related: I need to buy some Spanx or a similar tummy-slimming apparatus to continue to punish myself years of sloth. Suggestions?

5. Google+ - what say you? I have a whole tab cluster in my Firefox browser with at least six articles devoted to explaining how to get started. It sounds like it takes some time to get started. Time that I don't have. See #1. (But also, see this post from the ever-lovely Gretchen of Lifenut for some newbie pointers!)

6. Installed the Kindle app on my phone and finally read Tina Fey's Bossypants. I could not possibly love her anymore than I do at this moment in time.

7. What's more drought than drought? Because that's us. And unending, blistering heat, too. Is there anything good and pure and lovely happening outside where you are? Tell me about it before I am forced to end my long-term romance with Summer forever . . .

 

7 Quick Takes: Been A Long Time Edition

We had two more snow days this week, and I am using today to tie up the loose ends. 

Wishing/dreaming/hoping/praying that this was the last of the snow and we can charge full steam into Normal Life now.  So while a sky full of sun melts of snow outside my window, how about some 7 Quick Takes?  Haven't done these in a while . . .

1. I've known for a long time that when I am hormonal, I should ban myself from the computer.  The things I say/write/do always make me cringe when everything levels out again.  A perfect example of this is the snow grinch post.  Gah.  How embarrassing.  Oh, waaaah.  I have heat, electricity, Netflix, Dish, food, and a beautiful family to cuddle for days on end.  Poor me. 

Meanwhile there are children who depend on school to receive two meals a day who may or may NOT have eaten while we've been out of school for snow.  There are houses that have little or no heat, people who lost days of work and therefore lost income while everything was shut down, I mean, just real real things to complain about.  I'm so spoiled.  I hate that I wrote that.  forgive?

2. Do you think you could narrow down your personal possessions to just 100 Things?  I saw The 100 Thing Challenge: How I Got Rid of Almost Everything, Remade My Life, and Regained My Soul in Steady Mom's sidebar, and I have to admit, I am intrigued by the idea.  Hmmmmm.

3. The best book I didn't tell you about last year is Jonathan Merritt's Green Like God: Unlocking the Divine Plan for Our Planet.  Absolutely fantastic read.  Over at not one sparrow, you can read a very brief excerpt from it on the topic of factory farming.  I really need to write up my thoughts on that book.

4. Okay, so speaking of books.  I realized after I published this yesterday that there are, in fact, a few more KEEPER books floating around here.

For example, I stashed these on a shelf in our "art studio" (officially located in one corner of the laundry room):

Also, my copy of Radical is around here somewhere, as is When Helping Hurts. I am pretty sure I've loaned out my copy of Interrupted, but I'm puzzled as to what I've done with Evolving in Monkey Town. I KNOW I didn't purge that one. Did I lend it to you?

Anyway.  It was just bothering me that I had said, okay, I've cut it down to two shelves of books, but obviously that isn't entirely true.  Mostly true, though.  That counts.

5. I love music, but I do have a tendency to get stuck in musical ruts.  I listened to Patty Griffin pretty much exclusively for two years because I couldn't fathom there was anything else out there.  Pandora has helped me to become more adventurous, but even then I'll get stuck on one station and play it for months on end.  (If you'll recall, it's been Forest Sun for months and months.)

So, earlier this week, Boo Mama linked to this video for Fire and Dynamite from Drew Holcomb and the Neighbors and INSTANT OBSESSION.  I've played it/listened to it so much this week that it was actually sorta in the soundtrack for a dream one night.  That's weird. I know.  So I promptly made a Drew Holcomb Pandora station, and I gotta say: giving ol' Forest a run for his money.

6. I have to brag on my three year old for a second.  We are in some BIG TIME half-age angst, but every now and again we have a little moment of our sweetheart Aliza, and it's blissful.  This morning, I was helping PTO at Dacey's school get Valentine gifts ready, and I thought we would be there for maybe an hour.  It turned into two-and-a-half hours, and she was just GOLDEN.  Didn't complain, didn't get into things, didn't meltdown over anything; in fact, she was a pretty good little helper. 

I love those little glimpses of who she really is when things aren't feeling all unsettled on the inside.

