Mandi Ehman's Blog, page 100
July 31, 2013
Get This Necklace for $8.99 AND Help Exploited Women in Asia!
A few years ago, after several years of not wearing any jewelry at all, I found myself feel very frumpy, but I wasn’t really sure what to do about it.
Then one day I complimented my sister on how cute she looked in a scrubby sweatshirt and ponytail, and her response made me stop and think. She said, “It’s the earrings.” Turns out that wearing something as simple as earrings really does make me feel more put together, and I began slowly building a collection of jewelry.
At first, most of what I bought was cheap stuff from Target or Kohl’s, but then I made the decision to only purchase handmade or fair-trade jewelry. Not because there’s anything inherently wrong with factory-made jewelry but because it felt like an unnecessary purchase, a frivolity, and therefore something that I could choose to only purchase fair-trade without the stress that comes with making other changes.
Plus? There are so many great fair-trade and handmade jewelry artisans out there to choose from, and my collection now includes pieces from 31 Bits, Lisa Leonard Designs, The Vintage Pearl, various Etsy stores…and Starfish Project.
That’s why, when I heard about this great sale that Starfish Project is running to raise awareness about their work in Asia, I couldn’t wait to share it with you!
Starfish Project
Exploitation of women all over the world and especially in Asia is a huge, sick, and overwhelming problem. Thankfully, it’s one that we are hearing more and more about thanks to charities and advocates who are working hard on their behalf, and as much as I’d like to bury my head in the sand and ignore it, I just can’t.
Starfish Project is an organization that works with women in three different cities in Asia. They find and befriend women who are being exploited and then offer them a way out with a range of social, emotional and practical opportunities. While in the Starfish program, girls can live in the shelter, receive counseling, get work training, and have a job to provide income for themselves.
By buying a piece of jewelry, you make these programs, and lasting change in these women’s lives, possible.
The Deal:
Over the past year, Starfish Project has almost doubled the number of girls they are able to help and has also made changes to increase efficiency of production. While these are both awesome things, they are now producing ahead of their current sales levels, which has led to a need for growth in the online market.
To help spread the word, they are offering one of their best selling pieces at a huge 70% discount for 4 days only with a goal of selling (at least) 10,000 necklaces:
This 3 Silver Flower Pendant Bib Necklace is fixed on a double silver chain that is adjustable between 20 to 23 inches. Normally $29.99, you can get it for $8.99 (that’s 70% off!) with coupon code STARFISH2013. But hurry because this offer ends at 11:59 p.m. EST on 8/1!
Whether you buy the necklace, though, you can join Starfish Project as an advocate by sharing their work (and selection of jewelry) with friends and family and following their story on their blog, Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.
I am sharing this with you because I love the work Starfish is doing; I haven’t and won’t receive any compensation or free products in exchange!
Get This Necklace for $8.99 AND Help Exploited Women in Asia!
© 2010-2013 Purple Martin Press, LLC | All rights reserved
July 30, 2013
Why Write eBooks? {From Idea to eBook}
In 2008, Shaina, Tara and I published our first ebook, Transcription 101, which we wrote from our combined 10+ years of transcription experience. The market was completely different at that time, and while I’d love to tell you that that ebook was so wildly successful that I couldn’t resist writing more, that unfortunately was not our experience. Little did I know, though, that that experience would become just one of the many stepping stones to my business model as it stands today.
eBook sales continue to increase each year, and while those numbers include the electronic formats of bestsellers like The Hunger Games and Sheryl Sandberg’s Lean In, the market for self-published ebooks is growing as well.
The problem for most writers and bloggers is figuring out how to navigate the ever-evolving world of ebooks and self-publishing. One of my favorite things to do is to help other people improve their craft and make money, and this week we launched the From Idea to eBook online course at The eBook Emporium to take participants step-by-step through the process.
Module 1: Why eBooks? is now up, and we’re exploring why people write ebooks as well as what holds them back.
We explore these in more detail in the course, but in my experience, people really write ebooks for three reasons:
For profit — at launch and during big promotions as well as passive ongoing income that doesn’t require any extra work at all
To establish expertise and promote other products & services — including their blog, other ebooks, coaching, etc.
To open the door to traditional publishing — by showing publishers what you can do in terms of content and promotion
We’re also talking about the obstacles that prevent people from writing ebooks: lack of time (or perceived lack of time), process overwhelm and wondering if it’s really worth the effort.
And finally, we’re talking a bit about the broader idea of “digital products” rather than being limited to traditional ebooks.
Other Course Features
The course also includes case studies from successful ebook authors, printables to help you organize and publish your ebook, and lists of resources and professionals for the ebook writing process.
