Mandi Ehman's Blog, page 12

Inspirational Kindle books for the New Year on sale for $1.99

I don’t post Kindle deals too often, but Seth Haines’ Coming Clean is still on sale for $1.99, and there are a ton of other inspirational books on sale for $1.99 as well.

I originally purchased the paperback version of Coming Clean as a “gift” for someone else and then decided to read it myself (with their permission), so I didn’t mark it up as I read it. I can’t wait to reread it on Kindle and highlight all of my favorite passages, though!

{I also picked up both Mudhouse Sabbath and Find the Good to add to my already-too-long to-read list.}

Coming Clean: A Story of Faith by Seth Haines

The Fringe Hours: Making Time for You by Jessica Turner

Desperate: Hope for the Mom Who Needs to Breathe by Sarah Mae

The Introvert Advantage: How Quiet People Can Thrive in an Extrovert World by Marti Olsen Laney, Psy.D.

All Joy and No Fun: The Paradox of Modern Parenthood by Jennifer Senior

Living Well, Spending Less: 12 Secrets of the Good Life by Ruth Soukup

No Sweat: How the Simple Science of Motivation Can Bring You a Lifetime of Fitness by Michelle Segar, Ph.D.

Mudhouse Sabbath: An Invitation to a Life of Spiritual Discipline: An Invitation to a Life of Spiritual Disciplines by Lauren F. Winner

Find the Good: Unexpected Life Lessons from a Small-Town Obituary Writer by Heather Lende

Related posts:
A mishmash of books {Quick Lit with Modern Mrs. Darcy}
Why I love Liane Moriarty’s novels
Reading through the fog of morning sickness {Quick Lit with Modern Mrs. Darcy}
My favorite books of 2015 {and how my opinion changes in hindsight}



     

Working together as a family to keep the house clean {plus a FREE cleaning kit to get you started}

Last summer I knew something had to change. Although we’d given our kids plenty of chores as toddlers and preschoolers, we hadn’t really scaled those chores as they’d gotten older, and Sean and I were basically doing everything ourselves.

We spent the summer teaching the girls various skills and assigning “jobs” until we were all working together to keep the house clean rather than running around behind the kids all the time just to keep the house straight.

I recently posted our master chores list on Instagram and Facebook and asked for input on other chores that kids do. Based on the feedback I got, I added a few more things to our list (like cleaning under the couch and cleaning out the car), and then I took that list and turned it into an Excel spreadsheet that I can use to track when things are done rather than trying to manage the proper rotation by memory.

Using that spreadsheet, I assign the girls chores each morning based on their age, what they’ve learned, and what needs to be done. While we’re not really cleaning the house top to bottom in a single day anymore, it is staying much cleaner across the board.

That means Sean and I have the freedom to oversee and focus on our chores (mine includes the adults + babies’ laundry, and Sean’s includes the floors, which no one is very good at, even when they’re trying their best) rather than trying to do everything.

It took time and effort to teach everyone new chores and to figure out a rotation that works, but it’s been so worth that investment!

***

As part of this decision, I also renewed my commitment to safe, natural cleaners. I’ll be honest—this has less to do with wanting to protect the environment and more to do with wanting to protect my kids. I want them to clean with products that are safe to breathe in, safe to get on their skin, etc. so that I’m not worried about them and tempted to reclaim the job for myself.

We’ve been using ePantry for more than a year now, and I love that I can get things like Mrs. Meyers cleaning products delivered right to our door. The multipurpose spray, dish washing soap, and foaming hand soap are all staples around here! And the Grove Collaborative products—like the hand towels and walnut scrubbers—are among my favorites as well.

This month, ePantry has put together an amazing package of cleaning supplies FREE for new members {or, if you’re already an ePantry member, you can get this package at half price!}:

Our 9-year-old, who’s currently on bathroom duty, is especially excited to have a caddy for carrying the tools of her trade!