7. Fifteen years ago this weekend, I took a boy whom I had only been on one date with to a sorority party.  The theme was handcuffs, which just speaks to you of class and elegance and charm, doesn't it?

I think I cuffed him pretty good:

He hasn't been able to shake loose of me since.

You can read more 7 Quick Takes over at Conversion Diary!

 

 

7 Quick Takes: Mommy's Little Helpers Edition

Haven't done one of these in a while, but there are a couple of things making life a little easier for me these days.  I don't know about y'all, but I am in perpetual need of help.  Especially lately, it seems.

1. Black Cohosh.  It is a miracle find for me.  In the past year, I've noticed hormonal mood swings becoming more intense.  Very, very not pretty.  I came across a recommendation to try Black Cohosh (in either tea or pill form - I chose pills) and I have to say the difference is remarkable.  I don't take it every day or every week.  In fact, I went several months without taking any at all.  I kind of just take it as needed.

It's actually supposed to be taken by peri-menopausal women.  There is a history of early-onset menopause in my family, so I don't know if that explains the increase in intense mood swings or not, I just know that this has been helping me.  (Of course I am not a medical professional of any kind at all.  If you decide to take Black Cohosh, make sure to do your research.)

2. Gentle Discipline Support.  This summer has afforded me so many opportunities to learn more about gentle discipline.  I have failed many a day.  The community at Gentle Christian Mothers and the forum specifically on gentle discipline has helped me so much.  Reading the wise words of others ahead of me and discovering new solutions to issues as they arise . . . it's priceless.  That gentle discipline forum is public which means you can read even if you aren't a member. 

3. Tex-Mex Galore.  I have so been enjoying the plethora of Tex Mex goodness at Homesick Texan.  Favorites so far include migas, refried beans, flour tortillas, and puffy tacos.  

4. Pandora.  How can you not love Pandora?  I've set up my Quick Mix to play selections from these stations: Dixie Chicks, George Straight, Pat Green, Kimya Dawson, Barenaked Ladies, and Glee Cast. It is pretty darn near perfection for summer groovin'.

5. Runway!  Oh, Season 8 started off brilliantly last night, didn't it?  I was thrilled with the challenge winner and perplexed by the auf'ing.  A side-effect of my Project Runway addiction is consumption of Runway blogs.  How fun to see Laura Bennett is blogging for Lifetime this season!  Can't wait to read more of what she has to say.

(And don't forget that even if you don't have cable, Lifetime is mucho generous with their Runway episodes.) 

6. Swing Skirts.  When Old Navy came out with these this summer, I was thrilled!  I love long skirts, and I really love long flowy skirts.  They are so hard to find!  I bought two and I have absolutely lived in them this summer.  Paired with a t-shirt on top (my arms are not suitable for tank top wearage) they are the essential summer easy outfit.  (I'm not an ON affiliate or anything.  Just love the skirts!)

7. Styling?  I wonder what a real fashion stylist would say about my swing skirts?  Here's one way to find out: the Hollywood Housewife has arranged for one lucky reader to get a consultation with LA-based stylist La Stylist Mom.  How FUN would that be?  That would be an incredible Mommy's Helper. 

(And have you been reading Laura's stories of her move to LA from our hometown in southern Oklahoma?  Y'all.  It is just as engaging as another famous love story.  Start here and then keep reading from here and I think you'll be hooked!)

You know you can always find the rest of the 7 Quick Takes gang over at Conversion Diary!

So, tell me - what is helping you these days?  Pandora channel suggestions for me?  Favorite reads of the summer?  Recipes?  TV shows?  Movies?  Magazines?  Clothing?  Crafts/projects?  Bloggy favorites?  I wanna hear all about what is bringing comfort to your life as July marches in August . . .

7 Quick Takes: August 7th

I haven't done a 7QT since last May, but I've got a lot rolling around in my head, and this seems like the best way to sling it out.  Much of it revolves around my only real "hobby" or "interest" or "activity" these days - reading and books.  (It's possible I've been doing a little too much "killing time" at "this blog.")