If you haven’t signed up yet, it’s not too late to join us: Register today and get lifetime access to all 10 modules, the set of case studies, all of the printables and the resource lists for $17!
Have you written an ebook? If not, what’s holding you back?
Mandi Ehman is the blogger behind Life Your Way. She and her husband have four beautiful girls plus one baby boy on the way, and together, they live, work and homeschool on a little slice of heaven in wild, wonderful West Virginia. She loves coffee, chocolate, easy meals, beautiful things and minimalist spaces.
Why Write eBooks? {From Idea to eBook}
© 2010-2013 Purple Martin Press, LLC | All rights reserved
Back-to-School Tips, Tutorials and Free Printables
It’s hard to believe it’s back-to-school time already, but schools in our area start back in less than three weeks! (Those of you that still have a month or more of summer might want to bookmark this post for later.)
We’ll be sharing back-to-school tips and ideas in the coming weeks, and to kick us off, here are some of my favorite back-to-school posts from the archives, including some fun printables:
Back to School Countdown Chain
The countdown is on, and this back-to-school countdown chain is a fun way to watch the school days draw nearer with a variety of simple summer activities (and blank links for you to add your own!).
Colorful First Day of School Signs
First day of school pictures are a fun way to capture the changes as kids grow year-to-year. Use these school year signs to mark the occasion and create a fun keepsake.
Minimalist First Day of School Signs
Or download these “minimalist” signs that our family uses each year.
Lunchbox Notes
A quick note inside a lunchbox (or a backpack if you don’t pack lunches) can be a huge pick-me-up for any kid, and these printable lunchbox notes are a quick way to drop a colorful message to your child. Choose from Teddy Bears or School Supplies.
From the Mouth of… Interview
Use this interview template get a snapshot of your child’s likes and favorites at the start of the new school year. You could even collect them each year and put them in a special book at graduation!
Back to School Brag Board Tutorial
Keep school papers organized and display kids’ projects proudly with this DIY crayon brag board that Kristina created last year.
Homework Helps Series
And finally, Jennifer, our education expert, offers great tips each month for making homework more fun in various subject areas. Visit the Homework Helps page for tips for a variety of ages and subjects!
Back-to-School Tips, Tutorials and Free Printables
© 2010-2013 Purple Martin Press, LLC | All rights reserved
July 29, 2013
Celebrating {Almost} Three Years with a Start, Stop, Continue Survey…And a Giveaway!
source: Mandi Ehman
Good morning!
On Labor Day of 2010, Organizing Your Way expanded to become Life Your Way. We’ve gone through a few transitions since then, and it’s been a couple years since our last survey, so I thought I’d kick off the week (and our fall/winter planning) with another Start, Stop, Continue survey.
The premise is simple: Rather than asking you to rate a dozen features or offer feedback on the minutia of the site, the survey simply asks what you’d like us to start doing at Life Your Way, what you’d like us to stop doing and what you’d like us to continue doing.
You’ll also find a place to enter your email address. The only reason we’re asking for this is because we’ll be randomly choosing two readers to each receive a $25 Amazon.com gift card for filling out the survey, but feel free to submit the survey anonymously if you’d prefer.
If you’re reading this in a feed reader or via email and can’t see the form, click here to visit the original post.
Celebrating {Almost} Three Years with a Start, Stop, Continue Survey…And a Giveaway!
© 2010-2013 Purple Martin Press, LLC | All rights reserved
Homeschooling Resources Bundle for $7.40 This Week Only {BundleoftheWeek.com}
This week’s bundle is packed full of resources for homeschoolers, including five ebooks plus two special bonus offers. With your purchase, you’ll get tips for developing curriculum and teaching specific subjects, printables for you and your students, and encouragement for the school year at a discount of more than 80%!
This collection includes:
Homeschooling 101 by Kris Bales
Notebooking Success by Jimmie Lanley
The Printable Homeschool Planner by Heather Bixler
Training Your Children in Home Economics by Angie Kauffmann
Designing Your Language Arts Curriculum Plus Essay Tune Up by Jimmie Lanley
Plus the Life Your Way Homeschooling Printables by Mandi Ehman
Even if you’re not interested in this week’s bundle, be sure to sign up for the BundleoftheWeek.com weekly newsletter so you can be the first to know about the newest bundle:
Homeschooling Resources Bundle for $7.40 This Week Only {BundleoftheWeek.com}
© 2010-2013 Purple Martin Press, LLC | All rights reserved
July 27, 2013
Giveaway: $100 Gift Card to UncommonGoods.com
UncommonGoods.com is one of my very favorite places to go for unique gift ideas!
