Mandi Ehman's Blog, page 106
June 26, 2013
Lovely Outdoor Dining Ideas
The following post is from Lisa of The Pennington Point:
source: The Pennington Point
Summer is the time to eat outside. Not only do you get to enjoy the great outdoors, but there are no crumbs on the floor to sweep up. But just because you eat outside doesn’t mean you can’t make it pretty.
Here are some easy ways to brighten up your outdoor table!
Flowers
source: The Pennington Point
Pick up $5 worth of flower at the grocery store and plop them into a bucket or jar. It will perk up your table like nothing else!
Lanterns
source: Houzz.com
Lanterns from the dollar store can take an outdoor space from picnic to party.
Tablecloth
source: A Country Farmhouse
A simple tablecloth that’s lying around in a drawer, or just a piece of fabric or lace, can dress up your outdoor table.
Bench
source: Style Me Pretty
Instead of chairs, try using a bench to add a touch of flair to your eating area. You might also take your dining room chairs outside for a meal occasionally.
Jars
source: Shop 24
Drinking from mason jars adds charm to any summer meal!
Unexpected
source: Connie Lyu
Use a collection you already own to bring that touch of the unexpected. Birdcages, instruments, books, sports equipment, camping gear, just look around and see what you’ve got.
How often do you eat outside?
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 27 years hangs on for the ride while she blogs about it over at The Pennington Point.
Lovely Outdoor Dining Ideas
© 2010-2013 Purple Martin Press, LLC | All rights reserved
June 25, 2013
Reminder: Google Reader Shutting Down on 7/1
Just a quick reminder that when you wake up on July 1st, Google Reader will be no more!
How does this affect you? Well, if you’re currently subscribed to Life Your Way and/or other sites in Reader, you’ll want to find an alternative so that you don’t miss out on posts after it disappears. If you’re not currently using Google Reader, you still might find these options helpful so that you can stay in touch with your favorite sites without having to check for new posts all the time!
Here are my top choices:
Email Newsletters
Many of our subscribers prefer email so that the latest posts are delivered directly to their inbox. If that’s you, you can subscribe to either our daily or weekly newsletter:
Daily Newsletter
Receive daily updates with the latest blog posts (just enter your email address and hit enter):
Weekly Newsletter
Get the highlights from the week plus special features, including recipes, tips and more (just enter your email address and hit enter):
Another option, especially if you’re a regular Facebook user, is to connect with us on Facebook. The tricky part about this option is that Facebook does not show you every post we make on the Life Your Way page, so you might still miss some of our best posts. But if you click on the Liked button and select both Get Notifications and Show in News Feed, you’ll at least see more of them!
Other Feed Readers
Or, as I mentioned a few months ago when Facebook first announced this change, you can set up a new feed reader.
I am personally using Feedly, which is a robust platform that seems ready to fill Google Reader’s shoes. Read more about setting up Feedly here, and be sure to set up your account before July 1st so that you can import all of your current Google Reader subscriptions!
Other bloggers and readers have also recommended these feed readers, so you may want to investigate to decide which one you like best:
Bloglovin’
The Old Reader
Blogtrottr
How do you stay connected with your favorite blogs?
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.
Reminder: Google Reader Shutting Down on 7/1
© 2010-2013 Purple Martin Press, LLC | All rights reserved
Buying Used: How to Fill Your Home with Secondhand Stuff
The following post is from Emily of Live Renewed:
source: GiltGoods
I’ll admit, I have a little bit of a problem – I love to buy other people’s stuff. I mean like, pre-owned, secondhand, used stuff. Granted, it’s not junk. On the contrary, I love to find stuff that’s in great condition that people are selling because they don’t use or want it anymore.
I’m happy to take it off their hands and bring it home to be used and loved by our family, while also helping protect the planet by saving the resources that would have been used to make me a brand new item to buy, saving this used item from ending up in the landfill, and saving our family a lot of money in the process.
One thing our family has been committed to for the past several years is buying things used as often as we can. If there are things that we need, or would like to have, we like to try to find them used first, before we go out and buy them new. We’ve purchased all kinds of great used stuff for our home and family over the past few years, as I look around my house while I type this, I see so many things that have a story that began before they came to our family.