1. First of all, I need your help!  My next Simple Mom column is coming up next Wednesday which also happens to be (sniff sniff sob sob) Dacey's first day of school.  I'm going to write an article on children's books that deal with transition.  I need book recommendations!  I will, of course, be including Audry Penn's The Kissing Hand, but I need lots more suggestions.  I'm looking for books that deal with any kind of transition - moving, new sibling, divorce, death . . . anything that fits that category.  If you have an idea, won't you pretty please share?  I'll be sure to credit you.  Thanks, sweet friends!

2. Okay, so one of the best parts of my job is that from time to time, I get free and unsolicited books from publishers/publicists who are hoping I will write up glowing reviews.  Usually I don't simply because I don't have just oodles of free time on my hands that would allow me to donate free publicity on behalf of random authors and random books.  However.  Last weekend a new in paperback fiction book showed up for me, and I have to tell you, I absolutely inhaled it!  I cannot remember the last time I read fiction, but this book was just captivating: Keeper and Kid by Edward Hardy.  It's a take on the archetypical kind-of-wandering-but-mostly-content-single-guy-"inherits"-kid and the way his response to this plays out, but the writing is just so crisp and so accurately portrays what life with a three year old is like that it doesn't feel old or worn out at all.  LOVED IT.  If you are looking for a quick and enjoyable late summer read, I highly recommend.

3. I finished another book this week.  Two books in less than two weeks is a new (post-children) record for me!  This one needs a lot more room to discuss than will fit in a 7QT post, but I'll go ahead and mention it today: Lenore Skenazy's Free-Range Kids: Giving Our Children The Freedom We Had Without Going Nuts With Worry.  LOVE IT.  I am wondering how many of you have read it.  Maybe we could have an informal book talk here?  Or maybe at Simple Kids?  I don't know.  I would love to hear your responses to this book.  (Laura wrote about an encounter at the car wash inspired by a chance discussion of this book. I hold that no matter what your response to Skenazy's philosophy, this book is a great conversation starter!)

4. I accidentally left a Google search off of my sitemeter post, but this one was so cute, I have to mention it: "how to become more crunchy."  Awwwww!  I love it!  Isn't that just the sweetest thing?  I cannot tell you how frustrating it can be to see what people are searching for through Google and not be able to interact directly with them!  (One time someone right here in this tiny little town searched for "delayed vaccination schedule."  I about jumped out of my chair, tempted to wave my hands like a crazy lady and say "Hi!  Here!  Right here!  Let's talk!  You can borrow my copy of The Vaccine Book!  I'm RIGHT HERE!")  ANYWAY.  For those who would like some guidance in "how to become more crunchy," I would recommend Stephanie of Keeper of the Home's e-book Healthy Homemaking: One Step at a Time.  Sweet Stephanie is awaiting the arrival of baby #3 any day now!  I know it would make her day if you got a copy today.

5. And speaking of e-books, for those who are interested in improving your photo taking skills but are starting from a novice level of experience (ME!), I wanted to direct you to the creative mama's Project Photography e-book. The subtitle is "Better photos made simple, for the non-photographer."  See?  Don't you need that?

6. Okay, so this doesn't have anything to do with a real book, but I'm running out of things to say.  Earlier this week, I told Kyle if this whole parenting book thing doesn't work out, I'm gonna start shopping around a proposal for a book I might call But I Like Wine! And Other Dilemmas Faced by the Southern Baptist Under Forty.  Half-kidding, of course.  Kyle was more enthusiastic about the idea.  He understands my conflicted feelings about the Southern Baptist (mostly culture, not so much doctrine) Convention.  My complicated spiritual state was made more complex last week when a Facebook quiz I took confirmed that, theologically speaking, my denomination should be Presbyterian.  And since we all know that Facebook quizzes are absolutely, unquestionably, categorically, 100% accurate - well, you can understand my internal upheaval.

Yet I am pretty sure that a book with "wine" in the title isn't going to fly off of the shelves at Lifeway (unless perhaps the book title was Wine: Why I'll Judge You If I See You Drinking It), so that will probably just get tossed in the "Great Book Ideas I Once Had" pile.