Here’s how to get your FREE Mrs. Meyer’s Cleaning Kit:

Sign up for ePantry here. You’ll receive the Mrs. Meyer’s Cleaning Kit FREE when you sign up! {Already hooked on ePantry? Click here to add the kit to your next order for 50% off (or just $13.79!)}
Answer a few quick questions about your family and how clean you keep your home (be honest!). This takes under 30 seconds and ePantry uses your responses to customize your first basket.
Once you’ve answered the questions, you can finalize the basket of products to suit your needs by adding or removing items, selecting different scents, etc.
To checkout, your order needs to be a minimum of $20. ePantry suggests their favorite products for you, but you can customize it with different products. Just be sure not to remove the FREE products!
Click finish & pay and place your order. (You may wonder what you did without ePantry!)
After you check out, select the free 60-day VIP Trial to get free shipping on future orders.

This offer is only good through Sunday, January 17th at 6pm PST or while supplies last. Unfortunately, ePantry only ships to the continental U.S. for now.

***

How do you handle kids chores? A set rotation, daily assignments, something in between?

Related posts:
7 times to listen to audiobooks



     

Reviewing 2015 and focusing on my successes

Looking back at 2015, one of the biggest lessons I learned was to embrace the seasons—the seasons of my life as well as the literal seasons of the year.

It took me three years of tracking my reading goals to see that my years follow a very specific pattern that includes lots of goal setting, personal growth, and reading in the early part of the year. That all tapers off as we head into the warmer “fun” months of late spring and summer and doesn’t pick back up again until the cooler days of fall.

In the past, I’ve beaten myself up for losing steam on my “resolutions” when the warm weather hits, but last year I learned to embrace it and soak in the present with confidence that I’d get back on track in the fall…and I did.

I’m not sure if it’s actually the temperature that affects me or if it’s the length of daylight each day and the opportunities to live in the moment during the summer (with more play date invitations, more trips, etc.), but this year I saw it so very clearly.

Of course, any goal will take longer to achieve when I’m skipping 3-4 months of progress (or at least progressing slower during that time), but I think I’m okay with that!

***

With a difficult pregnancy in the early part of the year (and the middle and the end, if I’m honest), I also learned to embrace the seasons of life. Our house grew cluttered and disorganized in the first trimester, and I simply held on to the promise that morning sickness wasn’t going to last forever.

Now, as I sit typing this post on my phone with a sleeping two-month-old in my arms, I’m again reminded that it’s just a season. For good or for bad, the cuddles and demands of infanthood won’t last forever.

***

In other ways, 2015 felt like the year that we finally became adults {never mind that it was also the year I turned 33…I’m a late bloomer!}.

We got vision insurance and orthodontic consultations and signed up for air filter delivery to replace them regularly. (Hint: Get a free set of air filters through my referral link!)

We found a better balance for saying yes to playdates and activities and learned how to fit in a bajillion appointments (see vision insurance and orthodontics plus prenatal checks, well visits and a few specialist appointments!).

I finally started having regular devotions and Bible study, thanks to overcoming my “every day or bust” approach. I completed several If:Equip studies (even if it was sometimes weeks or even months after the study officially ended) and discovered the beauty of using Bible study tools on my phone while nursing or rocking a baby (as much as I prefer pen and paper and my well-worn Bible).

I finally figured out a budgeting system that works (after a couple of years of tweaking my homemade spreadsheet), and although we’d been struggling to organize and stay on top of our Samaritan Ministries paperwork when juggling several medical needs at once, I feel like I finally conquered that as well.

With the addition of spiral notebooks and morning time, I’m feeling good about our homeschool habits {although we’re struggling a bit to get back into the swing of things with a baby in the house after several months of “school lite”} and I think I may have finally found a balance between trying to do all the things and making sure we’re getting the things done we need to.

And through it all, I’ve made time to shut my computer and doodle, color, read or listen to audiobooks. I’ve given up all but a couple favorite TV shows, and I happily head to our bedroom in the evenings for a little downtime before bed.

***

Just to be clear—I’m a fan of celebrating the wins, but I don’t mean to imply I’m doing anything perfectly. I still snap at my family more than I’d like. I struggle with limiting my sugar intake. I have ZERO desire to exercise. And on and on and on.

When I share my goals for 2016 next week, I’ll share more about the areas where I’m struggling and the changes I’d like to see in the coming year. But I’m proud of the progress I made last year, and as I reflect on 2015, I’d rather focus on those—and the motivation it gives me to continue to add to the list—than on the areas where I struggled or failed!