I see cloth diapers, a vintage wooden highchair, clothes and toys for my kids; furniture, curtains, wall hangings and other decor; kitchen gadgets, dishes, and 10 dozen canning jars (still trying to figure out what I’m going to do with all of those!); even a reel mower, bikes, tools and sports gear that are scattered across our lawn and garage, all purchased secondhand. We’ve learned a thing or two about the best place to buy things used along the way, and I wanted to pass some of those tips to you!
source: Steve Snodgrass
There’s no shortage of places to buy great used stuff today: Craigslist and ebay; Consignment stores, thrift stores and antique stores; online forums and Facebook groups; garage sales and estate sales just to name a few. We use all of these different resources in different ways for buying used items that we need and want.
The key is to know the best places to look for the things that you need to buy.
When You Need Something Specific:
Craigslist and eBay
These sites great for searching for specific things you want to buy; much easier than scouring through thrift stores and garage sales, because we all know those places can be very hit or miss. You can even set up saved searched on ebay so that when new items that match your search are listed, they let you know. That way, you can stay on top of your search for something you need, without having to check in every day.
Online Buy/Sell/Trade Boards
Online Forums can also be great if you’re looking for something specific. I have used DiaperSwappers.com to buy lots of my cloth diapers used, as well as some baby gear and kids clothes, and saved a lot of money in the process. There are all different types of online forums with Buy/Sell/Trade boards, so you’ll need to do a search to find ones that offer the kind of items you’re most often looking for. Each forum has it’s own rules for buying and selling, so make sure you review those before you jump into the forum.
source: Michael
Consignment Stores
Also, for things that are more of an immediate need, like clothes for the kids when they’re about to outgrow their old ones, I like to shop at consignment and second-hand stores. I also shop at consignment stores for my own clothing as much as I can. Typically at these types of stores, the items are higher quality and you’re more likely to find at least something that you can use, unlike at thrift stores and garage sales, and you don’t have to sort through as much junk.
When You Just Want to Browse for Good Deals:
Thrift Stores, Garage and Estate Sales
These can either be really awesome or really terrible, so they’re best for more general browsing for things it would be nice to have, but you don’t really need to buy right away. They’re also great for finding things that you may not have known that you wanted, but you can come across items that can be reused, repurposed, refinished or remade into something that works for your family.
I don’t rely on garage sales or thrift stores for finding things that I really need to get for my family, unless it’s something we can wait to have until we come across one. For example, our waffle maker broke a while ago, and I really wanted to find a vintage waffle maker like the one my mom has, so I looked at thrift stores and garage sales over the past few months, but didn’t find anything. It wasn’t a pressing necessity, but we do love waffles, and missed making them. Thankfully, my mom found a great vintage waffle maker at an estate sale for $4 and grabbed it for us!
Facebook Groups
A new option that has become really popular lately are Facebook garage sale type groups. You join a group, usually with people in your area, and everyone lists stuff they have for sale. It’s kinda like a really big, online garage sale. Lots of the stuff listed for sale is probably not stuff that you would want to buy, but when you see something you do want, you arrange to meet the seller to pay for and pick up your item.
One nice thing that the group I’m a part of offers is an “In Search Of” thread every week. You can list things that you are specifically looking to buy and then people can contact you if they have that item for sale. I’ve gotten more than a few things for our family by posting an ISO on the group’s board.
If you’re not in a group in your area, you can either search for one or ask friends and family in your area if they know of a group you can join, or you can get a group of friends together and start a group yourself. For the group I’m in, everyone has to be invited by someone who knows them and can basically “vouch” for them, that way you always know that you’re buying from a friend of a friend. That being said though, I’ve never had a bad experience with buying or selling in the Facebook group I’m in.
source: Retro Mama69
Antique Stores
Lately I’ve become really interested in vintage pieces. I’ve never really shopped at antique stores, but I can’t wait to start exploring the ones around my town, learning more about how to shop for antiques, and finding some hidden gems! I’ve also recently found that there are a ton of vintage sellers on Instagram that post pictures of items for sale. I’ve bought some used books on IG for my kids, and been drooling over vintage Pyrex, quits, and toys. Some vintage and antique things are a little more expensive because they are collectible, but it’s still a great way to buy things used rather than new.
If you usually run out to the big box store whenever you need to buy something, it may take you a while to become comfortable with looking for things used first. But, once you do, you will realize that there is no shortage of great, high quality, used stuff out there just waiting for you to buy it!
Where’s your favorite place to find great used stuff for your family? Do you have a strategy for finding secondhand items that your family needs?
Emily McClements is passionate about caring for God’s creation while saving money at the same time. She is a blessed wife and mama to two young children, and blogs about her family’s journey toward natural and simple living at Live Renewed.