7. And that's it.  All I've got.  Tell me - what have YOU been reading lately?

And don't forget, yo, about those children's book recommendations.  I really do need your help!

More 7 Quick Takes at Conversion Diary!

7 Quick Takes: May 15th

May 15th?  Seriously?  I'm still thinking in April.

1. I'm still rather swamped - so behind in emails, blog reading, and other obligations.  I have to tell you something I find to be pretty hilarious.  You know the bird in that swamped picture?  My friend Paige informed that it actually is a quite exotic and rare bird - the yellow-crowned night heron.  He ususally lives "along the Gulf coast, Florida, and along the south Atlantic coast. It also breeds along the coasts of Mexico, the Caribbean islands, Central America, and the north and east coasts of South America."  How on earth did he find his way to Oklahoma?  The best part?  The part that really got Kyle and I to laughing?  These herons like to call wooded swamps and marshes home.  I told you we've had a lot of rain!

2. Notable news in our family this week - AJ is putting two word sentences together!  As you know, Dacey had a severe speech delay, so to have this development happen at this point for AJ has been very exciting.

3. Evidently, we scarcely missed being in the path of a twister this week.  We had no idea.  Just thought it was another thunderstorm.  Clearly, Kyle and I have forgotten how to do spring in Oklahoma.  Guess we need to reaquaint ourselves with Gary.

4. I've been up way too late for too many nights this week, mostly catching up with some friends (JLB, I'd link to you, too, but for reasons I know not, you don't blog).  Said friends all live on the West Coast, therefore, normal chit-chat hours for them are past my bedtime.  (It was all worth every stinkin' second!)  Anyway, I think Dacey has been reading the blog behind my back, because she has taken a sudden interest in helping me clean house.  What a help to her no-one's-fault-but-her-own-sleep-deprived-mother!  

5. So, over at Simple Kids this week, I asked for everyone to share their unsung favorites of children's lit.  WOW!  What an amazing list that has been generated!  If you are looking for new books to check out, this is an incredible list to reference.

6. At Modern Media Mom, Karla shared a super helpful and inspiring post on setting up a home office.  (Here's another great home office view - link via Laura.)  Reading in Karla's recent thoughts on working at home helped me to realize that with the writing and the Simple Kids gig and my other endeavors, I really need to claim some work space.  I was so inspired by her article, I started snooping through Craigslist and dug out a tape measure and marked off spaces around the house, and I made a plan.  If the darling desk I found on Craigslist pans out (it will be my first CL furniture purchase, so I'm a little bit skeptical), I am going to be on my way to clearing a spot in which to work.  Pics and details to come! 

7. Thank you all so much for your words of support and prayer for my friend Kristi.  They had a difficult and sobering meeting with the transplant nurse this week.  I am just heavy with grief for them.  Please, please continue to pray for them and for Princess G.  I believe God is in this, but these circumstances shake my faith in monumental ways.

So that's where we are as this week draws to a close.  What are you all up to this mid-May weekend?

More 7QT at Conversion Diary!

sweet reading picture courtesy of indiewench

7 Quick Takes: April 17th

I have hopes of at some point alternating Fridays between 7 Quick Takes and five senses friday (hosted by the lovely abby try again), but it somehow always seems to work out that I have far too many random thoughts to unload come Friday, and not enough space to make room for the five senses.  Maybe next week . . .

For now, behold the random:

<1> Firstly, I have to make apology for yesterday's confession.  In a world where parents bury their babies and little ones fight for life hour-by-heart-wrenching-hour and a nation has made rape legal within marriage (and these are just a few of the stories we hear about, countless other stories of heartbreak go untold), well, to be longing after a place to be creative rings of absurdity to me this morning.  I guess the confession within that confession is the revelation (again) that I am such The Spoiled American, the product of privilege steeped in ingratitude for all that I do have.  It strikes me that if my soul should be longing for anything, it should be Come Lord Jesus, Come.