***

What were your biggest wins and successes in 2015?

Related posts:
The paradox of setting limits
Why, yes, we DO have our hands full!
Abandoning goals during the first trimester {April Goal Review}
How to have the perfect Mother’s Day



     

Weekend reading: January 9, 2016

From Instagram: I die!

This little guy turned two months old this week {how?!}, and he’s going through a crazy growth spurt that has us looking at each other every single day: “Is he bigger than yesterday? He seems bigger!” I pulled out the 3-6 month clothes reluctantly, and he’s more than filling them out already. It won’t be very long at all until he catches up to his 23-pound peanut of a big brother!

And just to remind us that we’re doing this straddle parenting thing, our two biggest girls got spacers yesterday, the first step before their palate expanders next week. I see lots of smoothies and applesauce in our future.

What I’m reading: Auggie & Me: Three Wonder Stories by R.J. Palacio and Rising Strong by Brené Brown

What I cooked: roasted cabbage, easy burgers, chicken salad, anything in a wafflemaker {bacon, french toast, eggs, hashbrowns…it really works}

What I’m thinking about:

{Follow my personal Facebook feed for the things I’m thinking about and talking about all week!}

For the New Year

50 Ways Happier, Healthier, And More Successful People Live On Their Own Terms | Medium


An alternative to resolutions | oneemptyshelf


How To Destroy Procrastination: Dear You Who Doesn’t Want to Do that Hard Thing in the New Year | A Holy Experience


10 things you’re going to get right this year | Steady Mom


The 100 hour rule. | Modern Mrs. Darcy


Can You Lose Weight and Still Love Yourself? | Paleo for Women

Have a great weekend!

P.S. Coming Clean, my top pick for 2015, is on sale for the Kindle for $1.99!

Related posts:
Weekend reading: March 7, 2015
Weekend reading: May 9, 2015
Weekend reading: July 18, 2015
Weekend reading: October 24, 2015



     

Getting back into the school routine after the holidays and a new baby

We switched to a “school lite” routine in late October as we waited for Lucas to arrive “any day” {that day ended up being a full two weeks later than we expected!} and then dropped everything but math soon after. That means it’s now been more than two months since we’ve done a “regular” amount of school {whatever that really means!}, and while I’m okay with the time off, I’m ready to get back into the groove.

Note: In case you’re reading this and worrying about educational neglect, I won’t get into the learning that happens during unstructured seasons but I will say that this is the reason we school year-round—it gives us flexibility to take time off when we need to.

Because it’s been so long since we’ve done a full checklist of daily assignments—and because having an infant in the house makes time disappear like magic!—we’re easing back into things this month.

We started back with math the week after Christmas. Our homeschool group meets on Fridays and we’re planning to ski once a week as a family, so each of the older girls is doing two math lessons per day. We’ve got a great routine down that includes them sitting next to me to check their assignments, and we’d really only taken a couple of weeks off from math, so this was easy enough to put back in.

I had {unrealistically} hoped to continue with morning time with a newborn in the house, but it hasn’t been quite as simple as that in reality—I have less time to get chores and meals and work done, which leaves less time for morning time, and we’ve yet to find a time when Lucas happily lays in my arms or his bed while I read.

Because that’s been harder to fit in our routine than I expected {silly, silly optimist!}, I’m now focusing on getting some of our other basics back in and then we’ll revisit morning time again in a couple of weeks.

What I realized at the beginning of this week was that I had no desire to fight with or nag kids over completing their daily checklist. So even though I was anxious to put all the things back on their daily assignments, I just added Story of the World for now (plus chores, which they’ve continued doing during our break a little bit more haphazardly than usual).

Next week we’ll add language arts—Spelling City, First Language Lessons for the little girls and our Essentials assignments for the big girls—back as well, and I need to give the girls access to DuoLingo on their Fire tablets so they can do that when they want to rather than when I assign it.

This is our first year doing “formal” science (and we are still very laid back about it), so I may wait until after ski season to try to fit that back into the routine.

Which just leaves morning time. Although I’d never really heard the 4th trimester described this way, Andrea Dekker recently wrote about how much easier life with a baby gets at 12 weeks old, so I’m holding out hope that we’ll be in a better routine by February and morning time will naturally find its way back in.