Buying Used: How to Fill Your Home with Secondhand Stuff
© 2010-2013 Purple Martin Press, LLC | All rights reserved
Your Kids’ Summer Lemonade Stand Just Got a Little Better!
source: Mandi Ehman
There are a lot of things I love about living in the boonies — the gorgeous views, the wide open space for the girls to run and play, and the quiet and solitude, to name a few. However, there are also some downsides, and one of those is that our girls miss out on some of the classic experiences of childhood — like running a lemonade stand!
So when International Delight asked us to partner with them this summer to share these gorgeous lemonade stand printables from TomKat Studios and the Fourth of July #IcedCoffeeLove Twitter Sweepstakes, I was excited about the opportunity to finally give the girls their wish. Unfortunately, my attempts at setting up a “real” lemonade stand for them didn’t quite work out, and I decided to earn my “Be a Yes Mom!” badge by making the lemonade stand happen with or without customers.
source: Mandi Ehman
With that in mind, my husband and I set up a lemonade stand in the front yard on Sunday and invited the girls outside for a fun spin on their boring afternoon snack!
The girls took turns working behind the stand and being the customer (thanks to the change from our Mommy Tip Jar!) until they’d all been served their lemonade and cookie. Dad requested a cup of lemonade as well, but I was excited about the newest addition to the lemonade stand — International Delight Iced Coffee, which is perfect for adult customers who are looking to cool down.
source: Mandi Ehman
Despite the afternoon heat, the girls had a lot of fun, and I’m excited that there’s still an almost-full carton of International Delight Iced Coffee in the fridge to get me through the rest of the week.
Make your lemonade stand stand out this summer with International Delight Iced Coffee, and these gorgeous printables, and then share your photos with International Delight on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram (just use the tag #IcedCoffeeLove) for a chance to have your family featured on their social media channels!
Be sure to enter the #IcedCoffeeLove Twitter Sweepstakes as well! Just tell @InDelight what you love most about International Delight Iced Coffee using the #IcedCoffeeLove hashtag for a chance to win a Summer Cool Down pack with a cooler, tumblers, and a $200 Visa gift card to visit the water park of your choice.
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of International Delight. The opinions and text are all mine.
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of International Delight. The opinions and text are all mine.
Your Kids’ Summer Lemonade Stand Just Got a Little Better!
© 2010-2013 Purple Martin Press, LLC | All rights reserved
June 24, 2013
Weekly Reads + The Classics You Haven’t Read {6/24/13}
As a blogger who blogs about books and claims to be an avid reader, I’m a little embarrassed to admit that I’ve never read any of Jane Austen’s books. While I’ve always been a voracious reader, I was never really introduced to or required to read the classics, which is something I’m trying to remedy now. I’d actually started listening to an audio version of Pride & Prejudice a couple of years ago, and I loved the story but discovered that my mind wanders too much for audiobooks, so I never finished.
However, I recently picked up a collection of Jane Austen Kindle books for $0.99, and in my quest to read the books on my Kindle before buying any more, I started Sense & Sensibility a couple days ago. We’ll see how many of the books in the collection I get through!
Head here to see Katie’s post for this week. We also want to know what you’re reading! Add your blog post to the linky below or leave a comment with your favorite reads from this week.
This Week’s Reads
The Core: Teaching Your Child the Foundations of Classical Education by Leigh Bortins
This was actually a re-read for me. I first read The Core a couple years ago as we were getting started with classical education and the Classical Conversations curriculum, and I pulled it off the bookshelf this week just to reread the section on geography but ended up rereading all of it. The first part offers a really great overview of classical education, reminding me why we do the things we do, and the practical applications in the second half of the book helped me solidify some of our plans for the upcoming school year as well.
Grave Consequences: A Novel (Grand Tour Series) by Lisa T. Bergren
I loved the first book in this series, which was also my first introduction to Lisa T. Bergren’s writing, and I purchased this one a couple of months ago but hadn’t yet read it, so I was excited to pick it up this week. Although not quite as enchanting as the first, I still really enjoyed this storyline (despite the plot relying on the overplayed love triangle), and I’m looking forward to the third book as well!
With the Girls
The big girls are continuing to read everything they can get their hands on, and our second order of books for the upcoming school year should arrive this week, so I’m guessing they’ll read even more during that “new book” excitement that happens whenever a box of books shows up on the porch!
This week they finished:
A New Home for Lily (Dylan surprised me by going back to finish this one after I thought she had abandoned it!)