I’m not a gifted gift giver, and while I love to give someone the perfect gift, I’m not always great at coming up with the idea of what exactly that gift is. But I always find great gift ideas while browsing UncommonGoods, like a mini helicopter paperweight for my RC-loving husband (for real!) or something crafty for my art-loving girls (like these).
Whether you use them for wine or other fun non-alcoholic beverages, I also love their selection of unique and fun wine glasses (click here). Visit UncommonGoods for even more wine accessories and decor, including the coolest wine cork stool you ever did see!
For even more gift ideas, special offers and giveaways, be sure to like UncommonGoods on Facebook and sign up for their email newsletter!
Enter to Win
This week, Uncommon Goods is giving one lucky Life Your Way reader a $100 gift card!
To enter, fill out the form below:
If you’re reading via email or a feed reader and don’t see the form, click here for the original post.
This giveaway ends at 11:59 p.m. ET on Thursday, 8/1. The winner will be selected randomly and notified by email, and this post will be updated with their name as well. Open to U.S. residents 18 years old and above.
Giveaway: $100 Gift Card to UncommonGoods.com
© 2010-2013 Purple Martin Press, LLC | All rights reserved
Weekend Reading: July 27, 2013
source: Mandi Ehman
We don’t have a ton of antiques or family heirlooms in our home, although this little “corner” of our house (it’s actually right in the middle) holds most of what we do have — a piano that’s been passed down through 5 generations, a large painting that we were given after Sean’s grandmother passed away, and my favorite: the button box.
The button box belonged to my maternal great-grandmother (who has also generously shared her fiery Italian spirit with all of the women in our family) and it’s been played with by every generation, starting with my grandmother. With hundreds of buttons in various shapes, colors and sizes, it’s fun for sorting, stringing or just running your fingers through, and it’s our almost-four-year-old’s current obsession. Over the past couple of weeks, she’s spent hours and hours sorting through them, looking for the “aqua” ones and then dumping her collection back out again.
Reminder: The From Idea to eBook online course launches on Monday, 7/29. Be sure to sign up today with coupon code LAUNCH for the special $10 offer because the price goes up once we launch!
Here are some of my favorite posts from this week. As always, check out what I’m reading and what I’m pinning to see the other posts that make me stop and think (or, you know, drool…). You’ll find new posts all week long!
Motherhood {Encouragement for the Weary}
Six Motherhood Truths for Those Days When You Want to Quit | Finding Joy
I’m Trying Not to Be the “Just Wait” Mom | Carrots for Michaelmas
I’m Really Crappy at Being Crunchy (A Confessional) | SortaCrunchy
Family {Gifts to Give Your Kids}
Give the Gift of Boredom | 3 Things for Mom
Give Them Something Great to Imitate | Money Saving Mom
35 Things I Want My Daughter to Know About Girlfriends | The House of Hendrix
Food {Bars and Brownies}
Salted Fudge Brownies | GoodLife Eats
Birthday Cake Seven-Layer Bars | The Domestic Rebel
Chocolate Peanut Butter Pretzel Bars | How To: Simplify
And for a way to get involved with an organization that’s making a tangible difference, be sure to read The Big Ask: How can I help fight human trafficking and slavery? from Jamie the Very Worst Missionary.
Have a great weekend!
Mandi Ehman is the blogger behind Life Your Way. She and her husband have four beautiful girls plus one baby boy on the way, and together, they live, work and homeschool on a little slice of heaven in wild, wonderful West Virginia. She loves coffee, chocolate, easy meals, beautiful things and minimalist spaces.
Weekend Reading: July 27, 2013
© 2010-2013 Purple Martin Press, LLC | All rights reserved
July 26, 2013
Make Going Gluten-Free Simple
The following post is from Amy of Simply Sugar & Gluten-Free:
source: Amy Green
My neighbor recently shared that she was thinking about going gluten-free because of her son’s eczema. While in the process of researching her options, she got overwhelmed and decided it wasn’t for her. She said the food is more expensive, she doesn’t do well with recipes that have more than five ingredients, and she hasn’t even heard of many of the ingredients used in gluten-free baking. Add to that a very full life, and I can completely see why she would decide that maybe it’s not the right thing for her.
Dietary changes are difficult, especially when dealing with an entire family. Going gluten-free doesn’t have to be that complicated, though. There are simple way to make the transition less mind boggling:
Start with familiar foods that are gluten-free.
I hear from so many people who want to start their gluten-free journey by making bread and cupcakes. That’s a sure road to failure. It’s like trying to run a 5k without ever running a half mile. Yes, the 5k is doable. But you have start with baby steps, and making a list of what you can eat is a great place to start.