***

How much time do you take off of school for the holidays? Do you prefer to ease back in or jump in with both feet?

Related posts:
Scaling back our 2014-2015 curriculum {again}
Why homeschooling is not a year-by-year decision for our family
Discovering the joy of morning time
Why we don’t stress the sciences in elementary school {even though we think they’re important}



     

My favorite books of 2015 {and how my opinion changes in hindsight}

I finished out 2015 with 82 books read, beating my goal of 75 despite my rough first trimester and sleeping 12 hours a day for a full three months.

When I started working on this list of my favorites, I thought it would be simple. I’ve used Goodreads religiously for the past couple of years, so I figured I’d just make a list of the 5-star books and be done.

It turns out, though, that I don’t always agree with my initial rating of a book.

For example, I’d only given Daring Greatly four stars when I finished it (I think because it took me so long to get through), but it’s a book that I think about often, and I’m planning to reread the parenting chapter again this month. Clearly it was one of my favorites!

Similarly, I rated Die Empty higher than The Creative Habit from last year’s personal retreat, but The Creative Habit is the one that’s stuck with me longer and impacted me more.

And I loved both Winter and The Winner’s Curse…but not enough to call them my favorites, even though I gave them 5 stars at the time.

I guess the moral of the story is you should only give so much weight to my initial Goodreads ratings, and I probably need to go back and revise those after six months or so.

With that said, here are a dozen of my very favorite books from 2015…

Favorite book of 2015:

Coming Clean: A Story of Faith by Seth Haines

One thing that has not changed is my opinion of this book. I said when I finished it that I thought it was probably my favorite read of the year, and it definitely was. I wish I had the words to convince you to read it rather than just putting it on your to-read list.

I don’t know Seth Haines personally, and I’ve found myself slightly cynical about bloggers-turned-authors recently, but this book? SO GOOD. On the surface, it’s the story of Seth’s journey to sobriety, but it’s so much more. If you’ve ever doubted the existence, presence or interest of God…if you’ve wrestled with your faith and prayers unanswered…if you’ve sought religious rules and systems to simplify your beliefs…you need to read this. It’s a beautiful, vulnerable, authentic story of faith and doubt and pain and prayer. And yes, sobriety too. SO GOOD!

P.S. My favorite entry? October 5th.

Favorite Fiction of 2015

Peace Like a River by Leif Enger

I recently read a review for a different book that described it as one long exhale. If I was going to wax poetic about this one, I’d describe it as taking a deep breath. The story, the characters, the prose…all of it was simply beautiful. And while some good books leave me frantically reading in every spare moment of the day, this was one I savored as I read. I would highly, highly recommend it.

The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared by Jonas Jonasson

And then there’s this one, which may be the complete opposite. It was quirky, irreverent and completely ridiculous, but I always found myself reading “just one more page” of this hilarious political satire. It was also the first book I both read and listened to using Whispersync because I didn’t want to give it up during those times when I couldn’t be reading.

Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter: A Novel by Tom Franklin

I liked the first three-quarters of this book, but I loved the ending. It’s heartbreaking and thought-provoking and sad and awful and beautiful all in one.

The Green Ember by S.D. Smith

I have to be honest: I was skeptical of this one because there was so much hype when it came out, in part because S.D. Smith is a homeschool dad and popular blogger. The noncomformist, maverick side of my personality didn’t want to become a follower and pick it up just because everyone else was, so I held off for a long time.

However, I did finally add it to our collection in the fall, and when I started reading it one afternoon after my 9-year-old left it sitting on the couch, I was immediately hooked. It’s a captivating story of two rabbits who set out on an unexpected adventure and discover what courage, honor and love really mean.

Favorite Classics of 2015

I started 2015 with a goal of reading at least one classic each month…and failed. However, I discovered two things about myself in the process: 1) I don’t actually like reading from a set reading list all that much. And 2) I much prefer children’s classics to adult classics.

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll

I had forgotten how much I love this book, with all of its nonsense and hysterical puns. I’ve loved it since we put the play on in junior high—Carroll’s Jabberwocky is also one of my favorites—and I enjoyed every bit of it this time around!