<2> Thinking back a bit, I know I've not yet shared my thoughts on practicing Lent this year.  Lent was an amazing and powerful time for me, and I am deeply saddened that my denomination doesn't practice it corporately.  I'm somehow at a loss for how to explain what Lent did in my heart.  Closing comments was extremely good and healthy for me, helping me to examine a lot of heart issues that I don't often enough take time to allow up to the surface.  A beautiful surprise in closing comments were some of the private emails I got from friends and readers - some of whom I'd never "met" before!  Other regular commenters shared insights privately that they never would have said "out loud" in the comments.  But even if it weren't for those emails, I still would have been deeply blessed my the time I spent with comments closed.  In my own private life, I celebrated Lent in some unspoken ways that were also, indeed, powerful.

I am looking forward already to next Lenten season.  Easter most certainly did not sneak up on me this year, and my heart is so grateful for that most precious benefit of practicing Lent.

<3> Oh, our time with the Taviano family so deeply blessed us.  SO deeply.  I just cannot say enough what a delight it was to host them in our little hillybilly hotel.  Funny and fun and vibrant and just all manner of wonderful. Marla's report of their time here was just simply way, way too gracious.  We were remarkably simple hosts - Kyle did cook out (of course) and I did make guacamole but I should state for the record that we are guac simplists.  Our recipe is simply smashed avocado, lemon juice (or lime if the mood strikes), and salt to taste.  We were feeling sassy when the Tavianos were here so I stirred in a little sour cream, but oftentimes we leave that out.  Kyle likes his with some extra hot salsa stirred in, but that makes it all a bit complicated for me.

Oh, and The Pioneer Woman's Apple Dumplings?  As Kyle would say, the are absolutely punch-yourself-in-the-face ridiculously amazing.  Heaven help me. 

<4> I have some friends whose gift for creating and displaying beauty in their homes just never ceases to amaze me.  One such friend is the delightful Stephanie.  Take a little look at her spring shelf, won't you?  I come back to it time and again for inspiration.  So lovely, so sigh-worthy.  For some particular reason, I just wanted to make sure you met Stephanie today.

<5> A little while back, Missy shared her plan to celebrate The Year of Their Marriage.  In her plan, she included a link to the Forty Day Prayer Challenge.  Kyle and I decided to take the challenge, too, and I have to tell you - it has become a fixture in our morning routine.  Each morning before he walks out of the door, we stop for just a few minutes to pray for each other.  The only mornings we get a little lazy are on Saturdays as he is usually not heading out the door then.  I'm so glad she shared the link and the challenge.  It's doing mighty things in our marriage.

<6> The girls and I are happily a bit groggy this morning as we had a late, late night yesterday evening in the home of my dear and long-time friend Jaime.  Our beloved and beautiful friend Laura is home from California for just a bit and completing our fab four was our friend Andy who has landed in-state for a while, so Jaime opened her home to host an evening of Pei Wei take-out, choco-tastic brownies, political/social/spiritual discussion and much, much hysterical laughter.  The easy conversation that comes with friends for whom no background information or point-of-reference clarification is needed is what I have been craving for months.

As a bonus to the conversation with old friends was seeing my children play with Jaime's.  Our youngest two children are just a few months apart and we all noticed that viewing the two of them from behind - with their blonde locks that fall into perfect curls - well, they look more alike in some ways than AJ and Dacey do.  Jaime's Little Man and AJ shared popcorn and resisted sharing toys.  I tend to think that AJ repeated attempts to steal the soccer ball from Little Man are just her earliest efforts at flirting, as was Little Man's stealing of her popcorn and throwing it on the floor.  I could swear sparks flew.

What really made my heart soar was how famously Dacey and EB, Jaime's oldest, got along.  Peas. And. Carrots.  They were born just days apart and it was sheer delight to watch them enjoy each other's company.  EB was generous in her willingness to share everything from dress-up clothes to lip gloss to princess high heels.  As the evening wound down, both of them climbed up in a chair together and EB read quietly to Dacey while Dacey leaned in with intent listening to her every word.  I want to treasure that picture in my heart forever - these two girls whose mothers shared the emotional highs-and-lows of that first pregnancy, the weary, bleary newborn days, the hand-wringing and fretting that is the native tongue of the First Time Mom.  In spite of our obsessive worrying and second (and third) guessing our every decision with them, I have to say that they have grown to be quite lovely little ladies.  I think we are doing okay after all, don't you, friend?