Katie Kazoo: Quiet on the Set
Dolphin Adventure: A True Story
A Question for You
There are a whole lot of classics I haven’t yet read, and besides Jane Austen, I hope to finish Don Quixote at some point and maybe try Les Miserables as well. Our curriculum has the girls reading some pretty heavy classics in junior high and high school, and I’d like to be able to keep up with them if possible!
What classics are you embarrassed not to have read? Or, which classics are on your reading list? Which should be at the top of my list?
Share Your Reading List
The Sweet and Savory Sides of Quinoa
Have you tried quinoa yet? If you have, what ways have you used it? Have you explored the sweet side of quinoa?
And if you haven’t tried quinoa yet, I want to help you incorporate this gluten-free superfood into your diet.
When I first started eating quinoa about five years ago, I didn’t even know how to properly pronounce the name. For those of you who aren’t quite sure it’s pronounced keen-wah. Simple enough, right?
I’d heard all the buzz and decided to give it a try. Quinoa quickly became a regular on our dinner table.
Though many think it’s a grain, it’s really a power-packed seed that hails from the spinach and beet family. Quinoa is a complete source of protein, which makes it a staple in many vegan diets, is easy to digest, and is a good source of healthy fats. Because of this, it’s a great food to include in children’s diets. My 15-month old, Nate, takes handfuls and scoops it right into his cute little mouth.
The Sweet and Savory Sides of Quinoa
© 2010-2013 Purple Martin Press, LLC | All rights reserved
The Sweet and Savory Sides of Quinoa
The following post is from Amy of Simply Sugar & Gluten-Free:
source: Amy Green
Have you tried quinoa yet? If you have, what ways have you used it? Have you explored the sweet side of quinoa?
And if you haven’t tried quinoa yet, I want to help you incorporate this gluten-free superfood into your diet.
When I first started eating quinoa about five years ago, I didn’t even know how to properly pronounce the name. For those of you who aren’t quite sure it’s pronounced keen-wah. Simple enough, right?
I’d heard all the buzz and decided to give it a try, and quinoa quickly became a regular on our dinner table.
Though many think it’s a grain, it’s really a power-packed seed that hails from the spinach and beet family. Quinoa is a complete source of protein, which makes it a staple in many vegan diets, is easy to digest, and is a good source of healthy fats. Because of this, it’s a great food to include in children’s diets. My 15-month old, Nate, takes handfuls and scoops it right into his cute little mouth.
Quinoa is a no-brainer for busy nights. Instead of brown or wild rice, which takes about 50 minutes to cook, I can have a pot of quinoa ready in about 20 minutes. Stove-top cooking is simple – one part quinoa to two parts liquid, cover, boil, reduce to a simmer until the liquid is absorbed. It doesn’t boil over like rice tends to, either. Make sure to rinse your quinoa before cooking – it has a natural, bitter coating called saponin.
Last night I made Sun-Dried Tomato Basil Quinoa to go with our grilled chicken. I chopped up about 1/4 cup of oil-packed sun dried tomatoes and added a teaspoon or so of dried basil, a little salt and pepper, and finished it off with a little Earth Balance Soy-Free Buttery Spread. I can add anything to quinoa that I would have added to a pot of rice.
You can also find quinoa in flour form, for baking, and in flakes, which is prepared similar to oatmeal. I personally love the flavor of the flour, but it does have a stronger flavor than the whole seed itself. Try mixing it with other gluten-free flours.
Quinoa makes incredible desserts as well. One of my favorites is Baked Quinoa Pudding, which is my healthier spin on rice pudding. I even eat it for breakfast. You can use the flakes just as you would oatmeal in a cookie recipe, like I did in these Sweet Potato Quinoa Cookies. I also love these Quinoa Coconut Macaroons and using it to make a grain-free granola.
Try quinoa for stuffing squash instead of using rice. Or, use it in a salad.
Sweet or savory, quinoa is smart food to include in your diet – gluten-free or not!
How do you use quinoa? If you haven’t tried it yet, what’s stopping you?
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.
The Sweet and Savory Sides of Quinoa
© 2010-2013 Purple Martin Press, LLC | All rights reserved
Get This Week’s Health & Fitness Bundle for $7.40 {BundleoftheWeek.com}
Are you looking to lose weight, take control of your health or get stronger? If so, this week’s bundle is for you! With 5 unique guides to health and fitness, you’ll discover recipes, exercise tips and motivation to make real, lasting changes in your life.
Get this bundle for more than 85% off this week only.