The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett

Like Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, I had forgotten how much I love this story about the little girl nicknamed “Mary, Mary, quite contrary” and her discovery of love, companionship, and beauty through both the secret garden on her grieving uncle’s estate and her relationships with the people around her.

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Shockingly, I had not read To Kill a Mockingbird before, and during a discussion of classics, it was the most strongly recommended by several friends. As they predicted, I loved this story and the characters so much, although I still haven’t finished Go Set a Watchman, which I also started mid-2015.

Favorite Nonfiction of 2015

Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead by Brene Brown

So much of this book kept me nodding along and highlighting every other sentence while I read, so I can’t say for sure why it took me so many months to get through. Regardless of the reason, Brene Brown’s work in general and this book in particular have changed me, and I think there are a lot of really important principles here.

I do wish I’d skipped to the last chapter, Wholehearted Parenting, right from the start because it may contain the most important words about parenting that I’ve ever read. It’s on my list to read again and again this year as part of my 2016 goals (I’ll share more about that next week!).

Humans of New York: Stories by Brandon Stanton

This is the second time I’ve received a Humans of New York book on Christmas Day and read the whole thing straight through. I love Brandon’s work so much, and it’s always fun to reread my favorite HONYs plus discover so many new ones. This is a book that reminds us of the inherent dignity of each and every person and that we never really know what other people are facing!

Understanding Girls with ADHD: How They Feel and Why They Do What They Do by Kathleen Nadeau, Ellen Littman and Patricia Quinn

I’m not sure I’ve ever marked up, underlined, and bookmarked a book as much as I have this one; it almost felt like I was reading that long-awaited manual that didn’t arrive with any of our children at birth! I feel like I gained new understanding into our oldest daughter’s thinking and how our reactions as parents are exacerbating the ADHD symptoms we’re seeing.

We’re still early in this diagnosis process, taking it slowly and considering several different options, but the information in this book has both confirmed our need to pursue diagnosis and help in managing it and reminded me of her uniqueness and strengths as an individual.

 

The Creative Habit: Learn It and Use It for Life by Twyla Tharp

Anne recommended this as the #1 book I should read during my 2015 retreat, and I’m glad she did. With stories and examples, Twyla Tharp makes the case for making creativity a habit rather than a whim. Although I felt at times like she was overestimating the worth of some of her personal exercises for other creatives, I found it to be a refreshing and inspiring look at creativity as a whole, and one that has stuck with me all year.

***

Have you read any of these? What did you think? What were your top books of 2015?

Related posts:
Where intentional living and self-care intersect {and 8 books I love}
Question of the Day: When do you abandon a book?
A little of this, a little of that {Quick Lit with Modern Mrs. Darcy}
An update on my 2015 Reading Challenge progress



     

The laid back guide to embracing a new year

I love the new year {I’m a huge fan of Mondays too}, and I think it’s a lovely thing to turn the calendar page and take time to reflect back on the previous 12 months and set goals or intentions for the ones ahead.

What I’m not a fan of is the pressure we put on this process, as if January 1st is our one magical chance to do this.

Last year, I had a 3-day personal retreat at my parents’ house in late January. Because I knew that time was coming, I started jotting notes and collecting ideas but didn’t really make a lot of firm plans for my year on New Year’s Day. And you know what? That retreat turned out to be an amazing time of reevaluating my life and work and schedules and goals, even though it didn’t happen on the very first day of the new year.

That experience was life-changing for me, not only because of the lessons I learned on my retreat and the way it impacted the rest of 2015 but also because it made me view the new year differently. Now I view January as “the first month of a brand new year” as opposed to seeing January 1st as a hard deadline for setting goals.

So while many of my fellow bloggers have been blogging about goal setting and resolutions for weeks now and are probably ready to move on, I’m going to spend much of January evaluating my life and goals…and sharing that process with you. I’m late to the party, but my hope is that if you just felt like the end of the year was too rushed and chaotic to do this properly, or if you’ve become disillusioned with New Year’s resolutions in general, it will encourage you to take time this month to reflect and plan rather than tossing that process out the window altogether.