<7> Oh, this may be my longest 7QT yet!  Just so much to say.  The girls and I have been in and out of town much of the week and that will continue on in to next week.  I haven't had the time to attend to comments like I usually try to, and for that, I am so very sorry.  Many apologies if comments and other emails have gone unanswered!  My inbox is spewing  with incomplete conversation.  A little madness in the Spring is wholesome even for the King - so says Ms. Emily Dickinson.  (There's a little Poetry Month goodness for ya!)  Our schedule feels a bit like madness at the moment, so I beg a measure of grace until things settle a little.

Stay tuned for more on marriage (a very special post coming up on that!), book reviews, giveaways, and more!

Happy Friday and may your weekend abound in blessing.

7 Quick Takes: April 3rd

It seems like it has been a while since I rounded up the week's news and happenings in 7 Quick Takes form!  Lots of randomness to collect here today.

1.
First of all, many thanks for the kinds words on the blog redesign.  I'm telling you, all compliments go directly to Karen - she is fantastic to work with!  I personally think she should alter her design business to Simply Amazing Designs. 

2.
You all know I enjoy the dancing.  I am dancing the Joyful, Well-Rested Mama dance this morning because last night was a stellar night for sleep in the SortaCrunchy Casa.  I laid AJ down in her crib around 8:30 last night and she talked and played in there until close to 9.  She did not make a peep again until 6 this morning (!!!) and even then when back to sleep promptly after a quick mama milk snack.  She didn't wake up for the day until 8:30 which I am pretty sure is a new record for her.  Oh, God knew I had a monumental need for sleep last night, and I am thankful His hand of rest was on my sweet AJ.

I realize that all of that uninterrupted sleep may be quite the norm for most nearly 19-month-olds, but it is the source of great celebration for us!

3.
Fans of Life- do you think Detective Reese is dead?  Would you believe at the end of the "5 Quarts" episode I laid awake worrying about what was going to happen to her?  It's a sickness, this obsession.

4.
Lighter note ... I've had quite a few friends join Twitter in the past week.  I came across this Twitter Basics guide this week and wanted to share it.  My additions to this guide would be

#1  You don't HAVE to fill in your full name in your profile.  When you follow someone, they will get a notice that shows both your full name and your twitter screen name.  If you don't feel comfortable broadcasting your full name to every person you follow, choose to fill in that part of your profile with your screen name.
#2  Use a service like WeFollowto find interesting people to follow.  Maybe you'd like to follow @jimmyfallon or @nytimes or @etsy or @lancearmstrong or @mrskutcher but don't know where to find them?  WeFollow is a great place to start.
#3  Fridays are #followfriday when people share their own favorite people to follow.  This is a great way to find new people to follow!
#4  Use a third-party application!  I cannot imagine tweeting from my twitter home page.  Too confusing!  I would miss so much!  I love Tweet Deck, but there are others like Tweet Grid and Twhirl.

5.
April - I can't believe we are three days in already!  April is National Poetry Month.  My friend Stephanie at Little Stuff of Life is doing something fun to celebrate called Perfectly Poetical Tuesdays where you post what you would normally say - just in a poetical way!  I am so excited for this!  I think it's brilliant and I for sure will be participating.  More on Poetry Month stuff to come.

6.
Next week will be light on the posting because I have some real, non-virtual spring cleaning to do.  I don't think I've mentioned this but my new friend and amazing author Marla Taviano is making the SortaCrunchy Casa a stop on her Zoo Tour!!  I am just beside myself with excitement over meeting her, Gabe, and the girls.  But things must get ship-shape around here - and fast.

7.
Also, next week is Holy Week and my posts will be spiritual in nature. The same author who created Lent Activities for the Family has her Holy Week Devotions for the Family on sale this week.  Alternatively, you can find many great free resources at CatholicMom.com's Holy Week Guide.

Check out everyone else's 7 Quick Takes at Conversion Diary and as always, thank you to Jenn for hosting!

Enjoy your weekend!