With your purchase, you’ll get all five of the following ebooks:
42 Days to Fit by Brandy Ferguson
How to Love Your Waistline and Your Food by Jules Clancy
MizFit: How to Build Muscle and Lose Weight Without Losing Your Mind by Carla Birnberg
Happy, Healthy & Hot by Tony DiLorenzo & Dustin Riechmann
7 Day Goddess Juice Feast by Laura London
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:
Get This Week’s Health & Fitness Bundle for $7.40 {BundleoftheWeek.com}
© 2010-2013 Purple Martin Press, LLC | All rights reserved
June 22, 2013
Giveaway: Winnie the Pooh Gift Bag (ARV $100!)
source: Mandi Ehman
Our first stop when we arrived at Disney World last month for the Disney Social Media Moms Conference was a special story time with Pooh being hosted at the Contemporary, where we stayed during the conference.
I’ve always, always loved Pooh, and the girls have all used the same Classic Pooh nursery bedding (in fact, my Dad actually custom painted a Pooh mural on the wall of the nursery when we lived in Utah), so I was excited as they were for this meet and greet.
After listening to a Winnie the Pooh story, we were able to head right over to meet Tigger, and then we got our first surprise of the conference when they handed us a wonderful gift bag with a variety of items from the Pooh & Pals collection, which our three-year-old immediately claimed for herself. She’s relinquished the stuffed Pooh for the new baby, but the tumbler is her new favorite milk cup, and I don’t think she’ll be sharing that one anytime soon!
Enter to Win
This week, Disney is giving one lucky Life Your Way reader a Winnie the Pooh gift bag of their own!
This prize package includes:
9″ Pooh Plush
Winnie the Pooh Tumbler with Straw
Winnie the Pooh Shampoo & Body Wash (sample size)
Baby ECOS Laundry Detergent (sample size)
Winnie the Pooh Movie
Winnie the Pooh Tee for Women
Winnie the Pooh: Pooh’s Secret Garden book
Winnie the Pooh Notecard Set
Winnie the Pooh Reusable Tote Bag
To enter, fill out the form below:
(If you’re reading this via email, you’ll need to click over to the original post to enter!)
This giveaway ends at 11:59 p.m. ET on Thursday, 6/27. 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: Winnie the Pooh Gift Bag (ARV $100!)
© 2010-2013 Purple Martin Press, LLC | All rights reserved
Weekend Reading: June 22, 2013
source: Mandi Ehman
We’ve had absolutely perfect weather this week (other than the rain on Tuesday that left our seven-year-old and me dripping wet on our Starbucks date!). The sun has been shining, but it’s almost cool in the shade, and the girls have been spending hours and hours and hours outside, especially in the evening hours.
For my part, I’m still hiding inside due to insane allergies, but I think, just maybe, we might be coming to the end of those, as they weren’t nearly as severe this week as they’ve been!
In baby news, Jackson has been kicking up a storm, and I absolutely love it. Even though this pregnancy has been hard physically in many ways and this isn’t exactly my first go around, I can’t get over the miracle of a baby…in my belly! Right on par with the baby kicks are the moments when our three-year-old will randomly put her lips on my belly and say in the sweetest voice, “I wove you so much, Jackson!” ♥
Have you subscribed to our new weekly newsletter? Check out this week’s issue here and then be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss future issues!
Here are some of my favorite posts from this week. As always, check out what I’m reading to see the other posts that make me stop and think. You’ll find new posts all week long!
Eat Well, Spend Less {Summertime Eating Challenges}
This month the Eat Well, Spend Less bloggers are sharing tips and recipes to help you eat well and spend less all summer long! Today (6/22) only, you can also get Katie’s The Family Camping Handbook: Real Food in the Big Woods FREE for your Kindle on Amazon.
Getting Your Kitchen Ready for Vacation | Life As Mom
How to Make Soft Whole-Wheat Hot-Dog Buns | Simple Bites
Lunch Ideas for Your Summer Vacation | Food for My Family
Real Food Road Trip | Kitchen Stewardship
Freezer Cooking… For VACATION?! | Denver Bargains
Family {On Anger and Losing Your Temper}
When Your Temper Scares You – Some Suggestions for Defusing | Lisa-Jo Baker
Confessions of a Yelling Mom (Now Reformed) | Club 31 Women
I Like Your Nice Voice | The Finer Things in Life
Family {Homeschooling}
Why Are Homeschooled Kids So Annoying? | Catholic Exchange
What Learning Cursive Does for Your Brain | Psychology Today
Summer Learning Links and Ideas | Simple Homeschool
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: June 22, 2013
© 2010-2013 Purple Martin Press, LLC | All rights reserved