***

The 52 Lists Project by Moorea Seal {aff. link}

As you’ll see in an upcoming post, my goals this year look kind of vague and wobbly. I’m not following the prescribed rules for “resolutions that work” or setting SMART goals at all. Instead, I’m setting “heart” goals, the kind of goals I evaluate with my gut, the kind I can’t objectively measure but just know in my heart whether I’m on track or not.

I prefer to think of these as intentions. Not intentions like “the road to hell is paved with good intentions” but as areas where I’m taking intentional action.

To me, resolutions are about resolving to do or be different or to accomplish a very specific goal. Not only can that be stressful and discouraging when I get off track, but it also leaves little room for reevaluating and adjusting those goals without feeling like I’ve given up, failed or simply made excuses.

Intentions, on the other hand, are meant to be reevaluated often, not necessarily against some specific criteria, but through prayer and contemplation. And because they’re less about achievement and more about the journey, each “failure” offers an opportunity to pick right back up where I left off or to adjust as I go without feeling like I’ve failed.

***

I’ll be sharing details about my 2015 review and my intentions for 2016 in upcoming posts {as I evaluate and figure those things out for myself!}, but in the meantime, her are some of my favorite resources for reflecting on last year:

20 questions for a New Year’s Eve reflection
30 Questions to Reflect over to Help You End the Year Well

And for finding purpose in the new year:

Goal-Setting Questions for a New Year
When New Year Resolutions feel hopeless — & you want some SOULutions
Sacred Ordinary Days

***

How do you approach the new year? 

Related posts:
My most important goal for 2015
Working toward my personal goals in 2015 {January review}
Why, yes, we DO have our hands full!
We’re planning an 11-month RV trip…for real! #EhmanAdventure2018



     
CommentsThank you for posting the link to the 20 NYE questions. I have ... by Bekah 

Weekend reading: January 2, 2016

From Instagram: Sweet brothers.

These boys. Although he’s pretty much the sweetest little boy on the planet, I couldn’t have imagined or predicted or even hoped that Jackson would love his little brother as much as he does.

When I’m carrying or holding them both, he giggles and says, “Two?!” He calls Lucas “Bupas” and “mine buddy.” And last night I laid a fussy Lucas down on the bed while I got ready myself. When he stopped fussing, I peeked my head in to see Jackson sitting next to him on the bed patting his tummy and talking to him. It really is the sweetest!

What I’m reading: Emmy & Oliver by Robin Benway and Rising Strong by Brené Brown

What I’m thinking about:

{Follow my personal Facebook feed for the things I’m thinking about and talking about all week!}

Through the looking glass

Apples and oranges and a new year | ali’s american adventures


What “having it all together” really looks like | A Mother Far from Home

For the love of books

7 simple ways to read more this year. | Modern Mrs. Darcy


The Clever Trick My Dad Used To Turn Me Into A Rabid Reader At 8 Years Old | Fatherly


Responses to “12 Reasons Why You Should Read at least 12 Books This Year” | Seasonal Soundings

Why knowing yourself matters

How I serve my family right now (delicious frozen dinners made in a factory) | Quill and Camera


When you are tightly wound. | Kate Baer


15 new year’s resolutions for the introverted homeschool mom | Simple Homeschool

Have a great weekend!

P.S. I love these surefire predictions for 2016 from Seth Godin.

Related posts:
Weekend reading: May 30, 2015
Weekend reading: August 22, 2015
Weekend reading: September 26, 2015
Weekend reading: October 10, 2015



     

The most popular posts of 2015 {and the ones I wish had made the list}

I love the New Year and the opportunity to reflect on everything that’s happened over the last year and to make a plan for the upcoming year.

Because Christmas is enough for me to think about on its own, I always wait until the last week of December and the early part of January to do my review and planning, so I’ll be sharing what that process looks like for me and my intentions for 2016 in the upcoming weeks.

In the meantime, if you’re looking for something to read, I’ve put together a list of my most popular posts from 2015 (calculated by pageviews, social shares and/or comments) as well as my favorites that I think should have made the list.

{Click on the post titles below for the full post.}

1. What I really want to say about vaccines

“I read a lot about vaccines, trying to make sense of the information on both sides of the issue. The thing that stands out to me—more than any of the facts spouted by either side—is the hate and vitriol coming from both vaccine supporters and those who believe vaccines are harmful.