Think about all the food you eat that is naturally gluten-free: meat, dairy, fruits, veggies, beans, and most grains. Then, make a list of meals you love that use these ingredients. Last night, we had turkey, cheese, and mushroom enchiladas with corn tortillas. It’s a tasty meal with no gluten. You could also try this simple yet incredible pizza crust.
Learn to cook in a CrockPot.
If you’re eating gluten-free you won’t be dumping a can of cream of mushroom soup over your roast, but it’s easy to make a delicious meal with very little preparation in your CrockPot. Try chicken & black bean tacos, pulled BBQ pork or chicken, or a simple tortilla soup.
Ask for help.
If you’re like me, this is tough. I like to figure it out all on my own, thank you very much! The way a family eats is very personal and often outside help isn’t always welcome. But, if you need help ask someone who’s been there. It’s much easier than fumbling around in the kitchen, throwing out expensive ingredients, and feeling defeated.
Some great blogs for making gluten-free simple include Daily Bites, The Balanced Platter, Elana’s Pantry, and my personal blog, Simply Sugar & Gluten-Free.
Buy quality gluten-free products.
Before Nate was born, I made almost everything from scratch, from bread to crackers. Now, my hands are full with a very active 17 month old boy. Unless I quit sleeping, there’s no way I could find the time time make everything we eat. Some of my favorite store-bought products include Erewhon’s gluten-free cereal line, Canyon Bakehouse bread, Crunchmaster Crackers, Kinnikinnick’s Panko Style Bread Crumbs, Tinkyada Brown Rice pasta, and Mary’s Gone Crackers Love Cookies – N’Oatmeal Raisin.
Need more ideas?
Check out these posts:
Yes, You Do Like Gluten-Free Food
Gluten/Casein/Soy-Free Meal Ideas
5 Tips for Getting an Allergy-Friendly Meal on the Table Fast
What struggles do you have when making changes to your diet?
A stay-at-home mom, wife, and passionate cook, Amy strives to make each meal healthy and delicious. When she’s not doing laundry, dishes, or caring for her son, she plays around with food in the kitchen developing new recipes, which she shares at Simply Sugar & Gluten-Free. Amy also publishes The Balanced Platter and authored the book Simply Sugar & Gluten-Free: 180 Easy & Delicious Recipes You Can Make in 20 Minutes or Less.
Make Going Gluten-Free Simple
© 2010-2013 Purple Martin Press, LLC | All rights reserved
July 25, 2013
Last Child on the Prairie {On Playing Outside, Part 2}
source: Mandi Ehman
Last week I shared a little bit about my experiences interacting with nature as a child and how those — and Richard Louv’s Last Child in the Woods — have affected my parenting philosophies. Then, in this weekend’s newsletter, I shared some of the strategies we use to encourage outside play (sign up here to be sure you don’t miss future newsletters!).
Today I want to talk about some of the lessons we’ve learned this year about outside play and how we make it a priority without sacrificing our sanity:
1. Outside play begets outside play.
You’ve probably heard the old adage that “sleep begets sleep” in babies and children, and I think that principle actually applies to a lot of areas of life, including playing outside.
The more my kids are “forced” outside, the more they actually want to be out there. Sometimes it just takes 15 minutes of wandering around for them to come up with some scheme or idea, but almost without fail, the times when I have to push the hardest for them to go outside become the times when I have to fight to get them back inside as well! I think this has a lot to do with the power of boredom for spurring creativity.
But the cool part is those experiences give them more incentive to get outside the next day…and the next…and the next. Each time they make a new discovery or come up with a new game to play, they add it to their catalog of “things to do outside” so that they’re anxious to get out there each and every day!
2. Dirt is dirty.
Not to be Captain Obvious here, but while I’d love for my kids to stay clean and fresh smelling for more than 5 minutes, the only way that happens is when they’re asleep! The truth is that dirt is messy; it just is. And accepting that they will get dirty each day — and so will our floors as they track the dirt in with them from outside — has made a huge difference in my stress level.
In a culture that prizes cleanliness, it’s important to remember that playing in the dirt has real health benefits, and I think the psychological benefits alone outweigh the inconvenience!
As a side note, teaching our girls to shower by themselves has made a huge difference in this area as well. Our oldest didn’t start showering by herself until she was 7, but our 5 year old has been begging for the privilege, and even she can do it mostly by herself at this point. (We just make sure to help the younger ones every few days to make sure they’re getting really clean at least some of the time!)
source: Mandi Ehman
3. You don’t need fancy toys and activities.
Boredom is good, especially outside, and while I wouldn’t want to drop my kids off in the middle of acres of asphalt without anything to do, the truth is they’d probably come up with something to do do anyway if I did! I have tons of cute activities pinned on Pinterest, but I never seem to get around to those, and with a few balls, sleds, jump ropes, shovels and a playground, my kids literally spend hours and hours playing outside. I have a feeling that adding additional activities would just make them want to be entertained more and more!