Comments closed for Lent 09

7 Quick Takes: March 13th (lots of food edition)

1.
Just so much going on in this past week . . . so much I haven't fully processed and am not ready to talk about here.  I'm gonna fall back on one of my favorite things to talk/learn about: food!  Cooking and baking are hobbies I've aquired by necessity in the past few years, and though I am nowhere near possessing the kitchen prowess my writing parter/mind twin Laura displays, I am always willing to learn more.

2.
A year or so ago, I came across Hillbilly Housewife.  The link that first led me there was her $70 low cost menu, and from there I discovered a wealth of frugal recipes.  Most all of her recipes are of the "from scratch" variety and are worth the effort.  Her homemade breadsticks are a quick and YUMMY favorite.  The cheese enchiladas get made a lot around here - far better than any I've had out-to-eat.  (Better - dare I say it? - than Joe T's!)

3.
I'll be honest - all that cooking from scratch leaves behind a mountain of dishes to wash.  I'm reminded of Brennan Manning's thoughts from Ruthless Trust, the chapter on "The Geography of Nowhere" in which he relates an exchange between Vietnamese Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh and Christian leader Jim Forest (as told in The Miracle of Mindfulness):

So they finished dinner and Nhat Hanh said he would wash the dishes before getting the tea.  Jim offered to do the dishes, while Nhat Hahn was preparing the tea; but Nhat Hahn said, "I am not sure you know how to wash dishes."  Jim laughed at him and said, "Of course I know how to wash dishes, I've been doing it all my life."  "No," the monk said, "you would be washing the dishes in order to have your tea and dessert.  That is not the way to wash dishes.  You must wash dishes to wash dishes." (bolding mine)

Manning follows with

Washing the dishes is not a mindless interlude before the banana creme pie.  Rather, at its best - done with alertness and attention to the washing - it is excellent preparation for prayer (p. 157).

Indeed.  In my least grateful posture, a countertop and sink that spill over with dirty dishes invites resentment, bitterness, and exhaustion.  If I accept the invitation as a preparation to prayer, then standing at my kitchen sink places me in a posture to be so grateful for an abundance of food, the beloved tummies that are now full, hot and clean water with which to wash, a kitchen in which to stand, and so on and so on.

And again, I digress.

4.
So, I'm a bit fixated on granola right now.  After I mentioned this in a previous 7QT, my blogging friend and reader Jeana emailed me to suggest another great granola recipe she has come across: Gluten-Free granola from the Ordering Disorder blog at Work It, Mom (which seems to be a great resource for working moms!).  I look forward to trying this granola recipe (steel cut oats - yes!) and it looks like there are many family-friendly recipe finds at Ordering Disorder to try out with my four year old sous-chef.

5.
So everyone knows Cake Wrecks and Bakerella stand out in the land of baking blogs.  One I bet you haven't read that is every bit as clever, visually appealing, and drool-worthy is Velvet Lava.  Go.  Enjoy.  (Introduced to me by Laura.  She never disappoints in her recommendations.)

6.
Another great recommendation came from my friend Karen who showed me the way to My Kitchen Cafe (totally unintentional rhyme there).  Karen suggests the Vanilla Pudding Cinammon Rolls with Cream Cheese Frosting which I have not dared to try yet.  I have, however, tried the Bourbon Chicken (we had it on Mardi Gras - seemed appropriate), the Sweet and Spicy Slow Cooker Chicken, and the Best Sloppy Joes and all were delish.

7.
Finally, as the weather turns warmer, you know you are going to be firing up your grills.  May I tell you again that my husband makes the best burgers ever ever ever in the history of mankind?  He whipped up a slew of them last weekend - the grape jelly and BBQ sauce kind - and oh my.  Just unbelievable.  The sugar in the grape jelly gets all dark and burnt-ish on the outside (carmelizes?  it's over my head) and the inside is so moist and full of flavor.  I could eat one now, at 9 in the morning.  Yes I could.
(Sidenote - we can't find ground brisket around here, so we are back to plain ol' ground beef.  Still just as yummy as ever though.)

Happy 7QT on this Friday the 13th!  Have a delicious weekend!

Comments closed during Lent 09

granola picture courtesy of moria

7 Quick Takes: March 6th

We have a whirlwind of a weekend ahead of us, so I am going to try to make this really quick.  You know about how well that usually works, right?