As much as both sides try to pretend that the issue is black-and-white, the truth is there are no easy answers. It’s a complicated and scary issue. Babies die from preventable diseases, and babies die from vaccines.

But the problem with this topic is that it’s become a battle, with each side defending their ground at all costs, attacking the character of the people who disagree with them, and digging trenches rather than furthering the conversation.”

Honorable mention:  When you find yourself in the middle

2. Remember, Classical Conversations is just ONE option

“First, let me say upfront that our family loves Classical Conversations. We may not do everything by the book, but as hokey as it sounds, I often say that when I went to my first informational meeting, the things I heard resonated in my soul. I just knew it was the right fit for our family, and we plan to stick with Classical Conversations through all of the Challenge levels for all five of our kids. Basically, it is our curriculum of choice, and one we’re very happy with.

But here’s the thing…it is just that: a curriculum choice.”

Honorable mention: Why homeschooling is not a year-by-year decision for our family

3. 25 novels and biographies about World War II

“I’ve always been a fan of both history and historical fiction, and last year I picked up a couple of different stories that sparked a desire to read more and learn more about World War II. Reading Unbroken solidified that new passion, and I think I could easily read nothing by WWII biographies and fiction this year and be very happy!

This list includes both the books I’ve read and recommend as well as a (much longer) list of the books I’d like to read. I’m not sure I’ll make it through this whole list this year, but we’ll see.”

Honorable mentions: Where intentional living and self-care intersect and Why I love Liane Moriarty’s novels

4. How giving up “real food” made our family healthier

“I have a confession.

At the beginning of this year, I decided I was done with “real food.” Just done.

Done reading labels. Done feeling like I needed to make everything from scratch. Done worrying over every little thing that passed through our kitchen or ended up in our stomachs.

I was tired of the pressure, stress and guilt.

So I decided to give up real food.”

Honorable mention:  On healthy living, burnout and settling somewhere in the middle

5. Have you bought new underwear this year?

“When was the last time you bought new underwear? Not Dora underwear for the two-year-old or boxers for your husband, but new underwear for you.

I know that’s a pretty bold question to ask, but bear with me for a minute.

In some ways, this question has become an archetype for self care, an example of how women in general and moms specifically tend to put themselves last. And we’re going to talk about that in a minute. But first, let’s focus on the question itself.”

Honorable mention: Why I’m scheduling rest in 2015

6. Why we don’t talk about miscarriage {and why I AM}

“When ‘we’ (meaning society as a whole) talk about pregnancy and miscarriage, we usually approach it from one of two angles—the heart-wrenching pain of a baby lost or the relief of a pregnancy that’s made it through that ‘danger zone’ into the second semester.

Talking about the fear of miscarriage while actually in the first trimester feels a bit taboo, as if we’re tempting fate or claiming the inevitable. If we’re really honest, sharing your pregnancy at all during the first trimester is a bit taboo itself (and it seems as if the number of people who wait to share their pregnancies has grown even in the past 12 years since my first pregnancy). I’m not criticizing anyone’s personal decision to wait—and I think it would be fun to keep it a secret that you share only with your husband, even if there is no way I can personally pull that off for more than 24 hours—but I do disagree with the cultural pressure to wait to announce a pregnancy in case you miscarry.”

7. Why it’s okay to believe your way is the best way

“I talk a lot about respectful dialogue, listening to what others have to say, and living in the middle, so the title of this post might surprise you.

Let me clarify: I think it’s okay to believe the decisions you make and the way you do things is the best way for your family.

Actually, I don’t just think it’s okay; I think it’s good.

There’s a lot of peace and confidence that comes from being sure of your decisions. And while I think there’s value in hearing what other people say, seeking advice, and keeping an open mind, at some point it’s okay to follow your gut and take ownership of your decision.”

8. How we’re using spiral notebooks to simplify

“A few months ago, Sarah at Amongst Lovely Things shared that their family has been using spiral notebooks for handwritten, daily checklists for each of the kids. At the time, I’m sorry to admit, I scoffed at the idea. Who has time for that? And besides, our printed checklists were working just fine.

Except they weren’t really.”