That said, I am hoping to come up with a few creative ideas before the cold weather hits. Last year the big girls played outside a fair amount even when it was cold, but there aren’t leaves and berries to pick, the ground is often too hard to dig and sitting on the porch to read a book isn’t as fun when you’re shivering, so I’m thinking about ways to make our yard more appealing during winter.
4. Not all dangers are worth avoiding.
My husband has an intense — and somewhat irrational — fear of the girls getting bit by a snake while they’re outside exploring, and he rarely lets them into the “tall grass” (which is what we call the fields surrounding our lot) for that reason. While I completely understand his desire to protect them from dangers, I also think that fear can make us miss out on a lot of great experiences.
We let our girls climb to the top of their playground or scale trees despite the danger of falling, we let them use knives and the stove in the kitchen, we even — gasp — let them run on our gravel driveway even though they could fall and skin their hands and knees. That’s not to say there aren’t limits, and I don’t think they’ll be hanging out on the roof of our home anytime soon, but it’s important to evaluate each danger, weigh the dangers and rewards and let kids take risks. Not only does it help them hone their own limitations and boundaries, but — frankly — life is dangerous, and I don’t want them to miss out in my quest to protect them!
In conclusion.
The most important lesson I’ve learned is that the benefits of playing outside far outweigh the drawbacks and trouble. Dirt can be cleaned up and boo-boos can be kissed, but the time my children spend outside affects them in much more lasting ways!
How do you encourage outside play?
Mandi Ehman is the blogger behind Life Your Way. She and her husband have four beautiful girls plus one baby boy on the way, and together, they live, work and homeschool on a little slice of heaven in wild, wonderful West Virginia. She loves coffee, chocolate, easy meals, beautiful things and minimalist spaces.
Last Child on the Prairie {On Playing Outside, Part 2}
© 2010-2013 Purple Martin Press, LLC | All rights reserved
8 Fun Uses for Old Frames
The following post is from Lisa of The Pennington Point:
source: Makely for Girls
I have talked before about using empty picture frames for things besides putting picture in them. I love them so much I am back with some more fun ideas! I can’t stop trying new ways to use my frames. They are affordable and easy to use and they make a big impact. You can paint them, make them look vintage, modern, traditional or whatever your style is.
Just look at all these fun ways to use frames…
1. Add a POP of color!
Painting a group of frames all the same color can add a pop of your favorite color. This beautiful coral addition of coral really brings out the beach style in this room….gorgeous!
source: Home Portfolio
2. Create a monotone color scheme.
On the flip side, you can paint the frames the same color as your wall. This will add an element of art without being more colorful than you want.
source: Nacho Polo
3. Use as a photo prop.
For weddings, family photos, baby pictures, school photos….an empty frame can make a great prop for a fun photo.
source: My Beloved’s
4. Ceiling medallion.
What a cute way to add accent on the ceiling! I am definitely going to us this idea.
source: Romance Under the Stars
5. Create an outdoor backdrop.
What a cute way to add a floating backdrop to your next occasion! This one was used for a wedding, and I adore it.
source: Bridal Musings
6. Frame your keys.
If I didn’t have a place where we all keep the keys I would never be able to find them. Putting them in an old frame just makes it cute AND organized.
source: The Purple Carrot
7. Frame kids’ art on the fridge.
I like to give my kids places to display their artwork, but I don’t like a messy fridge. This idea for using frames as magnets is completely adorable and neat.
source: Positively Splendid
8. Or try this idea for a kids’ art display.
For a really tight budget, this idea is fabulous! Flea market frames and the kids painted right on the wall! The kids would love doing this.
source: Smockity Frocks
These are just a few more ways to use empty frames. I buy them for $.50 or less at garage sales and flea markets to use whenever an idea hits. Then, I paint them or sand them up for my purposes.
Do you have any old frames you can use for a new purpose?
Lisa winds through her little Texas farm house every night, tucking in her nine homeschooled children and turning off lights. Then she scans the rooms & makes a mental list of what she wants to rearrange, restore or paint. Her husband of 25 years hangs on for the ride while she blogs about it over at The Pennington Point.
8 Fun Uses for Old Frames
© 2010-2013 Purple Martin Press, LLC | All rights reserved