1.
A bit of unpleasant housekeeping first.  In the past few weeks, something was brought to my attention that brings me some concern about my family's privacy on this blog.  I'm sorry to say that I'll be taking down the pictures of the girls.  Thanks for understanding that I feel this is the best choice for us for now.

2.
Much lighter (and more exciting) note - Jillian Michaels' 30 Day Shred is on its way here.  I am so terrified!  And excited!  But mostly terrified . . . in a good way.  After Dacey was born, I rode the lose-the-baby-weight-with-breastfeeding train with a mixture of glee and probably not just a little pride.  Oh, pride doth goeth before the fall from that train when it lurcheth to a stop.  Not only did the post-AJ weight loss stop a long time ago, an unfortunate climb upwards in my weight and waistline has been going on for months now.  Enter Jillian.  And the fear.  And the excitement.  Did I mention I am excited?

3.
All day yesterday, Dacey asked if summer was here now.  Wow, it sure felt like it was yesterday!  Sunshine and temps in the 80s!  Gorgeous!  We painted our toenails in celebration.  While we painted, we counted things in Spanish.  Dacey informed me that her favorite number in Spanish is ocho.  It occurred to me that I have been negligent in deciding upon my own favorite number in Spanish.  After a moment's thought, I said it has to be quince.  Quince. (15)  I like the way that feels.  Say it.  (non-speakers, that would be KEEN-say)  It's enjoyable and worthy of favoritism, I think.

4.
Several years back, not long after we started cloth diapering, I began using more cloth napkins, towels, and washcloths in the kitchen in lieu of paper towels and napkins.  We still keep a roll of paper towels in the kitchen, but mostly we try to use cloth as we find it to be less expensive and more effective.  In all of these years of using kitchen cloth, however, I've never found a great way to handle the laundry.  I was perusing the Mothering forums yesterday and found the link to this article at Tomato Soup Cake on Cloth In The Kitchen where she explains her kitchen cloth laundry system.  Very helpful read!

5.
I enjoy reading Chatting At The Sky (as many do - Emily was nominated for a 2008 Weblog Award for Best Small Blog), and in the comments on her post on stories and bokeh, I followed a link to the lovely Dina and A Worthy Life.  I enjoyed reading through several of her recent posts, but the one that infected my thoughts for several days was her essay on "my (stayathome) babe theory."  She writes on the "Babe Theory of political movements" and how her choice to be home raising and schooling her children might be a political statement in and of itself.  Then, she wonders, if "my own lackadaisical approach to my choice to be home is sabotaging the value of my example."  So many great, challenging, thought-provoking ideas on this essay - you must go read it for yourselves.  It's made me think quite a bit on the image I present daily - to my daughters, my husbands, my friends, and strangers - and wonder about the impact, or more correctly, the non-impact my choices are making on those around me.

6.
Several of you have emailed in the time since I started my Lent fast from comments and site stats.  Nearly every email contained some kind of apology in advance in case emailing somehow caused me to break my Lent fast.  Truly, it does not.  The purpose of this fast was never to cut off communication between myself and my readers and friends.  For me, the fasting from comments is merely a response to the problem that builds in my heart from time to time regarding comments on a post.  I get to the point of seeking acceptance and affirmation in the response of readers.  A carefully crafted post that receives very little feedback can send me into a funk.  Another post that might be deluged with comments (and for me, anything over ten comments is a virtual flood!), and I'll soar with giddiness.  I know that for me, this should not be.  I am accepted by my Heavenly Father because of who I am in my Beloved, my Savior (see Ephesians 1:6), not because of the number of comments a transitory blog post might receive.  I am affirmed in my worth because of the work of the Cross, not because of receiving X number of hits on any given day.  Refocusing my thoughts on this truth - this is the path of this fast.  If you feel led to email, please do without any guilt.  I'd be thrilled to "talk."

7.
Jenn's baby girl is here and she is gorgeous!  Glory to God for the gift of new life, and for the power of being open to life.

Enjoy the weekend, friends.  Read the Quick Takes of others here today.

Comments closed for Lent 09.