Honorable mention:  Discovering the joy of morning time

9. When what you’re doing isn’t working and your home feels chaotic

“I started blogging about organizing, home management, decluttering and other related topics more than 7 years ago. Back then we had three small children (and then four under five), and I was working full time, but our home ran smoothly, without much clutter.

I don’t know exactly what happened—whether it was the addition of two (soon to be three) more children or their growth as individual people—but our home has felt chaotic lately. Really chaotic. It’s always cluttered, even after a round of ruthless decluttering, and we just haven’t been able to stay on top of things no matter how hard we try.”

Honorable mention:  On regaining control of our home

10. Why, yes, we do have our hands full

“Easter this year didn’t go quite as planned. Instead of Easter lunch and an egg hunt with Sean’s mom’s side of the family (something we’ve done every year for the last 9 years), the kids and I headed to church without Sean, grabbed pizza and Starbucks, visited urgent care and then grocery shopped and filled prescriptions.

While having a husband with the norovirus and a sinus infection myself was not part of our plan, it really wasn’t a bad day, and I have to admit there was a sweetness to seeing my big girls step up to the plate and help with the baby through the appointments and shopping.

But what really struck me were the number of comments about our family size that we got while we were out.”

Honorable mention:  The “more” of a big family

***


What was your favorite Life Your Way post?

Related posts:
It’s going to be quiet here this week…
A work update (and why I’m posting less)
We’re celebrating Baby Lucas with a 6 for $6 special offer!
Merry Christmas from our family to yours!



     

This healthy living library is available again…but only for 48 hours!

I was so excited to share this bundle in the fall, and so many people asked about getting a copy after the sale ended that we asked all of the authors and sponsors to let us bring it back for just 48 hours!

If, like me, you’re taking steps to improve your health but you’re not always sure where to start, this bundle’s for you!

We worked tirelessly as a team to hand select the best resources for YOU, and the Ultimate Healthy Living Library includes:

tutorials for using essential oils for everything from home remedies to DIY cleaners, plus important safety information from certified aromatherapists to give you confidence in using them
resources and recipes for meal planning, preparing real food, and stocking your pantry and freezer
ebooks and interactive video series to help you build better body habits for energy, fitness and wellbeing (plus, learn to love the body you have)
inspiration to help you make easy but meaningful steps toward a greener life

PLUS, purchasers will receive more than $175 worth of bonuses, including Strawesome straws (my favorite!), an ePantry credit, health supplements from Trilight Health, GetKombucha and Perfect Supplements, and even more.

Here’s what you need to know:

When? 12 a.m. ET Monday, December 28 until 11:59 p.m. ET Tuesday, December 29

What? 76 ebooks, 3 printable packs, 13 ecourses, and 3 membership sites PLUS over $175 worth of bonus products you’ll really use!

Where? Click here to get your bundle.

How much? The entire package is worth $1925.55, but it’s selling for just $29.97 (PDF) or $39.97 (eReader). That’s kind of a no-brainer.

More about the bonuses:

As if this great collection of eBooks and eCourses wasn’t enough, I’ve had the privilege of working with an incredible group of companies who’ve each agreed to give a special bonus to every buyer. The bonuses have a total value of over $175 – more than 5 times the price of the Ultimate Healthy Living Bundle itself!

The bonuses include free goodies aplenty, like a FREE SPOT treatment for acne & eczema from Bloom Naturals. You’ll also get a FREE hand soap + $8 credit on one shipment, FREE dish soap + $8 credit on the next shipment, AND 60-day VIP access with FREE shipping from ePantry. And Dave from GetKombucha has joined us especially for the flash sale with a FREE 30 ml bottle of Kombucha Pro.

There are also $15 gift certificates for Strawesome.com, Perfect Supplements and Trilight Health.

And as if all that weren’t enough, Craftsy is joining us once again with a FREE online class (valued at up to $45!) to help you learn new skills for a healthy lifestyle!

Disclosure: I’m the Director of Strategic Relationships for Ultimate Bundles and have also included affiliate links in this post. 

Related posts:
On healthy living, burnout and settling somewhere in the middle
This year’s Ultimate Healthy Living Bundle {and why I’m going to try not to gush…}
What is it really worth?